Deck of the Day #2:
"A Gandalf Signet Deck?"
by Matthew Clemans (mattclemans@insightbb.com)
I love this deck - I really do. It's different from most of the other
tournament decks you'll see, but it wins and it's fun. I don't know what
more you can ask for! The fellowship uses its ally contingent to move quickly
while using a few other tricks to win just about every skirmish. The Shadow
side piles on burdens and overwhelms companions by the bucketloads.
It's not really necessary to go first in this deck. Your starting site
allows you to pull Gaffer, but it's not necessary to your game. In fact,
it's a good idea not to bid high as the deck has only one type of burden
removal – Narya. The shadow side of the deck should be able to slow
your opponent down to where you can pass them by.
The first thing to notice about the fellowship in this deck is that every
companion (except Gandalf) has the Gandalf Signet. This allows you to use
Trust Me As You Once Did to great effect. With his Staff and Narya, Gandalf
can afford to exert a lot – even though you won't often need to –
every character is a strong fighter on their own. Once you get Gwemegil
and Asfaloth on Arwen with the Elven Ally Train running, she can overwhelm
any strength 8 minion. Aragorn is in the deck, not as a constant companion,
but as a Get Out Of Jail Free card. If you are facing a horde of minions,
exert Aragon several times and have him take on as many minions as you need
him too. The allies in this deck all have important roles to play. Aside
from the benefits of Arwen's text, they can be used to further your quest
along the path. Elrond's ability to heal a companion during the Regroup
phase makes him one of the strongest cards in the ROTEL set. Often, he will
be healing Gandalf of exertions. Elrond can also be used as condition removal
once you get his ring out. Golradir and Saelbeth both will help your companions
win skirmishes. Galdor will make sure that if your opponents want to face
you down with a Witch-king or Cave Troll at consecutive sites, they'll have
to pay for it!
Burdens are a hard strategy to play – you have to continually punish
your opponent with them. You have to make him race to you the end of the
path so he does not have time to heal the burdens or remove conditions.
While he is racing he will hit a lot of big minions. The Orc Pillager is
a great minion to play against those ranger decks or Dwarf decks that load
one or two companions down with a mass of conditions and possessions. He
basically negates Flaming Brands and Hand Axes, and penalizes your opponent
for carrying things like Armor, Aragorn's Bow, or Endurance of Dwarves.
With a base strength of 10, a few burdens and an Enduring Evil should overwhelm
any companion. There are two primary ways to add burdens in this deck –
Desperate Defense of the Ring and Gleaming in the Snow. Gleaming in the
Snow keys off the idea that your opponent will play a Gondor companion –
these days you are likely to see at least one of them. All your minions
have high vitality and high strength, ensuring that someone will be around
to exert during Regroup. Just in case you get hit with A Ranger's Versatility,
you've got Orc Scouts to protect you.
Using your Shadow to scare your opponent into moving slow, you should
be able to get out in front and outrace him to the end of the path. If you
get lucky – you may get a corruption win as well. Either way, you'll
play something different than your opponent!
Ring-bearer
Frodo, Old Bilbo's Heir
The One Ring, Isildur's Bane
Adventure Deck
[1] Bag End
[2] Breeland Forest
[3] Rivendell Valley
[4] Eregion Hills
[5] Bridge
[6] Caras Galadhon
[7] Anduin Wilderland
[8] Shores of Nen Hithoel
[9] Summit of Amon Hen
Free Peoples (31)
Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood (Starting)
Arwen, Lady Undomiel (Starting)
Gandalf, The Grey Pilgrim x3
Aragorn, Ranger of the North
Elrond, Herald to Gil-Galad x2
Galdor, Councilor From the West x2
Golradir, Councilor of Imladris
Saelbeth, Elven Councilor
The Gaffer
Asfaloth
Gwemegil x2
Long-Knives of Legolas
Bow of the Galadhrim
Glamdring
Gandalf's Staff
Sting
Narya
Vilya
Thror's Map
Trust Me as You Once Did x2
Secret Sentinels x2
Servant of the Secret Fire x3
Wielder of the Flame
Shadow (31)
Band of the Eye x4
Orc Pillager x4
Tower Assassin x2
Orc Inquisitor x4
Orc Scout x4
Desperate Defense of the Ring x4
Thin and Stretched x2
Gleaming in the Snow x4
Enduring Evil x3
Next time we'll tackle a different theme, see you then!
June 24, 2002
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