Core Campaign Escape from Dol Guldur 8 & 9 – March 20, 2022

Starting Hand after mulligan

• Unexpected Courage
• Ever Vigilant
• Miner of the Iron Hills
• Steward of Gondor
• Stand and Fight
• Gandalf
• (Steward, Gandalf, Unexpected Courage, Stand and Fight plus Miner I can discard to target. This seems like a decent hand.)

Setup

• Shadow Key guarded by Endless Caverns.
• Surge reveals King Spider
• Dungeon Torch is guarded by Dol Guldur Orcs.
• Gandalf’s Map guarded by Cavern Guardian.
• Threat – 30

I scoop on setup. 3 enemies that will all engage first turn is too much.

Play by Play Attempt 9

Starting Hand

• For Gondor!
• Self Preservation x2
• Northern Tracker
• Steward of Gondor
• Wandering Took
• (I don’t like having 2 dead cards to start. I do like having Steward and Northern Tracker to start. That I can play turn 2 and handle locations especially if I get a location heavy start.)

Setup

• Shadow Key guarded by Great Forest Web
• Dungeon Torch is guarded by Mountains of Mirkwood.
• Gandalf’s Map guarded by Dol Guldur Orcs.
• (This is not ideal. I’ll play at least the first turn. If it doesn’t go well. I’m going to reset.)
• Appointed by Fate and Valor attached to Gloin.
• Threat – 28

Turn 1

1.3 Draw

• Hasty Stroke 1.3 Action(s)
• none

2.2 Planning

• Steward of Gondor attached to Eowyn.
• Exhaust it for resources. (I’ll exhaust it from now on during the Resource Phase essentially giving her 3 resources per round.)

3.1 Quest Phase 3.1 Action(s)

• none

3.2 Committed Characters vs Main Quest

• Eowyn
• (I’m leaving Gloin ready for the orcs.)
• Total Quest Power = 4

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Dol Guldur Beastmaster (A bit rough but at least it won’t engage this round.)
• Total Staging Area Threat = 8

3.3 Action(s)

• none

3.4 Quest Resolution

• Threat – 32

3.4 Action(s)

• none

4.2 Travel

• none

4.2 Action(s)

• none

5.2 Optional Engagement

• none

5.2 Action(s)

• none

5.3 Engagement

• Dol Guldur Orcs

5.3 Action(s)

• none

6 Combat Phase

6.2 Action(s)

• none

6.3 Enemy Attacks

6.4b Enemy – Dol Guldur Orcs

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – none
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – Discard all attachments (Cavern Guardian) canceled by Hasty Stroke.
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 2 damage assigned to Gloin and +2 resources
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • none

6.7 Player Attacks

6.8b Target – Dol Guldur Orcs

• 6.8b Attackers
  • Gloin
  • Exhaust Valor to deal 1 damage (1 / 3) and heal 1 damage on Gloin.
• 6.8.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.8.2 Total Attack – 2
• 6.8.3 Damage Dealt – 2 (3 / 3)
• 6.8.3 Action(s)
  • none
• Target destroyed and Gandalf’s Map is not guarded.

7 Refresh

• 7.3 Threat – 33
• 7.4 Action(s)
  • none
• (I don’t want to engage Beastmaster yet, but I could get the staging area relatively clear in a couple turns. I’m going to try it.)

Turn 2

1.3 Draw

• Stand and Fight

1.3 Action(s)

• Exhaust Steward.

2.2 Planning

• Northern Tracker

3.1 Quest Phase 3.1 Action(s)

• none

3.2 Committed Characters vs Main Quest

• Eowyn
• Gloin
• Northern Tracker
• +1 Great Forest Web (1 / 2) and Mountains of Mirkwood progress (1 / 3)
• Total Quest Power = 7

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Enchanted Stream
• Total Staging Area Threat = 8

3.3 Action(s)

• none

3.4 Quest Resolution

• Threat – 34
• (I could discard a Self Preservation to avoid engaging Beastmaster next turn. I think I’ll end up doing that anyway unless I draw Gandalf or another Northern Tracker.)

3.4 Action(s)

• none

4.2 Travel

• none

4.2 Action(s)

• none

5.2 Optional Engagement

• none

5.2 Action(s)

• none

5.3 Engagement

• none

5.3 Action(s)

• none

7 Refresh

• 7.3 Threat – 35
• 7.4 Action(s)
  • none

Turn 3

1.3 Draw

• Celebrian’s Stone (I wish it was my draw last round.)

1.3 Action(s)

• none

2.2 Planning

• Claim Gandalf’s Map and rescue Mendor.
• Mendor +1 damage (1 / 3)
• Threat – 37
• Celebrian’s Stone on Eowyn
• Wandering Took

3.1 Quest Phase 3.1 Action(s)

• none

3.2 Committed Characters vs Main Quest

• Eowyn
• Northern Tracker
• +1 Great Forest Web progress (2 / 2) and explore it.
• +1 Mountains of Mirkwood progress (2 / 3)
• +1 Enchanted Stream progress (1 / 2)
• Total Quest Power = 7

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Enchanted Stream (I’m glad it is not another enemy because now I can deal with the Beastmaster.)
• Total Staging Area Threat = 8

3.3 Action(s)

• none

3.4 Quest Resolution

• Threat – 38

3.4 Action(s)

• none

4.2 Travel

• none

4.2 Action(s)

• none

5.2 Optional Engagement

• none

5.2 Action(s)

• none

5.3 Engagement

• Dol Guldur Beastmaster

5.3 Action(s)

• none

6 Combat Phase

6.2 Action(s)

• none

6.3 Enemy Attacks

6.4b Enemy – Dol Guldur Beastmaster

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – Wandering Took
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – none (Endless Caverns) and put Ungoliant’s Swarm into play engaged with me. (Ungoliant’s Swarm)
• Gloin and Mendor exhausted (So much for dealing with Beastmaster.)
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 2
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • none
• Wandering Took destroyed.

6.4b Enemy – Dol Guldur Beastmaster

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – Wandering Took
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – none (Endless Caverns) and put Ungoliant’s Swarm into play engaged with me. (Ungoliant’s Swarm)
• Gloin and Mendor exhausted (So much for dealing with Beastmaster.)
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 2
• Wandering Took destroyed.
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • none

6.4b Enemy – Ungoliant’s Swarm

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – none (I could Stand and Fight Wandering Took, but I can always hope for a bigger ally to do that next turn. Also if I’d rather lose this turn than next if the undefended attack doesn’t go well.)
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – none (Mountains of Mirkwood)
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 2 assigned to Gloin and +2 resources.
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • none

7 Refresh

• 7.3 Threat – 38
• 7.4 Action(s)
  • none

Turn 4

1.3 Draw

• Gleowine (Not an ally I hoped to draw.)

1.3 Action(s)

• none

2.2 Planning

• none

3.1 Quest Phase 3.1 Action(s)

• none

3.2 Committed Characters vs Main Quest

• Eowyn
• Northern Tracker (I could leave them up to help with combat, but getting rid of 4 staging area threat means I can just let Eowyn quest next turn.)
• +1 Mountains of Mirkwood progress (3 / 3) and Enchanted Stream 1 progress (2 / 2) to explore both of them.
• +1 Enchanted Stream progress (1 / 2)
• Skeleton Key and Dungeon Torch both not guarded.
• Total Quest Power = 7

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Great Forest Web
• Total Staging Area Threat = 4

3.3 Action(s)

• none

3.4 Quest Resolution

• +3 quest progress (3 / 9)

3.4 Action(s)

• none

4.2 Travel

• none

4.2 Action(s)

• none

5.2 Optional Engagement

• none

5.2 Action(s)

• none

5.3 Engagement

• none

5.3 Action(s)

• none

6 Combat Phase

6.2 Action(s)

• Stand and Fight to put Wandering Took into play.

6.3 Enemy Attacks

6.4b Enemy – Dol Guldur Beastmaster

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – Wandering Took
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – none (Eyes in the Forest and Caught in a Web)
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 2
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • none
• Wandering Took destroyed.

6.4b Enemy – Ungoliant’s Swarm

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – Mendor
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – Gloin exhausted (Gloin)
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 1 (2 / 3)
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • none

7 Refresh

• 7.3 Threat – 39
• 7.4 Action(s)
  • none

Turn 5

1.3 Draw

• Snowbourn Scout (Well at least this will let me keep Northern Tracker up for combat.)

1.3 Action(s)

• none

2.2 Planning

• Snowbourn Scout
• +1 Enchanted Stream progress (2 / 2) and explore it.

3.1 Quest Phase 3.1 Action(s)

• none

3.2 Committed Characters vs Main Quest

• Eowyn
• Total Quest Power = 6

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Driven by Shadow
• Total Staging Area Threat = 3

3.3 Action(s)

• none

3.4 Quest Resolution

• +3 quest progress (6 / 9)

3.4 Action(s)

• none

4.2 Travel

• none

4.2 Action(s)

• none

5.2 Optional Engagement

• none

5.2 Action(s)

• none

5.3 Engagement

• none

5.3 Action(s)

• none

6 Combat Phase

6.2 Action(s)

• none

6.3 Enemy Attacks

6.4b Enemy – Dol Guldur Orcs

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – Snowbourn Scout
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – none (Mountains of Mirkwood and Dungeon Jailor)
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 2 and defender destroyed.
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • none

6.4b Enemy – Ungoliant’s Swarm

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – Northern Tracker
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – Raise Threat by 2 (Under the Shadow)
• Threat – 41
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 0
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • none

6.7 Player Attacks

6.8b Target – Dol Guldur Beastmaster

• 6.8b Attackers
  • Gloin
  • Deal 1 damage to Beastmaster (1 / 5) and heal 1 damage on Gloin (2 / 4)
  • Mendor
• 6.8.1 Action(s)
  • For Gondor! To give all characters +1 attack (I wanted it for the Nazghul but I really need to stop losing allies every turn. I will likely advance in the next turn or 2.)
• 6.8.2 Total Attack – 5
• 6.8.3 Damage Dealt – 4 (5 / 5) and target destroyed.
• 6.8.3 Action(s)
  • none

7 Refresh

• 7.3 Threat – 42
• 7.4 Action(s)
  • none

Turn 6

1.3 Draw

• Sneak Attack (This is great to see. I really hope Gandalf or Beorn follows it next turn.)

1.3 Action(s)

• none

2.2 Planning

• none

3.1 Quest Phase 3.1 Action(s)

• none

3.2 Committed Characters vs Main Quest

• Eowyn
• Total Quest Power = 6

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Chieftain Ufthak
• Total Staging Area Threat = 4

I’m calling this attempt there.