Battle of Carn Dum with a Revised Card Pool Minimum Purchase Deck – April 15, 2023

Campaign Pool

• Stalwart on Denethor
• 1 damage on Arnor Ravaged
• Amarthuil’s Courage
• Thaudir’s Spite
• Determination
• Starting threat lowered by 2 for completing Fend Off Despair in Wastes of Eriador
• Amarthuil is Determined
• Fend Off Despair
• Starting threat lowered by 2 for completing Fend Off Despair in Escape from Mount Gram.
• Mail of Earnur
• Gandalf is Determined.
• Losing Time x2
• Orders from Angmar

Starting Hand after mulligan

• Heir of Valandil
• Favor of the Valar
• Daughter of the Nimrodel
• Gleowine
• Sarn Ford Sentry
• Gather Information

Setup

• Thaurdir (Captain), Carn Dum Garrison, and Arnor Ravaged with 1 damage in the staging area.
• Thaurdir’s Spite attached to Thaurdir.
• Accursed Battlefield is the active location.
• Raiment of the Second Age adding to my opening hand and the campaign pool.
• Fend Off Despair and Losing Time x2 shuffled into the encounter deck.
• 1 resource on each hero for Easy mode.
• Threat – 23

Turn 1

1.3 Draw

• Favor of the Valar 2

1.3 Action(s)

• none

2.2 Planning

• Gleowine
• Exhaust Gleowine to draw Mail of Earnur
• Mail of Earnur on Denethor
• Gather Information

3.1 Quest Phase 3.1 Action(s)

• none

3.2 Committed Characters vs Gather Information

• Eowyn
• Amarthiul
• Total Quest Power = 4

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Angmar Marauder
• Total Staging Area Threat = 8

3.3 Action(s)

• none

3.4 Quest Resolution

• Threat – 27

3.4 Action(s)

• none

4.2 Travel

• none

4.2 Action(s)

• none

5.2 Optional Engagement

• Angmar Marauder

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 – Angmar Marauder

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – Denethor
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – +1 attack (Accursed Battlefield)
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 0
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • none

7 Refresh

• 7.3 Threat – 28
• 7.4 Action(s)
  • none

Turn 2

1.3 Draw

• Fornost Bowman

1.3 Action(s)

• Gleowine draws The Galadhrim’s Greeting.

2.2 Planning

• none I’m holding off on playing Heir of Valandil in case I draw Steward next turn. It’s not like I have the resources to play Sarn Ford Sentry anyway even with the discount.

3.1 Quest Phase 3.1 Action(s)

• none

3.2 Committed Characters vs Main Quest

• Amarthiul
• Eowyn
• Total Quest Power = 4

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Blight of Carn Dûm
• 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

• none

5.3 Action(s)

• none

6 Combat Phase

6.2 Action(s)

• none

6.3 Enemy Attacks

6.4b Enemy – Angmar Marauder

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – Denethor
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – Additional attack if my threat is 40 or higher (Fortress Walls)
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 0
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • none

7 Refresh

• 7.3 Threat – 33
• 7.4 Action(s)
  • none

Turn 3

1.3 Draw

• Forest Snare That’s good to see.

1.3 Action(s)

• none

2.2 Planning

• Gleowine draws Hasty Stroke
• Heir of Valandil
• Exhaust Heir of Valandil to play Fornost Bowman.
• Raiment of the Second Age on Amarthiul

3.1 Quest Phase 3.1 Action(s)

• none

3.2 Committed Characters vs Gather Information Quest

• Amarthiul
• Eowyn
• Fornost Bowman
• Total Quest Power = 8

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Accursed Battlefield 2 This might be a quick loss to location lock.
• Total Staging Area Threat = 10

3.3 Action(s)

• none

3.4 Quest Resolution

• Threat – 35

3.4 Action(s)

• none

4.2 Travel

• none

4.2 Action(s)

• none

5.2 Optional Engagement

• Carn Dûm Garrison

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 – Carn Dûm Garrison

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – Denethor
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – +1 attack (Vile Affliction)
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 1 + 1 Arnor
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • none

6.4b Enemy – Angmar Marauder

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – none
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – +2 attack (Angmar Marauder)
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 5
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • none

Scoop because that’s a dead hero.

Postmortem

Not having Forest Snare in my opening hand definitely made it harder to get threat out of the staging area. No Steward also meant a really slow start on allies too. Hopefully next game I get a better start.

Turn 1

1.3 Draw

• The Galadhrim’s Greeting

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
• Amarthiul
• Total Quest Power = 4

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Angmar Orc
• Orc Ambush
• Find Orc Grunts and put into play engaged with me.
• Total Staging Area Threat = 9

3.3 Action(s)

• none

3.4 Quest Resolution

• Threat – 28

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

• Angmar Orc

5.3 Action(s)

• none

6 Combat Phase

6.2 Action(s)

• none

6.3 Enemy Attacks

6.4b Enemy – Angmar Orc

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – none
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – put Orc Grunts into the staging area (Orc Grunts) Looking like another possible quick loss
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 3 assigned to Amarthiul + 1 Arnor Ravaged
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • none
• Amarthiul is dead.

Postmortem

Well that was a terrible first turn staging. Hopefully I get something more manageable next time.

Starting Hand after mulligan

• Steward of Gondor
• Favor of the Valar
• Sneak Attack
• The Galadhrim’s Greeting
• Forest Snare x2
• Woo hoo! This will be a good start for locking down the encounter deck. No allies though.

Setup

• Thaurdir (Captain), Carn Dum Garrison, and Arnor Ravaged with 1 damage in the staging area.
• Thaurdir’s Spite attached to Thaurdir.
• Accursed Battlefield is the active location.
• Raiment of the Second Age adding to my opening hand and the campaign pool.
• Fend Off Despair and Losing Time x2 shuffled into the encounter deck.
• 1 resource on each hero for Easy mode.
• Threat – 23

Turn 1

1.3 Draw

• Gather Information

1.3 Action(s)

• none

2.2 Planning

• Steward of Gondor on Denethor.
• Exhaust Steward of Gondor for +2 resources. I’ll do this from now on at the 1.3 action window, but I won’t record it.
• Raiment of the Second Age on Amarthiul
• Gather Information

3.1 Quest Phase 3.1 Action(s)

• none

3.2 Committed Characters vs Gather Information Quest

• Amarthiul
• Eowyn
• Total Quest Power = 6

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Angmar Captain
• Total Staging Area Threat = 8

3.3 Action(s)

• none

3.4 Quest Resolution

• Threat – 25

3.4 Action(s)

• none

4.2 Travel

• none

4.2 Action(s)

• none

5.2 Optional Engagement

• Carn Dûm Garrison The damage on Angmar Captain means I can’t defend him with Denethor and can’t take undefended.

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 – Carn Dûm Garrison

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – none
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – +1 Attack (Vile Affliction)
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 4 + 1 Arnor Ravaged
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • Denethor exhausts to see top encounter card is Orc Grunts and put them on the bottom.

7 Refresh

• 7.3 Threat – 26
• 7.4 Action(s)
  • none

Turn 2

1.3 Draw

• Faramir

1.3 Action(s)

• none

2.2 Planning

• Forest Snare on Carn Dûm Garrison

3.1 Quest Phase 3.1 Action(s)

• none

3.2 Committed Characters vs Gather Information Quest

• Amarthiul
• Eowyn
• Total Quest Power = 6

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Mountains of Angmar
• Total Staging Area Threat = 10

3.3 Action(s)

• none

3.4 Quest Resolution

• Threat – 30

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)

• Denethor sees the top encounter card is Terror of the North and leave it on top. That will be a good one to get locked up as an unresolved shadow.

7 Refresh

• 7.3 Threat – 31
• 7.4 Action(s)
  • none

Turn 3

1.3 Draw

• Citadel Plate

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 Going to leave Amarthuil up to defend Angmar Captain and get my second Forest Snare out.
• Total Quest Power = 1

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Accursed Battlefield
• Total Staging Area Threat = 12

3.3 Action(s)

• none

3.4 Quest Resolution

• Threat – 42

3.4 Action(s)

• none

4.2 Travel

• none

4.2 Action(s)

• none

5.2 Optional Engagement

• Angmar Captain

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 – Angmar Captain

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – Amarthiul
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – +1 attack (Angmar Orc)
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 3 + 1 Arnor Ravage / 6
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • Denethor sees the top encounter card is Orc Ambush and leave it on top. It doesn’t add threat which is a break for me against location lock.

7 Refresh

• 7.3 Threat – 43
• 7.4 Action(s)
  • none

Turn 4

1.3 Draw

• Heir of Valandil

1.3 Action(s)

• none

2.2 Planning

• Faramir

3.1 Quest Phase 3.1 Action(s)

• none

3.2 Committed Characters vs Gather Information Quest

• Amarthiul
• Eowyn
• Faramir
• Total Quest Power = 7

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Orc Ambush
• Find and put Orc Grunts into play engaged with me.
• Total Staging Area Threat = 9

3.3 Action(s)

• none

3.4 Quest Resolution

• Threat – 45

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 – Orc Grunts

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – Denethor
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – +3 defense (Losing Time)
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 0
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • none

7 Refresh

• 7.3 Threat – 46
• 7.4 Action(s)
  • none

Turn 5

1.3 Draw

• Fornost Bowman

1.3 Action(s)

• none

2.2 Planning

• Heir of Valandil
• Exhaust Heir of Valandil to play Fornost Bowman for free.
• Favor of the Valar

3.1 Quest Phase 3.1 Action(s)

• none

3.2 Committed Characters vs Gather Information Quest

• Amarthiul
• Eowyn
• Faramir
• Fornost Bowman
• Total Quest Power = 11

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Fortress Walls
• This might be a loss to location lock.
• Total Staging Area Threat = 13

3.3 Action(s)

• none

3.4 Quest Resolution

• Threat – 49

3.4 Action(s)

• none

6 Combat Phase

6.2 Action(s)

• none

6.3 Enemy Attacks

6.4b Enemy – Orc Grunts

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – Denethor
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – +1 attack (Vile Affliction)
• 6.4.2 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.3 Determine combat damage – 1 / 3
• 6.4.3 Action(s)
  • none

7 Refresh

• 7.3 Threat – 49
• 7.4 Action(s)
  • none

Turn 6

1.3 Draw

• Daughter of the Nimrodel

1.3 Action(s)

• none

2.2 Planning

• Daughter of the Nimrodel
• The Galadhrim’s Greeting
• Threat – 43

3.1 Quest Phase 3.1 Action(s)

• none

3.2 Committed Characters vs Gather Information Quest

• Amarthiul
• Eowyn
• Faramir
• Fornost Bowman
• Total Quest Power = 11

3.2 Action(s)

• none

3.3 Staging

• Losing Time raises threat by 3.
• Threat – 46
• Carn Dûm Garrison
• Total Staging Area Threat = 14

3.3 Action(s)

• none

3.4 Quest Resolution

• Threat – 49

3.4 Action(s)

• none

4.2 Travel

• a

4.2 Action(s)

• none

5.2 Optional Engagement

• none

5.2 Action(s)

• none

5.3 Engagement

• Carn Dûm Garrison

5.3 Action(s)

• none

6 Combat Phase

6.2 Action(s)

• none

6.3 Enemy Attacks

6.4b Enemy – Carn Dûm Garrison

• 6.4b Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.1 Defender – Denethor
• 6.4.1 Action(s)
  • none
• 6.4.2 Shadow – +3 attack (Angmar Marauder)

Well that will kill Denethor.

Postmortem

Perhaps after those last 3 losses I should consider using the Valar tokens. I’ve racked up 5 from these last 3 games (6 total). I haven’t been since my first attempt went so well despite my play mistake. I guess I really just got lucky. Although these last 3 attempts didn’t take that long to play. I think I’m going to keep trying without them. I’m confident the deck can beat this quest. Either my starting hand hasn’t been great or my draws after weren’t what I needed.

I think this game, if I had drawn Gandalf, Northern Tracker, or another Fornost Bowman then I could have broken the location lock. Although I still would have needed Hasty Stroke for that last shadow. Maybe I should switch my starting boon. The Rivendell Skirmishers would give me another defender and less risk of a bad shadow ending my attempt early. Elrond’s Champion could help with the early battle quest issue and still give me an emergency defender since he readies when an enemy is engaged. Something to consider before next time.