Category: The Three Trials

Introduction

One last time with this build.

Decklist

Attempt 5

Set up: Stage 2 is Trail of Intuition. Raven Guardian and Cave Barrow randomly selected. Time is 4. Threat is 30.

Starting Hand: Northern Tracker, Gondorian Spearman, Westfold Horse-breeder, Feint, Veteran Axehand, and Greyflood Wanderer

Turn 1: Gandalf drawn. Play Westfold Horse-breeder. Eowyn quests for 4. Cursed Forest added to the staging area for 6 threat. Threat is 32. Travel to the Barrow. Breeder defends the guardian attack, no shadow, and breeder dies. Eomer and Idraen attack dealing 3 damage. Refresh, threat is 33, and time is 3.

Turn 2: Silver Lamp drawn. Play Spearman and wanderer. Wanderer and Eowyn quest for 6. Tangled Forest added to the staging area for 5 threat resulting in one progress on the active location. Spearman defends, deals a damage, no shadow, and dies. Idraen and Eomer attack dealing 3 damage. Refresh, threat is 34, and time is 2.

Turn 3: Dwarven Axe drawn. Eowyn and wanderer quest for 6. Treachery removes a time. 1 progress on the active location. Feitn the guardian. Eomer and Idraen attack and defeat the guardian. Refresh and threat is 35.

Turn 4: The Galadhrim’s Greeting drawn. Play Northern Tracker. Tracker, wanderer, and Eowyn quest for 7 plus 1 progress on locations in staging area. Treachery puts Barrow in staging area for 8 threat. Threat is 36. Travel to the Barrow exhausting Idraen. Refresh and threat is 37.

Turn 5: Lórien Guide drawn. Play Veteran Axehand. Eowyn, wanderer, and tracker quest for 7 and a progress on locations in staging area. Treachery adds guardian to staging area and he engages. 2 progress on active location. Axehand defends, shadow exhausts Idraen, and Axehand defends. Refresh, threat is 38, and time is 3.

Turn 6: The Galadhrim’s Greeting drawn. Play Lórien Guide. Eowyn, tracker, and guide quest for 6 plus a progress on all locations in play. Cursed Forest explored. Treachery returns Barrow to the staging area. Top encounter card discarded but no key. Wanderer defends, Idraen exhausted by shadow, and wanderer dies. Refresh, threat is 39, and time is 2.

Turn 7: Guide #2 drawn and played. Play Dwarven Axe on Eomer. Eowyn and tracker quest for 5 and a progress on each location. Tangled Woods explored. Another Tangled Woods added to the staging area for 5 threat. Guide defends, no shadow, and guide dies. Other guide, Eomer, and Idraen attack for 10 dealing 5 damage. Refresh, threat is 40, and time is 1.

Turn 8: Stand and Fight drawn. Play it to get breeder back in play. Eowyn and tracker quest for 5 and a progress on each location. Spirit of the Wild added to the staging area for 6 threat. Threat is 41. Spirit engages. Breeder defends guardian attack, shadow removes a time dealing a damage to each character, and breeder dies. Guide defends spirit attack, no shadow, and guide dies. Eomer and Idraen defeat the guardian. Refresh and threat is 42.

Turn 9: Silver Lamp #2 drawn and played. Tracker quests exploring the Barrow. Staging adds key and advance to Trial of Perservance. Stone Barrow and Wolf Guardian added. I scoop because I will lose a hero to guardian attack and won’t be able to recover.

Introduction

Two more attempts at the The Three Trials without any changes to my deck so far.

Decklist

Attempt 3

Set up: Stage 2 is Trail of Intuition. Raven Guardian and Hill Barrow randomly selected. Time is 4. Threat is 30.

Starting Hand: Feint, The Wizards’s Voice x2, Greyflood Wanderer, Northern Tracker, and The Galadhrim’s Greeting

Turn 1: Stand and Fight drawn. Eowyn quests for 4. Treachery removes a time. No progress and no threat gained. Travel to Hill Barrow. Guardian gets 2 shadow cards and play The Wizards’s Voice. Threat is 33. Idraen and Eomer attack for 6 dealing 1 damage. Refresh, threat is 34, and time is 2.

Turn 2: Wandering Took drawn. Play Northern Tracker. Eowyn quests for 4. Grim Foothills added to the staging area for 1 threat. Three progress on Grim Foothills exploring it and my threat is 36. Guardian attacks, tracker defends, shadow gives guardian another attack, and a damage dealt. Wizard’s Voice the second attack and threat is 39. Idraen and Eomer attack for 1 damage. Refresh, threat is 40, and time is 1.

Turn 3: Gandalf drawn and played. Deal 4 damage to Guardian. Eowyn and Idraen quest for 6. Tangled Woods added to the staging area for 2 threat. Active location explored, added to the victory display, and Idraen readies. Top encounter card discarded and not the key. Gandalf defends the Guardian’s attack, shadows do not have any effect other than adding more shadows, and no damage dealt. Idraen, Eomer, and tracker defeat the guardian. Refresh, threat is 41, and Gandalf discarded.

Turn 4: Hasty Stroke drawn. Idraen and tracker quest for 3 and a progress on Tangled Wood. Treachery adds Raven Guardian to the staging area.

I scoop because that destroys my plan to build up for a few turns.

Attempt 4

Set up: Stage 2 is Trail of Intuition. Boar Guardian and Cave Barrow randomly selected. Time is 2. Threat is 30.

Starting Hand: Westfold Horse-breeder, The Galadhrim’s Greeting, Veteran Axehand, Unexpected Courage, Warden of Arnor, and The Wizards’s Voice

Turn 1: Stand and Fight drawn. Play Westfold Horse-breeder. Eowyn quests for 4. Treachery deals 1 damage to breeder. Discard top encounter card and it is not a key. Travel to the Barrow. The Wizards’s Voice the Guardian and threat is 33. Then Idraen and Eomer attack for 8 dealing 4 damage. Refresh, threat 34, and time is 1.

Turn 2: Hasty Stroke drawn. Play Veteran Axehand and Unexpected Courage on Eomer. Eowyn quests for 4. Treachery returns Barrow to the staging area. Discard top encounter card and not a key. Travel to Barrow. Axehand defends the Guardian attack, shadow exhausts Eomer, and Axehand dies. Eomer readies via Unexpected Courage. Eomer and Idraen attack for 8 dealing 4 damage. Refresh, threat is 35, and time is 2 as no allies in play to discard.

Turn 3: Gandalf drawn. Eowyn quests for 4. Tangled Wood added to the staging area for 2 threat and 2 progress on the active location. Stand and Fight the breeder so it can defend the Guardian attack. No shadow but breeder dies. Eomer and Idraen defeat the Guardian. Refresh and threat is 36.

Turn 4: Stand and Fight drawn. Play Warden of Arnor on Idraen. Eowyn and Idraen quest for 6. Treachery whiffs as no non unique characters in play. 4 progress added to active location for 6. Play The Galadhrim’s Greeting to reduce threat by 6 to 30. Refresh and threat is 31.

Turn 5: A Test of Will drawn. Eowyn and Idraen quest for 6. Grim Foothills added to staging area, it gains 1 progress thanks to warden, threat is 3, and my threat is 33. Grim Foothills explored and Barrow progress is 7. Refresh and threat is 34.

Turn 6 Stand and Fight drawn. Eowyn and Idraen quest for 6. Spirit of the Wild added to the staging area for 3 threat. Active location explored, Idraen readies, 2 encounter cards discarded, and no key found. Travel to woods tapping Idraen. Spirit engages and attacks. Eomer defends, no shadow, and nod damage dealt. Eomer readies and attacks dealing 1 damage. Refresh and threat is 35.

Turn 6: Silver Lamp drawn and played on Idraen. Eowyn quests for 4. Treachery returns woods to staging area. 2 encounter cards discarded and no key. Tap Eomer to travel to woods and ready him with Unexpected Courage. Eomer defends the spirit attack, no shadow, and no damage. Idraen attacks dealing 1 damage. Refresh and threat is 36.

Turn 7: Feint drawn. Eowyn quests for 4. Cursed Forest added to the staging area for 3 threat. 1 progress on the active location. Spirit attack defended by Eomer, shadow is key that gets shuffled back into the encounter deck, and no damage. He readies. Idraen and Eomer kill the Spirit. Refresh and threat is 37.

Turn 8: Gandalf drawn. Idraen and Eowyn quest for 6. Grim Foothills added to the staging area, threat is 4, my threat is 39, and it is explored. Refresh and threat is 40.

Turn 9: Dwarven Tomb drawn (where are all my regular allies?). Idraen and Eowyn quest for 6. Ancient Forest added to the staging area for 7 threat. Threat is 41. Refresh and threat is 42.

Turn 10: Warden of Arnor drawn. Play Gandalf and lower threat to 37. Eowyn, Idraen, and Gandalf quest for 10. Cancel Guardian’s Fury with A Test of Will. Active location explored, Idraen readies. Travel to Ancient Forest. Refresh and threat is 38.

Turn 11: Greyflood Wanderer drawn and played without doomed. Play Dwarven Tomb to get Test of Will back. Eowyn and Idraen quest for 6. Ancient Forest #2 added to the staging area for 7 threat. Discard Warden to avoid gaining threat. Refresh and threat is 39.

Turn 12: Lórien Guide drawn and played. Play Gandalf and draw Gondorian Spearman, The Galadhrim’s Greeting, and Silver Lamp. Eowyn, Idraen, Gandalf, guide, and wanderer quest for 13 and 1 progress on the active location. Treachery fails to remove any time. Active location explored. Travel to Ancient Forest #2. Refresh, threat is 40, and discard Gandalf.

Turn 13: Gondorian Spearman drawn and played. Eowyn, Idraen, wanderer, and guide quest for 9 and a progress on the active location. Key added to the staging area and attached to Idraen. Advance to the Trial of Perservance. Hill Barrow and Raven Guardian added to the staging area. Raven key attached to the Barrow. Raven Guardian engages. 7 threat in the staging area, discard Silver Lamp for a willpower, and active location is explored. Idraen readies. Travel to the Barrow. Guardian attacks. Spearman defends, shadows add 1 attack, and he dies. Refresh, threat is 41, and time is 3.

Turn 14: Westfold Outrider drawn and played. Play Stand and Fight bring back Gandalf and drawing Horn of Gondor, Westfold Horse-breeder, and Westfold Outrider. Play Westfold Horse-breeder and Horn of Gondor on Eowyn. Idraen, Eowyn, Gandalf, guide, breeder, and wanderer quest for 14 and an active location progress. Treachery removes a time for 2 on Guardian. Active location explored, Idraen readies, raven key claimed, and advance to Trial of Strength. Wolf Guardian engaged and Stone Barrow added to the staging area. Guardian attack defended by Westfold Outrider, shadow adds 2 attack, and Outrider dies. Eowyn gets a resource. Eomer attacks for 5 dealing 2 damage. He readies and attacks with Idraen for 5 more damage. Refresh, threat is 42, and time is 2.

Turn 15: Westfold Outrider drawn and played. Eowyn, guide, wanderer, and breeder quest for 8. Staging reveals Guardian’s Fury. Eomer defends the attack, no shadow, and 3 damage dealt. Ready Eomer. Outrider defends during combat, cancel shadow that would exhaust a character, and Outrider dies. Eomer and Idraen attack for 8 defeating the guardian and claiming the last key. Advance to stage 3. Guardians all engage and Hallowed Circle added to the staging area. Refresh, threat is 43, and time are 3, 2, and 1.

(This is where not getting my allies for most of my early turns early on hurt.)

Turn 16: Lórien Guide drawn. Play last Stand and Fight to bring back Gandalf and deal 4 damage to Boar Guardian. Eowyn quests for 4. Grim Foothills added to the staging area for 5 threat. Threat is 46. Travel to the foothills. Feint Wolf Guardian since its shadow gives it 2 more shadow cards and can’t have it attack twice or exhaust a character. Wanderer and breeder defend the other Guardian attacks, no shadows, and they die. Eowyn gets 2 resources. Eomer, Idraen, and guides attack Boar for 10 defeating it. Eomer readies and attacks the Wolf with Gandalf for 9 dealing 6 damage. Refresh, threat is 47, discard Gandalf, and time is 2 and 1.

Turn 17: Dwarven Axe drawn. Play Gondorian Spearman and The Galadhrim’s Greeting. Threat is 41. Eowyn, Idraen, and a guide quest for 7 and 1 active location progress. Grim Foothills #2 added to the staging area for 5 threat which gets a progress for warden. Grim Foothills #2 is explored. Spearman defends wolf dealing a damage and dies. Guide defends raven and dies. Eomer attacks wolf twice dealing 4 damage. That is basically game because undefended wolf attack at the end of the turn will kill a hero and won’t be able to get enough quest or attack power going to finish.

Introduction

Skipping over The Dunland Trap as I had skipped ahead to beat it with Dave’s minimum purchase deck. This is going to be the last scenario in Ringmaker with a minimum purchase deck. This one broke me a bit on that kick. You’ll see why over the course these playthroughs.

Decklist

Attempt 1

Threat is 30, and time is 4.

Starting hand: Celebrían’s Stone, Westfold Horse-breeder, Saruman, Henamarth Riversong, Deep Knowledge, and Wandering Took

Turn 1: Legacy of Númenor drawn. Play Deep Knowledge to draw Saruman #2 and Legacy of Númenor #2. Threat is 32. Play a legacy for resources and threat is 36. Play Celebrían’s Stone on Eowyn. Play Henamarth Riversong and breeder. Exhaust Henamarth to see top encounter card. Top card is low provisions. Eowyn, Gloin, Glorfindl, and Breeder quest for 12. Low provisions deals 3 damage to Gloin and 2 to Glorfindl. 3 resources added to Gloin. 10 progress placed on the quest. Travel to the Edge of Fangorn. Add Dark Hearted Huron to the staging area. It engages and removes a quest progress to reduce it to 9. Heal 1 damage on Gloin with Glorfindl. Refresh, threat is 37, and time is 3.

Turn 2: Threat is 39. Steward of Gondor drawn and played on Glorfindl. Exhaust Steward for resources. Exhaust Henamarth to see that another Dark Hearted Huron is the top card. Play Saruman and threat is 42. Eowyn quests for 6. Huron added to the staging area and results in active location explored plus 2 quest progress for 11 total. Exhaust Gloin to capture Mugash. Advance to stage 2. Deadly Huron added to the staging area for stage 2 and engages. The hurons can’t remove any progress. Saruman, Glorfindl, and Wandering Took attack a Dark Hearted Huron killing it. Glorfindl pays a resource to heal a damage on himself. Refresh, threat is 43, discard Saruman, and time is 3.

Turn 3: Threat is 45. Glorfindl takes 3 damage from Deadly Huron. Exhaust Steward for resources. Westfold Horse-breeder drawn and played. Play second Saruman and threat is 48. Quest with everyone for 18. Heart of Fangorn added to the staging area for 3 threat. 15 progress added to the quest to win.

Setup: The trial of Intuition for first stage 2. Raven’s Gaurdian engaged. Stone Barrow in the staging area. Threat is 30.

Starting Hand: The Galadhrim’s Greeting, Feint, Unexpected Courage, Lórien Guide, Veteran Axehand, and Gondorian Spearman

Turn 1: Beorn drawn. Play Unexpected Courage on Idraen. Eowyn and Idraen quest for 6. Treachery removes a time from Raven’s Guardian. 4 encounter cards discarded. Travel to Stone Barrow. Ready Idraen with Unexpected Courage. Guardian attacks, threat is 33, Idraen defends, no shadow, and 1 damage dealt. Refresh, threat is 34, and guardian time is 2.

Turn 2: Dwarven Axe drawn. Play Spearman. Eowyn and Idraen quest for 6. Spirt of the Wild added to the staging area for 1 threat and discard 5 cards. 5 progress on the active location. Idraen readies. Spirit engages and attack undefended, shadow returns Barrow to the staging area and a damage assigned to Eowyn. Guardian attacks, threat is 37, Spearman defends, deals a damage, shadow exhausts Idraen, and Spearman dies. Eomer attacks spirit for 5 dealing 3 damage. Refresh, threat is 38, and time is 1.

Turn 3: Lórien Guide #2 drawn and played. Eowyn quests for 4. Cursed Forest added to the staging area for 5 threat. Threat is 39. Travel to the barrow. Guide defends the guardian attack, threat is 42, no shadow effect, and guide dies. Spirit attack undefended, shadow returns Barrow to the staging area, and 1 damage to Eomer. Idraen attacks the Spirit killing it. Eomer and Idraen attack the guardian for 8 and deal 3 damage. Refresh, threat is 43, and last time removed dealing a damage to all heroes. Time is 4.

Turn 4: The Wizards’s Voice drawn. Play Veteran Axehand. Eowyn and Idraen quest for 6. Tangled Woods added to the staging area. It adds a a forced effect that requires a hero to exhaust which pretty much means location lock for me.

Attempt 2

Setup: The trial of Intuition for first stage 2. Raven’s Gaurdian engaged. Cave Barrow in the staging area. Threat is 30.

Starting Hand: Silver Lamp, A Test of Will, Stand and Fight, Northern Tracker, Horn of Gondor, Gondorian Spearman

Turn 1: Westfold Outrider drawn. Play Horn of Gondor on Eomer. Eowyn quests for 4. Spirit of the Wild added to the staging area for 4 threat. Discard Spearman to discard the top encounter card. Travel to Cave Barrow. Stand and Fight the Spearman. Spirit engage, attack is undefended, no shadow, and 1 damage assigned to Eomer. Guardian attack defended by Spearman, deals a damage, shadow gives guardian another attack, and Spearman dies. 1 resource added to Eomer. Idraean defends the 2nd attack, no shadow, and 1 damage dealt. Eomer attacks the spirit dealing 2 damage. Refresh, threat is 31, and time is 3.

Turn 2: A Test of Will drawn. Play Westfold Outrider. Eowyn quests for 4. Treachery deals a damage to Outrider. 4 progress on the active location. Outrider defends the guardian attack, no shadow, Outrider dies, and Eomer gets a resource. Spirit attack undefended, no shadow, a damage assigned to Eomer. Idraen and Eomer attack guardian for 8 resulting in 3 damage. Refresh, threat is 32, and time is 2.

Turn 3: Silver Lamp drawn. Northern Tracker played. Eowyn and Idraen quest for 6. Treachery removes a time counter from Guardian and time is 1. Active location explored, top 2 encounter cards discarded, and Idraen readies. Tracker defends the guardian attack, no shadow, and 1 damage dealt. Spirit attack undefended, no shadow, and 1 damage assigned to Eowyn. Eomer and Idraen attack guardian for 6 dealing a damage. Refresh, threat is 33, time removed dealing a damage to each character, and time is 4.

Turn 4: Gandalf drawn and played dealing 4 damage to the guardian killing it. Eowyn and Gandalf quest for 8. Spirit of the wild added to the staging area for 1 threat resulting in 7 top encounter cards being discarded. Key of the Raven discarded, added to the staging area, and attached to Eowyn. Advance to Trial of Perseverance. Stone Barrow, Wolf Key, and Wolf Guardian added. Guardian engaged. Travel to the Barrow. Spirit #2 engages. Tracker defends guardian attack, no shadow, tracker dies, and Eomer gets a resource. Eomer and Idraen defend the spirits attacks and no damage dealt for those. Gandalf discarded and Eomer gets a resource. Refresh, threat is 34, and time is 2.

Turn 5: Gandalf drawn and played. Deal 4 damage to undamaged spirit killing it. Eowyn and Idraen quest for 6. Cursed Forest added to the staging area for 3 threat. Discard a silver Lamp to place 4 progress on the active location. Gandalf defends the guardian attack, no shadow, and 1 damage dealt. Eomer defends the spirit attack, shadow adds 1 attack, and no damage dealt. Gandalf discarded and Eomer gets a resource. Refresh, threat is 35, and time is 4.

Turn 6: Westfold Horse-breeder drawn and played. Eowyn quests for 4. Grim Foothills added to the staging area for 4 threat and threat is 37. Breeder defends the guardian attack, no shadow, breeder dies, and Eomer gets a resource. Idraean defends the spirit attack, no shadow, and no damage dealt. Eomer attacks and kills the spirit. Refresh, threat is 38, and last time is removed killing a hero. I scoop at this point as I’m falling too far behind.

Postmortem

I should not have quested with Gandalf on turn 4 and tried to build up for another turn or 2.