LotR 84 - Into the Pit (13)

A little more tweaking for The Deeds of Drarves. I think the deck just might work if I start using the Cave Torch more to help quest through the Dark locations. Let’s give it a try.

Initial hand:

1. Blade of Gondolin
2. The Galadhrim’s Greetings
3. Boots from Erebor
4. Untrouble by Darkness
5. Ancestral Knowledge
6. A Test of Will

Initial encounter: Goblin Swordsman.

Round 1

1. Resource: 3, draw Quick Strike.
2. Planning: Boots from Erebor on Dwalin.
3. Quest: Thalin and Dwalin, draw Watchful Eyes, put on Dain. Net 3 Progress.
4. Travel: none.
5. Encounter: none.
6. Combat: none.
7. Refresh: Threat 30.

Round 2

1. Resource: 6, draw The Galadhrim’s Greetings.
2. Planning: none.
3. Quest: Dwalin and Thalin, draw Signs of Conflict for Threat 32, surge Goblin Swordsman. Net +2 Progress.
4. Travel: none.
5. Encounter: none.
6. Combat: none.
7. Refresh: Threat 33.

Round 3

1. Resource: 9, draw Veteran Axehand.
2. Planning: play Veteran Axehand.
3. Quest: Thalin, Dwalin, draw Lightless Passage. Play Untroubled by Darkness for net 0.
4. Travel: none.
5. Encounter: none.
6. Combat: none.
7. Refresh: Threat 34.

Round 4

1. Resource: 8, draw Protector of Lórien.
2. Planning: none. I’m locked. Play Cave Torch to 3 P on Lightless Passage, draw Branching Paths for discard. Booyah.
3. Quest: Thalin and Dwalin, draw Patrol Leader. Dang. No way I’m going to be able to deal with this many enemies.
4. Travel: none.
5. Encounter: none.
6. Combat: none.
7. Refresh: Threat 35

Round 5

1. Resource: 11, draw Dwarrowdelf Axe.
2. Planning: play Dwarrowdelf Axe on Dwalin. Cave Torch to clear Lightless Passage, draw Goblin Scout. Now four enemies in Staging, with no way to kill them while they’re in there.
3. Quest: Dwalin and Thalin, draw Zigil Mineshaft, Threat to 40 to clear Zigil, net +4 Threat to 44.
4. Travel: none.
5. Encounter: none.
6. Combat: none.
7. Refresh: Threat 45.

Again, if East-Gate isn’t cleared by Round 2, this quest is almost surely going to fail.

Round 6

1. Resource: 14, draw Veteran Axehand.
2. Planning: play Veteran Axehand, The Galadhrim’s Greetings Threat 39.
3. Quest: Dwalin, Thalin, Veteran Axehand, draw Signs of Conflict Threat 41 surge Signs of Conflict Threat 43 surge Goblin Follower. Dang. Threat 45.
4. Travel: none.
5. Encounter: Goblin Follower engaged.
6. Combat: Dain defends, draw shadow Goblin Scout for no effect.
7. Refresh: Threat 46.

Round 7

1. Resource: 12, draw Durin’s Song.
2. Planning: Blade of Gondolin on Dwalin.
3. Quest: Veteran Axehand x 2, Thalin, Dwalin for 8W, draw Goblin Tunnels. Exhaust Cave Torch draw Lightless Passage. Threat 48.
4. Travel: none.
5. Encounter: none.
6. Combat: Dain defends, shadow Cave In for no effect.
7. Refresh: Threat 49.

Round 8

1. Resource: 14, draw Longbeard Orc Slayer.
2. Planning: play Longbeard Orc Slayer. Goblin Swordsman and Goblin Scout now out of play. Play The Galadhrim’s Greetings for Threat 43. Cave Torch to clear Goblin Tunnels, draw Cave In for discard, Threat 45.
3. Quest: Thalin, Veteran Axehand x 2, draw Watchful Eyes, put onto Thalin. What a bummer.
4. Travel: none.
5. Encounter: none.
6. Combat: Dain defends, shadow draw Crumbling Ruin for no Shadow effect and no damage on Dain. Dwalin and Longbeard Orc Slayer kill Goblin Follower, Threat 43. Reveal Goblin Follower and Crumbling Ruin.
7. Refresh: Threat 44.

Blunder: I forgot to add more cards to staging area for Watchful Eyes. This game was over a couple of rounds ago.

Round 9

1. Resource: 10, draw Narvi’s Belt.
2. Planning: play Narvi’s Belt on Dain.
3. Quest: Thalin, Veteran Axehand x 2, draw Fouled Well, discard Protector of Lórien. Play Cave Torch to get rid of Goblin Tunnels, draw Goblin Tunnels for no effect. Total 4W for net +3 Threat 47.
4. Travel: none.
5. Encounter: none.
6. Combat: Quick Strike on Goblin Follower by Dwalin, play Durin’s Song to kill Goblin Follower, Threat 45 and add another Progress to East-Gate. Draw Stairs of Nain from Watchful Eyes on Thalin.
7. Refresh: Threat 46.

Round 10

1. Resource: 10, draw West Road Traveler.
2. Planning: play West Road Traveler.
3. Quest: Thalin, Veteran Axehand x 2, West Road Traveler, Longbeard Orc Slayer, Dwalin for 9W, draw Goblin Swordsman for net +1 Threat 47.
4. Travel: none.
5. Encounter: none.
6. Combat: none.
7. Refresh: Threat 48.

Round 11

Blunder: forgot to draw for Watchful Eyes last round. This game would have been over a lot quicker otherwise.

1. Resource: 11, draw Feint.
2. Planning: none.
3. Quest: All but Dain for 9W, draw Branching Paths with the Dark +1, play Cave Torch to take it out, draw Sudden Pitfall discard one Veteran Axehand. Net +2 Threat and that’s the game.
4. Travel:
5. Encounter:
6. Combat:
7. Refresh: Threat

11 rounds and I never cleared the East-Gate. But at least I’m going a few more rounds.