Trouble in Tharbad 2:355

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Game play has slowed down a lot since 1. starting contracting, and 2. traveling to and from Ft. Wayne. And, this weekend, I have a cold. But I really want to get through this cycle this year, so let's get on with Trouble in Tharbad.

I'm taking my Three Trials deck for the first play.

Initial hand:

  1. Steward of Gondor
  2. Dagger of Westernesse
  3. Unexpected Courage
  4. Anfalas Herdsman
  5. Ethir Swordsman
  6. Asfaloth

Round 1

  1. Resource: 3, draw Rohan Warhorse.
  2. Planning: none.
  3. Quest: Pippin, Glorfindel, reveal Hidden Alleyway. This is threat neutral, so I'll be an extra turn before being able to clear The Empty Mug.
  4. Travel: none.
  5. Encounter: none.
  6. Combat: none.
  7. Refresh: Threat 24.

Round 2

  1. Resource: 6, draw Deep Knowledge.
  2. Planning: play Deep Knowledge, Threat 26, drawing Ancient Mathom and A Good Harvest. Asfaloth on Glorfindel. A Good Harvest for Steward of Gondor on Boromir. Ancient Mathom on The Empty Mug. Rohan Warhorse on Boromir.
  3. Quest: Pippin and Glorfindel, reveal Streets of Tharbad. Threat 29.
  4. Travel: none.
  5. Encounter: none.
  6. Combat: none.
  7. Refresh: Threat 32. (Glorfindel)

Round 3

  1. Resource: 7, draw Daeron's Runes.
  2. Planning: Daeron's Runes for Peace and Thought, discard Anfalas Herdsman. Exhaust Asfaloth to explore The Empty Mug, draw Anfalas Herdsman x2, Master of the Forge.
  3. Quest: Glorfindel, Pippin, reveal Streets of Tharbad. Dang. Threat 38!
  4. Travel: Hidden Alleyway.
  5. Encounter: none.
  6. Combat: none.
  7. Refresh: Threat 39.

Round 4

  1. Resource: 12, draw Gondorian Shield.
  2. Planning: Master of the Forge, pull Fast Hitch. Play Ethir Swordsman, Unexpected Courage on Glorfindel.
  3. Quest: Pippin, GLorfindel, reveal Cornered.

I'm calling this one here as I forgot to increase Threat by 1 each round for Nalir.

I don't think this is right deck for this quest. I'm going to take the Mirlonde deck next.

Game 3/356

Initial hand:

  1. Ranger Bow
  2. Forest Snare
  3. Mithrandir's Advice
  4. Ithilien Tracker
  5. Asfaloth
  6. Gandalf

This looks a little bit better for starting. We'll see.

Round 1

  1. Resource: 2, draw Ithilien Archer.
  2. Planning: Asfaloth on Glorfindel.
  3. Quest: Mirlonde, Glordindel, reveal Ruins of the Second Age. Threat 21.
  4. Travel: none.
  5. Encounter: none.
  6. Combat: none.
  7. Refresh: Threat 23 (Nalir)

Round 2

  1. Resource: 4, draw Warden of Healing.
  2. Planning: Mithrandir's Advice draw Daeron's Runes and Mirkwood Runner, play Daeron's Runes drawing Mithrandir's Advice x2 discard Warden of Healing.
  3. Quest: Mirlonde, Glorfindel, reveal Orc Hunting Party. Asfaloth to clear The Empty Mug and 1 progress to reduce threat to 22.
  4. Travel: Ruins of the Second Age.
  5. Encounter: none.
  6. Combat: none.
  7. Refresh: Threat 24.

Round 3

  1. Resource: 6, draw Erebor Record Keeper (?!)
  2. Planning: Play Ithilien Archer.
  3. Quest: Mirlonde, Glorfindel, reveal Orc Hound which surges to Constant Tail and remove 1 time counter. I keep coming up exactly 1 Progress short of what I need.
  4. Travel: none.
  5. Encounter: Orc Hound, exhaust Denethor.
  6. Combat: Undefended, shadow Spy from Morder with no effect, 2 hits on Glorfindel. Ithilien Archer puts a hit on Orc Hound and sends him back to Staaging.
  7. Refresh: Threat 26.

Threat elimination now 40.

Round 4

  1. Resource: 6, draw Light of Valinor.
  2. Planning: Light of Valinor on Glorfindel. Ranger Bow on Ithilien Archer. Play Mithrandir's Advice drawing Master of the Forge and Mirkwood Runner.
  3. Quest: Mirlonde, Glorfindel, reveal Streets of Thardbad. Asfaloth to clear Ruins, Threat 27.
  4. Travel: Streets of Tharbad. Exhaust Ithilien Archer and Ranger Bow to take out Orc Hound.
  5. Encounter: Spy From Mordor.
  6. Combat: Denethor defends, shadow Orc Hound and Orc Skirmisher, Denethor takes 1 hit. Glorfindel puts a hit on Spy.
  7. Refresh: Threat 29.

Round 5

  1. Resource: 7, draw Master of the Forge.
  2. Planning: Play Erebor Record Keeper, quests for 1, handy.
  3. Quest: Mirlone, Glorfindel, Ithitlien Archer, Erebor RK, reveal Orc Skirmisher. Asfaloth to clear Streets of Tharbad, net +2 Progress for Threat 27.
  4. Travel: none.
  5. Encounter: none.
  6. Combat: none.
  7. Refresh: Threat 29.

Round 6

  1. Resource: 9, draw Mirkwood Runner.
  2. Planning: Play Gandalf to take out Orc Skirmisher. Mithrandir's Advice drawing Elrond's Counsel and Ranger Bow. Play Ithilien Tracker and Ranger Bow, exhaust bows to put 2 hits on Spy From Mordor. Play Elrond's Counsel for Threat 26
  3. Quest: Mirlonde, Glorfindel, Gandalf, Erebor RK, reveal Get That Dwarf! This is a potential game ender here, shadow is Tharbad Hideout which has no shadow, Nalir takes a hit. Net +9 Progess for 15 Threat.
  4. Travel: none.
  5. Encounter: none.
  6. Combat: none.
  7. Refresh: Threat 17.

Round 7

  1. Resource: 3, draw Elrond's Counsel.
  2. Planning: Play Elrond's Counsel, Threat 13. Play Mithrandir's Advice drawing Forest Snare and Burning Brand. Ithilien Archer takes out Spy From Mordor.
  3. Quest: Mirlonde, Glorfindel, Erebor RK. Denethor scries Orc Hunting Party which surges, so we'll put that at the bottom of the deck. Ithilien Tracker exhausts, reveal Ruins of the Second Age for net +5 which is 12 Threat. Not moving fast enough.
  4. Travel: none.
  5. Encounter: none.
  6. Combat: none.
  7. Refresh: Threat 14.

Round 8

  1. Resource: 5, draw Ithilien Tracker.
  2. Planning: Play Mirkwood Runner, which I hate, but I need the single quest point really bad.
  3. Quest: Mirlonde, Glorfindel, Ithilian Archer, Mirkwood Runner, Erebor RK, exhaust Ithilien Tracker, reveal Hidden Alleyway. Net +2 Progress. Dang.
  4. Travel: Hidden Alleyway, I need the time counter. Asfaloth for 2 Progress on this.
  5. Encounter: none.
  6. Combat: none.
  7. Refresh: Threat 14.

I'm not making any progress.

Round 9

  1. Resource: 5, draw Light of Valinor.
  2. Planning: Play Mithrandir's Advice drawing Gandalf and Erebor Record Keeper. Play ERK.
  3. Quest: Mirlonde, Glorfindel, ERK x2, Ithilien Tracker, Mirkwood Runner. Exhaust Ithilien Tracker, reveal Tharbad Hideout which surges to Orc Skirmishers adding no threat to this round. Net +2. Just cannot get ahead playing solitaire. But. But but but…the Orc Skirmisher does not count it's threat because of Ithilien Tracker. So really I have net +5. Asfaloth on Hidden Alleyway, which gives +4 and clearing that for Threat 10. Then we'll go to Tharbad Hideout, which prevents removing a time counter this round. We'll do Asfaloth on Ruins next round. I think there is some mickey mouse which could be done with Thror's Map here.
  4. Travel: Tharbad Hideout.
  5. Encounter: none.
  6. Combat: none.
  7. Refresh: Threat 12.

Round 10

  1. Resource: 6, draw Light of Valinor.
  2. Planning: Play Gandalf to take out Orc Skirmisher.
  3. Quest: Mirlonde and everyone, really need to pass it this time. Reveal Spy From Morder which will contribute no Threat. 13 Will total, -4 in Staging net +9 for 3. Dang.
  4. Travel: Ruins and place 2 from Asfaloth.
  5. Encounter: none.
  6. Combat: none.
  7. Refresh: Threat 5.

Round 11

  1. Resource: 4, draw Henamarth.
  2. Planning: Play Henamarth. Scry Constant Tail. Asfaloth clears Ruins of the Second Age.
  3. Quest: Mirlonde, Glorfindel, Mirkwood Runner, ERK x2 for 9 Will, reveal Constant Tail and remove 1 time counter, net +7 and Stage 1 is cleared.
  4. Travel: none.
  5. Encounter: Bellach.
  6. Combat: defend with Ithilien Tracker, shadow Seedy Inn, Threat +2. Archer and Ranger Bow put a hit on Spy.
  7. Refresh: Threat 4.

Round 12

  1. Resource: 6, draw Ithlien Tracker.
  2. Planning: Forest Snare on Bellach. Henamarth scries Cornered. Fine.
  3. Quest: All in for 11 Will, Constant Tail removes one time counter, big deal. Net +5 and need 12 total. This is going to be very close.
  4. Travel: none.
  5. Encounter: none.
  6. Combat: none.
  7. Refresh: Threat 6.

Round 13

  1. Resource: 6, draw Protector of Lorien.
  2. Planning: Play Protector of Lorien on Glorfindel. Scry Bellach's Marauder. Play Ithilian Tracker.
  3. Quest: All in, reveal Bellach's Marauder, +5 on The Crossing.
  4. Travel: none.
  5. Encounter: Engage Spy from Morder.
  6. Combat: Glorfindel defends, shadow Seedy Inn for Threat +2 for 8.
  7. Refresh: Threat 10.

I could have won it on this round pitching cards to Protector of Lorien.

Round 14

  1. Resource: 6, draw Miruvor.
  2. Planning: Miruvor to Glorfindel. Scry with Denethor to see Orc Hunter, no big deal I got this.
  3. Quest: Mirlonde, Glorfindel, Archer x2, ERK x2, Mirkwood Runner, Henamarth, Tracker to negate next enemy. Reveal Orc Hunter for 7 Threat with 12 Will for +5 net which wins the game. Let's pitch 3 cards to Protector of Lorien for +8.

This was brutally slow! But a win! Feels good to knock this out. Three more quests for this cycle.

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What to play next?

Deciding what to play next is always a tough call when faced with a closet full of games, all of which were purchased with intent to play. Here's one I'm dealing with the decision.

  • Something New: this means both something new to me and a game which has been published recently, within the last two or three years.
  • Something Classic: I've acquired a number of games properly considered "classic" which haven't yet been played. The current example would be PanzerGruppe Guderian.
  • Something Again: mastery requires constant practice, which means playing games many, many times to allow nuance to appear.
  • Something Vietnam: as I'm on a Vietnam binge. I don't have all the Vietnam games ever published, but I can say that I have a lot of them, and probably more than most people.
  • Something Obscure: as it's fun to poke around in the dustier corners of game design.
  • Something Different: break away from the same old publishers and try a game from one of the new kids on the block. Or, conversely, dip into legacy with a classic tried and true.
  • Something Light: once in a while it's nice to actually finish a game all the way through in one sitting, in an hour or two.
  • Something Heavy: if possible, it's nice to set up something big and complicated which can be left out for days or weeks or even months, for a leisurely stroll through a very large or long game.

There are surely many more ways to choose, but the above method keeps me busy enough, helps me get both breadth and depth into my play, and provides me with a sense of progress.

The odd man out

When there is an odd man out:

  • Have a solo game ready to play.
  • Keep score or advise on a game in progress.
  • Referee a game in progress.