Ever since the release of the Lord of the Rings TCG, people have been interested in winning through corrupting the ring-bearer. With the release of the Mines of Moria expansion, the Ringwraiths have become the masters in this affair. With corruption, it is all about adding burdens, so let us look at some of the cards which can help us reach that all important Resistance value:
1. The Witch-King, Lord of the Nazgul: The Witch-King, when he wins a skirmish, can exert to do 2 wounds to the ring-bearer. This can lead to (and generally does mean) multiple burdens (up to 4 if the ring-bearer wears Isildur’s Bane) per skirmish. The problem with the WK, LotN is that he is not fierce naturally. This can be compensated with Weathertop (Nazgul are fierce at Weathertop) or Ulaire Otsea (exert to make a ringwraith minion fierce). Just make sure that he can exert after the skirmish. At 8 twilight, he is rather costly, but the cost can be reduced with cards like the Ford of Bruinen (first Nazgul is –5 twilight), Morgul Gates (Play a Nazgul at –2 twilight), The Ring Draws Them (add 1 twilight for each burden you can spot when the fellowship moves).
2. Ulaire Enquea, Ringwraith in Twilight: Basically, he is a mini-WK, LotN. If he wins a skirmish, exert him to do 1 wound to the ring-bearer (or 2 if you can spot 5 burdens). At 11 strength, he is still fairly strong (compared to the 14 of the WK, LotN), has the same vitality as the WK, LotN, and costs 2 less twilight. As with the Witch-King, it is imperative that a) he win the skirmish and b) has vitality at the end of the skirmish so he can exert to wound. Pretty soon, he can easily be dealing those 2 wounds!
3. It Wants To Be Found: For 2 twilight, spot a twilight Nazgul during the Maneuver phase and add a burden. Simple! Just keep in mind that it only works with the twilight Nazgul (found in the Mines of Moria expansion and Ulaire Otsea joins their ranks in Realms of the Elf Lords).
4. The Twilight World: This card from the Fellowship expansion is almost as simple: If the ring-bearer wears the ring, exert a Nazgul to add 2 burdens. As this is a response, this can be done at any time when the ring-bearer puts it on; just keep in mind that you need to be able to exert a Nazgul to play this!
5. Wraith World: This card is a skirmish event where for 1 twilight, you can add 3 burdens if you can spot the ring-bearer wearing the ring and a twilight Nazgul. While this does not require exertion of a Nazgul, it is more limited: need a twilight Nazgul, but the most restricting thing is that it must be played during a skirmish. If all the skirmishes resolve and puts on the ring as a final act, you won’t be able to play this card!
6. Blade Tip: When this is on the ring-bearer, instead of doing wounds, it adds burdens. Now, generally it is rare that you will be able to get the Blade Tip on the ring-bearer since very few people will voluntarily stick the ring-bearer in front of one of the Nine. With Ulaire Otsea, Ringwraith in Twilight, if he wins his skirmish, he can exert to transfer Blade Tip to the ring-bearer. (However, I would say to pass on this, for Ulaire Otsea is more valuable in his Fellowship expansion guise, since no twilight Nazgul is naturally fierce.) Generally, Blade Tip is more useful in elimination of other members of the fellowship rather than as a burden adder, since it only adds a burden at the start of the fellowship phase.
7. Resistance Becomes Unbearable: During the Maneuver phase, play this event, exert a Nazgul to exert the ring-bearer or force him to wear the ring. If the ring-bearer puts the one ring on; ah, now here is when you can play all the evil burden adders in your hand! Wait till a skirmish phase, and then use that Wraith World. Or hit him with the Twilight World! But it is strictly forced to getting the ring-bearer to put on the ring. If Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer keeps getting healed by his royal highness in exile, Aragorn, then this becomes more difficult.
8. In the Ringwraith’s Wake: This response card is similar to Resistance Becomes Unbearable, in that if a Nazgul wins a skirmish, play this card to exert the ring-bearer or add a burden. Indeed, it is similar, but less powerful. A card that I would advise the would-be corrupter to avoid in most cases.
9. Drawn to Its Power: This condition allows you to add a burden each time a Nazgul kills a companion. While this may sound great, it requires it to be in play prior to the kill, plus that you actually kill a companion. It has been my experience that the fellowship companions just do not die rapidly enough to warrant the inclusion of this card.
Now, would-be corrupter, be aware of the ways of preventing of the corruption:
1. Samwise, Son of Hamfast: This hobbit can exert to remove a burden. This little one can sorely try one’s strategy! Make sure he dies quickly or use Helpless to prevent Sam from removing burdens.
2. Pippin, Hobbit of Some Intelligence: This hobbit is rarely seen being brought into play after the fellowship leaves site 1. So fear this hobbit not!
3. O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!: This tale can truly try our attempts to corrupt, as it allows the ring-bearer to take off the ring or cancel a skirmish involving one of the Nine. Make sure it is disposed of with Stricken Dumb, the Pale Blade, or Beauty is Fading.
While there are other means of removing burdens, the three above are the most common against the burdens. I hear the questions now: “Master, how are we to make sure the twilight Nazgul are healthy to the skirmish phase?” “Master, how do we deal with those annoying burning twigs?”. Those questions will be answered another day….. Just keep in mind what you have learned today, and you too can be making a 2100+ rated player have 9 burdens on Frodo before he leaves site 4.
Lao of Gondor adds: I would also add His Terrible Servants in order to protect your Twilight Nazgul’s exertion capability from being undermined by a wayward direct attack either by archery fire or event cards such as Release the Angry Flood. Many times when one plays Nazgul, there is always one or two twilight left in the pool – a great bluff many times against the archery exertion or a strategic manuever against the damage +1 capability of the Flaming Brand.
Keeping your Twilight Nazgul healthy at that site will definitely force your opponent to think about moving again.
Sometimes there is nothing more frustrating than building a deck. Many times I have just blankly stared at my card binder wondering what to do to even begin the building process. Thanks to a few friends (and the advice of Mr. Spock) I have discovered a way to make the process both enjoyable and “logical”. Have fun with your approach and let logic dictate the course of the building – in the end, you will have designed something that will be comfortable to play and difficult to beat.
REMEMBER: Play to your tempo! Only you can play this game at your speed and comfort level. So when you build a deck, play to your strengths and don’t overextend yourself to what you can not strategically handle.
A. THEME: What is the purpose of this deck? What do want it to do?
B. CO-OPERATION: Do the Fellowship and Shadow components compliment each other and the overall theme? Don’t think of the two sides of the deck as seperate components. Think of the OVERALL success that the deck can achieve.
C. KEY CHARACTERS: Who will lead the Fellowship or Shadow? The theme of your deck MUST revolve around KEY companions or Minions in order to achieve your goal. For example – Ranger decks must be built around Aragorn, Arwen and the rare Boromir. Twilight NAZGUL corruption decks must be built around twilight NAZGUL, especially the Witch King, Ulaire Nelya, Attea and Enquea – who all either wound the ring bearer to force the burdens.
D. CHOOSE YOUR WEAPONS: Does this card really need to be in this deck? Can I really use this card in my strategy? Remember – don’t add a card just to add a card for the sake of boosting the size of your deck. Streamlined decks hold no margin for error and cannot afford to place one-single unusable card in the deck. They tend to be very succesful and hard to beat since the deck theme manifests itself rather quickly!
E. ELEMENT OF SURPRISE: Can I catch my opponent off guard – forcing a mistake? There is the one hidden weapon in every deck design. Many players believe that a surprise Witch King, Balrog or Troop of Uruk-Hai is the answer to a possible stop. But remember will that surprise end up taking crucial deck-space – or does it add to the strength of the strategy?
There are numerous other things to consider when you are designing a deck. But I believe that the list I have provided outlines the very basics in Deck Design and basic strategy. I hope these tidbits prove helpful in some way.
To get more information, use the sites I use like the ones below. Simply find a movie or actor you want to see, go to one of the sites below and see if the film is playing in your area. mydigiguide.com, tv-now.com and IMDB.com
Interview, The (1998) True Love and Chaos (1997) UK Babe (1995)
Miranda Otto (Eowyn)
What Lies Beneath (2000) UK True Love and Chaos (1997) UK Love Serenade (1996)
David Wenham (Faramir)
Cameron Rhodes (Farmer Maggot)
Elijah Wood (Frodo)
Bumblebee Flies Anyway, The (2000) Radio Flyer (1992) UK Forever Young (1992) UK Child in the Night (1990) (TV) Internal Affairs (1990)
Cate Blanchett (Galadriel)
Bandits (2001) Gift, The (2000) Pushing Tin (1999) UK Talented Mr. Ripley, The (1999) UK Elizabeth (1998) UK Paradise Road (1997) Oscar and Lucinda (1997) UK
Bruce Hopkins (Gamling)
Ian McKellen (Gandalf)
X-Men (2000) UK Swept from the Sea (1997) Richard III (1995) I’ll Do Anything (1994) UK To Die for (1994) UK Plenty (1985) UK Alfred the Great (1969) UK Touch of Love, A (1969)
Secret of the Andes (1998) UK Protector, The (1997/I) Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996) (V) UK Great White Hype, The (1996) Stargate (1994) Canvas (1992) Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Framing (1992) (TV) Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam (1987) (TV) Firewalker (1986) UK Victor/Victoria (1982) UK Sphinx (1981)
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) UK Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) UK
Megan Edwards (Mrs. Proudfoot)
Billy Boyd (Pippin)
Sarah McLeod (Rosie Cotton)
Sean Astin (Sam)
Sky Is Falling, The (2000) Icebreaker (1999) UK Deterrence (1999) Bulworth (1998) UK Dish Dogs (1998) Courage Under Fire (1996) Rudy (1993) Encino Man (1992) UK Toy Soldiers (1991) War of the Roses, The (1989) UK Staying Together (1989) Like Father, Like Son (1987)
Christopher Lee (Saruman)
Sleepy Hollow (1999) UK Jinnah (1998) UK Feast at Midnight, A (1994) Avaro, L’ (1989) Howling II (1985) Arabian Adventure (1979) Killer Force (1975) Four Musketeers, The (1974) UK Three Musketeers, The (1973) UK Death Line (1972) Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968) UK Devil Rides Out, The (1968) UK Schlangengrube und das Pendel, Die (1967) Gorgon, The (1964) City of the Dead, The (1960) That Lady (1955) Scott of the Antarctic (1948) UK
Sala Baker (Sauron)
Brian Sergent (Ted Sandyman)
Meet the Feebles (1989) UK
Bernard Hill (Theoden)
Going Off Big Time (2000) UK Midsummer Night’s Dream, A (1999) UK Loss of Sexual Innocence, The (1999) UK True Crime (1999) Titanic (1997)
Nathaniel Lees (Ugluk)
Brad Dourif (Wormtongue)
Storytellers, The (1999) UK Urban Legend (1998) UK Sworn to Justice (1996) Color of Night (1994) Amos & Andrew (1993) Body Parts (1991) UK Exorcist III, The (1990) Hidden Agenda (1990) Mississippi Burning (1988) Ragtime (1981) Wise Blood (1979) UK
Jim Rygiel (SFX)
Anna and the King (1999) UK Multiplicity (1996) Scout, The (1994) UK Batman Returns (1992) UK Last Starfighter, The (1984) UK 2010 (1984) UK
Howard Shore (Composer)
High Fidelity (2000) UK Cell, The (2000) UK eXistenZ (1999) UK Dogma (1999) UK Analyze This (1999) UK Cop Land (1997) That Thing You Do! (1996) UK Before and After (1996) Striptease (1996) Truth About Cats & Dogs, The (1996) Se7en (1995) White Man’s Burden (1995) Prelude to a Kiss (1992) UK Silence of the Lambs, The (1991) Innocent Man, An (1989) Signs of Life (1989) She-Devil (1989) Moving (1988) UK Fly, The (1986) UK After Hours (1985) UK Scanners (1981)
It is always easy to drop a handful of devastating rares into your deck, and re-use the same tactic against your unwitting opponent, thrashing at their poor Dwarves with your Ringwraith’s might, but what if thats not so easy to do? What happens when the rare pool dries up and you’re left without the cards to prefect your devastation? Well thats the question many players posed, so I’m here to offer a low cost strategy option using only Common and Uncommon cards!
The Fellowship of the Ring
For our low cost Fellowship we’re going to go with a Hobbit Culture Strategy, beginning with Frodo: Reluctant Adventurer, and the Common One Ring: The Ruling Ring, with the starting fellowship consisting of Sam: Son of Hamfast, Merry: From O’er the Brandywine, and Pippin: Friend to Frodo. The goal in this deck is to avoid confrontation, while still getting your Hobbit’s on their way to Site 9. I’ve included Stealth events like Hobbit Intuition, and Hobbit Stealth that either add Strength to your Hobbit Companions or cancel a skirmish all together. I’ve also added Nice Imitation, which is handy when you just can’t avoid a skirmish and end up taking a wound, simply discard this condition to prevent that wound. With use of the Hobbit Swords, the Tale: There and Back Again, and multiple Bounders; you should be able to rush your fellowship to Site 9 with little to no loss. Boromir: Son of Denethor has been tossed in as his ability to add 3 Strength to a hobbit comes in handy, and hes often a useful card to take damage away from your Hobbits!
Frodo: Reluctant Adventurer The One Ring: The Ruling Ring
Frodo: Reluctant Adventurer [this is a second copy for healing purposes] Sam: Son of Hamfast x2 Merry: From O’er the Brandywine x2 Pippin: Friend to Frodo x2 Boromir: Son of Denethor x2 Bounder x4 Hobbit Sword x4 There and Back Again x2 Hobbit Intuition x4 Hobbit Stealth x4 Nice Imitation Not Feared in Sunlight Extraordinary Resilience
The Shadow
With the Shadow Portion of our Deck I’ve gone with the swarm tactic using only common and uncommon cards to pit against your opponents Fellowship. Using multiple copies of Moria Scout, Goblin Spearman, Goblin Marksman, Goblin Scavengers, and Goblin Flankers you’re never left without something to play. Including weapons like Goblin Spear and Goblin Scimitar allow me to boost these otherwise low strength minions to even the score against your opponents supported companions. The only condition in this deck is Plundered Armories as it allows you to keep your discarded weapons from going to waste. This swarm of minions coupled in with a copy of the common Balrog is sure to drop the jaw of your opponent when they struggle to decide where to assign all of Moria’s Fury!
With the Adventure Deck it is rather simple to stay within a budget as all of the cards you may wish to add are Common or Uncommon anyway, I went with the Locations that I did as I felt they gave a bonus of some kind to my strategy or as small of a bonus as humanly possible to my opponent.
1. Westfarthing 2. Buckleberry Ferry 3. Council Courtyard 4. Moria Stairway 5. The Bridge of Khazad-Dum 6. Dumrill Dale 7. Anduin Wilderland 8. Brown Lands 9. Summit of Amon Hen
This deck is far from unbeatable, but as you play against your friends and expand your collection, you will come to find new strategies and new twists that every collection can adapt to. Keep playing, and keep comparing cards, you never know when you might come up with the end all strategy!
What do you use to devastate your opponent? How do you get your Fellowship to Site 9 unharmed? Tell us about it! E-mail Flinch at flinch@theonering.net!
Adrienne writes: I’m writing after reading the Pre-order DVD front page article about Blockbuster. I was just in the Blockbuster in my town (Toronto area, Canada) where I know some of the employees, and I was informed that the DVD will definitely be available to pre-order, and that as soon as mid-June (I actually think he said June 6th…but I can’t remember 100% for sure…). Regardless, I guess that’s some sort of confirmation that it WILL be available to pre-order soon! I don’t know about give-aways with it, but they did it in Canada with Harry Potter too, so I would think they’ll do it for this.
