Frodo corrupted; strongholds barred!

[djarv]

Man, was this frustrating.

Even though I haven't played that many games, I like to feel I'm at least one level above newbie. But in my last game, my SP opponent sure made me feel like one.

Started out great; I got through Moria, having lost Gandalf to a 3 counter on the second hunt. No problem; got to Dimrill Dale and had to make a decision.

I got "We are the Swifter" and ran Strider to Minis Tirith (how could that be wrong?), and decided to leave the rest of the fellowship together to absorb hits.

My opponent was completely stymied in getting his armies moving, so decided to go full out to deny Frodo any respite. He played 'Palantar of Orthanc' in order to draw as many character cards as possible, and, boy, did he!

In retrospect, I should have killed that card right away, as he completely kept me from entering any stronghold. The first time I tried to enter Lorien, he found me and played "Breaking of the Fellowshop", drawing a three. So now Boromir, Legolas, and Gimli were gone. I went into hiding again, tried to enter Lorien again, and found me (again), and drew a another 3. So I separated Merry and Pippin, taking a corruption as well. I was at about 4 corruption now.

I tried one more shot into Lorien, failed yet again, taking more corruption, and decided to head south to Minis Tirith, which seemed quite safe. He had not yet even entered North & South Isgiliath, and I had Aragon there.

By now I had Aragon in Minis Tirith, Gandalf the White in Fangorn, and maybe five or so corruption. But everytime I moved, he swooped, playing Nazgul Strike, Orc Patrol (oh yeh, and Balrog earlier).

I got to Druadan Forest, just one mere step away from safety, and I couldn't get in!

More corruption. More choices. Made a feeble move to Osgiliath, now finally at 10 corruption and desparate. His armies were finally well mobilized, and I needed to heal badly. Minis Tirith was well held and not even under siege yet. I felt I could heal quite a few points if only I could get in.

One final attempt - no, another failure... he drew a 2, and Ring falls to the Dark Lord.

Really a frustrating game.

My opponent played brilliantly, having abandoned his military plan early because of poor dice. I should have never allowed him to go through his Character cards so quickly (he had maybe only four or five left), and I was unable to counter the ones he played.

Incidentally, he had also played Threats and Promises quite early which made my military situation dismal. I could have countered this my moving Boromir to Minis Tirith with Strider.

But now I am curious. Has anyone else ever failed to get into a Stronghold or City with the Fellowship when they desparately needed to?

Or have I set some sort of horrible precedent?

And also, any suggestions to counter this type of tactic by the SP?

[nigel]

djarv said:

I got "We are the Swifter" and ran Strider to Minis Tirith (how could that be wrong?), and decided to leave the rest of the fellowship together to absorb hits.

Well stripping out strider is okay for the extra die in the pool and playing the event card that pulls eyes out of the bag, but you've lost 3 corruption soak and also the ability to hide with any die and useful healing with Athelas. Is it wrong? Not sure ... depends on the game situation.

My opponent was completely stymied in getting his armies moving, so decided to go full out to deny Frodo any respite. He played 'Palantar of Orthanc' in order to draw as many character cards as possible, and, boy, did he!

In retrospect, I should have killed that card right away, as he completely kept me from entering any stronghold.

Yep, the FP should discard that card as soon as possible - letting the SP draw more cards is very bad!

As for the 3 attempts to enter Lorien - that sounds like a bad plan - that's 3 moves closer to Mordor you've wasted ... if I move the Fellowship and get revealled then I'll always move the fellowship on, unless there's a really really good reason not to (like a nazgul and a combat unit, and even then I might). I also think you might have been better to go the High Pass route rather than reveal in Moria for an extra tile draw - that way you could head for either Lorien or Woodland Realm forcing your opponent to cover more areas in the search.

Breaking of the Fellowship needs a revealed fellowship, if you're facing a concentrated hunt strategy you have to pick your movement timing with care - don't move if your opponent has a character die or palantir die unused, as he can then play a card - wait until they have been used ...

By now I had Aragon in Minis Tirith, Gandalf the White in Fangorn, and maybe five or so corruption. But everytime I moved, he swooped, playing Nazgul Strike, Orc Patrol (oh yeh, and Balrog earlier).

I got to Druadan Forest, just one mere step away from safety, and I couldn't get in!

He was quite lucky having all those hunt helping cards - but that's not surprising with the palantir in play!

Assuming your opponent is going all out 'hunt' with 4/5 dice in the hunt pool then you're going to have more action dice a turn, so you should build a military threat and force him to stop hunting - don't bother to move the fellowship if it's a 5 dice roll with re-rolls (for example), instead build up an army and threaten a stronghold (you don't have to actually do it) - then you'll see less dice in the hunt next turn.

Remember even with 8 dice in the hunt your opponent only rolls 5 of them (maximum).

Incidentally, he had also played Threats and Promises quite early which made my military situation dismal. I could have countered this my moving Boromir to Minis Tirith with Strider.

You could also move armies into 'neutral' areas to cover the Fellowship (eg. the army in Carrock), that stops the SP moving an army into the fellowship area as it would be an attack on your army and activate that nation, and discard the Threats

Also Threats & Promises doesn't affect an active nation, so you can get the elves to war at least - do that, muster them up and then move out of Lorien or Woodland Realm or Rivendell to threaten ...

Your opponent could only have 8 dice right - basic 7 + Saruman, you had 6 (basic 4 + Aragorn & Gandalf the White). With 4/5 in the hunt he's only got 3-4 a turn and you have 6! If the WK was in play then your nations are active and threats doesn't affect them.

any suggestions to counter this type of tactic by the SP?

Hopefully I've done that - but basically if your opponent is concentrating on the hunt rather than a military victory then you do NOT want to move the fellowship unless it's really necessary or you can safely do it. Instead do other stuff with your action dice to threaten a FP military victory which will then force your opponent to call off the hunt and nothing else strategy.

Never leave the Palantir on the table unless you really need the Will of the West for something more urgent (eg a hide ...)

Take casualties rather than corruption when possible, that's what those guys are there for

Nigel

[djarv]

Thanks for the very excellent suggestions.

Now... if I can only remember them for our next game...

[aed]

I don't understand one point : how can you fail to enter Lorien (or any stronghold)?
I understand that even if a hunt is successull, the fellowship marker move on anyway
I'm wrong?

[Krieghund]

Welcome, aed!

The Fellowship does indeed still get to move when it is Revealed, but it may not be placed in a Free Peoples' Stronghold or city. It may only enter these when being Declared.

[aed]

yes of course! sorry for my dumb remark
I'm a newbie for this game