Post by mexicoike on Feb 24, 2010 5:17:35 GMT 1
In my other post, I illustrated how you can win every time with the FP player. I have to admit, though, that if the SP gets lucky with hunt rolls and/or tile-drawing, he has a chance. Or if he can get awesome army rolls, he has a chance, too. Here is some strategic advice for the Shadow Player:
1) If at all possible, go for Lorien before anything else. Attack with the starting armies in Dol Guldur and Moria - 1 elite, 1 Nazgul, and 7 regulars altogether (you should also move the other 2 starting Nazgul with them to help). You have to do it quick before Galadriel gets out and the Elves go to war; otherwise she can use her special ability to continuously recruit while under siege and it's hopeless. This is possible, though, because there's only one Elite and one leader in Lorien - 3 hits only. This is very important from a corruption perspective since Galadriel will no longer be able to get rid of Eye hunt tiles with her other special ability.
2) Attack Dol Amroth using the Corsairs before anywhere else in Gondor. Regardless of what you do, as long as the FP player is smart, he'll be able to get 5 units in Minas Tirith. However, there are only 3 regulars starting out in Dol Amroth. If you can move all the Southron/Easterling units to Umbar, get them to war, get ships, and attack Dol Amroth, they won't have a chance to recruit any extra units there because they won't be activated until you actually attack. Whereas if you attack Minas Tirith first, the FP player has all the time in the world to build up in Dol Amroth.
3) After #1 and #2, focus on Helm's Deep. Use Saruman's special recruiting ability to convert 4 regulars in Orthanc to 4 Elites and then attack with 5 elites. That's 5 regular dice and 5 re-rolls. You can recruit Dunlending units with the attacking army if your forces get depleted before taking over the Stronghold.
4) Get the corruption-based Witch King instead of the army-based one. Then put one or two more Nazgul with the Fellowship for re-rolls. This should slow them down some. Plus the army-based witch-king activates everyone. I'll admit that the army-based WK's ability to draw another card is nice, though, so this advice can be taken either way.
I'd like to hear if anyone has anything to add.
1) If at all possible, go for Lorien before anything else. Attack with the starting armies in Dol Guldur and Moria - 1 elite, 1 Nazgul, and 7 regulars altogether (you should also move the other 2 starting Nazgul with them to help). You have to do it quick before Galadriel gets out and the Elves go to war; otherwise she can use her special ability to continuously recruit while under siege and it's hopeless. This is possible, though, because there's only one Elite and one leader in Lorien - 3 hits only. This is very important from a corruption perspective since Galadriel will no longer be able to get rid of Eye hunt tiles with her other special ability.
2) Attack Dol Amroth using the Corsairs before anywhere else in Gondor. Regardless of what you do, as long as the FP player is smart, he'll be able to get 5 units in Minas Tirith. However, there are only 3 regulars starting out in Dol Amroth. If you can move all the Southron/Easterling units to Umbar, get them to war, get ships, and attack Dol Amroth, they won't have a chance to recruit any extra units there because they won't be activated until you actually attack. Whereas if you attack Minas Tirith first, the FP player has all the time in the world to build up in Dol Amroth.
3) After #1 and #2, focus on Helm's Deep. Use Saruman's special recruiting ability to convert 4 regulars in Orthanc to 4 Elites and then attack with 5 elites. That's 5 regular dice and 5 re-rolls. You can recruit Dunlending units with the attacking army if your forces get depleted before taking over the Stronghold.
4) Get the corruption-based Witch King instead of the army-based one. Then put one or two more Nazgul with the Fellowship for re-rolls. This should slow them down some. Plus the army-based witch-king activates everyone. I'll admit that the army-based WK's ability to draw another card is nice, though, so this advice can be taken either way.
I'd like to hear if anyone has anything to add.
