Opening Analysis #3, WCHP vs. HHMAPP E -- War of the Ring

[@Zarl451]

I'd probably look at blocking in Tower Hills rather than South EL. You might even be able to get the Northern Elite over as well if you roll an army move next round. That still slows down Shadow by forcing them to use a full attack rather than half moves, and means if the Northern units survive the attack they can retreat to Grey Havens. 4/1/1 vs 1/1/1 might be close, but its looking a bit forlorn if a North elite makes it in and suddenly its 6HP vs 5HP.

[@Zilkat]

As FP I would definitely move the regular to South Ered Luin. I feel like the early game in particular is about getting the most overall value out of your dice, to set you up for pressuring along multiple axes later on. This move essentially trades half an army move for half an army move (because SP now has to attack instead of move) and additionally acts as a free early muster if SP ends up attacking through there. If not, you made them waste Rage of the Dunlendings or at least use it suboptimally for half a movement, which is also great value.

[@1HourRebellion]

maybe the dwarf and shire unit to tower hills. then if u draw scouts, grey havens is well defended, and youre getting a double muster? u lose the shire probably, but that army doesnt really have anywhere to go after that

[@adamthebatmanwest]

I was gonna say that. Ok you get the Shire/Grey Havens I get the North and Dwarves active and a step down with there and back again in my hand to make the dew line really strong

[@victorgarcia99]

Thanks for the opening analysis! Very good idea!

[@Micharheins]

You forget to mention that SP also puts the North very close to war by engaging that 1 regular and taking a deroute through the Shire. The north can then muster up and defend the remaining elven strongholds and also slow down your blitz-attack on Grey Havens. It's a solid counter move

[@Lancer234]

I think I would be inclined as FP to block in south ered luin, I’m getting a muster of north no matter what, and costing shadow a combat strength in grey havens if he leaves a regular in the shire to prevent a retake by the north regular

[@Lancer234]

I might even use the second action to move down the fp elite then if the north gets to war you can combine with bree to threaten a retake

[@WarOfTheRingChamp]

Yes, upon reflection, maybe it was a mistake from FP. Dealing 1 hit could make a big difference.

[@darthbdaman]

As FP I think you definitely want to move the regular to South Ered Luin, and probably use the other half of the army to move the Elite in North Downs to Evendim. Then Shadow has to choose between getting Saruman or taking the shire for free. The FP has to hope they get an Army move next turn to move the elite into The Shire or Tower Hills (and maybe move the Dwarf regular into Evendim)

[@benstapleton5319]

I would be inclined to go after Rivendell here just because it helps advance both victory conditions. That said, an early attack on Grey Havens can really take FP off-guard and its certainly one of the easiest Free Strongholds to take.

[@WarOfTheRingChamp]

Good point!

[@ricardodubcek4510]

Hi Ira, great video again, thanks! Just curious, would it make sense to move out of Ered Luin AND The Shire to Tower Hills with the dwarf and the northman together to block the path to Grey Havens, in case maybe you get lucky and draw Scouts? Is that legal? I know you said something about Harlingdon but the box for cards blocks the view a bit, so I'm not sure of the geography.

[@andreikoenig5718]

nice!! really like these!

[@WarOfTheRingChamp]

Glad you enjoy them! :)

[@NigelIncubatorJones]

An early Rage pointed northwest could be lots of fun. As much as I like it, though, six hit points to take out three hit points in Grey Havens seems to be cutting it a little bit too close. You generally want 2:1 or better, but if the attack fails, that's a lot of expenditure for no gain. I'd be tempted to muster a little more before sending that army out, making it big enough to take and hold both Grey Havens and The Shire.

[@angoncar]

Hi! As SP I would probably have drawn one S card with the first palantir, that way I give myself a bit more time to muster the second elite in north dunland next turn, and potentially expanded your options if you drew a playable card like Shadows on the Misty Mountains, Orcs Multiplying, or Pits

[@Dexsting]

Rush Rohan with the rage.

[@h.l.malazan5782]

Is there a channel that record War of the Ring the Card Game tournaments?

[@JayJayMiraculum]

I would muster 2 elites before using rage, having 1 less movement to go towards Grey Havens but 2 elites and 4 regulars on the way.

[@stevesiracing1717]

Hello, what program are you using to play this game on a computer? Thanks

[@andreikoenig5718]

Why do you have 2 copies of Xia? :)

[@WarOfTheRingChamp]

Sharp eyes! :) I co-designed a couple expansions to Xia, so I have some extra copies in my collection to mess with components. :)

[@andreikoenig5718]

@@WarOfTheRingChamp wooah, thats cool to know. I have Embers of Forsaken Star and would like to get Sellsword at some point. Which expansions were you involved in? Are there other official (and unofficial expansions)? Sorry to go off the wotr topic

[@WarOfTheRingChamp]

@@andreikoenig5718 All the official ones. :) boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/46210/ira-fay

[@Dexsting]

FP run the north elite and regular into tower hills with the dwarf regular.

[@RIP_Sinners]

The problem with Raging at Rivendell early is that Raging later is just as good or better. Unless you can get on top of FSP for rerolls, all you've done is woken the elves by taking their weakest SH. SP gets 2 VP, but DEW and Lorien are stronger. Rivendell rarely gets much stronger if taken after Lorien and WLR, especially if Rage can catch FP by surprise (no FP musters available). Grey Havens early has a lot of the same problems, and also the FSP is not there, and the North/Dwarves retaking GH is harder to defend. I view Rage as an answer to a problem, but early on, I don't know what the problem is yet. I might need reinforcements in Rohan or Lorien, or I might need to reach a far away SH for my last VP. As for FP defense vs a Cardolan Rage, I would army move Shire to South Ered Luin and North Downs to Buckland. Thus, you have guaranteed that the North will come avenging GH if the game goes long enough. The Northern force pool is deep, and SP dallies at their own peril.

[@Juergen6]

More of this please 😀 Its funny how everyone would play this different. I would play Rage of the Dunlendings into Moria, so I can besiege Lorien with 10 units and leave 1 Orc in DG and 1 Orc in Moria.