Stern Words

[MuadDib85]

I would say don't start with Mithrandir. It is asking for trouble.

You're better off starting Merry Pippin and Sam or Gimli and Legolas.

You should add more copies of Gandalf (probably 4) for extra healing.

Stern Words x4 in play is going to hurt your chances of ever having a decent shadow hand... Maybe add some move limit stuff.. like Durin's Secret maybe.

[inzilzor]

can this deck survive with an early swarm?

[ket_the_jet]

You still didn't solve the cycling issue. I am unconvinced that you can keep up if you have to double move. Adding vitality is not the same thing as healing. Another Gandalf is probably a far better call. Preparations is only there to stack Slaked Thirsts on it. That's a great way to cycle and then exert characters like Shotgun Enquea who will prey on your deck.

Albert Dreary, Entertainer from Bree would be helpful to avoid cards like Greed. And it is a bad call in most formats to start just Gandalf, Mithrandir. If you double to site three, you already have two wounds plus if a minion is played you could go into site three without your main companion.

Check mate.
-wtk

[Haszor]

Have you read the strategy?  You use Aragorn, King in Exile and don't double move to site three.  Next turn you use his effect to start healing Gandalf.  Also as he gets to 6 vitality that would take 6 moves without healing to fully kill him off.  My main problem with building decks though is that I don't like having a large deck as it lowers your chances of getting vital cards.  I guess adding a few other Gandalfs couldn't hurt though.  Preperations though... I don't see how it helps to cycle.  It doesn't do anything but put cards from your discard onto it.  I've been thinking of using Sent Back in case Gandalf gets killed.

[inzilzor]

Terrible and Evil is a good card to counter Shotgun Enquea

[ket_the_jet]

With Stern Words being returned to your hand, you will not get good Shadow Draws. If you don't double from 1-3, you are nearly guaranteed to lose and can't make that up by doubling over a sanctuary, you are almost guaranteed to lose.
-wtk

[Haszor]

What?  How does not doubling make me lose?  Oh right.  If I go first I get Aragorn out on site 1

[ket_the_jet]

I honestly don't know how to be clearer, but I am going to presume that you are a relatively new player with little game-experience.

Most decks are built to double move from site 1 to site 3. You've already said that your deck won't do this which is not a problem in theory; however, as Stern Words is already cutting down on the likelihood of one or two good Shadow hands over the course of the game, letting your opponent run ahead with an ineffective Shadow is not an effective strategy. Most of the problems stem from the "letting your opponent run ahead with an ineffective Shadow" part.

Not to mention the you will be adding for companions on the move and the potential more for Stern Words, not to mention site costs, you are adding a lot of twilight, clogging your own hand, and not double-moving because the key companion in your deck is self-destructing.
-wtk

[Haszor]

Oh, I got ya.  And yeah I haven't played much cause the one person I get to play sucks and doesn't want to play me.  
1. What I could do is add like 2 burdens to move first get Aragorn, then start doubling and use Osgiliath Reclaimed.
2. Change to Gandalf, the White Wizard as there's no way my opponents are going to use all the pool.  And change his staff to either Focus of Power or Walking Stick.  If I do that I might change to Heir to the White City

[jdizzy001]

...there's no way my opponents are going to use all the pool. 

maybe not, but have you ever seen a troll swarm shadow?  twilight=minions, lots of twilight=your fellowship is toast

[Haszor]

huh.  I really can't see much of a way out of this.  Unless I drop my other companions and start using Gandalf's cause then I can go for a focused fellowship.