by Rafamir
A very challenging game for both sides as my Free was starved for Cs/Ws and Andy's Shadow was starved for Ms/Hs for the first five (!) turns. The FSP had only moved three times. Then I rolled C C C W on Turn 6 and got my fifth die with Gandalf, while Andy got M M M H A P P P and no Eyes, making up a bit for his drought but letting me steal three steps on the Fellowship Track unmolested.The inability to move the FSP much for the first few turns meant I got Rohan quickly to war (with an assist from Elrond's Wisdom), but my hoped for muster cards (Eomer? Theoden?) did not materialize (Red Arrow appeared much later). Still, Gondor proved to be a very dynamic theater of war, with sieges and sorties around Minas Tirith and dramatic turning of tides.
Andy fought doggedly, and shored up Shadow strongholds when Aragorn's armies threatened to get too big or too close, making an FPMV attempt iffy at best. The Corruption game was where he proved stronger, with several successful hunts winnowing out the small tiles. Worn With Sorrow and Toil threatened to rob me of precious Ent cards, so Boromir proved swifter to join the defense of his city. The FSP soldiered on with just Gimli, Legolas, and Pippin, hoping to heal and be rid of WWSAT, but were revealed amidst the swirl of Southrons milling about the besieged Minas Tirith.
About to declare in Mordor at the end of Turn 11, Cruel Weather struck, pushing the FSP back to North Ithilien. But the Free Peoples had delaying tactics of their own, including a duel to the death between Aragorn and the Witch-King himself. This bought Frodo time to have all four blue tiles in the pool and to slip through Gorgoroth up the fiery mountain, but the journey was a treacherous one as Andy dropped in the red 3 and Shelob.
How did it end? I'll upload the log, but if you aren't into replays, the outcome and the stats are below:
[o]
Elven Rope gives a ring dunk with Corruption at 9. Pelargir liberated twice, siege of Minas Tirith lifted twice, Rohan conquered.
Win for lower ranked player +/-18 (545 - 504 = 41)
Rafamir
Shadow 572
Free 504 -> 522
Games 11 -> 12
Avg 538 -> 547
GamesJart
Shadow 545 -> 527
Free 437
Games 33 -> 34
Avg 491 -> 482[/o]