ARDA with Dream cards - The Houses of the North

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Vastor Peredhil
Council Member
Posts: 1321
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:46 am
Location: Kempen (Niederrhein) Germany

Hello all,

this year I finally put together my 1st ARDA using DCs, it was always a plan I had, as I love both formats, but standard ARDA was missing some aspects of DC format for me.

Also I wanted an ARDA which was scale-able without getting too big and too out of hand (or all over the place).

So I went with Dwarves as theme for the 1st DC ARDA - the deck has reached its final 777 cards (some play testing will get some cards added others removed, but I like to keep this iconic number), it tests some few cards from unreleased sets as well and I played it plenty with 3 players and had some of tests at LURE with 4 & 5 players - right now I am thinking it is a bit small for more than 5 players (for now it only uses 5 Wizards as avatars (which have their fallen manifestation as a flip side).

Some considerations before you start building it - the Arda box contains 1 set of DC FF site cards, but it is not really needed to play the game, it makes some movement decisions easier. We play with all UEPs and DC rules in effect, but it will also work without the use of these or just select some few DC rules you like (and cannot go without anymore).
The deck for me uses 5 different color sleeves (MP-deck, deck (hazards & non-item resources), characters (I use even extra sleeves for 6+ minders in the deck), minor item deck, and sideboard ( I know normal ARDA has no SB, but bear with me here).

Game set up and drafting:
Each player receives 5 random MP cards (MP-hand) - and roles the dice - the one with the highest result selects his Wizard 1st based on this 1st MP hand - then select the 4 dwarf-lords (DC versions of Balin, Dain, Thorin & Thrain (use Narin as well if 5 players are playing)) and randomly assign 1 to each player (Dwarf-lords are played as normal characters, so do not use the Dwarf-lord values, but the lower values on these characters (we use these to offset the exclusion of big Elves).

Spread out the minor/startable event cards(Quests) (exclude the unique and hoard items - though we allow for most hoard items except the Jewel of Beleriand - it is just too good) - make sure the players are aware of these events - Grim Voiced - or - Ringwinner - can be really strong if the right characters are drafted for it.
Some Quests can give a good advantage - depending on your starting MP hand.

Now every player gets assigned 2 more high minders, and then 7 more random characters (exclude Fram) - you need to do draft since Legolas and Gimli and some others characters might there in more than 1 manifestation. Start this draft with the player who chooses his Wizard last and then go round.

You may draft 5 additional characters for up to 25 mind + your wizard for 6 total characters (for the game players still only have 20 GI)

Mix the leftover characters with the rest of them to become the "roving character pile".

Now ever player drafts 3 minor items and or items, if 3 events are chosen by a player he may draft a 4th extra minor item (as everything is there more than once, just grab what you like, or again have the last Wizard choose 1st)

Shuffle the rest of the minors (and even the events if you like (we do so) into the minor item deck).

Every player draws an 8 card play hand.

You now select Rivendell or any legal site by DC starting site rule (ignore the wizard's home site) as starting site - so really only Blue Mountain Dwarf-hold, Iron-hill Dwarf-hold or Nurunkhizdin (or Bag End if all 4 hobbits end up with the same player) as starting sites seem feasible.

We really enjoy trading (of non-hazard cards) for the non-active players - if you do not you might want to take the gold rings and special ring items and put into and extra "ring-deck" to draw from instead of the normal MP-deck.

The 1st Wizard goes 1st (as he was already last on drafting and minor items); we play to 25 MPs where hoard items, rings & miscs MP are all separate category where you double your points if non of the other players have no MP in this category.
But we also played 4 hours to 35 MP and still had good fun, without any boredom - enjoy - the deck list for the ARDA will follow in the next post, so do not reply to this until I post the list, may Aulê protect your home and forge.

Ring deck
I added a ring deck to make testable rings more playable (every time you test a ring - you may flip the top card of the ring deck as result for the the test - so in most cases you have good chances to get a ring. On top of that you can also of course draft Rumours of Rings (2 copies) from the minor item pool - to get ring special items under Rumours you flip 4 rings at random from the ring deck and select 2 to reserve with it. And lastly there are still 4 rings special items in MP-deck which can be played at various outlying regions or are really dangerous to carry around.

Add-on
One can play any unique ring under any Roumour of Rings

Smoke Rings can grab cards from SB or DP to hand (but only can be played if not facing an attack, smoking is relaxation afterall)

yours Vastor

Second edit to the ARDA deck 23.03.2022
4th edit to the ARDA deck 21.02.2024
Last edited by Vastor Peredhil on Wed Feb 21, 2024 7:32 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Vastor Peredhil
Council Member
Posts: 1321
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:46 am
Location: Kempen (Niederrhein) Germany

Decks/Piles

Avatar (5) - sleeved with the Fallen-wizard on the back as a flip-side
player with highest roll picks his wizard 1st (after MP-Draw)

1 Alatar [H] (TW)
1 Gandalf [H] (TW)
1 Pallando [H] (TW)
1 Radagast [H] (TW)
1 Saruman [H] (TW)

Main-characters (each player gets 1 random - rest to go to high minders
1 Balin* [D] (DF)
1 Dáin (DF)
1 Thorin (DF)
1 Thráin (DF)
1 Narin (DF) (only needed for a 5th player)

High-minders /Fighters (mix with the leftover main characters and every player gets 2 more of these rest go to roving)
1 Aryen (NE)
1 Beorn (TW)
1 Brand (TD)
1 Frerin (DF)
1 Galgrinic (NW)
1 Gimli (TW)
1 Glóin (TW)
1 Grimbeorn the Old (GW)
1 Kori (DF)
1 Legolas (TW)
1 Lipór (DF)
1 Náin, Son of Grór (DF)
1 Thorin III Stonehelm (DF)
1 Thulin II (DF)
1 Tupór (DF)

Mix the rest and every one gets 8 more low minders to fill the gaps in their starting company - afterwards put them all in the roving character pile

3 Attack-Lord (DF)
3 Dwarven Miner (DF)
2 King's Advisor (DF)
2 King's Judge (DF)
2 Mountaineer (DF)
3 Pathfinder (DF)

Firebeard Dwarf (8)
1 Bifur (TW)
1 Bofur (TW)
1 Bombur (TW)
1 Borin (DF)
1 Flói (DF)
1 Náli (DF)

Hobbit (4)
1 Bilbo (TW)
1 Frodo (TW)
1 Milo Burrows (RS)
1 Sancho Proudfoot (RS)

Ironfist Dwarf (5)
1 Dworin (DF)
1 Frár (DF)
1 Lóni (DF)
1 Norin (DF)

Longbeard Dwarf (17)
1 Dori (TW)
1 Drór (DM)
1 Dwalin (TW)
1 Dís (DF)
1 Fori the Beardless (DM)
1 Fíli (TW)
1 Gimli, Son of Gloin (DF)
1 Kíli (TW)
1 Nori (TW)
1 Ori (TW)
1 Óin (TW)

Man (10)
1 Bain (GW)
1 Bard Bowman (TW)
1 Peath (TW)
1 Sprautabern (NW)
1 Voteli (TW)

Elves (3)
1 Legolas of Greenwood (FB)
1 Striuk´ir (NW)
1 Kénwe Foryaren (NW)
1 Taurnil (RS)

Stiffbeard Dwarf (1)
1 Relin II (BO)

Umit (3)
1 Marin (NW)
1 Róin (NW)

1 Fram Framson (TD) - goes directly to roving characters
Last edited by Vastor Peredhil on Wed Feb 21, 2024 7:43 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Vastor Peredhil
Council Member
Posts: 1321
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:46 am
Location: Kempen (Niederrhein) Germany

MP-deck-pile

Ally (20)
3 A More or Less Decent Giant (DF)
1 Alfur (ML)
1 Bill the Pony (TW)
1 Carc (DF)
1 Fatty Lumpkin (RS)
1 Goldberry (TW)
1 Gollum (TW)
1 Gwaihir (TW)
1 Kuurakynsi (NW)
1 Lindion the Oronín (DM)
1 Lumipallo (NW)
1 Meneldor (RS)
3 Noble Hound (DM)
1 Quickbeam (TW)
1 Roäc the Raven (TW)
1 Ruddy Varmint (RS)

Faction (27)
1 A Panoply of Wings (WH)
1 Bears of the Carrock (DF)
1 Beornings (TW)
1 Blue Mountain Dwarves (TW)
1 Ents of Fangorn (TW)
2 Escaped Slaves (WR)
1 Iron Hill Dwarves (TW)
1 Ironfists (DF)
1 Lossoth (TW)
1 Men of Dale (TD)
1 Men of Dorwinion (TW)
1 Men of Lake-town (TD)
1 Men of Northern Rhovanion (TW)
1 Mornaugrim (DF)
1 Petty-dwarves [H] (AS)
1 Raft-elves (FB)
1 Rangers of the North (TW)
1 Ravens of Northern Rhovanion (DF)
1 Returned Exiles (TD)
1 Rivermen of the Anduin Vales (NE)
1 The Great Eagles (TW)
1 Umli Traders (NW)
1 Wild Hounds (WH)
1 Wood-elves (TW)
1 Woodmen (TW)

Gold Ring Item (10)
2 Beautiful Gold Ring (TW)
4 Fair Gold Ring (TW)
4 Precious Gold Ring (TW)

Greater Item (16)
1 Belegennon (GW)
1 Emerald of the Mariner (TD)
1 Enruned Shield (TD)
1 Horn of Defiance (GW)
1 Narsil (TW)
1 Orcrist (TW)
1 Ringil (GW)
1 Scroll of Isildur [H] (TW)
1 Thane's Attire (GW)
1 The Arkenstone [H] (TW)
1 The Iron Crown [H] (TW)
1 The Mithril-coat [H] (TW)
3 Wizard's Staff (TD)
1 Wormsbane (TD)

Major Item (20)
1 Beadmaker's Hunting Runeknife (NW)
1 Bow of Dragon-horn (TD)
1 Durin's Axe (TW)
3 Dwarven Axe (DF)
1 Glamdring (TW)
1 Great Cup of Thror (GW)
2 Habergeon of Silver (TD)
2 Hauberk of Bright Mail (TW)
1 Magical Harp (TD)
1 Spear of Ivory (NW)
1 Sword of Gondolin (TW)
1 Torque of Hues (TW)
2 Valiant Sword (TD)
2 War Mattock (DF)

Special Item (30)
1 Aeglin (GW)
1 Aiglos (DM)
1 Angrist (ML)
1 Anguirel (ML)
1 Battle-axe of the Fallen (DF)
1 Bilbo's Magic Ring (DF)
1 Book of Mazarbul (TW)
1 Dragon-helm (DM)
2 Dragon-scales (GW)
1 Dragon-teeth Necklace (GW)
1 Durin's Crown (DF)
2 Dwarven Chain-shirt (DF)
3 Dwarven Light-stone (DM)
3 Gems of Arda (DM)
1 Khazadshathûr (DF)
1 Mithril (DM)
1 Necklace of Girion [H] (DM)
1 Noldo-lantern (DM)
1 Ring of Detection (NW)
1 Torogrist (ML)
2 Twice-baked Cakes (TD)
2 Wizard's Ring (TW)

Permanent-event (42)
1 Aglarond (TI)
3 Dark Numbers (DM)
2 Dragon-lore (TD)
2 Halls of Khazad-dûm (DF)
2 Hoard Gathering (DF)
1 King of Dale (GW)
1 King under the Mountain (TD)
3 Knowledge of the Enemy (DM)
2 Map to Mithril (TD)
2 Mighty Was the Fallen (DF)
2 Reconquest of Khazad-dûm (DF)
3 Reforging (TW)
4 Rescue Prisoners (TW)
5 Return to Old Dwellings (DF)
2 To Fealty Sworn (BA)
2 To the Uttermost Foundations (DM)
2 Tower Raided (AS)
2 Valour in Battle (TI)
3 Vein of Arda (DM)

New addition:

Ring Deck (20) - Minion Lesser Rings are considered hero items

1 Dwarven Ring of Barin's Tribe [H] (TW)
1 Dwarven Ring of Bávor's Tribe [H] (TW)
1 Dwarven Ring of Durin's Tribe [H] (TW)
1 Dwarven Ring of Thélor's Tribe [H] (TW)
1 Dwarven Ring of Thrár's Tribe [H] (TW)
1 Lesser Ring (TW)
2 Magic Ring of Courage (TW)
1 Magic Ring of Lore (TW)
2 Magic Ring of Nature (TW)
2 Magic Ring of Stealth (TW)
2 Magic Ring of Words (TW)
1 Minor Ring (LE)
2 Paltry Ring (LE)
2 Trifling Ring (LE)
Last edited by Vastor Peredhil on Wed Feb 21, 2024 7:55 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Vastor Peredhil
Council Member
Posts: 1321
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:46 am
Location: Kempen (Niederrhein) Germany

Quest / Minor item Deck* choose which items you do not want to draft - (we do no uniques, no Jewel of Beleriand or Share of the Treasure (GW)*, no Forgotten Scrolls & no Lost Tome) - be sure to introduce the Quest's flipside to all as well ;)

Permanent-event (16)
3 Dragon Marked in Red (NE)
1 Grim Voiced and Grim Faced (GW)
2 Heirlooms of Eärendil (ML)
3 His Beard Long and Forked (DF)
2 Potion of Warming (NW)
1 Ringwinner, Luckwearer (GW)
2 Rumours of Rings (BA)
2 The Glory of Their Arms (ML)

Minor Item (65)
3 Adamant Helmet (TD)
3 Arrows Shorn of Ebony (TD)
3 Black Arrow (TW)
2 Bow of Yew (FB)
3 Cram (TD)
2 Dagger of Westernesse (TW)
2 Deadly Dart (LE)
2 Elven Cloak (TW)
2 Elven Rope (BA)
3 Forgotten Scrolls (DM)*
3 Healing Herbs (TW)
2 Horn of Anor (TW)
3 Jewel of Beleriand (AS)*
2 Lost Tome (DM)*
3 Miner's Pick (DF)
3 Miruvor (TW)
2 Necklace of Silver and Pearls (TD)
3 Pipe (DF)
2 Pocket Handkerchief (DF)
3 Potion of Prowess (TW)
2 Scabbard of Chalcedony (TD)
3 Share of the Treasure (GW)*
3 Shield of Iron-bound Ash (TW)
3 Star-glass (TW)
1 Sting (TW)*
1 Thrór's Map [H] (TD)*
Last edited by Vastor Peredhil on Wed Feb 21, 2024 8:06 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Vastor Peredhil
Council Member
Posts: 1321
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:46 am
Location: Kempen (Niederrhein) Germany

Play deck - resource portion (mix with hazard portion to create the play deck/draw deck)

Long-event (17)
2 A Short Rest (TD)
3 Children of Aulë (DF)
1 Face out of Sight (DM)
2 Lapse of Will (TW)
2 Peace and Beauty Never Beheld (NW)
2 Rumours of Danger (BA)
3 Secret Ways (DM)
2 Tidings of Death (LE)

Permanent-event (50)
3 An Unexpected Party (DM)
2 Axe-master (GW)
2 Clad in Chain-shirts (DF)
3 Clan Bonds (DF)
1 Crept Along Carefully (BA)
3 Dwarf-friend (DF)
2 Dwarven Art of War (DF)
2 Elven Blade (FB)
3 Fellowship (TW)
1 Fireworks (DM)
2 Forewarned is Forearmed (DM)
3 Free to Choose (DM)
3 Gates of Morning (TW)
1 Hall of Fire (DM)
1 Houses of Healing (TD)
2 Kheled-zâram (RS)
2 Legendary Hoard (TD)
2 More Alert than Most (DM)
2 Of the Race of Dale (GW)
3 Old Grudge (DF)
2 Origin of Stone (DF)
1 Rebuild the Town (DM)
1 Restored to its Owner (DF)
3 Sacrifice of Form (TW)
2 Safe from the Shadow (AS)
3 Value Food and Cheer (DF)

Short-event (164)
2 A Chance Meeting (TW)
3 A Friend or Three (TW)
2 Alert the Folk (TD)
3 Ancient Stair (DM)
2 And Forth He Hastened (TD)
2 At Your Service! (DF)
2 Attercop! Attercop! (DF)
1 Biter and Beater! (AS)
2 Block (TW)
2 Bounty of the Hoard (TD)
1 Bridge (TW)
1 Burglary (TD)
3 Concealment (TW)
3 Dark Quarrels (TW)
2 Desperate Strike (DF)
1 Dodge (TW)
2 Dragon-feuds (TD)
2 Dry Tunnels (DF)
3 Dwarven Hoard (TD)
2 Escape (TW)
1 Fair Travels in Wilderness (TW)
3 Far-sight (TW)
3 Fast Asleep (TD)
1 Fifteen Birds in Five Firtrees (DM)
2 Flatter a Foe (TD)
2 Ford (TW)
1 Forod (TD)
1 Glamour of Surpassing Excellance (AS)
2 Great-road (TW)
2 Hundreds of Butterflies (DM)
1 I Know Much about You (DM)
3 Into Dark Tunnels (DM)
1 Iron Mountains (NW)
2 Kindling of the Spirit (TW)
2 Lock Nor Bar May Hinder (DF)
1 Look More Closely Later (TD)
1 Lucky Search (TW) play it vs the MP-deck and play the 1st non-special item with it
2 Lucky Strike (TW)
3 Many Foes he Fought (TD)
3 Many Turns and Doublings (TD)
3 Marvels Told (TD)
1 Master of Esgaroth (TD)
2 Misty Mountains (TW)
2 More Sense than You (TD)
1 Muster (TW)
1 New Friendship (TW)
3 Not at Home (TD)
2 Old Friendship (TW)
2 Old Toby (TI)
2 Pipe Weed (DF)
2 Pity Mixed with Horror (DF)
2 Ringlore (TW)
3 Risky Blow (TW)
3 Sated Beast (TD)
2 Secret Entrance (TW)
3 Secret Passage (TW)
2 Shimmer of Hope (DF)
3 Skin-changer (TD)
3 Smoke Rings (DM)
1 Staff Asunder (TD)
2 Stealth (TW)
2 Tempering Friendship (TW)
3 Test of Form (TW)
3 Test of Lore (TW)
2 The Cock Crows (TW)
3 The Dwarves Are upon You! (DM)
3 The Old Thrush (TW)
1 Thorough Search (TW)
1 Token of Goodwill (DM)
3 Trickery (TD)
3 Vanishment (TW)
2 We Must Away (DF)
2 Withdrawn to Mordor (DM)
3 Without a Glance of Longing (DF)
2 Wizard Uncloaked (TD)
1 Wizard's Flame (TW)
1 Wizard's Laughter (TW)
1 Wizard's River-horses (TW)
3 Wizard's Test (TW)
1 Wizard's Voice (TW)
Last edited by Vastor Peredhil on Wed Feb 21, 2024 8:27 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Vastor Peredhil
Council Member
Posts: 1321
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:46 am
Location: Kempen (Niederrhein) Germany

Hazard portion - creatures (mix with hazard-events then with resource portion to create play deck)

Creature (117)
1 "Bert" - Bûrat (TW)
1 "Tom" - Tûma (TW)
1 "William" - Wûluag (TW)
2 Abductor (TW)
2 Ambusher (LE)
1 Assassin (TW)
1 Barrow-wight (TW)
1 Bolg, Son of Azog (DF)
2 Brigands (LE)
2 Carrion Birds (TD)
1 Carrion Feeders (BA)
2 Cave Worm (TD)
2 Cave-drake (LE)
2 Chill Douser (DM)
1 Corpse-candle (LE)
2 Dire Wolves (LE)
1 Dunlending Raiders (TD)
1 Durin's Bane (DM)
2 Dwarven Travelers (AS)
2 Ent in Search of the Entwives (LE)
2 Ghosts (TW)
2 Ghouls (LE)
2 Giant (LE)
2 Giant Spiders (LE)
1 Gorfaur the Lame (NE)
2 Hermit Troll (DF)
3 Hobgoblins (LE)
2 Huorn (TW)
1 Ibûn (DF)
2 Ice-drake (TD)
1 Kemenlóke (ML)
2 Land-drake (TD)
1 Lawless Men (LE)
2 Lesser Spiders (LE)
1 Light-drake (TD)
1 Little Snuffler (DM)
2 Marsh-drake (LE)
2 Mewlips (TI)
2 Nameless Thing (DM)
2 Old Man Willow (TW)
1 Olog-hai - Trolls (TW)
1 Orc-battalion (NE)
2 Orc-guard (TW)
2 Orc-lieutenant (TW)
2 Orc-patrol (TW)
2 Orc-raiders (LE)
2 Orc-warband (LE)
2 Orc-watch (LE)
2 Pick-pocket (TW)
2 Rain-drake (TD)
1 Rogrog (TW)
1 Sea Serpent (TD)
2 Sellswords Between Charters (LE)
1 Shelob's Brood (BA)
2 Slayer (LE)
1 Smaug (TW)
2 Stirring Bones (LE)
2 Ta-Fa-Lisch (DF)
1 Thief (TW)
2 Thunder's Companion (LE)
2 True Cold-drake (TD)
2 True Fire-drake (LE)
2 Uruk-lieutenant (LE)
2 Wargs (LE)
1 Watcher in the Water (LE)
1 Were-worm (TD)
2 Werewolf (NE)
2 Wild Trolls (LE)
1 Winged Cold-drake (TD)
2 Winged Fire-drake (TD)
2 Wolves (TW)

Creature/Permanent-event (6)
1 Adûnaphel (TW)
1 Dwar of Waw (TW)
1 Hoarmûrath of Dír (TW)
1 Indûr Dawndeath (TW)
1 Khamûl the Easterling (TW)
1 Witch-king of Angmar (TW)

Creature/Short-event (6)
1 Big Bats (FB)
2 Black Crows (FB)
1 Caran-Carach (NE)
2 Wolf-riders (TD)
Last edited by Vastor Peredhil on Wed Mar 23, 2022 11:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
Vastor Peredhil
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Posts: 1321
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:46 am
Location: Kempen (Niederrhein) Germany

Hazard portion - events

Long-event (33)
1 Awaken Defenders (LE)
2 Awaken Denizens (TW)
2 Awaken Minions (TW)
1 Drums (DM)
2 Earth-tremors (DM)
1 Eye of Sauron (TW)
2 Fell Winter (TW)
1 From the Pits of Angband (TD)
2 Hurling Rocks (DF)
1 Itangast Ahunt (TD)
1 Long Winter (TW)
2 Minions Stir (LE)
2 Peril Returned (TD)
2 Plague of Wights (TW)
1 Scatha Ahunt (TD)
1 Scorba Ahunt (TD)
1 Sleepless Malice (TD)
1 Smaug Ahunt (TD)
2 The Way is Shut (DM)
2 Threat of Many Feet (DF)
2 Wake of War (LE)
1 Worn and Famished (TD)

Permanent-event (58)
1 Alone and Unadvised (AS)
1 Bairanax at Home (TD)
1 Balrog of Moria (TW)
1 Daelomin at Home (TD)
2 Despair of the Heart (LE)
3 Doors of Night (TW)
1 Doubled Vigilance (DM)
2 Flies and Spiders (DM)
2 Foolish Words (LE)
1 Full of Froth and Rage (AS)
1 Gostir at Home (BU)
2 Ireful Flames (TD)
2 Known to an Ounce (TD)
2 Lure of Expedience (TW)
1 Lure of the Senses (LE)
1 Monstrosity of Diverse Shape (BA)
1 Nothing to Eat or Drink (LE)
2 Orc-tortured (DF)
1 Plague (LE)
2 Protecting their Domain (FB)
2 Rank upon Rank (DM)
2 Ransom (NE)
1 Rebel-talk (LE)
1 Redoubled Force (DM)
1 Ring-chained (NE)
1 Scatha at Home (TD)
1 Scorba at Home (TD)
2 Shut Yer Mouth (LE)
1 Siege (TW)
1 Smaug at Home (TD)
2 Soldiers of the Dark Lord (NE)
1 Spawn of Ungoliant (BA)
3 Spiders Huge and Horrible (NE)
2 The Moon Is Dead (DM)
2 Traitor (TW)
1 Ungoliant's Foul Issue (BA)
1 Ungoliant's Progeny (BA)
2 Wyrmsiege (DF)

Short-event (53)
2 Ambushed (NE)
1 Call of Home (LE)
2 Choking Shadows (TW)
2 Cruel Caradhras (TD)
2 Dragon's Blood (TD)
1 Dragon's Desolation (TW)
2 Dragon's Terror (TD)
2 Dragon-sickness (TD)
1 Echoes of Morgoth's Cry (ML)
2 Exhalation of Decay (DM)
2 Fruitless Victory (NE)
2 Gloom (TW)
2 Greed (LE)
2 Half an Eye Open (TD)
1 In Great Wrath (DM)
2 Incite Denizens (LE)
2 Left Behind (TD)
1 Muster Disperses (LE)
2 Pierced by Many Wounds (DM)
2 Pit Trap (DF)
2 Prowess of Age (TD)
2 Prowess of Might (TD)
2 Rats! (LE)
1 Revealed to all Watchers (DM)
1 River (LE)
1 Searching Eye (LE)
3 Twilight (LE)
2 Weariness of the Heart (LE)
2 Where the Wargs Howl (NW)
2 Worm's Stench (TD)
Last edited by Vastor Peredhil on Wed Mar 23, 2022 11:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
Vastor Peredhil
Council Member
Posts: 1321
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:46 am
Location: Kempen (Niederrhein) Germany

Sideboard & conversion sideboard ( still needs editing - but I wanted it all up before I go to bed)

Standard SB 20
2 Evermarking Scar (ML)
2 Eyes of Mandos (DM)
1 Tunnels Traversed (ML)
2 First of the Order (DM)
1 Kesä (NW)
2 The Hunt (DM)
2 Hobbit-lore (DM)
3 The Helm and Bow (ML)
2 Herb-lore (DM)
1 Gimli's Axe (DF)
1 Gandalf's Staff (DF)
1 Belthronding (ML)

Conversion SB for FW or Lord - 30
1 Huntsman's Garb (WH)
1 Gandalf's Friend (WH)
1 The Grey Hat (WH)
2 Clad for War (DF)
1 Alatar [F] (WH)
1 Ironfoot (DF)
1 Radagast [F] (WH)
1 The Forge-master (WH)
1 Master of Shapes (WH)
1 Saruman [F] (WH)
2 Precisely on Time (TI)
1 Pocketed Robes (WH)
2 Great Patron (WH)
1 Join the Hunt (WH)
1 Friend of Secret Things (WH)
2 Wizard's Myrmidon (WH)
1 Stave of Pallando (WH)
1 Pallando's Apprentice (WH)
2 Thrall of the Voice (WH)
2 Blind to All Else (WH)
1 Squire of the Hunt (WH)
1 Many-coloured Robes (WH)
1 Gandalf [F] (WH)
1 Oakenshield (DF)
1 Crimson Hood (DF)
1 Pallando's Hood (WH)
1 Pallando [F] (WH)
2 Promise of Treasure (DF)
Last edited by Vastor Peredhil on Wed Mar 23, 2022 11:26 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Thanks for sharing this. Although, if memory serves, wasn't Arda always supposed to be a DC creation? The base rules document I have (v5.1) includes rules for using Cirdan, Galadriel, and Elrond as avatars, and that concept has been around for over a decade. Yet, I've never actually seen an Arda cardlist before yours that uses anything other than physical cards from the official ICE sets. Is it just that Arda has been little more than a theory for so many years, or have people actually been playing this way all this time, and only now are speaking up about it?
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Vastor Peredhil
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Dream cards is not the same as virtual cards or special ARDA cards; DCs is always new cards (or manifestation of previous card) , but no cards get baned or altered beyond DC errata (which normally is just minor adjustment)

I have been playing Eric's / Joe Bisz' ARDA for years, but the special cards bring out the best and worse in me :wink: - still great fun, but seems not all people bother to go that route printing out the 150+ altered cards to make it the best ARDA there was ...

So I know some people included some DCs in their ARDAs, but never in the scale I have just started with this one, although maybe there are ARDAs out there I have never seen (edit I did see a new DC ARDA box done by Andreas at LURE but it adds mainly characters and sites, but you play 1 of the Dwarf-lords with almost basic hero rules)

Also it requires a huge card stock to build a coheasive ARDA with that many cards. Also once a certain number of more complex DCs are added one needs a good graps of what can happen and what should happen - that is why the 1st post will get some more tips and tricks added to it, so it does not take people forever to be able to play this box as I intended
Last edited by Vastor Peredhil on Wed Mar 23, 2022 11:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
Leon
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I have played with and seen Arda decks that include Cirdan, Galadriel and Elrond as described. These have been around for as long as the format exists.

One of the fun things about Arda is that you can include anything, as long as the whole deck is mostly balanced. I built an Arda last year (only played 2 games so far) and included some Arda expanded world, some virtual, some Dream Card and some cards that I adjusted myself.

Heavy use of dream cards require and allow a thematic Arda such ans Nicolai describes, only dwarves in this case. Last time at Lure I enjoyed a game with his Arda.

For me, dream cards are a bit challenging at the moment for constructed play, but Arda requires less knowledge of all the cards. The same was true with a Dream Card Cube (similar to pool sealed) that we played last Lure.
Vastor Peredhil
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Hey,

after about 5 games with it since LURE, I adjusted and expanded the cards in this ARDA Dwarves deck, so the 1st post all got edited, some more some less

still only C&P into cardnum to get a working deck list

yours Nicolai
Vastor Peredhil
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so I had the 10th game with this ARDA so far, and from this experiance I adjusted the deck to hopefully its final version, of now 777 cards in deck

with a 55 card side board

please give this new version a spin a let me know if you like to try it online with us

yours Nicolai aka Vastor
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