Deck 5 - Just A Roose (aGoT LCG)

Welcome back to another edition of Deck de-Construction and this time around I was going to look at another favorite deck of mine that I have been working on and reworking since I started playing the Game of Thrones LCG.

After reading the books, the first three actually, (as of this writing I am about 250 pages deep into a Feast for Crows) I really took a liking to House Bolton. I really loved the imagery and the idea of Roose Bolton himself. The man who leeched himself and whispered when he talked so people had to pay attention to him. I just really liked his character and still do even after revelations of the third book. (Don't want to spoil anything for anyone, though I guess that in and of itself is somewhat of a spoiler.)

So when I started playing the LCG I quickly made the Brotherhood without Banners cycle one of my first purchased. I started looking at all the House Bolton characters. Probably like many people out there, I was saying to myself, "Huh, well.. what the heck do you do with these guys?" Also like many new players I made a very theme heavy deck which had all the House Bolton cards I could muster in it. I took many lumps and losses beyond my first game with them, which was a win. Over time I have tried to refine and stay somewhat themed with this deck but also to try and make it at least win a few games. I have scanned the deck lists and have taken ideas from them all and tried to incorporate some of my own. I am unaware if a Bolton deck has ever fared well at any tournament scene. I am sure there have been some decks to splash Bolton but I haven't heard of a win.

Lets take a look at the deck. First off it is House Stark obviously and will be playing the Knights of the Hollow Hill agenda. I feel that this gives the deck the added boost of gold and initiative that it needs. You also don't tend to lose much with setup as most Bolton characters are cheap. The two influence is also very important for Feigned Retreat (ASitD). Feigned Retreat will always allow Roose Bolton (DB) to win his challenge and bring cards back to your side of the table if you have lost any. Roose should be played only when you need him to pull characters back, you have his copy, a Narrow Escape in hand or possibly after a Valar has been played by your opponent. He is fairly integral to maintaining your control of characters in the deck.

The next big card for this deck is The Dreadfort (DB) itself. This card will fuel your card draw throughout the entire game. You will have plenty of high strength Bolton characters entering play and switching control. With it out and a Steelshanks' Reserves (ASoSilence) you should be drawing generally 2 extra cards a turn. I hit my cap quite a bit with this deck.

The amount of card draw in the deck does not stop with the Dreadfort. Ser Kyle Condon (APS) is available to soak some claim and also provide card draw and a means for Meera Reed (TftH) to re-enter shadows. Bay of Ice (KotS) is also included, with the Bays themselves and the bonus +2 initiative from KotHH the deck should win initiative more often than not. Decently high initiative on the plots help as well. Harrenhal (ODG) is the final source of card draw and is not actually a card draw towards your 3 limit cap. You should be doing a decent amount of killing in the deck.

The deck also features 10 characters with the War crest. This allows the use of Die by the Sword (LoW) and The Price of War (KotS), for some board control. Narrow Escape (KotStorm) is a response to Valar Morghulis and is the decks restricted card. This replaced Fury of the Wolf and I do feel the loss of the plot. Nightmares (LoW), Frozen Moat (BtW) and Meera Reed also allow some board control. Nightmares in a pinch could also blank out one of your own text boxes to keep a character from switching sides but it shouldn't be too necessary (you could also blank a Bolton Refugee (RoW) so he doesn't leave play if you lose dominance). The deck also features the Reek (MotM) and Dubious Loyalties (IG) combo for more control.** Dubious Loyalties can also be useful to put on a troublesome character and then have that attacking character sent back to it's owners hand with Abandoned Fort (RoR) (You could also use Old Nan (BoRF) as well). Dubious Loyalties is easily returned to your hand with The Weeping Water (OSaS) along with any other Bolton card that makes it to your discard pile. A copy of Bloody Scourge (DB) is in for added control and tricks.

Old Nan could also be used to give Meera Reed the House Bolton trait. Have Meera attack in an attack with multiple characters if you like or by herself, get the opponent to possibly commit and return Meera Reed with an Abandon Fort to reuse her. Not an efficient trick but a useful one at times.

The Bastard of Bolton (IG) and Steelshanks Walton (OSaS) give you Deadly characters to allow you to get some hopefully uncontested challenges. Damon Dance-For-Me (VD) can also fill this role if your opponent is playing with an agenda which is more than likely.

Catelyn Stark (LoW) is good for intrique/power defense and can be useful with Frozen Outpost (LoW) for some more strength. She is also useful to send Meera Reed back to the Shadows. Frozen Outpost is also useful with the 10 different War Crest characters to allow them to defend really well and be up for challenges. High Ground (QoD) can be used in a similar way and also useful for readying a Steelshanks' Reserves if you lose intitiative once you get them back at the beginning of your challenges.

A tip for some newer players if you feel like you will lose a challenge whether it be intrigue/power/military and you have out the appropriate character (Bolton Loyalist (DB), The Flayed Men (DB), or The Bastard's Elite (RoR)) make sure to defend with that character. Especially if you know you are going to lose them. This will give the characters to your opponent but will not allow them to smash you back with them or use them for defense/win dominance. Your own Bloody Scourge can discard those knelt characters from play or you can get them back with a Roose Bolton/Feigned Retreat auto win challenge.

Plots are fairly straightforward in this deck. Building Season for The Dreadfort/or Harrenhal. Retaliation/Breaking and Entering for good initiative and 2 claim, Storm of Swords also acts in the same capacity but only for military challenges. Search and Detain can also save Roose Bolton if you needed to play him and you feel a Valar coming on. It can also be used to return a character that changed sides back to your hand. Fortified Position is a good plot to use if the field seems even and you may trade blows with your opponent so your characters don't go switching sides if you do not want them to. Take Them By Surprise is good for gold and high initiative.

Well that is all for this week. My next article will be soon and will be a Dwarf Deck for the Lord of the Rings LCG. I will also be looking at my new Targaryen Maester/Burn/Trait Kill deck in an upcoming article.

Thanks for reading and again any comments or suggestions are appreciated.



** If you do not know what the Reek/Dubious Loyalties combo is well let me explain. You play a Dubious Loyalties on your own Reek. Once you respond with Reek after you win the intrigue challenge he was in, you take control of one your opponent's characters and give them Reek. Then in response to Reek switching control to your opponent you use your Dubious Loyalties to swing Reek back to your side. Not a super technical explanation but more of a layman's explanation.


Agenda
Knights of the Hollow Hill (MotM)

Plot (7)
Building Season (Core)
Retaliation! (ASoSilence)
Search and Detain (HtS)
Take Them by Surprise (LoW)
Storm of Swords (LoW)
Fortified Position (LoW)
Breaking and Entering (LotR)


Character (27)
Bolton Refugee (RoW) x3
Reek (MotM) x2
Roose Bolton (DB) x3
Steelshanks' Reserves (ASoSilence) x3
The Bastard of Bolton (IG) x1
The Bastard's Elite (RoR) x3
The Flayed Men (DB) x3
Catelyn Stark (LoW) x1
Bolton Loyalist (DB) x3
Damon Dance-For-Me (VD) x1
Steelshanks Walton (OSaS) x1
Old Nan (BoRF) x1
Meera Reed (TftH) x1
Ser Kyle Condon (APS) x1

Location (15)
The Dreadfort (DB) x1
The Weeping Water (OSaS) x1
Abandoned Fort (RoR) x2
Bay of Ice (KotS) x2
Frozen Moat (BtW) x2
Godswood (Core) x3
Harrenhal (ODG) x1
High Ground (QoD) x1
Frozen Outpost (LoW) x1
Northern Fiefdoms (Core) x3

Event (13)
Die by the Sword (LoW) x3
The Price of War (KotS) x2
Feigned Retreat (ASitD) x3
Narrow Escape (KotStorm) x2
Nightmares (LoW) x3

Attachment (5)
Bloody Scourge (DB) x1
Dubious Loyalties (IG) x3