So, you want to play cards

Want to win?

Yeah, yeah, I know: you play to have fun, not to win. Sure. But don't you have more fun when you win???
What you will find listed below is a set of decks made by my own little twisted mind. They are simple in design, deadly in play. I have personally used all of these decks in games, resulting in the opposition laughing in disbelief and storming out of the game in disgust. I'll give you warnings with each deck, along with pointers for use.

All the following decks are designed based on these principles:

All decks are built based upon the original set The Wizards. Some decks will contain suggestions for cards from expansion sets, but all are able to be constructed with the basic set.
The basic deck is designed in two stages, a 25-card deck and a 50-card deck. Any intermediate number is your decision. Remember that a resource deck and the corresponding hazard deck must have the same number of cards.
To keep things fair, all decks have 10 creatures in them as a minimum. Otherwise, you can lay your opponent out by not giving any monster marshalling points, effectively doubling your own.
No deck violates any rules of tournaments that I am aware of.
A themed deck, while not as powerful as a money deck (all rare or uncommon cards), is more inclined toward story lines, and is thus more fun to play.

Resource Decks

Each of these decks is broken down in its own listing, whereas this list will give you an idea of what you'd like to do.
Individual pages will suggest, in order, the best characters for each deck. It is advised that you take the first characters listed, proceeding toward the end of the list, taking the highest-minded character you still possibly can manage. Taking Thranduil and Aragorn first cripples you for number of characters, but you've got some quality to work with...
The suggested wizards are in descending order, best wizard for the deck listed first. If you don't see the wizard, don't take him unless you're forced into it.
It is my strongest suggestion that you start with the indicated items, as extensive play has taught me these work best.

And now, the decks

The Riders of the Mark: This is themed on the Riders of Rohan and adventures in the southern areas of the civilized west. For true enthusiasts who like fighting. Good-natured fun.
Just Passing Through: The traditional speed deck, this keeps you running and frustrates opponents with balanced decks. It forces them to draw more than they'd like, and lets you cycle through your deck to find the cards you need. Gets the other guy a little testy.
Sage Advice: At first glance, it looks a little weak. But the fact you can sift through your play deck and discard pile after a few short turns can give you a very unfair advantage. Watch your opponent go from gloating to head-scratching.
Out of Harm's Way: Want to frustrate the other players? Stay in comfy places where it's hard to attack. This one has you hugging the coastline while they face the perils of the deep woods and shadow lands. If you use a really nasty hazard deck, you can potentially drive the competition off for good.
A Sturdy Stock: Although you're open to trouble with corruption checks, the dwarves make very fearsome opponents for any beast or humanoid they encounter. Use this to see just how far brute force can take you.
Out of sight (out of mind): A traditional hobbit stealth deck, you become almost impossible to attack and even harder to stifle with corruption checks. This is a winner at tournaments all the time, and you'll do well to use it with caution unless everyone is playing for fun; competitive types will practically spit on you by the end of the game.

The Hazard decks

Most times, it's just an assumation that your opponent will compile several marshalling points against you based upon the creatures you send against her. Don't overlook or underestimate the power of a good, solidly built hazard deck.
The creatures and events are in an excellent ratio in these decks, but the minimum of 10 creatures means your opponent will have a fair chance.
Included in the brief description, I suggest complimentary resource decks from the list above. Have fun!

And now, the decks...

The evil of men: Designed to thwart the riders and out of harm's way decks, this is also fairly effective against opponents in the northern reaches. The deck is based on man/humanoid creatures and events which enable them to strike harder, more often, and in unexpected areas. Though not certainly lethal, they will eliminate a fair share of characters and cause the rest to tap. You'll still have friends after the game.
Forces of Shadow: I love this deck. Combine this with "out of harm's way" or you may end up screwing yourself over. High-powered monsters and a disproportionate amount of region and site affecting events makes this a deadly threat. Great for watching the other guy sweat.
Peril Awaits: Based on the premise posed by Mike Singletary of the Bears: "If they can't score, we can't lose." This deck is loaded with power-ups for automatic attacks and nasty hidden surprises. A good deck to get you un-invited for parties and cook-outs.
Going nowhere... Fast: If your opponent uses this on you, use the "just passing through..." deck or you'll be helpless. Watch your opponent vainly attempt to get to a site to play items; most of the time they get re-routed or simply turned around. Frustration abounds, so make sure you're playing against a good sport.
Corrupted: Of little use against hobbit decks, this nasty surprise will infuriate everyone else. Great for getting rid of friends you don't like to hang out with, especially if they're playing with dwarves.
Morgoth's Spawn: What tribute to the old professor if we don't credit one of his greatest villains? Orcs and trolls have quite the heritage, and manage to pack a bit of a wallop, too. Almost useless against coast-huggers, this deck is one of the few I've seen act as a real challenge to hobbit decks, based purely on number of attacks and strikes. The game won't cost you any hard feelings.

So there they are

I hope they serve you well, and I look forward to your next visit. Perhaps by then, I'll have some suggested fallen wizard or nazgul decks.

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