LotR - Latest Strategy-Notes on openCards

This Strategy-Note was written by Steve Horton and was published first on "Lord of the Rings Online (lotrtcg.decipher.com)".

The Moria culture dominated the tournament scene from the very first Fellowship of the Ring set, and though all but one or two Moria cards have rotated out of Standard format, this powerful culture of Orcs and Trolls (and the occasional Balrog) remain potent in both Fellowship Block play and Expanded format.

This Strategy-Note was written by Steve Horton and was published first on "Lord of the Rings Online (lotrtcg.decipher.com)".

The Shire culture has popped up in one form or another since the game began, but Hobbits have been relegated to support for other better-developed cultures - until War of the Ring block. Shadows, Black Rider and Bloodlines have gone great distances to make Hobbits playable. Several high-rated tournament players have managed to make Hobbits work, for one good reason: they match up great against tournament scourge Nazgul.

This Strategy-Note was written by a anonymous person and was published first on "Lord of the Rings Online (lotrtcg.decipher.com)".

Saruman and the hordes of Isengard are the most visible villains for both the first and second Lord of the Rings movies. Their reach is wide and deep, with Orcs, Uruk-Hai, and Men all aiding the Wizard in harrying his enemy across the lands of the West, and Saruman himself scheming to seize the Ring any chance he gets.

This variety of troops and tactics is reflected in the sheer range of Isengard culture cards that The Lord of the Rings TCG offers. With five distinct subcultures, many of which can work together, it's not only the most varied culture in the game, but can be one of the most dangerous.

This Strategy-Note was written by Joe Alread (Game Designer - Decipher, Inc) and was published first on "Lord of the Rings Online (lotrtcg.decipher.com)".

Some of the philosophies behind the Dunland culture were born very early in the Two Towers design process.

Wild and unstable.

These were the words I used to describe how I felt about the people of the culture. Angry, barbarous, and uncivilized were other words thrown back and forth at the design table as well. We felt we could transfer this feeling of "wildness" into the game in a variety of ways.

For example, examine the three minions below from three different cultures.

This Strategy-Note was written by Tom Lischke (Senior Game Designer - Decipher, Inc) and was published first on "Lord of the Rings Online (lotrtcg.decipher.com)".

The Gandalf culture is unique. The strengths and weaknesses of most cultures can be described in terms of what mechanics the cards do and do not have. The Gandalf culture, on the other hand, is designed to be the swiss army knife. Need conditions cancelled? Gandalf can do it. Need to bail another companion out of trouble by adding a little strength in a skirmish? There are a couple of spells that fit the bill. You don't want to wait to draw Gandalf? Play a few A Wizard Is Never Late and you are in business.

This Strategy-Note was written by Tom Lischke (Senior Game Designer - Decipher, Inc) and was published first on "Lord of the Rings Online (lotrtcg.decipher.com)".

For this addition of designer notes, I thought I'd start by talking a little bit about the templates that our artists created for the Gollum culture.

Fish Bones as Art

This Strategy-Note was written by Joe Lewis and was published first on "Lord of the Rings Online (lotrtcg.decipher.com)".

"Cold be heart and hand and bone. And called be travelers far from home. They do not see what lies ahead when sun has failed and moon is dead."

Gollum's cryptic rhyming and dualistic personality make him one of the most compelling characters in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Gandalf and Elrond tell of the unspeakable horrors that could result in wielding the total power of the One Ring, but Gollum gives us a firsthand look at the peril that Frodo himself faces . . . corruption.

This Strategy-Note was written by a anonymous person and was published first on "Lord of the Rings Online (lotrtcg.decipher.com)".

The Raiders - Southrons and Easterlings, Men drawn to Sauron's cause by honeyed words, old hatred, and the promise of riches - are used to strengthen the army of fell creatures with which the Lord of the Ring plans to wipe clean the kingdoms of the west. Mercenaries and archers, they are full of tricks, and their presence not only hampers Frodo as he moves towards the Dark Tower, but threatens the armies of Gondor as well.

This Strategy-Note was written by Cynthia Hart and was published first on "Lord of the Rings Online (lotrtcg.decipher.com)".

To the Rohirrim, the Dunlendings are an inexorable tide - they sweep across the plains, destroying everything they come across, driving the villagers from their homes, growing stronger with every victory.

The Dunland culture in The Lord of the Rings TCG reflects this with three key attributes: winning skirmishes makes them fierce, they destroy possessions, and they control sites. Properly applied, this gives you three ways to destroy those tiresome Free People Fellowships.

This Strategy-Note was written by Cynthia Hart and was published first on "Lord of the Rings Online (lotrtcg.decipher.com)".

Sauron. His name carries such evil that he is usually referred to as "the Dark Power" or "the Dark Lord." His is the eye in the Dark Tower that does not sleep. His is the hand that reaches across all lands to bring sorrow and misery to all that are good and kind.

This Strategy-Note was written by Mike Reynolds (Game Designer Decipher, Inc) and was published first on "Lord of the Rings Online (lotrtcg.decipher.com)".

Gimli is the lone representative of the Dwarf culture in The Two Towers, yet his influence permeates the story.

Gimli is the ideal traveling mate. Once a companion earns Gimli's respect and trust, Gimli is devoted. The designers wanted the Dwarf culture in The Two Towers set to feature Gimli as a strong and hearty fighter, but we also wanted him to raise his companions' morale and aid them in skirmishes.

Enter the Circus

Some sort of card manipulation seemed in order to allow better access to Free Peoples cards. Dwarves have a precedent of relying on support area conditions from Fellowship block, so conditions would be integral in our plans.

This Strategy-Note was written by Tom Lischke (Senior Game Designer - Decipher, Inc) and was published first on "Lord of the Rings Online (lotrtcg.decipher.com)".

Greetings from Minas Morgul

When laying out the initial Shadow cultures for The Lord of the Rings, we started by defining the things that differentiated the minions from each other. For instance, each culture has a minion that costs five pool, but they all look different, and require different decisions to deal with them once they are in play. Take a look at a Fellowship block 5-cost minion from each of the cultures.

This Strategy-Note was written by Keith Walton and was published first on "Lord of the Rings Online (lotrtcg.decipher.com)".

Where would The Lord of the Rings be without Dwarves? If not for Thorin Oakenshield and his quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain, Bilbo never would have started off on the adventure that eventually led to his finding of the One Ring. When Sauron gathered his strength, he would surely have persuaded the dragon Smaug to join his forces, and the will of the Ring would have led Gollum straight into Mordor at some point. With all of these things, plus the Nazgul and Orcs already at his command, neither Men nor Elves could have withstood his onslaught for long. The world of Middle Earth would have perished if not for a group of Dwarves with a grudge.

This Strategy-Note was written by Ben Litz and was published first on "Lord of the Rings Online (lotrtcg.decipher.com)".

When you think of elves what comes to mind? Santa's Elves, The Keebler Elves, or an immortal race of supreme beings, Fierce Hunters, Great Artisans, and skilled defenders renowned throughout Middle Earth for their mythic and magical ways. Well, the latter of the three is what should come to mind if you are thinking in terms of The Lord of the Rings TCG. The Elves of Middle earth are an enriched people, loving nature, art, peaceful tranquility and harmony; they sailed from the undying lands of Valinor to find just that. Elrond, Galadriel, Celeborn, and Cirdan had no idea the roll they would play in Middle Earth when they first arrived, or the hand they would have in destroying Sauron; but time would show that the Elves were to play a crucial part indeed.

This Strategy-Note was written by a anonymous person and was published first on "Lord of the Rings Online (lotrtcg.decipher.com)".

As the design team got down to business with Two Towers design, one of our first orders of business was dealing with Gondor and some of their cultural definitions. Most important of all was determining these cultural characteristics and bringing them to life onto the Gondor cards that would come out in the set.

We felt that Gondor already had some strong themes developed from Fellowship block. Take these Fellowship of the Ring cards shown below.