Fship Block X-List?

[5tein]

An x-list for Fship block has been mentioned by a lot of my local players, and some layers on this forum.

The idea behind a Fship block x-list is, for me, a way to help new and returning players get excited about the game, as well as a way to move unused cards back into play. Around here we're focusing on Fship block because it's fun to draft, fairly easy to get, and a lot of past players still have Fship block cards.

My ideal is to have a x-list that is extremely small (<5 cards) so as not to significantly impact the Fship block card base. Remember, we also have Restricted.

[TheJord]

I'm not a fan of Savagery, KoI or Son of Hamfast

[Kenddrick]

Well, from a new player's point of view, a change should not be needed. Every card seems fine for the time being.

[ket_the_jet]

Fellowship Block is fine as it stands.
-wtk

[TheJord]

On its own, Fellowship doesnt need X-d cards

[MR. Lurtzy]

No x-list for fellowship.

[chompers]

Some power cards in FOTR block I have noted include:

Aragorn Heir to the White City, Flaming Brand, No Stranger to the Shadows (which perhaps should be unique), Glamdring (which perhaps should be restricted in its use like Sting). Oh - and i hate playing against Hate - but am happy to play it in my decks

Choke is very strong in FoTR block, as is mass heal using various strategies, and directed archery with Legolas and Aragorn (or lots of archery with Gondor Bowmen). Bit i think overall it is a well balanced block - different strategies are capable of winning on different days. Some cards tend to pop up over and over - but there are limited cards to select from within the block itself.

I see no need to ban cards, unless you want to create new playing experiences for your local playing group, especially if you find everyone is doing the same thing. If that were the problem, another option is to try other formats.

[Not a Zombie]

On second look I may ban flaming brand since IMHO, nazgual aren't powerful enough in FOTR.

[chompers]

i just played vs twilight nazgul in fotr block and they beat my fellowship - granted i want playing flaming brand of any of the elf anti-nazgul cards. In the end my ringbearer was corrupted.

i guess it was probably my own fault though, as i bid 3 burdens at the start and lost my burden removal early in the game when gandalf was killed.

Rather than ban flaming brand - perhaps make it unique.

Savagery to match their numbers is very nasty card as well. It almost helped me to the win with my shadow.

[Smeagollum]

I'm getting tired of that people constatly want to x cards. If a card is unballanced then it need an errata not an to be put on a x- or r-list. Cards are meant to be played!!!

For example if aragorn, httwc is to powerfull errata it that the abillity only can be used in the regroup. That shouldn't be to difficult.

[chompers]

As said before - FoTR is a well-balanced format, it is the longest surviving format of LOTR being the first format ever played, so you would hope that they got this one right.

There are power cards, but what is important is that there are many cards that can impact the course of the game and you can't play them all.

However, the last few sets were under-played and there is strong reason to suggest that they were not play-tested as much as they should have been. Rules support was not as effective with these releases because LOTR was on its last legs. If any sets need some rules support (in the form of r-list and x-list or better still some errata and clarifications - and errata that actually allows cards to be played not what was given to frenzy of arrows - then these sets need it more than FoTR IMO).

Going back to the original post - the goal here seems to be to ban a few cards to liven up FoTR block format. This idea has some merits IMO as taking a few power cards out might completely change the way players play the format. Breathe some life into it. This is not about rewriting the rules for FoTR block but creating a slightly different way of playing it - instead of the current way. Both ways could still be played though. Another option would be to allow select cards from other sets such as Reflections into the mix to create new playing experiences as well.

[Smeagollum]

Going back to the original post - the goal here seems to be to ban a few cards to liven up FoTR block format. This idea has some merits IMO as taking a few power cards out might completely change the way players play the format. Breathe some life into it. This is not about rewriting the rules for FoTR block but creating a slightly different way of playing it - instead of the current way. Both ways could still be played though. Another option would be to allow select cards from other sets such as Reflections into the mix to create new playing experiences as well.

If you want to bring life into the game you'll not achieve it with x-listing cards. In contrary you'll loose existing players. In my opinion there are only a few things that can bring live into the game:

New cards (so virtual sets).

Create a new game mechanich which means you create actually a new game and make it able to play the lotr-cards in this new mechanic.

Organize tournaments

[5tein]

Good responses and discussion. Now my pov:

I actually thought there was more demand for a Fship block x-list than it seems like there is here, and I personally am on both sides of the fence.  I like the idea of an x-list as it might require folks to consider other neglected cards, and would allow for more deck types. I don't think Fship block would be hurt--and in fact I can see a lot of new cards/decks develop--if Sam, Son of Hamfast and Aragorn, Heir to the White City was x-listed. I think the Moria/PoO combo is broken, so PoO could be considered.

I tend to think that adding No Strangers and Frying Pan and Flaming Brand to a Restricted list would help the block as much if not more than an x-list. (I actually thought these were in block, but only Forces of Mordor is, which is weird since it's not overpowered in Fship) If these were Restricted I think Fship block would be more balanced, and more players would be able to have a viable Sauron or Nazgul deck (regular or twighlight). These two culture tend to be popular with a lot of players.

I disagree with rewriting rules or errata. Errata are too confusing.

I like more and more the idea of adding in Reflections block cards, except R+ companions. This is better than V-cards or big x-lists in my opinion.

[5tein]

I want to note that I agree with chompers that the last few sets need x-list/r-list/errata more than Fship block, however no one around here even has those cards, and so it is a moot point to me (though hopefully not for long!).

[MR. Lurtzy]

If you want to bring life into the game you'll not achieve it with x-listing cards. In contrary you'll loose existing players. In my opinion there are only a few things that can bring live into the game: