What would you change in FOTR Block?

[Cw0rk]

As some of you already knows, I'm currently making a DC set based on the short movie The Hunt for Gollum. This set is supposed to be a part of the FOTR Block. I'd like to know, from you, FOTR Block players, what would you change in this block? Which culture or strategy needs improvement?

So far here are my thoughts...

FP
Solo Elves are almost impossible to play.
Choke is annoying.
The Arwen-Aragorn strategy Beren and Luthien and Gift of the Evenstar never worked.
Horn of Boromir can be a bit annoying as well.

Shadow
Moria is fine.
Uruks are good.
Sauron beatdown decks need improvements compared to Uruks Beatdown.
I feel like Orcs are a bit weaker as well.
Corruption is hard to achieve in FOTR block. Uruk Corruption is actually an epic FAIL.

[legolas3333]

for sauron beatdown, you just need a better way to make them fierce or damage+1

a fourth companion is all that's needed for mono elves to be playable, and a non-unique hand weapon.

for uruk corruption, make a card that puts the ring on in the isengard culture, that way, uruk spy and too much attention would work.

[chompers]

I wanted to make a Tale deck using Bilbo combined with Elves and Red Book and The Council of Elrond. Too expensive.

Lots of cards refer to Tales, but as a strategy it is under developed or simply doesn't work because it is too expensive.

[Witchkingx5]

I wanted to make a Tale deck using Bilbo combined with Elves and Red Book and The Council of Elrond. Too expensive.

Lots of cards refer to Tales, but as a strategy it is under developed or simply doesn't work because it is too expensive.

I also tried that... Twilight Nazzies hit me at Site 2 and I was dead...

But still, FotR Block is the best Block ever!

[Smeagollum]

it's x-list.cards are meant to play. give them an erratum, but don't x

[Cw0rk]

i didn't think fotr block had an x-list?

It doesn't have one, but I think that he means that the FOTR cards that are x-listed in other format should be errated.

[Hobbiton Lad]

it's x-list.cards are meant to play. give them an erratum, but don't x

The single best way to turn off new players to the game is to give them a bunch of errata to memorize. Banning or restricting cards is much cleaner.

[chompers]

The single best way to turn off new players to the game is to give them a bunch of errata to memorize. Banning or restricting cards is much cleaner.

this game already has heaps of errata, bans, clarifications, restrictions, rules for different formats. add to this an absence of an up-to-date rulebook. all of this will always be a barrier for new players.

expanding the existing errata, bans, etc will certainly add to the problem.

the problem with lotr is this - it is a customisable card game with finite customisability because it is no longer in production. this makes established players start asking questions like - what would you change, etc. the questions are most likely hypothetical - but they don't have to be.

in the event that a PC ever gets up and running, part of their goals should be to simplify the entry point for new players. providing physical cards with actual errata (via printable pdfs) is a good stategy that has been used by other pc's to address the problem. i guess my point is, errata can be good for the game without turning new players away, provided it is done right.

[Cw0rk]

Let's not start a PC topic here.

I can also ask you, what do you don't like in FOTR Block?

[chompers]

Let's not start a PC topic here.

Sorry

[Hobbiton Lad]

I would make (and will for our play group reboot) these preliminary changes. This is the beginning of the BG (or Bluegrass) format we will be using in Kentucky.

1) Eliminate errata. It's too cumbersome.

2) Comprise an R-List of the following:

• Savagery to Match their Numbers
• A Ranger's Versatility (Non errata version. May be too strong even for an R-List. Needs playtesting.)
• Relics of Moria
• Forces of Mordor
• Flaming Brand
• No Stranger to the Shadows
• Bill the Pony
• O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!

3) As a consequence of Action Step #1 the some cards would need to be X-Listed as different printed versions of them exist. Others will be X'd to promote more varied deck types (i.e., something other than Horn or Choke) in the competitive play environment. The X-List would look as follows:

• The Mirror of Galadriel
• Gimli, Dwarf of Erebor
• Thror's Map
• Galadriel, Lady of Light
• Elrond, Lord of Rivendell
• Horn of Boromir
• Aragorn, Heir to the White City
• We Must Go Warily

Obviously there will be additions, subtractions and revisions to this list pending the outcome of playtesting. When we have a finalized format in place, it will be posted here.

[Cw0rk]

Mmm... personally, I like the fact that there are no x-listed cards in FOTR Block.

I would even remove Forces of Mordor from the R-list if I could.

[Gil-Estel]

@ Hobbiton Lad, why would you want to break such a small set? It is good as it is, sure, with very strong cards, but it needs skill to play against certain decks. Forces of Mordor would be off my list as well, to give Sauron an extra 'umpf'. They are pretty condition based, and that is a weakness.

[Hobbiton Lad]

@ Hobbiton Lad, why would you want to break such a small set? It is good as it is, sure, with very strong cards, but it needs skill to play against certain decks. Forces of Mordor would be off my list as well, to give Sauron an extra 'umpf'. They are pretty condition based, and that is a weakness.

Because for all the supposed "variety" in FOTR block there is, all you ever really see in the competitive environment is Horn and Choke.

And yes, Forces of Mordor is the #1 card on the watch list to come off.

[Ringbearer]

I have to mention that I won the FOTR league with a deck that neither choked nor contained a horn.