First Gemp-LotR Sealed FotR League

[MarcinS]

This monday - Dec. 19th, 2011 at 00:00am (IST - Irish Standard Time - GMT+0) a new Sealed FotR League will start on Gemp-LotR.
The rules are simple - you're given a set amount of virtual product and you build your deck from it. Every week you'll receive new virtual product, which should provide you with tools to make your deck stronger to compete against other players.

Specific League information:
- Number of series in this league 4 to 8 (specific data depends on how the league will look like, it's a first one, so I need to see how it works out).
- Each serie is 7 days (Monday - Sunday all in GMT+0 time).
- Maximum number of ranked games played in a serie - 10 (subject to change - need to see how it will work out).
- League format is FotR Sealed (virtual product is provided to players).
- Prizes - to be announced.

Latest League rules can be found at the Gemp-LotR website, here are current League Rules:

League rules

Points marked with (SEALED) refer to sealed leagues only.

    Definitions:
        League consists of multiple League series (number - announced with each league).
        Each League serie lasts a fixed amount of days (announced with each league).
    Participation:
        Each Serie in League is played in an announced format (constructed or sealed). Most leagues will have the same format throughout the whole duration of it, but there is a chance of getting a mixed format League (for example, first week - FotR block, second week TTT block, etc). The format for each serie and/or league is announced at the beginning of the League.
        League starts at an announced date and lasts until specified number of League series are played out.
        (SEALED) Player joining a League during a first serie is given a specified for that League amount and type of virtual product (boosters and fixed cards).
        (SEALED) At the beginning of each subsequent serie, each player participating in the League is given the same amount and type of virtual product (boosters and/or fixed cards).
        (SEALED) Player who chooses to join a league after the first serie, is given a product that is a sum of all the virtual product he/she would have been given if he joined during a first serie up until the point in time he/she has chosen to join. This product WILL NOT contain any prizes given to participants of the League.
    Deck building:
        Each player builds a deck from the virtual product he/she owns.
        Deck in a League can be changed at any time. When you create or join a table with a deck, that deck is set at that point and any changes done to the deck afterwards, will not be reflected in the game on that table. If you wish to use a different deck for that game before it starts, leave and rejoin a table after modifying your deck.
        (SEALED) In case of Sealed format, only virtual product owned within that League can be used to build a deck.
        (SEALED) Virtual cards given out as prizes for that League are LEGAL for playing in the League.
        (SEALED) League has no X or R lists, so all cards are legal.
        (SEALED) All the other rules of deck building - minimum 60 cards deck, even FP/Shadow cards split, etc. apply.
    Earning points:
        Each League serie, every League participant can play a maximum of fixed (announced with each serie, usually the same for whole League) rated games.
        In addition to rated games, player can choose to play any number of non-rated games with other League players.
        Only first game played against the same opponent in the same League serie can be rated. Any subsequent games against the same opponent in the same League serie will be treated as non-rated.
        Winner of each rated game in a League gains 2 League serie points. Rated game loser gains 1 League serie points.
    Prizes:
        Prizes in a league are virtual items only. These could be anything - promo/foil cards, foil options (ability to change 1 non-foil card in your collection into a foil version of the same card), preview cards from next expansions, etc.
        At the end of each League serie, points for that serie are totalled and prizes are given to participants based on the total points gathered in this League serie.
        After all the series end within a League, in addition to prizes for the last serie, players are given (substiantially bigger) prizes based on the total of points in all series in this League.
        (SEALED) After the League ends, all the cards players have in a League are added to a permanent collection of the player.
    Cheating:
        Cheating will not be tolerated - period.
        Cheating includes, but is not limited to - entering League with more than one account, knowingly exploiting a system or a card bug, game fixing (deciding the outcome of a rated game in other way than playing it out) with other players.
        Players found cheating (or believed to be - at the administrator/moderator discretion) will be removed from the League and their accounts will be deleted. This is a friendly environment, where everyone wants to have some fun, so don't spoil it for others.
    F.A.Q.
        Can I trade cards in a Sealed league?
        Cards in a Sealed League cannot be traded. The point of having a Sealed league is to provide players with limited (semi-random) access to card pool for building their deck. This, in theory, should give everyone fair chance of winning, based only on deck-building and play-skill.
        When will I get new boosters in a Sealed league?
        New product in a Sealed league is given at the beginning of each Serie. At the moment this is not done automatically (requires me to actually run something) so it might be some time after each Serie starts or sometimes before a Serie starts, but each player receives the new product at the same time.
        How do I join a Sealed league?
        You don't have to do anything special. While there is a League active, in your deck builder you'll find a drop-down to switch to Sealed league collection, just open a League pack you are presented with (left-click) and build your league deck.

[hsiale]

I opened my packs. In the league pack, together with some companions, I had common Balrog, but it has disappeared afterwards and I can't add it to my deck.

[MarcinS]

I opened my packs. In the league pack, together with some companions, I had common Balrog, but it has disappeared afterwards and I can't add it to my deck.

I'ts not a common Balrog, but a promo one. If you somehow show only cards from sets 1,2 or 3, or just Mines of Moria, it might not be displayed.

[ramolnar]

Is the choice of starter random from all 6? There are vast differences in this block's starter strength. I opened Realms Boromir, which is pretty horrible. The Fellowship starters are much stronger, as is Realms Legolas.

[hsiale]

I'ts not a common Balrog, but a promo one. If you somehow show only cards from sets 1,2 or 3, or just Mines of Moria, it might not be displayed.

I chose "All sets". I tried to choose only Promo and also didn't find that Balrog, only a copy of Bill the Pony from one of my RotEL boosters appears.

[MarcinS]

Yes, there is a problem with saving cards from set 0 in collection. I'll fix it ASAP. At least all players have the same problem, The Balrogs will be added to your account when I fix the problem.

[jahataku]

just curious, what do a participant get in the beginning to build a deck from?

[MarcinS]

just curious, what do a participant get in the beginning to build a deck from?

Random starter from the FotR block (except the deluxe starter), 2 boosters of FotR, MoM and RotEL each, plus a fixed set of C/U companions for everyone to have access to lots of companions and the C (promo) Balrog.

[Elfrond]

I opened my starter (MoM Gimli) and didn't see the 3 rare cards that typically come with a starter, is this just something with the sealed deck league or was there an error?

[MarcinS]

I opened my starter (MoM Gimli) and didn't see the 3 rare cards that typically come with a starter, is this just something with the sealed deck league or was there an error?

This is how it works here. The starters do not contain random part. That's why you're getting the boosters.

[hsiale]

At least all players have the same problem, The Balrogs will be added to your account when I fix the problem.

Are you sure that everyone has this problem? I played 3 league games and all 3 opponents played The Balrog on me. In last game I checked and it was a promo one, not a common possible to pull from MoM booster.

[Not a Zombie]

I did get the balrog and the other promos when I opened my packs as well

[MarcinS]

Everyone should now have one Promo (0P10) Balrog.

[hsiale]

10 games played, now I can only watch and wait if someone gets a 9-1 or 10-0 record till the end of the week. Are there any tiebreakers in place to decide the ranking if players are tied on points?

I think adding one more format could be helpful: ranked league game. Only people who have ranked games left to play should be able to start tables of this format and everyone who either has played all ranked games available or has already played that opponent would be prevented from joining such table.

[hsiale]

Unofficial tiebreaker game between me and ramolnar (if we both manage to come online, but it's quite likely) is scheduled for today 10 PM GMT (5 PM Eastern US, 11 PM Central Europe).