starter_pack [2014/04/28 15:06]
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starter_pack [2019/06/20 21:47] (current)
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| | **Starter Packs** were boxed ready-made simple decks that were intended to be easy enough for brand-new players to pick up and play. Each set typically had two starter decks, each one focusing on different cultures and strategies, so one could conceivably purchase both with a friend and get a good taste of what the game as a whole had to offer. | | **Starter Packs** were boxed ready-made simple decks that were intended to be easy enough for brand-new players to pick up and play. Each set typically had two starter decks, each one focusing on different cultures and strategies, so one could conceivably purchase both with a friend and get a good taste of what the game as a whole had to offer. |
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| - | Unlike actual legal decks, starter decks had only about 50 cards, and the Shadows and Free Peoples sides did not always have the same number of cards. Combined with the fact that the starter rulebooks didn't explain all of the rules of the game (but only the rules you needed to play the decks provided) meant that while valuable from a learning !perspective, the decks themselves were not very usable in a normal play environment. | + | Unlike actual legal decks, starter decks had only about 50 cards, and the Shadows and Free Peoples sides did not always have the same number of cards. Combined with the fact that the starter rulebooks didn't explain all of the rules of the game (but only rules needed to play the decks provided, plus a starter-only rule that allowed you to reshuffle the discard pile) meant that while valuable from a learning !perspective, the decks themselves were not very usable in a normal play environment. |
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| - | To offset the fact that veteran players would not need the starter packs, Decipher packed in 3 random rares with each starter deck, giving collectors a reason to purchase them. In //Battle of Helm's Deep// and //Ents of Fangorn//, Decipher did away with the randomization of the rares and instead included 3 predetermined rares, with the idea being to make sure that included rares went according to the theme of the starter deck. This annoyed players, as it removed the incentive for veterans to purchase the decks, and it killed the value of the 6 rares affected in each set. With //Return of the King// Decipher reverted to the original random rares. | + | To offset the fact that veteran players would not need the starter packs, Decipher included 2 P-rarity cards in each starter pack that were not obtainable in booster packs. Also, for most sets, Decipher packed 3 random rares with each starter deck, giving collectors additional reason to purchase them (it was sometimes cheaper to buy boxes of starters instead of boxes of boosters, as each box of starters included 36 rares.) In //Battle of Helm's Deep// and //Ents of Fangorn//, Decipher did away with the random rares and instead included 3 predetermined rares, with the idea being to make sure that included rares went according to the theme of the starter deck (predetermined rares also saved printing !costs, as it allowed the entire deck to come from one print sheet instead of two.) Fixed rares annoyed players, as it removed the incentive for veterans to purchase the decks, and it reduced the value of the 6 rares affected in each set. With //Return of the King// Decipher reverted to the original random rare distribution for starter packs. |
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| | To the right you can see each of the starter decks for the first 13 sets (//Hunters// and //Rise of Saruman// are not shown). | | To the right you can see each of the starter decks for the first 13 sets (//Hunters// and //Rise of Saruman// are not shown). |
| | <div> | | <div> |
| | ====Deluxe Starter Sets==== | | ====Deluxe Starter Sets==== |
| - | For the //Fellowship of the Ring// and //The Two Towers// blocks, Decipher also released Deluxe starter sets, which besides including a starter deck also had booster packs from each set in that block as well as a card box and glass tokens. Due to the inclusion of boosters, a Deluxe Rulebook was included in lieu of the Starter Rulebook, to make sure that players would have access to all the rules if needed. No Deluxe Starter Set was released for any other block. | + | For the //Fellowship of the Ring// and //The Two Towers// blocks, Decipher also released Deluxe starter sets, which besides including a starter deck also had booster packs from each set in that block as well as a card box and glass tokens. Unlike other starter sets, Deluxe starters did not include starter-only cards. Due to the inclusion of boosters, a Deluxe Rulebook was included in lieu of the Starter Rulebook, to make sure that players would have access to all the rules if needed. No Deluxe Starter Set was released for any other block. |
| | + | </div> |
| | + | <div> |
| | + | ====Gemp-LotR Starter Decks==== |
| | + | Starter decks are used as part of the card pool in sealed deck leagues on [[Gemp-LotR]]. The official Decipher starter decks (listed below) are used in most of the leagues, but there are two leagues that use custom starter decks: one based around [[Towers Standard]] and another based around [[Movie Block]]. Decklists for those two leagues can be found at [[ts_sealed|Towers Standard Sealed]] and [[sealed-movie|Movie Block Sealed]], respectively. |
| | </div> | | </div> |
| | <div> | | <div> |
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| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| - | * Gimli, Dwarf of the Mountain-race x2 | + | * Gimli, Dwarf of the Mountain-race x2 (starting) |
| - | * Farin, Dwarven Emissary x2 | + | * Farin, Dwarven Emissary x2 (starting) |
| | * Dwarf Guard x3 | | * Dwarf Guard x3 |
| | * Thrarin, Dwarven Smith | | * Thrarin, Dwarven Smith |
| | <div column 30%> | | <div column 30%> |
| | ===Aragorn Starter Deck=== | | ===Aragorn Starter Deck=== |
| - | Gondor [Gondor] / Dunlending [Dunlending] | + | Gondor [Gondor] / Dunland [Dunland] |
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| | !Ring-bearer (2 cards) | | !Ring-bearer (2 cards) |
| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| | * Aragorn, Wingfoot x2 | | * Aragorn, Wingfoot x2 |
| - | * Gimli, Unbidden Guest x2 | + | * Gimli, Unbidden Guest x2 (starting) |
| - | * Legolas, Elven Comrade x2 | + | * Legolas, Elven Comrade x2 (starting) |
| | * Merry, Learned Guide x3 | | * Merry, Learned Guide x3 |
| | * Pippin, Woolly-footed Rascal x3 | | * Pippin, Woolly-footed Rascal x3 |
| | | | |
| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| - | * Eomer, Sister Son of Theoden | + | * Eomer, Sister Son of Theoden (starting) |
| - | * Eowyn, Lady of Rohan | + | * Eowyn, Lady of Rohan (starting) |
| | * Rider of Rohan x3 | | * Rider of Rohan x3 |
| | * Theoden, Lord of the Mark x2 | | * Theoden, Lord of the Mark x2 |
| | * Eomer, Sister-son of Theoden x2 | | * Eomer, Sister-son of Theoden x2 |
| | * Eowyn, Lady of Rohan x2 | | * Eowyn, Lady of Rohan x2 |
| - | * Gandalf, The White Wizard | + | * Gandalf, The White Wizard (starting) |
| | * Gimli, Unbidden Guest | | * Gimli, Unbidden Guest |
| | * Legolas, Elven Comrade | | * Legolas, Elven Comrade |
| | | | |
| | Free Peoples (25 cards) | | Free Peoples (25 cards) |
| - | * Eowyn, Daughter of Eomund x2 | + | * Eowyn, Daughter of Eomund x2 (starting) |
| | * Household Guard x3 | | * Household Guard x3 |
| - | * Elite Rider x3 | + | * Elite Rider x3 (starting) |
| | * Hobbit Sword x2 | | * Hobbit Sword x2 |
| | * Rohirrim Bow x3 | | * Rohirrim Bow x3 |
| | Free Peoples (25 cards) | | Free Peoples (25 cards) |
| | * Balglin, Elven Warrior | | * Balglin, Elven Warrior |
| - | * Gimli, Unbidden Guest | + | * Gimli, Unbidden Guest (starting) |
| - | * Legolas, Archer of Mirkwood x2 | + | * Legolas, Archer of Mirkwood x2 (starting) |
| | * Lorien Swordsman x3 | | * Lorien Swordsman x3 |
| | * Elven Bow x3 | | * Elven Bow x3 |
| | * Ent Avenger x3 | | * Ent Avenger x3 |
| | * Host of Fangorn | | * Host of Fangorn |
| - | * Merry, Learned Guide | + | * Merry, Learned Guide (starting) |
| - | * Pippin, Woolly-footed Rascal | + | * Pippin, Woolly-footed Rascal (starting) |
| - | * Quickbeam, Bregalad | + | * Quickbeam, Bregalad (starting) |
| | * Skinbark, Fladrif | | * Skinbark, Fladrif |
| | * Hobbit Sword x2 | | * Hobbit Sword x2 |
| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| | * Anborn, Skilled Hunstman x2 | | * Anborn, Skilled Hunstman x2 |
| - | * Faramir, Ithilien Ranger x2 | + | * Faramir, Ithilien Ranger x2 (starting) |
| - | * Ranger of Ithilien x3 | + | * Ranger of Ithilien x3 (starting) |
| | * Sam, Nice Sensible Hobbit | | * Sam, Nice Sensible Hobbit |
| - | * Smeagol, Poor Creature | + | * Smeagol, Poor Creature (starting) |
| | * Hobbit Sword x3 | | * Hobbit Sword x3 |
| | * Ranger's Bow x2 | | * Ranger's Bow x2 |
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| | Free Peoples (23 cards) | | Free Peoples (23 cards) |
| - | * Aragorn, Driven by Need x2 | + | * Aragorn, Driven by Need x2 (starting) |
| | * Faramir, Stout Captain | | * Faramir, Stout Captain |
| | * Madril, Faramir's Aide | | * Madril, Faramir's Aide |
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| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| - | * Eomer, Valiant Warchief x2 | + | * Eomer, Valiant Warchief x2 (starting) |
| - | * Eowyn, Restless Maiden | + | * Eowyn, Restless Maiden (starting) |
| | * Gandalf, Defender of the West | | * Gandalf, Defender of the West |
| | * Rohirrim Guard x3 | | * Rohirrim Guard x3 |
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| | Free Peoples (24) | | Free Peoples (24) |
| - | * Merry, Noble Warrior x2 | + | * Merry, Noble Warrior x2 (starting) |
| | * Eomer, Keeper of Oaths | | * Eomer, Keeper of Oaths |
| | * Eowyn, Restless Maiden | | * Eowyn, Restless Maiden |
| | * Guthlaf, Herald | | * Guthlaf, Herald |
| - | * Enraged Horseman x3 | + | * Enraged Horseman x3 (starting) |
| | * Hobbit Sword x2 | | * Hobbit Sword x2 |
| | * Long Spear x3 | | * Long Spear x3 |
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| | Free Peoples (24) | | Free Peoples (24) |
| - | * Pippin, Guard of Minas Tirith x2 | + | * Pippin, Guard of Minas Tirith x2 (starting) |
| | * Faramir, Defender of Osgiliath | | * Faramir, Defender of Osgiliath |
| | * Denethor, Wizened Steward | | * Denethor, Wizened Steward |
| | * Ingold | | * Ingold |
| - | * Gondorian Captain x3 | + | * Gondorian Captain x3 (starting) |
| | * Hobbit Sword x2 | | * Hobbit Sword x2 |
| | * Gondorian Sword x3 | | * Gondorian Sword x3 |
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| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| - | * Merry, Rohirrim Squire | + | * Merry, Rohirrim Squire (starting) |
| - | * Pippin, Sworn to Service | + | * Pippin, Sworn to Service (starting) |
| - | * Sam, Great Elf Warrior x2 | + | * Sam, Great Elf Warrior x2 (starting) |
| | * Hobbit Sword x4 | | * Hobbit Sword x4 |
| | * Orc Armor x2 | | * Orc Armor x2 |
| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| | * Frodo, Resolute Hobbit | | * Frodo, Resolute Hobbit |
| - | * Gandalf, Defender of the West x3 | + | * Gandalf, Defender of the West x3 (starting) |
| | * Oathbreaker x2 | | * Oathbreaker x2 |
| | * Sleepless Dead | | * Sleepless Dead |
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| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| - | * Aragorn, Guide and Protector x2 | + | * Aragorn, Guide and Protector x2 (starting) |
| | * Madril, Ranger of Ithilien x2 | | * Madril, Ranger of Ithilien x2 |
| | * Ranger of Westernesse x4 | | * Ranger of Westernesse x4 |
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| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| - | * Gandalf, Leader of the Company x2 | + | * Gandalf, Leader of the Company x2 (starting) |
| | * Merry, Loyal Companion x2 | | * Merry, Loyal Companion x2 |
| | * Sam, Steadfast Friend x2 | | * Sam, Steadfast Friend x2 |
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| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| - | * Eomer, Guardian of the Eastmark x2 | + | * Eomer, Guardian of the Eastmark x2 (starting) |
| - | * Eowyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan x2 | + | * Eowyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan x2 (starting) |
| | * Hrothlac, Man of Rohan | | * Hrothlac, Man of Rohan |
| | * Riddermark Soldier x4 | | * Riddermark Soldier x4 |
| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| | * Elven Scout x4 | | * Elven Scout x4 |
| - | * Farin, Emissary of Erebor x2 | + | * Farin, Emissary of Erebor x2 (starting) |
| - | * Legolas, Companion of the Ring x2 | + | * Legolas, Companion of the Ring x2 (starting) |
| | * Woodland Sentinel x2 | | * Woodland Sentinel x2 |
| | * Axe of Khazad-dum | | * Axe of Khazad-dum |
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| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| - | * Eomer, Guardian of the Eastmark | + | * Eomer, Guardian of the Eastmark (starting) |
| | * Eored Warrior x 4 | | * Eored Warrior x 4 |
| - | * Merry, Loyal Companion | + | * Merry, Loyal Companion (starting) |
| | * Theoden, King of the Eorlingas | | * Theoden, King of the Eorlingas |
| | * Rider's Spear x 4 | | * Rider's Spear x 4 |
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| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| - | * Merry, Loyal Companion | + | * Merry, Loyal Companion (starting) |
| | * Ranger of Westernesse x 2 | | * Ranger of Westernesse x 2 |
| - | * Sam, Steadfast Friend x 2 | + | * Sam, Steadfast Friend x 2 |
| - | * Tolman Cotton, Farmer of Bywater | + | * Tolman Cotton, Farmer of Bywater (starting) |
| - | * Farmer Maggot, Hobbit of the Marish | + | * Farmer Maggot, Hobbit of the Marish (starting) |
| | * Hobbit Sword x 4 | | * Hobbit Sword x 4 |
| | * Hope is Kindled x 4 | | * Hope is Kindled x 4 |
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| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| - | * Boromir, Doomed Heir x 2 | + | * Boromir, Doomed Heir x 2 (starting) |
| - | * Merry, Loyal Companion | + | * Merry, Loyal Companion (starting) |
| | * Tolman Cotton, Farmer of Bywater | | * Tolman Cotton, Farmer of Bywater |
| | * Tradesman From Lebennin x 4 | | * Tradesman From Lebennin x 4 |
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| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| - | * Arwen, Reflection of Luthien x 2 | + | * Arwen, Reflection of Luthien x 2 (starting) |
| | * Lorien Protector x 2 | | * Lorien Protector x 2 |
| | * Orophin, Brother of Haldir | | * Orophin, Brother of Haldir |
| - | * Rumil, Brother of Haldir | + | * Rumil, Brother of Haldir (starting) |
| | * Shrouded Elf x 2 | | * Shrouded Elf x 2 |
| | * Blade of Lindon x 4 | | * Blade of Lindon x 4 |
| | * Aragorn, Swift Hunter x4 | | * Aragorn, Swift Hunter x4 |
| | * Elven Warrior x2 | | * Elven Warrior x2 |
| - | * Gimli, Eager Hunter x2 | + | * Gimli, Eager Hunter x2 (starting) |
| | * Haldir, Sentry of the Golden Wood | | * Haldir, Sentry of the Golden Wood |
| - | * Legolas, Fleet-Footed Hunter x2 | + | * Legolas, Fleet-Footed Hunter x2 (starting) |
| | * Hobbit Sword x2 | | * Hobbit Sword x2 |
| | * Sword of the Fallen x4 | | * Sword of the Fallen x4 |
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| | Free Peoples (24 cards) | | Free Peoples (24 cards) |
| - | * Eowyn, Willing Fighter x2 | + | * Eowyn, Willing Fighter x2 (starting) |
| - | * Gamling, The Old x2 | + | * Gamling, The Old x2 (starting) |
| | * Haleth, Son of Hama x2 | | * Haleth, Son of Hama x2 |
| | * Rohirrim Warrior | | * Rohirrim Warrior |