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Felipe Musco

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:14 pm

Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 2434 Location: Florianópolis, SC, Brasil

Ok, like last time, I’m gonna let you dwell in the theme for a while here. For this last round before the first elimination, I wanna talk Cycles!
Now, one might ask: "But, what are cycles, anyway? A cycling deck? ( Laughing

)".
Well, a cycle is a small group of cards in a given block, form different cultures, that relate to each other in SOME noticeable way. Basically, we have tight cycles (cards are almost like mirrored versions of each other with VERY minor changes) and loose cycles (cards have only a small "link" between them, but still noticeable) basically, in any given TCG. But how to make it even clearer? Examples, of course! And, if you want to stereotype something, what better time than at the beggining, huh? And indeed, the best examples on cycles that come to my head are from Fellowship block, as they serve as a model for the other ones.

Check the following cards:
Their Halls of Stone
Border Defenses
Defiance
Mysterious Wizard
Swordarm of the White Tower
Swordsman of the Northern Kingdom
Savagery to Match Their Numbers
Drums in the Deep
Unfamiliar Territory
Threshold of Shadow
Flurry of Blows
Sentinels of Numenor

Notice something? They’re essentially the same. Each and every one of them can be resumed to: "+2 strength (or +4 if something is afoot)". The only differences between them is twilight cost (which ALSO only happens in some cases, due to cultural enforcement), and another eventual treat you might get form the conditional bonus. This is an example of a tight cycle.

Now check these ones:
Cleaving Blow
Dagger Strike

Yep. Although MUCH smaller, this one is ALSO a tight cycle.

Wanna see another one? Just the first 2 examples, you’ll get which the other ones are really fast:
Sting
Sting, Baggin’s Heirloom

Yep. They’re all rare, all Sting, all give strength +2. Then, OF COURSE abilities had to be different, otherwise, it’d be a reprint of the same card.

Now, let’s take a look at the "easier" cycles, the loose cycles.
Check these ones:
Glamdring
Sting
Gwemegil
Gimli’s Battle Axe
Blade of Gondor
Ranger’s Sword
Hobbit Sword

This is a loose cycle from Fellowship of the Ring only. What do these cards have in common, really? They’re all Hand Weapons, and they all give +2 strength, but that’s about it! Although some may argue about Glamdring and Sting, they do not realte to all the others, so that doesn’t really count as a micro-cycle.

And another, more tough one (to spot ALL similarities, that is:
Frodo, Old Bilbo’s Heir
Merry, Friend to Sam
Pippin, Hobbit of Some Intelligence
Sam, Faithful Companion
Aragorn, Ranger of the North
Boromir, Lord of Gondor
Legolas, Greenleaf
Gimli, Son of Gloin
Gandalf, Friend of the Shirefolk

What do they have in common? They’re all members of the Fellowship, from the Fellowship set (not block, set), and they’re all RARE. Yep, that, too, qualifies as a cycle! But similarities stop there.

Another example:
Curse Their Foul Feet
Stand Against Darkness
Release the Angry Flood
Sting
Glamdring

They’re all culture hosers. Made to strike hard at certain cultures (even if more than one at once), and it ALSO shows a very interesting fact: cards can belong to multiple cycles!

And what about this one?
Betrayal of Isengard
Terrible as the Dawn
Why Shouldn’t I Keep It?
Such a Little Thing
Can You Protect Me From Yourself?

They’re CHARACTER hosers, and all rare. They all relate to each other CLEARLY, of course, but it’s still a loose cycle, notheless.

And for now, that’s it. I’ll just let you BOIL in curiosity! Bwahwahwahwhawhhawa! No, really, for now, let’s see if you got the feeling of this, post 1 example of each cycle (not the WHOLE cycle, of course) that you noticed, and thought it was neat, so we can all talk about it, and the others can learn where to look, so they can spot cycles too. Last chance to clear your doubts, since the REAL challenge will be posted soon enough... Wink

I don't like YOU.

elf lvr

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 7:14 pm

Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 3065 Location: Rivendell

You know, I’ve spotted a TON of cycles in my short time as a MTG player.

There are a lot of cards of one color that get an ability when played, but are gotten rid of if a different color isn’t payed.

And the series of [1ofanycolor]-costing Martyr of X cards.

Leylines.

Magemarks.

But back to LotR...

Of course, there’s the shadow-gets-initiative cards, which was made for every culture except for gollum. The only ones I can remember off the top of my head are:

Harsh Tongues

and

Some Secret Art of Flame

there was a Wraith

one, too...

Happy Hunting! Elf Lvr
Winner of Best Personality in the FPCA. Thanks!
Archduke Elf Lvr - Archidoux of the Chosen Ones
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sickofpalantirs

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:17 pm

Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 7750 Location: somwhere, over the rainbow way up high. There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.

Blade of Gondor
Gwemigil
Glamdring
Faramir’s Sword
Anduril, FOTW

all of them must be borne by a single companion(I think)
all of them give damage +1
all of them are rare

Sop's haves/ top wants Exclamation

(mm)"SoP: you will always be the Official CC Spammer in my heart"
"DáinIronfoot"
Spammers really are amazing creatures. You can learn all there is to know about their ways in a month. And yet, after a hundred years, they can still surprise you. Razz

AnxiousChieftain

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:39 pm

Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 3947 Location: Maryland

Memories of Darkness
Glimpse of Fate
Brooding on Tomorrow
Hardy Garrison
Fell Deeds Awake
A Light in His Mind

MODS RULE. - lem0nhead

thonnas7

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:04 am

Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Springfield, OR

Suspended Palaces
Agility
Garrison of Osgiliath
We Left None Alive
Kept Safe

Turin06

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 8:46 am

Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 197 Location: Good Question

Subterranean Homestead
Secluded Homestead
Traveler’s Homestead
Gladden Homestead
Storied Homestead
Wind-swept Homestead
Humble Homestead

Between the conception
And the creation
Between the emotion
And the response
Falls the Shadow

Felipe Musco

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:58 am

Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 2434 Location: Florianópolis, SC, Brasil

sickofpalantirs wrote:

Blade of Gondor
Gwemigil
Glamdring
Faramir’s Sword
Anduril, FOTW

all of them must be borne by a single companion(I think)
all of them give damage +1
all of them are rare

Now, this wouldn’t exactly qualify as a cycle... Ok, you COULD qualify them for being all rare, but not much else, and this would mean that EVERY rare possession is part of one big cycle, which isn’t true. Another type of loose cycle, for instance, would be the Raider

minions with "at the start of each skirmish involving this minion, you may remove

to wound a companion he’s skirmishing", or something like that.

I don't like YOU.

bobtheorc

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:42 pm

Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 1218 Location: Wow, its hot in Iowa

Reckless Pride ,
Ancient Blade ,
Steadfast Champion ,
We Hates Them ,
Unexpected Visitor ,
Slow-kindled Courage

After all they all have pretty much the same text as follows
:Bearer must be an X companion. Each minion gains this ability: ’Assignment: Assign this minion to bearer of "this card"
.’ Regroup: Discard this condition to (do something)

Ban the Overpowered Orcs Exclamation

"Don't panic, I have paper!" - Taipan Popcorn

Is that Grima, Grief Counselor? - legolamb
Bobtheorcs Uruk-Hai Dcs
Bob’s wonderful !! updated !! Trade list

Felipe Musco

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:09 pm

Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 2434 Location: Florianópolis, SC, Brasil

Yep, I was gonna list that one, but decided to see if anyone would mention.

I don't like YOU.

sickofpalantirs

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:29 pm

Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 7750 Location: somwhere, over the rainbow way up high. There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.

Felipe Musco wrote:

sickofpalantirs wrote:

Blade of Gondor
Gwemigil
Glamdring
Faramir’s Sword
Anduril, FOTW

all of them must be borne by a single companion(I think)
all of them give damage +1
all of them are rare

minions with "at the start of each skirmish involving this minion, you may remove

to wound a companion he’s skirmishing", or something like that.

why don’t the other 2 work?

Sop's haves/ top wants Exclamation

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