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| corvus |
![]() Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:16 am |
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Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1696
Location: Roaming, but dangerous!!!
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--- description ---
We hear that LOTR TCG is a very expensive game. Let’s give back a good answer to that, shall we?
--- end description ---
Many TCG players and fantasy lovers, when asked why they do not join LOTR TCG claim not being able to because of the high cost of joining another TCG, especially one like LOTR, where cards are too expensive. First of all, let us make clear to the public, that on the one hand, as this article shall prove, LOTR can be played with a specific budget, and on the other hand, other games like WOW or MTG are by far more expensive, the first needing at least 300$ to have a competitive deck, and the latter rotating the sets with great speed, rendering many cards useless.
Now, onto our main objective:
We shall try to examine tactics where not even one rare is needed to build a deck. Both free peoples and shadow sides will be included, so get a pen and paper or just move your mouse and copy paste... 
CHEAP FELLOWSHIPS!
CHEAP ELVES!
Frodo, Resolute Hobbit
the one ring, the ruling ring
Legolas, Son of Thranduil
aegnor, elven escort
Arwen, Evenstar of Her People
Ferevellon, Son of Thandronen
lorien swordsman x4
hobbit sword
elven bow x4
elven sword x4
dismay our enemies x4
valor x4
feathered x4
the seen and the unseen x3
a grey ship x2
PRICE: $9.55
Simple and straighforward, this deck utilizes archery and wounds on minions to either wipe them out during archery, or slay them during skirmish and make them vanish with dismay our enemies. Skirmishes are easily won by all those heavy skirmisher-companions with those events. Imagine Castamir with 3 wounds -- 20 strength -- he gets a minus 4 from the swordsman’s text and a minus 6 for each feathered in hand. not to mention he would get discarded when another corsair would lose his skirmish....
CHEAP DWARVES!
Frodo, Resolute Hobbit
the one ring, the ruling ring
Gimli, Eager Hunter
Farin, Dwarven Emissary
Fror, Gimli’s Kinsman x2
Thrarin, Smith of Erebor x2
Dwarven Warrior x4
Hobbit sword
Dwarven axe x4
Hand axe x4
Dwarven Bracers x4
Endurance of dwarves x2
axe strike x4
flurry of blows x4
awkward moment x4
Nobody tosses a dwarf x4
PRICE: $9.45
A nice and easy dwarf dicarding deck. Nobody tosses a dwarf has been reprinted as an uncommon, so it’s quite easy to find, and generally those dwarves can pack quite a punch when equipped with 2 axes and with a flurry of blows in hand. Just imagine it on Gimli. He is 9 + 4 with the equipment and +4 with the event for a total of 17 strength. Not to mention the damage +2 bonus... Each companion from the fellowship block has some race-hate, so it makes things even easier against orcs and uruk-hai. Everything gets played right away and effectively, with no hand-clogging problems.
CHEAP GONDORIANS!
Frodo, Resolute Hobbit
the one ring, the ruling ring
Aragorn, Heir of Elendil
Boromir, Son of Denethor
Faramir, Son of Denethor
Anarion, Lord of Anorien
Denethor, Wizened Steward
Isildur, Heir of Elendil
Guard of the White Tree x2
ranger’s sword
Ithilien Blade x4
Ranger’s cloak x4
I will go
Elendil’s Valor x3
second level x4
what are they x3
swordarm of the white tower x4
swordsman of the northern kingdom x3
PRICE: $11.40
Brutal and brave, the gondorians fight with a simplistic way, utilizing the Ithilien Blade and even the second level of Minas Tirith to discard key minions. With their valorous attempts they become defenders amd protect the ring-bearer, enabling double movement even with their own sacrifice. Most events can help all companions, since roaming-making and defender given are common things for this strategy. Boromir can help the skirmish of the ring-bearer during difficult times, and each other companion is a strong skirmish machine. of a base strength around 9. Just imagine Boromir going defender +2 on site 9, making frodo strength +6 and then dying in his own skirmish valiantly. Much like the movie.... 
CHEAP HOBBITS!
Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer
the one ring, the ruling ring
Sam, Great Elf Warrior
merry, From O’er The Brandywine
Pippin, Friend to Frodo
Hobbit sword x4
there and back again x2
the tale of the great ring x2
The Gaffer, Master Gardener
Frodo Gamgee, Son of Samwise
hobbiton farmer, lover of pipeweed
Daddy Twofoot, Next-door Neighbor x2
no visitors x4
narrow escape x4
unharmed x4
Community Living x4
PRICE: $7.75
Another easy to build competitive deck. Just fetch your followers with first coming daady twoffot, and frodo gamgee, right after the rest of the party crashers, then when the action begins, cancel the skrmishes. The tales (protected by Pippin) help in desperate situations, and the regroup events first spot minios to heal and then discard them.
CHEAP SMEEEAGOL precious!
Alright, i have to admit that this deck DOES have a rare, but it’s an extremely easy one to find, and extremely cheap one to buy. And as you can guess, this one card is: (Girl raises the hand-clap sign)
SMEAGOL, BEARER OF GREAT SECRETS!
The one ring, the ruling ring
Faramir, Son of Denethor
There’s Another way x4
poor wretch x4
never x2
nasty x4
naked waste x4
where shall we go x4
clever hobbits x2
Still Far Ahead x4
One Good Turn Deserves Another x4
PRICE: $24.35
A very classic free peoples side, one we get to see quite often. This article is a good proof that poor old Smea doesn’t need rares to work. Just set your conditions, control the site path and run, knowing that you cannot be overwhelmed except in extreme cases. A common thing to see is Smeagol having 7 conditions down (say 5 pumping ones) and at the very least a nasty ready in hand. That is translated in a strength of 4 (with THIS ring), a plus 5 with the conditions, and a plus 7 from nasty, to a total of 16. Not to mention the copies of naked waste lying in the discard pile. Price is a bit high, but keep in mind that this IS the original Smeagol solo deck.
And after the free peoples, here come the cheap shadows:
CHEAP SHADOWS!
CHEAP SOUTHRONS!
southron bowman x4
elite archer x4
desert warrior x4
desert spearman x4
haradrim marksman x3
whirling strike x4
red wrath x4
raider halberd x3
raider bow x3
mumak x3
PRICE: $8.05
Easy easy easy. Three words that describe this shadow; play your minions, crank them with possessions, exhaust companions you don’t like during archery, then finish them during skirmish with your deadly abilities and events. Having a nice symmetry in wounding in archery means that in the vital skirmishes you can assign 2-3 wounds as needed and required.
CHEAP MORIA!
goblin scavengers x4
goblin runner x4
goblin backstabber x4
goblin scrabbler x4
Moria Scout x2
Goblin Wallcrawler x2
Goblin scimitar x4
they are coming x4
host of thousands x4
PRICE: $4.20
This is actually the first time a moria shadow i design is below 40... Too easy. Expect your one and only condition to get down, then go for an all or nothing swarm. With some answers to archery and card drawing abilities, this is a definetely fun shadow to play with. First use the runners to add twilight, scimitars and scavengers (who fetch scimitars) to draw cards, then BOOM! Moria explodes getting out a nice swarm. This deck can even make a site 2 victory. All you need is 6-7 twilight and 5-6 minions (2 scrabblers and a runner). Who can claim this is out of the question?
CHEAP DUNLAND!
Band of Wild Men x4
Dunlending Madman x4
Dunlending Pillager x4
Dunlending Robber x4
Dunlending Warrior x2
Wild Man of Dunland x4
Dunlending Rampager x4
Dunlending Footmen x4
death to the strawheads x3
Dark Fury x4
War Cry of Dunland x3
PRICE: $6.65
A childish strategy, effective nevertheless. Play them. win, make them fierce. 2 wounds x X where X equals the number of minions per move. rampager and footmen use a little extra strategy for a damageful experience.
CHEAP CORSAIRS!
Corsair Buccaneer x2
Corsair Freebooter x2
Corsair Gunners x4
Corsair Lookout x4
Corsair Plunderer x4
Corsair Boatswain x4
Corsair Ruffian x4
Black sails of umbar x4
Corsair war galley x2
wind that sped ships x4
PRICE: $11
Yes it does seem bizarre not to play castamir or marauder, but come to think of it, it’s a really fun deck. You make initiative, threats and allies dissapear, fetch the black sails with the boatswains, fill them up with plunderers and ruffians, and go for a good 10 minion swarm on a double move, along with 2 events in hand. Of cource, the gunners make sure it’s fierce...
CHEAP BURDEN-KILLER!
Easterling Guard x4
Easterling Infantry x2
Easterling Lieutenant x4
Easterling Trooper x2
Easterling Sergeant x4
Easterling Pillager x3
Easterling polearm x4
not easily destroyed x4
ulaire enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul x4
PRICE: $11.80
Easy once more, see how simple it is with these cards? Use sergeant, guard, pillager and lieutenant to add burdens and Enquea with its toy to pick up the companions. Painful and killing. Some minions get a fine strength and damage bonus, to stall the free peoples player need be...
Hope you enjoyed, please comment everyone! |
Last edited by corvus on Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:31 pm; edited 13 times in totalClick here if you want to trade some foils away
Far, Far beyond the island we dwelt in shapes of twilight
Through draught and weary days
Through grief and endless pain |
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| bobtheorc |
![]() Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 11:03 am |
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Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 1218
Location: Wow, its hot in Iowa
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| Pipeweed |
![]() Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 11:04 am |
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Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Posts: 1010
Location: Earth (I think)
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| corvus |
![]() Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 11:10 am |
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Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1696
Location: Roaming, but dangerous!!!
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Thanks guys!  |
Click here if you want to trade some foils away
Far, Far beyond the island we dwelt in shapes of twilight
Through draught and weary days
Through grief and endless pain |
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| Anonymous Prodigy |
![]() Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:01 pm |
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Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 4197
Location: United States
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Pipeweed wrote: Very nice article. It might have been nice though if you included some more strategy. A very solid 4.
You stole my line. Sweet article!  |
| I had to put something here. |
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| Pipeweed |
![]() Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:33 pm |
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Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Posts: 1010
Location: Earth (I think)
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| corvus |
![]() Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:42 pm |
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Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1696
Location: Roaming, but dangerous!!!
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| Thanks again, so much! |
Click here if you want to trade some foils away
Far, Far beyond the island we dwelt in shapes of twilight
Through draught and weary days
Through grief and endless pain |
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| NBarden |
![]() Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:11 pm |
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Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 5468
Location: I don't know...
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Ditto PW and AP. Thinking about a 3-4, probably 4. I saw Cheap Corsairs and went nuh-uh. But actually pretty cool. Another Corsair strategy would be to go with Corsair Wounding with Corsair Brute, Red Wrath, and then use Wind that Sped Ships to get to amazing strength. (most expensive card in that list, Corsair Brute, $0.75)
You get a 4. |
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| corvus |
![]() Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:17 pm |
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Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1696
Location: Roaming, but dangerous!!!
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I JUST added a little more strategy ironically... 
Whatever, thanks NBarden, nice idea. However, i’d like to keep it a non-rare article but for my one exception... |
Click here if you want to trade some foils away
Far, Far beyond the island we dwelt in shapes of twilight
Through draught and weary days
Through grief and endless pain |
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| Felipe Musco |
![]() Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:32 pm |
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Joined: 18 May 2006
Posts: 2434
Location: Florianópolis, SC, Brasil
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| Hah! I can’t BELIEVE you wrote an article on budget! Talk about collective consciousness! Well, you could add the cost of each deck here on CC, like I did in mine. Other than that, it looks perfectly fine. |
| I don't like YOU. |
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