LOTR TCG Deck Encyclopedia (Draft updated: 2011-06-21)

[leokula]

UPDATE:

2011-06-21: Official current draft attached.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi there everybody!

I just saw an SWCCG article the other day, and it was a comprehensive list with all major deck archetypes for SW. That helped me a great deal in getting to know the game and all I could do with it. For each deck there was:

Description
How it Works
How it Wins
Why should I play it?
Why shouldn't I play it?

That inspired me to write my own LOTR TCG Deck Encyclopedia, since most of the existing decks I've already built and played with. I'm thinking it will take some time, obviously, and I'm working on a PDF version and a web-based version. I'd like to show you how the index looks so far so you could tell me what you think of it. BTW this is based on Expanded, Standard and Movie Block formats. No open freaks or block specific decks.

INDEX

1. Introduction

2. "'One Ring to Rule Them All...'" - About rings

3. "'Let the Ring-bearer Decide.'" - About ring-bearers

4. "'You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring.'" - About the starting fellowship

5. Skirmish, Wounding, Archery and Choking

6. Splashing

6.1 The Gandalf Splash

6.2 The Sméagol Splash

7. Deck Archetypes

7.1 Free Peoples

7.1.1 Elvent [skirmish]
7.1.2 Elven Telepathy (Pre Threachery & Deceit) [skirmish][initiative]
7.1.3 Elven Telepathy (Post Threachery & Deceit) [skirmish][threats]
7.1.4 Elven Archery / Wounding [archery][wounding]
7.1.5 Power Elves [skirmish]
7.1.6 Elven Hunters [archery][wounding][threats]

7.1.7 Rangers (Pre-Hunters) [skirmish canceling][site number][wounding]
7.1.8 Rangers (Post-Hunters) [minion discarding][site number][wounding]
7.1.9 Knights [skirmish][wounding]
7.1.10 Noble Leaders [skirmish][tokens][fetching]
7.1.11 Gondor Archery (Post-Bloodlines) [archery][wounding][tokens]
7.1.12 Wraiths [skirmish][threats]

7.1.13 Dwarves [skirmish][cycling]
7.1.14 Gimli & Gloin [cycling][choking]
7.1.15 Dwarves and Sméagol [sméagol][site path control][skirmish][wounding][threats][cycling]
7.1.16 Discarding Dwarves [discarding][skirmish][cycling]

7.1.17 Rohan Royal Family [frodo][skirmish][fetching]
7.1.18 Rohan Fighting with Frodo [frodo][followers][skirmish][fetching]
7.1.19 Rohan with Merry [frodo][skirmish][wounding][archery][fetching][site path control]
7.1.20 Rohan and Gandalf [frodo][skirmish][fetching][resistance]

7.1.21 Hobbit Hospital [frodo][skirmish canceling][healing][allies]
7.1.22 Power Hobbits [frodo][skirmish][tokens][healing]
7.1.23 Ring-bound Hobbits and Sméagol [sméagol][skirmish canceling][tokens][followers][healing]
7.1.24 Hobbits and Gandalf [frodo][skirmish][tokens][resistance]

7.1.25 Sméagol and Faramir [sméagol][choking]

7.1.26 Ents [frodo][skirmish][fetching]
7.1.27 Ents and Gandalf as ring-bearer [skirmish][fetching]
7.1.28 Gandalf Culture Men [skirmish][followers]

7.1.29 Slaked Thirsts [rainbow][allies][wounding][archery][healing]

7.1.30 The Three Hunters [rainbow][wounding][skirmish][healing][archery]

7.1.31 Refuge [rainbow][wounding][healing][skirmish]

That's what I got so far. The stuff between []'s are tags, they're a summary of the basic features of the deck. My idea is to provide at least one sample deck list, and then comment on how it works, related cards, history, stuff like that. Porbably there will be a later session for banned cards and how they were once played, but that's not certain.

I'll probably add more to the free peoples section, but I think I'm covering most of the known decks here. Also, I don't plan to add abused decks like Bilbo's tales, pippin engines, solo whoever, stuff like that.

Let me know what you think

[Gil-Estel]

Wow, Leo, you must have too much time on your hands...., but no I really like it! Maybe you could use an short expaination as well regarding block decks, but other than that, great! Oh and please PM me a decklist of the Slaked Thirsts, I made one, looked very promising but it did very poor in a tournament.

[FM]

Well, if it's an encyclopedia, then I think you should try to go as far as you can, even if it means adding in broken Open stuff (block is ok to skip, though). However, even if you decide against it, I think you SHOULD cover the abusable stuff as well, if at least for the sake of the readers to know about them, and maybe include ways to BEAT the stuff (including the decks, it'd be nice to sum up what would be EVIL against a particular deck so players might play around it or pack it to face such decks). Other than this, I'll just say it's AWESOME to do something like this, and really satisfying, specially since all those memories come right back when you start writing about a deck, not to mention, it's a totally kick-#$&*@! homeage to this great game. Great idea.

[leokula]

If there's anybody interested, here is what I have so far:

http://www.geocities.com/leonardokula/1.doc

Please install the Ringbearer font for complete experience  (attached)

[FM]

 
That is pretty good!

[daisukeman]

Took a look at the encyclopedia. Congratulations!! Really cool job.
Something like that requires a lot, a lot of time (if you are to complete it).
 
PD=You missed Sindri in the Dwarven part.

[leokula]

Holy cow, I forgot Sindri!! My cousin used to stack events on preparations and then play them with Sindri... gees how could I forget?

Thanks D!

[Beorn]

Great work. I want to see the finished product for sure .

[tim1247]

Great! Definitely awesome, keep it up dude!

[Rapajic]

Hi, where I find this file to download (encyclopedia)?

[V-R4NG3R]

Page not available anymore.. can u post it once again pls!

[denethor]

You can download it through wayback machine. The file "1.doc" is what appears to be the encyclopedia: http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20091027001526/http://geocities.com/leonardokula/

Alternative download link: http://www.mirrorcreator.com/files/U1U76YYK/c1.doc_links

[Rapajic]

Is All Encyclopedia available anywhere?

[Doom]

I would really love to see this finished..if you want, I could help you write some of it? :p

[leokula]

Hey everybody Thanks for the positive reviews so far!

I'm still writing it, I have a lot more decks than this version, but I need to put it together in the word file, with pictures and all. So far it's just a flat text file.

I'm not in my personal computer, but once I am, I'll upload the updated version.

@Breeze: I'll give this a thought and we'll work something out!