What's the difference with Masterworks?

[Kenddrick]

I was wondering. Why are Masterwork cards much more expensive than the normal cards? Just the artwork, but other than that?

[ket_the_jet]

Rarity and alternate template.
-wtk

[Kenddrick]

Alternate template?

Well the template has a different colour that's all. 

[Thranduil]

Alternate template?

Well the template has a different colour that's all. 

You could make the same argument for foils. But people want them.

Thranduil

[ununtrium]

I wish they had made Dwarven Masterworks...

[ket_the_jet]

I wish they had made Dwarven Masterworks...

Gimli, Skilled Defender (P) and Axe of Erebor (P) are as close as  you are going to get.
-wtk

[ket_the_jet]

Personally, I don't like the alternate templates very much except for the template (example: Glamdring, Lightning Brand (P)) and (example: Eomer, Third Marshal of Riddermark (P)).

For each of the remaining templates, I prefer the original ones.
-wtk

[TelTura]

even the balrog's?  I drooled the first time I saw that one...

[ket_the_jet]

The Balrog, The Terror of Khazad-dum (O) and The Balrog, Terror of Flame and Shadow (P) ended up with slightly different templates. But since I don't care for cards from sets eleven and beyond, I didn't really get very excited about the introduction of an alternate template...

...the real question, is why not the ?
-wtk

[ununtrium]

I agree with you, ket! Shire alt. templates would have been interesting. Something a design team might tackle in the future. The foiled Gandalf Masterworks are just pieces of art, though. Especially the Hunters Block ones are really cool (and that has nothing to do with their collector's value!!!).

The Wraith Masterworks, however, add nothing new. I could do without them altogether...and they have the most Masterworks per culture, don't they? ARRGHHH!

[legolas3333]

yeah because there are only like what 10 shadow masterworks and 9 of them are

[MR. Lurtzy]

There's 6 in Black Rider alone.

[MuadDib85]

As a set I think the masterworks from bloodlines look the most impressive. The Gandalf and Elven ones are my favourites. 13O2 13O5

All masterworks are pretty rare. I have never pulled more than one from any single booster box.
Given how hard it is to even find Hunters/RoS/T&D boosters, you can see why masterworks from those sets in particular are more expensive.

[MR. Lurtzy]

I think they average 1 every 35 packs, which is about 1 per booster box. I got lucky with my hunter's box and pulled both the Gandalf and Lemenya masterworks.  

[jdizzy001]

that's cool