Why were these cards banned?

[jdizzy001]

So, minus the cards from sets 1-10, these cards have been banned from standard.  Courtyard Parapet, Demoralized, Final Account, Madril, Defender of Osgiliath, Orkish Smith, and Strange-Looking Men.  What was the reasoning behind it?  If a game included sets 11-19 (WDT format) would these cards be usable.  Were they banned for a combo provided by the use of sets 7-10?  I really want to make this new format (WDT) take-off so it needs to be playable, and if these cards are banned in standard, I would like to know why so I can determine if they should be banned in WDT.  Thanks.

[Elgar]

Final account was banned because of the recurision if you had another final account in your discard.
Courtyard parapet could be abused to add lots of burdens.
Orcish smith was just too strong with the decks it was played in.  Demoralized also played a part in that.
There were infinite combos with strange looking men.
Madril + Ithilien blade equals discard all nasty shadow minions.

[Gil-Estel]

- With Strange Looking man you could make an everlasting combo with the possessions from RoS, Wildman's Oath and Ceremonial Armor. It was brilliant, but it took soooo long to do it, that you had to wake your opponent up to tell him that you had won.
- Madril is indeed too terrible. 2 threat, 2 exertions and a minion is gone.
- Orkish Smit, well, that is somewhat different. He was/is good, but especially the culture he is in, makes him too strong. Well, other cards are too strong and he is so usuable, that they deicided to lay him off.
- Demoralized was very cool with possession Orcs but then came Rapid Reload without and they suddenly noticed that Demoralized needed only an Orc when played. You could exhaust an entire fellowship....I think you can see the point.
- Courtyard Parapet can be played over and over with the right cards. Nelya, TotNR, Led Astray, Traveled Leader etc. In a corruption deck it is quite nasty.
- Final Account, wow. That was such an amazing card. You could get rid of cards you didn't need, you can take essential shadowcards back etc. Too good.

[lem0nhead]

To answer a question in your initial post specifically; all the cards were banned for combos or power relating to the last few blocks. None of the cards were particularly bad with move block cards. Mainly cos most are new cultures. But the power of shadows block onwards slowly ramped up to insane levels.

Demoralised was a retarded card. The exertions that could be pumped out with it were sickening. Using goblin hordes, orkish smith was horrendous to face, also using beasts of burden you were effectively getting free minions as well each turn.

The other guys have covered the specific cards though. Trust me in saying that through experience and knowledge myself, and most of the other forum members, know that these cards deserved their X-ed status.

[Sam, Great Elf Warrior]

While we're on the topic, why were these cards banned:
1R40 Elrond, Lord of Rivendell
1R45 Galadriel, Lady of Light
1R80 Ottar, Man of Laketown
1U108 No Stranger to the Shadows
1R139 Savagery to Match Their Numbers
1R195 Relics of Moria
1U234 Ulaire Nertea, Messenger of Dol Guldur
1C248 Forces of Mordor
1R313 Sting (is this because of lack of cultural commitment, or because of the ability itself?)
2R32 Flaming Brand
3R38 Aragorn, Heir to the White City
3R67 The Palantir of Orthanc
3U106 Bill the Pony
3C108 Frying Pan
8C1 Aggression
10U2 Memories of Darkness

For each of these was it:
 - Lack of cultural commitment?
 - Overpowered abilities (if so, which ability)?
 - A broken loop?
 - Multiple of the above?

I'm trying to make errata for all the X-ed movie cards for the modified-movie variant I play (movie with mixed sites). I already know Gondorian Captain, Steadfast Champion, and Mordor Fiend were banned for loops, so I know how to fix them.

[Kralik]

You know, I had a link to an article that explained most of these. Let me see if I can find it.

[Kralik]

Try this link, courtesy of Ringbearer.

[Sam, Great Elf Warrior]

Try this link, courtesy of Ringbearer.

Thanks a lot!

[MR. Lurtzy]

Final account was banned because of the recurision if you had another final account in your discard.

Then why not R list it instead?

[jdizzy001]

maybe that is what i can do in WDT format, just restrict the cards instead of banning them.

[MR. Lurtzy]

maybe that is what i can do in WDT format, just restrict the cards instead of banning them.

What is WDT format?

[Gil-Estel]

I guess what did Decipher Think.....11-19

[MR. Lurtzy]

[jdizzy001]

What was Decipher Thinking.  I decided to drop the second 'w' so as to keep the name of the format short.  WDT is easier to remember than WWDT.  Either way, it is sets 11-19.  It also includes the arb's from set 9 and all copies of the one ring.