What kind of changes are you wanting to make for a 2nd Edition? What's your gameplan?
Ha!
Well, I don't see making any significant changes to gameplay, because frankly it was never the system that was broken with this game. I think it boils down to these specific elements:
Theme - You absolutely cannot screw with the Tolkienverse. Decipher had such a good thing going with this game and then, for reasons I still have yet to comprehend, they went and introduced a bevy of alternate ring-bearers. Certainly there were short terms gains in terms of novelty and expanded deck building options, but these were eventually offset by the negative repercussions that alternate ring-bearers had on the overall thematic landscape of the game. In my re-imagining of this property, there would never,
ever be ring-bearers other than Frodo or Sam.
Location, Location, Location - One of the most compelling aspects of the Tolkienverse is the vast and unique geography of Middle-earth. That immersion is ruined, however, when you find yourself playing a game that starts in Rohan, takes you to
Mount Doom, swings back around to somewhere in Eriador and finally finishes in Isengard.
This is unacceptable. I don't have a problem with the regional site path mechanic, but you have to begin with the end in mind when you conceptualize this sort of thing.
My plan is to have sites feature two new, distinct icons in addition to the usual elements. The first icon would indicate what region this site should be played to in block play, while the second would indicate the region that the site belongs to in expanded play. For example,
Summit of Amon Hen would have an icon that shows it plays to region 3 in block play, but region 1 in expanded play. Expanded regions would essentially be FOTR locations in region 1, TTT locations in region 2 and ROTK locations in region 3.
Other than that, I think if you stick with the usual design standards (cultural enforcement, punish large fellowships, limited direct wounding, etc.) then there is potential for very rewarding game play.
Topic: Custom Templates (Read 68209 times)
