Alternate Card Images on Gemp: What are they and how do you get them?

[sgtdraino]

Occasionally I'll encounter a player with an alternate card image, or I'll pull an alternate card image from a pack. However, I haven't quite figured out the best way to find these, or what packs they tend to most often occur in. I'd also be interested to see a comprehensive list of all the alternates out there. Anybody know where one is? Or what packs yield the best likelihood of getting alternates?

Edited for better organization:

Alternate Image Promos:
The Prancing Pony
Council Courtyard
Balin's Tomb
Galadriel's Glade
Gimli, Son of Gloin
Legolas, Greenleaf
Aragorn, Ranger of the North
Legolas, Son of Thranduil
Faramir, Son of Denethor
Eowyn, Lady of Rohan
Smeagol, Old Noser
Theoden, King of the Golden Hall
Treebeard, Guardian of the Forest
Fell Beast
Aragorn, Captain of Gondor
Legolas, Elven Stalwart
Denethor, Wizened Steward
Gandalf, Defender of the West
Frodo, Resolute Hobbit
Arwen, Fair Elf Maiden
Eowyn, Dernhelm
The Balrog, Terror of Flame and Shadow
The Pale Blade
Gandalf, Mithrandir
Firefoot
Gimli's Helm
Faramir, Captain of Gondor
Whip of Many Thongs
The Witch-king, Lord of the Nazgul
Gandalf's Staff, Walking Stick
Eowyn, Sister-daughter of Theoden
Axe of Erebor
Aragorn's Bow
The Balrog's Sword
Ulaire Nelya, Ringwraith in Twilight
Glamdring, Lightning Brand
Eomer, Third Marshal of Riddermark
Gimli, Skilled Defender
Aragorn, Defender of Free Peoples
Shelob, Last Child of Ungoliant
Eomer, Keeper of Oaths
Sauron, The Lord of the Rings
Gorgoroth Swarm
The Witch-king, Black Captain
The Witch-king, Captain of the Nine Riders
Ulaire Attea, Second of the Nine Riders
Ulaire Nelya, Third of the Nine Riders
Ulaire Cantea, Fourth of the Nine Riders
Ulaire Lemenya, Fifth of the Nine Riders
Ulaire Enquea, Sixth of the Nine Riders
Ulaire Otsea, Seventh of the Nine Riders
Ulaire Toldea, Eighth of the Nine Riders
Ulaire Nertea, Ninth of the Nine Riders

Set 5 Alternate Image Cards (found in Battle of Helm's Deep booster packs):
Baruk Khazad
Break the Charge
Foul Horde
Army of Haradrim
Rohirrim Helm
Thundering Host

Set 6 Alternate Image Cards (found in Ents of Fangorn booster packs):
Enraged
Skinbark, Fladrif
Don't Look at Them
Ancient Roads
Isengard Mechanics
Gate Troll

Set 12 (Legends Masterworks Series):
Gandalf, The White Rider
Faramir, Dunadan of Gondor
Faramir's Sword
The Balrog, The Terror of Khazad-dum
Dark Approach
Ulaire Attea, Black Predator
Ulaire Cantea, Black Assassin
Ulaire Enquea, Black Threat
The Witch-king, Black Lord

Set 13 (Legends Masterworks Series):
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr13o01
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr13o02
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr13o03
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr13o04
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr13o05
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr13o06
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr13o07
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr13o08
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr13o09

Set 15 Legends Masterworks Series (found in Hunters booster packs):
Legolas, of the Woodland Realm
Gandalf, Powerful Guide
Quickbeam, Hastiest of All Ents
Aragorn, Thorongil
Madril, Defender of Osgiliath
Eomer, Horsemaster
Ulaire Otsea, Duplicitous Specter
Ulaire Lemenya, Eternally Threatening
Ulaire Nelya, Fell Rider
Gandalf, Powerful Guide Happy Holidays

Set 17 (Legends Masterworks Series):
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr17o01
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr17o02
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr17o03
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr17o04
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr17o05
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr17o06
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr17o07
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr17o08
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr17o09

Set 18 (Legends Masterworks Series):
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr18o01
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr18o02
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr18o03
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr18o04
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr18o05
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr18o06
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr18o07
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr18o08
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr18o09

So, what are some ways that players can acquire these on Gemp?

[Carl333]

From what I am aware of, most of the promotional cards are alternate image cards. (or AI) Te only other sets with AI cards anre Battle of Helms Deep and Ents of Fangorn.

[sgtdraino]

From what I am aware of, most of the promotional cards are alternate image cards. (or AI) Te only other sets with AI cards anre Battle of Helms Deep and Ents of Fangorn.

I'm not sure you quite understand my question, so I'll give a more specific example. The following alternate card images are all from set 15, and dubbed the "Legends Masterworks Series":

http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr15o01
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr15o02
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr15o03
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr15o04
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr15o05
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr15o06
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr15o07
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr15o08
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/wiki/lotr15o09

Is opening packs from set 15 the only (and best) way to get these on Gemp? Or can they also be found randomly in packs in other sets?

[Eukalyptus]

Masterworks can only be found in packs of the set they are part of. 15O cards can only be found in Hunters packs etc. So you'll find your Madril and Thorongil in Hunters packs only.

P/D AI cards can only be obtained by playing those All Cards Single Elimination tourneys above the Dailys.

AI cards from sets 5 and 6 can only be found in packs of those sets. Even though the AI were part of the starter IRL, gemp only gives us the normal card images.

Tengwar cards (yes, count as AI), can only be obtained by placing inside top 4 of a league.

Tengwars can be chosen by the winner, the rest is random distribution.

Hope that helped.

[sgtdraino]

Masterworks can only be found in packs of the set they are part of. 15O cards can only be found in Hunters packs etc. So you'll find your Madril and Thorongil in Hunters packs only.

Good deal.

P/D AI cards can only be obtained by playing those All Cards Single Elimination tourneys above the Dailys.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "P/D AI cards." Can you elaborate please? Nice to know there's an actual reason to play the Single Elimination tourneys though!

AI cards from sets 5 and 6 can only be found in packs of those sets. Even though the AI were part of the starter IRL, gemp only gives us the normal card images.

Okay, I'm assuming this refers to the 0P cards that are copies of cards from sets 5 and 6, yes?

Tengwar cards (yes, count as AI), can only be obtained by placing inside top 4 of a league.

Tengwars can be chosen by the winner, the rest is random distribution.

This I knew.

Hope that helped.

Yes, thank you very much! Any idea what the odds are of pulling AIs out of boosters?

If you can give me some more details on what "P/D AI cards" are, I'll sort post #1 by where you can get those cards at.

[Eukalyptus]

Okay, I'm assuming this refers to the 0P cards that are copies of cards from sets 5 and 6, yes?

No, this referred to 5R123 Baruk Khazad, 5R124 Break the Charge, 5R125 Foul Horde, 5R126 Army of Haradrim, 5R127 Rohirrim Helm and 5R128 Thundering Host as well as 6R123 Enraged, 6R124 Skinbark, Fladrif, 6R125 Don't Look At Them, 6R126 Ancient Roads, 6R127 Isengard Mechanics and 6R128 Gate Troll. Those 12 cards can only be found in packs of the corresponding sets. IRL, those AIs were included in the starter packs. The odds are the same as pulling every other R card from that set, since we're dealing with a random system and not a printed sheet.

With Black Riders or Bloodlines, Decipher began to issue promo cards with a D instead of a P. Those I meant.

[sgtdraino]

No, this referred to 5R123 Baruk Khazad, 5R124 Break the Charge, 5R125 Foul Horde, 5R126 Army of Haradrim, 5R127 Rohirrim Helm and 5R128 Thundering Host as well as 6R123 Enraged, 6R124 Skinbark, Fladrif, 6R125 Don't Look At Them, 6R126 Ancient Roads, 6R127 Isengard Mechanics and 6R128 Gate Troll. Those 12 cards can only be found in packs of the corresponding sets.

Oh wow, interesting! I'll add those to post #1!

With Black Riders or Bloodlines, Decipher began to issue promo cards with a D instead of a P. Those I meant.

I went through ALL the promos on the promo page, and it looks like none of the "D" ones are AI cards. Just "P" cards (but not every "P" card).

Okay, as to odds...

I had 45 packs from my recent winnings. Opened them all for set 15, got a total of 2 Masterworks. I then bought another 45 packs and opened them for set 15 as well, and that time got 5 Masterworks. I then bought 10 more packs (to make it a nice round 100), opened them and got 2 Masterworks, for a grand total of 9 Masterworks out of 100 packs, or a 9% probability. Of course, your mileage may vary.

I was pretty thrilled when I got my first AI Powerful Guide! ...less thrilled once I pulled my 3rd one. The distribution on these Masterworks doesn't seem that great. Final tally:

3x AI Powerful Guide
2x AI Quickbeam, Hastiest of All Ents
2x AI Ulaire Attea, Desirous of Power
1x AI Ulaire Lemenya, Eternally Threatening
1x AI Ulaire Nelya, Fell Rider

[Eukalyptus]

Some D cards were. I count stuff like "DGMA XXXX" to the AI. Stuff like this:



Gandalf, Powerful Guide has two Masterwork versions. The normal one you'd expect and this one:



You can pull that one as well in Hunters. Had 3 or 4 during the S foil madness.

[sgtdraino]

for a grand total of 9 Masterworks out of 100 packs, or a 9% probability. Of course, your mileage may vary.

And how! Just finished opening another 100 packs, and got a grand total of ONE Masterworks, one that I already had (Ulaire Attea, Desirous of Power). Lame!

Some D cards were. I count stuff like "DGMA XXXX" to the AI. Stuff like this:

Yeah, I didn't count those as AI cards myself. For the list in Post #1, all those cards either have a totally different border, a totally different picture, or both. A small advert on the bottom doesn't seem much different to me than a card that's only different because it has a different collector's number at the bottom. Still, since some of you guys consider these to be AI as well, I reckon I'll start a section for them.

Gandalf, Powerful Guide has two Masterwork versions. The normal one you'd expect and this one:

Yeah, I've got that one listed in the Misc. section. Good to know that it is also found in Set 15 packs, I'll probably add it to that section.

[sgtdraino]

Can someone remind me what the approximate odds are of pulling a Legends Masterworks card out of a booster pack on Gemp?

[Eukalyptus]

It was 1:36 packs back in the day I think. Each box I opened had at least 1 Masterworks in it. The german versions had 2.

[sgtdraino]

Yep, but that's in physical boxes. I was wondering about the odds on Gemp, which I'm pretty sure are higher than that.

[dmaz]

Yep, but that's in physical boxes. I was wondering about the odds on Gemp, which I'm pretty sure are higher than that.

I think so too...MarcinS, at one point, said what he coded it as I think...but I'm not 100% sure...maybe he was talking about P and S Foils.

For the AI cards of Set 5 and Set 6, the odds weren't so good for me when I was trying to get an AI skinbark....I used up 180 booster choice before I got one, and ended up with a total of 3 AIs in that 180 packs opened which averaged out to exactly 1 in 60. The actual odds could be different.

Really opening 1000 packs would be optimal for getting such data, but I have almost 300 booster choice sitting around that I could test the MasterWorks on. Which sets contain them so I could get some numbers?

[Eukalyptus]

Masterworks are in every set from Black Rider on.

[sgtdraino]

See Post #1, dmaz.

As you can see from my own experiences opening 200 packs, I got 9 Masterworks in the first 100, but only 1 Masterworks in the second 100. Not consistent at all, at least for me.

I've been trying to get the Masterworks Aragorn and Madril from the Hunters set. At this point I think I've got multiples of almost every Masterworks from that set... but still no Aragorn or Madril. Very annoying! The only other Masterworks I don't have from Hunters, is the Christmas Gandalf.