From: kuo@oldbit.csc.lsu.edu (Isaac Kuo) Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: LoTR Card Game info? Date: 8 Sep 1999 01:11:27 GMT Organization: Department of Computer Science, LSU, Baton Rouge Lines: 20 Message-ID: <7r4d3v$304g$1@its1.ocs.lsu.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: oldbit.csc.lsu.edu Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-ge.switch.ch!news.maxwell.syr.edu!sunqbc.risq.qc.ca!gatech!juniper.cis.uab.edu!cis.uab.edu!news.lsu.edu!kuo I just noticed some set of a Middle Earth based collectable card game. Knowing that the overwhelming majority of CCGs really suck, I thought to ask what other people thought of it. So here are my questions: 1. How is the artwork? Would it alone be worth purchasing a set of cards for a Tolkien fan who otherwise probably wouldn't be playing the game much? 2. How is the gameplay? Is it at least somewhat interesting? 3. What sorts of cards are there? Thanks for any info! -- _____ Isaac Kuo kuo@bit.csc.lsu.edu http://www.csc.lsu.edu/~kuo __|_)o(_|__ ICQ 29055726 /___________\ "Mari-san... Yokatta... \=\)-----(/=/ ...Yokatta go-buji de..." - Karigari Hiroshi ###### From: urban@netcom.com (Michael Urban) Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien Subject: Re: LoTR Card Game info? Date: 12 Sep 1999 16:33:33 GMT Organization: NETCOM / MindSpring Enterprises, Inc. Lines: 50 Message-ID: <7rgkkt$k7f@dfw-ixnews4.ix.netcom.com> References: <7r4d3v$304g$1@its1.ocs.lsu.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: netcom6.netcom.com X-NETCOM-Date: Sun Sep 12 11:33:33 AM CDT 1999 NNTP-Posting-User: urban Path: chonsp.franklin.ch!pfaff.ethz.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!newsfeed-zh.ip-plus.net!news.ip-plus.net!News.Amsterdam.UnisourceCS!skynet.be!hermes.visi.com!news-out.visi.com!ix.netcom.com!urban In article <7r4d3v$304g$1@its1.ocs.lsu.edu>, Isaac Kuo wrote: > >I just noticed some set of a Middle Earth based collectable >card game. Knowing that the overwhelming majority of CCGs >really suck, I thought to ask what other people thought of >it. So here are my questions: > >1. How is the artwork? Would it alone be worth purchasing > a set of cards for a Tolkien fan who otherwise probably > wouldn't be playing the game much? Variable, but generally appealing. With only a few exceptions, the worst of the artwork is inoffensively mediocre, and the best is outstanding. Your mileage will vary, of course, depending on who your favorite artists are. > >2. How is the gameplay? Is it at least somewhat interesting? The gameplay is more complex than most CCGs -- it is thought that this has limited the game's market -- but is very rewarding. Your characters move from site to site around Middle Earth and collecting useful items like Orcrist and the Book of Mazarbul, rousing "factions" like the Men of Rohan against Sauron, and avoiding or fighting orcs, wolves, and the occasional dark rider. It definitely has a narrative "feel" and is reasonably faithful to its source material (though necessarily taking many liberties for game play). It is a long game, though. Give yourself an hour or two. > >3. What sorts of cards are there? You can get card lists (by rarity and category) at Iron Crown's WWW site, as well as online copies of the rules for Middle-Earth: The Wizards and its various expansions. See http://www.ironcrown.com/me/cards/rarity/index.html You can play the game over the net on a PC (or Mac running Virtual PC) using NetMECCG, a freeware implementation of the game. Not as much fun as playing in person, and kind of cumbersome, but on the other hand you get to use whatever cards you like, without purchasing a thing. Check http://eewww.eng.ohio-state.edu/~mcollins/netmeccg.html A good site for game links is Chris Cable's page: http://www.mdi.net/~chscable/ The bad news: Iron Crown Enterprises has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. A new edition of the game, with less complicated but generally compatible rules, was planned for fall release but now may never see the light of day.