== Licensing ==
{{Fairuse-Fantasyflightgames}}

The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game

2013-12-17T19:10:50Z

Shipwreck: /* Gameplay */

[[Image:The Lord of the Rings- The Card Game.png|frame]]
'''''The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game''''' is a card-based game released by [[Fantasy Flight Games]]. The game is set in the period between the events of ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''. ''The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game'' was first announced on [[3 August]] [[2010]],<ref>[http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=1528 Fantasy Flight Games News] at [http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/ Fantasyflightgames.com](accessed 4 August 2010)</ref> and was released on [[20 April]] [[2011]].<ref>[http://www.middleearthnews.net/2011/04/fantasy-flight-games-releases-lord-of.html Fantasy Flight Games releases The Lord of the Rings Card Game] at [http://www.middleearthnews.net/ Middle-earth News.net] (accessed 15 May 2011)</ref>

It is a Living Card Game, which differs from collectible card games in that each expansion is released in fixed packs with no randomness. There are, therefore, no "rare" or "common" cards which creates a system that is easy to collect but also fully playable with only the core set.

==Gameplay==

The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is unique in that it is the only cooperative Living Card Game. While the Core Set comes with pre-constructed decks, players are encouraged to create their own starting with up to three hero characters (who start in play) from the spheres of influence.

The player cards are represented through four "spheres", which relate to various spheres of influence seen in the source material. The four spheres are:
* [[file:tactics.png|15px]] Tactics (combat and strength)
* [[file:leadership.png|15px]] Leadership (resource management and general prowess)
* [[file:spirit.png|15px]] Spirit (willpower)
* [[file:lore.png|15px]]Lore (wisdom and knowledge)

Decks can be constructed using any combination of spheres, but there must be a "resource match" to play the cards from the various spheres. This is done by using the native sphere of the hero, or by giving the hero a new sphere through "song" cards and other effects.

Once decks are constructed, the players choose a quest scenario and begin setup according to the quest cards. This is where the encounter deck is constructed and shuffled, representing the difficulties the players will face as they complete their quest.

The game is then played in rounds consisting of seven phases, some containing different steps.
#Resource Phase - players draw one card and each hero gains one resource
#Planning Phase - starting with the first player, each player may play Events, Attachments, or Allies from his hand
#Quest Phase - players commit characters to the quest
##Staging - a number of cards equal to the number of players is revealed from the encounter deck. Any effects are triggered and resolved and players may play Event cards.
##Resolution - the compare their total committed willpower ([[file:willpower.jpg|15px]]) to the total revealed threat ([[file:threat.png|15px]]) and add quest progress or increase their threat trackers
#Travel Phase - if there is no active location, players choose a revealed location and travel there by moving it next to the quest card
#Encounter Phase - players engage enemies from the staging area for combat
#Combat Phase
##Defend - enemies are dealt "Shadow Cards" face down. Players choose characters to defend the attacks and resolve by revealing the Shadow Card and comparing the enemies attack power against the character's defense and hit points.
##Attack - players choose readied characters to attack enemies engaged with them
#Refresh Phase - players ready all exhausted characters and increase their threat trackers by one

Many cards have different effects that can be triggered throughout a round of play to modify or circumvent these rules. Part of the enjoyment of the game is coming up with new ways of beating the various scenarios.

==Expansion Cycles==

The producers release a monthly new set of 60-card expansions (called Adventure Packs), each related to a specific "cycle". The packs contain new players cards for each sphere, as well as a new quest tied to the corresponding "big box" expansion. The cycles follow a loose series of events, but the most recent ''Against the Shadow'' cycle has been released as a very tight story with printed narratives in each Adventure Pack

The cards from these expansion sets cannot be used without the core product. Planned and published releases include:<ref>[http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite_sec.asp?eidm=129&esem=2 The Lord of the Rings Card Game: Products] at [http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/index.asp Fantasyflightgames.com] (accessed 30 December 2011)</ref>

'''Shadows of Mirkwood Cycle (2011)'''
*''The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game - Core Set'', followed by...
**''The Hunt for Gollum''
**''Conflict at the Carrock''
**''A Journey to Rhosgobel''
**''The Hills of Emyn Muil''
**''The Dead Marshes''
**''Return to Mirkwood''

This quest cycle follows the heroes as they pursue the creature [[Gollum]] through various locales in Middle-earth. It culminates in his capture and transport to [[Thranduil]], mirroring the actions taken by [[Aragorn]] during his own hunt for Gollum.

'''Dwarrowdelf Cycle (2012)'''
*''The Lord of the Rings: Khazad-dûm Expansion'', followed by...
**''The Redhorn Gate''
**''Road to Rivendell''
**''The Watcher in the Water''
**''The Long Dark''
**''Foundations of Stone ''
**''he Lord of the Rings: Shadow and Flame''

The Dwarrowdelf cycles is a series of adventures in and around [[Moria]]. The heroes are there on various errands for [[Elrond]], such as escorting [[Arwen]] to [[Lothlorien]] or investigating the odd number of [[orcs]] seen prowling about the [[Misty Mountains]]. Its finale is a conflict with [[Durin's Bane]].

'''Against the Shadow Cycle (2012-2013)'''
*''The Lord of the Rings: Heirs of Númenor Expansion'', followed by...
**''The Steward's Fear''
**''The Drúadan Forest''
**''Encounter at Amon Dîn''
**''Assault on Osgiliath''
**''Blood of Gondor''
**''The Morgul Vale''

This cycle is set in [[Gondor]] prior to the finding of the Ring. The heroes assist a Gondorian Lord, Alcaron, in uncovering a series of plots set by servants of [[Sauron]] to undermine Gondor as He rebuilds his armies in Mordor. ''Against the Shadow'' departs from the previous two cycles in that it has a tightly woven story that is carried from quest to quest via a narrative included along with the special rules for each scenario.

'''Upcoming:'''
*''The Lord of the Rings: The Voice of Isengard Expansion'' (Q1 2014)<ref>[http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=4316]Voice of Isengard homepage</ref>

==Saga Expansions==

The game has also featured "Saga Expansions", which follow the events of the books directly, as opposed to the original, tangential quests set before The Lord of the Rings. The first covered the events of The Hobbit. The more recent ''Black Riders'' expansion began the series of expansions that will follow The Lord of the Rings. Black Riders follows the events of Book I.
[[File:the-black-riders.jpg|thumb|right|Black Riders box]]
*''The Hobbit: Over Hill and Under Hill'' (2012)
*''The Hobbit: On the Doorstep'' (2013)
*''The Lord of the Rings: The Black Riders'' (2013)

==Print-On-Demand Scenarios==
Periodically, as special releases for the annual [http://www.gencon.com GenCon] event, the designers will create standalone scenarios of especial difficulty. After the initial release at GenCon, they are then available from Fantasy Flight Games via their print-on-demand system. Three have been released since 2011.=

'''The Massing at Osgiliath''' (2011)
In this scenario you are defending the city of [[Osgiliath]] from a massive horde of orcs an Easterlings attempting to take the city. The quest involves high numbers of enemies and effects that change depending on which side of the river [[Anduin]] you are on.

'''The Battle of Lake-town''' (2012)
Largely considered the most difficult quest currently in the game, this scenario recreates the battle against [[Smaug]] at [[Esgaroth]]. The players seek to defend the city and keep it from burning.

'''The Stone of Erech''' (2013)
The most recent scenario sees a young [[Derufin]] running off to investigate the [[Stone of Erech]] and the heroes must go and save him, encountering the Army of the Dead along the way. The quest features the "spectral" keyword, which changes how the players attack enemies, as well as a time mechanic, through which the night deepens and the wights grow more powerful.

==From the producers==

''The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game'' is a cooperative card game that puts 1-2 players (or up to four with two Core Sets!) in control of the most powerful characters and artifacts of Middle-earth. Players will select heroes, gather allies, acquire artifacts, and coordinate their efforts to face Middle-earth's most dangerous fiends. By cooperating to overcome the obstacles drawn from the encounter deck, you will complete the quest before you and claim victory!

The Core Set includes 216 cards that can be used to assemble a wide variety of decks right out of the box. Included are four perilous scenarios that, along with countless combinations of settings and enemies, offer near-limitless replayability. Additionally, players can build a party from a set of 16 hero cards, and focus their decks on any combination of four distinct spheres of influence: Leadership, Lore, Spirit, and Tactics. Each sphere offer unique benefits to the party, so choose wisely!

==External links==
*[http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=129 Official website]
*[http://lotrlcg.com/ LotR LCG Database]
*[http://hallofbeorn.com/ Hall of Beorn Card Database]
*[http://cardboardoftherings.com/ Cardboard of the Rings Podcast]
*[http://greycompanypodcast.wordpress.com/ The Grey Company Podcast]
*[http://hallofbeorn.wordpress.com/ Hall of Beorn Blog]
*[http://talesfromthecards.wordpress.com/ Tales from the Cards Blog]
*[http://masteroflore.wordpress.com/ Master of Lore Blog]
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[[Category:Card games|Lord of the Rings: The Card Game]]

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2013-12-17T19:05:52Z

Shipwreck:

== Licensing ==
{{Fairuse-Fantasyflightgames}}