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Match Made in Middle-earth

Couple Gets Engaged Playing The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game

About four months ago Decipher was emailed a request by a player of The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game who was preparing to ask his long-time girlfriend to marry him. Mike Sugden and his girlfriend, Beth Brown, had grown very close while playing The Lord of the Rings TCG. The time they spent playing the game with each other meant so much to them both that he decided to propose while they played a game.

Mike's request was simple: would Decipher make a special card for him to propose to Beth with? Decipher responded with a resounding 'yes'.

Mike worked with us to develop the game text that would be on the card. He wanted Beth to have a choice for both the answer to his proposal and gameplay. Mike selected the culture, title, cost, card type, and gametext. Then the card, Will You Marry Me?, was ready.

Valentines Day (February 14) finally rolls around and Mike is set with his cards. He builds Beth's deck for her – as he usually does – but this time leaves out any card that would let her look at his hand. Mike needed to surprise her with the card and an untimely peek from Sting would ruin the whole proposal. About half way through the game Mike draws the card and a ring to play it with. Mike is incredibly nervous at this point, but is ready to propose.

It becomes Mike's turn to play, but just as he is about to play the card to propose there is a knock at the door. Beth's best friend dropped by to hang out and chat. Mike is now stuck on the brink of proposing to the woman he loves! Twenty minutes later, after some coaxing from Mike, Beth's friend finally departs.

As Mike begins play, he plays a Sting to his Frodo and looks at Beth's hand. Mike wanted to make sure that Beth had plenty of minions to play so that there would be a real choice for her – there were five big minions for Beth to play. Mike plays the card and the ring for Beth, then adds 30 twilight into the pool. Beth gets confused and asks to read the card.

After a few moments of silence, Beth looks at Mike and asks, "Do you expect an answer right away?"

Mike responds, "We can leave it here in the Shadow phase for a bit."

Beth looks at the card again, then at Mike, then at the card again. She starts to cry. Through the tears she finally gave him his answer... "I won't play any minions."

Mike and Beth embrace.

Believe it or not, they continued the game after all that. Mike went on to win the game, but technically Beth won as Mike had an illegal deck. Sorry Mike, have to give it to her :)

I had the pleasure of talking with Beth since the proposal and I asked her what she thought of all this. She said it was perfectly "geeky-romantic" and she is very happy. She did say that she was disappointed that she couldn't play any of her minions, because she would have smashed him with what she had in her hand.

Congratulations to both of you.

Kyle Heuer
Promotions Coordinator
kyle.heuer@decipher.com

March 6, 2003