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DECIPHER.com > Lord of the
Rings > Articles
Game Studio Revises LOTR TCG
X-List
Sometimes we make mistakes.
We have recently found three cards in the Mount Doom set that caused balance
problems with the gameplay for The Lord of the Rings TCG. The result
of these mistakes is that there are going to be additions to the X-list
we maintain for the purpose of regulating the organized play environment.
I apologize for the inconvenience and any confusion this causes. We try
very hard to keep the cards we design at a viable level, but sometimes we
get something wrong.
Treebeard, Keeper of the Watchwood has a regroup ability that,
when combined with Steadfast Champion, causes a discarding/healing
loop that's not acceptable gameplay.
Base of Mindolluin combines with Gondorian Captain to give
players a deck thinning tool that is too strong.
And Mordor Fiend, used in conjunction with The Underdeeps of
Moria, Alive and Unspoiled, or The Dark Lord's Summons,
allows for a minion dump that is also unacceptable gameplay.
Because of these three situations, we have chosen to add Steadfast
Champion, Gondorian Captain, and Mordor Fiend to the X-list.
The choices came down to this; when given a choice between two cards in
a overpowered combo, we decided the best solution was to X-list the older
card, allowing the new cards you have just purchased to remain in the active
environment. Unfortunately, with the minion dump issue, we would have had
to ban more than one older card, and the decision was made to ban the one
card, Mordor Fiend.
Again, I apologize for the mistakes. We certainly don't like making them,
and we like it even less when it has a negative impact on our customers.
In the past year, we have changed our design and development process in
the Games Studio, which has been a very positive move for us. The reception
to the overall gameplay in the King block has been fantastic. We have heard
from numerous players how they think the last few sets have had some of
the best gameplay yet for The Lord of the Rings TCG. That's largely
due to our new design system, and the directive to the designers and developers
to try and push the gameplay value of each set. Sometimes, however, that
same push that has resulted in strong new sets has also resulted in a few
mistakes, such as the ones listed above.
As we continue to work on making new, exciting gameplay, we will continue
to work on minimizing, and hopefully eliminating, mistakes. I hope you will
accept my sincere apology for the current miscues, and continue to enjoy
the games we create.
Thank you,
Tim Ellington
VP, Game Studio
Decipher, Inc.
Related link:
Revised July Current Rulings
Document with Updated X-List
July 15, 2004
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