DECIPHER ANNOUNCES...
Flinch @ 6:33 pm EST

DECIPHER ANNOUNCES NEXT EXPANSION FOR
THE REIGNING #1 TRADING CARD GAME

Elves to play a starring role in the third
The Lord of the Rings TCG expansion!

(NORFOLK, Va., April X, 2002) — Elrond, Galadriel, Legolas, and Arwen are just a few of the Elves who will headline the Realms of the Elf-lords expansion, the third installment of Decipher’s The Lord of the Rings™ Trading Card Game (TCG). The set will debut in stores with the worldwide release of the Starter Decks on June 19 and the worldwide release of Booster Packs on July 3.

The April and May issues of Comics & Games Retailer magazine report that The Lord of the Rings TCG has been the number one-selling trading card game for two consecutive months (January and February 2002). According to the magazine, this is only the second time in the history of TCGs that a game has displaced Magic: The Gathering in the top-ranking position.

The 122-card Realms of the Elf-lords set will introduce new gameplay strategies featuring the prominent Elven characters, including many of their allies from Lothlórien and Rivendell. Plus, the nefarious Saruman will enter The Lord of the Rings TCG playing scene for the very first time.

In addition, there will be two new starter decks — one featuring a new version of Legolas and the forces of Isengard, the other showcasing a new version of Boromir and Sauron’s Orc hordes. Exciting, new artifact cards, such as The Three Elven Rings, The Shards of Narsil, and The Palant'r of Orthanc. As with all Lord of theRings TCG cards, all cards in Realms of the Elf-lords will receive a foil treatment in a parallel set.

“Obviously, the Elves will gain incredible strength with this set, and now that Saruman has arrived, entire decks will be built around him,” says game designer Joe Alread. “But one of my favorite new design elements in this set is the introduction of the Isengard Orcs. For the first time in the game, we have introduced a whole new subculture, and it is extremely powerful.”

Players will get a sneak peek at the set during the DGMA Pre-release Tournaments scheduled for the weekend of June 15-16, 2002. Approximately 50 retail locations worldwide will participate in this exclusive pre-release tournament series. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers, and a special Realms of the Elf-lords Pre-release Tournament card will be presented to all competitors. To find a location near you, log on to DGMA.com, which is set to debut sometime in May.

Realms of the Elf-lordsis available in two playable starter decks, which contain nine site cards, three random Realms of the Elf-lords rares, Frodo, The One Ring, and a mix of cards from all three sets: The Fellowship of the Ring, Mines of Moria and Realms of the Elf-lords. The set also will be available in 11-card booster backs. Recommended retail for the starter decks is $US 10.95 and for the booster packs is $US 3.29.