The first report from the moot in LA which is of course revving up for big picnic and concert of Howard Shore and the LOTR soundtrack at the Hollywood Bowl tonight [More] Thanks to Baron for that.
Month: August 2002
Well, the night went well and for some the night is still going on. We were joined by 75 Ringer’s, Fan Club Members, members of TORN, Guests, and special guest, Dan Madsen, President of the Lord of the Rings Fan Club, and his lovely Wife-To-Be, Karen (you all might know here as DesertElf) were in attendance. The room was a warm and inviting, but a bit cozy for the crowd on hand.
Very nice goodies were give to all and even a few special presentations were made … including a beautiful United Cutlery version of Sting to Dan. Primula was awarded with a beautiful Framed copy of the Poem she wrote for Howard Shore, a Picture of her with Howard at Torn Oscars Party, and personal, Hand-written note to her from Mr. Shore. Both Rosie and Irascian were given wonderful awards for there dedicated service to the Club and the Boards … and Sauron’s Truss, Rosie, and myself flung Posters, Buttons, and Trading Game Cards (in Polish and Portuguese).
FUN WAS HAD BY ALL ….. More tomorrow with details from the DVD Screening, Picnic, and Concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
Signing off for now … you faithful … reporter… Baron
In Part One, I discussed that ISENGARD was the culture which will significantly impact the dynamic of the LOTR TCG in such a way that many believe as a culture it is too powerful, broken and unbalanced.
After testing many of the key strategies and essential elements concerning ISENGARD’s Orc subculture, I have concluded that these new ORCS are quite indeed powerful, surprisingly effective, however not as potentially abusive as many assume they are. In fact, they just as powerful as “splashes”; subtle elements of secondary support strategies within the contexts of different cultures and their respective strategies.
STRENGTHS:
To successfully construct an Isengard Orc deck to maximize the full potential of the Orc subculture, you must understand and realize your design on the basis of how and why this culture was created: to reduce the potential of powerful Fellowships. Isengard Orcs have two very powerful, inherent characteristics: (1) They can exert themselves multiple times for a variety of different purposes and (2) They are incredibly strong which gives them the advantage in skirmishes – protecting their ability to exert.
WEAKNESSES:
Shadow cultures as a whole are incredibly weak against ARCHERY (total and directed as utilized in Legolas, Gondor Bowmen, Double Shot, Splendor of their Banners, Calaglin, Elven Bowes, Hand Axe, etc.). However, in the case of the Isengard Orcs, their vulnerability against direct damage effects such as Orc-Bane, Frying Pan, Power According To His Stature, Bow of the Galadhrim, Blade of Gondor, Pursuit Just Behind and any damage +1 weapon capabilities just to name a few – limits their potential for multiple exertions which weakens their overall strategic possibilities.
Remember, their power is in the ability to “exert for” a specific effect. Even if they win the skirmish, if their exertion potential is removed due to wounds or exhaustion, then their stopping power is completely ineffective. Which is why I feel that this culture is NOT broken nor unbeatable.
So how exactly are the Isengard Orcs effective? Why is everyone concerned with the abusiveness of this specific culture? Where lies the real threat?
Let’s look more closely at a few KEY cards which make these Orcs such a breed to be feared. Remember, the strategic success of using these Orcs not only relies just on the ROTEL expansion, but also in cards from the previous two releases.
SPIES OF SARUMAN – This is the one card which is a MUST in every Isengard Orc Deck. For all intents and purposes it cancels the archery phase which gives your high strength/high vitality Orcs the protection to exert multiple times for multiple effects. “Spies” works by spotting and Isengard “minion” and not just an Uruk-Hai. Even though it costs 2 twilight and an exertion from one of your Isengard minions – at the right time, this card is devastating especially at the sites where rivers and forests are concerned (re:Legolas).
TRAPPED AND ALONE: Another exertion protection card. On occasion throughout the course of the game – your orcs will take damage from archery fire. However, prevent further vitality loss by preventing additional damage from Ranger’s Sword, Glamdring, Gwemegil and other such additional damage possessions if your Orc loses the skirmish.
WASTES OF EMYN MUIL – By the time your opponent has reached Site 9 against your deck, one of two situations has already shaped the endgame: (1) Your opponent has more than 4 companions in play (hopefully stripped of their possessions by the Isengard Smith) or (2) The smaller Fellowship has been weakened severely by your Isengard Orc exertion abilities. WASTES will punish the Fellowship with over 4 companions during the Manuever phase, as you exert to wound as many times as possible. Since this action takes effect before archery – your exertions are intact. For smaller fellowships, the high twilight alone (9) will give you the necessary pool you need to launch an assault force capable of overwhelming Frodo and ending the quest at this site.
ISENGARD SMITH – Another MUST in and Isengard Orc deck. If you want to force your opponent to reduce the potential of the Fellowship, this is the card you need to play early at first and in reserve for later. The Isengard Smith, has the ability to exert to discard a weapon (or such free peoples possessions if you can spot 5 companions). The best quality about this card is that it is not proprietary to the Isengard Orc strategy. Rather this minion can be “splashed” into every culture and perform the same effect against the Fellowship’s multiple possessions.
THE TREES ARE STRONG: Remember, if your Orcs are exhausted – they are essentially powerless…essentially. By using THE TREES ARE STRONG – you have the ability to inflict more direct damage to your opponent than originally intended. This card will allow you to basically “squeeze” your Orcs’ for the last drop of their potential as you discard them to wound companions. Using this is best reserved after the Fellowship has sustained heavy damage or has exhausted several companions.
So as you can see – the Isengard Orcs are indeed a true force with incredible, but not limitless, potential. They are not broken, nor are they unbeatable. However, they are incredibly versatile which is a factor always problematic to contend with. Their resources are difficult to counter because they are proprietary from one Orc to the next. And, most importantly, they – like Moria – no longer roam past Site 3 so by Site 4, the ability to launch a very effective fighting force (with capabilites to exhaust, disarm or wound companions) is by all means no longer a strategy limited only to Moria.
Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for Part 3: The Melting Pot of Isengard
Throughout the first half of The Two Towers, Tolkien shifts narratives constantly from Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas plight to save their friends and to assist the Riders of Rohan to Merry and Pippin’s escape from their Uruk-hai captors and their new friends the Ents. However, there finally comes a chapter after the events of Helm’s Deep where the two groups are finally reunited and by recounting their own adventures, fill in any gaps in the story that the reader may have missed along the way: Book III, Chapter IX: Flotsam and Jetsam. [More]
Throughout the first half of The Two Towers, Tolkien shifts narratives constantly from Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas plight to save their friends and to assist the Riders of Rohan to Merry and Pippin’s escape from their Uruk-hai captors and their new friends the Ents. However, there finally comes a chapter after the events of Helm’s Deep where the two groups are finally reunited and by recounting their own adventures, fill in any gaps in the story that the reader may have missed along the way:
Book III, Chapter IX: Flotsam and Jetsam
Flotsam and Jetsam is a chapter which finally gives us a chance to take in the events of the previous chapters which moved at such a quick pace and introduced us to one of the most innovative races in the history of literature. The chapter also sheds light on the things unsaid in the previous passages, such as how the Ents arrived at Isengard and how they went about wrought the incredible damage and havoc they did.
It has often been said that you don’t truly understand a character and the strife they go through until you hear them recounting the experience itself. In this way, listening to the characters in The Two Towers describe their journeys themselves, along with the thoughts and emotions they had at the time, only heightens our understanding of the characters themselves. This chapter has something for everyone, from Ent fans to Hobbit fans, so join us this weekend for what should be a great discussion!
Upcoming Discussions:
Aug 18 & 28: TTT Chapter Chat – The Voice of Saruman
Place:
#thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman’s and then type /join #thehalloffire .
Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET]
Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]
ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe
Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.
Often confused as to what DVD is the best to get, when each one is coming out and what are they called? Well Undomiel sends in this story from the Kansas City Star which nicely summarises everything you need to know about what DVD to buy. [More]