1

June 27, 1998 The Official MECCG Newsletter Issue 1

Table of Contents Introduction to the Newsletter

Introduction 1
Hi there and welcome to my Game (MECCG). Detailed lately. This column was origi-
Focus On: 1
Contact Info 2 newsletter! First of all, I briefly are each of the in- nally called Ponderance of the
Article Submission 3 would like to thank everyone cluded columns: Week.
Ruminations 5 for supporting me, and for
Card Review 7 submitting your ideas. Hope- The Introduction is what you The Deck Tip is strictly that -
Featured Artist 8 fully I can manage to give are reading now, and in future deck tips and tricks from the
MECCG Survey 9
Deck Tip: Hazards 10 each of you a healthy dose of issues will be known as the experts of both casual and
Deck Tip: Characters 13 information and some enter- Letters from the Guard competitive play of MECCG.
Letters Page 15 tainment as well. House.
Final Word 16 The Featured Artist column
Credits 16 [I have decided to re-release The Focus On column will features a certain artist each
the first four issues of the detail something special each issue by displaying and re-
newsletter, in an effort to cor- issue, whether it’s an inter- viewing examples of his or her
rect mistakes, redesign the view with an industry person work, as well as a short inter-
format, and update some in- or a local player, or perhaps a view.
formation.] detailed look at any particular
aspect of MECCG. The Survey Question will ask
In this, my inaugural issue, I a question each issue that eve-
have lots in store. Most of this Ruminations is my chance to ryone can respond to. The
newsletter will deal strictly think out loud on a particular results of the previous issue
with Iron Crown Enterprises’ question, usually something will be shown as well.
Middle Earth Collectible Card that’s been bothering me (Continued on page 2)

Focus On: Mike Reynolds of ICE

James Kight TOMN: How did you get proofread for a local law pub-
your job with ICE, and what lisher, and asked if I wanted
Welcome to Focus On. This are your job duties? hourly work proofreading
issue I interviewed Mike Rey- Rolemaster products and help-
nolds of Iron Crown Enter- Mike: Myself and three other ing production...damn straight
prises (ICE), makers of guys started a gaming conven- I did!
MECCG, and I asked him tion in the central Virginia
some general questions about area called PrezCon. I knew The invitation from John was
MECCG and Iron Crown. two of my compatriots from the most important step. It
the local boardgaming club. was the luck needed to land
TOMN: When did you start The fourth guy, John Curtis, this dream job. From that
with Iron Crown? joined us as the roleplaying point on, I worked hard, kept
director. He worked as the my nose clean, and tried to
Mike: December 1993 doing head of production for the lo- present my point of view
hourly proofreading and paste- cal gaming company, Iron when helpful to the company.
up. Crown Enterprises (ICE). Eventually ICE decided to
Eventually, John learned I (Continued on page 3)

1
 The Official MECCG Newsletter

Introduction (cont.)
(Continued from page 1) And finally, The Final Word will al- Also, I will keep my eye open for any
low me to spout out my opinions, mis- artist I see there, and try to manage a
The Card Review will be a column directed or no, and woe be to those of a short interview with any of them.
devoted to spotlighting a particular sensitive nature. The ideas expressed
MECCG card, either because of recent in The Final Word column are my per- [Editor’s Note: I was unable to speak
rulings or the reviewer’s whim. sonal opinions, are subject to change, to any artists, but saw many great
and do not reflect the ideas or opinions works of art while I was there.]
In future issues I will be including Na- of Iron Crown Enterprises or their em-
tional Rankings when available. ployees. Don’t sweat it. Thanks again for tuning in, and I hope
Please keep in mind that these rank- you thoroughly enjoy this first issue!
ings may change at any time following I have written most of the articles in
their publication in this Newsletter. this issue, and will continue to do so James Kight
for the foreseeable future. I will gladly Crown Guard, NC Piedmont Area
Also in future issues I will feature a accept article ideas or submissions if
MECCG Quiz that will test your you have something you’d like to con-
knowledge of the cards in general, or tribute. Submission guidelines are de-
from a particular set. Answers will be tailed later in this issue.
included in the same issue.
For the next issue, I will have returned
In an effort to give you, the reader, an from Origins in Ohio and will fill all of
idea of the other games that are avail- you in on all the happenings at the con-
able in the market, I will be including vention. Expected demos at Origins
a Game Review beginning next issue. are Elrond’s House (a new Middle
Earth board game), Orcs & Trolls (a
Those of you who feel creative can fixed set card game where you play as
submit an idea to the Card Idea col- either an orc or a troll). I am also ea-
umn, and I will be glad to include it as ger to see the new Middle Earth Battle
well as make my own observations. System. I got a brief glance of it at
PrezCon this year, and I must say I Orc Veteran by Quinton Hoover © 1994 Wizards of the Coast
There will also be a letters page begin- was impressed! The best thing so far
ning next issue called Moon Letters. about the Battle System is its easy of
Thanks to Spencer Carney for provid- play. It plays almost exactly like Si-
ing the name for the letters page. lent Death for those of you who have
played ICE’s space combat game.

[Editor’s Note: None of the games

listed in the previous paragraph were
demoed at Origins, nor did they ever
make it to production.]

I should be meeting a few of the ICE

employees at Origins, and I’ll do my
best to get some inside info about
MECCG straight from the source. Krovikan Vampire by Quinton Hoover © 2001 WotC
Land Drake by Quinton Hoover © 2001 The Saul Zaentz Co.

Design & Contact Information

For those of you who might be interested, this There will be both a low and high res PDF If you are interested in contacting me:
entire issue was re-written and re-designed version of this newsletter at these web addresses:
using Microsoft Publisher 2000 for Windows. James Kight
Times New Roman is the main font. www.math.utwente.nl/~timco/council/english/ 115 North Gordon Drive
index.html Apartment 2
Issue 1. Winston-Salem, NC 27104
www.treebeard.com/col/docs.html [email protected]

2
 The Official MECCG Newsletter

Focus On: Mike Reynolds of ICE (cont.)

(Continued from page 1) TOMN: Briefly go through an exam-
produce the Middle Earth Collectable Mike: Characters and companies, the 5 ple card from design to printing…
Card Game (MECCG), and it worked wizards as figureheads, two players
out that I co-developed with Coleman competing in parallel rather than as Mike: We knew we wanted a card for
Charlton his original design. I then good guy/bad guy, sites and regions. Strider. Initially, we thought it would
became the series editor and expansion be trés cool to develop him as a
co-designer. TOMN: Were there any ideas that “good” agent. However, we devel-
never made it past the editing process? oped the opinion that our customers
My base responsibility is writing card do not want complicated rules addi-
text. I translate the general concepts Mike: Oh yeah. Originally, each turn tions. We also did not want to de-
for cards from our six-person design a company moved one region. After a velop an entire theme of good agents,
team into card text. The design team few turns, that company would reach which would be needed to justify a
is a mix of Tolkien scholars and game their site. The first playtest game ever hefty amount of text in the rules insert.
mechanics experts. I am also respon- took eight hours. Thusly, for MEBA, we present Strider
sible for: 1) communicating with play- as a character manifestation of
testers, 2) developing card text through Aragorn II. Here is his initial text:
playtest iterations, 3) keeping a finger “The original Balrog of
on the pulse of our customers, 4) rep- Moria, Shelob, and Strider Warrior/Scout/Ranger Dúnadan
[MPs: 3, Mind: 8, DI: 2, Pr/B: 6/9;
resenting the marketing needs of the
game, 5) writing articles and scenarios Morannon should have Home Site: Bree]
Unique. Manifestation of Aragorn II. You may
for publication, and 6) overseeing the been much stronger bring Aragorn II into play with Strider’s company,
removing Strider from the game and automatically
rulings/errata process.
cards...and cooler.” transferring all cards on Strider to Aragorn II. +3
direct influence against the Rangers of the North
Oh yeah, I sold my interest in PrezCon faction. Strider may use Athelas as though he were
Aragorn II, and need not tap to do so.
after our first year, but I am glad to see TOMN: How much freedom does the
the convention growing every year Tolkien estate lend to ICE in the de- I thought the Athelas thing was pretty
since. sign of MECCG? cool, but nobody else except Cliff
Yanhke did. Eventually Coleman sat
TOMN: How did you get involved Mike: A good amount. me down and said a “Mistress Lobe-
with MECCG?
lia” effect was better. He held me and
TOMN: How does ICE determine a wiped my tears, and the veils of con-
Mike: ICE has had the hobby gaming card’s uses and abilities? fusion lifted. Here is the final text:
license for Tolkien products for years.
The decision by ICE to produce a col- Mike: Usually, a card is conceived of Strider R Warrior/Scout/Ranger Dúnadan
lectible card game based on Middle- from a simulation point of view by our [MPs: 3, Mind: 8, DI: 2, Pr/B: 6/9;
earth was obvious. I had already en- Home Site: Bree]
design team, then we make a mechanic Unique. Manifestation of Aragorn II. You may
joyed a rather intense exposure to that gets across this inspiration. Some- bring Aragorn II into play with Strider’s company,
Magic: The Gathering, so developing a times we start with a perceived me- removing Strider from the game and automatically
Middle-earth CCG was a natural next transferring all cards on Strider to Aragorn II. +3
chanical necessity and try to find direct influence against the Rangers of the North
step to attempt. something in Tolkien for its card name faction. Tap Strider to search your discard pile for
any one item, ally, or faction playable at his current
and art concept - for example, Prompt- site - the site must be in Arthedain, Cardolan, Rhu-
TOMN: What were some of the ideas ings of Wisdom and Piercing All daur, or The Shire.
about MECCG that were present from Shadow from MEWH.
the beginning? (Continued on page 4)

Article Submissions
Have an idea for an article? Is there someone you email it to me so I can put it in the newsletter that much indicate where in the article you need them to go.
would like for me to interview? Have a gripe that you quicker (Lord knows we all hate to type). Thanks! You can contact me at:
would like to voice? Send me a letter!
Please make sure your articles have a focus, and that James Kight
Put your ideas down and let me know what you think you stick to it. Try to stay between 1000 and 1500 115 North Gordon Drive
of each issue, what you would like to see, what you words at the most, though I will make exceptions if Apartment 2
would like me to change, or anything else that’s on necessary. If you have original graphics to include, I Winston-Salem, NC 27104
your mind. If you want to save time, send me your would prefer that you email them to me. If you need
article copy either typed single-spaced, or better yet, card images to be inserted, do not send card scans. Just [email protected]

3
 The Official MECCG Newsletter

Focus On: Mike Reynolds of ICE (cont.)

(Continued from page 3) TOMN: What is the most memorable Well, that’s it! Thanks to Mike Rey-
moment you remember in a game of nolds for taking the time to answer my
(By the way, the R means it is a rare card.) MECCG that you were playing? questions, and for giving us a look
[Editor’s Note: MEBA was eventually released
inside the process of a CCG! If you
as two fixed decks containing all the cards from
the set. Rarity was eliminated as a result.] Mike: Watching James Kight kill my have someone in mind you would like
Durin’s Bane and a Nameless Thing on me to interview in the future, feel free
TOMN: There are some players who the same turn. [Editor’s Note: Even- to let me know!
say that not enough playtesting is done tually it was 2 Nameless Things, and I
with each expansion. How important recall ending the game with no charac-
Update: Since this interview was
to design and production is play- ters left on my side!] first published in 1998, Mike left ICE
testing, and how does it affect the final to work with Decipher for 1.5 years
product? TOMN: What is your favorite thing designing Star Wars cards. He then
about MECCG? left Decipher for EA.com as a soft-
Mike: Playtesting is very important, ware engineer on their online game
and we playtest as much as we can. Mike: Killing my opponent’s charac- servers during the .com craze.
ters with creatures. [See??]
TOMN: If someone were interested in Unfortunately, he was laid off during
submitting a card idea, what advice TOMN: What are your thoughts about the .com depression and was having
would you give them? a MECCG tournament variation with a difficulty getting a position in Char-
45/45 deck minimum? lottesville. Finally, he took the oppor-
Mike: E-mail the idea to Craig tunity to return to Norfolk (Decipher)
“Ichabod” O’Brien at [email deleted]. Mike: Sounds cool, the story aspect of to the job he loves...designing TCG's
You must also include a statement that this format can yield would be great. and, what's more, the new Lord of the
you realize you will receive no com- Of course, trying to make it a standard Rings TCG to coincide with the re-
pensation and the idea becomes the is bad on the principle that we are try- lease of the New Line Cinema movie
property of ICE. Otherwise we cannot ing to minimize new information in December. Expect to see the game
even read the idea. MECCG players need to know and released in early to mid-November.
adjust to.
TOMN: Is there a card that you think
TOMN: Why do you think MECCG If past efforts are to be taken into con-
should not have been printed?
(among few others) has succeeded sideration, I would imagine that Deci-
where others have failed? pher will use movie stills for card art,
Mike: We should have never printed
but don’t hold me to that.
Gandalf, this was a huge mistake...just
kidding. Gift of Comprehension Mike: Great art, the Tolkien draw, and
it is a real game - not just cards quickly I will try my best to get back into con-
serves no purpose. The original Bal-
molded to fit a license. tact with Mike for updates for future
rog of Moria, Shelob and Morannon
issues. Thanks again to Mike!
should have been much stronger
cards...and cooler. TOMN: What future do you see for
MECCG?
TOMN: What is your favorite
MECCG set? Mike: The Dwarf-lord and Elf-lord
expansions.
Mike: I like The Lidless Eye. I think
it has great art for 417 cards. The me- TOMN: What do you see for the fu-
chanics are balanced with respect to ture of ICE?
itself, and it feels...evil.
Mike: Hard to say.
TOMN: How often do you play
MECCG? TOMN: What do you see for the fu-
ture of Mike Reynolds?
Mike: Once a week.
Mike: No idea.
Unused Merfolk drawing for the Duelist by Quinton Hoover ©
2001 WotC

4
 The Official MECCG Newsletter

Ruminations: New Expansions and 2nd Edition?

James Kight or revisions would comment that “they printing is becoming greater. Not just
went and ASL’ed me again!” It all another printing of the core set, mind
Recently, a lot of suggestions have depends on what you’re looking for in you, but a new “base” set gathering
been posed about what ideas Iron a game, and how in depth you want to many of the cards (from all available
Crown Enterprises should use for their get. expansions) that are in regular use in
future expansions for their MECCG most decks; cards like Marvels Told,
product. Ideas such as a First Age ex- For the most part, I feel that such new Wormsbane, Assassin, Lidless Eye,
pansion or even a war-game supple- rules give a new facet to the card game Mouth of Sauron, And Forth He Has-
ment for the various factions in Mid- and forces people to break their habits tened, Smoke Rings, etc.
dle-earth have been suggested. and think of new ideas and combina-
tions that were not available before. Except for the serious cross-alignment
It’s not easy business trying to wrap an Used to be, there wasn’t much to be utility cards, we have managed to
entire expansion around a central idea done with a well-tuned roadblock avoid the “same card, new name”
or theme. Future sets like the Balrog, deck. You either dealt with it the best curse that Magic seems to fight every
Dwarf-Lords, and Elf-Lords could be you could, or you got totally hosed. expansion. We’ve seen our share of
the answer. Perhaps it’s easier to Since the original set was printed, reprints, like Lure of Nature, Twilight,
work ideas around 120 cards than 150, things have changed. Cards like and so on. Some of them are neces-
or like Lidless Eye 417 cards. Smaller Promptings of Wisdom from MEWH sary, some of them aren’t (the Lost
sets should allow ICE to support a have drastically altered the playing In… cards come to mind). My sug-
theme and allow them to expand the style of both roadblock and anti- gestion to ICE is to gather together a
game without breaking it wide open. roadblock decks. listing of the cards most players
would like to see reprinted (including
Personally, I don’t mind new ideas, I The trick for designers is to hit that all cards with errata), and re-release
think they can enhance the game and happy medium between new ideas and them in a new core set.
continue to bring more and more of status quo. How does a company ex-
Tolkien’s Middle-earth into a playable pand it’s ideas without making the Granted, all of the booster boxes back
arena. That’s not necessarily a good older ones obsolete? It isn’t easy, I to Limited are still available to some
thing. Too many ideas can easily con- assure you. extent, but not necessarily to new
fuse, especially considering the num- players. Not only that, most of the
ber of rules and errata already facing So how does a beginner enter the game printed versions of the cards have pre-
the new players. without feeling left behind? Unlike errata text on them. Sure, there might
Magic, MECCG does not have a be some players who would complain
There are other games that have intro- banned list per se. All cards from all that a 2nd printing of an Assassin or
duced new rules without too much of a sets are available for use in any game The Lidless Eye would lessen the col-
hitch. Magic: The Gathering comes to or deck with few exceptions regarding lector value, but in my experience as a
mind. With expanding ideas like ram- alignments. On the average, Wizards card collector from many other
page, flanking, shadow and phasing, of the Coast releases a stand-alone set games, this is usually not the case.
you might think it would be too much and two to three supporting expansions Reprints for the newer players, “black
for players to keep up with, and it is to a year, not including reprinting and re- border” for the older players. I have
some extent. Many of the older cards releasing core sets in a 5th, 6th, or seen Beta Lightning Bolts go for $6 to
become obsolete when the new ones even 7th edition. $8 easy, yet Revised versions are still
come out. Does that make them un- as common as dirt.
useable? Not necessarily. So far, MECCG has seen 1 base set
and 2 expansions, 1 unlimited base set The big argument is bound to be what
Probably the best example I can think re-printing, 1 stand-alone expansion cards should go into a 2nd Edition.
of where rules got in the way of a set and 3 more expansions beyond that. That could be argued at length. Some
good game is the transition of Squad Nowhere near the number of sets so far could argue to throw in the most com-
Leader to Advanced Squad Leader from WotC (almost 30 releases, in- monly used rares like Assassin, while
(ASL). While Avalon Hill’s ASL is a cluding base set revisions). others (myself included) would much
tour-de-force, it can also be a lumber- rather see a diverse reprinting of cards
ing behemoth where rules are con- The question is, are we due for a true from all alignments, eliminating the
cerned. A friend I used to role play 2nd edition? With the list of errata “one alignment, one expansion”
with when faced with lots of new rules growing ever larger, the need for re- (Continued on page 6)

5
 The Official MECCG Newsletter

Ruminations: New Expansions and 2nd Edition? (cont.)

(Continued from page 5) RECENT DEVELOPMENT be released in booster packs, and the
theme that has been fairly prevalent whole world would live happily ever
(except for Against the Shadow). New There have been discussions about after. Unfortunately, I think the deci-
sealed starter decks could be a random how to release the next few expan- sion has already been made.
assortment of Hero, Minion, Fallen sions. ICE has recently been consider-
Wizard, or Balrog decks like you see ing releasing new sets available I two How will this affect the new player?
with Legends of the Five Rings. Challenge decks, each with half of the Well, if they only release the factory
set, but with a total of 132 cards apiece sets, play sets will become a matter of
When I demo MECCG, I have to con- (obviously, there is some duplication, buying a few decks, and commons will
stantly remind myself that unless I pro- as the entire set is only 120 new cards). be worth the same as rares. Will there
vide the product myself, many of the Each deck would be available for be rares anymore?
interested players won’t have a solid about $19.95. I am confused as to why
grasp of exactly how many cards are the change this close to the release Something to consider.
available to them for use in their decks. date, but I guess that means the release
For the time being, Sealed Deck tour- date for The Balrog is going to be
naments and Single Alignment tourna- pushed back even further.
ments allow us to ease these new play-
ers into the game without forcing them Their reasoning behind this move is to
to grasp all sides at once. make MECCG more available to eve-
ryone, from collectors to players, and
From what I can guess, the new Lord to reduce the price of putting together
of the Rings Card Game (MECCG sets either for collecting or for play. A
Lite) will take greater steps in that di- full set would now be available for
rection. I’ve always felt that teaching about $40, and a play set for about an-
with a story makes for a much more other $120. Of course you realize that
enjoyable experience for all parties in- this would mean an end to rares as we
volved. [Editor’s Note: The Lore CG know it, and would make the collect-
from ICE was never produced. Design ing part of MECCG useless. My
was halted midway through the proc- thought is that MECCG should remain
ess, and ICE eventually lost it’s Mid- as it started, a collectible card game.
dle-earth license before finally going
bankrupt.] This hotly debated issue makes my
point in this article all the more rele-
Really though, it’s not just a case of vant. If ICE is concerned about new
experienced players needing more players being able to enter the game
cards, but giving newer players the op- fairly unfettered by the burden of past
portunity to get ahold of cards that are card availability, then they should re-
for the most part no longer readily lease a 2nd Edition of MECCG and Archangel (full version) by Quinton Hoover for Portal from
Magic: The Gathering © 2001 WotC
available, and without new players, throw in all those cards from past ex-
this game will go nowhere fast. pansions that we think should be re-
printed. New sets would continue to

More Quinton Hoover Art...

Firebrand Ranger by Quinton Hoover for
Magic: The Gathering © 2001 WotC

Isawa Tsuke by Quinton Hoover for

Legends of the Five Rings
© 2001 Alderac Entertainment Group

6
 The Official MECCG Newsletter

Card Review: Rolled Down to the Sea

Spencer Carney such as factions or allies that must
be played at specific sites, move
your agents to those sites ASAP, or
Rolled Down to the Sea start holding creatures keyable to
MEWH Hazard Short-Event those sites.
Unique. Opponent must discard a
ring item from his hand or from 4. It will let you see what kind of
one of his companies if available. low-playability hazards your oppo-
If no rings are available as such, nent is holding (a nasty triple-
he must reveal his hand. Wilderness Were-Worm, or a dou-
ble-Shadowland Wild Fell Beast
At first glance, the usefulness of perhaps), waiting for the right mo-
this card seems to be limited to ment to hit you with. Now you
play against ring decks. Read it know what to expect!
again, and you will see that it has a
great secondary effect - revealing A final note: If your game has got-
your opponent’s entire hand - if it ten to a point where you aren’t
doesn’t force a ring discard! concerned with forcing your oppo-
nent to discard a ring or with look-
I can see only two real reasons this ing at his hand, you’re probably
card would NOT belong in every looking to cycle your deck and call
deck: Here are some (but by no means the council. Rolled Down to the
all) of the ways to make good use Sea can help you out there, too - it
1. It occupies a hazard slot that of Rolled Down to the Sea: has no playability restrictions (your
might be needed for cards that opponent does not have to actually
enhance a primary strategy. 1. Use it to mess with a ring deck. have a ring in play or in his hand,
(Duh.) This is the original intent of Doors of Night does not need to be
2. Playing this card opens you up the card, and it can really hurt a in play, etc.), so it will never clog
to a -2 MP whammy from Will player not prepared to discard a your hand!
Shaken (a card that is seeing gold ring item from his hand. Ring
very little action). decks do not comprise a high per- All in all, a very nice card.
centage of decks, however, so
On the plus side, this is one of only don’t be surprised if you don’t get
two hazards I know that lets you too many opportunities to flush [Editor’s Note: It’s interesting to
look at cards in your opponent’s your opponent’s rings down the me to see how ICE often draws the
hand. (I’ll give you a hint as to the crapper. line between playable and flat out
identity of the other hazard card - broken. While some people would
it is a non-unique 5-prowess crea- 2. Play it before a nasty creature to consider this card broken, even
ture from METW keyable to seven see what kind (if any) of cancellers with it being unique, I would ask -
region and site types that reveals a or combat enhancers your opponent who needs this card that much?
card from your opponent’s hand is holding. You can then use your One is plenty.
for each character in the defending knowledge of his hand to play your
company. Unfortunately, that remaining hazards in a sequence To see a really obnoxiously broken
card almost guarantees a free MP that will give maximum effect. card, refer to Ivory Gargoyle from
to your opponent in exchange for Magic: The Gathering.]
its scrying ability, and it almost 3. You will get to see any resource
never lets you see his entire hand.) (or hazard) combos your opponent Next Issue:
is setting up. If he has resources Flatter a Foe vs Riddling Talk

7
 The Official MECCG Newsletter

Featured Artist: Quinton Hoover

James Kight sculpture. Not much else I want to
do - I like my chosen genre. I also
Welcome to the Featured Artist sec- write a little, and I’m currently work-
tion for the Newsletter. Quinton ing on a dark fantasy novel.
Hoover is our first Featured Artist,
and I have included some examples of TOMN: What is your favorite piece of
his work in this article and throughout your own work?
this issue.
Q: Tough call. It changes all the time.
As witnessed by his body of work in Currently I am very fond of my forest
the collectible card game genre, Quin- pieces for Portal II (Magic), and most
ton remains a very busy man. I was of the dragon pieces for Middle-earth.
A Friend or Three (published version) by Quinton Hoover
lucky enough to get in touch with © 2001 The Saul Zaentz Co.
Quinton recently, and I asked him a TOMN: What other artist(s) do you
few questions. Most of the things you consider to be a real talent?
might be interested in finding out
about Quinton can be found at his web Q: Oh geez...that’s very hard to an-
site, located at: swer. I always leave someone out…
Of my contemporaries, I’m fond of
http://members.aol.com/QHoover/ most of the old-timer Magic artists.
Rob Alexander and Richard Kane-
Also, if you are looking for original Ferguson leap to mind, as do Drew
pieces of art or prints, you can visit Tucker and Rebecca Guay. Brian
Daydream Graphics at: Snoddy. Chris Rush gets better all the
time. Doug Shuler’s been turning out
www.daydream-graphics.com A Friend or Three (original unused version) by Quinton Hoover very nice work. Harold McNeal...
© 1995 The Saul Zaentz Co.
Note the different color schemes for the clothing and the slightly
vivid imagination. Therese Nielson
different poses for Gandalf, and the Dwarves in the foreground. intimidates the hell outta me - too tal-
TOMN: Give us a brief background ented.
of your beginnings… making a living at it for about five
years. Self-taught - I hated art classes. Tony Diterlizzi is doing very good
Q: I was born in Colorado in 1964 work, and I’ve been fortunate to de-
(which translates into “I know exactly I wandered into Magic after being velop a recent correspondence with
where I was when Kennedy was shot - turned down by Dark Horse Comics at him. Randy Gallegos - whom I’ve
kicking the hell outta Mom from the NorwesCon, and have been working collaborated with. Nicola Leonard
inside…”). I currently reside in rural steadily in the game market since, with creates some of the most beautiful
eastern Oregon with my wife, four the occasional comics project tossed in jewelry I’ve had the pleasure to see!
kids, five cats and idiot dog. I’ve been for good measure. Mark Poole, Melissa Benson. Jesper
working as a professional artist for a Myfors, who is too hard on his own
little over a decade, and have been TOMN: How did you get started in (Continued on page 9)
fantasy art?

Q: I met up with Conan the Barbarian

at fourteen. I always drew, but I had
no direction until then. That’s when it
finally REALLY sunk into my brain
that real people drew comic books…

TOMN: What other type of art do you

do?

Q: Oh, the occasional landscape, por-

Fallen Radagast by Quinton Hoover © 2001 The Saul Zaentz Co. trait, or animal painting. And the odd Cirdan by Quinton Hoover © 2001 The Saul Zaentz Co.

8
 The Official MECCG Newsletter

Featured Artist: Quinton Hoover (cont.)

(Continued from page 8)
work. [Mark] Tedin/[Anson] Mad- Q: Prepare to starve? Smile and nod a
docks who I can’t really separate, as lot? Take it like a man or woman? I
they seem to be two parts of the same dunno - I’m the wrong guy to offer
entity - both come up with incredibly advice. Every decent thing that hap-
vivid imagery… Fellow by the name pened in my career almost happened
of Allen Freeman - a partner in crime by accident. Meet deadlines. I don’t,
from my comics ventures. I’m leav- so I’m damned fortunate to be em-
ing people out all over the place, but ployed…
you get the idea.

Guys like Brom and Biz [Simon Bis- My sincere thanks to Quinton Hoover
Stealth (unpublished version) by Quinton Hoover
ley] do great work, but I consider © 2001 The Saul Zaentz Co. for taking the time out of his busy
This was considered too busy.
them part of a different school, I schedule to respond to my questions.
guess. Feel free to check out all the other
first discovered him, in of all places, a Quinton Hoover art that you see
TOMN: Who or what inspires you as t-shirt shop. Still have the t-shirt after throughout this issue. Expect to be
you paint? 17 years… As for what inspires me surprises as the Featured Artist section
most...well, the need to eat. This is continues!
Q: My influences are mostly older one of the few skills God saw fit to
comics guys: Kaluta, Wrightson, Win- give me, so I’d best put it to good use. Artists lined up for future issues in-
dsor-Smith. Wrightson was the first clude: Liz Danforth, Angelo Montan-
artist I could identify by style. Dis- TOMN: Do you have any plans to ini, Rob Alexander, Christina Wald,
covered Frazetta around the same publish your work in collected form? Donato Giancola, John Howe, Ted
time as Conan, and I can only pray for Naismith, and many others. Stay
that kind of talent. Alphonse Mucha Q: Not at present. I honestly don’t feel tuned!
is a profound influence on me, and I my body of work warrants it.

TOMN: What music if any do you

listen to as you work?

Q: Classic rock or old twangy country

for the most part. Enya. Queen, Billy
Joel, Meat Loaf, Paul Simon, Randy
Newman, Warren Zevon, Loudon
Wainright and the Beatles on the rock
side; Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson,
Johnny Cash on the country side.

TOMN: What suggestion would you

give to a budding artist who has an in-
Stealth (published version) by Quinton Hoover The Balrog by Quinton Hoover
© 2001 The Saul Zaentz Co. terest in entering the field? © 2001 The Saul Zaentz Co.

Survey Question
Each issue I will pose a different question question here so you can see how your fel- You can send your answers either by email
to you, the reader. This will serve as a low player’s feel about the subject as well. or snail mail to:
survey to find out how you folks feel about
certain issues of MECCG from the cards For my first question, I will as you one of James Kight
to the rules. the questions I asked Mike Reynolds: 115 North Gordon Drive
Apartment 2
I will also tabulate the answers to each of What card from MECCG do you think Winston-Salem, NC 27104
the questions and print the previous issue’s should never have been printed? [email protected]

9
 The Official MECCG Newsletter

Deck Tip: Honing Your Hazard Strategy

James Kight cards you play. In that case, three cop- Unfortunately, with most games you
ies of a useless card is three times as play (unless you know your opponent
One of the more common mistakes bad. Most of the time packing three well enough), the hazard strategy you
new players make is to try to build a Assassins is good insurance, but some- have is going to be a guessing game.
deck that does everything. Sometimes times two or even one is just as effec- If my opponent going to go to the ar-
their deck weighs in around 50/50 or tive. eas I have covered, or is he going to
60/60. Don’t laugh, we’ve all at least avoid those areas (much like the old
considered it at one time or another. One of the factors that limits your haz- Coastal strategy)? Fortunately there
There is nothing wrong with trying to ard play is the hazard limit you are al- are some basic strategies that can
do everything in one deck, but it cer- lowed. The average hazard limit is cover a majority of areas.
tainly isn’t going to be very competi- about three. Do you always have three
tive. Why? Assassins at the right time? Not usu- Think about a focus point: Try to
ally. And you might only get one center your hazards around playability
The more cards you have in your deck, chance to play that Assassin, so for the and power. Most of the time a hazard
the less chance you have of drawing rest of the game, the other two are is a tradeoff between the two. Give
the cards you need when you need dead weight. Plus, with the high num- your deck a central theme, then build
them. I will leave it to the statistical ber of cards that allow you to recycle around it without strangling yourself
experts to calculate the exact numbers. hazards, playing three of any hazard with useless utility cards that more of-
Suffice to say that the following theo- can be overkill unless your opponent is ten than not get in the way.
rem is true: The greater the number of more than happy to oblige by staying
cards you have in your deck in relation in one area. Let’s use the ever-popular man hazard
to the cards you have earmarked as strategy as an example. With such a
critical, the less chance you will have Speaking of hazard limits, keep in strategy, cards like Rank Upon Rank
of drawing those cards when you need mind what types of characters your op- are good for a number of reasons.
them. ponent is playing and what resources First of all, it affect all of your man
he is using. Is he playing hobbits? hazards, not just one. Secondly, it’s a
Because of the requirements for deck Orc scouts? Does he have a decent DI permanent-event, not a long-event,
construction, each time you add a card diplomat? Expect Flatter a Foe to and will stay in play until it is either
to your deck, you are adding 2 cards. come out a few times. Not only will it removed with cards such as Marvels
As one side increases, so does the cancel one of the Assassin’s attack, but Told, or a man hazard is defeated.
other, so adding 5 hazards can dra- your hazard limit has just been reduced For the actual creature hazards, there
matically impact your deck size. by two. If Gates of Morning is in play is a whole plethora of men to choose
and he has rangers, expect Many Turns from, whether it be an Abductor, a
By far the hardest decision for me as a and Doublings to reduce your hazard Thief, an Assassin, or even some
player in constructing my decks is lim- limit and fizzle your cards. You have Brigands. Try to play very close at-
iting my hazards. I always think of to keep in mind how to play your haz- tention to what these creatures are ke-
way too many cool things with which ards as well, which I will get to later. yable to, not just their number of
to try to pound and/or hose my oppo- strikes and prowess. It doesn’t do any
nent, and as a result, I frequently find You can’t possibly cover the entire good to have a really nasty Assassin if
myself with upwards of 40 to 45 haz- spectrum of possibilities and remain your opponent never goes to a border-
ards. What do I take out?!? effective: As much as trying to have or free-hold.
three of every card can be detrimental,
There are some simple basics to re- so can trying to use one of everything. As you look at the different men haz-
member as well as some simple ques- I’ve rarely seen an opponent try to ards, you will notice that most of them
tions to ask yourself when you are try- cover the entire map playing resources with the exception of Assassin have
ing to hone your hazard strategy: and remain effective. Don’t try to only one attack. That means that
cover the whole map “just in case my there are any number of cancellation
You don’t always need 3 of every- opponent happens to go there.” Most cards that can work against them.
thing: Many times the cards you put decks have a focused resource theme, That’s why Assassin is such a popular
in are simply going to fall flat. Either and it’s rare if it tries to go every- card. Not only is the prowess fairly
your opponent just doesn’t go to the where. That is what your Sideboard is high, and you can choose who you go
areas where your hazards are playable, for (see “Sideboarding” below). after, but it usually takes more than
or he is completely prepared for the (Continued on page 11)

10
 The Official MECCG Newsletter

Deck Tip: Honing Your Hazard Strategy (cont.)

(Continued from page 10) Men is playable in 31 of 52 regions, or Umbar, Dunlending Raiders, Cave-
one cancellation effect to get rid of an just under 60%. If your opponent likes wurm, Ice-Drake (a great card), True-
Assassin. In the same manner, cards to hang around Minas Tirith and the Cold Drake, any of the dragon ahunt
like Nameless Thing is just as effec- surrounding regions and sites, Am- cards, Knights of the Prince, and so
tive in a drake strategy, because of the busher is a great card. If he moves forth.
number of rolls required to defeat it. around a lot, Lawless Men is a much
That’s almost too many rolls for your better card. The other half of the strategy doesn’t
opponent to have to make all at once. always have to consist of creatures.
Play to your hazards’ strengths, and Corruption is one of the most useful
Used to be that there weren’t that develop a focus point. Don’t clog your and flexible of the half-strategies, and
many areas that men could attack. strategy with every possible enhancer, can even serve as a full blown strategy
Now, creatures like Pirates, Brigands, but do put in the ones that are going to with little or no effort. In this exam-
Corsairs and Dunlending Raiders can be the most effective most often. ple, you might use your men hazards
allow you to fill in a few of those gaps. to cover the border-holds and free-
For the most part, these are specialty Try two half-strategies instead of holds, and use your corruptions cards
versions of the men strategy, and one big strategy: If you think your when your opponent travels to Ruins
might do better in the sideboard. Or, particular strategy is not strong enough & Lairs or Shadow/Dark holds to get
as I’ve mentioned before, maybe one to warrant its own full strategy, don’t his items. Or you can just play cor-
or two of them (instead of three) might hesitate to team it up with another ruption whenever you get a chance.
be a good backup in the main deck. functional strategy to fill in the gaps.
One of the most powerful creature Speaking of playing cards at any time,
When I look at different creatures, I combinations I have had the displeas- there are a number of cards that while
try to maintain a good balance be- ure of facing was the infamous man/ they don’t directly support a specific
tween those hazards that are very bal- drake strategy. Half men, half drakes. strategy, they are very playable, and
anced, and those cards that have seri- It sounds nasty, and I assure you, it is. rarely clog your hand (and can, in the
ous power. Even though I like the And perhaps not a difficult to play as long run, support your hazards). The
ability of an Abductor, my first choice you think. first example is the card being re-
would be an Ambusher. They are both viewed for this newsletter, Rolled
playable in the same areas, and they Decide which of the two you want to Down to the Sea. It gives you an op-
both have the same prowess. Un- be your main focus, and use the other portunity to see what your opponent is
enhanced, Abductor has only one to fill in the holes. Using our earlier playing (if not rings), and what he
strike, Ambusher has two, and Am- man hazard example, you could use may or may not be prepared for, so
busher allows me to choose who gets three Ambushers, three Lawless Men, you can better maximize your hazards.
the strikes. It really depends on what other miscellaneous men as you like, You might also play other permanent
you are trying to accomplish. and then start looking at the areas in or short-events that play general havoc
which you are lacking. Need to hit with your opponent, but are not spe-
Another good example is the compari- Ruins & Lairs? A few cave-drakes cific to any strategy. Cards like Call
son between Lawless Men and Am- always do well. This is what we call of Home, News of Doom, Adunaphel,
busher. Again, Ambusher has two the site/region half strategy. One half Mouth of Sauron, Many Sorrows Be-
strikes at ten prowess, playable in Bor- covers certain site and region types, fall, Wrath of the West, Ire of the
derland and Borderholds, and gives the and the other half covers the leftovers. East, etc. I’ll go into a version of this
ability to choose who gets the strikes. later in this article. As long as you
Lawless Men is two strikes at nine Another way to approach the half- remember to include at least 12 crea-
prowess, and is playable is Border- strategy is to focus on specific areas of tures, you will be fine.
lands, Wilderness, and Shadowlands. the map instead of region types. While
Which is better? It depends on the this approach uses creatures that are a How necessary is the hazard? This
situation. One the surface, Ambusher little less playable, it makes up for it is a hard question to answer for many
would appear to be the better card for with prowess. A Cave-wurm can only people because most of the time they
its higher prowess, but Lawless Men attack specific areas of the map, but it think that all of their hazards are just
will be playable much more fre- packs a hell of a punch with a 16 as important as the next. Start watch-
quently. Ambusher is playable is 5 of prowess, and is worth only 1MP be- ing for cards that continuously do well
52 regions (9%), and at 20 of 101 pos- sides. This version of the half-strategy in your games. Are there cards that do
sible sites (just under 20%). Lawless would include cards like Corsairs of (Continued on page 12)

11
 The Official MECCG Newsletter

Deck Tip: Honing Your Hazard Strategy (cont.)

(Continued from page 11) How playable is it? Having played finished, with no effort. Where are
well less than 50% of the time? Less just about every card game ever made, the creatures, you ask? The 9 nazgul
than that? If so, maybe you need to the one basic aspect to success in most and at home manifestations are half-
either put them in the sideboard, or if not all of them is speed. Speed, creatures, and combine to make 9
take them out altogether. Usually speed, speed. I cannot stress how vital creatures, and the Spawn cards
cards like this are one-shot cards deck speed is to a competitive deck. (including the Balrog of Moria and
(which belong in the sideboard), or Make sure your hazards are playable, Shelob) make the other necessary 3.
just bad cards that need to be yanked. and not lame ducks in your hand. A All of these cards are playable at any
Cave-wurm is great to have, but there time, and require absolutely nothing
One-shot cards are those that usually have been countless times where I other than a hazard limit to play.
only have one use, but probably have a would have preferred a Cave-drake
larger effect on the game: Durin’s instead. How is this effective? It dumps the
Bane, Knights of the Prince, Lan- hazards as fast as you can play them,
droval, ring-hoser cards, and so on. If you aren’t concerned with solidify- and let’s you focus on your resources.
Depending on your strategy, they ing your hazards, at least make them In addition, it has the added side-
might be able to stay in, but more of- playable. Crebain is playable just effect of making your opponent’s can-
ten than not fit better in the sideboard. about anywhere, and it has a nice side cellation and similar cards clog his
Bad cards are simply that, bad. They effect of letting you see some of your hand, being totally useless. If you
have no reason to be in your deck, opponent’s cards. Corruption is very play them right, you can get your op-
they frequently clog your hand, or playable as well . ponent to hang on to them and waste
their effect can be accomplished more space in his hand. Crude & effective.
efficiently with other cards. Don’t be afraid to try agents once in
awhile. It requires more thought main- Does it hurt your resource play?
Using your sideboard: Your side- tenance to keep track of them, but if Another aspect of hazard construction
board should be thought of as an ex- you don’t get the hazards you need a that is more difficult to manage is
tension of your deck. Those solid turn or two, move your agents. how your hazards will affect your re-
cards that didn’t quite make the cut source turns. Are you frequently go-
whether for playability/keyability rea- One of the strangest strategies I’ve ing to orc or troll sites? If so, playing
sons or one-shot purposes frequently seen in play recently is called the Minions Stir or Redoubled Force is
find their way to the sideboard. Let Dump & Run strategy. Let me say that not a good idea. Why give your op-
your one-shot cards rest in your side- this strategy goes against all my previ- ponent a free enhancer? Better to
board until you know you can use ous hazard logic, and was very odd to play your hazards away from your
them to the greatest effect. There are play and construct. Once it got going resources unless you are prepared.
always going to be such one-shot cards though, I saw the novelty and useful-
that you can use to surprise your oppo- ness of it. Room for one more? We have all at
nent, but on the whole, keep them to a one time or another seriously consid-
minimum. Cards that come to mind Dump & Run uses the playable-at- ered adding one more” hazard to our
are News of Doom, Muster Disperses, anytime approach to hazards. None of decks. Try to avoid this compulsion,
Tookish Blood, etc. the hazards included in Dump & Run as it often leads to adding more, and
are intended to hit anyone, nor do they eventually you lose sight of your
As far as your other slots in your side- serve any other purpose. They are original strategy. Keep it simple.
board, those that are left over after simply there to play out of your hand Don’t unnecessarily duplicate cards in
your one-shots go in (also excluding as fast as you can to allow you to draw your deck.
resource slots) might give you room cards. It’s as simple as that. Cards
for extra creatures, but believe it or that go in Dump and Run include: all These are just a few of the things to
not, if you are spending time digging 9 Nazgul, all 9 at home Dragon mani- keep in mind when you are trying to
creatures from your sideboard, you are festations, all 4 Spawn permanent- work your hazards to a playable size.
already behind. The only exception to events from MEBA, the Balrog of You are welcome to do your own
that would be cards like Dragons Moria, Shelob, and whatever else you thing and experiment, but experience
which can potentially have a game- want to include, such as 3 Power Built is always the best teacher.
changing effect. Save those slots for by Waiting, and maybe 3 miscellane-
more resources, or better hazards. ous permanent-event cards. 30 perma- Good luck!
nent-event hazard cards, all neat and

12
 The Official MECCG Newsletter

Deck Tip: Character Pools

James Kight is a warrior/ranger/sage. Quite a nice table, chances are any creature you
package of skills. But remember, there throw his way is going to get chopped
Without a doubt this was one of the is a cost. To get the characters with up real quick.
more interesting articles I have had to more skills, you have to take into
write. Unlike most aspects of playing account their higher mind. With high Regardless of the skills that you
MECCG, character pools seem to be mind comes other things too, like choose, you want your characters to
less personal. There are characters perhaps a higher prowess and/or body be able to stick around so that you can
that are going to appear in everyone’s and sometimes more direct influence. play the cards that you designed your
pool, but why? Why at one time was deck to use in the first place. This
Beorn one of the most popular How many skills are necessary in your means for the most part that some of
characters to start with? Why are deck? Do you use the diplomat skill? the characters that you begin with
Ioreth and Halbarad almost always the If not, there is no reason to account for need to be a little on the buff side or
sages of choice? it in your characters’ skills. Don’t use they need to be ones that will allow
the sage skill often? Then don’t waste you to cancel a large number of
Those questions and quite a few more a large character for your sage. That’s hazards that will be thrown your way.
came up as I was beginning this what makes characters like Halbarad There are a few card exceptions, such
article. The answers may surprise and Ioreth popular. For 1 mind, you as Flatter a Foe or Riddling Talk
you. Most of the time, the characters get the sage skill and 1 direct (discussed in detail next issue), but
we pick for our starting character pool influence. Rarely do such characters most often players will go for the
reflect the deck style that we intend to move. They are there simply to play guaranteed cancellation and/or
play, which is more often than not a cards like Marvels Told and Voices of prowess boosters like Risky Blow.
reflection of who we are. I don’t Malice. On the other hand, there are
paticularly like playing Dwarves, so I decks that utilize the sage skill With all of this comes the realization
would rarely play a Dwarf style deck. extensively. In that case you might that everyone else could be thinking
However, I may play a deck that want to spend some of your mind with the same thing, so character
would facilitate a Dwarf. It all a bigger character with the sage skill “bouncing” can become a regular
depends on what we are trying to so perhaps they can hang around a bit occurence at a tournament. How do
accomplish. longer. you avoid this and still have the
characters and skills you need to
Barring the occasional theme deck, Something that many players overlook execute your deck?
you rarely see a group of characters is how to draft characters with
that don’t fit together. But there is a defensive skills. For the most part, the The first thing to do when deciding
reason for that. When we choose our ranger skill is much more of a your starting characters is to choose
characters, we are looking for the defensive skill than an offensive one. the few characters that represent the
greatest number of positive skills for Having a ranger can help you against most efficient usage of the skills that
the least amount of mind or the cards such as River, Enchanted you need without sacrificing too much
greatest amount of efficiency without Stream, Long Winter, Foul Fumes, and mind. For the Dwarven deck, the
leaving ourselves thinned out. Most of can allow you to play defensive diplomat skill is very rarely used, so
the mid- to low mind characters have resources like Promptings of Wisdom, Thrain II often makes the cut above
at most two skills to work with. Most Many Turns and Doublings, Crept Thorin II, although Thorin II can and
often one of them is Warrior. With Along Cleverly and so forth. often does serve as a backup. Dain II
that general assumption in mind, how can sometimes take the place of
do you include all of the other skills Skills like scout and warrior are much Thorin II, as he has the diplomat skill,
you need in your pool without going more obvious skills, and are reflected but not the scout skill. His mind is
all out? with such abilities as cancellation one less, however, and this may allow
(Concealment/Nice Place to Hide) or you to play a slightly higher mind
Hero: First off for heroes, let’s take defeating of creatures (Risky Blow/ third character to round off the party,
Dwarves as an example. One Bold Thrust). If you see your such as Balin for an extra sage or
interesting thing to note is the opponent begin the game with Hobbits, Gloin for an extra diplomat. On the
combination of Thorin II and Thrain you can bet your boots that there will other hand, Gimli can take the place
II. Between the two of them, all five be quite a bit of cancellation coming of Dain II for one less mind and direct
skills are represented. Thorin II is a your way. If, on the otherhand, you influence, and would allow the
warrior/scout/diplomat, and Thrain II see Beorn and/or Glorfindel on the (Continued on page 14)

13
 The Official MECCG Newsletter

Deck Tip: Character Pools (cont.)

(Continued from page 13) hiding as they run about, diplomacy Regardless of what characters you
inclusion of a “red-shirt” character like and sage skills are for the most part, eventually go with, it’s important that
Ori or Dori. The possibilities are unnecessary. If a sage skill is needed, they match your deck style, or vice
many, but never lose sight of the skills you might see it used with the versa. There is no reason to include
that you need to execute your deck. Ringwraith, or as in the Halbarad/ scout cards if you don’t plan to play
Ioreth example, a sitting sage. Orcs any scouts. Conversely, if you have a
Another aspect of character pools that and Trolls are too busy fighting to lot of ranger cards, be sure to have a
some people mismanage is the effect bother. solid ranger, and at least one backup.
of all these characters have on your
general influence. It’s important to be Some noteable expections to this are Backup Characters: Speaking of
able to free up some of your direct the following overt characters that backup characters, keep in mind that
influence for a good portion of your have the sage skill: Lieutenant of Dol- you will eventually bounce characters
game to prevent such cards like Call of Guldur and Doeth (although his status or be denied a character during a
Home, Muster Disperses, News of as a half-orc allows him to be used in character draft. This means that you
Doom, etc. from wrecking your plans. covert companies as well). will need to have already planned who
Good players look for you to make you will use as a primary or even a
this mistake and for you to forget Covert companies on the other hand secondary backup in this case. For
about your general influence so that more often focus on diplomacy, sage example, if someone else manages to
they can either remove a character or skills, scouting and magic. Your get Beorn before you do or he
faction or worse yet, influence covert companies can include men, bounces, be sure to have a solid
something away for themselves. dunadain, dwarves, hobbits (FW), ranger backup. Faramir is a good
elves, and half-orcs. Most of these example, as are both of Elrond’s sons.
Assuming you don’t have a wizard characters have either the sage, scout A poorly thought out character pool is
out, you need to be sure that some of or diplomat skill, so it is important to disaster if you have to rely on weak
your characters can be controlled by make sure that your Warrior and backups. This applies to both minions
direct influence so that your general Ranger skills are covered otherwise. & fallen-wizards. You need to have
influence isn’t so tight. Watch out for thought out 3, 4, or even 5 different
cards like Shut Your Mouth, So Fallen-Wizards: Going further, configurations of a starting company.
You’ve Come Back, and Rebel-talk Fallen-Wizard players have to limit
that begin to limit your ability to themselves to 5-mind or less Direct Influence: One aspect of
control other characters and again, characters. This makes character/skill character pools that is very important
play havoc with your GI. efficiency a must. Since your is keeping track of direct influence.
characters have lower minds, they will Make sure that your secondary
Minions: On the minion side, things have less skills, requiring you to either characters aren’t so big that they
can be quite different. While minions focus to a tighter set of skills, or you cannot go underneath one of your
aren’t as worried about GI with the will have more variety in your primary characters. Cirdan, Dain II
addition +5 to their GI, they can still characters. and Elrond are great primary
be slowed down with any combination characters because they can just about
of the hazard cards mentioned Avatars: When these restrictions come hold any secondary character under
previously. With this in mind, you into play, sometimes you are forced to direct influence.
will usually see your minion depend on your avatar. Most wizard-
companies in one of two ways (with avatars come with all but one skill, but Summary:
certain exceptions): Overt and Covert. the Ringwraith and Balrog player have 1. More skills/abilities usually
With overt companies, the skills most fewer skills to choose from with each means a higher mind.
often used are Warrior, Ranger and character. In a way, your avatar can 2. Only include the necessary skills.
Scout. With covert companies, the serve as a great backup to a character Don’t waste skill slots.
most useable skills are Scout, Sage that might die or corrupt away so that 3. Have at least one solid backup for
and Diplomat (and occasionally those skill cards aren’t totally useless. your primary characters/skills.
Ranger). It sucks to draw a Marvels Told or 4. Be prepared with multiple
Voices of Malice with no sage on the configurations of your company.
Overt companies are comprised for the board, or a Many Turns and Doublings 5. Try not to waste all 20 of your GI
most part of orcs and/or trolls. Since or Crept Along Cleverly without a points. Don’t forget DI.
these brutes are unconcerned with ranger. 6. Choose your avatar carefully.

14
 The Official MECCG Newsletter

Moon Letters

Test of Lore by Donato Giancola © 2001 The Saul Zaentz Co. Hidden Haven by Quinton Hoover © 2001 The Saul Zaentz Co.
True Fire Drake by Quinton Hoover © 2001 The Saul Zaentz Co.

Hi folks! This is where I print all the

letters you send me. However, since this is
the first issue, I don’t have any letters!
Please don’t hesitate to jot down anything
you like and send it to me. All mail will
be read and responded to, and if I have
room (look at all this room!) I will print it
here.

I am holding a contest to name the Letter’s

Page. Send in your suggestions, and the
winner will receive lots of cool stuff like
MECCG rares, some ICE products I have
lying about, and their name in lights!
Unused Demon picture by Quinton Hoover © 2001 WotC Darkpact by Quinton Hoover © 2001 WotC

[Editor’s Note: The Letters Page is named

Moon Letters. Thanks to Spencer Carney
who submitted the great name, complete
with ready art.]

Since there are no letters for this issue, I

will take the opportunity to give you a few
more examples of Quinton Hoover’s art.

Enjoy!

Grave Robbers by Quinton Hoover © 2001 WotC Canyon Drake by Quinton Hoover © 2001 WotC

New Pixie Queen by Quinton Hoover for

Duelist Magazine © 2001 WotC Pixie Queen by Quinton Hoover © 2001 WotC
Vesuvian Doppleganger by Quinton Hoover © 2001 WotC

15
 CREDITS

The Official MECCG Newsletter & logo All MECCG card images used are
© James Kight © 2001 The Saul Zaentz Co.
Editor & Designer - James Kight
Contributing Writer - Spencer Carney The following are © 1995-2001 Tolkien Enterprises, a
Featured Artist - Quinton Hoover division of the Saul Zaentz Company, Berkeley CA.:

All artwork in this issue illus. by Quinton Hoover Middle Earth: The Wizards, Middle Earth: The Dragons,
Except Rolled Down to the Sea (pg 7) illus. by Jeff Reitz Middle Earth: Dark Minions, Middle Earth: Lidless Eye,
and Test of Lore (pg 15) illus. by Donato Giancola Middle Earth: Against the Shadow, Middle Earth: The
White Hand, Middle Earth: The Balrog, Middle Earth,
Middle Earth Collectable Card Game, MECCG, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of
Lord of the Rings Card Game, Council of Lorien, ICE, the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King, all
it's logos and designs © Iron Crown Enterprises characters and places therein, and the Burning Eye are
trademark properties of Tolkien Enterprises. All Rights
Magic: The Gathering and all references thereof Reserved.
© Wizards of the Coast

The Official MECCG Newsletter

The Final Word

James Kight been implemented thus far for hype. So what I get from this is that
MECCG, is Balrog really the set to try ICE is trying their version of C-23
I can’t seem to get my mind off of this to draw new players in? (WotC) with LORE CG. Same game,
Balrog issue that’s been heating up less rules.
most of the recent discussions on the Our hunch is no. From what I have
online newsgroups. Iron Crown En- heard, in order to play most of the set, I don’t want less rules necessarily, just
terprises has made the suggestion of even experienced players will have to more forethought. I really don’t think
releasing the new Middle-Earth: The take some time to digest the impact that Balrog is the set to try to get more
Balrog expansion as a set in two parts, that the new cards will have on the people involved in the game. It’s like
each part available as one Challenge game. Lord knows it’s already hard trying to get someone started in Magic
deck, complete with cards from other enough enticing new players to join with Legends. Can you imagine what
sets to make it playable with the other with 3 available alignments. that must have been like? “Hey, try
Challenge decks. this cool new simple game. By the
We try, right? And what is the inevita- way, you’ll need to look over this 20
A friend and fellow player of mine ble response? “Too many rules to re- page FAQ, the errata list, the banned
(Spencer Carney) & I have been dis- member…” Trust me, I know we have list, and the list of new features.”
cussing this issue frequently over the all heard that one before. So what is What solved that problem? Phase out
last few days. What bothers he and I the main goal here, ICE? With the fu- older sets, and release a new base set:
about this issue is the reasoning that ture release of the Lord of the Rings 4th edition Magic.
ICE is using to release the set in this Expandable Card Game (LORE CG),
manner: to expand the player base. ICE plans to tie into the licensing from The Final Word for this issue:
That’s always a good reason, but with the movie, but most of the talk we
all the complicated rules that have have heard about the movie is strictly Save the red carpet for 2nd Edition.

16