Battle of Helm's Deep - Revision history

Eomund: Added a cycles section and made numerous smaller edits to text and formatting in other sections

2024-07-02T22:55:57Z

Added a cycles section and made numerous smaller edits to text and formatting in other sections

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			'''Battle of Helm's Deep''' (or '''BOHD''') is the first expansion of [[Towers Block]], and the fifth set overall. It was released on March 12, 2003. The set contained 122 cards (40 commons, 40 uncommons, 40 rares, and 2 premium cards that only appeared in starter decks), all of which could appear in foil versions. Four rares from the set had Tengwar versions produced and six rares from the set were printed in starter decks with alternate art (three per deck).

	~~Set 5, '''Battle of Helm's Deep''' (or '''BOHD''') is the first expansion of [[Towers Block]],~~ and ~~the fifth set overall. It was released on March 12, 2003 and included many of the block's core concepts that Decipher wasn't able to release before The Two Towers movie came to theaters.~~		==Themes and Mechanics==

	~~== Notable Cards ==~~		Similar to [[Mines of Moria]], Battle of Helm's Deep contained themes that referenced significant visual effects that Decipher wasn't able to release before The Two Towers movie came to theaters:
			* The first [[Ent]]s other than Treebeard, including the first Ent companions;
			* Mumakil and [[Warg]] mounts;
			* [[Uruk-hai]] [[Berserker]]s, which prefer to be close to exhaustion and have ways of self-exerting to enable that;
			* and most notably, the introduction of the {{C\|Gollum}} culture.

	* {{Card\|Evil-smelling Fens}}		The set also widely expanded the number of cards with or referencing the [[Machine]] and [[Valiant]] keywords.
	* {{Card\|Gollum, Stinker}}
	* {{Card\|Citadel of the ~~Stars}}~~
	* {{Card\|Grima, Chief Counselor}}
	* {{Card\|Dead Marshes}}
	* {{Card\|Sting, Baggins Heirloom}}

	== ~~Starter Decks~~ ==		===Cultures===
	For this set, Decipher decided to experiment with removing the 3 random Rare cards that normally came in a [[Starter Deck]], and replacing them with fixed Alternate Image "rares" which thematically suited the deck. While the power level of the decks as playable specimens increased, the perceived value of these decks took a nosedive as there was no longer any reason for collectors to buy more than one. Decipher tried once more with [[Ents of Fangorn]], and after that restored the random rares with [[The Return of the King]] and all following sets.

	* [[Starter_Decks/Towers_Block#BoHD_Eowyn_Starter_Deck\|{{Eowyn}} Starter Deck]]: {{C\|~~Rohan~~}} / {{~~C\|Isengard~~}}		This set contained the debut of the {{C\|Gollum}} culture, as Decipher was not licensed to spoil images of {{Smeagol}}/Gollum before The Two Towers released in theaters. This culture broke new ground by being the first (and so far, only) culture to have both [[Free Peoples]] ''and'' [[Shadow Alignment\|Shadow]] cards, centrally the inclusion of both the [[Minion]] Gollum and the [[Companion]] {{Smeagol}}. Mechanically, this captured the internal struggle of the character perfectly; not only could {{Smeagol}} help the Fellowship while Gollum attacked it, but you could even assign {{Smeagol}} to skirmish Gollum, and watch his internal war play out on the table.
	* [[~~Starter_Decks/Towers_Block#BoHD_Legolas_Starter_Deck~~\|~~Legolas Starter Deck~~]]: {{~~C\|Elven~~}} / {{~~C\|Raider~~}}

	~~== Cultures ==~~		BOHD also marked the re-introduction of the {{C\|Sauron}} culture, which had been absent in the base set. The new {{C\|Sauron}} cards included [[tracker]]s that lowered site numbers rather than reducing roaming costs.

	This set contained the debut of the {{C\|Gollum}} culture, as Decipher was not licensed to spoil images of {{Smeagol}}/Gollum before The Two Towers released in theaters. This culture broke new ground by being the first (and so far, only) culture to have both [[Free Peoples]] ''and'' [[Shadow Alignment\|Shadow]] cards, centrally the inclusion of both the [[Minion]] Gollum and the [[Companion]] {{Smeagol}}. Mechanically, this captured the internal struggle of the character perfectly; not only could {{Smeagol}} help the Fellowship while Gollum attacked it, but you could even assign {{Smeagol}} to skirmish Gollum, and watch his internal war play out on the table.		===New Loaded Keyword===

	~~BOHD also marked the re-introduction of~~ the ~~{{C\|Sauron}} culture~~, which ~~had been absent in the base set~~.		A character with [[Enduring]] get strength +2 for each wound on that character. Many cards with [[Enduring]] were given abilities which required healing the character as a cost, which led to a number of potential [[loop]]s that needed to be corrected with errata or x-listing cards.

	== New ~~unloaded keywords~~ ==		===New Unloaded Keywords===

			The set introduced three new unloaded keywords:
	* [[Knight]], a new subculture for {{C\|Gondor}} representing the soldiers of Minas Tirith.		* [[Knight]], a new subculture for {{C\|Gondor}} representing the soldiers of Minas Tirith.
	* [[Fortification]], a type of condition representing defensive structures. While it is used a bit by {{C\|Rohan}}, this is really a {{C\|Gondor}} staple.		* [[Fortification]], a type of condition representing defensive structures. While it is used a bit by {{C\|Rohan}}, this is really a {{C\|Gondor}} staple.
	* [[Warg-rider]], a subculture of {{C\|Isengard}} [[Orc]]s which can ride [[Warg]] [[Mount]]s.		* [[Warg-rider]], a subculture of {{C\|Isengard}} [[Orc]]s which can ride [[Warg]] [[Mount]]s.

	== ~~Other mechanics~~ ==		== Starter Decks ==

			For this set, Decipher decided to experiment with removing the 3 random Rare cards that normally came in a [[Starter Deck]], and replacing them with fixed Alternate Image "rares" which thematically suited the deck. While the power level of the decks as playable specimens increased, the perceived value of these decks took a nosedive as there was no longer any reason for collectors to buy more than one. Decipher tried once more with [[Ents of Fangorn]], and after that restored the random rares with [[The Return of the King]] and all following sets.

			* [[Starter_Decks/Towers_Block#BoHD_Eowyn_Starter_Deck\|{{Eowyn}} Starter Deck]]: {{C\|Rohan}} / {{C\|Isengard}}
			* [[Starter_Decks/Towers_Block#BoHD_Legolas_Starter_Deck\|Legolas Starter Deck]]: {{C\|Elven}} / {{C\|Raider}}

			== Cycles ==

			Battle of Helm's Deep does not contain any cycles.

	* [[Uruk-hai]] [[Berserker]]s, which prefer to be close to exhaustion and have ways of self-exerting to enable that.		== Notable Cards ==
	* Widely expanded the number of cards with or referencing the [[Machine]] and [[Valiant]] keywords
	* Mumakil and [[Warg]] mounts
	* {{C\|Sauron}} [[Tracker]]s that lower site numbers rather than roaming costs

			* {{Card\|Evil-smelling Fens}}
			* {{Card\|Gollum, Stinker}}
			* {{Card\|Citadel of the Stars}}
			* {{Card\|Grima, Chief Counselor}}
			* {{Card\|Dead Marshes}}
			* {{Card\|Sting, Baggins Heirloom}}

Teltura: adding starter deck links

2023-01-08T08:19:49Z

adding starter deck links

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:19, 8 January 2023
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	* {{Card\|Sting, Baggins Heirloom}}		* {{Card\|Sting, Baggins Heirloom}}

	== Starter ~~Deck Rares~~ ==		== Starter Decks ==
	For this set, Decipher decided to experiment with removing the 3 random Rare cards that normally came in a [[Starter Deck]], and replacing them with fixed Alternate Image "rares" which thematically suited the deck. While the power level of the decks as playable specimens increased, the perceived value of these decks took a nosedive as there was no longer any reason for collectors to buy more than one. Decipher tried once more with [[Ents of Fangorn]], and after that restored the random rares with [[The Return of the King]] and all following sets.		For this set, Decipher decided to experiment with removing the 3 random Rare cards that normally came in a [[Starter Deck]], and replacing them with fixed Alternate Image "rares" which thematically suited the deck. While the power level of the decks as playable specimens increased, the perceived value of these decks took a nosedive as there was no longer any reason for collectors to buy more than one. Decipher tried once more with [[Ents of Fangorn]], and after that restored the random rares with [[The Return of the King]] and all following sets.

			* [[Starter_Decks/Towers_Block#BoHD_Eowyn_Starter_Deck\|{{Eowyn}} Starter Deck]]: {{C\|Rohan}} / {{C\|Isengard}}
			* [[Starter_Decks/Towers_Block#BoHD_Legolas_Starter_Deck\|Legolas Starter Deck]]: {{C\|Elven}} / {{C\|Raider}}

	== Cultures ==		== Cultures ==

Teltura: overhauled

2023-01-08T06:52:24Z

overhauled

Show changes

Teltura at 06:34, 12 November 2021

2021-11-12T06:34:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:34, 12 November 2021
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	__NOTOC__		__NOTOC__
			{{NavBar\|Battle of Helm's Deep\|[[Main Page]]\|[[The Two Towers]]\|[[Ents of Fangorn]]}}
			{{SetTabs}}

	{{Set		{{Set
	\|ID=5		\|ID=5

Phallen Cassidy at 14:45, 15 October 2021

2021-10-15T14:45:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:45, 15 October 2021
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			__NOTOC__
	{{Set		{{Set
	\|ID=5		\|ID=5
	\|Name=Battle of Helm's Deep		\|Name=Battle of Helm's Deep
			\|Abbr=BoHD
	\|Creator=Decipher		\|Creator=Decipher
	\|ReleaseDate=2003-03-12		\|ReleaseDate=2003-03-12

Phallen Cassidy: General refurbishing

2021-10-15T01:31:42Z

General refurbishing

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:31, 15 October 2021
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	~~__NOTOC__~~
	{{Set		{{Set
	\|ID=5		\|ID=5
	\|Name=Battle of Helm's Deep		\|Name=Battle of Helm's Deep
	~~\|Abbr=BoHD~~
	\|Creator=Decipher		\|Creator=Decipher
	\|ReleaseDate=2003-03-12		\|ReleaseDate=2003-03-12
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	= Set Details =		= Set Details =

	Battle of Helm's Deep is the first expansion of the Two Towers block, and the fifth set overall. It was released on March 12, 2003. The table below describes the distribution of cards in booster packs; it does not include the two starter-only companions, nor the alternate-image rares included in starter decks.		Battle of Helm's Deep is the first expansion of the Two Towers block, and the fifth set overall. It was released on March 12, 2003 and included many of the block's core concepts that Decipher wasn't able to release before The Two Towers movie came to theaters. The table below describes the distribution of cards in booster packs; it does not include the two starter-only companions, nor the alternate-image rares included in starter decks.

	\| ^ Common ^ Uncommon ^ Rare ^ Total ^		\| ^ Common ^ Uncommon ^ Rare ^ Total ^
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	== Cultures ==		== Cultures ==

	This set ~~continued all~~ of the ~~cultures from~~ The Two Towers~~, and~~ marked the re-introduction of the Sauron ~~[Sauron]~~ culture, which had been absent in the base set.		This set contained the release of the {{C\|Gollum}} culture, as Decipher was not licensed to spoil images of Smeagol/Gollum before The Two Towers released in theaters. It also marked the re-introduction of the {{C\|Sauron}} culture, which had been absent in the base set.

	== New loaded keywords ==		== New loaded keywords ==
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	== New unloaded keywords ==		== New unloaded keywords ==

	~~Battle of Helm's deep did not introduce any new unloaded keywords.~~		* Knight
			* Fortification
			* Warg-rider

	== Other mechanics ==		== Other mechanics ==

	~~???~~		* Uruk-hai Berserkers
			* Widely expanded the number of cards with or referencing the Machine and Valiant keywords
			* Mumakil and Warg mounts
			* {{C\|Sauron}} Trackers that lower site numbers rather than roaming costs

	= Card Comparisons =		= Card Comparisons =
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	== Strictly worse ==		== Strictly worse ==

	~~= Notable Cards =~~

	* Legolas, Archer of Mirkwood
	* Eowyn, Daughter of Eomund

	= Starter decks =		= Starter decks =

Teltura: Adding abbreviation to set definition

2021-10-12T02:34:40Z

Adding abbreviation to set definition

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:34, 12 October 2021
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			__NOTOC__
	{{Set		{{Set
	\|ID=5		\|ID=5
	\|Name=Battle of Helm's Deep		\|Name=Battle of Helm's Deep
			\|Abbr=BoHD
	\|Creator=Decipher		\|Creator=Decipher
	\|ReleaseDate=2003-03-12		\|ReleaseDate=2003-03-12

Teltura: /* Legolas Starter Deck */

2021-09-30T07:50:10Z

Legolas Starter Deck

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:50, 30 September 2021
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	* On the March x3		* On the March x3

	{{~~:set_table~~}}		{{Set Table}}

Teltura at 03:56, 30 September 2021

2021-09-30T03:56:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:56, 30 September 2021
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	{{~~CardSet~~		{{Set
	\|ID=5		\|ID=5
	\|Name=Battle of Helm's Deep		\|Name=Battle of Helm's Deep
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	\|ReleaseDate=2003-03-12		\|ReleaseDate=2003-03-12
	\|IsOfficial=yes		\|IsOfficial=yes
			\|Platforms=Paper, LotR-O, GEMP, mLOTRO, Tabletop Simulator, Lackey, gccg
	\|Notes=		\|Notes=
	}}		}}

Teltura: Adding cargo definition for set

2021-09-30T03:51:41Z

Adding cargo definition for set

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:51, 30 September 2021
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	Battle of Helm's Deep		{{CardSet
			\|ID=5
			\|Name=Battle of Helm's Deep
			\|Creator=Decipher
			\|ReleaseDate=2003-03-12
			\|IsOfficial=yes
			\|Notes=
			}}
	= Set Details =		= Set Details =