Site - Revision history

Teltura at 01:44, 13 January 2023

2023-01-13T01:44:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:44, 13 January 2023
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	}}		}}
	{{Stub}}		{{Stub}}

	~~[[Category: Comprehensive Rules References That Need Fixed]]'''From the Comprehensive Rules 4.0:'''~~


	{{RulesQuote		{{RulesQuote

Teltura: fixing tables and rules quotes

2023-01-13T01:43:58Z

fixing tables and rules quotes

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:43, 13 January 2023
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	[[Category: Comprehensive Rules References That Need Fixed]]'''From the Comprehensive Rules 4.0:'''		[[Category: Comprehensive Rules References That Need Fixed]]'''From the Comprehensive Rules 4.0:'''

	Site cards represent locations in Middle-earth, and are used to chart the progress of the game. Nine sites are placed in your adventure deck. (See building your deck.)
			{{RulesQuote
			\|title=
			\|source=site
			\|text=Site cards represent locations in Middle-earth, and are used to chart the progress of the game. Nine sites are placed in your adventure deck. (See building your deck.)

	Site cards have a dark compass in the upper left corner. This symbol is used on sites from the Shadows expansion set onward, differentiating them from sites found in previous sets (which use a different compass symbol, and may also use a block symbol).		Site cards have a dark compass in the upper left corner. This symbol is used on sites from the Shadows expansion set onward, differentiating them from sites found in previous sets (which use a different compass symbol, and may also use a block symbol).
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	That player looks through his adventure deck and chooses any site to play as the next site. It takes on the next consecutive number on the adventure path as its site number. It also takes on a region number. Exception: See format.		That player looks through his adventure deck and chooses any site to play as the next site. It takes on the next consecutive number on the adventure path as its site number. It also takes on a region number. Exception: See format.

	~~<div fgbrown>~~''The first time the first player moves during the game, a Shadow player looks through his adventure deck and chooses the next site to place on the adventure path. It becomes site 2. The next time a site is added after that, it will be site 3. Both of those sites are in region 1.''		''The first time the first player moves during the game, a Shadow player looks through his adventure deck and chooses the next site to place on the adventure path. It becomes site 2. The next time a site is added after that, it will be site 3. Both of those sites are in region 1.''

	You may play a copy of a site on the adventure path even if an opponent’s copy was already played as an earlier site and is still active. The copies are treated as different sites, with each		You may play a copy of a site on the adventure path even if an opponent’s copy was already played as an earlier site and is still active. The copies are treated as different sites, with each
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	See also culture, [[kinds of cards]].		See also culture, [[kinds of cards]].
			}}

			{{RulesQuote
			\|title=
			\|source=unloaded keyword
			\|text=Sites have unloaded keywords like [[Battleground]], [[Dwelling]], [[Forest]], [[Marsh]], [[Mountain]], [[Plains]], [[River]], and [[Underground]].
			}}


	~~Sites have unloaded keywords like battleground, dwelling, forest, marsh, mountain, plains, river, and underground.~~

	== List of Fellowship Block Sites ==		== List of Fellowship Block Sites ==

	{{~~#cargo_query:tables=Cards=C,CardReleases=CR~~		{{ListTable
	\|~~join on=C.ID = CR.ID~~		\|filter= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (1,2,3) AND {{FilterReprints}}
	~~\|fields=~~		\|sort=CR.SiteNum
	,CONCAT('<span class="tooltip">[[', REPLACE(REPLACE(C._pageName, '/Data', ''), 'Data:', ''), '\|', CR.Title, CASE WHEN CR.Subtitle IS NULL THEN '' ELSE CONCAT(', ', CR.Subtitle) END, ' (', IFNULL(CR.CollInfo,C.CollInfo), ')]]<span>[[File:', IFNULL(CR.ImageFilename,'Card_Not_Found.jpg'), ']]</span></span>')=CardName
	~~\|where~~= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (1,2,3)
	\|~~order by~~=CR.SiteNum
	~~\|limit=400~~
	~~\|format=ul~~
	\|columns=3		\|columns=3
	}}		}}
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	== List of Towers Block Sites ==		== List of Towers Block Sites ==

	{{~~#cargo_query:tables=Cards=C,CardReleases=CR~~		{{ListTable
	\|~~join on=C.ID = CR.ID~~		\|filter= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (4,5,6) AND {{FilterReprints}}
	~~\|fields=~~		\|sort=CR.SiteNum
	,CONCAT('<span class="tooltip">[[', REPLACE(REPLACE(C._pageName, '/Data', ''), 'Data:', ''), '\|', CR.Title, CASE WHEN CR.Subtitle IS NULL THEN '' ELSE CONCAT(', ', CR.Subtitle) END, ' (', IFNULL(CR.CollInfo,C.CollInfo), ')]]<span>[[File:', IFNULL(CR.ImageFilename,'Card_Not_Found.jpg'), ']]</span></span>')=CardName
	~~\|where~~= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (4,5,6)
	\|~~order by~~=CR.SiteNum
	~~\|limit=400~~
	~~\|format=ul~~
	\|columns=3		\|columns=3
	}}		}}
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	The site path, as a result, encourages a certain pace. Except for {{C\|Dwarven}} decks, [[bidding]] high doesn't bring much in the way of benefits except for going first, since most of the initial sites are weak and site 4 can punish excess burdens. For the move from 1-3, it strongly discourages overplaying cards on the first turn with the site 2 penalties for losing initiative, as well as the small bonuses at site 1 to situational [[choke]] tactics. Skipping past site 3 is discouraged because, as with other formats, you're not only losing out on the healing, but also possibly the gametext helping your deck to set up. Unlike earlier formats, there's no version of site 3 that favors certain Shadow decks, though. Site 4 favors the Shadow somewhat, but site 5 is the pivot. {{Card\|Steward's Tomb}} can be the hardest site in the format! A well-developed Fellowship can often go 3-5, but most often Free Peoples players who are in the lead will aim to go 3-4 then 4-6, to get the hardest move out of the way the beginning of a turn rather than the end, and follow it by moving into the relatively easier site 6. It's difficult to go 3-5, 5-7 as the player in the lead, since you'll generally get no benefit from the opponent's site 6 (and, even in a mirror match, any opponent could be running {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}} against you). But a 3-5, 5-7 move is generally doable for the player trying to catch up, and it effectively blanks two of the possible sites you could face at site 7. The path also discourages decks that try to bulk up their Fellowship at site 6, because site 7 could unpredictably punish them for it. After that, it's just Shadow-favored sites to close out the game, notable mainly that they tend to interact with the [[threat]] and [[burden]] piles.		The site path, as a result, encourages a certain pace. Except for {{C\|Dwarven}} decks, [[bidding]] high doesn't bring much in the way of benefits except for going first, since most of the initial sites are weak and site 4 can punish excess burdens. For the move from 1-3, it strongly discourages overplaying cards on the first turn with the site 2 penalties for losing initiative, as well as the small bonuses at site 1 to situational [[choke]] tactics. Skipping past site 3 is discouraged because, as with other formats, you're not only losing out on the healing, but also possibly the gametext helping your deck to set up. Unlike earlier formats, there's no version of site 3 that favors certain Shadow decks, though. Site 4 favors the Shadow somewhat, but site 5 is the pivot. {{Card\|Steward's Tomb}} can be the hardest site in the format! A well-developed Fellowship can often go 3-5, but most often Free Peoples players who are in the lead will aim to go 3-4 then 4-6, to get the hardest move out of the way the beginning of a turn rather than the end, and follow it by moving into the relatively easier site 6. It's difficult to go 3-5, 5-7 as the player in the lead, since you'll generally get no benefit from the opponent's site 6 (and, even in a mirror match, any opponent could be running {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}} against you). But a 3-5, 5-7 move is generally doable for the player trying to catch up, and it effectively blanks two of the possible sites you could face at site 7. The path also discourages decks that try to bulk up their Fellowship at site 6, because site 7 could unpredictably punish them for it. After that, it's just Shadow-favored sites to close out the game, notable mainly that they tend to interact with the [[threat]] and [[burden]] piles.

	{{~~#cargo_query:tables=Cards=C,CardReleases=CR~~		{{ListTable
	\|~~join on=C.ID = CR.ID~~		\|filter= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (7,8,10) AND {{FilterReprints}}
	~~\|fields=~~		\|sort=CR.SiteNum
	,CONCAT('<span class="tooltip">[[', REPLACE(REPLACE(C._pageName, '/Data', ''), 'Data:', ''), '\|', CR.Title, CASE WHEN CR.Subtitle IS NULL THEN '' ELSE CONCAT(', ', CR.Subtitle) END, ' (', IFNULL(CR.CollInfo,C.CollInfo), ')]]<span>[[File:', IFNULL(CR.ImageFilename,'Card_Not_Found.jpg'), ']]</span></span>')=CardName
	~~\|where~~= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (7,8,10)
	\|~~order by~~=CR.SiteNum
	~~\|limit=400~~
	~~\|format=ul~~
	\|columns=3		\|columns=3
	}}		}}
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	== List of War of the Ring Block Sites ==		== List of War of the Ring Block Sites ==

	{{~~#cargo_query:tables=Cards=C,CardReleases=CR~~		{{ListTable
	~~\|join on=C.ID = CR.ID~~		\|filter= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (11,12,13) AND {{FilterReprints}}
	\|~~fields=~~		\|sort=CR.SiteNum
	,CONCAT('<span class="tooltip">[[', REPLACE(REPLACE(C._pageName, '/Data', ''), 'Data:', ''), '\|', CR.Title, CASE WHEN CR.Subtitle IS NULL THEN '' ELSE CONCAT(', ', CR.Subtitle) END, ' (', IFNULL(CR.CollInfo,C.CollInfo), ')]]<span>[[File:', IFNULL(CR.ImageFilename,'Card_Not_Found.jpg'), ']]</span></span>')=CardName
	~~\|where~~= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (11,12,13)
	~~\|order by=~~{{~~StandardSort~~}}
	\|~~limit~~=~~400~~
	~~\|format=ul~~
	\|columns=3		\|columns=3
	}}		}}
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	== List of Hunters Block Sites ==		== List of Hunters Block Sites ==

	{{~~#cargo_query:tables=Cards=C,CardReleases=CR~~		{{ListTable
	\|~~join on=C.ID = CR.ID~~		\|filter= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (15,17,18) AND {{FilterReprints}}
	~~\|fields=~~		\|sort={{StandardSort}}
	,CONCAT('<span class="tooltip">[[', REPLACE(REPLACE(C._pageName, '/Data', ''), 'Data:', ''), '\|', CR.Title, CASE WHEN CR.Subtitle IS NULL THEN '' ELSE CONCAT(', ', CR.Subtitle) END, ' (', IFNULL(CR.CollInfo,C.CollInfo), ')]]<span>[[File:', IFNULL(CR.ImageFilename,'Card_Not_Found.jpg'), ']]</span></span>')=CardName
	~~\|where~~= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (15,17,18)
	\|~~order by~~={{StandardSort}}
	~~\|limit=400~~
	~~\|format=ul~~
	\|columns=3		\|columns=3
	}}		}}


	----		----

Cease: /* List of Shadows Block Sites */ correct name

2022-03-13T04:40:16Z

List of Shadows Block Sites: correct name

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:40, 13 March 2022
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	}}		}}

	== List of ~~Shadows~~ Block Sites ==		== List of War of the Ring Block Sites ==

	{{#cargo_query:tables=Cards=C,CardReleases=CR		{{#cargo_query:tables=Cards=C,CardReleases=CR

Cease: /* List of King Block Sites */ clearer

2022-02-20T11:40:09Z

List of King Block Sites: clearer

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:40, 20 February 2022
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	Site 7 punishes Fellowships with six or more characters in different ways, but does nothing to Fellowships that respect the [[Rule of 6]]. Notably, all of them give a consistent six [[twilight]]. {{Card\|Ruined Capitol}} simply forces a [[stop]] as long as the Shadow player plays a minion, and it's one of the most popular choices, especially since it can't be used to punish someone going from 5-7. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} is also popular, since it allows the Shadow player to draw many cards (to use up the [[flood\|excessive twilight]] that large Fellowships often generate) while empowering their [[Enduring]] minions. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} can set up a deathblow by forcing the Free Peoples player to [[double move]], although it's useless if the Free Peoples player simply wipes out all of the minions or went 5-7 that turn. {{Card\|Pelennor Grassland}} has almost no effect except maybe helping [[Enduring]] minions, so it can be useful in decks that plan to reach site 7 with a large Fellowship.		Site 7 punishes Fellowships with six or more characters in different ways, but does nothing to Fellowships that respect the [[Rule of 6]]. Notably, all of them give a consistent six [[twilight]]. {{Card\|Ruined Capitol}} simply forces a [[stop]] as long as the Shadow player plays a minion, and it's one of the most popular choices, especially since it can't be used to punish someone going from 5-7. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} is also popular, since it allows the Shadow player to draw many cards (to use up the [[flood\|excessive twilight]] that large Fellowships often generate) while empowering their [[Enduring]] minions. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} can set up a deathblow by forcing the Free Peoples player to [[double move]], although it's useless if the Free Peoples player simply wipes out all of the minions or went 5-7 that turn. {{Card\|Pelennor Grassland}} has almost no effect except maybe helping [[Enduring]] minions, so it can be useful in decks that plan to reach site 7 with a large Fellowship.

	Site 8 offers culture-specific benefits to the Shadow player at the cost of consuming [[threat]]s, but, unfortunately, not all Shadow cultures have a site, and some of the benefits are not great. As with site 7, all of them give a consistent eight [[twilight]]. {{Card\|Morgulduin}} is one of the best, and so strong that many non-{{C\|Ringwraith}} decks use it to retrieve a utility [[Nazgul]] like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul}}. {{Card\|Northern Ithilien}} is also popular, and works well with a deck using a {{C\|Gollum}} splash, turning the threats from {{Card\|Captured by the Ring}} into burdens. {{Card\|Morgul Vale}} is a serviceable benefit for {{C\|Sauron}} decks. {{Card\|Cross Roads}} is marginal: most {{C\|Raider}} decks except [[Easterling]]s have other, better uses for [[threat]]s. {{Card\|Watchers of Cirith Ungol}} has a completely negligible effect, even for the [[Morc]] decks it's meant to enable: those decks would really rather spend those threats on ~~other~~ cards. It's occasionally used because it's terrible, since it will not benefit the opponent's Shadow hardly at all.		Site 8 offers culture-specific benefits to the Shadow player at the cost of consuming [[threat]]s, but, unfortunately, not all Shadow cultures have a site, and some of the benefits are not great. As with site 7, all of them give a consistent eight [[twilight]]. {{Card\|Morgulduin}} is one of the best, and so strong that many non-{{C\|Ringwraith}} decks use it to retrieve a utility [[Nazgul]] like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul}}. {{Card\|Northern Ithilien}} is also popular, and works well with a deck using a {{C\|Gollum}} splash, turning the threats from {{Card\|Captured by the Ring}} into burdens. {{Card\|Morgul Vale}} is a serviceable benefit for {{C\|Sauron}} decks. {{Card\|Cross Roads}} is marginal: most {{C\|Raider}} decks except [[Easterling]]s have other, better uses for [[threat]]s. {{Card\|Watchers of Cirith Ungol}} has a completely negligible effect, even for the [[Morc]] decks it's meant to enable: those decks would really rather run Morgulduin, or, failing that, spend those threats on cards like {{Card\|Morgul Destroyer}}. It's occasionally used because it's terrible, since it will not benefit the opponent's Shadow hardly at all.

	Site 9 is the endgame, and all of the options are very straightforward, and largely a matter of taste. They even all have the same twilight number: 9. It largely comes down to your Shadow deck's relationship with threats and burdens. Would you like more threats (or just a generically good site that supports almost all decks)? {{Card\|Dagorlad}}. Would you rather finish off an almost-corrupted [[ring-bearer]]? {{Card\|Slag Mounds}}. {{Card\|Haunted Pass}} is a little shakier, since you need to consume the threats you'd certainly rather turn into wounds, but it can be worth it to make your draw more consistent or punish Free Peoples players who roll into site 9 with a large threat stack, expecting Dagorlad. The odd one out is {{Card\|Narchost}}, which is worse than Slag Mounds in a [[corruption]] deck and useless to any other sort of deck, and thus almost never played.		Site 9 is the endgame, and all of the options are very straightforward, and largely a matter of taste. They even all have the same twilight number: 9. It largely comes down to your Shadow deck's relationship with threats and burdens. Would you like more threats (or just a generically good site that supports almost all decks)? {{Card\|Dagorlad}}. Would you rather finish off an almost-corrupted [[ring-bearer]]? {{Card\|Slag Mounds}}. {{Card\|Haunted Pass}} is a little shakier, since you need to consume the threats you'd certainly rather turn into wounds, but it can be worth it to make your draw more consistent or punish Free Peoples players who roll into site 9 with a large threat stack, expecting Dagorlad. The odd one out is {{Card\|Narchost}}, which is worse than Slag Mounds in a [[corruption]] deck and useless to any other sort of deck, and thus almost never played.

Cease: /* List of King Block Sites */ brevity

2022-02-20T11:38:31Z

List of King Block Sites: brevity

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:38, 20 February 2022
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	Site 9 is the endgame, and all of the options are very straightforward, and largely a matter of taste. They even all have the same twilight number: 9. It largely comes down to your Shadow deck's relationship with threats and burdens. Would you like more threats (or just a generically good site that supports almost all decks)? {{Card\|Dagorlad}}. Would you rather finish off an almost-corrupted [[ring-bearer]]? {{Card\|Slag Mounds}}. {{Card\|Haunted Pass}} is a little shakier, since you need to consume the threats you'd certainly rather turn into wounds, but it can be worth it to make your draw more consistent or punish Free Peoples players who roll into site 9 with a large threat stack, expecting Dagorlad. The odd one out is {{Card\|Narchost}}, which is worse than Slag Mounds in a [[corruption]] deck and useless to any other sort of deck, and thus almost never played.		Site 9 is the endgame, and all of the options are very straightforward, and largely a matter of taste. They even all have the same twilight number: 9. It largely comes down to your Shadow deck's relationship with threats and burdens. Would you like more threats (or just a generically good site that supports almost all decks)? {{Card\|Dagorlad}}. Would you rather finish off an almost-corrupted [[ring-bearer]]? {{Card\|Slag Mounds}}. {{Card\|Haunted Pass}} is a little shakier, since you need to consume the threats you'd certainly rather turn into wounds, but it can be worth it to make your draw more consistent or punish Free Peoples players who roll into site 9 with a large threat stack, expecting Dagorlad. The odd one out is {{Card\|Narchost}}, which is worse than Slag Mounds in a [[corruption]] deck and useless to any other sort of deck, and thus almost never played.

	The site path, as a result, encourages a certain pace. Except for {{C\|Dwarven}} decks, [[bidding]] high doesn't bring much in the way of benefits except for going first, since most of the initial sites are weak and site 4 can punish excess burdens. For the move from 1-3, it strongly discourages overplaying cards on the first turn with the site 2 penalties for losing initiative, as well as the small bonuses at site 1 to situational [[choke]] tactics. Skipping past site 3 is discouraged because, as with other formats, you're not only losing out on the healing, but also possibly the gametext helping your deck to set up. Unlike earlier formats, there's no version of site 3 that favors certain Shadow decks, though. Site 4 favors the Shadow somewhat, but site 5 is the pivot. {{Card\|Steward's Tomb}} can be the hardest site in the format! A well-developed Fellowship can often go 3-5, but most often Free Peoples players who are in the lead will aim to go 3-4 then 4-6, to get the hardest move out of the way the beginning of a turn rather than the end, and follow it by moving into the relatively easier site 6. It's difficult to go 3-5, 5-7 as the player in the lead, since you'll generally get no benefit from the opponent's site 6 (and, even in a mirror match, any opponent could be running {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}} against you). But a 3-5, 5-7 move is generally doable for the player trying to catch up, and it effectively blanks two of the possible sites you could face at site 7. The path also discourages decks that try to bulk up their Fellowship at site 6, because site 7 could punish them for it~~, and never in a predictable way, since most decks could run more or less any site 7~~. After that, it's just Shadow-favored sites to close out the game, notable mainly that they tend to interact with the [[threat]] and [[burden]] piles.		The site path, as a result, encourages a certain pace. Except for {{C\|Dwarven}} decks, [[bidding]] high doesn't bring much in the way of benefits except for going first, since most of the initial sites are weak and site 4 can punish excess burdens. For the move from 1-3, it strongly discourages overplaying cards on the first turn with the site 2 penalties for losing initiative, as well as the small bonuses at site 1 to situational [[choke]] tactics. Skipping past site 3 is discouraged because, as with other formats, you're not only losing out on the healing, but also possibly the gametext helping your deck to set up. Unlike earlier formats, there's no version of site 3 that favors certain Shadow decks, though. Site 4 favors the Shadow somewhat, but site 5 is the pivot. {{Card\|Steward's Tomb}} can be the hardest site in the format! A well-developed Fellowship can often go 3-5, but most often Free Peoples players who are in the lead will aim to go 3-4 then 4-6, to get the hardest move out of the way the beginning of a turn rather than the end, and follow it by moving into the relatively easier site 6. It's difficult to go 3-5, 5-7 as the player in the lead, since you'll generally get no benefit from the opponent's site 6 (and, even in a mirror match, any opponent could be running {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}} against you). But a 3-5, 5-7 move is generally doable for the player trying to catch up, and it effectively blanks two of the possible sites you could face at site 7. The path also discourages decks that try to bulk up their Fellowship at site 6, because site 7 could unpredictably punish them for it. After that, it's just Shadow-favored sites to close out the game, notable mainly that they tend to interact with the [[threat]] and [[burden]] piles.

	{{#cargo_query:tables=Cards=C,CardReleases=CR		{{#cargo_query:tables=Cards=C,CardReleases=CR

Cease: /* List of King Block Sites */ i always mix this up

2022-02-20T11:36:59Z

List of King Block Sites: i always mix this up

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:36, 20 February 2022
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	Site 4 allows the Shadow player to convert any random [[burden]]s (such as from a starting [[bid]] or {{Card\|The Binding Ring}}) into some sort of benefit. <!--Anduin Banks-->{{Card\|7U341}} is the most generically useful to the Shadow player, although {{Card\|Pelennor Prairie}} is almost as easy to use and can discard [[condition]]s that are protected by a card like {{Card\|Pippin, Friend to Frodo}}. {{Card\|City of the Dead}} can grab powerful [[Enduring]] minions that are popular in this format, like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Thrall of the One}}, {{Card\|Shelob, Her Ladyship}}, or {{Card\|Orc Slaughterer}}, albeit at a high cost. {{Card\|Osgiliath Fallen}} and {{Card\|Pelennor Plain}} are hard for the Shadow player to use at all, but sometimes they're used specifically because of that.		Site 4 allows the Shadow player to convert any random [[burden]]s (such as from a starting [[bid]] or {{Card\|The Binding Ring}}) into some sort of benefit. <!--Anduin Banks-->{{Card\|7U341}} is the most generically useful to the Shadow player, although {{Card\|Pelennor Prairie}} is almost as easy to use and can discard [[condition]]s that are protected by a card like {{Card\|Pippin, Friend to Frodo}}. {{Card\|City of the Dead}} can grab powerful [[Enduring]] minions that are popular in this format, like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Thrall of the One}}, {{Card\|Shelob, Her Ladyship}}, or {{Card\|Orc Slaughterer}}, albeit at a high cost. {{Card\|Osgiliath Fallen}} and {{Card\|Pelennor Plain}} are hard for the Shadow player to use at all, but sometimes they're used specifically because of that.

	Site 5 is, by design, one of the hardest sites for the Free Peoples player, with relatively high [[twilight]] numbers and harsh benefits for the Shadow player, often involving a difficult choice for the Free Peoples player. All of them are popular in different decks. {{Card\|Steward's Tomb}} has the highest twilight number and prevents a number of defensive strategies. However, it cuts both ways: {{C\|Dunland}} decks can't protect their minions with {{Card\|Hides}} and [[Enduring]] [[Nazgul]] like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Thrall of the One}} can't heal themselves, so it's not well-suited to some Shadow decks. {{Card\|Crashed Gates}} forces the Free Peoples player to choose between placing [[threat]]s (assuming they have enough room after site 4!) or allowing the Shadow player to [[Site ~~Capture~~\|~~capture~~ a site]]. Often, players choose this site if they are running {{C\|Dunland}} or [[Besieger]] Shadows, or simply expect their opponents to not be running those Shadows. {{Card\|Pelennor Flat}} is well-suited to discard or [[corruption]] Shadows. {{Card\|City Gates}} is often the least dangerous site 5, and it has the additional benefit that if you enter the site with capped threats and the Shadow doesn't make use of any of them, the site will still often remove more threats than it placed. It's handy for {{C\|Raider}}s or [[Sauron Threats]], which will almost always make use of the threats.		Site 5 is, by design, one of the hardest sites for the Free Peoples player, with relatively high [[twilight]] numbers and harsh benefits for the Shadow player, often involving a difficult choice for the Free Peoples player. All of them are popular in different decks. {{Card\|Steward's Tomb}} has the highest twilight number and prevents a number of defensive strategies. However, it cuts both ways: {{C\|Dunland}} decks can't protect their minions with {{Card\|Hides}} and [[Enduring]] [[Nazgul]] like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Thrall of the One}} can't heal themselves, so it's not well-suited to some Shadow decks. {{Card\|Crashed Gates}} forces the Free Peoples player to choose between placing [[threat]]s (assuming they have enough room after site 4!) or allowing the Shadow player to [[Site Control\|control a site]]. Often, players choose this site if they are running {{C\|Dunland}} or [[Besieger]] Shadows, or simply expect their opponents to not be running those Shadows. {{Card\|Pelennor Flat}} is well-suited to discard or [[corruption]] Shadows. {{Card\|City Gates}} is often the least dangerous site 5, and it has the additional benefit that if you enter the site with capped threats and the Shadow doesn't make use of any of them, the site will still often remove more threats than it placed. It's handy for {{C\|Raider}}s or [[Sauron Threats]], which will almost always make use of the threats.

	Site 6 is is a rubber band, making it easier for the Free Peoples player who's behind to catch up. There are seven versions of the site, and six of them heal [[companion]]s of a particular [[culture]] if you give up the [[sanctuary]] healing by double moving. (They generally heal all companions of a given culture, like {{Card\|Minas Tirith Second Circle}}, but {{Card\|Minas Tirith Fifth Circle}} heals just heals [[Gandalf]] himself multiple times.) The seventh, {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}}, is a rubber band that snaps on anyone trying to get ahead by bypassing site 6, with a harsh penalty that will almost always force a [[stop]].		Site 6 is is a rubber band, making it easier for the Free Peoples player who's behind to catch up. There are seven versions of the site, and six of them heal [[companion]]s of a particular [[culture]] if you give up the [[sanctuary]] healing by double moving. (They generally heal all companions of a given culture, like {{Card\|Minas Tirith Second Circle}}, but {{Card\|Minas Tirith Fifth Circle}} heals just heals [[Gandalf]] himself multiple times.) The seventh, {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}}, is a rubber band that snaps on anyone trying to get ahead by bypassing site 6, with a harsh penalty that will almost always force a [[stop]].

Cease: /* List of King Block Sites */ clearer

2022-02-20T11:25:57Z

List of King Block Sites: clearer

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:25, 20 February 2022
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	Site 9 is the endgame, and all of the options are very straightforward, and largely a matter of taste. They even all have the same twilight number: 9. It largely comes down to your Shadow deck's relationship with threats and burdens. Would you like more threats (or just a generically good site that supports almost all decks)? {{Card\|Dagorlad}}. Would you rather finish off an almost-corrupted [[ring-bearer]]? {{Card\|Slag Mounds}}. {{Card\|Haunted Pass}} is a little shakier, since you need to consume the threats you'd certainly rather turn into wounds, but it can be worth it to make your draw more consistent or punish Free Peoples players who roll into site 9 with a large threat stack, expecting Dagorlad. The odd one out is {{Card\|Narchost}}, which is worse than Slag Mounds in a [[corruption]] deck and useless to any other sort of deck, and thus almost never played.		Site 9 is the endgame, and all of the options are very straightforward, and largely a matter of taste. They even all have the same twilight number: 9. It largely comes down to your Shadow deck's relationship with threats and burdens. Would you like more threats (or just a generically good site that supports almost all decks)? {{Card\|Dagorlad}}. Would you rather finish off an almost-corrupted [[ring-bearer]]? {{Card\|Slag Mounds}}. {{Card\|Haunted Pass}} is a little shakier, since you need to consume the threats you'd certainly rather turn into wounds, but it can be worth it to make your draw more consistent or punish Free Peoples players who roll into site 9 with a large threat stack, expecting Dagorlad. The odd one out is {{Card\|Narchost}}, which is worse than Slag Mounds in a [[corruption]] deck and useless to any other sort of deck, and thus almost never played.

	The site path, as a result, encourages a certain pace. Except for {{C\|Dwarven}} decks, [[bidding]] high doesn't bring much in the way of benefits except for going first, since most of the initial sites are weak and site 4 can punish excess burdens. For the move from 1-3, it strongly discourages overplaying cards on the first turn with the site 2 penalties for losing initiative, as well as the small bonuses at site 1 to situational [[choke]] tactics. Skipping past site 3 is discouraged because, as with other formats, you're not only losing out on the healing, but also possibly the gametext helping your deck to set up. Unlike earlier formats, there's no version of ~~the~~ site that favors certain Shadow decks, though. Site 4 favors the Shadow somewhat, but site 5 is the pivot. {{Card\|Steward's Tomb}} can be the hardest site in the format! A well-developed Fellowship can often go 3-5, but most often Free Peoples players who are in the lead will aim to go 3-4 then 4-6, to get the hardest move out of the way the beginning of a turn rather than the end, and follow it by moving into the relatively easier site 6. It's difficult to go 3-5, 5-7 as the player in the lead, since you'll generally get no benefit from the opponent's site 6 (and, even in a mirror match, any opponent could be running {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}} against you). But a 3-5, 5-7 move is generally doable for the player trying to catch up, and it effectively blanks two of the possible sites you could face at site 7. The path also discourages decks that try to bulk up their Fellowship at site 6, because site 7 could punish them for it, and never in a predictable way, since most decks could run more or less any site 7. After that, it's just Shadow-favored sites to close out the game, notable mainly that they tend to interact with the [[threat]] and [[burden]] piles.		The site path, as a result, encourages a certain pace. Except for {{C\|Dwarven}} decks, [[bidding]] high doesn't bring much in the way of benefits except for going first, since most of the initial sites are weak and site 4 can punish excess burdens. For the move from 1-3, it strongly discourages overplaying cards on the first turn with the site 2 penalties for losing initiative, as well as the small bonuses at site 1 to situational [[choke]] tactics. Skipping past site 3 is discouraged because, as with other formats, you're not only losing out on the healing, but also possibly the gametext helping your deck to set up. Unlike earlier formats, there's no version of site 3 that favors certain Shadow decks, though. Site 4 favors the Shadow somewhat, but site 5 is the pivot. {{Card\|Steward's Tomb}} can be the hardest site in the format! A well-developed Fellowship can often go 3-5, but most often Free Peoples players who are in the lead will aim to go 3-4 then 4-6, to get the hardest move out of the way the beginning of a turn rather than the end, and follow it by moving into the relatively easier site 6. It's difficult to go 3-5, 5-7 as the player in the lead, since you'll generally get no benefit from the opponent's site 6 (and, even in a mirror match, any opponent could be running {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}} against you). But a 3-5, 5-7 move is generally doable for the player trying to catch up, and it effectively blanks two of the possible sites you could face at site 7. The path also discourages decks that try to bulk up their Fellowship at site 6, because site 7 could punish them for it, and never in a predictable way, since most decks could run more or less any site 7. After that, it's just Shadow-favored sites to close out the game, notable mainly that they tend to interact with the [[threat]] and [[burden]] piles.

	{{#cargo_query:tables=Cards=C,CardReleases=CR		{{#cargo_query:tables=Cards=C,CardReleases=CR

Cease: /* List of King Block Sites */ a bit more on how the twilight numbers are consistent in region 3

2022-02-20T11:24:56Z

List of King Block Sites: a bit more on how the twilight numbers are consistent in region 3

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:24, 20 February 2022
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	Site 6 is is a rubber band, making it easier for the Free Peoples player who's behind to catch up. There are seven versions of the site, and six of them heal [[companion]]s of a particular [[culture]] if you give up the [[sanctuary]] healing by double moving. (They generally heal all companions of a given culture, like {{Card\|Minas Tirith Second Circle}}, but {{Card\|Minas Tirith Fifth Circle}} heals just heals [[Gandalf]] himself multiple times.) The seventh, {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}}, is a rubber band that snaps on anyone trying to get ahead by bypassing site 6, with a harsh penalty that will almost always force a [[stop]].		Site 6 is is a rubber band, making it easier for the Free Peoples player who's behind to catch up. There are seven versions of the site, and six of them heal [[companion]]s of a particular [[culture]] if you give up the [[sanctuary]] healing by double moving. (They generally heal all companions of a given culture, like {{Card\|Minas Tirith Second Circle}}, but {{Card\|Minas Tirith Fifth Circle}} heals just heals [[Gandalf]] himself multiple times.) The seventh, {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}}, is a rubber band that snaps on anyone trying to get ahead by bypassing site 6, with a harsh penalty that will almost always force a [[stop]].

	Site 7 punishes Fellowships with six or more characters in different ways, but does nothing to Fellowships that respect the [[Rule of 6]]. {{Card\|Ruined Capitol}} simply forces a [[stop]] as long as the Shadow player plays a minion, and it's one of the most popular choices, especially since it can't be used to punish someone going from 5-7. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} is also popular, since it allows the Shadow player to draw many cards (to use up the [[flood\|excessive twilight]] that large Fellowships often generate) while empowering their [[Enduring]] minions. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} can set up a deathblow by forcing the Free Peoples player to [[double move]], although it's useless if the Free Peoples player simply wipes out all of the minions or went 5-7 that turn. {{Card\|Pelennor Grassland}} has almost no effect except maybe helping [[Enduring]] minions, so it can be useful in decks that plan to reach site 7 with a large Fellowship.		Site 7 punishes Fellowships with six or more characters in different ways, but does nothing to Fellowships that respect the [[Rule of 6]]. Notably, all of them give a consistent six [[twilight]]. {{Card\|Ruined Capitol}} simply forces a [[stop]] as long as the Shadow player plays a minion, and it's one of the most popular choices, especially since it can't be used to punish someone going from 5-7. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} is also popular, since it allows the Shadow player to draw many cards (to use up the [[flood\|excessive twilight]] that large Fellowships often generate) while empowering their [[Enduring]] minions. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} can set up a deathblow by forcing the Free Peoples player to [[double move]], although it's useless if the Free Peoples player simply wipes out all of the minions or went 5-7 that turn. {{Card\|Pelennor Grassland}} has almost no effect except maybe helping [[Enduring]] minions, so it can be useful in decks that plan to reach site 7 with a large Fellowship.

	Site 8 offers culture-specific benefits to the Shadow player at the cost of consuming [[threat]]s, but, unfortunately, not all Shadow cultures have a site, and some of the benefits are not great. {{Card\|Morgulduin}} is one of the best, and so strong that many non-{{C\|Ringwraith}} decks use it to retrieve a utility [[Nazgul]] like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul}}. {{Card\|Northern Ithilien}} is also popular, and works well with a deck using a {{C\|Gollum}} splash, turning the threats from {{Card\|Captured by the Ring}} into burdens. {{Card\|Morgul Vale}} is a serviceable benefit for {{C\|Sauron}} decks. {{Card\|Cross Roads}} is marginal: most {{C\|Raider}} decks except [[Easterling]]s have other, better uses for [[threat]]s. {{Card\|Watchers of Cirith Ungol}} has a completely negligible effect, even for the [[Morc]] decks it's meant to enable: those decks would really rather spend those threats on other cards. It's occasionally used because it's terrible, since it will not benefit the opponent's Shadow hardly at all.		Site 8 offers culture-specific benefits to the Shadow player at the cost of consuming [[threat]]s, but, unfortunately, not all Shadow cultures have a site, and some of the benefits are not great. As with site 7, all of them give a consistent eight [[twilight]]. {{Card\|Morgulduin}} is one of the best, and so strong that many non-{{C\|Ringwraith}} decks use it to retrieve a utility [[Nazgul]] like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul}}. {{Card\|Northern Ithilien}} is also popular, and works well with a deck using a {{C\|Gollum}} splash, turning the threats from {{Card\|Captured by the Ring}} into burdens. {{Card\|Morgul Vale}} is a serviceable benefit for {{C\|Sauron}} decks. {{Card\|Cross Roads}} is marginal: most {{C\|Raider}} decks except [[Easterling]]s have other, better uses for [[threat]]s. {{Card\|Watchers of Cirith Ungol}} has a completely negligible effect, even for the [[Morc]] decks it's meant to enable: those decks would really rather spend those threats on other cards. It's occasionally used because it's terrible, since it will not benefit the opponent's Shadow hardly at all.

	Site 9 is the endgame, and all of the options are very straightforward, and largely a matter of taste. It largely comes down to your Shadow deck's relationship with threats and burdens. Would you like more threats (or just a generically good site that supports almost all decks)? {{Card\|Dagorlad}}. Would you rather finish off an almost-corrupted [[ring-bearer]]? {{Card\|Slag Mounds}}. {{Card\|Haunted Pass}} is a little shakier, since you need to consume the threats you'd certainly rather turn into wounds, but it can be worth it to make your draw more consistent or punish Free Peoples players who roll into site 9 with a large threat stack, expecting Dagorlad. The odd one out is {{Card\|Narchost}}, which is worse than Slag Mounds in a [[corruption]] deck and useless to any other sort of deck, and thus almost never played.		Site 9 is the endgame, and all of the options are very straightforward, and largely a matter of taste. They even all have the same twilight number: 9. It largely comes down to your Shadow deck's relationship with threats and burdens. Would you like more threats (or just a generically good site that supports almost all decks)? {{Card\|Dagorlad}}. Would you rather finish off an almost-corrupted [[ring-bearer]]? {{Card\|Slag Mounds}}. {{Card\|Haunted Pass}} is a little shakier, since you need to consume the threats you'd certainly rather turn into wounds, but it can be worth it to make your draw more consistent or punish Free Peoples players who roll into site 9 with a large threat stack, expecting Dagorlad. The odd one out is {{Card\|Narchost}}, which is worse than Slag Mounds in a [[corruption]] deck and useless to any other sort of deck, and thus almost never played.

	The site path, as a result, encourages a certain pace. Except for {{C\|Dwarven}} decks, [[bidding]] high doesn't bring much in the way of benefits except for going first, since most of the initial sites are weak and site 4 can punish excess burdens. For the move from 1-3, it strongly discourages overplaying cards on the first turn with the site 2 penalties for losing initiative, as well as the small bonuses at site 1 to situational [[choke]] tactics. Skipping past site 3 is discouraged because, as with other formats, you're not only losing out on the healing, but also possibly the gametext helping your deck to set up. Unlike earlier formats, there's no version of the site that favors certain Shadow decks, though. Site 4 favors the Shadow somewhat, but site 5 is the pivot. {{Card\|Steward's Tomb}} can be the hardest site in the format! A well-developed Fellowship can often go 3-5, but most often Free Peoples players who are in the lead will aim to go 3-4 then 4-6, to get the hardest move out of the way the beginning of a turn rather than the end, and follow it by moving into the relatively easier site 6. It's difficult to go 3-5, 5-7 as the player in the lead, since you'll generally get no benefit from the opponent's site 6 (and, even in a mirror match, any opponent could be running {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}} against you). But a 3-5, 5-7 move is generally doable for the player trying to catch up, and it effectively blanks two of the possible sites you could face at site 7. The path also discourages decks that try to bulk up their Fellowship at site 6, because site 7 could punish them for it, and never in a predictable way, since most decks could run more or less any site 7. After that, it's just Shadow-favored sites to close out the game, notable mainly that they tend to interact with the [[threat]] and [[burden]] piles.		The site path, as a result, encourages a certain pace. Except for {{C\|Dwarven}} decks, [[bidding]] high doesn't bring much in the way of benefits except for going first, since most of the initial sites are weak and site 4 can punish excess burdens. For the move from 1-3, it strongly discourages overplaying cards on the first turn with the site 2 penalties for losing initiative, as well as the small bonuses at site 1 to situational [[choke]] tactics. Skipping past site 3 is discouraged because, as with other formats, you're not only losing out on the healing, but also possibly the gametext helping your deck to set up. Unlike earlier formats, there's no version of the site that favors certain Shadow decks, though. Site 4 favors the Shadow somewhat, but site 5 is the pivot. {{Card\|Steward's Tomb}} can be the hardest site in the format! A well-developed Fellowship can often go 3-5, but most often Free Peoples players who are in the lead will aim to go 3-4 then 4-6, to get the hardest move out of the way the beginning of a turn rather than the end, and follow it by moving into the relatively easier site 6. It's difficult to go 3-5, 5-7 as the player in the lead, since you'll generally get no benefit from the opponent's site 6 (and, even in a mirror match, any opponent could be running {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}} against you). But a 3-5, 5-7 move is generally doable for the player trying to catch up, and it effectively blanks two of the possible sites you could face at site 7. The path also discourages decks that try to bulk up their Fellowship at site 6, because site 7 could punish them for it, and never in a predictable way, since most decks could run more or less any site 7. After that, it's just Shadow-favored sites to close out the game, notable mainly that they tend to interact with the [[threat]] and [[burden]] piles.

Cease: let's sort these all in a more sensible way

2022-02-20T11:22:43Z

let's sort these all in a more sensible way

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:22, 20 February 2022
Line 40:		Line 40:
	,CONCAT('<span class="tooltip">[[', REPLACE(REPLACE(C._pageName, '/Data', ''), 'Data:', ''), '\|', CR.Title, CASE WHEN CR.Subtitle IS NULL THEN '' ELSE CONCAT(', ', CR.Subtitle) END, ' (', IFNULL(CR.CollInfo,C.CollInfo), ')]]<span>[[File:', IFNULL(CR.ImageFilename,'Card_Not_Found.jpg'), ']]</span></span>')=CardName		,CONCAT('<span class="tooltip">[[', REPLACE(REPLACE(C._pageName, '/Data', ''), 'Data:', ''), '\|', CR.Title, CASE WHEN CR.Subtitle IS NULL THEN '' ELSE CONCAT(', ', CR.Subtitle) END, ' (', IFNULL(CR.CollInfo,C.CollInfo), ')]]<span>[[File:', IFNULL(CR.ImageFilename,'Card_Not_Found.jpg'), ']]</span></span>')=CardName
	\|where= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (1,2,3)		\|where= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (1,2,3)
	\|order by=~~{{StandardSort}}~~		\|order by=CR.SiteNum
	\|limit=400		\|limit=400
	\|format=ul		\|format=ul
Line 53:		Line 53:
	,CONCAT('<span class="tooltip">[[', REPLACE(REPLACE(C._pageName, '/Data', ''), 'Data:', ''), '\|', CR.Title, CASE WHEN CR.Subtitle IS NULL THEN '' ELSE CONCAT(', ', CR.Subtitle) END, ' (', IFNULL(CR.CollInfo,C.CollInfo), ')]]<span>[[File:', IFNULL(CR.ImageFilename,'Card_Not_Found.jpg'), ']]</span></span>')=CardName		,CONCAT('<span class="tooltip">[[', REPLACE(REPLACE(C._pageName, '/Data', ''), 'Data:', ''), '\|', CR.Title, CASE WHEN CR.Subtitle IS NULL THEN '' ELSE CONCAT(', ', CR.Subtitle) END, ' (', IFNULL(CR.CollInfo,C.CollInfo), ')]]<span>[[File:', IFNULL(CR.ImageFilename,'Card_Not_Found.jpg'), ']]</span></span>')=CardName
	\|where= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (4,5,6)		\|where= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (4,5,6)
	\|order by=~~{{StandardSort}}~~		\|order by=CR.SiteNum
	\|limit=400		\|limit=400
	\|format=ul		\|format=ul

Cease: /* List of King Block Sites */ trying out sorting this in a more sensible way

2022-02-20T11:22:14Z

List of King Block Sites: trying out sorting this in a more sensible way

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:22, 20 February 2022
Line 88:		Line 88:
	,CONCAT('<span class="tooltip">[[', REPLACE(REPLACE(C._pageName, '/Data', ''), 'Data:', ''), '\|', CR.Title, CASE WHEN CR.Subtitle IS NULL THEN '' ELSE CONCAT(', ', CR.Subtitle) END, ' (', IFNULL(CR.CollInfo,C.CollInfo), ')]]<span>[[File:', IFNULL(CR.ImageFilename,'Card_Not_Found.jpg'), ']]</span></span>')=CardName		,CONCAT('<span class="tooltip">[[', REPLACE(REPLACE(C._pageName, '/Data', ''), 'Data:', ''), '\|', CR.Title, CASE WHEN CR.Subtitle IS NULL THEN '' ELSE CONCAT(', ', CR.Subtitle) END, ' (', IFNULL(CR.CollInfo,C.CollInfo), ')]]<span>[[File:', IFNULL(CR.ImageFilename,'Card_Not_Found.jpg'), ']]</span></span>')=CardName
	\|where= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (7,8,10)		\|where= C.CardType = 'Site' AND C.SetNum IN (7,8,10)
	\|order by=~~{{StandardSort}}~~		\|order by=CR.SiteNum
	\|limit=400		\|limit=400
	\|format=ul		\|format=ul

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:40, 20 February 2022
Line 77:		Line 77:
	Site 7 punishes Fellowships with six or more characters in different ways, but does nothing to Fellowships that respect the [[Rule of 6]]. Notably, all of them give a consistent six [[twilight]]. {{Card\|Ruined Capitol}} simply forces a [[stop]] as long as the Shadow player plays a minion, and it's one of the most popular choices, especially since it can't be used to punish someone going from 5-7. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} is also popular, since it allows the Shadow player to draw many cards (to use up the [[flood\|excessive twilight]] that large Fellowships often generate) while empowering their [[Enduring]] minions. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} can set up a deathblow by forcing the Free Peoples player to [[double move]], although it's useless if the Free Peoples player simply wipes out all of the minions or went 5-7 that turn. {{Card\|Pelennor Grassland}} has almost no effect except maybe helping [[Enduring]] minions, so it can be useful in decks that plan to reach site 7 with a large Fellowship.		Site 7 punishes Fellowships with six or more characters in different ways, but does nothing to Fellowships that respect the [[Rule of 6]]. Notably, all of them give a consistent six [[twilight]]. {{Card\|Ruined Capitol}} simply forces a [[stop]] as long as the Shadow player plays a minion, and it's one of the most popular choices, especially since it can't be used to punish someone going from 5-7. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} is also popular, since it allows the Shadow player to draw many cards (to use up the [[flood\|excessive twilight]] that large Fellowships often generate) while empowering their [[Enduring]] minions. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} can set up a deathblow by forcing the Free Peoples player to [[double move]], although it's useless if the Free Peoples player simply wipes out all of the minions or went 5-7 that turn. {{Card\|Pelennor Grassland}} has almost no effect except maybe helping [[Enduring]] minions, so it can be useful in decks that plan to reach site 7 with a large Fellowship.

	Site 8 offers culture-specific benefits to the Shadow player at the cost of consuming [[threat]]s, but, unfortunately, not all Shadow cultures have a site, and some of the benefits are not great. As with site 7, all of them give a consistent eight [[twilight]]. {{Card\|Morgulduin}} is one of the best, and so strong that many non-{{C\|Ringwraith}} decks use it to retrieve a utility [[Nazgul]] like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul}}. {{Card\|Northern Ithilien}} is also popular, and works well with a deck using a {{C\|Gollum}} splash, turning the threats from {{Card\|Captured by the Ring}} into burdens. {{Card\|Morgul Vale}} is a serviceable benefit for {{C\|Sauron}} decks. {{Card\|Cross Roads}} is marginal: most {{C\|Raider}} decks except [[Easterling]]s have other, better uses for [[threat]]s. {{Card\|Watchers of Cirith Ungol}} has a completely negligible effect, even for the [[Morc]] decks it's meant to enable: those decks would really rather spend those threats on ~~other~~ cards. It's occasionally used because it's terrible, since it will not benefit the opponent's Shadow hardly at all.		Site 8 offers culture-specific benefits to the Shadow player at the cost of consuming [[threat]]s, but, unfortunately, not all Shadow cultures have a site, and some of the benefits are not great. As with site 7, all of them give a consistent eight [[twilight]]. {{Card\|Morgulduin}} is one of the best, and so strong that many non-{{C\|Ringwraith}} decks use it to retrieve a utility [[Nazgul]] like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul}}. {{Card\|Northern Ithilien}} is also popular, and works well with a deck using a {{C\|Gollum}} splash, turning the threats from {{Card\|Captured by the Ring}} into burdens. {{Card\|Morgul Vale}} is a serviceable benefit for {{C\|Sauron}} decks. {{Card\|Cross Roads}} is marginal: most {{C\|Raider}} decks except [[Easterling]]s have other, better uses for [[threat]]s. {{Card\|Watchers of Cirith Ungol}} has a completely negligible effect, even for the [[Morc]] decks it's meant to enable: those decks would really rather run Morgulduin, or, failing that, spend those threats on cards like {{Card\|Morgul Destroyer}}. It's occasionally used because it's terrible, since it will not benefit the opponent's Shadow hardly at all.

	Site 9 is the endgame, and all of the options are very straightforward, and largely a matter of taste. They even all have the same twilight number: 9. It largely comes down to your Shadow deck's relationship with threats and burdens. Would you like more threats (or just a generically good site that supports almost all decks)? {{Card\|Dagorlad}}. Would you rather finish off an almost-corrupted [[ring-bearer]]? {{Card\|Slag Mounds}}. {{Card\|Haunted Pass}} is a little shakier, since you need to consume the threats you'd certainly rather turn into wounds, but it can be worth it to make your draw more consistent or punish Free Peoples players who roll into site 9 with a large threat stack, expecting Dagorlad. The odd one out is {{Card\|Narchost}}, which is worse than Slag Mounds in a [[corruption]] deck and useless to any other sort of deck, and thus almost never played.		Site 9 is the endgame, and all of the options are very straightforward, and largely a matter of taste. They even all have the same twilight number: 9. It largely comes down to your Shadow deck's relationship with threats and burdens. Would you like more threats (or just a generically good site that supports almost all decks)? {{Card\|Dagorlad}}. Would you rather finish off an almost-corrupted [[ring-bearer]]? {{Card\|Slag Mounds}}. {{Card\|Haunted Pass}} is a little shakier, since you need to consume the threats you'd certainly rather turn into wounds, but it can be worth it to make your draw more consistent or punish Free Peoples players who roll into site 9 with a large threat stack, expecting Dagorlad. The odd one out is {{Card\|Narchost}}, which is worse than Slag Mounds in a [[corruption]] deck and useless to any other sort of deck, and thus almost never played.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:36, 20 February 2022
Line 71:		Line 71:
	Site 4 allows the Shadow player to convert any random [[burden]]s (such as from a starting [[bid]] or {{Card\|The Binding Ring}}) into some sort of benefit. <!--Anduin Banks-->{{Card\|7U341}} is the most generically useful to the Shadow player, although {{Card\|Pelennor Prairie}} is almost as easy to use and can discard [[condition]]s that are protected by a card like {{Card\|Pippin, Friend to Frodo}}. {{Card\|City of the Dead}} can grab powerful [[Enduring]] minions that are popular in this format, like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Thrall of the One}}, {{Card\|Shelob, Her Ladyship}}, or {{Card\|Orc Slaughterer}}, albeit at a high cost. {{Card\|Osgiliath Fallen}} and {{Card\|Pelennor Plain}} are hard for the Shadow player to use at all, but sometimes they're used specifically because of that.		Site 4 allows the Shadow player to convert any random [[burden]]s (such as from a starting [[bid]] or {{Card\|The Binding Ring}}) into some sort of benefit. <!--Anduin Banks-->{{Card\|7U341}} is the most generically useful to the Shadow player, although {{Card\|Pelennor Prairie}} is almost as easy to use and can discard [[condition]]s that are protected by a card like {{Card\|Pippin, Friend to Frodo}}. {{Card\|City of the Dead}} can grab powerful [[Enduring]] minions that are popular in this format, like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Thrall of the One}}, {{Card\|Shelob, Her Ladyship}}, or {{Card\|Orc Slaughterer}}, albeit at a high cost. {{Card\|Osgiliath Fallen}} and {{Card\|Pelennor Plain}} are hard for the Shadow player to use at all, but sometimes they're used specifically because of that.

	Site 5 is, by design, one of the hardest sites for the Free Peoples player, with relatively high [[twilight]] numbers and harsh benefits for the Shadow player, often involving a difficult choice for the Free Peoples player. All of them are popular in different decks. {{Card\|Steward's Tomb}} has the highest twilight number and prevents a number of defensive strategies. However, it cuts both ways: {{C\|Dunland}} decks can't protect their minions with {{Card\|Hides}} and [[Enduring]] [[Nazgul]] like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Thrall of the One}} can't heal themselves, so it's not well-suited to some Shadow decks. {{Card\|Crashed Gates}} forces the Free Peoples player to choose between placing [[threat]]s (assuming they have enough room after site 4!) or allowing the Shadow player to [[Site ~~Capture~~\|~~capture~~ a site]]. Often, players choose this site if they are running {{C\|Dunland}} or [[Besieger]] Shadows, or simply expect their opponents to not be running those Shadows. {{Card\|Pelennor Flat}} is well-suited to discard or [[corruption]] Shadows. {{Card\|City Gates}} is often the least dangerous site 5, and it has the additional benefit that if you enter the site with capped threats and the Shadow doesn't make use of any of them, the site will still often remove more threats than it placed. It's handy for {{C\|Raider}}s or [[Sauron Threats]], which will almost always make use of the threats.		Site 5 is, by design, one of the hardest sites for the Free Peoples player, with relatively high [[twilight]] numbers and harsh benefits for the Shadow player, often involving a difficult choice for the Free Peoples player. All of them are popular in different decks. {{Card\|Steward's Tomb}} has the highest twilight number and prevents a number of defensive strategies. However, it cuts both ways: {{C\|Dunland}} decks can't protect their minions with {{Card\|Hides}} and [[Enduring]] [[Nazgul]] like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Thrall of the One}} can't heal themselves, so it's not well-suited to some Shadow decks. {{Card\|Crashed Gates}} forces the Free Peoples player to choose between placing [[threat]]s (assuming they have enough room after site 4!) or allowing the Shadow player to [[Site Control\|control a site]]. Often, players choose this site if they are running {{C\|Dunland}} or [[Besieger]] Shadows, or simply expect their opponents to not be running those Shadows. {{Card\|Pelennor Flat}} is well-suited to discard or [[corruption]] Shadows. {{Card\|City Gates}} is often the least dangerous site 5, and it has the additional benefit that if you enter the site with capped threats and the Shadow doesn't make use of any of them, the site will still often remove more threats than it placed. It's handy for {{C\|Raider}}s or [[Sauron Threats]], which will almost always make use of the threats.

	Site 6 is is a rubber band, making it easier for the Free Peoples player who's behind to catch up. There are seven versions of the site, and six of them heal [[companion]]s of a particular [[culture]] if you give up the [[sanctuary]] healing by double moving. (They generally heal all companions of a given culture, like {{Card\|Minas Tirith Second Circle}}, but {{Card\|Minas Tirith Fifth Circle}} heals just heals [[Gandalf]] himself multiple times.) The seventh, {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}}, is a rubber band that snaps on anyone trying to get ahead by bypassing site 6, with a harsh penalty that will almost always force a [[stop]].		Site 6 is is a rubber band, making it easier for the Free Peoples player who's behind to catch up. There are seven versions of the site, and six of them heal [[companion]]s of a particular [[culture]] if you give up the [[sanctuary]] healing by double moving. (They generally heal all companions of a given culture, like {{Card\|Minas Tirith Second Circle}}, but {{Card\|Minas Tirith Fifth Circle}} heals just heals [[Gandalf]] himself multiple times.) The seventh, {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}}, is a rubber band that snaps on anyone trying to get ahead by bypassing site 6, with a harsh penalty that will almost always force a [[stop]].

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	Site 6 is is a rubber band, making it easier for the Free Peoples player who's behind to catch up. There are seven versions of the site, and six of them heal [[companion]]s of a particular [[culture]] if you give up the [[sanctuary]] healing by double moving. (They generally heal all companions of a given culture, like {{Card\|Minas Tirith Second Circle}}, but {{Card\|Minas Tirith Fifth Circle}} heals just heals [[Gandalf]] himself multiple times.) The seventh, {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}}, is a rubber band that snaps on anyone trying to get ahead by bypassing site 6, with a harsh penalty that will almost always force a [[stop]].		Site 6 is is a rubber band, making it easier for the Free Peoples player who's behind to catch up. There are seven versions of the site, and six of them heal [[companion]]s of a particular [[culture]] if you give up the [[sanctuary]] healing by double moving. (They generally heal all companions of a given culture, like {{Card\|Minas Tirith Second Circle}}, but {{Card\|Minas Tirith Fifth Circle}} heals just heals [[Gandalf]] himself multiple times.) The seventh, {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}}, is a rubber band that snaps on anyone trying to get ahead by bypassing site 6, with a harsh penalty that will almost always force a [[stop]].

	Site 7 punishes Fellowships with six or more characters in different ways, but does nothing to Fellowships that respect the [[Rule of 6]]. {{Card\|Ruined Capitol}} simply forces a [[stop]] as long as the Shadow player plays a minion, and it's one of the most popular choices, especially since it can't be used to punish someone going from 5-7. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} is also popular, since it allows the Shadow player to draw many cards (to use up the [[flood\|excessive twilight]] that large Fellowships often generate) while empowering their [[Enduring]] minions. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} can set up a deathblow by forcing the Free Peoples player to [[double move]], although it's useless if the Free Peoples player simply wipes out all of the minions or went 5-7 that turn. {{Card\|Pelennor Grassland}} has almost no effect except maybe helping [[Enduring]] minions, so it can be useful in decks that plan to reach site 7 with a large Fellowship.		Site 7 punishes Fellowships with six or more characters in different ways, but does nothing to Fellowships that respect the [[Rule of 6]]. Notably, all of them give a consistent six [[twilight]]. {{Card\|Ruined Capitol}} simply forces a [[stop]] as long as the Shadow player plays a minion, and it's one of the most popular choices, especially since it can't be used to punish someone going from 5-7. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} is also popular, since it allows the Shadow player to draw many cards (to use up the [[flood\|excessive twilight]] that large Fellowships often generate) while empowering their [[Enduring]] minions. {{Card\|Osgiliath Crossing}} can set up a deathblow by forcing the Free Peoples player to [[double move]], although it's useless if the Free Peoples player simply wipes out all of the minions or went 5-7 that turn. {{Card\|Pelennor Grassland}} has almost no effect except maybe helping [[Enduring]] minions, so it can be useful in decks that plan to reach site 7 with a large Fellowship.

	Site 8 offers culture-specific benefits to the Shadow player at the cost of consuming [[threat]]s, but, unfortunately, not all Shadow cultures have a site, and some of the benefits are not great. {{Card\|Morgulduin}} is one of the best, and so strong that many non-{{C\|Ringwraith}} decks use it to retrieve a utility [[Nazgul]] like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul}}. {{Card\|Northern Ithilien}} is also popular, and works well with a deck using a {{C\|Gollum}} splash, turning the threats from {{Card\|Captured by the Ring}} into burdens. {{Card\|Morgul Vale}} is a serviceable benefit for {{C\|Sauron}} decks. {{Card\|Cross Roads}} is marginal: most {{C\|Raider}} decks except [[Easterling]]s have other, better uses for [[threat]]s. {{Card\|Watchers of Cirith Ungol}} has a completely negligible effect, even for the [[Morc]] decks it's meant to enable: those decks would really rather spend those threats on other cards. It's occasionally used because it's terrible, since it will not benefit the opponent's Shadow hardly at all.		Site 8 offers culture-specific benefits to the Shadow player at the cost of consuming [[threat]]s, but, unfortunately, not all Shadow cultures have a site, and some of the benefits are not great. As with site 7, all of them give a consistent eight [[twilight]]. {{Card\|Morgulduin}} is one of the best, and so strong that many non-{{C\|Ringwraith}} decks use it to retrieve a utility [[Nazgul]] like {{Card\|Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul}}. {{Card\|Northern Ithilien}} is also popular, and works well with a deck using a {{C\|Gollum}} splash, turning the threats from {{Card\|Captured by the Ring}} into burdens. {{Card\|Morgul Vale}} is a serviceable benefit for {{C\|Sauron}} decks. {{Card\|Cross Roads}} is marginal: most {{C\|Raider}} decks except [[Easterling]]s have other, better uses for [[threat]]s. {{Card\|Watchers of Cirith Ungol}} has a completely negligible effect, even for the [[Morc]] decks it's meant to enable: those decks would really rather spend those threats on other cards. It's occasionally used because it's terrible, since it will not benefit the opponent's Shadow hardly at all.

	Site 9 is the endgame, and all of the options are very straightforward, and largely a matter of taste. It largely comes down to your Shadow deck's relationship with threats and burdens. Would you like more threats (or just a generically good site that supports almost all decks)? {{Card\|Dagorlad}}. Would you rather finish off an almost-corrupted [[ring-bearer]]? {{Card\|Slag Mounds}}. {{Card\|Haunted Pass}} is a little shakier, since you need to consume the threats you'd certainly rather turn into wounds, but it can be worth it to make your draw more consistent or punish Free Peoples players who roll into site 9 with a large threat stack, expecting Dagorlad. The odd one out is {{Card\|Narchost}}, which is worse than Slag Mounds in a [[corruption]] deck and useless to any other sort of deck, and thus almost never played.		Site 9 is the endgame, and all of the options are very straightforward, and largely a matter of taste. They even all have the same twilight number: 9. It largely comes down to your Shadow deck's relationship with threats and burdens. Would you like more threats (or just a generically good site that supports almost all decks)? {{Card\|Dagorlad}}. Would you rather finish off an almost-corrupted [[ring-bearer]]? {{Card\|Slag Mounds}}. {{Card\|Haunted Pass}} is a little shakier, since you need to consume the threats you'd certainly rather turn into wounds, but it can be worth it to make your draw more consistent or punish Free Peoples players who roll into site 9 with a large threat stack, expecting Dagorlad. The odd one out is {{Card\|Narchost}}, which is worse than Slag Mounds in a [[corruption]] deck and useless to any other sort of deck, and thus almost never played.

	The site path, as a result, encourages a certain pace. Except for {{C\|Dwarven}} decks, [[bidding]] high doesn't bring much in the way of benefits except for going first, since most of the initial sites are weak and site 4 can punish excess burdens. For the move from 1-3, it strongly discourages overplaying cards on the first turn with the site 2 penalties for losing initiative, as well as the small bonuses at site 1 to situational [[choke]] tactics. Skipping past site 3 is discouraged because, as with other formats, you're not only losing out on the healing, but also possibly the gametext helping your deck to set up. Unlike earlier formats, there's no version of the site that favors certain Shadow decks, though. Site 4 favors the Shadow somewhat, but site 5 is the pivot. {{Card\|Steward's Tomb}} can be the hardest site in the format! A well-developed Fellowship can often go 3-5, but most often Free Peoples players who are in the lead will aim to go 3-4 then 4-6, to get the hardest move out of the way the beginning of a turn rather than the end, and follow it by moving into the relatively easier site 6. It's difficult to go 3-5, 5-7 as the player in the lead, since you'll generally get no benefit from the opponent's site 6 (and, even in a mirror match, any opponent could be running {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}} against you). But a 3-5, 5-7 move is generally doable for the player trying to catch up, and it effectively blanks two of the possible sites you could face at site 7. The path also discourages decks that try to bulk up their Fellowship at site 6, because site 7 could punish them for it, and never in a predictable way, since most decks could run more or less any site 7. After that, it's just Shadow-favored sites to close out the game, notable mainly that they tend to interact with the [[threat]] and [[burden]] piles.		The site path, as a result, encourages a certain pace. Except for {{C\|Dwarven}} decks, [[bidding]] high doesn't bring much in the way of benefits except for going first, since most of the initial sites are weak and site 4 can punish excess burdens. For the move from 1-3, it strongly discourages overplaying cards on the first turn with the site 2 penalties for losing initiative, as well as the small bonuses at site 1 to situational [[choke]] tactics. Skipping past site 3 is discouraged because, as with other formats, you're not only losing out on the healing, but also possibly the gametext helping your deck to set up. Unlike earlier formats, there's no version of the site that favors certain Shadow decks, though. Site 4 favors the Shadow somewhat, but site 5 is the pivot. {{Card\|Steward's Tomb}} can be the hardest site in the format! A well-developed Fellowship can often go 3-5, but most often Free Peoples players who are in the lead will aim to go 3-4 then 4-6, to get the hardest move out of the way the beginning of a turn rather than the end, and follow it by moving into the relatively easier site 6. It's difficult to go 3-5, 5-7 as the player in the lead, since you'll generally get no benefit from the opponent's site 6 (and, even in a mirror match, any opponent could be running {{Card\|Minas Tirith First Circle}} against you). But a 3-5, 5-7 move is generally doable for the player trying to catch up, and it effectively blanks two of the possible sites you could face at site 7. The path also discourages decks that try to bulk up their Fellowship at site 6, because site 7 could punish them for it, and never in a predictable way, since most decks could run more or less any site 7. After that, it's just Shadow-favored sites to close out the game, notable mainly that they tend to interact with the [[threat]] and [[burden]] piles.