Towers Standard - Revision history

Phallen Cassidy: adding back card references -- oops

2022-10-21T12:20:48Z

adding back card references -- oops

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:20, 21 October 2022
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	Because Towers introduced several completely new cultures and self-complete subcultures, there is considerable overlap between the two Towers formats anyway -- the World Champion deck of Towers Standard included just 8 cards from Fellowship Block<ref>https://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=12100.0</ref>, most of them at only one copy. The biggest difference is how to handle swarms, as Towers Block has almost no support for Frodo ({{Card\|4C306}} and The One Ring are the only ways to increase his strength) and relatively tame controls for large fellowships. Towers Standard and [[Towers Block]], while less popular than Fellowship Block, [[Movie Block]], or [[Expanded]], are still mainstream and together account for 5-10% of all casual games on Gemp (other formats rarely break 2% in any 30-day period).		Because Towers introduced several completely new cultures and self-complete subcultures, there is considerable overlap between the two Towers formats anyway -- the World Champion deck of Towers Standard included just 8 cards from Fellowship Block<ref>https://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=12100.0</ref>, most of them at only one copy. The biggest difference is how to handle swarms, as Towers Block has almost no support for Frodo ({{Card\|4C306}} and The One Ring are the only ways to increase his strength) and relatively tame controls for large fellowships. Towers Standard and [[Towers Block]], while less popular than Fellowship Block, [[Movie Block]], or [[Expanded]], are still mainstream and together account for 5-10% of all casual games on Gemp (other formats rarely break 2% in any 30-day period).

	Ring-bearer [[Skirmish Cancellation\|skirmishes can be cancelled]] in Towers Standard, as that rule had not yet been introduced. However, only cards from Towers Block are able to accomplish the task: ~~the cards~~ from Fellowship Block had either been banned or ruled to only function on the Fellowship site path.		Ring-bearer [[Skirmish Cancellation\|skirmishes can be cancelled]] in Towers Standard, as that rule had not yet been introduced. However, only cards from Towers Block are able to accomplish the task: those from Fellowship Block had either been banned ({{Card\|O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!}} and {{Card\|Filibert Bolger, Wily Rascal}}) or ruled to only function on the Fellowship site path ({{Card\|Hobbit Intuition}} and {{Card\|Hobbit Stealth}}).

	==Decklists==		==Decklists==

Phallen Cassidy: Moving some comments from the "Standard" article to the appropriate historical standard format

2022-10-20T22:02:31Z

Moving some comments from the "Standard" article to the appropriate historical standard format

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:02, 20 October 2022
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	It quickly became apparent that the open format had problems in a competitive environment; in particular, there was a lack of deck diversity at the top level<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20030402125243/http://www.dgma.com/content/default.asp?id=361</ref>. In order to solve this issue, Decipher introduced a new format, [[Standard Format\|Standard]], which had the same card pool as the Open format but with an [[X-List]] of banned cards. This was done in March 2003, right on the heels of the release of [[Battle of Helm's Deep]].		It quickly became apparent that the open format had problems in a competitive environment; in particular, there was a lack of deck diversity at the top level<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20030402125243/http://www.dgma.com/content/default.asp?id=361</ref>. In order to solve this issue, Decipher introduced a new format, [[Standard Format\|Standard]], which had the same card pool as the Open format but with an [[X-List]] of banned cards. This was done in March 2003, right on the heels of the release of [[Battle of Helm's Deep]].

	Unlike block formats, which were continuously supported by Decipher mostly unchanged, Standard was always an evolving format. Once set 7 was released there was a new [[King Block]] site path and drastically different culture focuses, and so it represented a logical branching point. Over time, the term "Towers Standard" came to refer to the [[Standard Format]] as it existed immediately before the release of [[The Return of the King]] in November 2003.		Unlike block formats, which were continuously supported by Decipher mostly unchanged, Standard was always an evolving format. Once set 7 was released there was a new [[King Block]] site path and drastically different culture focuses, and so it represented a logical branching point. Over time, the term "Towers Standard" came to refer to the [[Standard Format]] as it existed immediately before the release of [[The Return of the King]] in November 2003 -- sets up to [[Ents of Fangorn]] using the [[Site#List of Towers Block Sites\|Towers Block site path]].

	Because Towers introduced several completely new cultures and self-complete subcultures, there is considerable overlap between the two Towers formats anyway -- the World Champion deck of Towers Standard included just 8 cards from Fellowship Block<ref>https://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=12100.0</ref>, most of them at only one copy. The biggest difference is how to handle swarms, as Towers Block has almost no support for Frodo ({{Card\|4C306}} and The One Ring are the only ways to increase his strength) and relatively tame controls for large fellowships.		Because Towers introduced several completely new cultures and self-complete subcultures, there is considerable overlap between the two Towers formats anyway -- the World Champion deck of Towers Standard included just 8 cards from Fellowship Block<ref>https://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=12100.0</ref>, most of them at only one copy. The biggest difference is how to handle swarms, as Towers Block has almost no support for Frodo ({{Card\|4C306}} and The One Ring are the only ways to increase his strength) and relatively tame controls for large fellowships. Towers Standard and [[Towers Block]], while less popular than Fellowship Block, [[Movie Block]], or [[Expanded]], are still mainstream and together account for 5-10% of all casual games on Gemp (other formats rarely break 2% in any 30-day period).

	Ring-bearer [[Skirmish Cancellation\|skirmishes can be cancelled]] in Towers Standard, as that rule had not yet been introduced. However, only cards from Towers Block are able to accomplish the task: the cards from Fellowship Block had either been banned ~~({{Card\|O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!}})~~ or ruled to only function on the Fellowship site path ~~({{Card\|Hobbit Stealth}})~~.		Ring-bearer [[Skirmish Cancellation\|skirmishes can be cancelled]] in Towers Standard, as that rule had not yet been introduced. However, only cards from Towers Block are able to accomplish the task: the cards from Fellowship Block had either been banned or ruled to only function on the Fellowship site path.

	==Decklists==		==Decklists==

Teltura: fleshed out wording

2022-10-20T03:09:38Z

fleshed out wording

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:09, 20 October 2022
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	When ~~LotR~~ TCG began, there was only one format: the cards that existed. With the release of [[The Two Towers]], Decipher split the game into three formats:		When the Lord of the Rings TCG began, there was only one format: the cards that existed. With the release of [[The Two Towers]], Decipher split the game into three formats:
	* [[Fellowship Block]], allowing cards from [[Fellowship of the Ring]], [[Mines of Moria]], and [[Realms of the Elf-lords]]		* [[Fellowship Block]], allowing cards from [[The Fellowship of the Ring]], [[Mines of Moria]], and [[Realms of the Elf-lords]]
	* [[Towers Block]], originally only allowing cards from The Two Towers with [[Battle of Helm's Deep]] and [[Ents of Fangorn]] added as they were released		* [[Towers Block]], originally only allowing cards from The Two Towers with [[Battle of Helm's Deep]] and [[Ents of Fangorn]] added as they were released
	* Open, allowing cards from all sets (~~except for Fellowship~~ Block sites)		* Open, allowing cards from all sets (but only using Towers Block sites)

	It quickly became apparent that the open format had problems in a competitive environment; in particular, there was a lack of deck diversity at the top level<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20030402125243/http://www.dgma.com/content/default.asp?id=361</ref>. In order to solve this issue, Decipher introduced a new format, [[Standard Format\|Standard]], which had the same ~~cardpool~~ as the ~~open~~ format but with an [[X-List]]. ~~Towers Standard refers to~~ the [[~~Standard Format~~]] ~~as it existed immediately before the release of The Return of the King in November 2003~~.		It quickly became apparent that the open format had problems in a competitive environment; in particular, there was a lack of deck diversity at the top level<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20030402125243/http://www.dgma.com/content/default.asp?id=361</ref>. In order to solve this issue, Decipher introduced a new format, [[Standard Format\|Standard]], which had the same card pool as the Open format but with an [[X-List]] of banned cards. This was done in March 2003, right on the heels of the release of [[Battle of Helm's Deep]].

	Unlike block formats, which were continuously supported by Decipher mostly unchanged, Standard was always an evolving format. Once set 7 was released there ~~were no more tournaments in "Towers" Standard~~, so ~~its fans had to either evolve with~~ it ~~or turn to Towers Block in organized play~~. ~~Because Towers introduced several completely new cultures and self-complete subcultures~~, ~~there is considerable overlap between~~ the ~~two~~ Towers ~~formats anyway --~~ the ~~World Champion deck of Towers~~ Standard ~~included just 8 cards from Fellowship block<ref>https://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=12100.0</ref>, most~~ of ~~them at only one copy.~~ The ~~biggest difference is how to handle swarms, as Towers Block has almost no support for Frodo ({{Card\|4C306}} and The One Ring are~~ the ~~only ways to increase his strength) and relatively tame controls for large fellowships~~.		Unlike block formats, which were continuously supported by Decipher mostly unchanged, Standard was always an evolving format. Once set 7 was released there was a new [[King Block]] site path and drastically different culture focuses, and so it represented a logical branching point. Over time, the term "Towers Standard" came to refer to the [[Standard Format]] as it existed immediately before the release of [[The Return of the King]] in November 2003.

	Ring-bearer [[Skirmish Cancellation\|skirmishes can be cancelled]] in Towers Standard, as that rule had not yet been introduced. However, only cards from Towers Block are able to accomplish the task: the cards from Fellowship ~~block~~ had either been banned or ruled to only function on the Fellowship site path. Decklists can be found at [http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php/board,39.0.html this subforum] of the Last Homely House.		Because Towers introduced several completely new cultures and self-complete subcultures, there is considerable overlap between the two Towers formats anyway -- the World Champion deck of Towers Standard included just 8 cards from Fellowship Block<ref>https://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=12100.0</ref>, most of them at only one copy. The biggest difference is how to handle swarms, as Towers Block has almost no support for Frodo ({{Card\|4C306}} and The One Ring are the only ways to increase his strength) and relatively tame controls for large fellowships.

			Ring-bearer [[Skirmish Cancellation\|skirmishes can be cancelled]] in Towers Standard, as that rule had not yet been introduced. However, only cards from Towers Block are able to accomplish the task: the cards from Fellowship Block had either been banned ({{Card\|O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!}}) or ruled to only function on the Fellowship site path ({{Card\|Hobbit Stealth}}).

			==Decklists==

			Decklists for Towers Standard can be found at [http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php/board,39.0.html this subforum] of the Last Homely House.

	== X-List ==		== X-List ==

Phallen Cassidy: Expanded article and added Cargo table entry

2022-10-18T11:56:09Z

Expanded article and added Cargo table entry

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:56, 18 October 2022
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	= Towers ~~Standard =~~		When LotR TCG began, there was only one format: the cards that existed. With the release of [[The Two Towers]], Decipher split the game into three formats:
			* [[Fellowship Block]], allowing cards from [[Fellowship of the Ring]], [[Mines of Moria]], and [[Realms of the Elf-lords]]
			* [[Towers Block]], originally only allowing cards from The Two Towers with [[Battle of Helm's Deep]] and [[Ents of Fangorn]] added as they were released
			* Open, allowing cards from all sets (except for Fellowship Block sites)

	~~When LotR TCG began~~, there was ~~only one format~~: ~~the cards that existed~~. ~~With the release of The Two Towers~~, Decipher ~~split the game into three formats:~~		It quickly became apparent that the open format had problems in a competitive environment; in particular, there was a lack of deck diversity at the top level<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20030402125243/http://www.dgma.com/content/default.asp?id=361</ref>. In order to solve this issue, Decipher introduced a new format, [[Standard Format\|Standard]], which had the same cardpool as the open format but with an [[X-List]]. Towers Standard refers to the [[Standard Format]] as it existed immediately before the release of The Return of the King in November 2003.
	* [[~~Fellowship Block~~]], ~~allowing cards from Fellowship of~~ the ~~Ring, Mines of Moria, and Realms of~~ the ~~Elf-lords~~
	* [[~~Towers Block~~]]~~, allowing cards from The Two~~ Towers~~, Battle of Helm's Deep, and Ents of Fangorn~~
	* Open, allowing cards from all sets, except for [[~~Fellowship Block~~]] ~~sites~~

	~~It quickly became apparent that the open~~ format had ~~problems~~ in ~~a competitive environment; in particular~~, there ~~was a lack~~ of ~~deck diversity at the top level.((~~https://~~web~~.~~archive.org/web/20030402125243/http:~~//~~www~~.~~dgma~~.~~com~~/~~content/default~~.~~asp?id=====361)) In order~~ to ~~solve this issue, Decipher introduced a new format, [[Standard Format\|Standard]]~~, ~~which had the same cardpool~~ as ~~the open format but with an [[X-List]].~~ Towers ~~Standard refers to the [[Standard Format]] as it existed immediately before the release of~~ The ~~Return of~~ the ~~King in November 2003~~.		Unlike block formats, which were continuously supported by Decipher mostly unchanged, Standard was always an evolving format. Once set 7 was released there were no more tournaments in "Towers" Standard, so its fans had to either evolve with it or turn to Towers Block in organized play. Because Towers introduced several completely new cultures and self-complete subcultures, there is considerable overlap between the two Towers formats anyway -- the World Champion deck of Towers Standard included just 8 cards from Fellowship block<ref>https://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=12100.0</ref>, most of them at only one copy. The biggest difference is how to handle swarms, as Towers Block has almost no support for Frodo ({{Card\|4C306}} and The One Ring are the only ways to increase his strength) and relatively tame controls for large fellowships.

	Ring-bearer skirmishes can be cancelled in Towers Standard, as that rule had not yet been introduced. Decklists can be found at [http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php/board,39.0.html\| this subforum] of the Last Homely House.		Ring-bearer [[Skirmish Cancellation\|skirmishes can be cancelled]] in Towers Standard, as that rule had not yet been introduced. However, only cards from Towers Block are able to accomplish the task: the cards from Fellowship block had either been banned or ruled to only function on the Fellowship site path. Decklists can be found at [http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php/board,39.0.html this subforum] of the Last Homely House.

	= X-List =		== X-List ==

	The following cards cannot be included in Towers Standard decks. For more details, see [[X-List]].		The following cards cannot be included in Towers Standard decks, with a brief description of why they were banned. Most Free Peoples cards on the inaugural list were banned because they had little or no "cultural enforcement," meaning almost any deck could too easily benefit from them. For more details, see [[X-List]].
	* Elrond, Lord of Rivendell		* {{Card\|Elrond, Lord of Rivendell}} - too much utility and too little cultural enforcement
	* Galadriel, Lady of Light		* {{Card\|Galadriel, Lady of Light}} - too much utility and no cultural enforcement, enabling all the other allies with a home site of 6 which also have no cultural enforcement
	* Ottar, Man of Laketown		* {{Card\|Ottar, Man of Laketown}} - effect is too strong and out of place in the {{C\|Gandalf}} culture, with too little cultural enforcement
	* No Stranger to the Shadows		* {{Card\|No Stranger to the Shadows}} - the permanent resource denial provided is too extreme (there were also only 3 Rangers in Fellowship block, but many in Towers)
	* Savagery to Match Their Numbers		* {{Card\|Savagery to Match Their Numbers}} - too strong with no cost, outperforming any other strength event
	* Ulaire Nertea, Messenger of Dol Guldur		* {{Card\|Ulaire Nertea, Messenger of Dol Guldur}} - too much utility and no cultural enforcement
	* Forces of Mordor		* {{Card\|Forces of Mordor}} - too powerful in concert with the Towers block {{C\|Sauron}} trackers, which draw cards
	* Sting		* {{Card\|Sting}} - no cultural enforcement (as every deck must start with Frodo), undercosted
	* Flaming Brand		* {{Card\|Flaming Brand}} - no cost and no cultural enforcement
	* Filibert Bolger, Wily Rascal		* {{Card\|Filibert Bolger, Wily Rascal}} - no cultural enforcement and allows the Ring-bearer's skirmish to be cancelled at site 9
	* O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!		* {{Card\|O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!}} - no cultural enforcement and allows the Ring-bearer's skirmish to be cancelled at site 9
	* Aragorn, Heir to the White City		* {{Card\|Aragorn, Heir to the White City}} - the permanent resource denial provided is too extreme with no cultural enforcement
	* Horn of Boromir		* {{Card\|Horn of Boromir}} - no cultural enforcement and permanently circumvents the [[Rule of 9]]
	* Saruman, Keeper of Isengard		* {{Card\|Saruman, Keeper of Isengard}} - doubles the number of skirmishes Uruk-hai take part in and nullifies most non-skirmish solutions for those Uruk-hai
	* Uruk Regular		* {{Card\|Uruk Regular}} - ability too extreme combined with {{Card\|Deep of Helm}}

			{{References}}

	{{~~Set~~ Table}}		{{Format
			\|Name=Towers Standard
			\|ValidSets=1,2,3,4,5,6
			\|XList=1R40,1R45,1R80,1U108,1R139,1U234,1C248,1R313,2R32,2C101,2R108,3R38,3R42,3R68,4C192
			\|RingBearerCancel=Yes
			\|SitePath=Towers
			}}

			{{Format Table}}

Teltura: Teltura moved page Towers standard to Towers Standard without leaving a redirect

2021-09-30T07:42:08Z

Teltura moved page Towers standard to Towers Standard without leaving a redirect

← Older revision	Revision as of 07:42, 30 September 2021
(No difference)

Teltura at 07:42, 30 September 2021

2021-09-30T07:42:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:42, 30 September 2021
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	* Open, allowing cards from all sets, except for [[Fellowship Block]] sites		* Open, allowing cards from all sets, except for [[Fellowship Block]] sites

	It quickly became apparent that the open format had problems in a competitive environment; in particular, there was a lack of deck diversity at the top level.((https://web.archive.org/web/20030402125243/http://www.dgma.com/content/default.asp?id=====361)) In order to solve this issue, Decipher introduced a new format, [[Standard ~~format~~\|Standard]], which had the same cardpool as the open format but with an [[X-~~list~~]]. Towers Standard refers to the [[Standard Format]] as it existed immediately before the release of The Return of the King in November 2003.		It quickly became apparent that the open format had problems in a competitive environment; in particular, there was a lack of deck diversity at the top level.((https://web.archive.org/web/20030402125243/http://www.dgma.com/content/default.asp?id=====361)) In order to solve this issue, Decipher introduced a new format, [[Standard Format\|Standard]], which had the same cardpool as the open format but with an [[X-List]]. Towers Standard refers to the [[Standard Format]] as it existed immediately before the release of The Return of the King in November 2003.

	Ring-bearer skirmishes can be cancelled in Towers Standard, as that rule had not yet been introduced. Decklists can be found at [http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php/board,39.0.html\| this subforum] of the Last Homely House.		Ring-bearer skirmishes can be cancelled in Towers Standard, as that rule had not yet been introduced. Decklists can be found at [http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php/board,39.0.html\| this subforum] of the Last Homely House.

Teltura at 07:41, 30 September 2021

2021-09-30T07:41:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:41, 30 September 2021
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	* Open, allowing cards from all sets, except for [[Fellowship Block]] sites		* Open, allowing cards from all sets, except for [[Fellowship Block]] sites

	It quickly became apparent that the open format had problems in a competitive environment; in particular, there was a lack of deck diversity at the top level.((https://web.archive.org/web/20030402125243/http://www.dgma.com/content/default.asp?id=====361)) In order to solve this issue, Decipher introduced a new format, [[Standard format\|Standard]], which had the same cardpool as the open format but with an [[X-list]]. Towers Standard refers to the [[Standard ~~format~~]] as it existed immediately before the release of The Return of the King in November 2003.		It quickly became apparent that the open format had problems in a competitive environment; in particular, there was a lack of deck diversity at the top level.((https://web.archive.org/web/20030402125243/http://www.dgma.com/content/default.asp?id=====361)) In order to solve this issue, Decipher introduced a new format, [[Standard format\|Standard]], which had the same cardpool as the open format but with an [[X-list]]. Towers Standard refers to the [[Standard Format]] as it existed immediately before the release of The Return of the King in November 2003.

	Ring-bearer skirmishes can be cancelled in Towers Standard, as that rule had not yet been introduced. Decklists can be found at [[http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php/board,39.0.html\|this subforum]] of the Last Homely House.		Ring-bearer skirmishes can be cancelled in Towers Standard, as that rule had not yet been introduced. Decklists can be found at [http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php/board,39.0.html\| this subforum] of the Last Homely House.

	= X-~~list~~ =		= X-List =

	The following cards cannot be included in Towers Standard decks. For more details, see [[X-~~list~~]].		The following cards cannot be included in Towers Standard decks. For more details, see [[X-List]].
	* Elrond, Lord of Rivendell		* Elrond, Lord of Rivendell
	* Galadriel, Lady of Light		* Galadriel, Lady of Light
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	* Uruk Regular		* Uruk Regular

	\\

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

imported>Teltura at 08:51, 7 September 2020

2020-09-07T08:51:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:51, 7 September 2020
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	{{:set_table}}		{{:set_table}}
	{{:format_table}}		{{:format_table}}

imported>Teltura: mass update table references

2020-09-07T07:09:37Z

mass update table references

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:09, 7 September 2020
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	{{:set_table}}		{{:set_table}}
	{{:format_table}}		{{:format_table}}
	~~ ~~

imported>Teltura at 09:48, 26 August 2020

2020-08-26T09:48:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:48, 26 August 2020
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	{{:set_table}}		{{:set_table}}
	{{:format_table}}		{{:format_table}}