Whip of Many Thongs (2R74) - Revision history

Phallen Cassidy: Clarifying something I Didn't Explain Very Openly

2023-04-02T00:01:45Z

Clarifying something I Didn't Explain Very Openly

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:01, 2 April 2023
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	Even when Whip does work, it may not work in the way the Shadow player expects or desires since the Free Peoples player is (usually) in charge of all assignments. If an armor is important to the survival of the Fellowship, The Balrog can often simply be assigned to skirmish a different companion. As such, it is better to think of Whip first and foremost as a deterrent to assign The Balrog to companions bearing armors rather than as a particularly effective way to get rid of any armors.		Even when Whip does work, it may not work in the way the Shadow player expects or desires since the Free Peoples player is (usually) in charge of all assignments. If an armor is important to the survival of the Fellowship, The Balrog can often simply be assigned to skirmish a different companion. As such, it is better to think of Whip first and foremost as a deterrent to assign The Balrog to companions bearing armors rather than as a particularly effective way to get rid of any armors.

	Balrog Contingency Plans are made because The Balrog is '''always''' a possibility regardless of the broader goals a Shadow side may have. Free Peoples sides, meanwhile, may not have any type of armor at all. Even for decks with armor, the odds are slim that not only is the Free Peoples player able put it in play by the time the Fellowship has to step on Khazad-dum ''and'' that the Shadow player is able to ~~play~~ Whip, but also that it makes a meaningful difference in how skirmishes are handled. This particular combination of facing the right deck where both players ~~have~~ the right cards at the right time far outweighs what Whip is actually able to do. In short, Whip of Many Thongs is exceedingly difficult to meaningfully use in Fellowship Block. When it does get played, it is seldom for its own merits and instead to enable the infamously tempting combo card {{Card\|Final Cry}}.		Balrog Contingency Plans are made because The Balrog is '''always''' a possibility regardless of the broader goals a Shadow side may have. Free Peoples sides, meanwhile, may not have any type of armor at all. Even for decks with armor, the odds are slim that not only is the Free Peoples player able put it in play by the time the Fellowship has to step on Khazad-dum ''and'' that the Shadow player is able to draw Whip in time, but also that playing it makes a meaningful difference in how skirmishes are handled. This particular combination of facing the right deck where both players draw the right cards at the right time far outweighs what Whip is actually able to do. In short, Whip of Many Thongs is exceedingly difficult to meaningfully use in Fellowship Block. When it does get played, it is seldom for its own merits and instead to enable the infamously tempting combo card {{Card\|Final Cry}}.

	Starting in [[Towers Standard]], {{Card\|The Balrog, Terror of Flame and Shadow}} can show up anywhere on the site path with a high enough damage bonus to kill most unprotected companions outright. The assignment restriction makes it difficult to assign to a Hobbit (the primary beneficiaries of skirmish cancellation), leaving most Fellowships with no choice but to confront The Balrog directly. If its damage bonus is nullified by an armor, however, instead of break a companion's back it will cause little more than a mild sprain. Men take a more prominent role in Towers as well, with easy access to {{Card\|Armor}} to block wounds. Given fewer ways to avoid skirmishes and greater availability of armors, it would seem that the main problems discouraging its use in Fellowship Block are solved. Nevertheless, it often happens that a problem comes along in a later format that doesn't exist in earlier ones -- especially in a shift as drastic as the one between Fellowship and Towers blocks. Of all the changes, few cost Whip, its bearer, and a wide swath of tactics fundamental to Fellowship Block more than the two below.		Starting in [[Towers Standard]], {{Card\|The Balrog, Terror of Flame and Shadow}} can show up anywhere on the site path with a high enough damage bonus to kill most unprotected companions outright. The assignment restriction makes it difficult to assign to a Hobbit (the primary beneficiaries of skirmish cancellation), leaving most Fellowships with no choice but to confront The Balrog directly. If its damage bonus is nullified by an armor, however, instead of break a companion's back it will cause little more than a mild sprain. Men take a more prominent role in Towers as well, with easy access to {{Card\|Armor}} to block wounds. Given fewer ways to avoid skirmishes and greater availability of armors, it would seem that the main problems discouraging its use in Fellowship Block are solved. Nevertheless, it often happens that a problem comes along in a later format that doesn't exist in earlier ones -- especially in a shift as drastic as the one between Fellowship and Towers blocks. Of all the changes, few cost Whip, its bearer, and a wide swath of tactics fundamental to Fellowship Block more than the two below.

	First, while The Balrog ''can be played'' anywhere, it is no longer ''guaranteed'' anywhere and is expensive everywhere. This makes it a much less attractive prospect for a deck in the first place, as not only must The Balrog be drawn along with Whip but they both must be drawn at the right time. Drawing either of them too soon usually leaves players better off discarding them before the card sits out too long in hand and [[Hand Clog\|hand clog]] saps the rest of the deck of much-needed card flow. This ~~means~~ players ~~will require~~ more copies to offset having to discard early ones, ~~the same~~ issue ~~from~~ Fellowship block with the timing reversed. Second, and perhaps even more importantly, is the impact the rare versions of Grima have on the game.		First, while The Balrog ''can be played'' anywhere, it is no longer ''guaranteed'' anywhere and is expensive everywhere. This makes it a much less attractive prospect for a deck in the first place, as not only must The Balrog be drawn along with Whip but they both must be drawn at the right time. Drawing either of them too soon usually leaves players better off discarding them before the card sits out too long in hand and [[Hand Clog\|hand clog]] saps the rest of the deck of much-needed card flow. This leaves little for players to do - must Whip itself be the card needed to break through a particularly tough Free Peoples - but add more copies to offset having to discard early ones or hope that the one they have will appear late enough that it won't cause issues at the start, similar to an issue faced in Fellowship block with the timing reversed. Second, and perhaps even more importantly, is the impact the rare versions of Grima have on the game.

	For Whip, the relevant one is {{Card\|Grima, Wormtongue}}. When something's going wrong with one side of the deck it doesn't necessarily impact the other, but when a stack of Free Peoples cards returns to a player's hand in the middle of the turn it means they lose both resources to keep their Free Peoples healthy and the ability to fill their hand with Shadow cards from the deck. This double whammy can end the game single-handedly by stopping the current player's move and enabling an easy double for the opponent, so the mere possibility of Wormtongue makes most players avoid putting more than two cards on a companion at all. Generally players prioritize offensive cards over defensive ones, causing armor of all sorts to be less popular than they were in Fellowship block.		For Whip, the relevant one is {{Card\|Grima, Wormtongue}}. When something's going wrong with one side of the deck it doesn't necessarily impact the other, but when a stack of Free Peoples cards returns to a player's hand in the middle of the turn it means they lose both resources to keep their Free Peoples healthy and the ability to fill their hand with Shadow cards from the deck. This double whammy can end the game single-handedly by stopping the current player's move and enabling an easy double for the opponent, so the mere possibility of Wormtongue makes most players avoid putting more than two cards on a companion at all. Generally players prioritize offensive cards over defensive ones, causing armor of all sorts to be less popular than they were in Fellowship block.

Phallen Cassidy: Co-authored by Devo

2023-04-01T21:15:52Z

Co-authored by Devo

Show changes

Teltura: reducing extra space at the top of each article

2022-12-01T02:01:40Z

reducing extra space at the top of each article

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:01, 1 December 2022
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	[[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}]] is a {{C\|Moria}} [[Artifact]] from the [[Mines of Moria]] set.		[[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}]] is a {{C\|Moria}} [[Artifact]] from the [[Mines of Moria]] set.

	{{CardInfobox\|2R74}}		{{CardInfobox\|2R74}}

	{{QueryCardCategories\|2R74}}</noinclude>		{{QueryCardCategories\|2R74}}</noinclude>
	= Strategy =		= Strategy =

Teltura: mass editing card pages to make inclusion for reprints snazzier

2022-11-19T05:48:07Z

mass editing card pages to make inclusion for reprints snazzier

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:48, 19 November 2022
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	__NOTOC__		<noinclude>__NOTOC__
	{{NavBar\|2R74\|[[Mines of Moria Index]]\|[[Watcher in the Water, Keeper of Westgate (2R73)\|Watcher in the Water, Keeper of Westgate (2R73)]]\|[[Bill Ferny, Swarthy Sneering Fellow (2R75)\|Bill Ferny, Swarthy Sneering Fellow (2R75)]]}}		{{NavBar\|2R74\|[[Mines of Moria Index]]\|[[Watcher in the Water, Keeper of Westgate (2R73)\|Watcher in the Water, Keeper of Westgate (2R73)]]\|[[Bill Ferny, Swarthy Sneering Fellow (2R75)\|Bill Ferny, Swarthy Sneering Fellow (2R75)]]}}
	{{CardTabs\|Moria}}		{{CardTabs\|Moria}}
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	{{CardInfobox\|2R74}}		{{CardInfobox\|2R74}}

	{{QueryCardCategories\|2R74}}		{{QueryCardCategories\|2R74}}</noinclude>
	= Strategy =		= Strategy =
	== Gameplay Strategy ==		== Gameplay Strategy ==

Teltura: Fixing the generated stinger using the culture icon rather than the full culture name + icon

2021-10-14T08:36:16Z

Fixing the generated stinger using the culture icon rather than the full culture name + icon

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:36, 14 October 2021
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	{{CardTabs\|Moria}}		{{CardTabs\|Moria}}

	[[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}]] is a {{CI\|Moria}} [[Artifact]] from the [[Mines of Moria]] set.		[[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}]] is a {{C\|Moria}} [[Artifact]] from the [[Mines of Moria]] set.

	{{CardInfobox\|2R74}}		{{CardInfobox\|2R74}}

IstariBot: IstariBot mass importing articles from the old DokuWiki instance.

2021-10-12T12:01:54Z

IstariBot mass importing articles from the old DokuWiki instance.

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:01, 12 October 2021
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	__NOTOC__		__NOTOC__
			{{NavBar\|2R74\|[[Mines of Moria Index]]\|[[Watcher in the Water, Keeper of Westgate (2R73)\|Watcher in the Water, Keeper of Westgate (2R73)]]\|[[Bill Ferny, Swarthy Sneering Fellow (2R75)\|Bill Ferny, Swarthy Sneering Fellow (2R75)]]}}
			{{CardTabs\|Moria}}

	{{~~NavBar\|Lotr02074~~\|Mines of Moria ~~Index\|Watcher in the Water, Keeper of Westgate (2R73)\|Bill Ferny, Swarthy Sneering Fellow (2R75)}}~~		[[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}]] is a {{CI\|Moria}} [[Artifact]] from the [[Mines of Moria]] set.

	{{~~LegacyCardInfoBox~~		{{CardInfobox\|2R74}}
	\| ~~SetNum=02~~
	~~\| CardNum=074~~
	~~\| SetName=Mines of Moria~~

	\| ~~Side~~=~~Shadow~~		{{QueryCardCategories\|2R74}}
			= Strategy =
			== Gameplay Strategy ==
			''In this section, describe:''

	~~\| Culture=Moria~~		* ''General usage''
			* ''Unorthodox or subtle usage''
			* ''Common pitfalls of using this card''

	~~\| Twilight~~=1		== Deckbuilding Strategy ==
			''In this section, describe:''

	~~\| FullCardType=Artifact • Hand Weapon~~		* ''Cards and strategies this card works well with''
			* ''Cards and strategies this card works particularly well or poorly against''
	~~\| Stat1Name=Strength~~		* ''Alternate cards you might consider picking instead of this one, depending on the situation, including alternate version of characters''
	~~\| Stat1=+1~~

	~~\| GameText=Bearer must be The Balrog. Skirmish: Exert The Balrog to discard a helm, shield,~~ or ~~armor borne by a character The Balrog is skirmishing.~~

	~~\| Lore=~~''~~"It raised~~ the ~~whip~~, ~~and the thongs whined and cracked."~~''

	~~\| Rarity=R~~
	~~\| Notes=~~
	}}

	~~= General Strategy =~~

	~~In this section, describe:~~

	* Deck design strategy.
	* Gameplay considerations.

	= Strengths and Weaknesses =		= Strengths and Weaknesses =
			== Synergizes With... ==

	~~=== Strong Versus... ===~~		* ''List friendly cards that work well with this card''

	* ~~Add~~ cards ~~and explanations here.~~

	==~~= Weak~~ Versus... ===		== Strong Versus... ==

	* ~~Add~~ cards ~~and explanations here.~~		* ''List enemy cards this card does well against''

	= ~~Example Decks~~ =		== Weak Versus... ==

	* ~~Decklists~~ or ~~links~~ to ~~decks that use~~ this card.		* ''List enemy or friendly cards to avoid playing this card with''

	= ~~Rules and Clarifications~~ =		= Rulings =
			''In this section'':

	* ~~Clarify existing rules~~ if ~~needed.~~		* ''Put quotes from the CRDs and Comprehensive Rules here that reference this card specifically by name''
	* Link to rules discussions on TLHH.		* ''Also put quotes if a particular rule commonly affects the outcome of a card in a subtle manner (such as quoting the [[Rule of 4]] for {{Card\|8R20}})''
			* ''Link to rules discussions on TLHH''

	= ~~Extra Information~~ =		= Alternate Versions =
	~~== Other Versions of Whip of Many Thongs ==~~		{{AlternateVersionTable\|2R74}}

	* [[~~lotr12080\|Weapon of Flame and Shadow~~]]		= See Also =
			* ''Add links to the wayback machine (or wiki archival links) for official Decipher articles regarding the card''
			* ''Link to decks that use this card''
			[[Category:Cards That Need Work]]

imported>IstariBot: IstariBot mass importing articles from the old DokuWiki instance.

2020-08-23T11:06:47Z

IstariBot mass importing articles from the old DokuWiki instance.

New page

__NOTOC__

{{NavBar|Lotr02074|Mines of Moria Index|Watcher in the Water, Keeper of Westgate (2R73)|Bill Ferny, Swarthy Sneering Fellow (2R75)}}

{{LegacyCardInfoBox
| SetNum=02
| CardNum=074
| SetName=Mines of Moria

| Side=Shadow

| Culture=Moria

| Twilight=1

| FullCardType=Artifact • Hand Weapon

| Stat1Name=Strength
| Stat1=+1

| GameText=Bearer must be The Balrog. Skirmish: Exert The Balrog to discard a helm, shield, or armor borne by a character The Balrog is skirmishing.

| Lore=''"It raised the whip, and the thongs whined and cracked."''

| Rarity=R
| Notes=
}}

= General Strategy =

In this section, describe:

* Deck design strategy.
* Gameplay considerations.

= Strengths and Weaknesses =

=== Strong Versus... ===

* Add cards and explanations here.

=== Weak Versus... ===

* Add cards and explanations here.

= Example Decks =

* Decklists or links to decks that use this card.

= Rules and Clarifications =

* Clarify existing rules if needed.
* Link to rules discussions on TLHH.

= Extra Information =
== Other Versions of Whip of Many Thongs ==

* [[lotr12080|Weapon of Flame and Shadow]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:01, 2 April 2023
Line 14:		Line 14:
	Even when Whip does work, it may not work in the way the Shadow player expects or desires since the Free Peoples player is (usually) in charge of all assignments. If an armor is important to the survival of the Fellowship, The Balrog can often simply be assigned to skirmish a different companion. As such, it is better to think of Whip first and foremost as a deterrent to assign The Balrog to companions bearing armors rather than as a particularly effective way to get rid of any armors.		Even when Whip does work, it may not work in the way the Shadow player expects or desires since the Free Peoples player is (usually) in charge of all assignments. If an armor is important to the survival of the Fellowship, The Balrog can often simply be assigned to skirmish a different companion. As such, it is better to think of Whip first and foremost as a deterrent to assign The Balrog to companions bearing armors rather than as a particularly effective way to get rid of any armors.

	Balrog Contingency Plans are made because The Balrog is '''always''' a possibility regardless of the broader goals a Shadow side may have. Free Peoples sides, meanwhile, may not have any type of armor at all. Even for decks with armor, the odds are slim that not only is the Free Peoples player able put it in play by the time the Fellowship has to step on Khazad-dum ''and'' that the Shadow player is able to ~~play~~ Whip, but also that it makes a meaningful difference in how skirmishes are handled. This particular combination of facing the right deck where both players ~~have~~ the right cards at the right time far outweighs what Whip is actually able to do. In short, Whip of Many Thongs is exceedingly difficult to meaningfully use in Fellowship Block. When it does get played, it is seldom for its own merits and instead to enable the infamously tempting combo card {{Card\|Final Cry}}.		Balrog Contingency Plans are made because The Balrog is '''always''' a possibility regardless of the broader goals a Shadow side may have. Free Peoples sides, meanwhile, may not have any type of armor at all. Even for decks with armor, the odds are slim that not only is the Free Peoples player able put it in play by the time the Fellowship has to step on Khazad-dum ''and'' that the Shadow player is able to draw Whip in time, but also that playing it makes a meaningful difference in how skirmishes are handled. This particular combination of facing the right deck where both players draw the right cards at the right time far outweighs what Whip is actually able to do. In short, Whip of Many Thongs is exceedingly difficult to meaningfully use in Fellowship Block. When it does get played, it is seldom for its own merits and instead to enable the infamously tempting combo card {{Card\|Final Cry}}.

	Starting in [[Towers Standard]], {{Card\|The Balrog, Terror of Flame and Shadow}} can show up anywhere on the site path with a high enough damage bonus to kill most unprotected companions outright. The assignment restriction makes it difficult to assign to a Hobbit (the primary beneficiaries of skirmish cancellation), leaving most Fellowships with no choice but to confront The Balrog directly. If its damage bonus is nullified by an armor, however, instead of break a companion's back it will cause little more than a mild sprain. Men take a more prominent role in Towers as well, with easy access to {{Card\|Armor}} to block wounds. Given fewer ways to avoid skirmishes and greater availability of armors, it would seem that the main problems discouraging its use in Fellowship Block are solved. Nevertheless, it often happens that a problem comes along in a later format that doesn't exist in earlier ones -- especially in a shift as drastic as the one between Fellowship and Towers blocks. Of all the changes, few cost Whip, its bearer, and a wide swath of tactics fundamental to Fellowship Block more than the two below.		Starting in [[Towers Standard]], {{Card\|The Balrog, Terror of Flame and Shadow}} can show up anywhere on the site path with a high enough damage bonus to kill most unprotected companions outright. The assignment restriction makes it difficult to assign to a Hobbit (the primary beneficiaries of skirmish cancellation), leaving most Fellowships with no choice but to confront The Balrog directly. If its damage bonus is nullified by an armor, however, instead of break a companion's back it will cause little more than a mild sprain. Men take a more prominent role in Towers as well, with easy access to {{Card\|Armor}} to block wounds. Given fewer ways to avoid skirmishes and greater availability of armors, it would seem that the main problems discouraging its use in Fellowship Block are solved. Nevertheless, it often happens that a problem comes along in a later format that doesn't exist in earlier ones -- especially in a shift as drastic as the one between Fellowship and Towers blocks. Of all the changes, few cost Whip, its bearer, and a wide swath of tactics fundamental to Fellowship Block more than the two below.

	First, while The Balrog ''can be played'' anywhere, it is no longer ''guaranteed'' anywhere and is expensive everywhere. This makes it a much less attractive prospect for a deck in the first place, as not only must The Balrog be drawn along with Whip but they both must be drawn at the right time. Drawing either of them too soon usually leaves players better off discarding them before the card sits out too long in hand and [[Hand Clog\|hand clog]] saps the rest of the deck of much-needed card flow. This ~~means~~ players ~~will require~~ more copies to offset having to discard early ones, ~~the same~~ issue ~~from~~ Fellowship block with the timing reversed. Second, and perhaps even more importantly, is the impact the rare versions of Grima have on the game.		First, while The Balrog ''can be played'' anywhere, it is no longer ''guaranteed'' anywhere and is expensive everywhere. This makes it a much less attractive prospect for a deck in the first place, as not only must The Balrog be drawn along with Whip but they both must be drawn at the right time. Drawing either of them too soon usually leaves players better off discarding them before the card sits out too long in hand and [[Hand Clog\|hand clog]] saps the rest of the deck of much-needed card flow. This leaves little for players to do - must Whip itself be the card needed to break through a particularly tough Free Peoples - but add more copies to offset having to discard early ones or hope that the one they have will appear late enough that it won't cause issues at the start, similar to an issue faced in Fellowship block with the timing reversed. Second, and perhaps even more importantly, is the impact the rare versions of Grima have on the game.

	For Whip, the relevant one is {{Card\|Grima, Wormtongue}}. When something's going wrong with one side of the deck it doesn't necessarily impact the other, but when a stack of Free Peoples cards returns to a player's hand in the middle of the turn it means they lose both resources to keep their Free Peoples healthy and the ability to fill their hand with Shadow cards from the deck. This double whammy can end the game single-handedly by stopping the current player's move and enabling an easy double for the opponent, so the mere possibility of Wormtongue makes most players avoid putting more than two cards on a companion at all. Generally players prioritize offensive cards over defensive ones, causing armor of all sorts to be less popular than they were in Fellowship block.		For Whip, the relevant one is {{Card\|Grima, Wormtongue}}. When something's going wrong with one side of the deck it doesn't necessarily impact the other, but when a stack of Free Peoples cards returns to a player's hand in the middle of the turn it means they lose both resources to keep their Free Peoples healthy and the ability to fill their hand with Shadow cards from the deck. This double whammy can end the game single-handedly by stopping the current player's move and enabling an easy double for the opponent, so the mere possibility of Wormtongue makes most players avoid putting more than two cards on a companion at all. Generally players prioritize offensive cards over defensive ones, causing armor of all sorts to be less popular than they were in Fellowship block.

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:36, 14 October 2021
Line 3:		Line 3:
	{{CardTabs\|Moria}}		{{CardTabs\|Moria}}

	[[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}]] is a {{CI\|Moria}} [[Artifact]] from the [[Mines of Moria]] set.		[[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}]] is a {{C\|Moria}} [[Artifact]] from the [[Mines of Moria]] set.

	{{CardInfobox\|2R74}}		{{CardInfobox\|2R74}}