Cultural Enforcement: Difference between revisions
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Cultural Enforcement is | '''Cultural Enforcement''' is the mechanism used throughout the LotR-TCG to, well, enforce the use of specific [[culture]]s (think of it like the use of colored mana costs in Magic: the Gathering). Cards with cultural enforcement require you to play them as part of a deck that focuses on that specific [[culture]] to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the strength of enforcement. Usually this takes the form of [[spot]]ting, [[exert]]ing, or targeting cards of a particular culture, but in some cases this is done more indirectly. Such indirect methods include: | ||
Cards with weak cultural enforcement are often [[splash]]ed into decks focusing on another culture, or used as part of a [[Rainbow]] deck. | * Referring to a specific [[Race]] that only appears in one culture ([[Dwarf]] for the {{C|Dwarven}} culture, [[Nazgul]] for the {{C|Ringwraith}} culture). | ||
* Referring to [[unique]] individuals by name who are only part of one culture (Gandalf for the {{C|Gandalf}} culture, Theoden for the {{C|Rohan}} culture). | |||
* Referring to keywords which are exclusive subcultures of a particular culture ('''[[besieger]]s''' for the {{C|Sauron}} culture or '''[[Corsair]]s''' for the {{C|Raider}} culture). | |||
* Utilizing mechanics which are used primarily by one culture ([[roaming]] minions for {{C|Gondor}} '''[[Ranger]]s''', mass [[archery]] for the {{C|Elven}} culture). | |||
The more cultural requirements, the stronger the enforcement is (and theoretically, the stronger or more thematic the effect you purchase as a result). {{Card|Denethor, Lord of Minas Tirith}} is an example of a card with very strong cultural enforcement, since he has to spot two other {{C|Gondor}} [[Man|Men]] just to be played, and once on the table his ability doesn't even work except with {{C|Gondor}} culture cards. On the other hand, he lets you pull any {{C|Gondor}} cards you want from your deck, which cannot be underestimated. | |||
In contrast, {{Card|Legolas, Greenleaf}} has very weak cultural enforcement, since he does not require any other {{C|Elven}} cards to function (or any other cards at all, for that matter). Cards with such weak cultural enforcement are often [[splash]]ed into decks focusing on another culture, or used as part of a [[Rainbow]] deck. | |||
Cultural enforcement is often layered or stacked, such as with {{Card|Madril, Loyal Lieutenant}}, which not only references the {{C|Gondor}} culture, but also the '''[[Ranger]]''' keyword ([[Arwen, Daughter of Elrond (1R30)|almost]] [[Arwen, Elven Rider (3U7)|exclusive]] to {{C|Gondor}}) and manipulation of minion site numbers (an exclusively '''Ranger'''-y thing to do). There is a very specific sort of deck that Madril was designed for here, and his layers of cultural enforcement hint at what that is. You would do well to pair Madril (or any card for that matter) with similar cards that overlap and push in the same direction, so your deck can be as efficient and synergistic as possible. | |||
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Revision as of 09:08, 29 December 2021
Cultural Enforcement is the mechanism used throughout the LotR-TCG to, well, enforce the use of specific cultures (think of it like the use of colored mana costs in Magic: the Gathering). Cards with cultural enforcement require you to play them as part of a deck that focuses on that specific culture to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the strength of enforcement. Usually this takes the form of spotting, exerting, or targeting cards of a particular culture, but in some cases this is done more indirectly. Such indirect methods include:
- Referring to a specific Race that only appears in one culture (Dwarf for the
Dwarven culture, Nazgul for the 
Ringwraith culture). - Referring to unique individuals by name who are only part of one culture (Gandalf for the
Gandalf culture, Theoden for the 
Rohan culture). - Referring to keywords which are exclusive subcultures of a particular culture (besiegers for the
Sauron culture or Corsairs for the 
Raider culture). - Utilizing mechanics which are used primarily by one culture (roaming minions for
Gondor Rangers, mass archery for the 
Elven culture).
The more cultural requirements, the stronger the enforcement is (and theoretically, the stronger or more thematic the effect you purchase as a result). Denethor, Lord of Minas Tirith (10R28)
is an example of a card with very strong cultural enforcement, since he has to spot two other Gondor Men just to be played, and once on the table his ability doesn't even work except with Gondor culture cards. On the other hand, he lets you pull any Gondor cards you want from your deck, which cannot be underestimated.
In contrast, Legolas, Greenleaf (1R50)
has very weak cultural enforcement, since he does not require any other Elven cards to function (or any other cards at all, for that matter). Cards with such weak cultural enforcement are often splashed into decks focusing on another culture, or used as part of a Rainbow deck.
Cultural enforcement is often layered or stacked, such as with Madril, Loyal Lieutenant (17S30)
, which not only references the Gondor culture, but also the Ranger keyword (almost exclusive to Gondor) and manipulation of minion site numbers (an exclusively Ranger-y thing to do). There is a very specific sort of deck that Madril was designed for here, and his layers of cultural enforcement hint at what that is. You would do well to pair Madril (or any card for that matter) with similar cards that overlap and push in the same direction, so your deck can be as efficient and synergistic as possible.
