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==Loaded Keywords=
[[File:LOTR-EN02S052.0_card.jpg|frame|right|It's difficult to hold off a minion this size once. Two times is more than twice as hard.|link=The Balrog, Flame of Udun (2R52)]]
'''Loaded Keywords''' are bold one-word labels included in the [[game text]] of many cards. Each loaded keyword has a rule associated with it, and so they change the way the game is played by the very nature of being on the table (unlike their benign cousins [[unloaded_keyword|unloaded keywords]], which do not in and of themselves have any effect). For instance, if you look at the example of [[LOTR02052|The Balrog]] shown to the right, it has two loaded keywords:  Fierce and Damage +1.  Fierce indicates that the minion must be skirmished twice per turn, and Damage + 1 adds to the number of wounds it dishes out in a winning [[skirmish phase|skirmish]].  Neither is insignificant, and can have serious ramifications for the unwary player.


These two keywords further establish that there are two different kinds of Loaded Keywords: ''numeric'' and ''non-numeric''.  This distinction is not often brought up, but it does exist.  Numeric keywords are always paired with a nonzero number and, if ever reduced to zero, cease to have an effect.  For instance, Damage + 1 indicates that one additional wound is to be placed during a winning skirmish.  If the bonus is somehow reduced to Damage + 0, this ceases to be of any influence...when the skirmish is won, 0 additional wounds are placed.  Non-numeric Loaded Keywords, in contrast, ''never'' have a bare number associated with them (but see [[aid]] for other things that may be paired with them) and are simply on or off.  In the case of Fierce, that character must be endured twice when skirmishing, but that's it. There is no such thing as '''Fierce 2''' ([[lotr01224|thank]] [[lotr12184|goodness]]), and if it loses Fierce, that's that.
'''Loaded Keywords''' are bold one-word labels included in the [[Game Text|game text]] of many cards. Unlike [[Unloaded Keywords]], Loaded Keywords always have some mechanic or other game rule associated with their use.


In the case of Numeric Loaded Keywords, effects can also stack.  If Gimli, who is already Damage + 1, bears Gimli's Battle Axe, which grants the bearer Damage + 1, then the two effects are added together, making Gimli Damage + 2. This can be repeated ''ad nauseam'' to achieve ridiculous '''[[Damage]]''' bonuses (and, indeed, is the very basis of decks using Gimli, Bearer of Grudges).  Non-numeric Loaded Keywords, as mentioned above, are on-off...making a Fierce character Fierce again does nothing.
The Balrog shown to the right has two loaded keywords: '''[[Fierce]]''' and '''[[Damage]] +1'''. '''Fierce''' indicates that the Free Peoples player must assign it to a skirmish twice per site, and '''damage +1''' adds to the number of wounds it dishes out in a winning [[Skirmish Phase|skirmish]]. These two keywords further establish that there are two different kinds of loaded keywords: ''numeric'' and ''non-numeric''.


There is a special type of loaded keyword that only applies to artifacts and possessions that could be termed an ''item class''.  See [[item class]] for more information.
== Numeric Loaded Keywords ==
Numeric keywords are always paired with a positive number and if the keyword is applied multiple times, the numbers are all added up: for example, {{Card|The Balrog's Sword}} further increases the number of wounds The Balrog delivers by making him a further '''damage +1''', resulting in The Balrog being '''damage +2''' total.  Cards that spot the lowest numeric version of a numeric keyword can also spot all higher numbers, meaning {{Card|Swordarm of the White Tower}} gives 4 strength to a companion that is ''at least'' '''defender +1'''.


See the pages at the keywords below for in-depth discussion as to an individual keyword's effects, or see [[unloaded_keyword|Unloaded Keywords]] for an explanation for all other bolded keywords.  
'''[[Ambush]]''' bonuses however remain separate even though it appears that they could be added together.  When a minion with the keyword '''ambush {{Twilight|X}}''' is given the keyword '''ambush {{Twilight|X}}''' by another card or special ability, each of those instances of ambush is resolved separately rather at once. (Cards like {{Card|Three Monstrous Trolls}} or {{Card|Coif}} would only apply to one of those instances at a time.)


* [[LOTR02052|{{ http://lotrtcgwiki.com/images/LOTR02052.jpg?300|Is it hot in here?  I think it's hot in here.}}]]
Although '''[[Toil|toil]]''' is a numeric keyword, there is no way to give a card '''toil''' or modify the existing toil number of a card. ({{Card|Ulaire Enquea, Black Threat}} is as close as it gets.) There is no defined interaction for what would happen if a card had two instances of toil.


{{:loaded_keyword_table}}
== Non-numeric Loaded Keywords ==
 
Non-numeric loaded keywords work the same regardless of how many "times" a character gains it. In the case of '''fierce''', that minion skirmishes twice per site and that's it; {{Card|Whip of Many Thongs, Weapon of Flame and Shadow}} will not provide any sort of cumulative '''fierce''' benefit to The Balrog above. When such an effect was desirable, Decipher skirted around the keywords to achieve the same result. A few examples: {{Card|The Witch-king's Beast, Fell Creature}} allows The Witch-king to enter a third skirmish, {{Card|Orc Slaughterer}} has a strength bonus from its game text that stacks with '''enduring''', and {{Card|The Splendor of Their Banners}} allows a single [[archer]] to add more than just one to the archery total.
 
== Item Class ==
[[Artifact]]s and [[possession]]s often -- but do not always -- have a special loaded keyword called [[Item Class]]. A character may only [[bear]] one card of a given item class at a time, but some hand weapons ({{Card|Hand Axe}}, {{Card|Flaming Brand}}, {{Card|Knife of the Galadhrim}}, and {{Card|Arwen's Dagger}}) can be wielded alongside another hand weapon. [[Box]], [[Bracers]], [[Brooch]], [[Gauntlets]], and [[Phial]] each only appear on one card. In these cases, the item class effectively acts as "limit one per bearer" text (although the lone Gauntlets and Phial are already unique). [[Palantir]] appears on three cards, but they all have the same [[unique]] persona anyway. {{Card|Elven Armaments}} is notable for having two item classes, although in practice this only prevents the use of {{Card|Aiglos}}. (No other [[shield]]s can be played on any {{C|Elven}} characters, and the card prevents all other [[possession]]s anyway.)
 
See the pages at the keywords below for in-depth discussion on each individual keyword's effects, or see [[Unloaded Keywords]] for an explanation for all other bolded keywords.
 
 
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{{Loaded Keyword Table}}

Latest revision as of 06:28, 8 January 2023

It's difficult to hold off a minion this size once. Two times is more than twice as hard.

Loaded Keywords are bold one-word labels included in the game text of many cards. Unlike Unloaded Keywords, Loaded Keywords always have some mechanic or other game rule associated with their use.

The Balrog shown to the right has two loaded keywords: Fierce and Damage +1. Fierce indicates that the Free Peoples player must assign it to a skirmish twice per site, and damage +1 adds to the number of wounds it dishes out in a winning skirmish. These two keywords further establish that there are two different kinds of loaded keywords: numeric and non-numeric.

Numeric Loaded Keywords[edit]

Numeric keywords are always paired with a positive number and if the keyword is applied multiple times, the numbers are all added up: for example, The Balrog's Sword (2R50) further increases the number of wounds The Balrog delivers by making him a further damage +1, resulting in The Balrog being damage +2 total. Cards that spot the lowest numeric version of a numeric keyword can also spot all higher numbers, meaning Swordarm of the White Tower (1C116) gives 4 strength to a companion that is at least defender +1.

Ambush bonuses however remain separate even though it appears that they could be added together. When a minion with the keyword ambush is given the keyword ambush by another card or special ability, each of those instances of ambush is resolved separately rather at once. (Cards like Three Monstrous Trolls (3C114) or Coif (12R111) would only apply to one of those instances at a time.)

Although toil is a numeric keyword, there is no way to give a card toil or modify the existing toil number of a card. (Úlairë Enquëa, Black Threat (12R175) is as close as it gets.) There is no defined interaction for what would happen if a card had two instances of toil.

Non-numeric Loaded Keywords[edit]

Non-numeric loaded keywords work the same regardless of how many "times" a character gains it. In the case of fierce, that minion skirmishes twice per site and that's it; Whip of Many Thongs, Weapon of Flame and Shadow (12R80) will not provide any sort of cumulative fierce benefit to The Balrog above. When such an effect was desirable, Decipher skirted around the keywords to achieve the same result. A few examples: The Witch-king’s Beast, Fell Creature (12U184) allows The Witch-king to enter a third skirmish, Orc Slaughterer (10R95) has a strength bonus from its game text that stacks with enduring, and The Splendor of Their Banners (1R62) allows a single archer to add more than just one to the archery total.

Item Class[edit]

Artifacts and possessions often -- but do not always -- have a special loaded keyword called Item Class. A character may only bear one card of a given item class at a time, but some hand weapons (Hand Axe (2C10) , Flaming Brand (2R32) , Knife of the Galadhrim (9R+17) , and Arwen's Dagger (18R5) ) can be wielded alongside another hand weapon. Box, Bracers, Brooch, Gauntlets, and Phial each only appear on one card. In these cases, the item class effectively acts as "limit one per bearer" text (although the lone Gauntlets and Phial are already unique). Palantir appears on three cards, but they all have the same unique persona anyway. Elven Armaments (18U8) is notable for having two item classes, although in practice this only prevents the use of Aiglos (9R+12) . (No other shields can be played on any Elven characters, and the card prevents all other possessions anyway.)

See the pages at the keywords below for in-depth discussion on each individual keyword's effects, or see Unloaded Keywords for an explanation for all other bolded keywords.



Loaded Keywords
Numeric Decipher Damage + X • Defender + X • Ambush X • Hunter X • Toil X
Non-numeric Decipher Aid • Archer • Enduring • Fierce • Lurker • Mounted • Muster • Roaming • Sanctuary • Ring-bearer • Unhasty
Hobbit Draft Game Cunning
Item Class Decipher [Classless] • Support Area • Armor • Brooch • Box • Bracers • Cloak • Gauntlets • Hand Weapon • Helm • Mount • Palantír • Phial • Pipe • Ranged Weapon • Ring • Shield • Staff
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