Loaded Keywords: Difference between revisions

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[[File:LOTR-EN02S052.0_card.jpg|frame|right|Is it hot in here?  I think it's hot in here.|link=The Balrog, Flame of Udun (2R52)]]
[[File:LOTR-EN02S052.0_card.jpg|frame|right|Is it hot in here?  I think it's hot in here.|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 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.
'''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 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 skirmishes 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. 
These two keywords further establish that there are two different kinds of Loaded Keywords: ''numeric'' and ''non-numeric''.


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 have any effect: when the skirmish is won, 0 additional wounds are placed.
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 have any effect: when the skirmish is won, zero additional wounds are placed. Cards that spot the lowest numeric version of a loaded keyword can also spot all higher numbers. For example, a card that said "Spot a minion with '''Damage +1'''" could also spot a '''damage +2''' minion like {{Card|Sauron, The Lord of the Rings}}.


Non-numeric Loaded Keywords, in contrast, ''never'' have a bare number associated with them and are simply on or off (but see [[Aid]] for other things that may be paired with them).  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.
Non-numeric Loaded Keywords, in contrast, ''never'' have a bare number associated with them and are simply on or off.  In the case of Fierce, that character skirmishes twice per turn, but that's it. If you play a card like {{Card|Fell Beast}} that on a minion like {{Card|The Witch-king, Lord of Angmar}}, he doesn't benefit from being granted '''Fierce''' a second time. There is no such thing as '''Fierce 2''' ([[LOTR01224|thank]] [[LOTR12184|goodness]]), and if it loses Fierce, that's that.


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 {{Card|Gimli, Bearer of Grudges}}).  Non-numeric Loaded Keywords, as mentioned above, are on-off...making a '''fierce''' character '''fierce''' again does nothing. 
[[Artifact]]s and [[possession]]s often -- but do not always -- have a special loaded keyword called [[Item Class]]. Item Classes have no inherent effect, but a character may only bear one artifact or possession of a given item class at a time, unless they have a special effect that grants an exception, as with {{Card|Hand Axe}}. See [[Item Class]] for more information and a full list of classes.
 
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.


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


{{Loaded Keyword Table}}
{{Loaded Keyword Table}}

Revision as of 01:01, 26 December 2021

Loaded Keywords

Is it hot in here? I think it's hot in here.

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 Keywords, which do not in and of themselves have any effect). For instance, if you look at the example of The Balrog shown to the right, it has two loaded keywords: Fierce and Damage +1. Fierce indicates that the minion skirmishes twice per turn, and damage +1 adds to the number of wounds it dishes out in a winning 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.

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 have any effect: when the skirmish is won, zero additional wounds are placed. Cards that spot the lowest numeric version of a loaded keyword can also spot all higher numbers. For example, a card that said "Spot a minion with Damage +1" could also spot a damage +2 minion like Sauron, The Lord of the Rings (9R+48) .

Non-numeric Loaded Keywords, in contrast, never have a bare number associated with them and are simply on or off. In the case of Fierce, that character skirmishes twice per turn, but that's it. If you play a card like Fell Beast (6U83) that on a minion like The Witch-king, Lord of Angmar (1R237) , he doesn't benefit from being granted Fierce a second time. There is no such thing as Fierce 2 (thank goodness), and if it loses Fierce, that's that.

Artifacts and possessions often -- but do not always -- have a special loaded keyword called Item Class. Item Classes have no inherent effect, but a character may only bear one artifact or possession of a given item class at a time, unless they have a special effect that grants an exception, as with Hand Axe (2C10) . See Item Class for more information and a full list of classes.

See the pages at the keywords below for in-depth discussion as to an 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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