Editing Subculture

'''Subculture''' is an informal game term. Subcultures are divisions within cultures, usually based on [[race]] or an [[Unloaded Keyword]]. In particular, {{C|Isengard}} and {{C|Raider}} cultures are each split up into subcultures, each of them with their own sub[[cultural enforcement]].

{{C|Isengard}} is split cleanly into three or four subcultures: [[Uruk-hai]], [[Isenorcs]], [[Warg-rider]]s, and (arguably) Isengard [[Man|Men]]. Each subculture is largely siloed into cards that work with that subculture and only that subculture. {{Card|Saruman, Keeper of Isengard}} and {{Card|Savagery to Match Their Numbers}} are only useful in an Uruk deck. [[Warg]] [[mount]]s can only be played on [[warg-rider]]s, which are the only minions that care very much about {{Card|Saruman, Master of Foul Folk}}'s healing. Only [[Isenorcs]] can be stacked on cards like {{Card|Gnawing, Biting, Hacking, Burning}} or {{Card|Scaffolding}}. Isengard men don't work with any of these cards, but their own cards, like {{Card|Rohirrim Traitor}}, {{Card|Unferth, Grima's Bodyguard}}, {{Card|Leechcraft}}, and {{Card|Desertion}}, are so weak that they're barely played at all. There are cards that support the whole culture, like {{Card|Saruman's Power}} or the {{C|Isengard}} [[weather]] cards, but there's little reason to ever play both Uruks and Isenorcs in the same deck.

{{C|Raider}} culture is similarly divided into the Oliphaunt-riding archer [[Southron]]s, the armored [[Easterling]]s, and the sea-faring [[Corsair]]s. In this case, each subculture has their own special mechanic: Southrons generate [[Twilight]] later in the turn with '''[[Ambush]]''' and have their own exclusive {{Card|Mumak}} [[mount]]s. Easterlings generate and [[spot]] [[burden]]s for benefits, particularly in the [[Beasterlings]] deck. Corsairs have effects when they come into play and pile up [[Culture Tokens]] on their [[support area]] ship [[possesion]]s like {{Card|Corsair War Galley}} and {{Card|Ships of Great Draught}}. {{C|Raider}} decks aren't quite as tightly bound to their subcultures: Southrons have expensive [[event]]s that are meant to be funded with '''Ambush''' like {{Card|Red Wrath}} and {{Card|Fierce in Despair}}, but any {{C|Raider}} deck can use them if they have the Twilight. {{Card|Ships of Great Draught}} will have many more tokens if you use minions like {{Card|Corsair Pillager}}, but any {{C|Raider}} deck can just generate tokens using the card itself. Even so, it's rare to see a deck straddle two or more of these subcultures; it's more common that you see some of the best cards from another subculture in a deck primarily focusing on one of the three subcultures.

While other cultures have subcultures, most of them have a large critical mass of cards that interact with all cards from that culture, so the subcultures never feel very restrictive. Those subcultures do exist, though. 

{{C|Shire}} culture often has a divide between cards that apply to [[Ring-bound]] [[hobbit]]s ([[Frodo]], [[Sam]], and later [[Bilbo]]) and [[unbound]] hobbits ([[Merry]], [[Pippin]], and later the other minor-character hobbits). This divide is keenly felt in some [[format]]s, especially when {{Card|Legolas, Dauntless Hunter}} is a [[meta]]-defining card, but less important in others. Every {{C|Shire}} deck splits the difference a little. It's impossible to have an unbound [[Ring-bearer]], and there are so few Ring-bound hobbits that it's hard to build a deck that focuses entirely on them.

[[Ring-bound]] [[Ranger]]s (also known as "roaming Rangers") are [[Faramir]]'s scouting company, and they focus on increasing the [[site number]] of [[minion]]s, then punishing [[roaming]] minions in various ways. (This subculture turns up again in [[The Two Towers]], this subculture turns up again years later in [[The Hunters]], albeit without using the ring-bound keyword.) Cards that specifically refer to ring-bound {{C|Gondor}} characters or affect minions site numbers or target roaming minions are generally part of this subculture. This is not a popular subculture except in [[Expanded (Format)|Expanded]], where the {{Card|Madril, Defender of Osgiliath}} / {{Card|Ithilien Blade}} combo is fairly infamous. It's also not strongly enforced, because many unrelated cards refer to [[Faramir]] or [[ranger]]s or {{C|Gondor}} companions in general.

[[Valiant]] is an odd {{C|Rohan}} subculture. It doesn't have a theme, just some relatively more-expensive [[companion]]s that are spotted by some stronger cards, like {{Card|Simbelmyne}}, {{Card|Let Us Be Swift}}, and {{Card|Eomer, Valiant Warchief}}. The only subcultural enforcement is that you need to spot a relatively large number of Valiant [[Man|men]] for some of these cards.

[[Ent]] decks generally use large, powerful [[companion]]s that get a [[Twilight]] discount from spotting other ents, like {{Card|Ent Horde}}. These decks are generally so focused on playing ents and [[run]]ning down the site path that they don't run many other cards. That said, these decks almost always include [[Merry]] and [[Pippin]] and occasionally find room for [[Gandalf]] or {{Card|Radagast, The Brown}}.

{{C|Orc}} [[Lurker]] [[minion]]s tend to have abilities that buff or [[recur]] each other, or benefit from being at [[Underground]] sites. The Lurker keyword itself serves as soft [[cultural enforcement]]: any minion that doesn't have Lurker is liable to die first. This is a very soft subculture, though, since there's nothing stopping you from playing generally-useful cards like {{Card|Orkish Scout}} or {{Card|Pitiless Orc}} in a Lurker {{C|Orc}} deck, and several of the Lurkers' key cards -- especially {{Card|Goblin Hordes}} and {{Card|Cave Troll of Moria, Savage Menace}} -- appear frequently in other {{C|Orc}} decks.

This list isn't exhaustive. There are many other possible subcultures that could be listed here, including {{C|Gondor}} [[knight]]s and their [[fortification]]s, {{C|Sauron}} [[tracker]]s, {{C|Sauron}} roaming orcs, or {{C|Sauron}} [[besieger]]s. These are just some examples.

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