Towers Draft Pack: Difference between revisions

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{{SplashImage|product 04 draft scan 01.jpg|An individual Towers Draft Pack|300px|File:product 04 draft scan 01.jpg}}


== The Tower Draft packs ==
The '''Towers Draft Pack''' was a 29-card semi-random pack released in February 2003<ref>DECIPHER ANNOUNCES NEXT STEP IN BOOSTER DRAFT FOR THE LORD OF THE RINGS™ TRADING CARD GAME , Wayback: http://web.archive.org/web/20040603060213/http://decipher.com/content/2003/02/021203boosterdraft.html</ref>, right on the heels of [[Battle of Helm's Deep]].  Unlike [[Booster Packs]], Draft Packs were mostly useful for the [[Booster Draft]] mode that they were built to enable, as their contents were too consistent to appeal to collectors.


The Tower Draft packs were released originally in February 2003.
The Towers Draft Pack was planned alongside the printing for [[The Two Towers]], so unlike the [[Fellowship Draft Pack]] extra [[Uncut Sheets]] were produced during the initial [[Print Runs|Print Run]], meaning that every [[Rare]] card was [[First Edition]].  The [[Common]]s and [[Uncommon]]s were reprinted, however.


The Towers Draft pack consists of 29 cards: 14 Shadow Cards, 14 Free Peoples Cards, and a randomly inserted Two Towers rare. The 14 + 14 cards are printed from an endless "Wheel" of cards. Free Peoples cards are taken from one of two 30 cards wheels. The Shadow side cards are taken from a 60 card wheel. Essentially, each seperate 14 card Shadow/Free Peoples section each pack starts with a random card in the wheel and gives you the next 14 from that point.
Individual draft packs retailed for $4.50.  The Towers Draft Pack Display Box came with 12 packs, and would retail for $54 (i.e. exactly 12 times as much as a single pack).


=== 30-card Free Peoples runs (one of two randomly selected): ===
== Booster Draft ==
Gandalf, The White Wizard - Under the Living Earth - Long I Fell - Mithrandir, Mithrandir! - Long I Fell - Under the Living Earth - Gandalf, The White Wizard - Aragorn, Heir of Elendil - Defend It and Hope - Boromir's Gauntlets - Defend It and Hope - Aragorn, Heir of Elendil - Haldir, Emissary of the Galadhrim - Supporting Fire - Lorien Guardian - Lorien Swordsman - Supporting Fire - Haldir, Emissary of the Galadhrim - Legolas, Elven Comrade - Valor - Flashing Steel - Valor - Legolas, Elven Comrade - Faramir, Son of Denethor - War and Valor - Boromir's Gauntlets - New Errand - Ranger of Ithilien - War and Valor - Faramir, Son of Denethor
In [[Booster Draft]], players would each open a single Draft Pack, whose contents would form the bulk of a deck.  After inspecting the contents, players would then open standard booster packs from [[Towers Block]] and select one card to include in their deck, after which each pack would be passed to other players, everyone drafting in a circle.  The cards selected would be combined with a skeleton of cards provided by the player (sites, Frodo, and the One Ring), and would form a deck that followed relaxed requirements appropriate for the limited scope of the mode.


Eomer, Sister-son of Theoden - Heavy Chain - Guma, Plains Farmer - Fight for the Villagers - Fight for the Villagers - Hlafwine, Village Farmhand - Horse of Rohan - Eomer, Sister-son of Theoden - Eowyn, Lady of Rohan - Rider's Mount - Elite Rider - Work for the Sword - Elite Rider - Rider's Mount - Eowyn, Lady of Rohan - Gimli, Unbidden Guest - Courtesy of My Hall - Best Company - Alliance Reforged - Best Company - Courtesy of My Hall - Gimli, Unbidden Guest - Merry, Learned Guide - Warmed Up a Bit - Knocked on the Head - Pippin, Woolly-footed Rascal - Merry, Learned Guide - Knocked on the Head - Warmed Up a Bit - Pippin, Woolly-footed Rascal


=== 60-card Shadow run (same for everyone): ===
== Contents ==
Southron Bowman - Desert Spearman - Desert Warrior - Easterling Infantry - Easterling Guard - Easterling Axeman - Easterling Lieutenant - Southron Wanderer - Easterling Lieutenant - Easterling Axeman - Easterling Guard - Easterling Infantry - Desert Warrior - Desert Spearman - Southron Bowman - Orthanc Warrior - Uruk Rear Guard - Uruk Defender - Uruk-hai Patrol - Uruk-hai Marauder - Uruk Besieger - Uruk Stormer - Attack on Helm's Deep - Uruk Stormer - Uruk Besieger - Uruk-hai Marauder - Uruk-hai Patrol - Uruk Defender - Uruk Rear Guard - Orthanc Warrior - Band of Wild Men - Dunlending Savage - Dunlending Robber - Hillman Tribe - Dunlending Brigand - Dunlending Ransacker - Dunlending Madman - Hillman Band - Dunlending Madman - Dunlending Ransacker - Dunlending Brigand - Hillman Tribe - Dunlending Robber - Dunlending Savage - Band of Wild Men - Uruk-hai Raiding Party - Uruk Chaser - Uruk Runner - Uruk Plains Runner - Uruk Foot Soldier - Uruk Pursuer - Unferth, Grima's Bodyguard - Grima, Son of Galmod - Unferth, Grima's Bodyguard - Uruk Pursuer - Uruk Foot Soldier - Uruk Plains Runner - Uruk Runner - Uruk Chaser - Uruk-hai Raiding Party
Draft Packs were broken down as follows:


* 14 Shadow cards from the Shadow Wheel
* 7 Free Peoples cards from FP Wheel 1
* 1 [[Rare]] card from [[The Two Towers]]
* 7 Free Peoples cards from FP Wheel 2


== Playing a Towers Booster Draft ==


=== Product Required ===
"Wheels" were Decipher's method for keeping draft packs semi-random<ref>New Draft Packs Make Great Booster Draft Base, Wayback: http://web.archive.org/web/20040410104907/http://www.decipher.com/lordoftherings/articles/2002/111302boosterdraftlischke.html </ref>, without compromising the cohesion of the included cardsEach wheel was a (looping) list of cards, which was divided into thematic sections smaller than the selection included in the pack.  By carefully choosing the sizes involved, each pack received roughly 1 complete run and part of another from a different theme, which provided a foundation for further drafting the deck while also providing enough flexibility to work with a number of strategies.
Each player brings to the draft (from the Two Towers Block):
* A frodo companion card
* A the One Ring card
* An adventure deck of 9 site cards
Each player is given:
* A Tower Draft Pack
* 3 Boosters from the Two Towers Block (3 packs from the Set 4; 2 packs from Set 4 and 1 pack from Set 5 or Set 6; or 1 pack each from Set 4, Set 5 and Set 6)


=== Draft Process ===
The Shadow Wheel was 30 cards, and the two Free Peoples Wheels were each 30 cards, meaning that a single [[Uncut Sheet]] was enough to print enough cards for a bit less than 5 draft packs, presumably with a black [[Spacer Card]] placed between the Free Peoples wheels.
Players assemble randomly into drafting circles (called groups) of roughly equal size. Groups should have an even number of players if possible and eight players is the best number.


Before drafting of booster packs begins, each player should open their Two Towers Draft Pack and examine its contents. The mix of companions and minions in that pack provide a basis for the drafting of the booster packs.
== Free Peoples Wheel 1 ==


At a signal, each player opens a booster pack (all players must be drafting from the same set). The player chooses one card from the booster pack, and then passes the remaining cards face down to the player on his left. The opened packs are passed around the drafting group with each player taking one card each before passing until all cards are drafted. Once a player has removed a card from the pack and placed it face down in front of him, that card may not be returned to the pack. Players may not show their card selections or the contents of their current packs to other participants in the draft.
Unlike the [[Fellowship Draft Pack]], there is no emphasis on [[Premium]] cards, which are completely absent in the Towers Draft Pack.


After each player’s first pack is drafted, draft the 2nd booster pack. This time, the direction of drafting is reversed and now proceeds to the right. This process is repeated until all cards in all
* {{Card|Gandalf, The White Wizard}}
booster packs are drafted. The first and third packs are drafted clockwise (to each player’s left), and the
* {{Card|Long I Fell}}
second pack is drafted counterclockwise (to each player’s right). Players may not review the cards they have drafted or the cards in their draft packs until the drafting procedure is complete and they are building decks.
* {{Card|Under the Living Earth}}
* {{Card|Mithrandir, Mithrandir!}}
* {{Card|Under the Living Earth}}
* {{Card|Long I Fell}}
* {{Card|Gandalf, The White Wizard}}
* {{Card|Aragorn, Heir of Elendil}}
* {{Card|Defend It and Hope}}
* {{Card|Boromir's Gauntlets}}
* {{Card|Defend It and Hope}}
* {{Card|Aragorn, Heir of Elendil}}
* {{Card|Haldir, Emissary of the Galadhrim}}
* {{Card|Supporting Fire}}
* {{Card|Lorien Guardian}}
* {{Card|Lorien Swordsman}}
* {{Card|Supporting Fire}}
* {{Card|Haldir, Emissary of the Galadhrim}}
* {{Card|Legolas, Elven Comrade}}
* {{Card|Valor}}
* {{Card|Flashing Steel}}
* {{Card|Valor}}
* {{Card|Legolas, Elven Comrade}}
* {{Card|Faramir, Son of Denethor}}
* {{Card|War and Valor}}
* {{Card|Gondorian Ranger}}
* {{Card|New Errand}}
* {{Card|Ranger of Ithilien}}
* {{Card|War and Valor}}
* {{Card|Faramir, Son of Denethor}}


=== Draft Deck Constuction ===
== Free Peoples Wheel 2 ==
Once drafting is complete, you have 30 minutes to build a tournament deck (including a Ring-bearer and Ring, a draw deck and an adventure deck). Your draw deck must have at least 40 cards and must have an equal number of Shadow cards and Free Peoples cards.


If you do not have at least 20 Shadow or 20 Free Peoples cards, then you must forfeit all games. You may have any number of cards of each card title in your draw deck. You are not limited to four copies of each card title in your draw deck.
* {{Card|Eomer, Sister-son of Theoden}}
* {{Card|Heavy Chain}}
* {{Card|Guma, Plains Farmer}}
* {{Card|Fight for the Villagers}}
* {{Card|Fight for the Villagers}}
* {{Card|Hlafwine, Village Farmhand}}
* {{Card|Horse of Rohan}}
* {{Card|Eomer, Sister-son of Theoden}}
* {{Card|Eowyn, Lady of Rohan}}
* {{Card|Rider's Mount}}
* {{Card|Elite Rider}}
* {{Card|Work for the Sword}}
* {{Card|Elite Rider}}
* {{Card|Rider's Mount}}
* {{Card|Eowyn, Lady of Rohan}}
* {{Card|Gimli, Unbidden Guest}}
* {{Card|Courtesy of My Hall}}
* {{Card|Best Company}}
* {{Card|Search Far and Wide}}
* {{Card|Best Company}}
* {{Card|Courtesy of My Hall}}
* {{Card|Gimli, Unbidden Guest}}
* {{Card|Merry, Learned Guide}}
* {{Card|Warmed Up a Bit}}
* {{Card|Knocked on the Head}}
* {{Card|Pippin, Woolly-footed Rascal}}
* {{Card|Merry, Learned Guide}}
* {{Card|Knocked on the Head}}
* {{Card|Warmed Up a Bit}}
* {{Card|Pippin, Woolly-footed Rascal}}


== Shadow Wheel ==
Unlike the [[Fellowship Draft Pack]], there are only 4 Shadow runs of 15 cards each, meaning that it is possible to get a pack full of only 1 [[Culture]].  There are also no specific boundary cards used for crowd control.  In addition, runs are palindromic, meaning that the runs are actually 7 card runs mirrored around a central card.


===== Sources: =====
The runs are {{C|Raider}}, {{C|Isengard}} [[Site Control]], {{C|Dunland}}, and {{C|Isengard}} [[Tracker]]s.
[https://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php?topic=11616.msg96059#msg96059 Runs]
 
[http://web.archive.org/web/20040410104907/http://www.decipher.com/lordoftherings/articles/2002/111302boosterdraftlischke.html Wheel]
* {{Card|Southron Bowman}}
[http://web.archive.org/web/20040603060213/http://decipher.com/content/2003/02/021203boosterdraft.html Tower Draft Product Annoucement]
* {{Card|Desert Spearman}}
[http://web.archive.org/web/20040723123943/http://www.dgma.com/files/resource/pdf/rules-towerdraftpackinsert.pdf Booster Draft Rules]
* {{Card|Desert Warrior}}
* {{Card|Easterling Infantry}}
* {{Card|Easterling Guard}}
* {{Card|Easterling Axeman}}
* {{Card|Easterling Lieutenant}}
* {{Card|Southron Wanderer}}
* {{Card|Easterling Lieutenant}}
* {{Card|Easterling Axeman}}
* {{Card|Easterling Guard}}
* {{Card|Easterling Infantry}}
* {{Card|Desert Warrior}}
* {{Card|Desert Spearman}}
* {{Card|Southron Bowman}}
 
* {{Card|Orthanc Warrior}}
* {{Card|Uruk Rear Guard}}
* {{Card|Uruk Defender}}
* {{Card|Uruk-hai Patrol}}
* {{Card|Uruk-hai Marauder}}
* {{Card|Uruk Besieger}}
* {{Card|Uruk Stormer}}
* {{Card|Attack on Helm's Deep}}
* {{Card|Uruk Stormer}}
* {{Card|Uruk Besieger}}
* {{Card|Uruk-hai Marauder}}
* {{Card|Uruk-hai Patrol}}
* {{Card|Uruk Defender}}
* {{Card|Uruk Rear Guard}}
* {{Card|Orthanc Warrior}}
 
* {{Card|Band of Wild Men}}
* {{Card|Dunlending Savage}}
* {{Card|Dunlending Robber}}
* {{Card|Hillman Tribe}}
* {{Card|Dunlending Brigand}}
* {{Card|Dunlending Ransacker}}
* {{Card|Dunlending Madman}}
* {{Card|Hillman Band}}
* {{Card|Dunlending Madman}}
* {{Card|Dunlending Ransacker}}
* {{Card|Dunlending Brigand}}
* {{Card|Hillman Tribe}}
* {{Card|Dunlending Robber}}
* {{Card|Dunlending Savage}}
* {{Card|Band of Wild Men}}
 
* {{Card|Uruk-hai Raiding Party}}
* {{Card|Uruk Chaser}}
* {{Card|Uruk Runner}}
* {{Card|Uruk Plains Runner}}
* {{Card|Uruk Foot Soldier}}
* {{Card|Uruk Pursuer}}
* {{Card|Unferth, Grima's Bodyguard}}
* {{Card|Grima, Son of Galmod}}
* {{Card|Unferth, Grima's Bodyguard}}
* {{Card|Uruk Pursuer}}
* {{Card|Uruk Foot Soldier}}
* {{Card|Uruk Plains Runner}}
* {{Card|Uruk Runner}}
* {{Card|Uruk Chaser}}
* {{Card|Uruk-hai Raiding Party}}
 
 
== Gallery ==
{{#widget:YouTube|id=Mb05jV86Mjo}}
{{#widget:YouTube|id=mhzMf4Tyf_Y}}
 
 
{{References}}
 
 
----
 
 
{{Product Table}}

Latest revision as of 19:19, 15 September 2023

An individual Towers Draft Pack

The Towers Draft Pack was a 29-card semi-random pack released in February 2003[1], right on the heels of Battle of Helm's Deep. Unlike Booster Packs, Draft Packs were mostly useful for the Booster Draft mode that they were built to enable, as their contents were too consistent to appeal to collectors.

The Towers Draft Pack was planned alongside the printing for The Two Towers, so unlike the Fellowship Draft Pack extra Uncut Sheets were produced during the initial Print Run, meaning that every Rare card was First Edition. The Commons and Uncommons were reprinted, however.

Individual draft packs retailed for $4.50. The Towers Draft Pack Display Box came with 12 packs, and would retail for $54 (i.e. exactly 12 times as much as a single pack).

Booster Draft[edit]

In Booster Draft, players would each open a single Draft Pack, whose contents would form the bulk of a deck. After inspecting the contents, players would then open standard booster packs from Towers Block and select one card to include in their deck, after which each pack would be passed to other players, everyone drafting in a circle. The cards selected would be combined with a skeleton of cards provided by the player (sites, Frodo, and the One Ring), and would form a deck that followed relaxed requirements appropriate for the limited scope of the mode.


Contents[edit]

Draft Packs were broken down as follows:

  • 14 Shadow cards from the Shadow Wheel
  • 7 Free Peoples cards from FP Wheel 1
  • 1 Rare card from The Two Towers
  • 7 Free Peoples cards from FP Wheel 2


"Wheels" were Decipher's method for keeping draft packs semi-random[2], without compromising the cohesion of the included cards. Each wheel was a (looping) list of cards, which was divided into thematic sections smaller than the selection included in the pack. By carefully choosing the sizes involved, each pack received roughly 1 complete run and part of another from a different theme, which provided a foundation for further drafting the deck while also providing enough flexibility to work with a number of strategies.

The Shadow Wheel was 30 cards, and the two Free Peoples Wheels were each 30 cards, meaning that a single Uncut Sheet was enough to print enough cards for a bit less than 5 draft packs, presumably with a black Spacer Card placed between the Free Peoples wheels.

Free Peoples Wheel 1[edit]

Unlike the Fellowship Draft Pack, there is no emphasis on Premium cards, which are completely absent in the Towers Draft Pack.

Free Peoples Wheel 2[edit]

Shadow Wheel[edit]

Unlike the Fellowship Draft Pack, there are only 4 Shadow runs of 15 cards each, meaning that it is possible to get a pack full of only 1 Culture. There are also no specific boundary cards used for crowd control. In addition, runs are palindromic, meaning that the runs are actually 7 card runs mirrored around a central card.

The runs are Raider, Isengard Site Control, Dunland, and Isengard Trackers.


Gallery[edit]


References[edit]

  1. DECIPHER ANNOUNCES NEXT STEP IN BOOSTER DRAFT FOR THE LORD OF THE RINGS™ TRADING CARD GAME , Wayback: http://web.archive.org/web/20040603060213/http://decipher.com/content/2003/02/021203boosterdraft.html
  2. New Draft Packs Make Great Booster Draft Base, Wayback: http://web.archive.org/web/20040410104907/http://www.decipher.com/lordoftherings/articles/2002/111302boosterdraftlischke.html




Physical Products
Card Product Booster Packs
The Fellowship of the RingMines of MoriaRealms of the Elf-lords
The Two TowersBattle of Helm's DeepEnts of Fangorn
Return of the KingSiege of GondorMount Doom
Reflections
ShadowsBlack RiderBloodlines
The HuntersRise of SarumanTreachery & Deceit
Starter Decks The Fellowship of the RingMines of MoriaRealms of the Elf-lords
The Two TowersBattle of Helm's DeepEnts of Fangorn
Return of the KingSiege of GondorMount Doom
ShadowsBlack RiderBloodlines
The HuntersRise of Saruman
Deluxe Starter Sets The Fellowship of the RingThe Two Towers
Draft Packs Fellowship Draft PackTowers Draft PackExpanded Middle-earth
Card Variants Print Runs (First Edition, A Revision, B Revision, Duplicate Version) • ReprintsFoilTengwarLegends (RF)Legends Masterworks
Tengwar Anthologies The Fellowship of the Ring AnthologyThe Two Towers AnthologyThe Return of the King AnthologyThe War of the Ring Anthology
Complete Packs The Nine Riders CollectionThe Wraith CollectionAge's End
Prizes League KitsDGMA PrizesTournament Prize SupportTournament Foils
Promo Distribution Oversized CardsMagazine InsertsDVD InsertsRetail Reward IncentivesEvent PromosThe Countdown CollectionThe Weta CollectionLOTRO Promos
Other Two-Player QuickStart SetRace to Mount DoomWeta Book CardsProduct Box CountsUncut SheetsSpacer CardsCustomizable League CardsHunters Design-a-Card Contest
Unreleased Beta Cards Of Very Little Importance (Beta)Fortune of Fate (Beta)Always a Baggins in Bag End (Beta)Maiden of the Golden Ale (Beta)Ripples in the Pool (Beta)Of Very Little Importance (Beta)It's the Beard (Beta)There are NO Dwarven Women! (Beta)
Non-card Product Merchandise HatsT-shirtsPinsPostersPostcardsBindersAd SpotsDice
Magazines Scrye MagazineInQuest MagazineFan Club Official Movie Magazine

Scrye TTT Player's GuideScrye ROTK Player's Guide

Unreleased Merch 2002 Toy Fair CalendarFilm Cell CardsOfficial Signed Cards
New Line Fax Proofs Lithograph ProofsBalrog Promo ProofMines of Moria Booster Pack ProofsMines of Moria Card ProofsMines of Moria Packaging ProofsMines of Moria Poster ProofToy Fair Calendar ProposalMines of Moria Sell Sheet ProofRealms of the Elf-lords Promo ProofsFilm Cell Card Proposal