Beta Cards

From LOTR-TCG Wiki

Beta Cards are cards that progressed to the point where visuals and/or a title had been picked out, but were ultimately rejected before release (or in some cases iterated on until they were unrecognizable). The term comes from "beta testing", which is a software development term indicating a program that is mostly-ready but is still pending release.

Such cards are found in myriad sources--print ads that were finalized before the cards were, obsolete promotional material, and in some cases digging into the data hidden on Decipher's website or within the Lord of the Rings Online TCG client. In most cases the story behind the rejection is completely unknown, as the card image itself is all we have to go on. We can speculate, but in the vast majority of cases we must simply be left to ponder what might have been.

The most impressive collection of beta cards comes from the Mines of Moria Card Proofs, which were a section of the New Line Fax Proofs that were sent between New Line and Decipher. This is an exceptionally unique insight into the development and approval process of the game. The full faxes include more than just card images, and go over packaging and other related material.

Below are all known beta cards with their sources listed. If you know of any cards and have any visual proof of any kind, please upload them to the wiki and add them here!

Card Approximate Target Set Source
Of Very Little Importance (Beta) Mines of Moria-era Mines of Moria Card Proofs
Fortune of Fate (Beta) Mines of Moria-era Mines of Moria Card Proofs
Always a Baggins in Bag End (Beta) Mines of Moria-era Mines of Moria Card Proofs
Maiden of the Golden Ale (Beta) Mines of Moria-era Mines of Moria Card Proofs
Ripples in the Pool (Beta) Mines of Moria-era Mines of Moria Card Proofs
Of Very Little Importance (Beta) Mines of Moria-era Mines of Moria Card Proofs
It's the Beard (Beta) The Two Towers-era Mined from the Wayback Machine
There are NO Dwarven Women! (Beta) The Two Towers-era Mined from the Wayback Machine



LOTR-TCG Product
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

King Draft PackHunters Draft Pack

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
Card Details & Distribution
Card Variants FoilLegends (RF)Legends MasterworksReprintsTengwar
Card Production Details Print Runs (First Edition, A Revision, B Revision, Duplicate Version) • Product Box CountsReprintsSpacer CardsUncut SheetsWeta Book Cards
League Kits / Race to Mount Doom Spring 2002 League KitRace to Mount Doom League Kit (TTT Edition)Race to Mount Doom League Kit (ROTK Edition)
Prizes DGMA PrizesTournament Prize SupportTournament Foils
Promo Distribution DVD InsertsEvent PromosLOTRO PromosMagazine InsertsOversized CardsRetail Reward IncentivesTournament ScheduleThe Countdown CollectionThe Weta Collection
Other Customizable League CardsDeck Design 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 Products
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