90s card games were so all over the place, so much creativity in game play. Which opened up so many opportunities in deckbuilding. I think this was great because you could literally do anything you wanted with your deck but it was also a burden because there were so many options it was daunting. ME in particular, there are so many ways(pot endless) you can achieve you victory, finding a way to get there can seem overwhelming. This is totally a game where getting a starter deck is the best way to start. Like you Zach, I've been gaming and deck building for 20+ yrs, and even with that background this is a game I totally think starting with a starter is highly recommended. And I almost never play the starters, usually buy a starter, read the cards, and edit before I play. anything LOTR is worth diving into. Will looking for those challenge decks and boosters to get this game on the table!! Thank you, Zach. Great stream!! Steven who?!?! (kidding Steven), you're always missed on stream; whether live or watching back.
20:20 Pallando's Hood - instantly recognized Quinton Hoover art. Colored pencils and ballpoint pens. His art was amazing and so detailed (Regeneration, Land Leeches, Carniverous Plant). His and Melissa Benson's (original Shivan Dragon) were some of our favorite art in early MTG.
I know you were unsure about doing the solo stream but this was great and so relatable as building a deck is generally a solo experience. Doing it with a council of advisors was fun to watch/listen (I know the cards well enough for this one that I could basically just listen as you went). Your idea for a solo mode is really fascinating. Almost certainly more difficult than an opponent who is trying to balance their resource hand and hazard hand. But that challenge will be fun. I would love to see that and this deck play out if you’re willing to stream your experiment. You did it right by letting theme and art guide you, because that’s where the heart of this game lives. Much of the joy of this game is in building what your plan is to save Middle Earth. More so than the other two card games with this theme it really lets you crack open the whole world and choose your own path. It’s more like planning a heist than carrying out an action movie. When you’re ready... crack them packs! You may find some generally usable cards (like those horses), or you may be swayed to follow a fallen wizard path. You wouldn’t be able to run Aragorn (you’re restricted to low mind characters: 5 or less), which is currently central to your deck’s theme. But you may find cool new deck concepts in there. Let us know what you find!
Thank you for the stream. I am glad to see more Middle-Earth from you guys. Such a great game for an amazing setting. I’m a big Tolkien fan. My daughter’s name is Éowyn. It is pronounced A-O-win, like Théoden or Éomer. Keep up the great job!
Your daughter's name is Eowyn?? You rock!!! There is a college professor here in my home-town who is also a huge Tolkien fan. They have a son named Theoden!! And a daughter named Elanor. :D
Middle Earth is my favorite CCG/LCG (having started in 1993) and is still kicking. There is a group of dedicated fans that have released three, top quality, printed expansions for this game (The Firstborn, Durin’s Folk and the Necromancer)
@@Aphex26 Checkout this website, www.councilofelrond.org. In the forums, look for either Eric Dane or Nicolai Willinek. These gentlemen will guide you in the right direction.
I really wanted to play this game when it was around but was younger an didn't have the disposable money or local shop to get it from. Remember reading articles in SCRYE magazine about it.
Hello Zach, thank you so much for this stream! One day I'd like to tackle deck building, too... I mainly have Lidless Eye starters. Is there any chance you could link to the article you were reading at the beginning of the stream?
First set, The Wizards stood alone really well, pretty much a complete game. The Dragons introduced Hoard Items & Dragon Events (slightly more complexity but manageable). Dark Minions added loads of complexity with Underdeeps & Agent Hazards - really was designed around long (3-4 deck) games & needed everyone familiar with the rules. Then Nazgul were introduced in the Lidless Eye - worked better as a stand alone set or against anyone who had the Wizards & Dragons sets - having Dark Minions in the mix started getting too much. Fallen Wizards almost needed to be treated as another stand alone set (as in drawing characters, resources & hazards from all other sets but have the players all just using Fallen Wizards working against each other - they didn't ever really balance Fallen Wizards against other Avatar types). Against the Shadow just rounded out Lidless Eye (giving Nazgul access to Underdeeps & certain Hero sites like Havens & Free Holds) - was really to allow for Wizards & Nazgul to play against each other & fight but also could be seen as finishing off some cycles from Lidless Eye (Dwarven Rings, Dragon Factions etc). The Balrog is an Underdeep focused faction in a box - completely unbalanced but if you had other players as a mix of Wizard & Nazgul (both using Underdeeps) was a good wildcard to throw into the mix - otherwise the lack of interaction with other players & needing specific Hazard strategies to combat (very similar to issues with Fallen Wizards) means its not much fun to play. Dark Minions is were the game lost most people but treating Lidless Eye as a stand alone game pulled complexity down a bit.
We really need more MECCG on youtube!
90s card games were so all over the place, so much creativity in game play. Which opened up so many opportunities in deckbuilding. I think this was great because you could literally do anything you wanted with your deck but it was also a burden because there were so many options it was daunting. ME in particular, there are so many ways(pot endless) you can achieve you victory, finding a way to get there can seem overwhelming.
This is totally a game where getting a starter deck is the best way to start. Like you Zach, I've been gaming and deck building for 20+ yrs, and even with that background this is a game I totally think starting with a starter is highly recommended. And I almost never play the starters, usually buy a starter, read the cards, and edit before I play.
anything LOTR is worth diving into. Will looking for those challenge decks and boosters to get this game on the table!!
Thank you, Zach. Great stream!! Steven who?!?! (kidding Steven), you're always missed on stream; whether live or watching back.
20:20 Pallando's Hood - instantly recognized Quinton Hoover art. Colored pencils and ballpoint pens. His art was amazing and so detailed (Regeneration, Land Leeches, Carniverous Plant). His and Melissa Benson's (original Shivan Dragon) were some of our favorite art in early MTG.
I know you were unsure about doing the solo stream but this was great and so relatable as building a deck is generally a solo experience. Doing it with a council of advisors was fun to watch/listen (I know the cards well enough for this one that I could basically just listen as you went). Your idea for a solo mode is really fascinating. Almost certainly more difficult than an opponent who is trying to balance their resource hand and hazard hand. But that challenge will be fun. I would love to see that and this deck play out if you’re willing to stream your experiment.
You did it right by letting theme and art guide you, because that’s where the heart of this game lives. Much of the joy of this game is in building what your plan is to save Middle Earth. More so than the other two card games with this theme it really lets you crack open the whole world and choose your own path. It’s more like planning a heist than carrying out an action movie.
When you’re ready... crack them packs! You may find some generally usable cards (like those horses), or you may be swayed to follow a fallen wizard path. You wouldn’t be able to run Aragorn (you’re restricted to low mind characters: 5 or less), which is currently central to your deck’s theme. But you may find cool new deck concepts in there. Let us know what you find!
Thank you for the stream. I am glad to see more Middle-Earth from you guys. Such a great game for an amazing setting. I’m a big Tolkien fan. My daughter’s name is Éowyn. It is pronounced A-O-win, like Théoden or Éomer. Keep up the great job!
You have no idea how helpful your typing it out like this is! 🤯 Thanks!
Your daughter's name is Eowyn?? You rock!!! There is a college professor here in my home-town who is also a huge Tolkien fan. They have a son named Theoden!! And a daughter named Elanor. :D
Zach is my favorite TC member, his MECCG videos are gold
He's really fallen for MECCG!
Best ccg ever
Middle Earth is my favorite CCG/LCG (having started in 1993) and is still kicking. There is a group of dedicated fans that have released three, top quality, printed expansions for this game (The Firstborn, Durin’s Folk and the Necromancer)
Where can you get those?
@@Aphex26 Checkout this website, www.councilofelrond.org. In the forums, look for either Eric Dane or Nicolai Willinek. These gentlemen will guide you in the right direction.
I really wanted to play this game when it was around but was younger an didn't have the disposable money or local shop to get it from. Remember reading articles in SCRYE magazine about it.
Thank you for still doing a video!
Hello Zach, thank you so much for this stream! One day I'd like to tackle deck building, too... I mainly have Lidless Eye starters. Is there any chance you could link to the article you were reading at the beginning of the stream?
Ditto, Zach. Could you post a link to the article you referred to? Thx, brother! Forth, Eorlingas!!!!!
First set, The Wizards stood alone really well, pretty much a complete game.
The Dragons introduced Hoard Items & Dragon Events (slightly more complexity but manageable).
Dark Minions added loads of complexity with Underdeeps & Agent Hazards - really was designed around long (3-4 deck) games & needed everyone familiar with the rules.
Then Nazgul were introduced in the Lidless Eye - worked better as a stand alone set or against anyone who had the Wizards & Dragons sets - having Dark Minions in the mix started getting too much.
Fallen Wizards almost needed to be treated as another stand alone set (as in drawing characters, resources & hazards from all other sets but have the players all just using Fallen Wizards working against each other - they didn't ever really balance Fallen Wizards against other Avatar types).
Against the Shadow just rounded out Lidless Eye (giving Nazgul access to Underdeeps & certain Hero sites like Havens & Free Holds) - was really to allow for Wizards & Nazgul to play against each other & fight but also could be seen as finishing off some cycles from Lidless Eye (Dwarven Rings, Dragon Factions etc).
The Balrog is an Underdeep focused faction in a box - completely unbalanced but if you had other players as a mix of Wizard & Nazgul (both using Underdeeps) was a good wildcard to throw into the mix - otherwise the lack of interaction with other players & needing specific Hazard strategies to combat (very similar to issues with Fallen Wizards) means its not much fun to play.
Dark Minions is were the game lost most people but treating Lidless Eye as a stand alone game pulled complexity down a bit.
MECCG!!!
The art is like mtg art... Really good
I have a sealed box of Wizards. What else would I need to get started solo?
Would it be possible for you to post a copy of that cheat sheet?