Fans of Middle-earth have an unmissable date on November 18 with the highly anticipated expansion of The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, titled Durin’s Folk. This new content promises to offer over 20 hours of additional gameplay and a wide range of cooperative events in randomly generated dungeons, thus enriching the experience and lore of the universe created by J.R.R. Tolkien. An absolutely massive expansion The expansion is set in the Fourth Age and delves into dwarf culture, allowing players to continue the narrative of the base game that […]
Middle-earth fans have an unmissable date on November 18 with the highly anticipated expansion of The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, titled Durin’s Folk. This new content promises to offer over 20 hours of additional gameplay and a wide range of cooperative events in randomly generated dungeons, thus enriching the experience and lore of the universe created by J.R.R. Tolkien.
An absolutely massive expansion
The expansion is set in the Fourth Age and delves into dwarf culture, allowing players to continue the narrative of the base game that focuses on survival and crafting. In this new chapter, players will be able to rescue and recruit NPCs with specific roles such as blacksmith, miner, master brewer, or guard, which will strengthen the cooperative and strategic dynamics of the title.
Durin’s Folk also promises a robust multiplayer experience, allowing dungeon expeditions with up to eight other players, with full cross-play support between consoles and PC. This is a big step towards integrating the gaming community into a single environment, something that could attract even more new users to the game.
In addition to enriching the narrative, the expansion will include improvements to the endgame economy, with new materials, items, and recipes that will add more content and lore to the game’s universe. After two years of constant support, Return to Moria has been well received on platforms like Steam, where it has achieved a 91% positive rating, establishing itself as one of the most important experiences within its genre.
With this release, Free Range Games and North Beach Games aim not only to maintain the interest of veteran players but also to attract new adventurers to the rich and complex story of the Fourth Age in Middle-earth.
Tom Bombadil, Imrahil or the first of the ent to charge against Isengard are among the characters who are not in the movies and with a letter in The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth.
Adaptations of literary works to other media are always accompanied by a mixture of excitement and tension. Excitement to see the characters coming to life, taking shape in a way we could never have imagined, with the story unfolding before our eyes in a different way than we had experienced it before. Tension, too, because it implies facing the unknown of whether they will know how to adapt it, whether they will understand what makes it special, whether it will really be a good adaptation or, as so many times before, it will be an absolute disaster.
The Lord of the Rings was not spared from this mixture of illusion and tension. Fortunately, the adaptation was fantastic. Peter Jackson and his team knew how to not only adapt the books, but also adapt them to contemporary sensibilities, making them more accessible, vibrant and current. Almost as if they were a work of the present, not the past.
Its only problem is that, being a movie and having a limited space, many mythical and beloved characters could not make their way into it. Something that has not happened in another adaptation as meritorious as the movies, such as The Lord of the Rings: Tales from Middle-earth. That is why today we are going to review all the cards that represent characters that appear in the books and do not appear in the movies and how they are represented on the cards, seeking to characterize them through the game mechanics themselves. Because Peter Jackson did an amazing job, but so has Wizards of the Coast.
Tom Bombadil
One of the great missing from Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Lord of the Rings was Tom Bombadil; someone so powerful that, during the Council of Elrond, the Fellowship of the Ring considered giving him the One Ring for safekeeping, as not even Sauron would have dared to enter his domain. To his misfortune, Tom Bombadil was more interested in naps, smoking, eating, drinking, and being with his wife, Goldberry, and that made it a logical cut in the movies. Even if it is an excellent card for Commander players.
Having the five colors of the game in his cost, his abilities are related to the Sagas: cards that represent ancient stories and events that happened in the past. The more sagas there are on the battlefield the more powerful Tom Bombadil is, thus demonstrating his power. He is old, wise and always has knowledge to fall back on. Something that in terms of how to build the deck makes it very easy how to build a Tom Bombadil deck. Sagas of all sorts of colors, creatures and enchantments to ensure we have all five colors, and good old Tom Bombadil will show us why even Sauron himself feared him.
Gold Berry
Known as the Daughter of the River, named more than once as the most beautiful woman in Middle-earth, Goldberry is the wife and companion of Tom Bombadil, and lives with him in his shelter in the Old Forest. Although it is true that her role in the book is more anecdotal, acting as support for her husband, that does not detract from the fact that she is a character that many fans of the franchise are fond of, and have a lot of respect for all the power that she has always been understood to possess.
In playable terms, this is shown by her nymph abilities. With minimal cost, she is able to move counters of any type between other permanents and Goldberry and from Goldberry to other permanents. If left unanswered and we have other cards that create synergies with Goldberry, being able to straighten it after turning it, it can become an infinite value machine very much to be reckoned with. One that does nothing on its own? Perhaps not. But as in the novels, even if Goldberry is not by herself the most powerful person in Middle-earth, without her support it is inconceivable that the Company of the Ring would have even made it to the Council.
Beregond was the first captain of the White Company of Gondor, the guard of Faramir, brother of Boromir. Ignored in the films, Beregond was the one who accompanied Pippin when he arrived at Minas Tirith, and also the one who confronted the city’s Guards during the chapter of Denethor’s Pyre. He was also the one who marched alongside Aragorn in the battle of the Black Gate, which means that although it is understandable his lack of importance in the movies, the reality is that he is a capital character for the story: he was always there, acting as a leader and protector for his troops.
In fact, that’s its function as a card. Beregon of the Guard is a 3/3 for four mana, which isn’t too impressive, but when it enters the battlefield it gives +1/+1 and vigilance to all your creatures. Why? Because it inspires them. It gives them strength. When Beregond arrives, everyone knows that they are facing a reliable leader with whom nothing bad can happen. If they lead them, they will succeed. That’s why, every time a Human-type creature enters the battlefield, the same thing happens again. It grants +1/+1 and vigilance to all your creatures. Because reinforcements, when you are leading the Beregond army, you know they make you unstoppable.
Prince Imrahil
The uncle of Boromir and Faramir also makes an appearance in Tales of Middle-earth. During the War of the Ring, Imrahil accompanied Gandalf out of Minas Tirith to rescue Faramir on his suicidal crusade from Osgiliath, and also took part in the defense of the city against the Nazgul. He survived all this and, in fact, it was he who brought Eowyn to the Houses of Healing after the battle of the Pelennor Fields. Something that translates in a very peculiar way within the game.
Prince Imrahil the Fair is an azorius creature, white and blue in color, that every time you draw your second card each turn, creates a white 1/1 Human Soldier creature token. It is he who at all times believes that Aragorn is the true rightful heir to the kingdom of men and puts his armies at his disposal. That is why he seeks to create as much advantage as possible. Drawing more cards, to have more strategic options, and thus have more soldiers, thanks to his passive ability. A demonstration of Prince Imrahil’s dedication to his king.
Among the most peculiar creatures created in The Lord of the Rings are the Ent, sentient trees that are just another race like humans, elves, or dwarves. Among these, Ramaviva, affectionately known by fans of Tolkien’s universe as the fastest Ent, was one of the youngest Ent among those who participated in the House of Ents, the meeting in which they decided to put an end to Saruman’s nefarious influence over their lands. In fact, it was Ramaviva who was the first to attack Isengard and who took charge of Merry and Pippin during the conflict, both of whom were unharmed thanks to him.
When it comes to translating this in terms of gameplay, Wizards of the Coast wanted to bring these two facets together. To show that he is an Ent that cares about others, but at the same time, that he has an impulsive and brutal side. That’s why every time he enters the battlefield, or when another Arboreal-People does, up to two target creatures get +2/+2 and gain the ability to run over until the end of the turn. Something that makes it a protector, in its own way, but above all a real bulldozer capable of finishing many games if there are other sides on the field to help it pass over the enemy troops.
Erkenbrand
If there is one character that even many fans of the Lord of the Rings books would not know who he is, it is Erkenbrand. Lord of the West Folk in Rohan during the War of the Ring, he was in charge of defending the West Folk from the Orc invasion until Gandalf’s arrival, then joining him in the battle of Helm’s Deep. Although he does not appear in the movies and in fact, all his actions are transferred to Éomer, he is a very important character in the books, as he was the one who restrained Saruman, preventing Rohan from falling.
In Magic: The Gathering’s Tales of Middle-earth collection, he stars as a red monkey creature that every time he or another Human enters the battlefield, he makes all your creatures get +1/+0 until the end of the turn. This is explained by the fact that he spent a very long time defending himself against Saruman’s orcs, but also because it took him three days to march with Gandalf to Helm’s Deep. Not on a whim, but because they spent three days searching for every last person in Folde West who could still wield a weapon to fight in the bloodiest battle so far of The War of the Ring; a battle in which they were victorious, thanks to Gandalf’s power, but also to Erkenbrand’s steely leadership.
Magic: The Gathering is experiencing strange weeks seeing how some people become Gollum due to the release of The One Ring.
Sometimes it’s hard to know where to draw the line with seemingly harmless things. For example, collecting cards, stickers, and other similar products. The fact that they are randomly obtained, with some being more common than others, doesn’t seem like a big issue. However, it is true that in recent times, with loot boxes and competitive online gaming, they have become a problem that intersects with and reinforces patterns associated with gambling addiction. That’s why good ideas, which make sense in terms of marketing and have value in addressing design issues, can end up creating unforeseen problems. And it appears to be the case with the creation of “The One Ring” from the “Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth” collection in Magic: The Gathering.
In this collection, Wizards of the Coast, the company behind Magic: The Gathering, wanted to pay a special tribute to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. They aimed to capture the essence of his work in terms of mechanics, narrative, and aesthetics. That’s why the collection features meticulously crafted artwork and gameplay elements that reference various aspects of the Lord of the Rings story, while also challenging certain conventions of the game. This unique approach has led to a situation that has sparked a lot of discussion.
The entire story of the Lord of the Rings revolves around the One Ring and its destruction. That’s why they decided to print only one copy of the One Ring card. It is a numbered version of the One Ring card, written in Elvish script, with gold accents, and it only appears in English collector booster packs of the game. This is not a new concept in Magic, as similar things have been done before. On a smaller scale, alternate art and numbered cards have been used to create collector’s versions of cards that are attractive to collectors, increasing their value and encouraging them to purchase more booster packs. As a result, more cards enter the secondary market when more packs are opened, which leads to a decrease in prices for non-collector’s cards since there is a greater supply and they are not sought after as exclusively.
The problem is that this also encourages a certain economic mindset, rather than a recreational one. It’s as if it were a gamble. Opening packs and boosters to see if you get a special or rare artwork to make money, not for the excitement of obtaining a card that we particularly want or have been searching for a long time. And that’s what seems to have been emphasized with The Lord of the Rings: Tales from Middle-earth.
Although there are many exclusive cards with special artwork treatments, and a handful of numbered cards whose price ranges from hundreds to thousands of euros, the crown jewel is The One Ring. It’s a card without an official price, but rather the price that people want to assign to it. But therein lies the problem. There is only one. And Magic: The Gathering is a game with enough fame and credibility to be considered an investment that provides security. That’s why, even though its value started at the $100,000 offered by collector Dan Bock, currently we are already at €2,000,000 offered by the Valencian store Gremio de Dragones.
This has several problems. The first is that a lot of material is being opened, but a lot of that material is being opened by people who are not interested in Magic. This means that there are lots and lots of Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth cards being opened, but not as many are being resold as collections geared towards the gaming community, so secondary market prices are not dropping as much as they should be. The second problem is that many generalist streamers are taking the opportunity to open boxes of collection envelopes to see if they can find the unique ring. Spending huge amounts of money, creating a dangerous trend that is nothing short of a form of gambling.
Ignoring the former, because it is only a commercial failure, it is difficult to overlook the latter, because it has created an ethical crossroads of the first order. Recently the famous streamer xQc, which has switched its platform from Twitch to Kick for a $100 million semi-exclusive contract, has opened a box of collector’s envelopes worth $9,000. As is evident, he hasn’t found the ring, but the seed has already been planted. After opening eighteen boxes of collector’s envelopes in front of an underage audience, the image I send to the world about Magic: The Gathering and about The Lord of the Rings: Tales from Middle-earth is that it is a collection and gambling-based game whose value as a game is possible to ignore entirely.
Of course, Wizards of the Coast is not to blame for what xQc does in its streaming. It can’t even foresee how far the situation might go. In terms of marketing, the idea of The One Ring is brilliant. And if we stick to sales, it’s a triumph. It is undeniable that they are selling a lot. But if we add the advertising interests, not to give a pernicious image of the product, and the medium and long term business interests, to make the game viable for the players, the collection is on a tightrope.
What should Wizards of the Coast do? Disassociate itself from what xQc and similar streamers are doing. Emphasize the importance of the game. Reprint the most important cards in a way that they will now reach those who will play them. Demonstrate to the players who care and to society that this is a game, competitive and casual, and not a lottery. Because The Lord of the Rings: Tales from Middle-earth is a great collection full of exceptional cards that every player deserves to enjoy, without controversy, without thinking about looking for financial gain. And also because, at the end of the day, Wizards of the Coast does not deserve to end up having the same fame that EA has today with FIFA and its lootboxes.
Magic: The Gathering visits the Lord of the Rings universe and the result is some incredible cards, both in art and in their respect for lore.
The Lord of the Rings is a beloved fantasy classic that has greatly influenced virtually every major name in fantasy. Including Magic: The Gathering. So the announcement that the world’s most famous card game was going to make a collection featuring J.R.R. Tolkien’s characters seemed like the perfect mix. It’s not just that the audience for both franchises overlapped to some extent, but the beautiful artwork that Magic cards are known for could give us a new glimpse into the world of The Lord of the Rings like we’ve never seen before. And now that they’ve finally started to unveil them, the result is even more impressive than expected.
With a video of just over twenty minutes explaining the collection, its contents and showing some of the cards, Wizards of the Coast has already shown 120 of the more than 300 cards that will complete this collection called The Lord of the Rings: Tales from Middle-earth. So far we have already been able to see mythical characters such as Aragorn, Legolas, Gimly, Gandalf or Saruman, as well as Frodo and of course the One Ring, which even has its own game mechanics: the one ring tempts you.
Given the importance of the franchise, The Lord of the Rings: Tales from Middle-earth will get special treatment in terms of the quantity and quality of the products they will be releasing. For those who are new to Magic: The Gathering they will release a Starter Kit and Jumpstart booster packs, two ways to start playing without having to build your own deck beforehand. For those who already have some experience or want to get into a non-competitive mode, they will release four commander decks, a format where up to four people can play at the same time, with decks themed around humans, hobbits, elves and Sauron’s forces. Finally, franchised Magic players will have draft and collection booster packs, as usual, and collectors will have the aptly named collector packs, which contain cards with special artwork and borders, giving the cards a unique look.
As if this were not enough, they have also wanted to make this collection feel even more unique by making several special editions of the cards. There are editions of some cards that are numbered, there being a limited quantity of them with an exclusive illustration, there being one of them that stands out above all the others: the unique ring.
In Elvish, with a special treatment and with a unique unit existing in the world, it may only appear in English collector’s packs. There is only one unique ring card with this illustration and the text in Elvish in the whole world, which will give its owner even more the feeling of being in possession of a unique and special object. Especially since it is likely to end up being the most expensive card in Magic history.
While cards from the set will continue to be unveiled until June 9, The Lord of the Rings: Tales from Middle-earth set will be released on June 23 and will be legal in all formats except Standard and Pioneer. In addition, the cards will be playable a little earlier in Magic: The Gathering Arena, being available on June 20 at around 17:00. All this makes for a great opportunity to get into the world of Magic: The Gathering for all those who are curious and like The Lord of the Rings, if only for the sheer gorgeousness of the card art and the care and fidelity with which they have treated J.R.R. Tolkien’s story from Wizards of the Coast.
