LOTR The Card Game Storage and Organization
Lord of the Rings LCG is a living card game produced by Fantasy Flight Games set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, with the events of the game taking place in the 17 years between Bilbo’s 111th birthday and the week Frodo leaves the Shire. Players cooperate to complete various quests before dark forces overwhelm the heroes.
Players create a deck consisting of at least 50 player cards. They also choose 3 heroes that will begin the game in play. Each hero has a sphere of influence which determines the cards usable in the deck. Each deck can have 3 copies of a card with the same name. Some cards, and all heroes, are unique, and cannot be used if another player has the same card in play. Talking to the other players beforehand will prevent a lot of issues during the game. Taking turns, the players work together to defeat enemies, explore locations, and advance the mission. If at least one player finishes the final part of a scenario, the players collectively win. When a player has no living heroes, or when they reach 50 or more Threat, that player is eliminated. If all players are eliminated, they lose. The video below has a more details.
As with most long-running games, storing the various components in a way that keeps everything accessible is an issue. While the core set has space to hold components, the amount of product will render this useless quickly. Fortunately, BCW has several options to protect and store your collection.
Keeping track of the various rule books and sheets is important. An easy way to hold everything together in a convenient space is to use the combination of a 3-ring binder such as the 1 in LX Album, along with 1-Pocket Document Pages. The pockets are big enough to hold the core rulebooks with no issue.
Cards for the LotR LCG are standard gaming size, giving several options that best fit your needs. The cards pictured above use Clear Deck Guards. Both these and the Anti-Glare version are ideal for double-sided scenario cards. CCG sleeves such as the Double Matte Deck Guards and the Elite2 Deck Guards also work great. Player cards and Encounter cards should use different color sleeves in this case, to help keep them easily identifiable.
As far as holding the cards themselves, a good box is key. Our corrugated cardboard boxes will hold the cards perfectly, although the lack of portability may be an issue. Likewise, the physical size of the collection can become an issue, as the larger boxes become very heavy when filled. The 1600 Collectible Card Bin is a step up from the cardboard boxes. It can hold a smaller collection along with all the components, making it a good “all in one” box for newer players.
While every card game needs some organization, it is especially important for this game. Player cards can be divided by type, sphere of influence, or some combination of the two. Encounter cards should be divided by set as shown by the icon on the cards. In these pictures, we have used the Tall Card Dividers. We printed labels showing the icon and type or set name. If you can’t print on adhesive labels directly, you can still use the dividers. Printing the symbols, carefully cutting them out, then pasting or taping them to the divider will work just as well. The height of the dividers will let the symbols show well above the top of the cards. This helps find what you need at a glance.
The game has 3 types of tokens, each of them important and in constant use: Influence, Progress, and Wounds. The core set provides enough of each type for 4 players, although there is no way to store them included. The Bit Boxes hold these tokens perfectly, and are small enough to fit in the cells of card bins. While they make storage easier, the smaller size of the boxes may make it difficult to grab the token you need during play. For these situations, try using the Bit Trays.
For a heavily invested player, the 3200 Collectible Card Bin is the best choice. While it does not have the handle of the 1600 ct. Bin, it has the other advantages of the system. It also offers double the amount of storage space. In the photo above, you can see the cards found in the 1600 ct. Bin, along with the tokens and threat trackers. It also has two Large Deck Cases holding two decks each. There is plenty of space for additional cards, along with extra supplies as needed.
The Lord of the Rings LCG is a great choice for gamers looking for a cooperative experience with a variable difficulty and tough but fair gameplay. With a large player base and easy to learn rules, this game is excellent for both solo players and groups of up to 4.