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March 05, 2003 - March 12, 2003

3-12-03 Latest News

REVIEW: New Tabletop Releases
Flinch @ 7:28 pm EST

For fans of the Lord of the Rings Tabletop Battle Game, it's hard not to notice other Tabletop Games in-play at your local Games Workshop Retailer. Dominant among these games are the fantasy based Warhammer, and it's futuristic counterpart Warhammer 40,000. Recently the masterminds at Games Workshop have added two new additions to these games; The Tomb Kings for Warhammer, and the Daemonhunters for Warhammer 40,000.

Any fan of Warhammer will remember the Khemri's birth back in White Dwarf #227 and #238. Over four years ago fans were introduced to "The Tomb Kings of Khemri Bestiary" and the long wait till an official release began. Back then you could simply use existing Undead as your Armies of Nehekhara, but now with the release of the Core Tomb Kings units you can take a true Khemri army to battle with your friends. With creative talents such as The Lord of the Rings Ringer Bearer Alessio Cavatore bringing us a new set of rules and magic to bring to the Tabletop, it was obvious from the start that the Khemri were in good hands.

Your Tomb Kings army will consist of either a Tomb King or Prince, and a Hierophant choice of either a High Liche Priest or a Liche Priest, and while this seems like a limitation, the limit ends there. From these early choices you're gifted with Troop Selections like The Tomb Guard, so loyal that those who lived at the time of their King's entombment stood at his side buried alive until their King rose and they were again called to serve.

The Tomb Kings adds a new flavor to the world of Warhammer that many players felt was missing from the much loved Tabletop Game. One such Tabletop Gamer was literally in shock at the sheer power of the Bone Giant's Unstopable Assault. With such new models as said Bone Giant, and the elegant warriors like the Ushabti Warhammer players are opened up to a new color and feel to their army options.

The Craftsmanship of these new Miniatures is incredible, thanks in no small part to Designers Dave Andrews, Juan Diaz, Colin Dixon, Colin Grayson, Mark Harrison, Aly Morrison and Trish Morrison. Comparing the Tomb Kings to other releases in the Warhammer line is like comparing a SideShow/Weta Statue to a Toy Biz action figure. These are just very high detail and well crafted models that Games Workshop has released to raise the bar in Tabletop Excellence yet again.

But what about our futuristic players in the 41st Millennia? Well as of this week fans are now able to swing by their local Games Workshop retailer and pick up the Daemonhunters Codex, the newest army in the Warhammer 40,000 Arena. The Daemonhunters are lead by the elite Ordo Malleus Inquisitors whose task is to cleanse the galaxy of the Daemonic presence at any cost. Able to utilize forces otherwise not available to the average Imperial Force the Daemohunters are the most feared the Empire has to offer.

With elements of Chaos threatening to infest the most inner ranks of the Imperium, the Inquisitors along with their Revenue of Henchmen, Sages and Survo Abominations made to look like cherubs and floating survo skulls call to order the Grey Knights to aide in their quest to cleanse the Galaxy of Chaos. These Grey Knights tower over the average Space Marine with enhanced psychic abilities and armor unseen in the 40k Universe.

Design wise the Daemonhunters utilize the best of existing Imperial Technology and bring to life characters we'd only ever seen in art form in the various Codices. Something that players of all cultures have been pining for for years. With Lord of the Rings in full force, and these fine releases to it's cousin games Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 it really is a great time to be a Tabletop Gamer!

Do you play Lord of the Rings, Warhammer, or Warhammer 40,000? Want to share your armies with our fans here at Gaming Havens? Drop us a line! Send your Battle Reports and images to Havens@TheOneRing.net today!

Billy Boyd News 1: Burlington, ON Appearance
Xoanon @ 1:13 pm EST

LORD OF THE RINGS STAR BILLY BOYD COMING TO BURLINGTON MARCH 19

Burlington - Actor Billy Boyd attends a one night special screening of Scottish short films March 19 at the Showcase Burlington Cineplex Odeon (3325 Harvester Road) presented by the Film Circuit, a division of the Toronto International Film Festival Group. The shorts programme is part of a first-year collaborative project between Scottish Screen, the Edinburgh Filmhouse in Scotland and the Film Circuit. The programme begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the door.

Boyd stars in the 25-minute sci-fi short SNIPER 470, in which he plays an outer space marksman defending the earth from alien outlaws. The actor is best known for playing the hobbit "Pippin" in the Oscar nominated LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING and THE TWO TOWERS. Boyd's film SNIPER 470 is one of six shorts being screened. The programme lineup in screening order is:

CRY FOR BOBO (2001, UK, 9') David Cairns
STATION (1999, UK, 15') Jackie Oudney
POACHED (1999, UK, 19') Justin Molotnikov
NIGHTWINDOWS (2001, UK, 3') Anwyn Beier
BEST MAN (2001, UK, 17') Becky Brazil
SNIPER 470 (2002, UK, 25') Paul Holmes

CRY FOR BOBO is a frantic knockabout tragedy as Bobo is sent to clown prison for a daring but silly crime; STATION is a well-crafted tale of passengers in limbo; POACHED has two brothers escaping their dysfunctional family to go fishing one afternoon; the animated NIGHTWINDOWS turns the viewer into a voyeur, offering brief but compelling glimpses into people's private worlds; and in BEST MAN, the title character is too self-absorbed in his ceremonial duty at a wedding to consider the things that really matter.

"The collaboration between the Film Circuit and its UK partners provides international exposure for these films," said Cam Haynes, Director of the Film Circuit. "It also helps create wonderful networking possibilities for filmmakers in the UK and Canada."

This is the third stop in Canada for Boyd. Earlier visits included the Medicine Hat Film Festival (March 13) and the Edmonton International Film Festival (March 15).

The Film Circuit is a grassroots initiative which promotes and facilitates screenings of Canadian and international independent films in more than 100 communities across Canada and abroad. These activities ensure cultural access to residents, promote national artists and films, and generate significant economic benefits for both the Canadian film industry and the local community. Programmes earlier this year include the Volkswagen Canadian Short Film Showcase, that featured among the very best Canadian short films from across the country.

The Film Circuit is generously sponsored by
Global, Telefilm Canada, Ontario Trillium Foundation,
Ontario Media Development Corporation, Bell Canada, IFC - The Independent Film Channel, Warner Bros. ,
Directors Guild of Canada - Ontario,
Cineplex Odeon Corporation, Famous Players Inc., and Volkswagen.

Special thanks to Bell Mobility, Harbinger Foundation, S.M. Blair Family Foundation, Sleeman Brewing & Malting Co. Ltd., and Thrifty Car Rental.

Billy Boyd News 2: Medicine Hat Appearance
Xoanon @ 1:06 pm EST

LORD OF THE RINGS STAR BILLY BOYD ATTENDS
MEDICINE HAT FILM FESTIVAL MARCH 13

Medicine Hat – Actor Billy Boyd attends a special screening of Scottish short films March 13 at the Monarch Theatre (609 2 Street SE) presented by the Film Circuit, a division of the Toronto International Film Festival Group and the Medicine Hat Film Festival. The shorts programme is part of a first-year collaborative project between Scottish Screen, the Edinburgh Filmhouse in Scotland and the Film Circuit. The programme begins at 7 p.m. Tickets available at the door.

Boyd stars in the 25-minute sci-fi short SNIPER 470, in which he plays an outer space marksman defending the earth from alien outlaws. The actor is best known for playing the hobbit "Pippin" in the Oscar nominated LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING and THE TWO TOWERS. Boyd's film SNIPER 470 is one of six shorts being screened. The programme lineup in screening order is:

CRY FOR BOBO (2001, UK, 9') David Cairns
STATION (1999, UK, 15') Jackie Oudney
POACHED (1999, UK, 19') Justin Molotnikov
NIGHTWINDOWS (2001, UK, 3') Anwyn Beier
BEST MAN (2001, UK, 17') Becky Brazil
SNIPER 470 (2002, UK, 25') Paul Holmes

CRY FOR BOBO is a frantic knockabout tragedy as Bobo is sent to clown prison for a daring but silly crime; STATION is a well-crafted tale of passengers in limbo; POACHED has two brothers escaping their dysfunctional family to go fishing one afternoon; the animated NIGHTWINDOWS turns the viewer into a voyeur, offering brief but compelling glimpses into people's private worlds; and in BEST MAN, the title character is too self-absorbed in his ceremonial duty at a wedding to consider the things that really matter.

"The collaboration between the Film Circuit and its UK partners provides international exposure for these films," said Cam Haynes, Director of the Film Circuit. "It also helps create wonderful networking possibilities for filmmakers in the UK and Canada."

Boyd's other visits in Canada include the Edmonton International Film Festival (March 15) and Burlington, Ontario (March 19).

The Film Circuit is a grassroots initiative which promotes and facilitates screenings of Canadian and international independent films in more than 100 communities across Canada and abroad. These activities ensure cultural access to residents, promote national artists and films, and generate significant economic benefits for both the Canadian film industry and the local community. Programmes earlier this year include the Volkswagen Canadian Short Film Showcase, that featured among the very best Canadian short films from across the country.

The Film Circuit is generously sponsored by
Global, Telefilm Canada, Ontario Trillium Foundation,
Ontario Media Development Corporation, Bell Canada, IFC - The Independent Film Channel, Warner Bros., Directors Guild of Canada - Ontario,
Cineplex Odeon Corporation, Famous Players Inc., and Volkswagen.

Special thanks to Bell Mobility, Harbinger Foundation, S.M. Blair Family Foundation, Sleeman Brewing & Malting Co. Ltd., and Thrifty Car Rental.

3-10-03 Latest News

ARMS & TACTICS: LOTR TCG FAQ - PART 2! REVISED
Lao_of_Gondor @ 6:56 pm EST

REVISED VERSION: 3/12/03

UPDATE: There have been clarifications made to the following Entries:

Frodo, Tired Traveller
Hornburg Armory
Dunlending Arsonist

Please reference these specific entries as being updated with new rules clarifications. Thanks!

Welcome to the second FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) List dedicated to The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game!

If you would like to read and reference the first ARMS and TACTICS FAQ, please click HERE.

In this second installment, we will delve deeper into the LOTR TCG in order to better understand many of the more common, uncommon and rare situations where card texts and rules applications become unclear and questionable. Be sure to keep your most current rulebook handy since this FAQ does site specific areas of text from both the Starter and Deluxe rulebooks found respectively in both the Two Towers Basic and Deluxe Starter Decks. And without further delay...


THE OFFICIAL GAMING HAVENS
LORD OF THE RINGS TCG FAQ - REVISED 3.11.03
Part 2: Delving Deeper towards Shadow and Flame

Q. If I bid 4 twilight and place 4 burdens on Frodo, Tired Traveller and I use Faramir, Captain of Gondor (CoG) and Mablung as my starting companions - can I remove 2 burdens - one for each Ring-Bound man played? Are Faramir and Mablung considered being "played" even if they have no twilight cost as the starting Fellowship?

A. From Page 10 in the Deluxe Rulebook:

Starting Fellowship: Your fellowship begins with Frodo bearing The One Ring. You may play other companions (not allies, possessions, artifacts or conditions) from your draw deck (in any order), as long as the total twilight cost of your starting companions is 4 or less.

You do not add twilight tokens for playing your starting fellowship. Site text is not active when the starting fellowships are played.

You may use "When you play" game text on a starting companion. You may spot a companion in your starting fellowship as a requirement to play another starting companion.

CLARIFICATION: Playing Starting Companions is a START OF GAME situation. Frodo's game text is a FELLOWSHIP PHASE action. Therefore, since you are not playing these starting companions in the Fellowship phase then you are NOT able to remove those burdens from Frodo, Tired Traveller as per his game text.

Q. Does a companion's text apply if I want to use him in my starting Fellowship? For example: Mablung, Soldier of Gondor. His text says: "To play, spot a Ring-bound man". Would that only apply if he's in my hand and I want to play him? Or would I have to also have a Ring-bound man in my starting fellowship to play him as per his game text?

A. As stated in the rules excerpt above, since you are playing companion's from your deck, then he or she must be played in accordance to the rules of their text as well. Therefore, if you want to use Mablung in your starting Fellowship, you must have a Ring-Bound man and spot that companion in play BEFORE Mablung can be played. Then you may play Mablung accordingly.

Q. Can I exchange a weapon that's been played? If so, where do I put the one that I am exchanging? Example: Sword of Gondor is in play on Aragorn. I draw Ranger's sword. Can I give Sword of Gondor to another Gondor companion and then play Ranger's sword on Aragorn? Or, if I do not have another Gondor companion, who can use this possession? Can I discard Sword of Gondor from Aragorn in order to play Ranger's sword?

A. From Page 23 in the Deluxe Rulebook:

Transfer of Artifacts and Possessions: You may transfer an artifact or possession between your Free Peoples characters during your fellowship phase by paying the twilight cost for that artifact or possession again. (Minions may not transfer artifacts or possessions.) Both characters involved in the transfer must be at the same site. (Remember that an ally is always at his home site during your fellowship phase.)

An artifact or possession may be transferred only to a character who may bear it (as indicated by a "bearer must be" phrase in its text). You may not voluntarily discard a possession or artifact borne by your character.

Transferring a card is not playing that card, even though you must pay its twilight cost. "When you play" game text is not performed when transferring a card.

Q. Troop Of Uruk-Hai says that a companion doesn't gain strength bonuses from weapons. But does the TEXT of the weapon still apply? Example: Bow of the Galadhrim makes Legolas strength +1 and its text says "Each time
Legolas wins a skirmish, you may would a minion."

A. The text of the weapon DOES still apply since the text does not add a strength bonus. However, in the case of RANGER'S SWORD - Blade of Aragorn, this card's grants ARAGORN +2 as both a strength modifier and as a text based strength bonus only against an Uruk-Hai. Against the Troop of Uruk Hai - BOTH strength modifiers are nullified as specifically addressed by the Troop's card text.

Q. Can you discard a companion who has already been played? Example: You already have 5 companions in play and you finally draw Aragorn and instead of having 6 companions, I would like to get rid of the weakest one
to replace him with Aragorn. Can I just discard him?

A. From Page 19 in the STARTER Rulebook:

You may not play a card from your hand to replace another card IN PLAY, even if those cards have the same card title or represent the same personality.

Q. HORNBURG ARMORY Site 6 text states "Fellowship: Play a possession to draw a card". If you play more than one possession, can you draw more than one card?

A. Yes. As long as you can fulfill the text of any card - unless it is an action which specifically states may only be executed once, then you may repeat that action until you are unable to do so. In this case, when you can no longer play possessions, then you cannot draw any more cards utilizing the site text.

CLARIFICATION - RULE OF FOUR: Remember, you are only allowed to draw no more than 4 cards during your Fellowship Phase. So, if you have other means of drawing cards, aside from using the text of this site - you are still only able to draw a limit of 4 total cards.

For example, Eowyn and Legolas are in play. You play Eowyn's sword on Eowyn: Draw a card. The card drawn is Bow of the Galadhrim. Play the Bow on Legolas: Draw a card. That card is another powerful Fellowship support card. So, as seen by the example - this site allows you to not only arm companions with weapons and armor, but it also allows you several added extra benefits of card cycling. However, the balance - or drawback - is that the twilight pool will become larger with the additional twilight generated by playing multiple possessions.

Q. The Dunland Minion DUNLAND ROBBER states "Each time this minion wins a skirmish he is strength +2 and fierce until the regroup phase." Since you don't skirmish again until after the regroup phase, how
would this apply?

A. From Page 16 in the Deluxe Rulebook:

FIERCE: Assignment Phase (Fierce): During the fierce assignment phase, ignore an effect that results in assignment with a minion that is not fierce. A minion must be FIERCE at the START of the fierce assignment phase to participate in a fierce skirmish.

An ally that was able to be assigned to a normal skirmish (because the fellowship is at that ally's home or as a result of a card effect) is also able to be assigned to a fierce skirmish.

EXAMPLE: The FIERCE Skirmish (phase) takes place after the normal Skirmish Phase and BEFORE the REGROUP phase. Therefore, if the Dunland Robber wins his first Skirmish, during the Fierce skirmish phase you must re-assign him to another companion (or the same companion) and he will then receive the +2 strength bonus. After that Fierce Skrimish - then you enter the regroup phase.

SCENARIO: During assignment - you place the Dunland Robber against Gimli. Now you enter normal Skirmish phase. Gimli loses. Since Gimli has lost - the Dunland Robber is now FIERCE and strength +2. Now you must fight the Dunland Robber again. This is the FIERCE Skirmish phase. When this phase is over, you then enter the regroup phase.

Q. The HORNBURG COURTYARD Site 5 states "While you can spot Aragorn, the shadow number of Hornburg Courtyard is -2". What does this mean and why is this important?

A. The shadow number on a SITE card is the number in the black circle - the twilight cost if you will - and NOT the site number. Therefore, while you can spot Aragorn (as part of your Fellowship) as you move to Site 5: Hornburg Courtyard - the twilight cost is -2 of its original Shadow Number. This helps the Fellowship reduce the twilight pool by 2 and could possibly limit the amount of minions and resources the Shadow player may use during his Shadow phase.

Q. STILL THEY CAME "Skirmish: exert an Uruk-hai who is not assigned to a skirmish to make another Uruk-hai strength +3." When would you have minions not assigned to skirmishes?

A. Remember, Skirmishes are always a one-to-one singular Skirmish event. Meaning that if an Uruk-Hai is skirmishing Gandalf, and Gandalf loses - that skirmish is over and you move to the next skirmish, say Legolas versus another Uruk-Hai.

NOTE: This is why assignment and skirmish order is so important. When this happens, the Uruk-Hai skirmishing Gandalf is no longer in a Skirmish and you now can play STILL THEY CAME and exert that Uruk-Hai in order to make the minion skirmishing Legolas strength +3. Skirmishes all fall under the SKIRMISH PHASE - the phase where all 'singular' skirmishes and Fierce skirmishes take place.

Q. WARMED UP A BIT "Stealth. Skirmish: Discard an unbound hobbit." A. Does this mean from your hand or from your playing area? B. what benefit would it be to discard any player. EXAMPLE: Pippin and Merry both have cards that say to add a burden or exert the Ring-bearer to discard them. WHY?

A. From page 39 in the Starter Rulebook:

DISCARD: The default meaning of the word "discard" is "discard from play." Discarding from other locations (such as from your hand or from the top of your draw deck) is always specified.

EXAMPLE: There are several reasons why you would use this card, or use the discard ability shared by Merry and Pippin. Treebeard: Earthborn and Gandalf: Greyhame are two of the biggest reasons, since you may discard an unbound Hobbit into Treebeard and play him later on. Or as in Gandalf: Greyhame's case - for 1 twilight, play a companion from your discard pile. This will save your Hobbits from an early overwhelming and keep them alive for future strategy towards the endgame. The penalty for using their game text is exerting or burdening the ring-bearer. With as much burden removal and companion healing that is available - this isn't really a major concern. However, discarding in this fashion is really only used as a last resort, or if your deck is designed to counter the effects of such a playing dynamic.


Q. DUNLENDING ARSONIST "Each time this minion wins a skirmish, play a Dunlending man from hand. His twilight cost is -2. That man is fierce and damage +1 until the regroup phase."

SCENARIO: Ok, so you've laid out all your minions, you maneuvered, shot arrows, assigned and skirmished. Now if this guy wins, and there is enough twilight pool to cover the -2 cost, you can pull out ANOTHER one? If you do that, how is it decided who he fights, especially if all companions have been assigned to a skirmish?

A. If you have the resources to play another Dunland minion, then he enters the FIERCE Skirmish Phase in the next ASSIGNMENT round.

EXAMPLE: You have 4 companions assigned one-to-one to fight four minions in play - two of which are Dunlending Arsonists. If both Dunlending Arsonists win, and if there is enough twilight in the pool, then each of the Dunlending Arsonists can use their game text to retrieve and play another Dunlending minion from the discard pile. Now you have 2 extra minions to re-assign and defend against in the FIERCE Skirmish Phase.

CLARIFICATION: FIERCE SKIRMISH Minions are subject to a secondary assignment phase after completion of the first Skirmish phase.

Q. Can you look through YOUR OWN discard pile at any time to count how many cards you've discarded of a certain type or any other reason other than searching for something that a card specifically tells you to go to your discard pile for?

A. From Page 22 in the Deluxe Rulebook:

DISCARD: Discard piles are always face-up, and cards are discarded one at a time so all players can see which cards are being discarded.

You may look through your own discard pile at any time, but you may not look through an opponent's discard pile.

When a card leaves play for any reason, any cards played on that card (or borne by or stacked on that card) are discarded.

Playing cards from draw deck or discard pile

The order of your discard pile is irrelevant, and you may place any card you wish on top after playing a card from there.

There is no penalty if you don't find (or choose not to play) a card you are looking for in your draw deck.


WHEW!!! Well I think that's enough for now. I hope this newest FAQ was able to shed some light on several of the newer and more difficult rules interpretations - which always seem to pop-up from time to time. And if there is something that has not yet been covered that you would like to see addressed - let us know! Please continue to send in all of your questions and concerns no matter how large or how small.

Thanks for reading and keep an eye out - or two as often as you can spare them - for the next installment of ARMS and TACTICS - The Official Gaming Havens LOTR FAQ!

And for all official and current tournament rulings and FAQ's, please visit DECIPHER.COM and DGMA.COM.

More to come...

Lao of Gondor

McKellen angling for TV Hobbit.
Tehanu @ 3:45 am EST

Ringer Spy Greylin sends this in from the Times in England; it was in their March 9 edition.

McKellen angles for a TV Hobbit
Richard Brooks, Arts Editor

SIR IAN McKELLEN wants to reprise his role as Gandalf in a television version of The Hobbit. The actor has already won many plaudits for playing the wizard in the film versions of The Lord of the Rings.

McKellen, who is currently appearing in a West End production of August Strindberg's play Dance of Death, has suggested to Peter Jackson, the director of the Rings trilogy, that he makes a television version of JRR Tolkien's novel The Hobbit, the prequel to the Lord of the Rings.

The Hobbit begins with Bilbo Baggins living very happily in a hobbit hole until Gandalf arrives with the dwarves to take him away. On their adventure they encounter elves, goblins and trolls.

"I've asked Peter if he'll do The Hobbit as a huge TV series," said McKellen, who for many years was best known as a stage actor. "All those different strands in the book seem perfect for TV. We could also do every scene of the book."

"It sounds a good idea to me," said Christine Crawshaw, chairman of the Tolkien Society. "Ian McKellen was perfect as Gandalf, though one or two people have said to me that he was not grumpy enough. I also think a long-running TV series is a good idea, as that way you won't have to cut anything.

"While I thought that the two film versions were good, particularly the Fellowship of the Ring, I'm a bit critical because so much had to be cut from the books."

McKellen believes that television could be a better medium than the cinema for The Hobbit. "I remember those marvellous BBC children's dramas they used to have on Sunday afternoons. This could fill that slot.

"I also think that TV could appeal more to Peter Jackson as he used to hint that after three movies he might be fed up with Tolkien."

The first two films, which have starred Elijah Woods as Frodo Baggins, Liv Tyler as Arwen and Christopher Lee as Saruman, have been huge successes. Both have already grossed more than £500m. The third, The Return of the King, will finish filming in New Zealand this summer before its release in December.

Jackson, who has established a huge set and infrastructure for the Rings near Wellington, has recently hinted that he might make The Hobbit, too. "He's not yet replied to my idea but I'm hopeful of persuading him," said McKellen.

The director is currently in Los Angleles and was not available for comment. However, it is understood that he would not be happy seeing anybody else make a version of the novel. [This is completely wrong - I've read interviews with Peter Jackson where he's said he'd look forward to being able to sit down in a cinema, relax, and watch somebody else's work on the Hobbit. - Tehanu]

The screen rights to the book are held by the movie producer Saul Zaentz, who won Oscars for The English Patient, Amadeus and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.


New Line Cinema, which made the Rings movies, is thought to have first right of refusal on producing a screen version of The Hobbit.

3-09-03 Latest News

Weekend Roundup
Xoanon @ 11:56 pm EST

SHOP: Weekly eBay Items

Weekly Cast Watch

LOTR Loeses SAG Award To 'Chicago'

Radio Watch: Chris Lee On BBC3

Media Watch: PK Sci-Fi Webzine

Brad Dourif & Chris Lee At Londonexpo.com

GAMING: Last Alliance Celebrates Growth

The Ring Goes Ever On: 2005

Monaghan's 'Nightmare' Playing In Pleasantville

Playing for a living

Harvey Mudd College Goes Geek

ExtremeTech.com: Digitising Middle-earth

Star Wars is better than....No wait, LOTR is.....

Jaunt to PJ's Country Mansion

Viggo Mortensen News

The Unusual Career of Ngila Dickson

Intrepid Journeys

Calling Kiwi Craig Parker Fans

Towers Extended Edition News

SLU's Mortensen Appearance Report

3-08-03 Latest News

Towers Extended Edition News
Demosthenes @ 7:38 am EST

Ringer Fan Holbytla writes: I recently accumulated quite a backlog of movie/gaming magazines, and I've been slowly working my way through them. Most have little, if anything, to say about our favorite movies. So imagine my delight to turn to page 14 of the March issue of Cinescape magazine and find an interview with PJ about what to expect in the EE DVD of TT. And yes, Virginia, he says we will get ent draughts!

"There's whimsical stuff with Treebeard that I like a lot, where he's reciting poetry and it's appallingly bad poetry," PJ is quoted as saying. "There's a scene with Merry and Pippin drinking Ent draught, which if you've read the book you know makes them a little bit taller. They being hobbits, they quite like the idea that this magical fluid makes them bigger."

PJ goes on to say that most of the added scenes feature Treebeard or Gollum, which is requiring WETA to create 160 additional computer shots (the entire theatrical version of TT had 800). "I think it's going to follow a similar kind of pattern to what The Fellowship did in the sense that a lot of the scenes that we cut out are basically character development and dialogue scenes. There's not much in the way of action."

3-07-03 Latest News

3D Golden Hall Puzzle Pics!
Xoanon @ 3:06 pm EST

Get yours today!

Nazgul#5 writes:

Long time visitor, first time poster. I got the Golden Hall 3D puzzle from my wife on Vday, and just finished it last night. I charted my progress with a series of pictures throughout it all, and wanted to share with you the end result. I'd HIGHLY recommend this puzzle if you are into 3D puzzles, or just anything Tolkien. This was my first one I've ever done, but was an enjoyable challenge that awakened an unusual amount of patience and dedication in completing. I may even get Orthanc now! [More]

Hall Of Fire Chats This Weekend
Demosthenes @ 5:00 am EST

Isildur: shaper of the Third Age?

There are few Numenorean heroes with a more remarkable history - or a more ambiguous persona. He was capable of great deeds - at great cost to himself he saved the seed of the White Tree from under the nose of Sauron and bore it to Middle Earth. Sauron hated him above all other men and elves, and even after Isildur was long dead, poured all his malice and hatred against Minas Ithil - Isildur's city.

Yet he was also responsible for the Oathbreaker's curse and for the survival of the Ring when it should have been destroyed.

Through his actions, Isildur left a lasting legacy on the history Middle Earth, setting the stage for of events the Third Age. This weekend we'll discuss Isildur's Isildur's important place in the history of Middle Earth and ponder what drove this unique character.

Suggested Reading:
Unfinished Tales - "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields"
Silmarillion - "Akallabeth" and "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
Fellowship of the Ring - "Council of Elrond"
Return of the King - "Passing of the Grey Company"

Upcoming Chats:
March 15-16: RoTK B 5, Ch 3: The Muster of Rohan.

Place:
#thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net's chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire .

Times:
Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET]

Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]

ET = Eastern Time, USA's East Coast
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe

Do you have a possible topic for Hall of Fire? Drop us a line at halloffire@theonering.net. And don't forget that you can check out previous chats here.

And if you'd like to keep up to date with forthcoming Hall of Fire topics and announcements, subscribe to our mailing list here.

3-06-03 Latest News

Elvish Lesson #4 Transcript
Jincey @ 8:11 pm EST

This week's lesson in our series "How to Construct a Sindarin Sentence" covered derivation. Here's the log, for those who couldn't make it in!

*** Log file opened: 3/5/2003 7:01:55 PM

[jincey] welcome to lesson#4 of "how to write a Sindarin Sentance"
[jincey] elostrion will speak a bit, then take questions
[Elostrion] Tonight we are going to look over Derivation.
[Elostrion] Derivation refers to the adding to/altering of words by the use of suffixes or prefixes.
[Elostrion] As well as, the deduction of words from other languages.
[Elostrion] The latter can be quite confusing and complicated.
[Elostrion] Deducing a probable word is actually quite faulty as well.
[Elostrion] We can theorize all day long about what the word for "extrapolate" is, but Tolkien, very likely, would have had a different word.
[Elostrion] Let's go over the easier section first.
[Elostrion] There are four categories that Mr. Derdzinski divides the 5 alteration suffixes/prefixes into.
[Elostrion] Augumentative
[Elostrion] Diminutive
[Elostrion] Pejorative
[Elostrion] and Negative
[Elostrion] Augumentative:
[Elostrion] We add the suffix "-on".
[Elostrion] This will make the noun mean "great ___"
[Elostrion] "siri-on" - "great river"
[Elostrion] Diminutive:
[Elostrion] We add the suffix "-eg".
[Elostrion] Doing so will diminish the meaning.
[Elostrion] "nogoth-eg" - "dwarf-let"
[Elostrion] Pejorative:
[Elostrion] This will add a negative element.
[Elostrion] "u/ú-"
[Elostrion] "ú-marth" - "ill-fate"
[Elostrion] Negative:
[Elostrion] There are two prefixes in this section...
[Elostrion] "pen-" and "al-"
[Elostrion] Both 'reverse' the meaning.
[Elostrion] "pen-adar" - "father-less"
[Elostrion] "al-firin" - "im-mortal"
[Elostrion] This covers all these.
[Elostrion] Someone asked me a question last lesson about the process Mr. Derdzinski went through to reconstruct "Navaer"
[Elostrion] These are his words:
[Elostrion] Quenya _namárië_ means 'be in goodness' and consists of _na-_ 'be' + _márie_
[Elostrion] 'goodness'. My reconstruction is a hypothetical evolution of EC
[Elostrion] _*na-magariie_ to Sindarin form. The intervocalic _-m-_ becomes _-v-_ in
[Elostrion] Sindarin, the intervocalic _-g-_ vanishes, and long _-a-_ becomes affected
[Elostrion] by final _-iié_ and becomes a diphtong.
[Elostrion] And we have _*navaer_
[Elostrion] This represents a fairly simple example of reconstruction.
[Elostrion] Compound words are simple in comparison.
[Elostrion] If one wanted to deduce what a Quenya word would have changed to over the evolution into Sindarin...
[Elostrion] One would have to trace all the changes all the way back to Primitive Elvish and then follow the chain forward to Modern Sindarin.
[Elostrion] This can get extremely complicated.
[Elostrion] As you can well imagine.
[Elostrion] I don't have any exampled for you now, because I have not had the need to attempt to do anything of this sort myself.
[Elostrion] I think I'm ready to take questions now.
[Elostrion] Are there any?
[Vardaer] i think i have some
[JulieOh] Can the 4 alterations be added to any word form (e.g., nouns and verbs both), or is it more restrictive? We've seen "u-" with verbs, but I'm not familiar with vocab enough to know of others.
[Not_Maedhros] What is the difference between pen- and al-?
[Elostrion] When "u-/ú-" is added to verbs it is being used as a completely different particle.
[JulieOh] ahhh, okay, so these are noun-modifications only, then?
[Elostrion] Even though it has somewhat the same effect, don't think that this is true for all of the prefixes/suffixes I listed.
[Elostrion] Yes JulieOh
[JulieOh] thanks! OK, I'm done. Next. :)
[Vardaer] k, i do not get diminuitive
[Vardaer] do something else with that, please
[ILookLikeLuthien] okay, I have missed the lessons before, so I shall read them before I ask any questions about this one...but a few
[Elostrion] Adding the diminutive suffix simply diminishes the meaning.
[Elostrion] "Dwarf-let" is a bad example, something like "small-Dwarf"
[Vardaer] ah
[Vardaer] ok
[Vardaer] sort of like, maybe an insult, perhaps
[Elostrion] I suppose it could be.
[Vardaer] no
[Vardaer] ok
[ILookLikeLuthien] I have a question that isn't specific to this...but is it helpful at all to already be on the bilingual path when trying to learn Elvish?
[Elostrion] Oh absolutely!
[Vardaer] i wouldnt think so
[Not_Maedhros] What is the difference between pen- and al-?
[ILookLikeLuthien] Alright, because I am taking French currently also, I'm in my third year of that
[Elostrion] If one has some previous experience with language study, it is immensely helpful.
[Vardaer] i am just gettting this confused with german and some french
[ILookLikeLuthien] Splendid.
[ILookLikeLuthien] This should be different enough from French that I will be okay...I hope...
[Elostrion] "pen-" means "less"
[Elostrion] "al-" means "no/not"
[Not_Maedhros] Ah
[Not_Maedhros] pen is without, al isn't?
[Not_Maedhros] :p
[Elostrion] "pen-" = "without, lacking, less"
[ILookLikeLuthien] so that's why al-firin is immortal...I see
[Not_Maedhros] I see.
[Bullmaiden] what's the difference between "al-" and "u-"
[ILookLikeLuthien] Elostrion, I do appreciate this, and I will read the transcripts of the earlier lessons hopefully before I come to the next lesson also.
[Elostrion] Not much Bullmaiden
[Not_Maedhros] BTW, thanks for posting the Namárië/Navaer reconstruction.
[Elostrion] I am happy to hear that ILookLikeLuthien
[Elostrion] You're welcome Not_Maedhros
[Thoronog] Why is ú- considered pejorative and al- considered negative?
[Elostrion] This is based on Mr. Derdzinski's theory. I don't know his exact reasons.
[ILookLikeLuthien] I think it would help to think of Pejorative as having a negative feel, and to think of Negative as meaning opposite...
[ILookLikeLuthien] Pejorative seems to have that tone of negativity, if you follow me.
[Bullmaiden] agreed
[Elostrion] Exactly, negative "reverses" the meaning
[Thoronog] pejorative means "disparaging", but ú- is just an opposite, isn't it?
[Elostrion] You are absolutely right ILookLikeLuthien
[ILookLikeLuthien] sweet!
[ILookLikeLuthien] I like it when I understand languages, they're so fascinating.
[Elostrion] It is, but I think here it conotates more than just a "360"
[Vardaer] yes, it is
[ILookLikeLuthien] Elostrion, are there many tenses in Elvish, such as the Imperfect, subjunctive, conditional, et cetera?
[Elostrion] Remember that these were used in actual attested Tolkien text.
[Elostrion] Oh dear yes.
[Elostrion]There is:
[Elostrion] Infinitive, Continuative Present, Aorist, Past, Irregular Past, Continuative Future, Simple Future, Subjunctive, etc.
[ILookLikeLuthien] Good. Because I seem to understand tenses fairly well, the only time that I really get behind in French is if I don't put in the effort to memorize.
[JulieOh] is there any difference between u- and ú- ?
[Eruner] isn't the existence of the aorist and the two future tenses debated?
[Elostrion] No, simply alternates of each other.
[ILookLikeLuthien] Aorist, I have never hears of that tenst...this should be fun.
[Elostrion] It is Eruner
[Eruner] ah
[Elostrion] Aorist implies a timless truth
[Not_Maedhros] Sheep eat grass.
[Elostrion] It will be fun.
[JulieOh] are there any strict rules as far as when to use one over the other? (u- and ú-)
[ILookLikeLuthien] About how many lessons do you think there will be? Just as a sort of guess.
[Not_Maedhros] vs sheep are eating grass.
[ILookLikeLuthien] (sorry Julie)
[Elostrion] Not that I've come across JulieOh
[19:30] at least that's how it is in Greek
[JulieOh] ok, thanks
[Not_Maedhros] The sheep are eating grass is the present tense. The sheep eat grass is aorist.
[ILookLikeLuthien] oh okay!
[Not_Maedhros] "The sheep eat grass" imples that the sheep eat grass as a continual habit.
[Eruner] in Quenya, the aorist is like a normal present tense while the present tense is like the present continuative
[Vardaer] i have neber heard of aorist before
[Elostrion] I hope to continue with a more "in-depth" series after we finish this beginner's course. But, I suppose around 7/8.
[Eruner] aorist is a tense in Quenya and a suggested tense in Sindarin
[Vardaer] will you teach quenya, too
[Vardaer] i would like to learn that
[ILookLikeLuthien] thank you, because in French I have learned present, future, past, imperfect past, future using the verb to go (i know it's French name, not its English), and conditional, and I am starting subjunctive now
[Eruner] download ardalambion's course!
[Not_Maedhros] http://www.ardalambion.com/
[Vardaer] ok
[Vardaer] ill go there
[Not_Maedhros] Helge K. Fauskanger = teh god.
[Eruner] thaks maedhros
[Elostrion] I actually prefer Sindarin, but if once we are done with Sindarin.
[ILookLikeLuthien] I would like Sindarin more...is that what is used in the films?
[Eruner] indeed
[Eruner] ;)
[Thoronog] Elostrion, you didn't mentioned anything about these prefixes causing mutations
[Elostrion] Mostly
[Elostrion] That is all encompased within Consonant Mutation
[Elostrion] I will mention it then.
[ILookLikeLuthien] I am in such a good mood now that I've gotten to participate in at least one of these
[Eruner] when will we get to mutations?
[JulieOh] is that next week's topic?
[Elostrion] In 3 weeks
[Eruner] ok
[JulieOh] ok, thanks. Need to prepare. ;)
[Elostrion] We still have Conjugation!
[ILookLikeLuthien] I don't know what mutations are necessarily...
[ILookLikeLuthien] conjugation is fun.
[ILookLikeLuthien] Memorization.
[ILookLikeLuthien] Are there many regular verbs?
[Elostrion] please visit:
[Elostrion] http://www.theonering.net/barlimans/elvish
[Eruner] mutations are certain changes that can happen to the first consonant of a word...they're remarkably annoying
[Elostrion] I believe my consonant mutation charts are up
[Elostrion] I love them!
[ILookLikeLuthien] oh.
[Eruner] well, but they're a pain to memorize
[Elostrion] They add to the theme of ridiculous complication.
[Eruner] oh yes, of course!
[Bullmaiden] LoL
[ILookLikeLuthien] Alright, so if I go there...will it have many different things on it?
[Elostrion] I don't understand?
[Eruner] what's your opinion about the "irregular" past tense i.e. car > agor?
[ILookLikeLuthien] go to that website
[Not_Maedhros] Nixon dirksen nasahist, rebozo boogaloo...
[Elostrion>]Let's cross that bridge when we come to it Eruner
[ILookLikeLuthien] will it have many different elvish topics, I mean
[Eruner] ok
Not_Maedhros likes to cross bridges before he sees them.
Eruner lauges at Maedhros
[Elostrion] I got a new game today, so I'm going to go if no one has any objections.
[Eruner] laughs
[Eruner] ok
[Eruner] thanks, elostrion
[Eruner] when will the transcript be up?
[Elostrion] It is absolutely my pleasure!
[JulieOh] go ahead, thanks as always, Elostrion!
[Bullmaiden] Thanks
[Not_Maedhros] What game?
[Vardaer] thanks elostrion
[jincey] thanks elostrion : )
[Eruner] hen hannon
[Not_Maedhros] Thanks for the lesson Elostrion.


Handcarved LOTR Chesset
Xoanon @ 7:04 pm EST

Robert Ironside writes:

I've been a Tolkien fan all my life and have carved a couple of sets in the past on this theme but I like to think that this is the best yet.

The chess set is hand carved out of Basswood [Limewood] and took me almost two months of almost solid carving [even weekends] to finish. No patterns are used or templates. I just start carving and see what happens [my approach]. I've read the books a number of times [lost count after 4] and just try different renderings of the characters I've known in my mind for 30 years [i'm 41].

Email Robert for more info

The Lord of the Rings TCG: How it has Positively Changed Peoples' Lives!
Lao_of_Gondor @ 5:55 pm EST

Hey gang! Usually I report in with strategy guides, FAQ's and a host of all other sorts of LOTR TCG related gaming material. But today is different. Today, I would like speak to all of you with a different voice - a voice of reflection.

The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game is so many things to so many people. For the competitive player, it is the chance to seek out paths of glory against skilled opponents and fierce competitors. For enthusiasts, it is an opportunity to collect yet another precious and timeless collectible to place alongside their numerous Tolkien based treasures, books, maps, photos and figurines. For the casual gaming fans, it is a pocket-sized travel-ready aspect of the literary work–perfectly suited for the occasional pick-up game where socializing is the goal, not winning.

And then for many others...including myself, it is all of the above, some aspects more than others - but most importantly–it is the way that has changed many personal areas of my life...for the better.

I have seen first-hand how other trading card game communities coexist. I have felt the gritty essence of the competitive spirit loosed upon tournaments and the players. I have seen these communities fall under the yoke of such strife! But thankfully, I have not seen much of this type of presence in our game. Quite the contrary. The Lord of the Rings TCG is THE game which has given us the opportunity as competitors, enthusiasts and fans to grow together as friends, to become closer as people and to share how the Lord of the Rings experience has influenced each one of our lives.

The Lord of the Rings TCG has brought us so many special, precious and life-affirming possibilities. It has provided us with possibly one of the most important life changing opportunities we seldomly ever take advantage of: the opportunity of meeting new people! For me personally, this game has given me more than I could have ever hoped for. Throughout the course of my career in this game, I have met and become friends with incredible people (including fellow TOR.n staffers Flinch, Quickbeam and Calisuri), become a Rider of Rohan (Decipher's Product Champion Program), become a staff member of TOR.n, and most importantly - I met one of my best friends, Ram Deleon, and recently became Godfather to his son - Samuel. Who knew that The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game could offer so much? Maybe it's new motto should be: One game - many blessings.

Here is another incredible story I would like all of you to really read. It is probably one of the most wonderful LOTR TCG life-changing tales I have ever read. This comes from the desk of Kyle Heuer:

Couple Gets Engaged Playing The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game

About four months ago Decipher was emailed a request by a player of The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game who was preparing to ask his long-time girlfriend to marry him. Mike Sugden and his girlfriend, Beth Brown, had grown very close while playing The Lord of the Rings TCG. The time they spent playing the game with each other meant so much to them both that he decided to propose while they played a game.

Mike's request was simple: would Decipher make a special card for him to propose to Beth with? Decipher responded with a resounding 'yes'.

Mike worked with us to develop the game text that would be on the card. He wanted Beth to have a choice for both the answer to his proposal and gameplay. Mike selected the culture, title, cost, card type, and game-text. Then the card, Will You Marry Me?, was ready.

Valentines Day (February 14) finally rolls around and Mike is set with his cards. He builds Beth's deck for her – as he usually does – but this time leaves out any card that would let her look at his hand. Mike needed to surprise her with the card and an untimely peek from Sting would ruin the whole proposal. About half way through the game Mike draws the card and a ring to play it with. Mike is incredibly nervous at this point, but is ready to propose.

It becomes Mike's turn to play, but just as he is about to play the card to propose there is a knock at the door. Beth's best friend dropped by to hang out and chat. Mike is now stuck on the brink of proposing to the woman he loves! Twenty minutes later, after some coaxing from Mike, Beth's friend finally departs.

As Mike begins play, he plays a Sting to his Frodo and looks at Beth's hand. Mike wanted to make sure that Beth had plenty of minions to play so that there would be a real choice for her – there were five big minions for Beth to play. Mike plays the card and the ring for Beth, then adds 30 twilight into the pool. Beth gets confused and asks to read the card.

After a few moments of silence, Beth looks at Mike and asks, "Do you expect an answer right away?"

Mike responds, "We can leave it here in the Shadow phase for a bit."

Beth looks at the card again, then at Mike, then at the card again. She starts to cry. Through the tears she finally gave him his answer... "I won't play any minions."

Mike and Beth embrace.

Believe it or not, they continued the game after all that. Mike went on to win the game, but technically Beth won as Mike had an illegal deck. Sorry Mike, have to give it to her :)

I had the pleasure of talking with Beth since the proposal and I asked her what she thought of all this. She said it was perfectly "geeky-romantic" and she is very happy. She did say that she was disappointed that she couldn't play any of her minions, because she would have smashed him with what she had in her hand.

Congratulations to both of you.

Kyle Heuer
Promotions Coordinator

To view the article in it's entirety and to see the custom made proposal card, please click HERE

The "Proposal" card is precious in a very, very special way, and I think Decipher deserves a great deal of acclaim for responding to this type of deep personal request. I mean, this falls right in line with some of the great proposal gestures of all time! Most importantly however is that two fans' lives have been incredibly changed forever thanks to what essentially is just a "simple trading card game". Wow, stories like this really pull at the heartstrings!

If you have a story on how the Lord of the Rings has positively affected your life in one form or another, please share it with us. We would love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading,

Lao of Gondor

TV & Media Watch: Gollum & LOTR DVDs
Xoanon @ 1:56 pm EST

Mary Ann writes:

I was trying to get my kids to go to bed tonight while my husband was watching 'Screen Savers'. My ears perked up when I heard that on tomorrow night's show they're going to have something about the special effects of Spiderman and Gollum revealed.

Also, FOTR has a short mention in this week's (March 10 issue) Newsweek. On "The Tip Sheet" on page 75, FOTR is noted under "Collector's Guide to DVD Bests" for its "Extras." The comment says, "One ring may rule all, but takes four dazzling discs to capture the movie's magic."

Asian LOTR Cast
Xoanon @ 1:44 pm EST

What if the cast of LOTR were all Asian? A newspaper has fun with Photoshop and shows us the results!


3-05-03 Latest News

Rennes Tolkien Gallery Returns!
Xoanon @ 10:36 am EST

From John howe:

For those of you within driving flying walking distance of the city of Rennes in France, the gallery show is back.

From March 29th to April 5th, it will be at the Bilbiothèque de l'Université Rennes 2, Campus Villejean.

Naturally, there is not just the exhibition, but a host of conferences, round tables, debates and other events. The complete program can be found at here.

I'll be signing books at the librairie "Critic" on Wednesday April 2nd at 3 p.m. and participating in a forum on Thursday. (I'll confirm all these times and dates, I'm never really sure exactly what I'm doing at these events, I just go where I'm told and do what I'm ordered...)


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