FFG AMA with Andrew Navarro

[Durins_Father 146]

They don't have the rights to Second Age, and I don't think Scouring will be a part of the cycle, as it is at the other side of the world. But it could be the 2020 Gen Con scenario, if we get one. As for player cards, it has been speculated that Wilyador would be in this cycle, which I am all for. Spirit Aragorn is also reasonably certain, as it would be a nice tie-back to the Core Set if the last hero of this cycle matches the very first hero we ever got in the Core Set. As for other things FFG will cram into the cycle, we have seen a bunch of fan-requested cards in this cycle and the last one already, so I hope they continue this trend. Getting Tom Bombadil makes me think some other big cards are on the horizon, though I can't think of anyone off the top of my head. Blue Wizards would be nice, but again, licencing...

[Wandalf the Gizzard 370]

Hold on. 

Does FFG have the rights to the Fourth Age? 😮

[dalestephenson 1,482]

FFG has the rights to the text of Hobbit/LOTR, and that includes the appendices.  This includes a complete tale of years for the Second Age and Third Age, and the Fourth Age to the end of the Fellowship.  There is only limited information about the First Age, though several of the key stories are referred to or given in poetic form in the main text.  Bottom line, FFG *could* do past stories without any permission from the Tolkien estate.

Whether they *would* do it is a separate question -- the original war of the Ring isn't remotely as well known as LOTR/Hobbit, and that's also true about the first age stories even without license issues.  I'm afraid Dreamchaser is as close as we'll get to Numenor (although if memory serves, they referred to information not found in the main text or appendices).  The self-imposed setting between Bilbo's party and Frodo leaving the Shire also restricts the more recent past, like the Goblin-Dwarf wars or Thorongil's war against Umbar (and some other named characters who could otherwise appear in the game).  But the Siege of Annuminas shows that the designers are willing to step well outside the time period, and the change of attitude of the Tolkien Estate shows that licensed Silmarillion products are now in the realm of possibility (though sadly, I doubt for what Asmodee would be willing to pay).

[phillos 1,516]

The fact that they said they aren't doing a 2.0 but are putting out some other iteration of the game has me very intrigued.  They done alot of interesting things with the design over the last few years that proves if you restructure the game the player card pool still holds up.  I think that would be extremely interesting if the new iteration was a different type of product that was still compatible with the current player card pool.  Andrew seems to say that Terminal Directive for Netrunner wasn't that successful, but I thought that was an awesome way to get lapsed and casual players excited while also offering up something for the die hard players.

I don't know that  LOTR LCG 2.0 is a good idea at this point anyway considering they already brought two other co-op LCGs to market, and that move will likely alienate some die hard players.  Though you do have a pretty sizable customer base of both die hard and lapsed players.  If they could find a product that could appeal to both segments then I think that's the way to go.   As a lapsed player I'd be excited to exercise my player cards again on some new experience.  One that didn't require so much of my time, money and attention like a monthly pack release would. 

Edited September 4, 2019 by phillos

[TheSpitfired 457]

I listened to the clip everyone is referencing and I had the distinct impression that Navarro was talking about the Game of Thrones LCG. Do I just need to go back further? When exactly does he talk about LOTR LCG?

[sappidus 531]

11 minutes ago, TheSpitfired said:

I listened to the clip everyone is referencing and I had the distinct impression that Navarro was talking about the Game of Thrones LCG. Do I just need to go back further? When exactly does he talk about LOTR LCG?

Sorry, probably my fault… Or rather, FFG's fault for editing the YouTube vid after initially posting it. 😡 I have updated the post on the first page of this thread with the now-proper timestamp.

[TheSpitfired 457]

No need to apologize my good Wizard and thank you. I guess I just join the throngs of people waiting with anticipated interested to see what the game will look like after 2020. That should give me enough time to completely catch up and finish my collection too.  

[aliprandifabio 12]

I wanted to have an expansion entirely dedicated to the Hobbits, but most likely it will never be done.

Otherwise, It is the best game I've ever played.

That's all. Thanks FFG for making me dream!