Apologies in advance if this is the wrong subforum to post in, but it seems the most trafficked so I figured I'd ask here.

As a newer player (strictly LCG era) who really only has the Core set so far, I've been trying to find a bit of concrete info on formats and not having much luck. From what I can gather AGOT transtitioned from CCG to LCG before CoC, and so there might have been a few rough spots and unclear things along the way.

There is an LCG cards only format, correct? Is it the prevailing format or is using pre-LCG cards still very popular? Lastly, where does the LCG legality begin - with Core Set and "A Clash Of Arms"? I'd hate to accidentally purchase something not usable in a LCG format.

Thanks in advance for any answers you guys can provide.

Fast reply: LCG starts with A Clash of Arms.

Amante said:

As an aside, this depends on how you define "transitioned to LCG." CoC went to fixed Asylum packs about a year and a half before AGoT transitioned to fixed Chapter Packs. However, the AGoT Core Set was released before CoC Core Set. So there were actually fewer "transitional products" for AGoT. However (and this is pure conjecture), I would not be surprised if the transitions in CoC Organized Play was smoother in 2009 than for AGoT simply because that game had been working with fixed product longer.

Amante said:

In general, there isn't really a "prevailing format" at the present time because the Organized Play Program for AGoT has been in varying degrees of chaos and non-existence since the transition from CCG to LCG. The official formats according to FFG is "LCG-only" (which consists of all fixed product, i.e., the 6 "Clash of Arms" Chapter Packs, the 6 "A Time for Ravens" Chapter Packs, the Core Set and all the products being released right now like the 6 "Kings Landing" Chapter Packs and the "Kings of the Sea" expansion). The Joust and Melee Championships at Gencon in August will be played in this format and it is the "predominant" format. There is also a "League Play" program that works only with the Core Set and selected Chapter Packs.

There is also an official "Legacy" format in which cards from any set, CCG or LCG, are legal - but only 1 copy of each card by title may be put into a deck.

In addition to these two "official" formats, a fair number of metas still play a CCG-style "Standard" format, which at the current time would be the ITE block, the 5KE block and all the LCG fixed product. The future of this format is a little unclear right now, but it has certainly been a popular (if the the most popular) format for old or continuing players over the last year.

What format is the "prevailing" or "predominant" format is a little bit of a loaded question right now because FFG does not have a particularly well developed or supported Organized Play Program for this game at the present time. A "prevailing" format would really be driven by OP. As it is, individual metas play whatever they feel like with as many "gatherings" between metas (far fewer and on a smaller scale in the last year than in previous years) likely to be "Standard" as "LCG." It is my personal belief that if FFG gets its act together on the OP side, LCG will emerge as the predominant format by the end of 2009. If they don't formats will be entirely driven at the local level with the number of new players being the deciding factor.

Sorry this is so indefinite, but the question of format is pretty unclear right now. But the 2 main events at Gencon 2009 will be in an "LCG-only" format. The other will be in the "Legacy Highlander" format.

Good and detailed answer, much thanks

Since you mentioned in another post that you're from Santa Cruz, I'll add that the predominant format in San Jose is LCG-only. Our group is small, but trying to grow. We'd love to have you stop by if you don't mind driving over the hill.