So, we know there's a hiatus after this cycle, and we know that there at least were plans for the game to return in a way that was different but most assuredly
not
a second edition. Granted, all of that may be totally moot with Asmodee's recent slicing and dicing to FFG's staff and product lines, but the current reprints of sets like Khazad-Dum bode somewhat well for the profitability/viability of the game from Asmodee's perspective.
So, what might a continuation/return of the game after the Great Hiatus look? In what follows, I'll offer rampant speculation of my own wishful thinking.
Given what we've now seen with AGOT 2nd Edition and it's move toward new bulk packs of re-release cards, the "conversion kit" and "card only" expansions for X-Wing's Second Edition, the distribution model of Marvel Champion's LCG, and the continuation of the "scenario kit" packs like Mines of Moria, I think the future of LotR LCG would be one where Player Cards and Encounter Cards are released as separate products. Which makes both stocking the game and getting into the game much, much easier.
For a new distribution model, I'd like to see:
(1) A New Core Set - reprints, modernized selection
(2) Faction Starter Boxes -- themed collections of reprints aimed at new players
(3) Hero Packs -- new hero included alongside new player cards, aimed at old and new players alike
(4) Scenario Kits (e.g. The Woodland Realm, The Wizard's Quest, The Mines of Moria, and other new quest adventures) - the only place to find encounter cards moving forward
The Faction Starter Boxes would be themed around existing factions/traits, and would be an opportunity to allow new players to jump into the game. While these packs (along with the Core Set) would reprint many of the cards from the first nine cycles, obviously not all cards would be transferred over. While old cards could all remain legal, there are clearly some "dud" old cards that could be kept in the pool without being reprinted while not severely disadvantaging players who lacked the old cards (e.g. Soldier of Gondor does a great job of updating and replacing the lackluster Guard of the Citadel). Priced around $30 (like a Deluxe), they could include around 10-20 Heroes and 60 player cards (in triplets of course, offering roughly 20 attachments, 20 allies, and 20 events, adjusted to suit each theme's needs), putting it at around 200 cards which is very close to what the Deluxes contain (though most cards are encounter cards). Grabbing one of these packs would allow a player to immediately start building a huge variety of decks based around a theme, while accruing multiple faction starters brings players closer to having the the entire collection of (meaningful) player cards that are still available to long-time players. To entice old players, these Faction Starter Boxes might also offer faction-inspired art on (aesthetically) new threat counters and tokens, as well as some updated art and, in the case of errata'ed cards, corrected text. While some long-time players might be a bit grumpy that new players can accrue close to the entire compendium of player cards for 8x$30 purchases, by virtue of having all nine cycles + sagas longtime players they have access to over 100 quests that new players will not possess.
I could imagine a few Starter Boxes, including:
Gondor
,
Rohan
,
Shire-Folk
(Hobbits/Ents),
High Elves
(Havens/Rivendell),
Wood Elves
(Lorien/Mirkwood),
Dwarves
, and
Northern Rhovanion
(Dale/Woodmen/Eagles). Possibly also starter boxes themed around player cards pertaining to the
Hobbit
and the
Lord of the Rings.
These starter boxes, in conjunction with the Core Set, would give returning players access to most of the worthwhile player cards from the 9 Cycles. For game entry and stocking purposes, this effectively shrinks over 60 products into 8 deluxe-sized boxes. Then, as new content is released in Scenario Kits and New Hero Packs, players can grab the new content at their discretion without having to worry about matching APs with Deluxes, lest they risk owning useless encounter cards.
As someone who just got into the game this past year, an entry point that was something like this would have been wonderfully appreciated, as otherwise theory-crafting decks and trying to snipe the needed packs is an organizational nightmare, and having to run down over 60 products to have the full lineup of player cards is both time-consuming and expensive, and something that I'm sure dissuades plenty of would-be fans of the game.
What are your thoughts/hopes/dreams for the future of the LotR LCG after the hiatus, even if it but visions that will not come to pass?