Bohemond said:

that's simply not the case (at least not always). AGoT just announced their newest cycle on August 10.

Even if it came out December (it's slated for release in Q4 2012) that's *only* 4 months between its announcement of 8/10. If it's November (which is seeming likely) that's only a 3 month lag. It's entirely possible we could be getting an announcement soon. Or not. we just don't know.

i think the most rational thing to do is A) wait for GenCon B) barring any additional news, enjoy the 3 releases we have coming up (oh, and the "new" art sleeves coming out!).

Data to follow, you are correct I should have said 4-5 months, rather than 5-6. However, that doesn't change the fact that it is almost certain we won't see chapter packs in the fall.

For those that care, here are the time frames between announcement of chapter packs and lease dates for AGoT, LotR, and W:I (I would have done CoC, but ran out of time).

Lord of the Rings
Mirkwood Cycle– 6 months
Annonced February 16th
Released July 21st

Dwarrowdelf Cycle– 5 months
Annonced October 5th
Released March 1st

A Game of Thrones
Brotherhood without Banners – 4 months
Announced April 19th
Released August 12th

Secrets of Oldtown – 4 months
Announced December 21st
Released April 15th

Tale of Champions – 3.5 months
Announced July 6th
Released October 19th

Beyond the Narrow Sea – 4 months
Announced January 10th
Released May 9th

Warhammer Invasion
Corruption Cycle – 3 months
Announced August 16th

Released November 19st
Morrslieb Cycle – 4.5 months
Announced October 18th
Released March 1st

Enemy Cycle – 3.5 months
Announced March 15th
Released June 29th

Capital Cycle – 4.5 months
Announced May 12th
Released September 30th

Bloodquest Cycle – 4.5 months
Announced December 6th
Released April 18th

From the CotR podcast facebook page (a post by Mitch/Lightdarker):

"Part of an email from my regular Ebay seller: The regular adventure packs are expected to pick up again soon, and will be at the regular price. Please be aware that the scenarios in the next set of adventure packs will require that you have The Hobbit expansion to play them."

It's not coming directly from FFG, so take it with the appropriate amount of salt. Still, it could represent the first bit of substantive new info on this matter in quite some time.

starhawk77 said:

would CotR care to expand on this seller? just so we can gauge how reliable that info is….my seller is usualy down right incorrect even with dates, but i guess it depends who it is..so yes- take with plenty of salt

(if true that is indeed good news though)

rich

richsabre said:

then perhaps that's what FFGs announcement on their Facebook page meant by "no announced plans" (or however they worded it)…interesting, if true!

starhawk77 said:

Sentences like this illustrate why people should avoid using the passive voice. Great news if its true, but it seems to fly in the face of the info at the start of this thread. Let's hope for confirmation at GenCon.

Bohemond said:

very true…but "there are currently no announced plans for a related cycle as with Khazad-Dum/Dwarrowdelf" (emphasis mine) is also vague/perhaps suggestive. then again, we know how great FFG is with language consistency/clearness of lanuage! haha.

SiCK_Boy said:

I think I agree with you on this one. I think it's presumptuous on any game-makers part to think casual players will want to buy 2 "big boxes" a year (closer to 14 months, I suppose) to support 2 cycles/year structure. And personally, with the way they have created subsets, I really don't see why they can't mix and match from either the core set itself, or the core+KD to add new AP's to. Personally, I enjoyed 90% of both of what was in those boxes, so I would love to see them get some "fresh life" by recycling them. Not to mention, it serves both the customer AND manufacturer to do that every so often: 1) we don't have to shell out larger dollars as often, and 2) they both SAVE money by not spending time and resources to research, develop, and print new big boxes, and MAKE more money off of current stock material (plus keep the more casual fans "hooked"… granted, some of us suckers will buy it regardless. It says TOLKIEN on the box… lol). I really don't see it as being anything but a win for all involved….

Edit: had to fix some of my fat-fingered spelling errors…

Bohemond said:

Fair question. Simple. I believe we only get this break, not change, because of the movies coming out. Also, you don't really get 12 AP's a year, more around 6-8. (this goes for CoC and W:I too, aGoT might be slightly more polupair due to the new book and the tv series) So, well, getting one pack almost every month for the beginning of the year, to me, Makes it a matter of cause that we won't be getting any more the rest of this year. Instead of beginning a new cycle this year, getting 2 AP's before Christmas, we get the 2 hobbit expansions. If we won't be getting a new AP for January THEN I'll humbly redraw my statement and bang my head against FFG's logo on my monitor Until then, "Do not despair"

Also, in addition to my post above ^. Every LCG has its own life, not following one standard template for when and what is released. LofR is still too young IMHO to really decide if there's a change or not. For all we know, FFG is going to release, big exp, cycle, big exp, cycle, saga, saga, cycle etc.

Like:

Core

Cycle

Kazaad

Cycle

The hobbit 1

The hobbit 2

(maybe hobbit 3)

Cycle

Big exp

Cycle

Big exp

Cycle

LotR saga 1

2

3

Point being, I think we need to get a little more tho really get into a real idea of how it's going to evolve. (also I forgot the pod that has/will come once a year)

Whatever they do I just hope they keep doing it because this is the best game EVER ! Come on Fantasy Flight, let us know something !!! XD

I wonder if the lack of news has anything to do with Cryptozoic also getting the rights to produce a Lord of the Rings card game. Later this year, they have three 'Deck-Building Game' products coming out. I don't recall if FFG had sole rights for card games in their license agreement or not.

gokubb said:

stll it shouldnt affect ffg should it? i mean it shouldnt at least affect their production of the standard packs

rich

License details are a bit out of my league but I think that Cryptozoic's license comes from the movie license. I think that is why their games have a movie title included in its title. If you look at the Middle Earth Enterprise website, FFG has a license listed right on the webpage, while Cryptozoic does not. I think Cryptozoic, may be more of a sub-lease through the movies.

Or I could be completely wrong…

I think saw in an early article that the artists for the FFG game need to be as faithful to the descriptions in the book as they can, because that is where their license is from.

impaulm said:

yes- they arent allowed to take from movies- i remember an FFG freelance artist saying they are specifically told to stay away from movie-like character illustrations

…..and rightly so

rich

richsabre said:

…. and THANKFULLY so

^^^ ABSOLUTELY!!!