Games

I remember hearing tales of how epic the Middle-earth collectible card game was way back when my local Star Wars CCG scene was still active. As a Tolkien nerd, I’d always wanted to try it out, but one does not simply play a dead CCG.

Then back in April, Team Covenant streamed a six hour learning game of MECCG.

I was super impressed with just how well it represents Tolkien’s world in game form. Much like the Star Wars CCG, lore and storytelling drive the game design. They are prioritized above all else, including mechanics and probably balance – something you don’t really see in modern games.

I mean, the game essentially requires a detailed map of middle-earth in front of you to truly appreciate the scope and possibilities of what you can do.

Open world solo mode

Later in the year, Zach shared his rules for an open world solo mode of the game. This variant re-works the game into a fun solo experience that seemed like the perfect way to finally try it for myself.

So, I ordered the pre-constructed challenge decks from a player-run web store, printed a custom map playmat (Inked Gaming), and started building decks for open world mode.

Hazard decks

My hazard decks are a mix of hazard cards from the challenge decks and singles I’ve picked up along the way to make things more interesting.

There is room for improvement no doubt, but these should be a good starting point for anyone with a limited card pool to get started with the amazing open world solo variant!

Wilderness (28)

Creature (16)
2 Lesser Spiders
1 "Bert" - Bûrat
1 "Tom" - Tûma
1 "William" - Wûluag
1 Ent in Search of the Entwives
1 Giant Spiders
1 Wargs
1 Wolves
1 Lawless Men
1 Dire Wolves
1 Hobgoblins
1 Giant
1 Huorn
1 Thunder's Companion
1 Old Man Willow

Long-event (1)
1 Long Winter

Permanent-event (4)
2 Lure of Nature
1 Despair of the Heart
1 Enchanted Stream

Short-event (7)
1 River
1 The Ring's Betrayal
1 Veils Flung Away
1 Dragon-sickness
1 Lost in the Wilderness
1 Weariness of the Heart
1 Call of Home

Coastal Seas (15)

Creature (7)
3 Corsairs of Umbar
1 Marsh-drake
1 Rain-drake
1 Watcher in the Water
1 Sea Serpent

Long-event (1)
1 Noose of the Sea

Permanent-event (3)
1 Despair of the Heart
1 Lure of Expedience
1 Longing for the West

Short-event (4)
1 Muster Disperses
1 Dragon-sickness
1 Call of the Sea
1 Drowning Seas

Ruins & Lairs (22)

Creature (11)
1 Cave-drake
1 Chill Douser
1 Lesser Spiders
1 Neeker-breekers
1 Stirring Bones
1 Wisp of Pale Sheen
1 Land-drake
1 Light-drake
1 Orc-raiders 
1 Orc-warriors
1 Wild Trolls

Long-event (1)
1 Minions Stir

Permanent-event (1)
1 Lure of Expedience

Short-event (8)
1 Choking Shadows
1 Incite Denizens
1 Muster Disperses
1 Weariness of the Heart
1 Arouse Denizens
1 Call of Home 
1 Chance of Being Lost 
1 Greed
1 Slip Treacherously

Free-domains (16)

Creature (7)
4 Ambusher
2 Ent in Search of the Entwives
1 The Border-watch

Permanent-event (6)
1 Alone and Unadvised
1 Foolish Words
1 Lure of Expedience
1 Lure of the Senses
1 Rebel-talk
1 Stormcrow

Short-event (3)
1 Lost in Free-domains
1 Muster Disperses
1 River

Free-holds (14)

Creature (2)
2 The Border-watch 

Long-event (1)
1 Times Are Evil 

Permanent-event (6)
1 Alone and Unadvised 
1 Foolish Words 
1 Lure of Expedience 
1 Lure of the Senses 
1 Lure of Creation 
1 The Burden of Time 

Short-event (5)
1 Muster Disperses
1 Call of Home
1 Arouse Defenders
1 Incite Defenders
1 New Moon

Border-lands (23)

Creature (14)
2 Ambusher
2 Wargs
1 Abductor
1 Brigands
1 Lawless Men
1 Neeker-breekers
1 Slayer
1 Wolves
1 Crebain
1 Orc-raiders
1 Orc-warriors
1 Durin's Folk

Permanent-event (4)
1  Alone and Unadvised 
1  Lure of Expedience
1  Rebel-talk
1  Longing for the West 

Short-event (5)
1 River
1 Call of Home
1 Chance of Being Lost
1 Lost in Border-lands
1 Weariness of the Heart

Border-holds (19)

Creature (7)
1 Assassin 
2 Sellswords Between Charters 
2 Slayer 
1 The Border-watch
1 Thief

Long-event (1)
1 Fell Winter 

Permanent-event (4)
1 Alone and Unadvised 
1 Foolish Words 
1 Lure of Expedience 
1 Rebel-talk 

Short-event (7)
1 Incite Defenders 
1 Muster Disperses 
1 River 
1 Greed 
1 Weariness of the Heart
1 Arouse Defenders
1 Early Harvest

Shadow-lands (24)

Creature (16)
1 Barrow-wight 
1 Corpse-candle 
1 Dire Wolves 
1 Ghosts 
1 Ghouls 
1 Lawless Men  
1 Marsh-drake 
1 Orc-lieutenant 
1 Orc-watch 
1 Stirring Bones 
1 Wargs 
1 Wisp of Pale Sheen 
1 Lesser Spiders
1 Half-trolls of Far Harad 
1 Orc-patrol 
1 Winged Fire-drake

Long-event (2)
1 Foul Fumes
1 Worn and Famished

Permanent-event (3)
1 Despair of the Heart 
1 Stench of Mordor 
1 Lure of Expedience

Short-event (3)
1 Seized by Terror
1 Dragon-sickness
1 Lost in Shadow-lands

Shadow-holds (24)

Creature (15)
1 Barrow-wight 
1 Chill Douser 
1 Corpse-candle 
1 Ghosts 
1 Ghouls 
1 Little Snuffler 
1 Orc-lieutenant 
1 Pûkel-men 
1 Sellswords Between Charters 
1 Stirring Bones 
1 Wisp of Pale Sheen 
1 Crebain 
1 Orc-patrol 
1 Half-trolls of Far Harad 
1 Rogrog

Permanent-event (4) 
1 Nothing to Eat or Drink 
1 Alone and Unadvised
1 Rebel-talk
1 Doubled Vigilance

Short-event (5)
1 Stay Her Appetite 
1 Tidings of Bold Spies 
1 Arouse Minions 
1 Weariness of the Heart 
1 Incite Minions

Dark-domains (17)

Creature (11)
1 Barrow-wight 
1 Corpse-candle 
1 Ghosts 
1 Ghouls 
1 Orc-guard 
1 Orc-lieutenant 
1 Orc-warband 
1 Orc-watch 
1 Stirring Bones 
1 Half-trolls of Far Harad 
1 Orc-patrol 

Long-event (3)
1  Foul Fumes 
1  Minions Stir 
1  Worn and Famished 

Permanent-event (1)
1  Stench of Mordor 

Short-event (2)
1 Seized by Terror 
1 Dragon-sickness

Dark-holds (15)

Creature (10)
1 Barrow-wight 
1 Corpse-candle 
1 Ghosts 
1 Orc-warband
1 Orc-watch 
1 Half-trolls of Far Harad 
1 Olog-hai - Trolls 
1 Orc-patrol 
1 The Great Goblin 
1 Gothmog

Creature/Permanent-event (1)
1 Mouth of Sauron

Long-event (1)
1 Minions Stir 

Permanent-event (2)
1  Nothing to Eat or Drink
1  Worn and Famished

Short-event (1)
1  Arouse Minions

There is one more hazard deck in addition to the region-based decks. Epic hazards. When rolling to determine if a hazard card is drawn, instead of using the opponent’s card draw number on the site to modify the result, I use that number + 1 as the low result that will trigger an epic hazard.

For example, if you are traveling to Moria, and roll a 4 or less for any hazard test, you draw from the epic hazard deck. Draw until you find a hazard playable at the current site/region type and resolve it!

Epic (23)

Creature (3)
1 Mûmak - Oliphant
1 Ice-drake
1 Sand-drake

Creature/Permanent-event (14)
1 Akhôrahil 
1 Indûr Dawndeath 
1 Witch-king of Angmar 
1 Dwar of Waw
1 Hoarmûrath of Dír
1 Khamûl the Easterling
1 Ren the Unclean
1 Shelob
1 Lord of the Carrock
1 Saruman the Wise
1 Alatar the Hunter
1 Pallando the Soul-keeper
1 Gandalf the White Rider
1 Radagast the Tamer

Long-event (5)
1 Bairanax Ahunt
1 Eärcaraxë Ahunt
1 Scatha Ahunt
1 Smaug Ahunt
1 Itangast Ahunt

Permanent-event (1)
1 Balrog of Moria