How to tell what release a card came from

jerrek · Post by **jerrek** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 11:33 pm

Hello,
Just looking at this game for the first time in years and putting my collection back in order.

A basic question.
Is there a way to tell the sets apart. eg. a symbol or something that sets original from dragons release.

Post by **jhunholz** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:23 am

Most sets have a symbol on the right side of the card, about 2/3 of the way down. It's a different rune for each set, except for METW and MELE.

jerrek · Post by **jerrek** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 9:06 am

Thanks, I see it now on some of the cards. Very faint on some of them.

Post by **Gwaihir** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:57 pm

METW: no symbol
METD: "D"-rune, looks more or less like an "F"
MEDM: "M"-rune, looks more or less like a "B"
MELE: "E"-rune, looks more or less like an "H", but absent or extremely faint on many cards
MEAS: "S"-rune, looks more or less like a "^" on its side
MEWH: "H"-rune, looks more or less like a "Y" upside down
MEBA: "V"-rune, looks more or less like an "R" written from right to left

That last one seems a bit weird. Was it an error, i.e. should it have been a "B"-rune (looks more or less like an "R")? Is the same rune perhaps in use as a "B" in some form of the rune script (different age or geographic area) other than the one described in LotR appendix E? Or did they perhaps invert it to set it apart further from the rune used for MEDM (most unlikely).

Mat · Post by **Mat** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:20 pm

Doesnt seem that weird, the Balrog-rune. Seems not a "V" like you said, but a "B", only that they wrote it from right to left, dont know why, maybe for showing the EVIL

.

http://www.beepworld.de/members75/runen ... erthas.htm

Mat · Post by **Mat** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:39 pm

Well, I was wrong and you were right, its indeed a "V" and not a "B". It makes sense, because the Quenya-form of balrog is "Valarauko", for this seems they used the "V"-rune.

Post by **Gwaihir** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 9:47 pm

Mat wrote:It makes sense, because the Quenya-form of balrog is "Valarauko", for this seems they used the "V"-rune.

Cool excuse; we'll hold on to that one.

No, no, no, don't start asking questions like "what is white hand in quenya"; you are ruining the moment.

henrikbe · Post by **henrikbe** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 7:25 am

Gwaihir wrote:METW: no symbol
METD: "D"-rune, looks more or less like an "F"
MEDM: "M"-rune, looks more or less like a "B"
MELE: "E"-rune, looks more or less like an "H", but absent or extremely faint on many cards
MEAS: "S"-rune, looks more or less like a "^" on its side
MEWH: "H"-rune, looks more or less like a "Y" upside down
MEBA: "V"-rune, looks more or less like an "R" written from right to left

That last one seems a bit weird. Was it an error, i.e. should it have been a "B"-rune (looks more or less like an "R")?

Uhm, following the pattern of the other sets, it should have been an "A"-rune, shouldn't it?

Mat · Post by **Mat** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:46 pm

Why, when Balrog starts with B (or V for Valarauko). Or have you other name in mind? (like " A Balrog"

? )

Tegarend · Post by **Tegarend** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 3:34 pm

I think because all other sets (accidently) take the last letter of the two-letter abbreviation of the set name (first letter of the noun of the setname)...

(D for the Dragons, M for dark Minions, E for lidless Eye, S for against the Shadow, H for white Hand)

But Balrog just has one word, so the B would make more sense than the A.

Mat · Post by **Mat** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:13 pm

Ah, didnt think in these abbreviations, so couldnt imagine, where Henrik got the A. Interesting. But why do you say, that the last letter was used accidently? It makes sense to name the noun, dont you think?

Post by **Gwaihir** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 12:24 am

henrikbe wrote:Uhm, following the pattern of the other sets, it should have been an "A"-rune, shouldn't it?

Hmm.. I think it goes for the noun or at the least part of the name. I don't think one would first abbreviate the name and then find a rune for it.

I am also not sure why we tend to use the abbreviation MEBA and not METB, following the same logic as used for the wizards and the dragons. I do think it comes from ICE itself though, or didn't it?