Middle-earth Collectible Card Game

Overview

The Middle-earth Collectible Card Game (MECCG) is a collectible card game set in Tolkien’s Middle-earth, produced by Iron Crown Enterprises from 1995 to 1999. Players take the role of one of the Istari (wizards) guiding companies of characters through Middle-earth to gather allies, items, and factions to oppose Sauron. Players move companies between sites, face hazards played by opponents, and accumulate marshalling points to win.

Components

• Starter decks and booster packs (collectible)
• Character cards, Resource cards, Hazard cards, Site cards
• Region cards (map movement)
• Dice

Setup

1. Each player builds a deck with a wizard, characters, resources, hazards, and sites.
2. Separate your deck into resource deck and hazard deck.
3. Place your wizard card (not in play initially).
4. Draw starting hand.
5. Choose starting site and place characters there.

Turn Structure

Each turn has phases:

1. Untap Phase: Ready exhausted characters and resources.
2. Organization Phase: Form companies, play characters at havens, declare movement.
3. Long-Event Phase: Resolve long events.
4. Movement/Hazard Phase: Move companies; opponent plays hazards against them.
5. Site Phase: At the destination site, attempt to play resources (items, factions, allies).
6. End-of-Turn Phase: Discard and draw.

Actions

Company Movement

• Companies move between sites using region cards to trace their path.
• Different regions have different hazard environments.
• Characters have attributes: mind, influence, prowess, body.

Playing Hazards

• Opponents play hazard cards (creatures, events) against your moving companies.
• Combat is resolved by rolling dice against prowess.
• Failed combat results in wounds or death.

Playing Resources

• At sites, play resource cards to gain marshalling points.
• Items, factions, allies, and information are types of resources.
• Greater items (rings, palantiri) are worth more but harder to obtain.

Wizard

• Your wizard enters play at a haven during the organization phase.
• Wizards provide powerful abilities but are vulnerable.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

The game ends when one player calls the Free Council (typically when they believe they have enough marshalling points). All players compare total marshalling points from:

• Characters
• Items
• Factions
• Allies
• Miscellaneous resources
• Minus corruption points

The player with the most marshalling points at the Council wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Characters can become corrupted; excess corruption removes them from play.
• The One Ring and other unique items have special rules.
• Some cards represent Sauron’s direct influence.
• The game has multiple expansion sets (The Wizards, The Dragons, Dark Minions, etc.).
• Fallen wizards and Ringwraith rules were added in later expansions.

Player Reference

Turn phases: Untap -> Organization -> Long-Event -> Movement/Hazard -> Site -> End-of-Turn

Marshalling points: Characters + Items + Factions + Allies - Corruption

Combat: Roll dice + prowess vs. creature’s prowess + strikes

Victory: Most marshalling points at Free Council