A New LOTR Deck...! Want it! Help!!!
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 14 Jul 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| Kiama |
14 Jul 2004 |
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Hi all,
Many of you have expressed a deep desire for a decent LOTR deck (since the Terry Donaldson and Peter Pracownik one is viewed mostly as... a let down.) Many people would like to see a LOTR deck with images from the film.
Now, I write this in great haste, because I've found one! Sadly, it's from Taiwan, and the seller only accepts Paypal, so no early birthday present for Kiama... :(
So, I need your help... Does anybody know where I can buy this deck other than from Ebay?!! Please! TELL MEEEEE!!!! *It will be mine, precioussss... We wants it....*
Blessings,
Kiama
Edited to add... Oopsie, you might want a link!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=19271&item=5507110267&rd=1#ebayphotohosting
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| uXses |
14 Jul 2004 |
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Looks purty. Would be nice to see some of those cards up close though.
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| zorya |
14 Jul 2004 |
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they appear to be made from the movie stills with the name of each card written across the bottom. wonder if the movie people know about this?
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| Lee |
14 Jul 2004 |
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You have a PM!
-- Lee
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| Summerdream |
14 Jul 2004 |
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It looks very nice....but I'd be leary of buying it. I wonder if it's legit. Also, noone has ever heard of it before. If I knew someone who bought a set 1st and can verify how the cards are or if someone knew the website where you can buy these from I'd be more apt to purchase one. Has anyone ever heard of them before?
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| WolfSpirit |
14 Jul 2004 |
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It is shipped from Taiwan...but the item location is NEW YORK in the United Kingdom ??
I would love a deck like this - but it all looks a bit dodgy to me :(
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| HudsonGray |
14 Jul 2004 |
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I don't think it's a licensed product or we'd be seeing it all over the place. At $50 bucks I'm not sure what sort of deck you'd be getting. Are onlyt he majors illustrated? Is it a tarot or just a card collection? Come with a book? The seller didn't have much there to inform anyone.
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| OakDragon |
14 Jul 2004 |
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Oh, that reminds me! I did see another LoTR tarot deck recently. I think it was at Barnes and Noble, I'm not sure. It wasn't based on the movie though, and it was not the Donaldson one (I know because I have that one.) Oh, now you've got me reinterested in finding out more about it. I'll let you y'all know what I find.
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| OakDragon |
14 Jul 2004 |
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You're right, Wolfy. That looks like it! Funny how I didn't realize it was an oracle when it says so in large letters on the box. I'm pretty sure that's it, though. It looks very familiar. I could've sworn it was a tarot, though.
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| WolfSpirit |
14 Jul 2004 |
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Maybe barnes&noble put in under tarot by mistake.
I did a search at amazon for lord of the rings tarot and I got two results: one was the Donaldson one and the other were trading cards of the movie (I'm not familiar with them, but I suppose people collect them) - my heart jumped when I saw the photos of the movie but then I soon found out it was not tarot at all :laugh:
I guess I could use them to make my own oracle deck ;)
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| Cerulean |
14 Jul 2004 |
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show a tiny inset of a movie still for a game. You could use them for a tarot, but I found them so small that I gave my two sets to a LOTR fan. The tarot that Kiama is showing looks like it has rather big pictures.
I am curious what anyone who buys it will get...
Cerulean Mari
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| WolfSpirit |
15 Jul 2004 |
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How do you know it looks like rather big pictures :confused:
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| Cerulean |
15 Jul 2004 |
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Sorry, I thought was answering the other question of the Lord of Rings collector cards available at Borders and other bookstores---they are small packs of collector cards with maybe a two inch by three inch screen shot and rules to a 'collection' game. ..each of the three movies had about 13 or so cards in small plastic collection packs, if I remember right. I gave mine away to a fan....please excuse me if I wasn't answering the right question or I misread the note...
I'm very curious about this tarot! The shot of Arwen, for example, seems to be rather like a portrait and much bigger than the small inset of the collector cards that might just have head and shoulders of an individual. So that's my basis of comparison.
Sorry if I'am going off-topic... please pm me if I am not being clear.
Best wishes,
Cerulean Mari
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| WolfSpirit |
15 Jul 2004 |
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Thanks for your answer to my question - I was wondering if the deck on ebay will be as good as it looks on the photo.
But it has to be bigger than three by two inches - I had never thought of getting those collector cards until they turned up by accident when doing a search for something else. They look bigger too on a picture on internet ;) , but I won't look any further into cards that small.
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| Kiama |
15 Jul 2004 |
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Well, I've looked at this some more... There were a couple on Ebay, I think from different sellers. The information given for the one I just bought (I know, I know... I finally managed to work it so I can buy it...) said it is licensed by New Line Cinema, has all 78 cards and a book. Also looks like there are at least English titles on the cards. Don't know about the book, but really I don't mind if I can't read it: I just want to see a LOTR deck that isn't the Pracownik/Donaldson one which I so despise!
I'll let y'all know what it's like. My housemate also bought one (I'm slowly having a bad influence on him... })) so I'll get his opinion too.
The seller has 100% positive feedback, so I'm confident about buying it...
:D
Kiama
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| WolfSpirit |
15 Jul 2004 |
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Hope it lives up to your expectations, and looking forward to hearing what you think of it !
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| Summerdream |
15 Jul 2004 |
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Hi Kiama,
Please let us know how it is when you receive it. Some of us, may then want to buy it!!!
Summerdream:)
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| Two of Wands |
17 Jul 2004 |
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Apart from the fact that the hobbits are wearing shoes, I love the previous LotRs Tarot - I wish everyone would stop despising it!
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| OakDragon |
18 Jul 2004 |
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Originally posted by Two of Wands
Apart from the fact that the hobbits are wearing shoes, I love the previous LotRs Tarot - I wish everyone would stop despising it!
I agree. It's certainly not perfect, but it's a great tarot deck, in my opinion.
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| Majecot |
18 Jul 2004 |
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Kiama
I looked and looked for another of that deck..... I have looked until my eyes went buggy... cannot find any others like it.
You say there are more out there????
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| Majecot |
18 Jul 2004 |
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Thanks Summerdream... and now I just figured out why I couldn't find it .... my search was set for only in the US... duh!
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| inanna_tarot |
18 Jul 2004 |
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i've sent an email to the dude thats on UK ebay, asked who publishes it. If we know that, we are a step closer to working out how to get it :P
Now, will the dude reply?! always a key question
Hope your deck is groovy though Kiama :)
Blessings,
Sezo
x
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| inanna_tarot |
19 Jul 2004 |
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All i got in reply was...
'Thank you for your e-mail.This Tarot deck is officially released by Taiwan .'
When i did ask for the publishers hmmmm makes me ponder abit
Sezo
x
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| OakDragon |
19 Jul 2004 |
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The Taiwanese government is getting into tarot? Hmmm....
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| inanna_tarot |
19 Jul 2004 |
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Originally posted by OakDragon
The Taiwanese government is getting into tarot? Hmmm....
OMG!! quick, everyone move to Taiwan! We could be treated like Gods there or something!
Or maybe we'd just get replaced by a computer hand held thingy that comes up with 3 cards to a question, like a hightech 8 ball :P
Blessings,
Sezo
x
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| Gerbear |
19 Jul 2004 |
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I think this deck is a knock-off of the LOTR deck. The Taiwanese don't always comply with our copyrights, or those of other countries. The scenes could actually be from the movie in part, and the cardstock may be thinner than usual. Of course, to a LOTR fan, these possible shortcomings mean nothing! However, for the price, you may not receive the value you may expect.
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| WolfSpirit |
20 Jul 2004 |
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Originally posted by Gerbear
I think this deck is a knock-off of the LOTR deck. The Taiwanese don't always comply with our copyrights, or those of other countries.
You know what that means...the deck has to be taken to Mount Doom and cast into the fire...Good luck ! :D
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| Maly |
20 Jul 2004 |
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Pah, I personnaly would never buy a Lord of the Rings deck.
Ever since the movie's came out, all those fancy books come out, and everything is LotR. I dont really even care for the movie still's or older one's.
I think LotR has been given to much publicity. Hehe, I miss the good ol' days, where we could read the 1st edition of the trilogy.
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| cundi |
20 Jul 2004 |
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From the comments on Taiwan online bookshop, this LOR tarot is not quite suitable for divination. However, it may be collectors' item for fans of LOR. Since I am not fans, so .........
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| WolfSpirit |
21 Jul 2004 |
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Thanks for those links, cundi !
That Taiwan internet shop sounds really cheap, unfortunately I can't read a word on the site :D
Yesasia looks like an Asian version of amazon, has the same lay-out. Guess they are world wide.
Maly, I agree that there is just too much LOTR stuff being sold that has nothing to do with the spirit of the books. But here at AT we fantasized about a LOTR deck based on the movie a long time ago - I think when the first movie came out - and now there actually is one. I don't think it will fulfill our expectations though.
But now we can get it in a shop at a normal price and not having to bid on it, I may reconsider ;)
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| Eco74 |
21 Jul 2004 |
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Well, yes, I agree.
BUT there are a couple of things I would love to have (aside from the extended version of all three movies and copies of all the trilogy in the original language - just the Return of the King extended missing now).
I saw a bag, just like the one bilbo and the other little hobbits use when traveling, embellished with the ring ofcourse..
Also one of those rings might be fun to have, but it's not even close to my top-ten-things-to-get-list.
As for the cards I have the same problem with it as with any "fan-based-deck".
While some characters fit perfectly where they are in the cards, others seem forced in since no other reasonably close cards were available anylonger.. So no LotR deck for me.
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| cundi |
21 Jul 2004 |
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Yesasia.com is worldwide, I usually buy tarots/English books from yesasia.com, since no shipping charges for shopping over HK$100. However, for Asian items, the price are higher.
The on-line Taiwan bookshop's shipping charges:
http://www.kingstone.com.tw/p-Guest-DHL.html
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| Cerulean |
29 Jul 2004 |
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My husband happened to be home.
The booklet that comes is helpful so you can keep the suits/others straight with the black and white image. You cannot tell just by looking at the picture on the cards.
A gold ring on the bottom of the card will have a number for the Ace-10 and majors. So keeping the courts straight and the suits are what will be interesting.
Swords at first glance seem to have a sword related image in every scene.
The gold ring detail at the bottom is useful because to the right of the ring are three or four Chinese characters. The one that looks like a small roofed house has the ring as the ace and Bilbo as number 2. There's a lot of Legolas poses, so I'd call this the suit of Legolas!
Then there's the swords-like suit that ends with Eowyn's handsome brother or cousin, nephew of Theodyn.
The cups begin with the Steward of Gondor and ends with Aragon kissing Arwen
The staffs begin with Gandolf the Gray and end with Saruman.
Two promotional cards are included. Cardstock is soft, coated on top, about 5 x 2.25 inches. Most anime decks that I've seen are harder and more durable, but this is pretty decent.
Regards
Cerulean
P.S. Yes I paid extra through ebay. I live in the U.S. and the vendor ordered it from overseas.
I may have got some details wrong.
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| WolfSpirit |
29 Jul 2004 |
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Thanks for the info, Cerulean. Suit of Legolas ? LOL
Have fun with your deck, you with your creative mind will find something to do with it !
I think I would use it as an oracle rather than tarot, but I don't know haven't got it yet. Maybe I will get it after my holidays.
Can you say anything about the majors ? (when you have deciphered them ;) )
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| truelighth |
10 Aug 2004 |
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I got this set recently and I have to say it is pretty good for a Taiwanese tarot. I personally like this one a lot more then the US Games one, even if the deck is in some places just a collection of scenes from the films. But they also made some very good choices for some cards. I personally like Pippin and Merry dancing on the table with their beers very much for a 2 of cups, for instance.
There are some other good or interesting choices for the cards in the deck, but also many that actually don't make too much sense and could have been a lot better. There are a lot of images of Legolas in the whole deck (I agree with the suit of Legolas there), but also of Gandalf (I would like to add the suit of Gandalf here :-). And I haven't found any images of Gimli for instance. Pity. It has potential, but it could have been a lot better.
The card quality is also pretty decent for a Asian Tarot. The cards are glossy, but not too flimpsy and have a reasonable size. I doubt that this version is authorized by New Line Cinema. I think it is only using those warnings and images on the box to make it look real. But still.. it is a fun deck to have. Especially if you like the LOTR films as much as I do.
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| telcontar |
13 Aug 2004 |
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Hi.
I got this deck, too, and I must say: I love it. Of course, some of the pictures do not really relate to the cards meanings, I think so, too- but all in all, it's great and I like it much better than the US-games-deck.
The Sun with Aragorn on a rearing horse is gorgeous! And I love some of the Legolas-cards, too. Though they are many :) And slowly I'm learning to connect the Chinese signs to the suits *lol*
To sum it up: I can highly recommend this deck to anyone who loved the movies.
telcontar
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| WolfSpirit |
14 Aug 2004 |
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Well I went to the yesasia site and ordered it. I have no idea for how long this deck will be on the market, so I figured I shouldn't wait too long. Including shipping to Europe it cost me 25 dollars (that is not the fast shipping, it should be here in a month), I think that is very reasonable considering it comes with a book (although I won't be able to read a word of it :D )
I do wonder if I will be able to read with it though - maybe the characters are too familiar to get my intuition going.
It will be a nice deck to have anyway :)
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| telcontar |
14 Aug 2004 |
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Well, though the characters are very familiar some of the cards made my intuition nearly running wild ;) The Hermit, for example. It is Sam with the light of Elendil in his hand, looking very determined and behind him, a little removed, lurks Kankra. That was exactly the Hermit I needed the day I had it as a daily draw. But I have to admit it took me a little time to figure out why this could be "The Hermit" at all. Sometimes I draw a little too early in the morning :D
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| Shade |
14 Aug 2004 |
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Kankra... was that an orc?
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| telcontar |
14 Aug 2004 |
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Hi Shade.
No, no orc. It was the enormous ugly spiderlike animal. Jung would certainly have taken it as a manifestation of the evil side of the mother or something like that. Whatever it was, they killed it ;)
CU,
telcontar
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| WolfSpirit |
14 Aug 2004 |
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Could Kankra be the German name for Shelob ? The big spider in the movies in part 3 and in the books in the end of part 2. I remember Sam using the light of Elendil when he was fighting with Shelob.
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| telcontar |
14 Aug 2004 |
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Argh! Yes, of course! Thank you, WolfSpirit!
I never really understood why they translate names, anyway. It's a stupid thing to do, it gives people from different countries the impression they've never read the same book...
Shelob. Al right. :)
telcontar
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| telcontar |
15 Aug 2004 |
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Another thing- has anyone who owns this deck already made up his mind about VIII and XI? I'm really not sure which one is strength and which one temperance. It's sometimes really annoying not to know Chinese - DOES ANYONE??? Would be great. My first thought was it would be Arwen on the horse. Makes sense with "taming the beast". At least, a little. But on the other hand, she looks much more composed than Gandalf in the XI.
What do you think?
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| telcontar |
16 Aug 2004 |
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Thanks a lot, cundi! :)
Though I got the second sign of Strength quite wrong (I tried to draw them since I already had Chinese installed at work and didn't want to do it at home, again), I'm sure now: Arwen is Strength and Gandalf is Temperance. Another little step towards understanding that deck :D
Thanks again.
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| WolfSpirit |
24 Aug 2004 |
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I got it already ! It only took 10 days, yesasia shipped much earlier than their estimated date.
I like the box the deck comes in, like a book, and the quality of the cards is also better than I expected although they are a bit thin. As I expected, looks like it is more a deck for fans of the movie than a reading deck. But I will have something to play with until the extended DVD is released.
And it looks like I really have to learn Chinese to figure out the court cards.
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| telcontar |
24 Aug 2004 |
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Hi WolfSpirit.
For the court cards: I'm quite sure they are arranged in the order Page (top left), Knight (top right), Queen (bottom left), King (bottom right) in the booklet. They make sense for me this way at least :)
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| WolfSpirit |
24 Aug 2004 |
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Yes, that is also what I was thinking, now that I had more of a proper look.
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| Lee |
27 Aug 2004 |
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I just noticed that this deck is now available at tarotgarden.com.
-- Lee
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| galadrielsphial |
02 Dec 2004 |
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Just bought this one on ebay yesterday...as you can probably tell from my name and my signature, I am a big-time LOTR junkie. :) I've had my eye on this deck for a while (because like many others I thought the other LOTR deck was disappointing), but hesitated because the book and cards are in Chinese. I finally decided that if worst comes to worst and I can't find a way to interpret the Chinese, I can figure out the cards intuitively since I know the books and what the characters stand for so well, and grabbed the only one I saw available. An early Yule/Christmas present to me from me. ;) I'm looking forward to working with these. (I also bought the Ethereal Tarot about ten minutes later...my first experience buying more than one deck at a time. :) )
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| Lurea |
02 Dec 2004 |
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I adore LOTR, both movie and books, and have thought about getting this deck...but--
Is there ANY Frodo in this deck? You know, hero, sacrificed himself, saved the world, all that? I haven't seen any scans with Frodo, and he's not mentioned in the review. (You can probably guess that Frodo is my favorite character, right?) :D
If there aren't some good Frodo cards in this deck, I probably won't get it out of sheer pique. ;)
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| WolfSpirit |
03 Dec 2004 |
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I agree with the review at Tarot Passages: I like the deck for the beautiful images and I am glad I have it, but it is not much tarot - I am thinking of a way to use it (or part of the cards) as an oracle.
Lurea_aure: there are at least five cards with just Frodo, and two which have all 4 hobbits together.
In fact, the one I really miss is Gimli, he may not be that sexy but they could have sacrificed at least one Legolas-card to Gimli, he was part of the fellowship after all !!
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| truelighth |
03 Dec 2004 |
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Indeed, there are several cards of Frodo in the deck. I personally would have chosen different cards for him, but he is in there. And yes Wolfspirit, Gimli is really missing completely, just as Faramir and King Theoden. I think they should have given them at least one card, especially Gimli. But I still like the deck and I am glad that I have it, because I just love the LOTR films and I think if I leave the traditional interpretation behind, I could use it for readings.
Btw, Wolfspirit, I am glad you agree with the review. It was mine, so it is nice to hear that others agree :) .
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The A New LOTR Deck...! Want it! Help!!! thread was originally posted on 14 Jul 2004 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.
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