Symbol: Hu-S
Allowed sets: 7-19, Weta (Site cards from 11-13,15,17-18).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: No.
X-list:
Source: CRD 13.08.2007.pdf
Symbol: Hu-E
Allowed sets: 1-19, Weta (Site cards from 11-13,15,17-18).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: No.
X-list:
R-list:
Source: CRD 13.08.2007.pdf
Symbol: Hu-O
Allowed sets: 1-19, Weta (Site cards from 11-13,15,17-18).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: No.
R-list:
Source: CRD 13.08.2007.pdf
Symbol: Hu
Allowed sets: 15,17-18 (Site cards from 11-13,15,17-18).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: No.
Source: CRD 13.08.2007.pdf
Symbol: War
Allowed sets: 11-13 (Site cards from 11-13).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: No.
R-list:
Source: CRD 13.08.2007.pdf
Symbol: King
Allowed sets: 7-8,10 (Site cards from 7-8,10).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: No.
R-list:
Source: CRD 13.08.2007.pdf
Symbol: TT
This format uses an older definition, in order to allow cancelling Ring-bearer's skirmish, which is what players expect in this format. Latest version, as defined in CRD 13.08.2007.pdf, doesn't allow this.
Allowed sets: 4-6 (Site cards from 4-6).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: Yes.
Source: Comprehensive Rulebook 2.0 04.11.2003.pdf
Symbol: FotR
This format uses an older definition, in order to allow cancelling Ring-bearer's skirmish, which is what players expect in this format. Latest version, as defined in CRD 13.08.2007.pdf, doesn't allow this, and also has R-listed 1C248 Forces of Mordor.
Allowed sets: 1-3 (Site cards from 1-3).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: Yes.
Source: Comprehensive Rulebook 2.0 04.11.2003.pdf
Symbol: War-S
Superseded by Hunters Standard. Allowed sets: 4-14, Weta (Site cards from 11-13).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: No.
X-list:
Source: CRD 22.05.2006b.pdf
Symbol: War-E
Superseded by Hunters Expanded. Allowed sets: 1-14, Weta (Site cards from 11-13).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: No.
X-list:
R-list:
Source: CRD 22.05.2006b.pdf
Symbol: War-O
Superseded by Hunters Open. Allowed sets: 1-14, Weta (Site cards from 11-13).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: No.
R-list:
Source: CRD 22.05.2006b.pdf
Symbol: SH-S
Superseded by War of the Ring Standard. Allowed sets: 1-11, Weta (Site cards from 11).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: No.
X-list:
Source: CRD 18.01.2005.pdf
Symbol: King-S
Superseded by Shadows Standard. Allowed sets: 1-10, Weta (Site cards from 7-8,10).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: No.
X-list:
Source: CRD 07.09.2004.pdf and DGMA Tournament Legal Cardlist 28.07.2004.pdf
Symbol: EK-S
Superseded by King Standard. Allowed sets: 1-8 (Site cards from 7-8).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: Yes.
X-list:
Source: CRD 05.04.2004.pdf
Symbol: TT-S
Superseded by Early King Standard. Allowed sets: 1-6 (Site cards from 4-6).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: Yes.
X-list:
Source: DGMA Standard Format Exclusion List 14.04.2003.pdf
Symbol: FotR-S
This format is disabled in the game, as it is equivalent to Fellowship Block format in its current form, but remains listed here for posterity.
Superseded by Towers Standard. Allowed sets: 1-3 (Site cards from 1-3).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: Yes.
Source: FAQ 03.09.2002.pdf
Symbol: JC
Allowed sets: 21 (Site cards from 21). Companions can have signets in addition to non-standard resistance. Loaded keyword Relentless (skirmishes involving relentless minions cannot be canceled by an opponent). Unloaded keyword Spy. Sites can have old-style site number symbol & value (including block symbol) located on the left of and above of the game text area. In that case they also have old style sanctuary "silver" template. These sites act as home sites for matching allies, regardless of their position on the adventure path. However, those allies do not automatically take part in archery fire and skirmishes if their home site is placed in region 3.
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: No.
Source: this page
Symbol: HB
Allowed sets: h0, h1. Ring-bearer is called Burglar. Burdens are called doubts. Site path works like in the early blocks. The One Ring is a standard Shire Artifact, is not required in a deck, and the Burglar starts the game without it.
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: Yes.
Source: link
Symbol: NE
Allowed sets: 11-19, Weta (Site cards from 11-13,15,17-18).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: No.
X-list:
Source: this page
Symbol: MV
Allowed sets: 1-8, 10 (Site cards from 7-8, 10).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: Yes.
X-list:
Source: this page
Symbol: Aus
Allowed sets: 1-19, Weta (Site cards from 11-13,15,17-18). If you use cards from sets 1-6, then you can't use cards from sets 11-13, 15, 17-18 (and vice versa). This limit applies separately to Free Peoples (excluding Ring-bearers) and Shadow sides of your deck.
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: No.
X-list:
R-list:
Source: link
Symbol: Fre
Allowed sets: 1-6, 9, 11-14, Weta (Site cards from 11-13).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: No.
X-list:
Source: link
Symbol: Cr
Allowed sets: 1-19, Weta, 21, h0, h1 (Site cards from all those sets). Burglar may be chosen as the Ring-bearer (becomes Ring-bearer & Ring-bound in addition to Burglar), while other types of valid Ring-bearers become a Burglar when chosen. If h1S210 The One Ring is in the deck (as the required single card titled "The One Ring"), then this deck must also contain at least 1 Bilbo eligible for becoming the Ring-bearer. Once in the game it will be possible to select the Ring-bearer only from such valid Bilbo cards (and playing h1S210 The One Ring at start of the game will be optional). Whenever a card mentions doubts - this means burdens. Numbered and unnumbered sites can be mixed freely, with a maximum of 1 of any given site number numbered site, and a maximum of 3 of any given Shadow number unnumbered site. Still, there must be exactly 9 Site cards in your Adventure Deck. Numbered sites are given a priority during selection, before you are allowed to chose from unnumbered sites. Each Site's Block (used to determine whether an Ally is at his or her home site) remains unchanged. Playing Burglar characters is blocked during the game, as is playing characters with the Ring-bearer keyword. Expect bugs in card interactions (because of Followers with race from The Hobbit).
Can cancel Ring-bearer's skirmish: Yes, but only if his (or her) race is Hobbit.
Source: this page
Symbol: ER
Disabled in formats: Journey Continues, Hobbit.
Specific cards from the mLOTRO's Errata set (generally those that were X-listed at one point in game's history) will be used instead of their regular versions. While a player can make a deck using those specific cards, it's not required. In a game using this variant, all regular versions will be automatically upgraded to their errata counterparts. Likewise, in a game not using this variant, all errata versions will be automatically downgraded to their regular counterparts.
Symbol: ML
Disabled in formats: Journey Continues, Hobbit.
Can use cards from the "m" sets.
Symbol: PC
Disabled in formats: Journey Continues, Hobbit.
Can use cards from the "v" sets.
Symbol: TM
Disabled in formats: Journey Continues, Hobbit.
Can use 0W1-0W13 digital-only cards with the Triumph and Menace keywords.
The chance to activate Triumph ability for a specific companion in play at start of specific phase is increased (from base chance of 0%) by 20% for each event played during skirmishes involving that companion (up to a maximum of 100% after 5 events played). However, if the companion will leave play and then return, the chance will go back to 0%. This chance is visible in the info viewer, next to Triumph keyword (for example, Triumph 40 means there's 40% chance it will activate).
The chance to activate Menace ability for a specific minion in the Shadow player's draw deck at start of Shadow phase is increased (from base chance of 0%) by 1% for each twilight token added to the pool by the Free Peoples player (up to a maximum of 100% after 100 twilight tokens added). Activated Menace ability allows to play that minion from Shadow player's draw deck and to use the effect mentioned on the card. Menace abilities on each minion activate separately (so one can activate, while another may not). The total number of twilight tokens added by the Free Peoples player is visible in the info viewer, next to Menace keyword (for example, Menace 55 means there's 55% chance it will activate). It is also visible on the tooltop of current number of twilight tokens info label.
The details of these abilities work were reconstructed from official information posted on LOTRO's web page and forum (now in web archive), player's recollections, and by analysing LOTRO's binary.
Symbol: LG
Disabled in formats: Journey Continues, Hobbit.
Can use 0W14-0W26, 0W39-0W41 digital-only league cards.
Symbol: DG
Disabled in formats: Journey Continues, Hobbit.
Can use 0W32-0W37 digital-only cards from the Hunters design-a-card contest.
Symbol: UR
Disabled in formats: Fellowship Block, Fellowship Standard, Towers Block, Hunters Block, Journey Continues, Hobbit, Crazy.
X-list and R-list is ignored.
Symbol: HI
Can have only one card with any given title.
Symbol: PM
Can't use R, R+, RF, and O cards, as well as their promo counterparts.
Symbol: RM
Can't use S, C, and U cards, as well as their promo counterparts (does not apply to sites).
Symbol: CS
Only one Free People (excluding a single Ring-bearer card), and one Shadow culture allowed.
Symbol: MN
Only one Companion card allowed. That Companion cannot be Sméagol.
Symbol: LP
Disabled in formats: Journey Continues, Hobbit.
Can use 0P62-0P67 league promos.
Symbol: LS
Disabled in formats: Journey Continues, Hobbit.
Can use 0L1-0L18 league sites.
This variant is meant to be used in Mount Doom leagues, but can be selected for other games as a variant as well. In this case league site works like a customizable card that can have a single special rule selected for 0 character points. You can only take one such card into your deck. This card is played automatically at start of the game to a special zone next to removed pile. It is active regardless of whether you are Free Peoples or Shadow player. If a league site's game text says "you" or "your" it is referring to the player who has that site in their special zone. Other than that its game text can affect both players. Sites with numbers 1 and 2 (regardless of block) have a set of 22 special rules to chose from. Sites with numbers 3 to 7 have another set of 21 special rules to chose from. Sites with numbers 8 and 9 have yet another set of 9 special rules to chose from. Generally, sites 1-2 have beneficial special rules, while the rest has rules that harm player(s). In a Mount Doom league winning players advance faster on a site path of 9 league sites, and thus are first to be negatively affected by the rules on those sites.
Symbol: JK
Disabled in formats: Journey Continues, Hobbit.
Can use "4 1 07", and SPD1-SPD3 digital-only joke cards.
Symbol: RA
There can be only up to 2 cards from the same set per side (Free Peoples and Shadow), as denoted by their collector's number. Promo counterparts count as the same set as their base version.
Symbol: SD
The minimum number of Free Peoples cards in a deck is 21, the minimum number of Shadow cards is 20.
Symbol: UN
The number of Free Peoples cards - 1 in a deck can differ from the number of Shadow cards by up to 10.
Symbol: B1-B19
Disabled in formats: as needed.
Removes given set from allowed card pool.