Mark is right Ben!! You can go absolutely crazy on collecting cards. I started with Decipher's LOTR's sets and have been hooked on collecting all of them and then branched out to the Topps LOTR's cards, Autos, and Costume cards. I used to do the same thing with Magic and was in on the initial Alpha & Beta sets through Legends. I sold all those cards in 1995 for some real serious money and was out of collecting until the LOTR's cards came out and really got caught up in it.
I have had to stop myself from getting involved in other card sets like Harry Potter, Warlords, and Star Wars to name just a few else I would bankrupt myself not to mention that my wife would probably shoot me!!

Remember the more you branch out the less money you will have to get the cards or finish the sets you are most interested in.

Just my 2 cents thinking.