A Game of Thrones CCG

[red_temple]

I wasn't sure where to post this one - GRRM or Gaming. Obviously, I chose GRRM.

A friend of mine just got back from Gen Con and brought me some starter decks and pre-constructed decks for the "A Game of Thrones" collectible card game. Has anyone played this yet? If so, what is it like? And how does it compare to other games - like Magic, etc. I used to be fairly addicted to Magic back in the day, but I wonder if this is truly a good game, or is it just one of those "nice to have" things for us fanboys.

 

[Trey Greyjoy]

I wasn't sure where to post this one - GRRM or Gaming. Obviously, I chose GRRM.

A friend of mine just got back from Gen Con and brought me some starter decks and pre-constructed decks for the "A Game of Thrones" collectible card game. Has anyone played this yet? If so, what is it like? And how does it compare to other games - like Magic, etc. I used to be fairly addicted to Magic back in the day, but I wonder if this is truly a good game, or is it just one of those "nice to have" things for us fanboys.

***deep sigh***

Somethin' else I gotta buy!

 

[Boaz]

I've only played Magic twice, my friends begged me.

To me Magic makes no sense. I mean this because the world of Magic was not a coherent, unified, and well-known place, at least to me. But the world of AGOT card game is well known to me... and I get a thrill when the Kingslayer and the Blackfish face off. In Magic, when my clay golem fights my opponents goblin horde there is no sense of wonder... I don't relive an epic story... to me it's meaningless. I'm not into Magic for the sake of generic fantasy, I like my fantasy grounded in reality.

All that said... I think AGOT is brilliant. It is played on three levels... Political Power, Military Power, and Intelligence (espionage) power. You can try to balance your deck or steamroll your opponents with a single type of attack. Obviously the Lannisters specialize in espionage, the Baratheons in politics, and the Greyjoys in military.

On the board you have characters and locations. Characters allow you to attack or defend. Locations generate income or give special bonuses.

Each player goes in order of initiative which is determined from his/her agenda card played each turn. The agenda card gives initiative, an income, and a condition to affect you or your opponents... sneaky, sneaky.

I have about four thousand cards. You make decks according to the great houses of Westeros. I have many playable decks... in fact I make my decks from the books, I don't just make power decks. I mean, Jon Snow should not be in the same deck with Cat, nor should Bronn work with Cersei. My decks are Robert (support from all houses), Stannis (Asshai and Pirates), Renly (Knights and Tyrells), Tywin (Armies, Ambassadors, money and Jaime), Cersei (Spies and Jaime), Tyrion (Clansmen, whores, sellswords and Jaime), Dany (Dragons and Queensguard), Viserys (Dothraki, it's a "what if" deck), Balon (Longships), Theon (Longships), Oberyn (Sandsnakes), Robb (Armies and Tullys), Ned (Winterfell), Night's Watch (Jon), and Wildling (Mance).

The game is usually played by two people, but is a real blast when playing with three, four, or five people.

When you play the game of thrones, you either win or die.

 

[red_temple]

Sweet!! Thanks Boaz - it sounds really awsome. The only problem is that if I get hooked on this game, there are no shops around that sell the cards. Where do you get yours from?

 

[Boaz]

I get mine at a local game shop. Valhalla's is the best.

 

[Trey Greyjoy]

Hey Boaz,
What is the difference between the different "base" sets? Are they interplayable? I see the expansions are based upon the different bases, so that worries me a bit that what you buy today will be retired tomorrow.

 

[Boaz]

Great concern, TG. I have not collected or played the two editions in the last year... I've been too busy with work. But my understanding is that they introduced some new aspects to the game that would put the original cards at a disadvantage if not make them obsolete altogether. This is a real concern I have about getting back in and expanding my decks.

IIRC, the first set had Stark, Lannister, and Baratheon, the second introduced Targaryen to the mix, the third brought in Greyjoy, and the fourth added Martell. I'm sorry I don't remember the names of the sets. Fantasy Flight Games makes AGOT CCG and that info should be available on their website.

 

[Boaz]

Dunno if anyone is still interested in ASOIAF CCG, but GRRM posted on his Not A Blog concerning Fantasy Flight's video introduction to the game.

 

[Syphon of Oor-Tael]

I've had an online program but couldn't be bothered to figure out how it worked. Also, Boaz, this is not the place to discuss Magic, but before I went on a hiatus (rules change, bah), I was very well into the storyline, and I have to tell you, there is a giant story spanning a lot of years, and even now, some ramifications are felt. It does have a story. Also, I am not entirely sure what you mean by "grounded in reality". But again, not the place.

 

[Boaz]

Syphon, what's not the place? We've hijacked scores of threads before. This thread has been dead for almost four years, it'll enjoy any life we pump into it.

In my defence, let me just state that I usually form opinions and spout them forth before ever doing any fact finding regarding the topic at hand. It's best if I don't actually clutter my mind with the truth.

Second, I was drinking whiskey when I made the above post.

Third, I don't know what I meant either by "grounded in reality." I just thought it would add weight to my argument and sway the weak minded.

In conclusion, the statute of limitations regarding prosecution of ill-informed and biased posts made by drunken fools is forty-seven months. Since that post was made on August 26, 2005, you can't hold me to it.

 

[the smiling weirwood]

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

 

[Syphon of Oor-Tael]

I win by forfeiting due to alcohol!
Anyway, if it was sold around here, I might get some cards. Probably Dorne or Targaryen. But nope, it isn't sold here. But anybody who's interested could try the Rookery. I can't link to it since it's probably not legal.