If you’ve picked up this game, then surely you are a fan of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, (whether it be the TV show or the novelization). If not, then you might have a harder time getting into the game than others. Fantasy Fight Games does an amazing job at translating the events of the novels to board game form, and it would be most enjoyed by people who understand the context of the regions and houses they fight for.
What’s needed to play the game: an endless amount of patience, at least 3 players, (more fun with 4-6), simple mathematic skills, at least 3 free hours, (can sometimes last longer than 5 hours depending on how many players and how quick they can make decisions), and calm friends, (I cannot stress this one enough).
When first opening the box, you’ll notice many different pieces, cards, and a rule book that could count as its own short story. With a length of 31 pages, it might take you a while to get through the rules themselves, so be prepared to sit down for a minimum of two hours, just to learn the rules. Even after you think that you’ve learned everything that can be, be prepared to delve back into the rule ‘tome’ many times. Even if you’ve played multiple times, that book will be your best friend in this game.
Speaking of best friends, be prepared to lose a few. You probably think that I am joking, and I think that I am as well, but I’m certain that there are people out there that can take games like this seriously. This game can turn the nonchalant board game player into a raging beast of madness. Even if you are thinking, “That won’t happen to me”, believe me, it’ll hit you even worse.
Everything placed into the box was meticulously constructed, and it shows. Even the miniature plastic figures to be placed on the board resemble marble pieces. However, it is the artwork here that really shines. The board itself is beautiful. Each part of it was made specifically to relate to the lands portrayed in the novels. Also, each and every character card has a unique feel to it. They not only did an incredible job of relating the character’s looks to how they are described in the books, but also made their text abilities wildly similar to their purpose in the main story.
If you are worried about being spoiled by cards here because the board game is supposed to go up to A Storm of Swords, don’t worry. There are characters in the house sets that have died way before A Storm of Swords and still make it into the game; thusly it would be impossible to guess who lives and who dies simply by the game itself. (Now if you have friends that don’t know when to stop speaking, that could be a different deal all together).
The Dance with Dragons expansion on the other hand will contain spoilers, and the spoilers don’t just stop with the cards themselves. The expansion takes the game to a new level wherein it forces the players into a whole new setup, with each household starting in a new geographical region on the map. Everything here is taken straight from the book, so if you don’t want to know, let’s just say, where the Baratheons end up after the events of A Storm of Swords, then don’t play this expansion. (Not to mention that some character’s switch house decks, and some characters are completely taken out because of their deaths in previous books).
Only play the Dance with Dragons expansion if you’ve read up to the current book, or don’t mind being spoiled. The up side to this expansion is that it does shave off a significant amount of time, as there are only 6 rounds instead of 10. One other great thing about this expansion is that it does initiate combat fairly early on. Where the original game may take 2 to 3 rounds for players to begin fighting, combat will start in the first round with the expansion, which is a welcomed addition to the game.
If you can get past the hours needed to be spent to learn the rules, and past the endless arguments that are sure to happen, and the enormously long runtime, and the needing to have read most of the books, then this is the game for you. I know that from all that you’ve read, this may seem like a waste of time, but if you are looking for a real board game challenge, and want to feel what true victory in Westoros is, then get ready to immerse yourself into this amazing world.
A Game of Thrones, the Board Game Score: 5/5
Dance with Dragons Expansion Score: 4.5/5
Joe Monfoletto
Related articles
- A game of thrones, George R R Martin (booksandbookshops.wordpress.com)
- 8 Awesome Plot Twists From “A Storm Of Swords” That Weren’t In “Game Of Thrones” Season 3 (buzzfeed.com)
- HBO Pressures ‘Game of Thrones’ Author to Finish Books; ‘Rome’ Actress Joins Season 4 (screenrant.com)
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