Fantasy Flight Games

Messenger Raven

Published 3 April 2019 | A Game of Thrones Board Game

Messenger Raven

A New FAQ Is Now Available for A Game of Thrones: The Board Game

“My brother has his sword, King Robert has his warhammer, and I have my mind… and a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”
–Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

A new version of the A Game of Thrones: The Board Game FAQ (pdf, 2.4 MB) is now available for download!

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game tasks players with leading the Great Houses of Westeros into battle as they vie for control of the Seven Kingdoms. In this epic game of strategy, diplomacy, and military might, you must take advantage of your House’s position and balance your forces as you forge and break alliances—all in pursuit of power and the Iron Throne.

Since A Game of Thrones: The Board Game first entered its second edition, designers have further explored the world of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series with the A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons scenarios, and most recently with the Mother of Dragons deluxe expansion. As the game continues to evolve, so too must your strategies if you wish to stay ahead of your opponents and maintain your hold on the realm.

Today, Mother of Dragons designer Jason Walden sheds some light on what you can expect to discover in the latest FAQ for A Game of Thrones: The Board Game.

Jason Walden on the Latest FAQ

After nearly seven years, we are proud to announce the release of the second update to the A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Frequently Asked Questions. With thousands of games played, a multitude of new players joining the community, and three expansions added to the collection, a variety of interesting questions have accumulated. We have done our best to capture the most relevant and meaningful of these topics and addressed them in this document.

In addition to answering many of your important questions, we have also included some intriguing rules modifications. As the game has grown and matured, it was discovered that some of the long-standing rules (and some new ones as well) were in need of refreshment. Elements such as refined tiebreaker procedures and even new starting unit positions are a direct result of the evolving game state presented by the three expansions, especially the dramatic changes in Mother of Dragons.

I’d like to thank all of our dedicated fans who have sent us their questions. Your attention to detail has driven us to consider every decision with extreme care. Along the various drafts of the document, I was very thankful to have critical feedback from players like Alan Lee, Torben Dijkstra, and the host of A Podcast of Ice and Fire, Amin Javadi, among many others. Your patience is admirable, and you have my gratitude.

Conquer Westeros

Thanks, Jason!

With this invaluable knowledge at your disposal, you're more prepared than ever to face your rivals on the battlefield and take your rightful place as the ruler of Westeros. Download your copy of the A Game of Thrones: The Board Game FAQ here today and prepare to make your claim for the Iron Thone!

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A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition and its expansion are © 2003, 2011 & 2012 Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc. Licensed by George R.R. Martin. The names, descriptions, and depictions applied to this game are derived from works copyrighted by George R.R. Martin, and may not be used or reused without his permission. A Game of Thrones: The Board Game, its expansion title and Fantasy Flight Supply are trademarks of Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved to their respective owners.

The Latest from FFG

Published 21 November 2018 | KeyForge

The Latest from FFG

Games You Might Have Missed in the Holiday Rush

The holidays are nearly upon us, and the last few months have been stacked with new releases from Fantasy Flight Games. Now, as you start picking out games for your wishlist or shopping for your loved ones, we want to make sure you haven’t missed anything.

Take a quick look at our recap of some of the hottest new games we’ve released in the last few months and complete your holiday shopping today!

Arkham Horror

The year is 1926, and it’s the height of the Roaring Twenties. Flappers dance till dawn in smoke-filled speakeasies, drinking alcohol supplied by rum runners and the mob. It’s a celebration to end all celebrations in the aftermath of the War to End All Wars. Yet a dark shadow grows in the city of Arkham. Alien entities known as Ancient Ones lurk in the emptiness beyond space and time, writhing at the thresholds between worlds. Their occult rituals must be stopped and these dread creatures must be destroyed.

Arkham Horror is a cooperative board game for one to six players who become investigators battling to defeat the servitors of the Ancient Ones. Based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft, players will have to gather clues, defeat terrifying monsters, and find tools and allies to stand any hope of defeating the ancient creatures that exist just beyond the veil of our reality.

Pick up Arkham Horror at your local retailer or online through our webstore!

New California

Ah, California: sunshine, ocean breezes, and radioactive wasteland as far as the eye can see. This desolate coastal state was once a shining jewel, but since the Great War, the region known as New California has fallen into chaos. Which is great news! Where there’s chaos, there’s loot!

The New California expansion brings new quests, companions, vaults, and items to Fallout: The Board Game, letting you venture out into the wasteland as five new characters. While there, you can wander across twelve new map tiles that expand the scenarios found in the original game or head into sunny New California and visit some of the most memorable locations from throughout the Fallout series.

You can pick up New California or Fallout: The Board Game at your local retailer or online through our webstore!

Heroes of Terrinoth

Strike back at the foes of the realm in Heroes of Terrinoth! In the Free Cities, the Bloodguard sows discord, while in the Mistlands, the dead rise from their graves. Now, the realm turns its eye to you and your team of heroes in search of saviors.

In this cooperative card game of questing and adventure, one to four players take on the roles of unique heroes who must unite to face deadly villains, navigate treacherous terrain, and defend the realm to earn fame and fortune! Terrinoth needs champions—do you have what it takes?

You can find Heroes of Terrinoth at your local retailer or online through our webstore!

Discover: Lands Unknown

You awaken with a splitting headache and no idea of how you got here. The wilderness stretches in every direction, and something howls in the distance. Your quest for answers will have to wait; first, you need to survive. Will you help the others stranded here or will you save yourself at any cost?

When two to four players find themselves marooned in the harsh wilderness, you must cooperate and compete to search for water, food, and tools that will be essential to your very survival. But your adventure holds many secrets. Discover: Lands Unknown is a Unique Game, and every copy of Discover: Lands Unknown is unlike any other in the world. A mix of environments, storylines, characters, locations, items, and enemies have been engineered to tell a story unique to every copy of the game, thanks to an algorithm that ensures no two copies are alike. Your adventures will be your very own as you struggle to survive in the heart of the wild.

Pick up your own copy of Discover: Lands Unknown at your local retailer or online through our webstore!

Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game

It is an era of sudden change and upheaval in the realm of Rokugan. Mortal schemes, natural calamities, and celestial turmoil alike have disrupted the political, military, and spiritual equilibrium of the land. Long-simmering rivalries and fresh betrayals ripple through the courts and on the battlefield. The Chrysanthemum Throne is beset by threats from without and within, and the honor of the seven Great Clans shall be put to the test. Who among the clans will prove strong enough to guide Rokugan in these tumultuous times? Will their names be lifted up beside those of the honored ancestors, or will they fall among the ranks of the empire’s most infamous villains?

This is the stage of the Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying, a roleplaying experience in the world of Rokugan. If you’re new to roleplaying the Beginner Game is the perfect place to get started with advice for players and new Game Masters, and with the Core Rulebook, you can take your adventures in Rokugan to the next level with detailed options for creating your own characters!

Pick up your copy of the Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Beginner Game or Core Rulebook at your local retailer or online through our webstore!

X-Wing

Enter the next era of interstellar combat in the Star Wars galaxy! In the second edition of X-Wing™, you assemble a squadron of iconic starfighters from across the Star Wars saga and engage in fast-paced, high-stakes space combat with iconic pilots such as Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.

With refined gameplay that focuses on the physical act of flying starships, X-Wing lets you create your own Star Wars space battles right on your tabletop. Intuitive mechanics create the tense atmosphere of a firefight while beautifully pre-painted miniatures draw you deeper into the action. Man your ships and enter the fray!

Pick up your copy of the X-Wing Core Set at your local retailer or online through our webstore, and look for the expansions of Wave II at your retailer soon!

Across the Galaxy

Step into the Star Wars saga with Across the Galaxy, a new set of boosters for Star Wars™: Destiny featuring 160 new cards!

Across the Galaxy brings the characters of Solo: A Star Wars Story to Star Wars: Destiny. Before he was a hero of the Rebellion, Han Solo was a cocky young pirate just looking for a little adventure. With a crew of like-minded individuals that includes Lando Calrissian and Tobias Beckett, the dashing young rogue finds his way to Star Wars: Destiny.

Across the Galaxy finishes the block started by Legacies and expands on its themes. You can look for plot cards with negative point values, cards that grow stronger when you spot specific characters, and new ways to upgrade some of the most famous vehicles in the galaxy.

Pick up Across the Galaxy booster packs at your local retailer or online through our webstore!

Cosmic Encounter

In the depths of space, the alien races of the Cosmos vie for control of the universe in Cosmic Encounter. Alliances form and shift from moment to moment, while cataclysmic battles send starships screaming into the warp.

This classic game of alien politics returns from the warp once more. Features 51 aliens, flare cards to boost their powers, Cosmic Combo cards with suggested pairing of aliens, 100 translucent plastic ships, a host of premium components, and tech cards that let players research and build extraordinary technological marvels.

Pick up your copy of Cosmic Encounter at your local retailer or online through our webstore!

Mother of Dragons

Cross the Narrow Sea with the Mother of Dragons expansion for A Game of Thrones: The Board Game! Clawing their way into power, this expansion includes a side board of the Free Cities of Essos and an overlay of the Eyrie, as well as new characters and mechanics to bring House Targaryen and House Arryn into the fray. As you make your claim to the Iron Throne, you can call other Houses to your cause or even ask for aid from the Iron Bank of Braavos.

Pick up your copy of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game at your local retailer or online through our webstore, and look for the Mother of Dragons expansion, coming soon to your retailer!

KeyForge

Enter a world where anything is possible in KeyForge! In the center of the universe hangs the Crucible, an artificial world built from the pieces of countless planets. Here, in the world’s first Unique Deck Game, created by legendary designer Richard Garfield, two players step into the roles of mighty Archons, racing to forge keys that unlock the Crucible’s hidden Vaults.

Leading their diverse teams, filled with followers from three of the Crucible’s great Houses, the Archons must gather Æmber, stave off their opponent’s progress, and ultimately be the first to open a Vault and gain its incredible knowledge. With a vast array of creatures, artifacts, and abilities, and over 104 quadrillion possible decks, every deck is completely one-of-a-kind, and no two battles will ever be the same!

Pick up your KeyForge: Call of the Archons Starter Set and Archon Decks at your local retailer!

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Return to Westeros

Published 11 April 2016 | A Game of Thrones Board Game

Return to Westeros

Explore the Variants of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game

A deep red blush had appeared in the east by the time they all assembled at the gate. The stars are going out, Jon thought. When next they reappeared, they would be shining down upon a world forever changed.
–George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

This April, many of you will reenter the world of Westeros, experiencing the intrigues, betrayals, and epic battles of the game of thrones. As you sail across the Narrow Sea to set foot in King’s Landing once more, we want to take a moment to draw your attention to A Game of Thrones: The Board Game.

From the first edition of the game in 2003 to the fully updated and remastered second edition, countless players have used this game to journey to Westeros and play a part in the power struggles and intrigues that define the realm. During a game of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game, you and your friends each take control of one of the Great Houses of Westeros: Baratheon, Stark, Lannister, Greyjoy, Martell, or Tyrell. You must lead your House to greatness by conquering castles and strongholds, but to accomplish your goals, you must make deals with your friends… and inevitably betray them for your own gain.

Last year, we shone a spotlight on A Game of Thrones: The Board Game and highlighted how you dispatch orders to your armies and jockey for position on the game’s influence tracks. Today, we want to follow a different road and explore the variants that you can use while playing the game of thrones!

Tides of Battle

Tyrion wondered whether this was the last sunrise he would ever see… and whether wondering was a mark of cowardice. Did his brother Jaime ever contemplate death before a battle?
–George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

The first way to dramatically alter your experience in A Game of Thrones: The Board Game is actually included in the Core Set—the Tides of Battle cards. By using this optional rule, you make your battles for Westeros both more unpredictable and significantly more deadly.

Under normal circumstances at the beginning of a battle, both players choose a House card from their hand. These House cards represent the great lords and ladies of the House, and their leadership on the field of battle. Not only do these cards boost your combat strength, they also provide unique special abilities or the power to kill your opponent’s units.

When you choose to use the Tides of Battle module, both players draw a card from the Tides of Battle deck after choosing and revealing their House cards. These cards not only affect your combat strength, they can also introduce extra danger, including the skull icon, which inflicts casualties on your opponent whether you win or lose! With the Tides of Battle deck, you can never predict the outcome of a battle, making your negotiations and the support of the other Great Houses even more important than before.

Expand Your Intrigues

“When Aegon the Dragon stepped ashore in Westeros, the kings of Vale and Rock and Reach did not rush to hand him their crowns. If you mean to sit his Iron Throne, you must win it as he did, with steel and dragonfire.”
–George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords

You can also change the experience of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game with two expansions for the game: A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons. Both of these expansions are available through our in-house manufacturing and each advances the game to a later point in the storyline of A Song of Ice and Fire.

A Feast for Crows allows you to enter the story at the fourth book in the saga to engage in a special, four-player scenario. Here, you can play as House Stark, House Lannister, House Baratheon, or an entirely new entry to the game, House Arryn. Each of these Houses includes new House cards with new abilities to reflect the characters left alive at that point in the story. What’s more, the addition of neutral and House-specific Objective cards invite you to score points in additional ways. Though the Houses’ objectives can vary widely, you’ll need to understand your own goals and your opponents’ if you want to achieve victory.

Finally, you can advance the game to the fifth book in A Song of Ice and Fire with A Dance with Dragons. This expert-level, six-player scenario creates a tactical situation reminiscent of the most recent book in George R.R. Martin’s epic series. Every House is still involved in the game of thrones, but their major players have drastically changed, as reflected by new decks of House cards. In addition, new setup instructions ensure that combat is possible from the very first turn of the game and every alliance you can broker is more important than ever.

Claim the Iron Throne

Immerse yourself in the intrigues, power struggles, and massive battles of Westeros with A Game of Thrones: The Board Game! If you want even more of A Song of Ice and Fire at your game night, you can also take a look at A Game of Thrones: The Card Game. Will you be the one to unite a war-torn realm? Make your choice when you play the game of thrones for yourself.

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Conquer Westeros

Published 8 April 2015 | A Game of Thrones Board Game

Conquer Westeros

Spotlight on A Game of Thrones: The Board Game

The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros are divided and the War of the Five Kings is ready to explode. The north has declared for Robb Stark, the Iron Islands rise in rebellion under Balon Greyjoy, and in Sunspear, the leaders of House Martell plot revenge for past wrongs. Meanwhile, the heart of Westeros is in turmoil as Lannister, Baratheon, and Tyrell struggle for power in King’s Landing.

To restore order to Westeros, one House must throw down all challengers and claim the Iron Throne. In A Game of Thrones: The Board Game, you take command of one of these six Great Houses of Westeros. You’ll muster armies and lead them on the road to war, but you must never neglect the political arena. To claim the Westerosi strongholds and achieve victory, you’ll need to decide when to forge new alliances… and when to break your promises.

Today, we turn a spotlight onto the battles and trickery of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game – the only game that matters!

Lead Your House

"They are your people, and they love you well,” Magister Illyrio said amiably. "In holdfasts all across the realm, men lift secret toasts to your health while women sew dragon banners and hide them against the day of your return from across the water.”
–George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

At the onset of the War of the Five Kings, many of the Houses are separated by land or sea. Stannis Baratheon plans his coup from the island citadel of Dragonstone, House Stark holds the vast northern reaches of Westeros, while House Tyrell rests comfortably in the bountiful lands of the Reach. Though the Great Houses begin the game separated by distance, you will quickly come within striking distance as you lead your armies across Westeros with fire and sword.

Every turn, you and your opponents assign orders to your armies in the field. You may raid the land to sabotage your enemies’ plans, send your armies on the march, fortify your defenses, support your temporary allies, or consolidate your power in regions firmly under your control. All orders are assigned secretly so you’re never certain of your opponent’s true intentions. Can you really trust the Dornishmen to honor your arrangement? Is House Baratheon planning to steal the Eyrie as soon as your armies are called elsewhere? You must start outwitting your opponents well before the first armies are moved on the board.

Order tokens from left to right: raid, consolidate power, support, defense, march

To achieve victory, you must conquer seven strongholds or castles, but with up to six players and only twenty of these crucial locations on the board, your quest for victory will necessarily involve a clash of kings. But even as you play the game of thrones, you must be mindful of the threat stirring beyond the Wall. The wildlings grow in strength as the game goes on and will attack unpredictably. When this happens, all Houses must band together and support the Night’s Watch or the consequences will be grievous for all of Westeros.

Bloody Battles, Courtly Intrigues

"I will not treat with Renly," Stannis answered in a tone that brooked no argument. "Not while he calls himself a king."
–George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings

Your armies in A Game of Thrones: The Board Game are your tools for conquering the realm and claiming the Iron Throne. After all, your intrigue and political machinations won’t benefit you if you don’t have the forces to make good on your threats. You’ll lead armies of infantry and knights into battle, construct siege engines to surpass the walls of a stronghold, and command fleets in the oceans that surround Westeros.

Your armies are crucial to achieving victory, but the characters of A Song of Ice and Fire provide the leadership your armies need. Every combat is resolved without dice or any form of chance as each player selects a single character from his House to lead his forces in the field. The chosen House card and its abilities, combined with the strength of the units in the battle, determines the ultimate victor in every battle. Of course, these characters have countless potent effects. You may strike from the sea with Victarion Greyjoy, disrupt your opponent’s plans with Cersei Lannister, or force your opponent to retreat as you choose with Robb Stark.

Few battles take place between two Houses in isolation. Other armies wait nearby, ready to lend their aid to one side or the other. You may issue the support order to an army at the beginning of a round, allowing it to partake in any conflicts that occur in adjacent regions. Gaining the support of a nearby army can turn a seemingly inevitable defeat into victory, but help is never free. You may help Baratheon capture King's Landing… but only in exchange for the castle of Storm's End. By positioning your armies to support another player in battle, you can demand regions, castles, or favors in return for your help.

Not every battle is waged on the bloody fields of Westeros, however. Some conflicts take place in the courts of King’s Landing as lords, ladies, knights, and courtiers jockey for position and power at the Red Keep. Throughout the game, the Great Houses struggle to achieve dominance in three arenas of power: the Iron Throne, the realm’s fiefdoms, and the king’s court.

The three influence tracks from top to bottom: the Iron Throne, the fiefdoms, and the king's court.

If you devote yourself to gaining power over the Iron Throne, you can use your influence to shape the fate of Westeros as you see fit by deciding the outcome of non-combat ties. Alternatively, you can exercise your influence to bring the smallfolk and the fiefdoms to your side. With these new recruits swelling your army, you are much more powerful in battle, potentially overwhelming opponents who lack the support of the fiefdoms. The final area where you can demonstrate your power is at the king’s court. Here, more influence means access to the secrets and spies of Westeros. You may issue special orders to bolster your armies, or even change an order after all players have revealed their plans. Wherever you exercise your influence in A Game of Thrones: The Board Game, the power struggles of King’s Landing are as deadly as any pitched battle.

Expand the Story

"To go north, you must journey south. To reach the west, you must go east. To go forward, you must go back. To touch the light, you must pass beneath the shadow."
–George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

The core set of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game simulates the state of Westeros in the first two books of A Song of Ice and Fire, at the beginning of the War of the Five Kings. You can advance the game further in the story, however, with the addition of two expansions, A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons, both available through our in-house manufacturing.

A Feast for Crows is a four-player scenario for A Game of Thrones: The Board Game, and it introduces House Arryn to the struggle for the Iron Throne. This expansion offers an alternative setup, providing a tactical situation reminiscent of the fourth book in George R.R. Martin’s series. Violence is imminent between the Great Houses of Westeros, and in addition to a new House and an alternative setup, the A Feast for Crows scenario also offers a new path to victory. Every Houses must strengthen the defenses around its ancestral seat of power, while simuntaneously sallying forth to complete objectives before the other players.

You can advance still further in the series with A Dance with Dragons, an expert-level six-player scenario for A Game of Thrones: The Board Game. As in A Feast for Crows, an alternate setup presents the Houses as they stand at the beginning of the fifth book in A Song of Ice and Fire. The game of thrones has raged for some time, and many characters have died since the beginning of the series, while more have risen or fallen in importance. To reflect this, A Dance with Dragons includes forty-two alternate House cards, which present previously unseen characters like Ramsay Bolton and Quentyn Martell.

Claim the Iron Throne

"So long as Tommen sits the Iron Throne, the realm sees him as the true king. Hide him under the Rock and he becomes just another claimant to the throne, no different than Stannis."
–George R.R. Martin, A Feast for Crows

The Great Houses struggle for dominance and their battles will shake all of Westeros. Do you have the power to destroy your enemies and rise to the Iron Throne? Call your banners, muster your armies, and march on King’s Landing in A Game of Thrones: The Board Game!

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The Great Houses' Greatest Leaders

Published 11 November 2011 | A Game of Thrones Board Game

The Great Houses' Greatest Leaders

A Preview of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition

The highly anticipated A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition will be on store shelves very soon (and if you’re planning to attend this weekend’s Days of Ice and Fire 2011, you can even pick up your copy then)! Today, we’ll take a look at one of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game’s most compelling aspects: the asymmetrical faction abilities that result in six distinct play experiences, depending on which of the Great Houses you control. More specifically, we’ll see how each House delivers a unique approach to combat, through the individual abilities of its most memorable characters.

Clashing on the Battlefield

Although a silver tongue will undoubtedly serve you well in your campaign to claim the Iron Throne, diplomacy alone will only get you so far. War is inevitable, and sooner or later, you’ll have to get your hands bloody. Combat in A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition depends on your ability to combine the right troops with the right leaders, exploiting the abilities of both to maximum effect. But while one House’s units are no different from another’s, a player’s House cards (which represent leaders) offer a variety of bonuses and House-specific special abilities.

But first, for those who may be unfamiliar, let’s begin with some of the fundamentals of combat (we recently posted the rules on our support page, so if you want more in-depth details, download them).

Whenever the units of two different Houses find themselves occupying the same area, combat ensues. At its most basic level, battle is a numbers game; each combatant wants to count the highest Combat Strength during the resolution step of the engagement. Each unit confers a certain Combat Strength value. Lowly footmen, for instance, are worth one point, while mighty Siege Engines are worth four (when attacking). This element of combat is generally fairly predictable.

The wild card, so to speak, is the presence of leaders. Displayed on House cards, leaders add their own variable Combat Strength to a fight, increasing the total Combat Strength value by as much as four. But each player has only seven House cards in his hand, and can only reuse a specific character once all of his characters have been played. The trick, therefore, is to “spend” your House cards in the optimal order, fielding your leaders in a way that doesn't leave you vulnerable or impotent at the wrong time.

What’s more, House cards trigger effects that go beyond simply increasing Combat Strength. Many have either sword icons, which destroy enemy units after the fight, or fortification icons, which protect against this destruction... and others have more complex text effects that hold unwelcome surprises for your enemies. So while there’s no substitute for a massive army at your disposal, the judicious use of House cards can certainly mean the difference between victory and defeat.

A Struggle for the North

But how do House cards contribute to each faction’s distinctive style and flavor? Simply put, the abilities of each House’s leaders complement that House’s starting position and general tactics. Aggressive Houses will have offensively potent card effects, while more deliberate Houses focus on defense.

The relatively secluded House Stark, for example, is ideal for players who prefer to bide their time, bolstering their fortifications until the moment they finally strike. House Stark’s lowest strength cards also have some of the best defensive abilities in the game (while the inverse is true of their high-strength cards), which suggests that one possible strategy is to play conservatively, at least early on. Let the enemy come to you, sloughing off his attacks with characters like Catelyn Stark and Ser Roderick Cassel as he depletes his own forces. Then, respond with more offensive cards like Eddark Stark himself!

As might be expected, House Greyjoy’s cards focus on naval superiority. Along with a fine balance of sword and fortification icons throughout their seven House cards, Greyjoy provides a few outstanding bonuses to ship-to-ship combat. Victarion Greyjoy, for example, multiplies the strength of an entire fleet! Put Victarion in charge of an army of ships, and watch your enemies part like the waves.

In the Heart of Westeros

Enjoy a challenge? For offensively minded players, Casterly Rock’s House cards are among the most devastating in the game. Ser Gregor Clegane has more sword icons than any other character, but they’re wasted if you field him against small forces. Meanwhile, Cersei Lannister’s special ability lets you undermine the well laid plans of an enemy... as long as you have an army powerful enough to ensure her victory.

House Baratheon, on the other hand, requires a more subtle and nuanced approach. A number of Baratheon House cards are situationally strong, so timing is everything. Stannis Baratheon has the potential to be the highest valued House card in the game... if you’re low enough on the Iron Throne track. Similarly, Ser Davos Seaworth can gain a noticeable boost... if Stannis has already been played. If you time your attacks correctly and field your leaders in just the right order, Baratheon can be a powerhouse.

And in the South...

Although the entire continent separates them, the Tyrells have one thing in common with the Starks: their House cards of higher strength values also tend to feature devastating offensive effects. Mace Tyrell, for example, can wipe footmen off the map with his mere presence. Unlike the Starks, however, the Tyrells have excellent early game mobility, thanks in part to Ser Loras. His special ability makes House Tyrell the only faction that can essentially march two areas at a time with the same force.

Finally, House Martell plots from the sun-scorched sands of Dorne, nursing old grievances and preparing for revenge. The Martells possess an impressive balance of sword and fortification icons, making them both deadly and difficult to kill. And nothing if not a calculating politician, Doran Martell can undermine his opponent’s standing on any of the Influence tracks! This means you can lower your foe on the Fiefdoms track, ensuring that you break ties in Doran’s battle... or even grab the Valyrian Steel Blade (if you started in second place) for a quick attack bonus.

House cards are only one aspect of the compelling asymmetry in A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition. Starting positions, armies, and placement on the Influence tracks likewise contribute to the overall sense of uniqueness underscoring each faction. The only question, then, is this: Which Great House will you lead to dominance?

Look for A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition on store shelves soon!

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New Weapons of War

Published 25 October 2011 | A Game of Thrones Board Game

New Weapons of War

A Look at the Upcoming A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition

From the invasion of the First Men to the reign of the Andal kings; from the fiery conquest of the Targaryens to the rebellion of Robert Baratheon, the continent of Westeros has known constant military upheaval. Yet intrigue, betrayal, and assassinations have felled many a contender, and so has a timely lack of support from their bannermen. A House that dares set its sights on the Iron Throne must set in motion wheels within wheels to achieve its ends.

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition is already in the hands of a few lucky Essen attendees, and their response so far has been fantastic! This definitive version of the beloved board game boasts a more attractive and streamlined presentation than ever before, helping players focus on the war at hand. But if weren't at the Essen Game Fair, don’t fret; it will be on store shelves soon! In the meantime, be sure to download the complete rules (pdf, 12.7 MB) from our support page, register to attend the upcoming Days of Ice and Fire for an inside look at its development, and become an FFG fan on Facebook for your chance to win a copy.

But even with the rules at your disposal and the growing online buzz surrounding this momentous release, you may have questions about the exact differences between the first and second editions. Today, we’ll take a look at some of the components and mechanics that are completely new to A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (as opposed to those elements adopted from previous expansions), and we’ll see how they bring exciting never-before-seen options to your war for the Iron Throne.

Following Orders

The all-important placement of Order tokens is the driving force behind your House’s acts of warfare, diplomacy, and betryal. So it’s no great insight to say that successful players must seek to maximize the impact of their orders whenever possible.

To this end, players have access to a small number of Special Order Tokens, which are indicated by a star. Based on a player’s standing on the King’s Court Influence track, he can place a certain number of these especially powerful Order tokens each round, and they offer attractive bonuses beyond their standard counterparts. The Special Defense Order, for example, offers +2 Combat Strength (compared to the standard Defense Order’s +1).

So what’s new? A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition introduces some subtle, yet significant, changes to two of the Special Order Tokens. First, the Special Consolidate Power order now offers a choice: you can either collect Power tokens as normal, or (as an entirely new option) you can muster units in the area in which it’s been placed! This new versatility allows leaders to gather power for their long term plans, or gain a quick military boost to help mount a sudden attack.

Similarly, the Special Raid order has been altered to provide additional versatility. The previous edition allowed this order to target multiple areas at once. Instead, in Second Edition, the Special Raid order can target enemy Defense orders! When used as part of a coordinated surprise attack, this potent order helps ensure that no area, no matter how well defended, is truly safe.

Claim Dominance

The game of thrones isn’t always played on the battlefield. Dominance tokens are symbols of a House’s political standing, diplomatic savvy, or underhanded capabilities, and the possession of these tokens conveys specific advantages. The keeper of the Iron Throne token, for example, determines the winner of ties, a power that can provide invaluable leverage when dealmaking.

Second Edition introduces new abilities for the Valyrian Steel Blade token and the Messenger Raven token... abilities that are available in addition to those from the first edition, meaning that these two tokens have grown more adaptable without losing any of their former potency. In Second Edition, the holder of the Valyrian Steel Blade token may grant himself a +1 Combat Strength bonus as before, but when playing with the optional Tides of Battle variant, he may also use it to redraw a new Tides of Battle card.

The Messenger Raven token likewise awards a never-before-seen capability in addition to its standard power. Rather than using it to replace an Order token, its holder can opt to peak at the top card of the Wildling deck, afterwards placing that card back on top of the deck or hiding it away on the bottom. Use this secret knowledge when determining how many of your precious resources to send to The Wall, or bluff to compel your enemies to overcommit theirs!

Clarity, Convenience, and Balance

Beyond these larger additions, a number of smaller enhancements have been implemented that make A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition more straightforward and elegant than ever before. A Victory track has been added to the game board, allowing players to see who’s winning (and against whom to therefore team up) with a quick glance. Early players at Gen Con and other conventions have remarked on the added convenience of the Player Screens, which hide Order tokens from prying eyes while providing useful references.

But another enhancement is in the way A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition brilliantly scales to accommodate different numbers of players. Neutral Force tokens, which represent unaligned minor Houses unwilling to submit to outside hostility, are placed in predetermined southern areas based on the number of players in the game. These neutral armies serve to delay the “race” for uncontrolled areas, and more realistically represent the uphill battle that all would-be kings must face.

All together, the various enhancements and optional variants included in A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition add up to create a definitive play experience for fans of A Song of Ice and Fire. Eager for more? Keep checking back in the weeks leading up to A Game of Throne’s release, and make your plans to attend Days of Ice and Fire, three days of Westeros in Roseville, Minnesota, where you’ll be able to play full games against its developers!

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A Glimpse of the Coming Conflict

Published 19 October 2011 | A Game of Thrones Board Game

A Glimpse of the Coming Conflict

Presenting a Brief Video for A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition

“There is ice and there is fire. Hate and love. Bitter and sweet. [...] Winter and summer. Evil and good." She took a step toward him. "Death and life. Everywhere, opposites. Everywhere, the war."
–Melisandre

War is on the horizon, and the smallfolk of Westeros are bracing themselves for the coming conflict. A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition will be on retailer shelves soon, and this eagerly awaited title is generating significant buzz. Have you visited your local retailer to place your pre-order?

Try a Demo, Play a Full Game, or Win Your Own Copy!

The anticipation for A Game of Thrones’ upcoming release is escalating by the day, and there are plenty of ways for you to get in on the excitement:

Prepare for war by downloading the complete rules (pdf, 12.7 MB) from our support page!
Are you attending this weekend’s Essen Game Fair in Essen, Germany? Stop by the Heidelberger Spieleverlag booth for a full demo!
Want to play a full game before you buy, and perhaps even meet the Second Edition design team? Register for Days of Ice and Fire 2011, a three-day celebration of Westeros in Roseville, Minnesota!
Looking for a chance to win a copy? Become a fan of FFG on Facebook, and show off your Ice and Fire knowledge in our trivia contest!

Whet Your Appetite

To offer a small taste of the intrigue, diplomacy, and warfare coming to tabletops, our media team has prepared this enticing trailer on the A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition home page. Whet your appetite for the carnage to come, and keep checking back for more (including a full learn-to-play video) on A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition!

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Don't Miss Your Chance

Published 18 October 2011 | A Game of Thrones Board Game

Don't Miss Your Chance

Play A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition at the Essen Game Fair

Last week, we posted the rules for A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition, the definitive version of Christian T. Petersen’s beloved classic. Featuring a range of enhancements for your war for the Iron Throne, this stunning new edition combines the most popular elements of its predecessor with beautifully updated components.

Looking for a chance to play this monumental title weeks before it hits store shelves? The Essen Game Fair (also known as Internationale Spieltage) begins in just two days, and Heidelberger Spieleverlag, our exclusive distribution and publishing partner in Germany, will be running demos throughout the show!

The world’s largest hobby games convention, the Essen Game Fair caters to well over 100,000 visitors every year, offering the unique chance to see the most exciting upcoming titles the industry has to offer. Covering an area of nearly half a million square feet, Essen brings publishers, designers, and players together for a massive celebration of hobby games.

The Only Game That Matters Meets the World’s Largest Games Convention

If you’re at Essen, stop by and visit the Heidelberger booth for a full demo of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition. You’ll be placed in charge of one of the six Great Houses of Westeros, where you must unseat the other Houses and claim sole dominance over a continent shattered by war and political upheaval!

By mustering and sustaining massive armies, conquering territory, vying for power, and forming fragile alliances, you will struggle to ultimately control the most castles and strongholds, affirming him as the peoples’ chosen leader and rightful king. You’ll need aid on your path, but be careful in whom you place your trust...

Keep Watching for More

Whether or not you’re able to attend Essen, however, keep checking back for more in the weeks leading up to A Game of Throne’s release. Want even more epic conflict? Make your plans to attend Days of Ice and Fire, three days of Westeros in Roseville, Minnesota, where you’ll be able to play full games!

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War Has Returned

Published 13 October 2011 | A Game of Thrones Board Game

War Has Returned

The Rules for A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition Are Online

Ned frowned. "He must learn to face his fears. He will not be three forever. And winter is coming." "Yes,” Catelyn agreed. The words gave her a chill, as they always did. The Stark words. Every noble house had its words. Family mottoes, touchstones, prayers of sorts, they boasted of honor and glory, promised loyalty and truth, swore faith and courage. All but the Starks. Winter is coming, said the Stark words. Not for the first time, she reflected on what a strange people these northerners; were.
–George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

As winter approaches, so to does the release of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition. This updated second edition of our beloved classic brings a host of enhancements to your experience, and you can visit our support page now to download the rules (pdf 12.7 MB)!

Based on George R. R. Martin’s bestselling A Song of Ice and Fire novels, this internationally beloved game places players in charge of the six Great Houses of Westeros, where they must unseat the other Houses and claim sole dominance over a continent shattered by war and political upheaval. By mustering and sustaining massive armies, conquering territory, vying for power, and forming fragile alliances, each player will aim to ultimately control the most castles and strongholds, affirming him as the peoples’ chosen leader and rightful king. You’ll need aid on your path, but be careful in whom you place your trust...

Place Your Pre-order Today

Retailers all over the world are now taking pre-orders for this stunning edition, so head to your local store and place yours. Want to be among the first to play? Join us in Roseville, MN November 11th-13th for Days of Ice and Fire.

A weekend of seminars, games, and other exciting events dedicated to George R.R. Martin’s epic fantasy universe, Days of Ice and Fire is the perfect convention for fans of epic fantasy and great gaming alike... and we’ll have advance copies of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition available for demo. Register through our webstore today!

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Raise Your House to Dominance

Published 22 July 2011 | A Game of Thrones Board Game

Raise Your House to Dominance

Announcing A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition

“The Iron Throne is mine by rights. All those who deny that are my foes.”
–Stannis Baratheon

“The whole of the realm denies it, brother. Old men deny it with their death rattle, and unborn children deny it in their mothers’ wombs. They deny it in Dorne and they deny it on the Wall. No one wants you for their king... You may well have the better claim, but I have the larger army.”
–Renly Baratheon

Fantasy Flight Games is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition! The newly updated version of this popular title offers a number of enhancements, while preserving the tense battle of military and diplomatic superiority that has become a favorite of thousands of hobby gamers.

Updated Art, Components, and More

The updated second edition brings a host of enhancements to your A Game of Thrones experience. It includes elements from the A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords expansions, including ports, garrisons, Wildling cards, and Siege engines, while introducing welcome new innovations like player screens and Tides of Battle cards. This, along with updated graphics and a clarified ruleset, means the time has never been better to take control of Westeros.

Visit our description page to learn more about the specific enhancements in this exciting new edition, and keep checking back as we present in-depth previews in the coming weeks (you can also demo it at Gen Con 2011!). Then, in the fourth quarter of 2011, raise your House to dominance!

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