Fantasy Flight GamesA Game of Thrones The Board Game 2nd Edition

Read the books? Seen the TV series? Want more? Then try this but ONLY if you really like boardgames and have plenty of boardgame experience or patience. Or preferably both.What this is:A richly evocative simulation of the complex House interactions found in George RR Martin's books. The game requires a high degree of strategic thinking and a willingness to knife your 'friends' in the back at just the right moment if you're going to claim the iron throne.What this isn't:A quick, family game to play with the kids - the rules are long and complex and a game will last for HOURS (more on that below).Overview:I've played this game a few times now and have enjoyed it every time. However, the 6-player version is by far the best - the 'balancing' changes made to the rules when there are fewer players actually seem to unbalance the game slightly and the 4-player variant doesn't really work properly.The most important thing to note is how long it will take to play - our first (6-player) run-through took almost 5 hours, and everyone around the table was an experienced boardgame player so it'll take longer with an inexperienced group. Even then, we got some of the rules wrong!(Some of the rules only make sense once you have played through the game).Subsequent sessions have gone more quickly (3 hours being the fastest) but the game requires you to think long and hard about your long-term strategy as well as your short-term tactics and encourages you to disappear off into a separate room for quiet plotting sessions with potential allies. This all takes time.It also requires a mature approach to gaming. (And I mean 'mature' in the way you play the game - i.e. not sulking or holding a grudge when an ally betrays you at the last minute, snatching victory from your grasp - rather than in an 'adult content' sense.)It's definitely not a pick-up-&-play game for a casual session but is well worth the effort involved in getting to learn the rules and I'd certainly recommend it if you need an engrossing game to fill an entire gaming session.

I bought this for a long weekend with gaming friends. They are experienced gamers and some like to get the rules right first time! Our first game took 12 hours - yes TWELVE! but that is partly because we wanted to get it right and the rule book was passed around quite a lot to make sure no one was mis-reading it! It was hard going in terms of time but we all wanted to play it again the next day so don't let the initial time put you off. It would have been much quicker if one of us had played it before.There are some great features to the rules that definately make it the 'thinking' persons Risk. Secret declaration of your Armies actions (attack/defence/support/raid) revealed all at the same time but then each player only moves one army at a time so things can change makes for an interesting battle phase. You have only declared intentions not destination so . . . it is not always an advantage to go first! player sequence can change during power bidding. Limited armies which can get stuck in the wrong place mean careful advanced planning. Opponents working together can trap you so it is hard to get out but there is a way! It is a game about Power and territorial control is only a part of that and that is what makes it interesting - very interesting. lots of levels to think about and even alliances are - well 'Diplomacy' is child's play compared to The Game of Thrones! Do not buy this if you want a quick risk type game (where much as I enjoy it you usually know the winner by about halfway through and def. know who is going to lose). In GofT you don't. Even in the last round it can all rapidly change - as I said it is the thinking gamers 'Risk' / Diplomacy. It will always have a long playing time, even with the fixed 10 turns and experience but then I have known Monopoly to last for a whole day! FIVE STARS if you enjoy a challenge. Wargamers and strategy gamers will def. enjoy. We now want the extension that will bring in the Dragons - just hope it doesn't unbalance the rules/game.

Before I bought this game I first saw the manual and some videos as I always do that.It seemed interesting so I decided to buy it.I have played the game with 2 (typically its playable with 3-6 players, its not designed for 2 people) to 5 people.In a 2-player game in order to be playable, you should get 2 or 3 factions per person although this should happen after a learning curve of just 1 faction each. Although it is not designed as a 2-player game and you lose some interesting things such as alliances etc. it is still enjoyable as long as you are ok having a large army due to the combination of factions.This game is very fan though when played with a large group of people. The more people in the group, the better the game experience. The good part of the game is that Orders are placed hidden from each player thus you must think ahead of what your opponents strategy may be in order to be able either to defend your self or make a surprise attack. Also alliances can bring a very interesting curve in the game.I strongly suggest this game, just keep in mind that it is best played with a large group of people. I personally like it also as a 2-player game each player controlling 2-3 factions thus using all of the game board. This though requires a learning curve.