Ok, this is probably rather late in coming, but I'd really hate for the FFG crew to think that we didn't see anything positive to come from the Greyjoy boxed expansion. Really, I found that there were some really great things about the expansion set, generally revolving around the cards themselves. First, I think it's great that we got an expansion to make Greyjoy fully playable. As well, I think the reprint and new card choices were, all in all, great. There are some real power cards, some fun cards, and some personal favorites. In that same vein, I think you'll find that many of the community's concerns about the game environment were addressed in solid and useable ways- from new kings/queens for every house, to traited plot reprints, to location and hand control, to draw. Those might be the biggest thing to me because I really feel that they were very well. Also, the resin housecard looks great. I'd love to see them produced for the other houses as well, just make them an optional buy like those amazing Jaime Lannister card sleeves!

Anyone else care to weigh in with some thoughts?

I pretty much like the "feel" of the greyjoy expansion. It may sound stupid but it reminds me of the elusive "The Balrog" expansion for the very-much-alive Middle Earth CCG. The thing is you get an entire "culture" from A song of Ice and Fire, the box is great and the resin card makes it special. It's a pity that you end up with three of them, but if you are only a collector and you buy one set you really get a great value.

Also, the art looks great.

Some of the very good I&F artworks were recycled. I really like that the great Papsuev artworks/ charahcter portraits are back in the game. The new melee variant looks promising, alternative ways of winning the game, especially in a melee contest, are very welcome.

I won´t comment every singular card that´s in the expansion, because i havn´t had teh chance to play with the new cards. So i will just say that some of the really classic Greyjoy cards are back like risen from the sea, iron mines etc, which is a good thing because these cards charachterize the strengths of house Greyjoy.

I think FFG did a great job with this expansion, at least in terms of selecting the cards. I especially like the assortment of rush and control themes. Though I doubt Greyjoy will be extremely competitive now, I think the issues the house has are the same that plague other houses: excepting Lanni and Martell (which lacks resources), all houses lack the card draw needed to make them run smoothly. (There are some cards, such as Kingsmoot and the new location discard event, that seem promising but probably won't be viable for several months, when new cards--in this case cheap ironborn characters and warcrest characters--are printed.) This is getting off topic, but I want to note that it says something that one of the main reasons for running a seasonal deck is the draw, rather than the season-based card effects.

As always, the artwork for the expansion is good. Also, unlike some of the other people on these forums, I am very glad that every card is different, as I am one of those players that will likely buy 2-3 of these packs once I pool enough money to do so.

The only complaint I have is the one that other people have--a lower price without the resin house card would be better, especially considering the current economy. With this expansion, I think $20 or less would be ideal, but even $25 without the house card would be more manageable.

I pretty much love everything about it, aside from the fact that I'll have to buy 3 of them to complete playsets. Aside from that, I have Winter Euron back. My most simple answer can be- I have reason to play the game again. The thrones revival here in KY has been going strong, but I had a hard time really getting fully involved in it knowing that the only house I had ever played wasn't really a viable option in the metagame (yes I am aware there were some successful winter GJ decks, they just weren't for me), so pretty much, even if the set was 60 bucks id still be happy as a clam. lol

I ordered yesterday from a USA store and I'm waiting it in italy... I love the cards and this is the only thing that matters to me... And I'm going to buy it 2x so the fact that we have 60 single cards it is ok so I can use all of them.

I'm a winter stark player but I think for a long time I'l play greyjoy!!!

(buying it from italy I pay a lot of shipping cost. For the second copy i'll ask the store to send me only the cards without resin and packaging (paying the entire cost but less shipping). Hope he will help me!!!)

Personally I have to say that the best thing about the expansion is that it's out already. =) Now I just gotta find a good store in the U.S. that ships to europe... or a good store in Europe that ships to the backwoods of scandinavia... (suggestions?) Will take at least a month for it to arrive in the local stores and I literally can't wait.

Secondly I think the idea of fixing some holes in the environment (traited plots, kings and queens) is a good idea to include in such an expansion, making it interesting for all players.

I sent you a friendship request indicating where I buy Cps from italy.

I'm not sure i can post it into forum.

bye

gualdo

I really really like the resin house card (even if i don't like having to buy 3). It was a big hit at our game last night when we played a kingsmoot mulitplayer and 3 out of the 4 people were using the GJ house card but weren't using House Gj (~relex ktom we all had our 'real house cards nearby ). One of our players is so enthralled he is goingto buy a bag of mini cthulu's to use as his power counters. Jeff and I took a few minutes out of playing to find the best way to stack the wooden house specific power counters on the house card the best way.

Speaking of the kingsmoot titles. I really like them too, they breathed new life into multiplayer for me. I think is dampens king making as having to 'collect them all' makes it a much more individual and selfish motivated game (hmm if i keep the game from ending this turn i can probably get them all next turn). It also changes the dynamics of the challenge phase as i at leats found my self not caring about maximing my power earned per challenge initatied and was more willing to commit more to one challenge that would net me a title or two.

Lars said:

hej, how does the game with the titles work? I know you have to collect them all, but does everyone get one title at the begining of the game? or dou you distribute all of the titles among players? how when there is 6 titles and only eg. 4 players, thanks

Kingsmoot Rules are already in support area.

Rozy said:

the titles get randomly dealt out after first player is picked. That player gets 1 then it goes clockwise to the last player. If there are still titles left (i.e. less then 6 players) the dealing out continues with the last player (giving him 2) and going counter-clockwise back towards the first player. essentially in a 3 player game everyone gets 2, in a 4 player game 4th and 3rd players gets 2, in a 5 player game only 5 player gets 2, and in a six player game there is no adavantage to going last first title wise.

Lars said:

Oh, i just realized that we made a small mistake this evening. For whatever reason i remembered that you were able to pick the title you wanted. Anyway it didn´t change that much and we had two really good and rather short melee games that evening. The Crow´s eye title feels like a red dot on your forehead, it´s so interesting to have that title.

This set has been well received by my players, and we all love it. The reprint of Iron Mines made me shout for joy, and we think all the Kings/Queens are pretty good (though Mycella is situation and needs to be built around to use her ability, but still she is a Martell in-house Queen) and Viserys is a-ma-zing! I look forward to whin I have some times to experiment in building a deck around him.

I'm also finding I don't have issues with older art on the new cards. I guess I associate the new cards from the White border -- something that I couldn't get past when using the alt art in the ITE demo decks. None of the new cards make me think of the older version because of changed art. And alot of the artwork is so fitting -- I love seeing the greyjoy character in action on ships (though I do feel that a more ugly version of Dagmar would have made me happier).

All said and done, a great expansion and I can't wait for the Martell one (and then the Night's Watch one -- hint hint).