https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2015/6/1/kings-of-winter/

Looks great Wonder if we'll see the deadly keyword mechanic return.

Lannister preview out next week, hope we see some kneeling for Shae haha

Onward! To Casterly Rock!

Most interesting things to me are the change to Intimidate, the clear removal of the house-based keywords, and the very unique (seemingly) way they are seeking to build some strong subtleties into the least subtle house of all.

I like the way the new Bran allows you to play aggressively with your power challenges, while still threatening an on-board trick. Catelyn will prove to be a thorn in the side of many a Stark foe, and Summer looks like he has the potential to open up a plethora of small-time recursion techniques!

For a house I never really grokked in the first edition (too obvious, not tricksy enough for this hobbit), I really appreciate the little things they've done with each of the spoiled cards in this preview. Even Robb and Ned (the least tricksy folks in all of Westeros) have some really interesting opportunities to outplay an unsuspecting opponent!

Great preview, and I am really looking forward to seeing where they go with Lannister! Retooled Infamy, anyone?

I imagine they'll keep their board control. Joffrey's all about that kneel: consider how he answers Sansa's plea for him to show mercy to Eddard:

"I shall do as you ask...but first your father has to confess. He has to confess and say that I'm the king, or there will be no mercy for him." - A Game of Thrones

He could have flat-out said, "No, your father must pay the price for his treachery," but this way he not only does he get to enjoy tormenting Sansa later, but he also makes it clear to all who are listening that he will not tolerate dissent. In this game, kneeling can broadly represent exhaustion of the enemy and/or depletion of his resources, but it can also signify a character's literal submission to your lord's claim.

Speaking of Stark and Lannister, I'm curious about House Bolton and House Frey . I don't expect we'll see them out the gate, but when we do, will they be Stark-aligned, Lannister-aligned, both, or neutral? I honestly can't make up my mind here.

For a house I never really grokked in the first edition (too obvious, not tricksy enough for this hobbit), I really appreciate the little things they've done with each of the spoiled cards in this preview. Even Robb and Ned (the least tricksy folks in all of Westeros) have some really interesting opportunities to outplay an unsuspecting opponent!

I had a similar opinion of 1E Stark. I just never enjoyed playing them or had much success with Stark, even though I felt like I had a fairly decent sense of how they were supposed to play. I'm not sure how much I'll play them in 2E, but I do like the changes that are being made so Stark has a bit more going for it than ALL MILITARY ALL THE TIME.

Wonder if we'll see the deadly keyword mechanic return.

I can't for the life of me remember where but I recall Nate basically saying that Deadly is unlikely to come back because of its confusing interactions with Claim, and that most of the time it functioned too similarly to Stealth for all intents and purposes.

I love this game, but I'm trying to bring in enough friends to have a big multi player experience - too many keywords hinders that. Casual players can't be expected to learn all those keywords. This is the greatest game of all time - hopefully a more casual audience will be able to keep up this time.

Check it:

1. Military challenge with all your characters.

2. Massacre the enemy.

3. Kneel Grey Wind to kill your own weakest character.

4. Stand your whole army with Robb.

5. Win Domination.

6. Laugh.

Add "except Grey Wind" in #1 and you're good to go.

Add "except Grey Wind" in #1 and you're good to go.

Word, new edit to it too that makes it even better:

1. Military challenge with all your characters except Grey Wind.

2. Massacre the enemy.

3. Kneel Grey Wind to kill your own weakest character.

4. Stand your whole army with Robb.

5. Win Domination.

6. Play Summer next round to take dead character back to hand.

7. Replay character.

8. Repeat entire process.

9. Laugh.

Why would you send the whole board in one challenge, when they can just defend with a single military character?

Why would you send the whole board in one challenge, when they can just defend with a single military character?

This. So you lose the challenge, you just lose claim equal to plot card (usually 1 or 2). It won't massacre the enemy.