I have some questions:

First, how long does it take to play a standard, two player game? I just quit another card game in which it took 45 minutes (minimum) to play a game.

Secondly, how competitive is play? Are there a lot of major tournaments, etc.?

Thirdly, how big is the player base? I live in the Southeast U.S. Is there any sizeable play groups that go to, say, Dragoncon,etc.?

Thanks in advance!!

Hi, mate! Welcome!

This is a very intense/strategical game. A turn, here, may take a couple of minutes as well as 15 minutes. The fact is that a game can last 2/3 turns, but sometimes (it happens in my meta), it lasts 6/7 turns, for something like 30/45 minutes per game.

But it depends a lot on the amount of awareness of game mechanics and understanding you and your game partners have.

Anyway, what i can say (in my experience) is that this is not a "fast" game, in general.

About "organized play"...Here you won't have anything similar MTG supported metagame...

There is the interesting league play, if you like the idea, or you can follow a standard LCG schedule...You'll find more details in the Agot Mini-site.

You have some prices and support stuff, but what you have to do is to create a meta and organize your own tournament.

In Europe there is a BIG Agot Event (bigger than worlds, I guess), in Castle Stahleck (Bacharach, Germany).

...then there are Worlds at Gencon.

If you don't know that, there are 2 different "official" game formats:

- LCG: all the "non-collectible" stuff (all CPs available + Core Set);

- Classic/Highlander: all cards available, but in a "1x every card" format.

Otherwise, some metas go on to play the old Standard format (LCG stuff + 5 Kings Edition + Iron Throne Edition), but that's an "unofficial" format and I don't think is a great deal, cause the game has changed and players, IMHO should change with it :-)

But EVERYONE is free here :-)

If you have a Shop to support the game and to give a space to play, you can run your own local tournament with your own prices, if you want, but you don't have anything like player ratings or the like.

:-)

For the last question...I'm italian, so I guess I won't help you for that :-)

Hope this made sense :-)

Did make sense. I am coming from L5R, which has become more and more like MtG. One of the reasons I used to like that game was the story, which has sense become incredibly boring and predictable. I do, however, love the AGoT story line and find it highly intriguing. I love the board game, and figured the LCG would be the next best step. Thanks for the input!

You're welcome! ;-)

Anyway, I play L5R a bit, with a couple of friend (I'm a casual player there), but I'm an addicted roleplayer and L5R RPG is one of the game of my playgroup...It has a great storyline, but newest editions have something weird...too simple, you're right.

I cannot judge the whole card game, cause we have a limited pool of card, but it's a very inspired game (at least in the core).

This game is great and has the strategical depth you need, I guess.

If you need more informations, please, feel free to ask ;-)

Second best card game ever, out of those I have played. The best being Netrunner, but AGoT isn't far behind.

So AGOT is the best (imo) active card game; Netrunner is long dead. To qualify, I have played M:tG, Cyberpunk, VS, CoC, Over Power (crappy Marvel DC game), Doomtown (a Deadlands game), and some I cant remember at the moment. Plus a few games from Japan (Japanese games not translated for western release).

And AGOT is better than all of them BY FAR.

It is worth getting the core set for trying out. Games don't take long at all, and the strategic depth is there. Man I love this game.

BenStark said:

Where in the Southeast are you located? We have a small group here in the suburbs of northeast Atlanta. Our league/tournaments usually have 4-6 people depending on schedules for that week.

The "Standard" format DB was talking about is pretty much dead at this point. I don't think you should waste much time worrying about it. ITE and its block would ahve rotated by now anyway.

Organized play leaves a little to be desired. Most organized playgroups are just local playgroup meetups - though there are occasional cross region events organized by locla players.

DB mentioned this, but i just wanted to highlight it.

The speed of the game lessens the more familiar you with the mechinics/cards.

Your first couple of games will probably slow as you try to figure it all out and could last up to and beyond 45 minutes. Once you get used to the cards/rules the game should last less then 30 minutes for 1 one 1 games. Its mulitplayer games that can be hour long affairs but are also a lot of fun.

Pensacola Florida is where I'm at. We've got some locals who are interested in it and who, like me, used to play L5R.