About

In A Game of Thrones: The Board Game, players take on the roles one of the great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros vying for control through the use of diplomacy and warfare. Based on the best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones is an epic board game where it will take more than military might to win. Can you out maneuver both your enemies and your allies? Can you tell the difference?

The Story

King Robert Baratheon is dead, and the lands of Westeros brace for war. House Lannister, whose daughter Cersei was Robert's queen, claims the throne for her young son Joffrey. Stannis Baratheon, knowing that Robert was not the true father of Joffrey, rightfully claims the throne for himself. On the Iron Isles, Hose Greyjoy is about to embark on its second rebellion, but this time with a much grander goal. In the north, House Stark gathers its strength to defend what is right, and in the south the wealthy House Tyrell harbors an old ambition to sit on the Iron Throne. As armies gather and ravens fly, a clash of kings is inevitable.

Meanwhile, beyond The Wall, the Wildlings are preparing to seize what the warring kingdoms have left open and vulnerable...

Players

Three to five players can play A Game of Thrones, each taking the role of one of the major Houses of Westeros: Stark, Lannister, Greyjoy, Tyrell, and Baratheon. Each player receives an army of Footman, Knight, and Ship units, as well as a set of order counters and a supply of Power tokens. 

Each player also receives a set of seven unique House Cards which represent important characters from A Song of Ice and Fire. These characters are used as leaders in battles against rival houses.

Objective

The A Game of Thrones board game is played over 10 turns. At the end of game turn 10, the player who controls the most Cities and Strongholds on the game board wins the game.

Gameplay

Each turn in the game is made up of three phases:

Westeros Phase
Planning Phase
Action Phase

Westeros Phase

The Westeros Phase represents special events and mundane activities in Westeros. There are three different Westeros Decks and each deck denotes a different global action, potentially affecting all players. For example, when the Mustering Card arises, each House may now add a number of new army units to the cities and strongholds that it controls.

During this phase, the Wildlings can grow stronger, mustering their forces, readying to strike the unwary. They may even initiate an assault which will require the joint efforts of the various Houses to repel.

After the top card of each Westeros deck resolves, play moves on to the Planning Phase.

Planning Phase

The Planning Phase is perhaps the most important phase in the game. Here you secretly assign all your units orders by placing one order token face down on each area you control that contains at least one unit (Knight, Footman, or Ship).

This is a phase where diplomacy, deduction, and a sudden strike must be made. Can you trust the alliance that you made? Will you betray your ally and march upon him? Players may make promises to each other, but they are never binding.

Action Phase

During the Action Phase, the orders are resolved and battle is entered! First Raid actions disrupt orders, then March orders enjoin battle between armies.

When armies meet in combat, they secretly choose one of their House cards to add strength to the battle. The House cards also determine casualties, retreats, and other special character effects.

Finally, the Houses can consolidate their power in the areas they control and use that power in future turns to influence the the their position in the court of the Iron Throne and to stand against the Wildling Hordes.

Winning the Game

The game is won in either of the two following ways:

At the end of turn 10, the player who controls the most areas containing Cities and Strongholds wins the game.

If a House, at any time, controls seven areas containing Cities and Strongholds, the game is immediately over and that player is declared the winner.

Expansions

The experience of the A Game of Thrones Board Game can be deepened by either of its two expansions: A Clash of Kings Expansion and A Storm of Swords.

A Clash of Kings adds a sixth House: proud House Martell from the distant South. It also includes fortifications, siege engines, and more!

A Storm of Swords offers a more in-depth four-player game, focusing on the contested riverlands of the Trident, and featuring new victory conditions and strategic options.

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game will provide endless hours of intrigue and strategy for players who enjoy both the immersive world of A Song of Ice and Fire and the interplay of a great board game.