After taking advise and just playing a bunch with the core set...

My opponent wants to play Greyjoy and I want to play Martell.

I know what you are thinking...How do we know this? Because for us it's the flavor. Coming from Street Fighter and other competitive Fighter games tourneys, we know that its know fun to have to play a character without the flavor you want.

He likes Vikings, Pirates, and invaders from the sea. I like desert themes.

Now that we know what we want to play. What should each of us buy together. How many of certain packs and which cycle is best for us to focus on. Should we get the Prince of the Sun and King of the Sea expansions? If so, how many of each.

I know that the expansions don't really come with a deck for the houses and instead just some key cards. And people over on different forums have said they are not required to make good decks for these houses, but they have the main personalities so a player playing these houses should have one of each. Do you agree?

Thanks in advanced.

"Princes of the Sun" for Martell and "Kings of the Sea" for Greyjoy is a must have.

Check my site (link in my signature) to see what cards and how many you will have in each box. To have a playset, Greyjoy player needs 3 x KotS (unfortunately) and Martell player needs 1 and a half PotS (good idea is to split third box among players).

What are some key cards for both that come from Chapter Packs?

Curator said:

fury plots - Ancient Enemies

for Geyjoy:

Seawater Scalawags - if you need War crest and intimidate - The War of Five Kings

Salt Wife - if you need saves - Ancient Enemies

To Be a Kraken - Sacred Bonds

Fishing Net - A Song of Summer

Wintertime Marauders - if you play Winter - A Change of Seasons

Island Refugee, Alannys Greyjoy - Refugees of War

Nute the Barber - more War crest and intimidate - Beyond the Wall

for Martell:

Obara Sand - if you need stealth - The Winds of Winter

A Game of Cyvasse - A Change of Seasons

Refugee of the Citadel - Refugees of War

Lost Oasis - A Time of Trials

Venomous Blade, Rumors of War - The Battle of Blackwater Bay

Maester of Lemonwood - Beyond the Wall

And last question. how many copies of each card listed above?

Curator said:

Above list is just cards that in my opinion are most important/interesting - good for start. However it really depends on your strategy. As for how many copies, they are mostly x 3 (unique x 1), so only one each chapter pack is enough for both of you.

Thanks so much for the help. I realize that Martell and Greyjoy are not actual power houses at the moment in the series, just great assets, but just like the easternling and men from the south in Lord of the Rings...they are very cool to see and feel vastly unique.

I am guessing that I will be getting some nice cards for the other houses even by buying just one copy of each of the CP you provided. Are there any I should buy two of for perhaps a CP that only has one copy of a great neutral card?

Curator said:

I'm not sure if I understand correctly (english is not my native language), but Greyjoy and Martell seems to me very important in the books and are very powerful in the game at the moment (and they are my favorite just after Stark)

Curator said:

Yes, there are few great cards that it is nice to have more than one (especially if you have more than one deck). I think that Condemned by the Council, Varys, Syrio Forel and King's Landing are the most popular/important these days.

I guess what I mean by those two not playing as big of a role in the series, without spoiling, is that Greyjoy reminded me of the pirate guys that came from the east seas to aid Mordor, the guys Ararorn destroys with the army of the dead. Only in this series....well there is no army of the dead to stop them. Martell felt the same way. They reminded me of just the armies of the south in middle earth, but unlike the southern (women?) army, Martell sits back and waits. The series does seem to be turn towards Martell though, because most of the Kings and over Houses that were fighting for the throne have been weakened so much. When you look at all of the important figures and appearences in the books, Martell and Greyjoy are mentioned the least. Unless you count the whole prologue.

I will aim to get multiples of the packs with those neutral cards. Thanks again for all the help. Sorry for the confusion.