I checked the forums and still not clear. In what way do characters without icons participate in challenges.

Walder frey- does he count strength towards the winning side or just deadly?

Coldhands- how does he become eligible?

I know some cards give other characters icons( like selyse baratheon gives an intrigue icon. )

snaggrriss said:

Characters without icons participate in challenges the same way any other character does. You use some effect or mechanic to make the character a participant in the challenge. Problem is, the effect or mechanic that makes a character a participant 99% of the time is declaring the character as an attacker or defender - and having the appropriate icon is a requirement for that mechanic. So in order to get a character without icons into a challenge, you either need to find one of the (very rare) card effects that makes a character a participant without referencing the icons (like The Wall), or find a way to give it an icon so that it is eligible to be declared as an attacker or defender.

snaggrriss said:

Yes. He counts his STR. The icon only matters for declaring the character as an attacker or defender. If a character is participating - no matter how it is participating - it counts its STR during resolution.

snaggrriss said:

Primarily by being given the icons from the Night's Watch North Agendas. But see the answer above.