Hey chaps!

So, I've been out of the game for awhile, but the HBO series sort of rekindled old flames, and I was thinking about playing again (at least dabbling for now).

I know W:I has started doing the 3x cards to a pack format, which made me warm up to LCG a lot more, I was hoping Thrones did the same.

Anyway, can anyone tell me about what's going on with the game (or at least link me to a thread that does)? Do all houses play relatively the same as they did when the game made the jump? Pretty active tourney scene? Lanni still pretty good? Still the same old Bronn?

I can't get the time to take off for the whole of Kublacon, but I'd like to drive down Saturday night or Sunday morning.

There's another thread up that basically describes the relatively current state of the game. It's maybe a bit more general than you're thinking. However, Thrones is also an LCG now, and also does 3 cards each, so you're golden, and so is this game.

Yeah, generally speaking...

1) Distribution is great...chapter packs are 3x each card for $15 or so. Expansions (house-specific boxes) are also 3x for something like $30.

2) Variety is great...generally there's as much or more variety now than there has been in years. Depending on who you ask, people will say the environment is fairly "balanced" too, though general consensus seems to be Martell is the strongest house, and Bara rush is now up there too.

3) Player base is growing...most metas have seen at least a small influx of new players over the past 1-2 years, and there's a general perception that the brand as a whole is doing well (in other words, casual players are also buying into it). In short, AGOT is growing even before the HBO publicity. Actually, it sounds like now the Europeans have larger tournaments/metas than us in North America. (They often post tourney results for 30-70 players.)

4) Competition seems steady...regionals season is gearing up, so we'll see how it goes. FFG has been good at providing prize support, etc.

5) FFG Engagement...this is probably the only area that is NOTICEABLY worse from the past. Basically, there are no more designer journals, FFG impromptu posts, or anything else that makes you feel connected with the company/designers. In addition, the forums are (as you can see) much worse, at least in terms of look and user-friendliness.

So yeah, now is generally a great time to get back in...but there's room for improvement (on FFG's side).

And they just added a restricted list for problem cards - if you play one of those cards, you can't play ANY of the others in your deck - which is one of the best inovations this game has ever had. Pretty much saved the competitve scene, IMO.

Mr. Rave! Awesome to hear from a Sactown Mafia guy.

Jesse and I will be at Kubla, along with Mathlete who JUST got back into the game. If you have his contact, or hit him up on Facebook, I am sure he will tell you how much fun he is having again.

I will be running a casual cube draft as well, if you want to just stick you toe back in. Or try out my Lanni deck - it isn't as fun (or even as good) as your old Queen of Love and Beauty deck, but Lanni has quite a few tricks even if you don't want to go with hyper-kneel (you would like Clansmen, they are tricky and fun - as are the Boltons if you want to try Stark out).

Rave, great to see you checking back in. Even if you don't get back into the game it's great to see you back on the boards. Yeah, AGOT switched their distribition to the 3x every card tround the same time Cthullu and Warhammer did. The Brotherhood cycle of chapter packs was alot of fun and the houses are beginning to get more diversified deck builds. The LCG might be in the best state since the switch over from CCG. Would love to see you get back into the game. But even if after Kubla you don't take the plunge, stop in the message boards. It's always good to hear from the Sactown Mafia.

Rave! I echo the sentiments welcoming you back to the boards. Glad you could stop in, and I hope that you stick around.

I also concur that this is probably the best overall environment that the LCG has had since the switch. Lots of fun stuff going on right now.

Thanks for the advice guys. Good to hear from you again.

It looks like a couple of guys in the mafia are picking it back up, so chances are I'll see you on the battlefield again!

I don't think I'll make the joust tournament Saturday at Kubla, but I'll probably be there early that night, so we can get some games in.