I am really looking forward to the new Game of Thrones. I have never played the 1st edition, and am waiting impatiently for the 4th Quarter of the year to roll around so I can get this on the table. (I figure I'll have the group watch an episode or two of the DVD before I whip this bad boy out...) Anyway, to my topic:
My group is nuts for the old Avalon Hill game "Dune," and I think that GoT will be a nice change, but still a great fit for us. (We love the whole backstabey thing in Games like Battlestar Galactica, Dune, TI3.) Dune has specified times when players may form alliances, and often allies will want to step away from the table to plot strategy or just look devious. We found that it is really handy to have a paper map to refer to during these confabs. It allows you to be all treacherous and sneaky without worrying that the opposition is reading our eyes as we look over the game board. (The same tool is also really handy in Diplomacy.)
So I was thinking that once the game is out, the fine support folks at FFG might consider supplying a PDF that is just a one-color line drawing of the map, for plotting purposes. It would of couse allow printing ONLY for personal use, and all the other copyright niceties. (Given the length of the map, it might be best if it's a two-pager. It could be taped together or printed front and back.) Anyway, I know I'll throw something together for my group, but I bet the FFG folks would do something so much cooler than I ever could.
Valar Morghulis and all that.