We've got ourselves a new cycle coming:

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=2971

I'm particularly fond of Young Griff. Can anyone figure out what Quentyn Martell, Norvos, and Recruitment might do? There seems to be enough text that we could make an educated guess.

Any hopes for who we'll see in the cycle? It doesn't quite fit the Essos theme, but it is from A Dance with Dragons -- I'd quite like to see Ser Robert Strong show up as a Lanni or Neutral Kingsguard.

alpha5099 said:

Still hoping to see a decent Strong Belwas in this cycle, but if he's not a "champion" then he **** well better show up in BtNS.

I expect the Qartheen and Warlock/Undying/Undead theme to get built out for Targ. There was a lot of Mercenaries in the story, I think it would be cool to see that theme get built out with In House chars, or maybe have it be a viable sub-theme of neutrals for any house. Targ needs more weenie an non unique dragons to help Dragon trait become competitive, now would be the time.

I would also like to see some more duo house versions of Targ/Martell characters. Since Doran's plans are revealed in ADwD, it makes sense.

Other things that pop out are Braavosi swordsmen/pirates, Victarion and Moqorro and the fleet of Dany hunters, House Bolton, House Karstark, Stannis and the Wall and the Queens men/ Iron Bank deal, more Faceless Men stuff, Pit Fighters, Unsullied, Mereen. Jon Connington, Red Ronnet Connington and other Stormland houses that are Barri/Lanni or Barri/Targ (Gold Co making some people "bend the knee")? So much stuff could be done.

Here's my best guesses on Quentyn Martell and Recruitment.

Quentyn seems to operate like the fully spoiled Griff, being another agenda character. Looks like his text is (bracketed text is what my guess):

[Lord.] Knight.

[House Martell] only. Stealth.

[if Quentyn] Martell would be killed, [attach] Quentyn Martell [to your House] card as your only [agenda, with the] text: "Unique [characters you] control gain [???] RESPONSE: After 1 or [more characters] stand for vengeful, draw 1 card."

The major question would be what he gives your Unique characters. Based on his response, I'm guessing it's vengeful. Dear god, if there is a vigilant equivalent of this card, it will be ungodly.

---

Recruitment looks to be for Mercenaries. Hopefully they'll greatly expand on the trait, or this card probably won't be very good. Obviously no idea if it's limited to a given phase or not, and I'm just assuming it'll be Targ only, because what else could it be?

[House Targaryen] only.

[??? Kneel X influence to [choose a unique] Mercenary [character] in your dead or [discard pile] and put that character into play. X is the cost of that character.

---

Norvos is the real head scratcher to me, because god knows what verbs are lurking under that other card. Is it reducing both costs, or maybe making your Lords more expensive to make out-of-Hose cards less so?

[Free] Cities. Kingdom.

[??? the cost] of the first out-of-[House card] you play each round by 1.

[??? the cost] of the first Lord character [you play each] round by 1.

I think we will see a lot of mercenaries in this set, so no worries there. Also, the rest of Conningtons crew is a must (probably as Targaryens, if the two Griffs are are a hint)

I'm also looking forward to Yollo, Penny and Pig-attachments!

Spoilers

I'm hoping for a Duck / Rolly Duckfield card with the "Kingsguard" trait

doubt we'll see Yandry or Ysilla, but maybe a Haldon with some kind of temporary Maester trait, or the Shy Maid as a location.

I think it would be more logical if Recruitment targeted a "non-unique" character.

Im curious what cards Stark Baratheon and Lannister could have for beyond the narrow sea?

i predict that whatever the stark character agenda is it will be OP and make games with it a bloodbath

Baratheon could get either Asshai characters or some sort of assassin characters that robert sent to kill Daeny.

BTW i hope we get a new Victarrion with a crackling burnt hand, a Dusky Woman and Moqorro

And seven virgins?

Rubinon said:

Good point, it might make more sense that way, particularly if we get some of the Mercenary companies as armies.

Rubinon said:

Could go either way. In the books even the Mercenary companies are led by named characters and much of The East's intrigues center around manipulations by and against the mercenary captains.

Staton said:

Are you asking for yourself or for the game?

goshdarnstud said:

Do I have to pick just one?

i assume stark will get more boltons, white harbor, gloover and karstark. i am still a little leary abut this set in general though... the few cards we have seen so far are fairly above average in power to cost ratio. i would play both griffs just for their 3 cost 3 str tri icons, let alone their abilities...

Why does a card game need more virgins?

Since we are talking about that part, I was creeped out by the whole thing. Victarion likes to drown his enemies, Moqorro likes to burn them. Either way, human sacrifice is pretty normal to these guys. Are the FFG people going to try and implement that into game? Like, "burn" or "drown" one of your own chars to boost your declared attackers or defenders? Increasing STR, or CLAIM, or some other type of boost? I think this could be cool.

Well the black color in M:TG was all about sacrifice.

I would say use the theme of sacrificing characters to gain a tremendous temporary advantage. (Because you are giving up board position).

Some ideas:

Feeding the Dragon:

Challenges: If a dragon character you control is participating in a challenge then kill X characters you control (cannot be saved) to give one participating dragon +X STR and participating non-dragons -X STR (kill if str is 0).

Azor Ahai

Cost 3

King. Lord. Asshai.

Cannot be killed, cannot be discarded.

Immune to opponent's card effects.

STR 4 MIP

At the beginning of the challenges phase, kill a king character you control (cannot be saved), or place

Azor Ahai on the top of your deck.

Asshai characters do not kneel to attack or defend and gain renown and deadly.

I believe all the houses will be represented equally. Targs, Martell and Greyjoy in Essos, the other three in Westeros. Besides, "Beyond the Narrow Sea" is all about perspective. If you stand in Essos, beyond the sea is Westeros ; )

OK, I don't mean to ***** about the GG problem, but Braavos makes Myrcella cost one gold. You have a one gold noble out of martell to use with GG. Does no one see this as a bit of a problem? I guess I'll have to run Pyromancer's Apprentice?

I guess I can spend the gold I'm saving on Myrcella to pay for your Apprentice?

Oh. Good point! What other options are there for taking out that location? Other than a stark or GJ card.

I actually wouldn't put it past FFG to restrict these types of locations. The Blood of the First Men was banned likely for similar reasons I suppose.

However - the difference between this and an agenda is that you can blank or discard this from play, while you can't really prevent the use of the agenda. Perhaps this will force more location control to be added to a lot of decks!

Yeah that's the thing though, what real nuetral location hate is there? Condemned by the Realm? Can't really use that in every deck. Pyromancer's Apprentice? Meh. Favorable Ground I guess?