A Game of Thrones: Second Edition (card game)

A Game of Thrones: The Card Game Second Edition (or AGoT, for short) is a Living Card Game (LCG) produced by Fantasy Flight Games from 2015 to 2020. It is based on A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of novels written by George R. R. Martin. The second edition of this LCG, it is not backwards compatible with the first edition that preceded it.

A Game of Thrones: The Card Game Second Edition
DesignersChristian T. Petersen, Eric M. Lang, Nate W.S. French, Damon Stone
PublishersFantasy Flight Games
PlayersTwo-Six1
Setup time< 5 minutes
Playing time1 - 2 hours
ChanceSome
Age range14 and up
SkillsCard playing
Arithmetic
1 Game can also be multiplayer or in teams.

It was launched in 2015. In 2019 FFG announced they will slow down releases for the game, due to "exhausting available content from [the] books".[1] 2020 saw the release of the de facto final expansion in the series (described at that time as "the beginning of a new release model").[2] Since then unofficial expansions have been released by a volunteer organization called G.O.T. (Global Operation Team).[3]

In the game, players assume the leadership of one of the great houses of Westeros vying for control of King's Landing and the Iron Throne. To accomplish this, players launch military attacks against their opponents, undermine their opponents’ plans with intrigues of their own, and make power plays to win the support of the realm.

Reception

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The game was praised that its "presentation is very strong [...] while the presence of a separate reference book makes the main rule book manageable for new players [...] The text on some cards could be clearer, such as when a card may be played on a character controlled by an opponent"[4] Other reviews criticized two-player options noting that it "is at its best with four"[5] yet others praised that "the game really shines is in its attention to the flavor, theme, and atmosphere of the stories that inspired it—not just in terms of its lavish artwork, but in the way it captures the essence of the series in its core mechanics."[6] The game's Core Set was nominated for the 2015 Golden Geek as both Best Card Game[7] and Best 2-Player Board Game.[8]

Rules

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The game is played in a phases with each player interacting during a phase. From the official rules:

A Game of Thrones: The Card Game can be played by two or more players. A two-player game uses the joust format, while a game with three or more players uses the melee format.

In the game, each player plays as one of eight great factions vying to influence and control the Iron Throne and gain power in Westeros. Each player controls two decks: a draw deck that provides the forces a player’s faction has at its command each round, and a special plot deck that is used to develop and manage a long term strategy.

Over the course of the game the players engage one another in military, intrigue, and political conflicts, until a single player emerges victorious. The first player to amass 15 power wins the game.[9]

Sets and expansions

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A Game of Thrones LCG Core Set and Deluxe Expansions
Set Release Date
A Game of Thrones : Second Edition (Core Set) October 2015
Wolves of the North April 2016
Lions of Casterly Rock November 2016
Watchers on the Wall April 2017
House of Thorns October 2017
Sands of Dorne March 2018
Kings of the Isles December 2018
Fury of the Storm May 2019
Dragons of the East November 2019
A Game of Thrones LCG chapter packs
Cycle Chapter Pack Release Date
Westeros Cycle Taking the Black December 2015
Road to Winterfell January 2016
The King's Peace February 2016
No Middle Ground March 2016
Calm Over Westeros April 2016
True Steel May 2016
War of the Five Kings Cycle Across the Seven Kingdoms July 2016
Called to Arms August 2016
For Family Honor October 2016
There is My Claim November 2016
Ghosts of Harrenhal January 2017
Tyrion's Chain February 2017
Blood and Gold Cycle All Men are Fools March 2017
Guarding the Realm May 2017
The Fall of Astapor June 2017
The Red Wedding July 2017
Oberyn's Revenge August 2017
The Brotherhood Without Banners September 2017
Flight of Crows Cycle The Archmaester's Key November 2017
Journey to Oldtown December 2017
Kingsmoot January 2018
Favor of the Old Gods February 2018
The Faith Militant April 2018
Someone Always Tells May 2018
Dance of Shadows Cycle The Shadow City June 2018
The March on Winterfell July 2018
Streets of King's Landing August 2018
Music of Dragons September 2018
In Daznak's Pit October 2018
Daggers in the Dark November 2018
King's Landing Cycle At the Gates April 2019
City of Secrets June 2019
Pit of Snakes July 2019
Beneath the Red Keep July 2019
The Blackwater August 2019
Long May He Reign September 2019
Premium Packs The Things We Do for Love[2] January 2020

References

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  1. ^ Former, Matt Jarvis (2021-08-09). "Arkham Horror, Marvel Champions and Android: Netrunner studio says it's still committed to the living card game format". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  2. ^ a b "The Things We Do for Love". www.fantasyflightgames.com. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
  3. ^ "FAQ – AGOT.CARDS". 2021-04-06. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  4. ^ "A Game of Thrones: The Card Game Second Edition Review". www.paste.com. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  5. ^ "7 Game of Thrones board games to play while you wait for more House of the Dragon". dicebreaker.com. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  6. ^ "This 'Game of Thrones' Card Game Is as Addictive as the TV Show". vice.com. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  7. ^ "2015 Golden Geek Best Card Game Nominee". boardgamegeek.com. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  8. ^ "2015 Golden Geek Best 2-Player Board Game Nominee". boardgamegeek.com. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  9. ^ "Learn to Play" (PDF). fantasyflightgames.com. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
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