A Game of Thrones: The Card Game

To set up 'A Game of Thrones: The Card Game', each player first chooses one of the great houses of Westeros, such as House Lannister or House Stark, which determines their unique playstyle and available cards. Players then draw an initial hand of seven cards from their deck. Each player also starts with five gold coins, which are used to play cards during the marshalling phase. The central board, featuring the five power positions (Hand of the King, Master of Laws, Master of Coins, Master of Whispers, and Commander of the King's Guard), is set up, though these positions are only actively used in games with three or more players. Various tokens for power, gold, and influence are placed within reach.

The primary objective in 'A Game of Thrones: The Card Game' is to be the first player to accumulate 15 power points. These points are tracked throughout the game and can be gained through various means, including winning challenges against opponents and successfully navigating the dominance phase. Players must strategically balance their offensive and defensive maneuvers, card plays, and resource management to reach this target before any other player.

A round in 'A Game of Thrones: The Card Game' is structured into seven distinct phases. It begins with the Plot phase, where each player secretly selects and reveals a plot card, which grants specific benefits and sets the tone for the round. This is followed by the Draw phase, where players draw two new cards. The Marshalling phase allows players to spend gold to play character, attachment, event, and location cards from their hand. Next are the Challenges, where players declare military, intrigue, and power challenges against opponents. The Dominance phase follows, where players compare the total strength of their standing characters and gold to gain power. The Stand phase allows players to ready their knelt cards, and finally, the Taxation phase requires players to discard any excess gold above a certain limit.

Scoring in 'A Game of Thrones: The Card Game' is centered around accumulating power points. The main ways to gain power are by winning challenges against opponents, particularly power challenges, and through the dominance phase. In the dominance phase, players compare the total strength of their standing (not knelt) characters and their current gold reserves; the player with the highest combined value gains power. Some cards also provide direct power gains or bonuses that contribute to power accumulation. The game emphasizes strategic play to maximize power gains while hindering opponents' ability to do the same.

The game concludes immediately when any player successfully accumulates 15 or more power points. As soon as this threshold is met, that player is declared the winner, and the game ends. This creates a dynamic and often tense race to the finish, where players must constantly monitor their own power count and that of their opponents, adjusting their strategies to either push for victory or prevent others from achieving it.