â—Kefkaâ— said: Anyone here play Warhammer Fantasy, I want to watch you play if you do! The minis or the old CCG? I could bring the CCG if anyone was interested in trying it out...actually it was pretty fun. Will be good to see you!

Kennon said: Ahpyp irBthday, TsagS! Arrgh! He stole my response!!! Happy B-day man. It has been too long since we saw each other...~mainly your fault you NYC-lovin' xenophope. Hope it went well.

Well, I am done with the cube for the cube draft, and am excited to test it out. We have two leagues before Kubla here, so hopefully that will test it it a bit. There is about 500 cards. Breaks down to about 60 cards per faction, plus 5 faction-only events. Except Martell is hosed just a tad...because to be honest they just didn't have the cards to put in. I limited it to one of each card, and only one version of a unique characters...and that is how Martell rolls (or doesn't roll actually). But, that will be posted so people know they are playing with fire drafting Martell...or are they (considering other might not be)? Each house has the same 5 locations, plus the Seas and all the Kingdom locations are in there (and a ton of extra nuetral ones, plus building orders). The other 175 or so are nuetrals, multi-house, and events, along with just a smattering of high-level plots. I fought with myself long and hard about if I was going to allow everyone to have a treaty, as with most drafts in the past. But, I decided against it (Treaty is one of the 5 agendas that can be drafted however...). Alliance will be also in the "starter" plot deck. The "everyone" or "starter" plots, as of now, will be: Alliance (with the extra text "you can also play any house only cards"). Summons Building Orders Wildfire Assault Winter Storm You can have 5-7 plots in your plot deck. I NEED about 7 more of each of these plots if anyone has extras!!! Otherwise, there will be proxies, which I hate... A lot of the build of the cube, and the rules, come from what I loved and hated about drafts - and aGoT in general. I hated having one control plot. I hated being able to build with two houses - the stategy is so much more for one, especially DURING the drafting which is the most fun part IMHO. I hate non-uniques...so there is way more uniques in the cube (although you will still see Loyalist, Storm Raiders, and a host of other non-unique "favorites"). Basically, I put in all the cards many of us remember from the olden days. Any cards through 5KE were okay (plus two banned LCG cards, since we have to play them somewhere/time!). If in doubt, after power level/basic nostalgia, then I went with the most popular characters in the books...since winning with Jaime is always more fun than "House Tully Spud #102" or a card that shows the Red Viper's "son". I think it will comfortably play 10 people. Beyond that we will have to ro-sham-bo (sp?) to play!

Paper Shield was one of the most playable, yet balanced, cards ever printed. It had to be in your mind at all times, which is great for a very basic card like it is. There are VERY few cards I think should always be legal...but PS is one of them (and Wildfire, and a few others). It added a layer of complexity to cards like Locked where you could choose the "cost" as well. I still play Price of Failure in my Classic Highlander deck. It was a really good card - but, that was in the day when events were a little more powerful. Not sure if I would play it now...

Hey, I am far from the expert on Standard right now. And agenda card advantage has always been good (some guy brought the Knight of the Realm agenda to Worlds one year, and i think some other guy brought Defenders another? ). But the card slot(s) and to a much lesser extent the use of the agenda and cost and risk of either Winter or Birds just don't do it for me. Standard is just so quick these days - if you really wanted card draw Lanni or Martell is your house...

Well, I am not touching the multi-player more than likely - I have barely played it, and don't enjoy it (mainly for the reasons that have been put out there many times, including king-making). Any rules are good by me...DeathJ you are the man for that part Just because it is Nedly, doesn't mean it is fun, as someone said. Otherwise Lanni would win all the time...oh, wait... Haven't quite gotten my plane tickets, but assuming i will be in Friday afternoon and leaving Sunday afternoon.

Moneylender said: rings said: Lanni is probably the front-runner in LCG, but my Stark deck beats my Lanni deck at least 50% of the time (and hopefully most people here understand i can build Lanni alright). Catapult and Bear Island are really good, and their character base is very strong. It maybe a little of topic.... but I was rather dissapointed how litttle impact targetet kill did against lanni. It´s just that Lanni is mostly about card draw, really good events and some kneel effects with most characters being non unique, so you dan´t have any really important targets. And the draw still makes up for the loss of characters. It feels like Stark should have TWO bear islands to compensate the lack of draw I guess that is an "agree to disagree" - recurring targeting kill is always strong. Between fairly decent weenie control (Wildfire/Valar) and targeted kill (one of which triggers from the weenie kill - Catapult/Wildfire is REALLY good), Stark has Lanni's number many times. I agree that the card draw is worrisome coupled with the income Lanni can put out, but there are ways to limit that. Stark also does a good job of getting out quickly with the big # of power icons plus decent renown. Lanni can get out quickly, the main issue IMHO is getting too much kneeling out - but Stark has as good of a chance of getting Fury/Robb/Bear Island/Winter is Coming early.

Now THAT'S a DJ (or whatever they are calling it these days). Very good article, lots of fun facts. I am pretty optismistic these days, despite the very few naysayers. It made sense to hit the reset button with just four houses, and the connotation was always that the houses would probably come back someday - I agree that it wasn't a huge surprise, but I think it is done "right" in a cool expansion. I don't even like GJ and I am excited!

Masi said: ktom said: And Fleeing to the Wall will screw up the whole thing - takes more than 3 locations to keep that going.... You can play chambers as an attachment, so 7 "locations" can run it going. And every chamber played as an attachment makes you draw by itself. (I pay the chamber, I attach it to the house, I kneel it, I draw a card.) My targ deck reaches the draw cap consistently in 4/5 matches. If your opponent is letting you play out-of-house chambers and stay in the game...that is their problem. I agree with the basic premise (talking LCG here), most houses can get some draw going. Almost everyone should be running Sam, for sure. My Stark deck actually loves Sansa. There are plenty of attachments that work well on her. Catapult obviously. Bodyguard. Ice. A couple of the direwolves. In psuedo-draw the Kennels are okay, and I have seen Bran the Builder for out of house GTM's search. Lastly, the location that looks at your top card, and puts it into play if it is a characters isn't bad. Targ I don't think is actaully all that solid. You have to commit to both the location, influence, and attachments. It can be very excellent if you get it going (especially wiht the recurring), but it is just inconsistant to me. Bara has some - their Epic phase event isn't bad. Renly works on one turn. But fairly weak overall. Lanni is probably the front-runner in LCG, but my Stark deck beats my Lanni deck at least 50% of the time (and hopefully most people here understand i can build Lanni alright). Catapult and Bear Island are really good, and their character base is very strong. Their search event is crazy as well - and both that event (standing PLUS search?!?) and their Fury card beat on Lanni's head.

Deathjester26 said: Happy Birthday ktom!!! You are the heart and soul of this community. ~Well, maybe more the left side of the brain of the community Happy birthday Ktom!

Well, I have played it mostly in the area of LCG only. And even though it is a huge part of the overall cards, I would give it a D. It was obviously supposed to be part of a bigger picture, and having SO many cards key off things that are not really there (Kings/Queens, Battle plots) hurt bad. Plus, to be honest, a few of the big themes just were so-so (Bannermen anyone?). There are some fun cards, and some good ones, but overall it just seems like Carrion Birds/The only one-side search plot and the rest... Maybe I just expected the world considering we were moving to the "no fluff cards era", and hitting the LCG/new market with a bigger splash would have been excellent. In Standard, I just haven't played enough. I don't think Summer/Winter effects are strong enough to build a deck around, but I can be proven wrong. There are a few cards that make my still-built standard decks, but not that many. In Standard I would give it about the same - a D. The old chapter packs, and the base set really did more for my decks than Ravens.

Hey, obviously there is at least ONE card I would like to play in Standard more often with I am checking on the Regional part. But with a small con, we can go wtih the breeze a little...just falling back on getting new players if possible.

Get Jesse to go, dammit - and Rave since he owes us one for the car mishap or whatever Would love to see people. Alan - great to hear you will be there! Running Potter by any chance? Come on Sactowners...let's rock!

My thanks to everyone! We had 5 for the league, and 6 overall (james + sleep winning yet again). Yeah, playing fast is two things. One is knowing the cards, two is just playing thousands of times. You know what is going to happen a couple of steps ahead, and know 90% of the time how the rest of the turn is going to play out - especially with a limited card pool. There are very few dominance events that are playable, for example. Actually, the lack of playable events in general allow you to see the board and know the turn - although lethal counterattack and Lanni Pays Debts/Writ small can change things in a hurry. Had a new player from Canada, and a Magic transplant new player - great times!

Wow...decisions, decisions... I was assuming LCG only. There are obviously reasons for both Standard and ITE, but I was really hoping for some new blood. But I certainly understand the reasons to keep with Standard for one more year. Probably...I will stick with LCG format on the descriptions. But everyone please bring a Standard deck, if we don't have new players show, then obviously we will switch if that is the consensus. I was just really hoping for the main day to open to anyone who just started - i.e. LCG only plus a cube draft...anyone feasibly could play in both even starting up that weekend! We need some new faces peps! Regardless, I will have at least two standard decks on me at all times for in-between games Wolfknight I would LOVE to see some Sactowners make the trip. I was going to send some messages via Xbox sometime to guilt as many of you in as I could And Portland for sure - the two-headed giant of Myers/Binder would rock. And thanks to Deathjester and Chaos for the help - ~Chaos you better get out of whatever silly thing your wife has set up for you on Saturday Picking out new sheets can wait! Nate and FFG will be supporting the Con - they have been very helpful so far - thanks guys!

Well, people know what a Joust snob I am... So probably I will run two events: 1. The main event, a Joust! 2. A "cube draft". People who have not done this in other games are in for some fun. 450-500 highlander draft, drafting classic power cards. Probably will have a 'fixed starter' as well - for sure 5 plots, and maybe 5 locations? We are going to test it out a few times before Kubla to try and get the right mix. Jester might be running 1-2 other events. I usually leave somewhat early on Sunday, and Friday is always a little crazy.

I think well-built Stark can win. Their plot rocks vs. lanni, they can actually get some card draw, and their control cards can really hurt Lanni. They have issues vs. the locations, but Bear Island is just crazy.

A bit on the early side, but just an FYI that I will be running at least two aGoT tourneys at KublaCon - May 22-25th in San Fransisco. For people who haven't gone, historically it has been one of the largest aGoT tourneys in the country. And certainly one of the most competative, with strong players every year...~even when SacTowners came We have been playing since, dang, the first year it came out when it was old-timers like myself, the Kingg21, and Erwo. John Bruno (Mathlete) has led the charge the last few years, but he obviously is taking a break (true story, he is coaching cheerleading in LA this year...some guys have all the luck after they almost die... ). So, I will take up the mantle, as I did the first few years. Obviously, with SacTown done, and other metas in iffy stages, I don't know what the attendance will be...but whatever it is, we always have fun. Kubla is actually my favorite con, all in the same place with really fun people and enough things to do without being overwhelming like GenCon. I would love to see PDX, NoCal, and the rest of SoCal make it, plus anyone that just wants to have a good time. ~Hopefully we will even get a Harry Potter tourney in! Matt/rings

This weekend, yo! Hope to see peoples there.

Also, we play monthly in Seattle if you have the chance. Just PM me your e-mail address and I can put you on the e-mail thread.

Dear Lord. The OP is really confusing to me. You would think this would be an option when setting up a tourney? Or is it? Or do you specifically have to ask for it?

Saturday the 28th is the next league day. I am hoping to have LCG format, and maybe a 'cube draft' initial format!

Well...there is Arya. And Arya. Oh, and i hate that Arya chick. Seriously, without Jaquen, she is really the only character i despise seeing hit the table. Everyone else I don't mind. Oh, and Ghost is a crutch. Weak sause.

~another Pycelle, right? Can't have enough, and I don't think he has ever NOT been legal. Oh, and Hot Pie. Happy, Ktom?

Old Ben said: The game length also depends a little on the matchups and deck constructions. Some houses and deck constructions usually need about an hour to pull out a win (Lannister decks are often a candidate here) , others could win rather quick (Baratheon and Greyjoy). You will have quicker games if both houses have access to cards that allow a quick win- e.g. lots of renown charachters or cards like martial law. Not any Lanni I have ever played myself...but games I have to wait for in the final 8 of Worlds? Okay, that was long...