Sunday, 5 December 2021

Game of Thrones - the Christmas gathering



The collective congregated at mine for a pre Christmas game (or hopefully 2) - first to the table was Game of Thrones (something 4 of us had played 6 years ago),so basically was new to us all. The gathering was due to start at 14:30, but we weren’t all assembled until about 16:00 …

We randomly picked which of the six houses we would play: I was Stark, Sylon was Baratheon, Steedo was Martell, DK was Tyrell, Joe Exotic was Lannister and Snake-eyes was Greyjoy. 

DK was babbling about Snake-eyes have the strongest house and the game was broken …

Initial set up (15:20) 

A cagey opening (16:44)

17:24 Things are hotting up Snake-eyes has made a move with the Greyjoys and battles have been fought around the neck with the Starks … meanwhile in the south there is some gardening going on and “helpful”tactical advice from Steedo. 


19:17 and things have kicked off with the Joe Exotic’s Lannisters attacking the Greyjoy’s and posed to take Pyke - Snake-eyes was not happy and in a precarious position. In the south there was quiet growth and a few skirmishes between the Baratheons and Martells. 


20:56 - The Lannisters were the leaders pushing out in all directions - but would they be squeezed from the North and the South (by the Starks and Tyrells respectively). It is around this time Steedo (I think) pointed out I could capture the Eyrie - which I did (I was contemplating destroying the Greyjoy’s, for the attack on me which started the wars), as it was a better idea. Also I worked with the Greyjoys (as Snake-eyes was desperate for revenge on the back stabbing Lannisters) - this took me to 5 points on the victory track, only two away from winning - and I had 2 fairly easy strongholds within reach. Unfortunately after the rest on the table spent a while working out there own plans … Steedo looked north and spotted my opportunistic gamble and the talk went to how to stop the honourable Stark … the upshot was I managed to get to 6 points before being pegged back to 5 - I had my high water mark.  

23:05 - the final push (well turn) - my objective was to hold my 5 fortresses, so I could’ve I with a shout at the end … mean while Steedo, Joe Exotic, Sylon (apologies to him as at one be I described him as “not a threat”, well to me at least at the time) and DK revealed their plans for victory … or at least not being last. Steedo went first thwarting both Sylon’s Baratheons and DK’s Tyrells and moving himself into what he believed was a winning position - I had a content himself by removing Snake-eyes last stronghold - he was off the score board … only to see Steedo point out a way for Joe Exotic to take from me and move himself level on points with Steedo on 5 - although this did take a long time …

23:55 The map at the end - where Steedo’s machinations have him level on 5 points with the Lannisters - but this is when secondary victory conditions came into play - and Joe Exotic won (again) with more Fortresses …


The final scores were - 

5 Lannisters and Martells 

4 Starks, Baratheons 

3 Tyrells

0 Greyjoys

A good but exhausting game - the only one played on the day. 

We have had quite an extensive chat after the game (and in WhatsApp) about how to speed things up - too much time is spent letting people work out the best move, so it makes it difficult to take advantage of mistakes or having to deal with the consequences of mistakes, which I think would make the game quicker and more fun. And be more “realistic” for the actual people in Game of Thrones world. Make a choice and deal with it … I think timers would help - either for each round or for total playing time for the game … With penalties in game (with GoT randomly having an order type you can’t place for a turn, but this would need to be agreed).

We all had chances to win or be high on the leader board, so a good days gaming.  

Morts 

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