That reviewer, while apparently honest,  is a cabbage head.  "I don't care." He said it himself. Slate should be chastised for having someone who hates fantasy, be their reviewer for a fantasy series.  Maybe it's part of a running TV opinion column, either way, it can be ignored.

 I don't know if the series is great or not yet, but that is not the editorial to tell us.  It's like having one of those people who thinks Star Trek is for losers, give their opinion about it's move from the TV series to the film franchise. Or having someone who despises national sports (like me) give an opinion on the Superbowl coverage.

He wouldn't go on a date with a girl who played a serving wench at the Renaissance Festival? That's like, obviously really cool and hilarious, and he's clearly someone who dines on soggy cabbage. Ayep.

From what I saw of it so far (and I actually didn't know about the books before--so I can't speak to how much I do/don't like the carry over), I like it alright.  I saw that review, too.  Forgot it was on Slate, I actually thought I saw it elsewhere.  But, yes, I agree, what a stupid idea.  Then again, Slate especially always so desperately wants to be clever and different...like all the other different people. 

Oh, and about the boobs...it's how HBO makes money, don't cha know.  Remember Skinamax?  Same thing, just less plot in most of their shows. 

For what it is worth, HBO ordered two more seasons - seasons 3 and 4 - for the series.

here's that Game of Thrones that I had to leave inspections by 1ish for.

Fal, I know you wanted a report but unfortunately we only scratched the surface of the game what with lunch and having to go get Macchiato's and beers and people's phones going off all the damn time. It's called A Game of Thrones: the board game, and I believe it was a second version from an earlier first.  I am not at all familiar with those fantasy card games people began playing in the 90's, Magic and all that wannabe d&d stuff.  But my impression is that this is basically like one of those card games integrated into a board game, kind of a neat twist.





I only had my phone, but took a few pictures of the board -- all of which were washed out by the sunlight coming in through the window.  This is the only one, pulled back a bit, that you can see some of it. Heads cropped off to protect the innocent.  There was also a doggie nuzzling my side and licking my arm constantly so it was all very difficult, let me tell you.

The game is set up like any other complex board game (ie Axis and Allies) where, after choosing a House, you set down your starting armies.  This is pretty minimal, each player getting a few foot soldier pieces and at best 2 knights, a ship piece (or 2 for Greyjoy and a coupe other houses), and a home garrison chip that cannot move (from Winterfell, Lannisport, Sunspear, etc.)  It gets more complicated with all the various variables to take care of - iron throne, wildlings, etc.

3 phases to each turn:
-You start with a deck of cards phase, flipping three decks to reveal general things affecting all of Westeros for that particular turn.  Depending on what special variables players control they may have dictates or orders to issue here.
-Planning phase. Issue orders to all your units in secret by laying an order chip face down next to them on the board.
-Action phase. Orders are all overturned and people gasp, guffaw , and make threats as soon as intentions are revealed.  All moves and battles are resolved starting with raid orders -- which are used to negate another player's supporting orders in adjacent territories and/or deplete their power tokens.

It's in the action phase more cards come into play -- each player has a hand of House cards depicting characters from the books. They can massively overturn the tides of battle. There are no dice, it's a simple numbers game, complicated only by this wild deck of cards variable with different effects for each character.

The idea is simple enough, the first to control 7 fortresses & castles wins. You know where most of them are already - Harrenhal, Winterfell, Pyke, Dragonstone, etc.  Territories may have various things depicted on them: a castle or larger fortress, barrels representing supply bonus, crowns representing power/money bonus, a port, etc. Taking territories that have supply barrels lets you field more armies.

 The crowns factor into another variable -- power bidding and holding territory. If you vacate a territory with an army you must spend a crown "dollar" on retaining it (physically placing the chip on the board) or else it is no longer yours.  power bidding we never got to, but there are 3 power continums on the board which you can just see on the upper left corner here near the lass hoarding the yellow stag army pieces (Baratheon). There is a house chip on each of 6 spots on:

Iron Throne: held by House Baratheon at the start (Lannister is second). First and foremost this dictates the order in which players go during the action phase.  Opportunities also come up in the deck of cards phase for the holder of the Iron Throne to sway things their way.  There's also some benefit this player can bestow on others which is  why everyone was kissy faces, but I forget....

I was House Greyjoy though, we do not sow.

Fiefdom lord: Held by Greyjoy at start. Position on this dictates who wins ties in battles. Also, the top lord holds a Valyrian steel blade (rendered in high quality paperboard) which may be used once per turn to add +1 to your forces in any single battle.


King's Court: Lannister starts top bird here, and gets a huge Raven cut out to play with. The higher position you are on this track, the more special orders you get to use during the planning phase -- they are always the best ones, bestowing +1 or +2 to your dealings, but very limited.  I'm not sure what else you get to do, but the Lannister in my game was waving the Raven around a lot and making annoying "caw! caw! CAW!" sounds at House Stark..... every, single, turn.

You get more army pieces in a mustering phase that we only managed to do once the whole day.  It wasn't won over by all, but 5 of 6 will at least be returning to another campaign. It was the Lannister who bowed out after being routed by House Greyjoy in a battle that pitted Dagmar Cleftjaw, and Asha Greyjoy against his careless forces lead by Jaime, the Kingslayer.

(( when is next season start? ))