Up close with the new Game of Thrones card game (pictures)
Publisher Fantasy Flight has put together an amazing-looking Game of Thrones card game. At least you'll have something nice to look at while you and your friends stab each other in the back.
The new edition of A Game of Thrones: The Card Game, or AGoT, has just hit shelves. CNET cracks the lid for a look inside.
All the contents of the core set: four decks, house cards for the different factions, all the tokens you'll need to play and the rule books. Helmet not included.
The eight factions in the core set. Each faction -- Stark, Lannister, Tyrell, Martell, Baratheon, Targaryen, Greyjoy and the Night's Watch -- has different characters, abilities and play styles to experiment with.
A selection of the game's plot cards, which let players put new plans into action each turn. Be the first player to claim 15 power tokens, winning control of the Iron Throne.
Players of A Game of Thrones: The Card Game are obligated to say, "You know nothing Jon Snow" every time he hits the table. Not really, but it can't hurt.
Dany and her dragons. She gets suitably powerful (and looks damn cool) when all three hatchlings are in play.
A hand full of Starks. Text on the cards even captures some of George R.R. Martin's best prose.
The first player gets to take the Iron Throne token, and can sit on it too, if they really want to.
The gold tokens are used to pay for cards you play from hand.
The artwork featured on the cards is fantasy at its best. There's a very impressive design on the reverse of all the cards.
Stannis takes his troops to the Wall to ally with the Night's Watch in one of the starter decks included in the core set.
A game all laid out and ready to roll. The game retails for $39.95 (around £25 or AU$55) and you should be able to find it at your local board game store or on Amazon. It's also available from Fantasy Flight Games directly, but at the time of writing it was sold out on its online store.