Board game - Game of Thrones. Between Two Kings

"Game of Thrones. Between Two Kings" – is a diplomatic card game based on cunning and manipulation. You will take on the roles of key characters from George Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, whether it be Stannis Baratheon, Euron Greyjoy, Cersei Lannister, Melisandre, or another ambitious lord or lady. You will expand your influence, play cards, and attract allies…

But be careful. Opponents are weaving their webs of intrigue – before you know it, another lord will turn your own advantage against you!

How to play?
All players start the game with 10 influence cards in hand. With their help, you will affect opponents and accept allies into councils. Each player has two councils: one shared with the player on the left and the other with the player on the right. The council consists of various ally cards, each possessing a certain amount of power – and the council where you have the lowest total power is considered your small council. It’s important to keep this in mind – because at the end of the game, the player with the strongest small council wins!

During the game, you will appoint new allies to councils, play influence cards, bargain with other players, and build intrigues.

The game round proceeds as follows.
At the start, an ally card is revealed, for whose possession players will compete. Each ally is a well-known character from the book saga, possessing a unique ability that highlights their character and role in the plot. The game includes a variety of inhabitants from Westeros, including the cunning Varys, calculating Tywin Lannister, the mysterious Littlefinger, and many others.
Starting with the first player and moving clockwise, each player chooses what to do: play an influence card or pass. If you decide to pass, you will skip your turn for the rest of the round. This continues until all players have passed.

When everyone has passed, calculate the total value of the cards each player played in the previous phase. The one who wagered the most wins and takes the ally into one of their councils.

Notably, all influence cards have special effects. Some will simply provide various advantages, while others will allow you to blackmail opponents and dictate your terms. Fans of intrigue will find a vast playground here: you can influence opponents and force them to play by your rules. The question is, who will you be: a noble ruler who keeps their promises, a puppeteer pulling clever combinations right under opponents' noses, or a bold manipulator whose goal is to confuse opponents and pit them against each other?

In any case, since councils are formed jointly with other players, you will have to collaborate… or at least pretend to cooperate. To win, you need to balance, communicate with both neighbors, and watch what is happening on the table – otherwise, you risk becoming a victim of someone else's intrigue. 

Don't forget that the game does not obligate you to keep agreements: any oath is merely a verbal agreement, which you can break as soon as it seems advantageous. But will the other lords deal with you, knowing that you cannot be trusted?..

Who won?
When the last round ends (and the game duration depends on the number of players), count the power of both your councils.

The player with the strongest small council wins and becomes the most influential person in Westeros!

Game Features
Once you master the basic rules, you can complicate the gameplay and add even more room for tactics and tricks. For instance, by adding unique influence cards, you can enhance the asymmetrical aspect of the game. Each player receives 4 special cards reflecting the abilities of the specific ruler they play! Fans of "A Song of Ice and Fire" will appreciate the immersion in the atmosphere of Westeros.

The game also includes a number of alternative rules that make the game even deeper and more complex. You can customize the game: make it more dynamic or, conversely, increase the duration of play, introduce an additional strategic layer thanks to the draft mechanic, or expand player options with the "Assembly of Kings" rule module.

The Iron Throne awaits!

Components: 
- Timeline
- 57 tokens
- 174 cards
- Game rules

Game duration: from 90 minutes
Number of players: from 3 to 6