This is much more than a wargame where everything happens on the board and you wait the roll of the dice to decide the outcome.

Like with most wargames, A Song of Ice and Fire is playable out of this box for small-sized battles only. What constitutes a bulky item shall be at Battlefield Hobbies Limited’s discretion, hazardous items are those deemed so by the Royal Mail. But if you do not like the theme, it is not ostracizing as it is still close enough to the generic fantasy that you can enjoy it as just a medieval wargame.Almost every unit has some unique attribute or role it plays on the battlefield and that can be further enhanced via the attachments or the playing of tactics cards. The Halberdiers can attack a charging unit before it does anything itself and will withstand the rigors of combat with a grim determination, while the Guardsmen force panic tests on opponents if they succeed on their panic test first. Containing forces for both House Stark and House Lannister, you build your armies, select leaders, construct their Tactics Deck, and engage in one of five different Game Modes.

I don't mind that, and under no circumstances would I insinuate that the game is primarily luck-based. Battles can range from large-scale wars with hundreds of miniatures to simple skirmishes between a few units without complicating the elegantly designed rules. Jamie can project his ability of counterattacking to other units, better block attacks, and weaken his enemies, or even cause panic.

The game features several unique systems, including alternating activations that keep the players engaged; a Rank System that changes a unit's capabilities as the battle rages on; a Tactics System that provides strategic powers fueled by a finite resource each round; and, most importantly, the iconic Heroes, such as Robb Stark and Jaime Lannister, that can change the course of war both on and off the battlefield. As Lord of Last Hearth, Greatjon causes both panic and vulnerability to enemies he attacks, not to mention that he stacks extra damage. The opposing player now does exactly the same, followed by the first player, followed by the opposing player, until all the units on the table have been activated. Conclusion: The Stark vs Lannister Starter Set of the A Song of Ice and Fire Tabletop Miniatures Game does not lie: this is a hell of a rank-and-file wargame! As well as breaking up the contents of the initial two-player starter set, this also comes with various updated sculpts.

My unit does X, his unit is susceptible to it, I can play this card here to enhance the effect, yet I know his deck has that card which can make me pay dearly for it. Sometimes units are released without any warning and others are previewed for months before appearing at retail. My review is based on the updated rules, not the ones described on the rulebook found inside the game. He doesn't cause much damage, on the other hand it makes units vulnerable when it attacks them from the flank or rear.To bringing forth your faction's flavour and to enjoy an infinitely replayable game you will need to invest even more money, as well as have an opponent who is willing to do the same. Blurb from the publisher: 'The War of the Five Kings begins in blood as House Stark's loyal Sworn Swords clash against House Lannister's heavily armed Regulars.