Getting Started in A Song of Ice and Fire Miniatures

I’ve got a post I’m writing about all the wargames I own, but on top of everything I already own, I just recently picked up the Song of Ice and Fire Miniatures Game starter set. I spent a lot of time researching it before picking it up, mainly due to looking back at all the fantastic battles of the TV series and the novels.

The game is by Cool Mini or Not, so the models are absolutely stunning. Highly detailed, with a bunch of great details. They’re all preassembled, and colored based on the faction, so you don’t even HAVE to paint them up, but they look so much better if they are.

The game is a Rank & Flank game, using units laid out on a movement tray, where you will rotate and attempt to attack the sides and back of another unit for the best advantage in combat.

There are currently four factions: Stark, Lannister, Night’s Watch and Freefolk, though there’s some variation within those you can work with. There are Neutral units (can be played in any other faction), which is currently dominated by Bolton, so many players will play a pure Bolton force. There are also Tully foot troops for Stark, with Tully mounted troops coming, so some players (myself included) are considering a pure Tully force. The Baratheons have been announced, but not released yet. I expect we’ll see Greyjoy and Martell soon as well, and perhaps Tyrell as a Neutral force so they can work for whoever is giving them the most power at the moment.

My current plan is to play Lannisters, so I new I needed the Stark/Lannister starter. I want to introduce the game to my son, so this two-person starter will be perfect. It just arrived on Tuesday, and I’m already figuring out how I’m going to paint them up.

The rules are free online, and there are a series of videos showing how to play. Watch It Played has a good walkthrough.

You can find some good battle report videos as well. I like ones by Guerilla, because they quickly move through the game and actually edit them, so they don’t drag on.

I’ve been told as Lannister to next pick up the Heroes box as well as Knights of Casterly Rock, so I’ll get those. I’ll probably pick up the Heroes for Stark and some archers for them as well to bolster that force.

I’m really looking forward to playing this one. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve run a Rank & Flank game, so I’ll keep you all appraised!