Battles of Westeros

Introduction/Theme

Battles of Westeros is a medium-complex mixture of the genres wargame and boardgame. It is settled in the very popular world of “Game of Thrones”, with its Seven Kingdoms - invented by R. R. Martin. The houses “Stark” and “Lannister” are part of this core set, concentrating mainly on the military aspect of the conflict.

Components

The game is published by Heidelberger Spieleverlag and Fantasy Flight Games, so the usual fine quality of components can be found here as well. The big box contains 138 plastic miniatures, lots of cards and a pretty board map (double-sided). The rules booklet has a lot of pages, but is intuitive and easy to understand - covering almost each and every question that might arise.

Gameplay

The game is based on the very popular system invented by Richard Borg, which is used by successful games like Memoir 44, Battlelore or Commands & Colors. Although there are some changes - which influence the gameplay quite a lot. In pre-defined scenarios you have to lead your armies (and either defeat your opponent or conquer strategic spots). In opposite to Battlelore the game is not divided into three areas (important for ordering your units) and quite powertul leaders have an important impact, and can determine the outcome of a scenario. Battles are resolved by dice, including simple modifiers. This means that luck is involved, but usually equals out through a whole game.

Conclusion

I really enjoy Battle of Westeros! I love the Game of Thrones setting and the realisation of the game fits perfectly to the theme and creates an exciting atmosphere. The scenarios are prepared very well and especially the new leaders offer lots of possibilities and strategic depth. If you are looking for intense 2 player battles with quite simple rules and a great theme, you should give it a try. Lots of expansions are already available (maybe more about them here sometime soon), so you won't get bored... ;-)

 

From the manufacturer: Unfurl the banners of the Great Houses of Westeros! To secure power in the Seven Kingdoms and to ensure the survival of their lines, the Houses of Westeros each follow very different paths. Some forge strategic alliances, some create complex political intrigues, and still others use deceit and betrayal. 

But there is no more direct or lasting path to power than taking to the field of battle.In Battles of Westeros, two players recreate the military conflicts set in George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series, taking part in battles directly from the books... or designing their own. 

In this epic board game of battlefield tactics, players control either House Stark, the wards of Winterfell who have called their hearty allies to defend their honor and lands, or House Lannister, an aggressive force funded by Casterly Rock's endless supply of gold.

Battles of Westeros includes:
- 1 Westeros Battle Guide
- 1 rulebook
- 138 plastic figures with bases
- 1 six-panel, double-sided map board
- 8 dice
- 110 cards
- 32 map overlay pieces
- hundreds of tokens  

 

2 players, 60 min
Designer: Robert A. Kouda
Published by: Heidelberger Spieleverlag, Fantasy Flight Games  

Category: Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures

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