The First Tilt - Gearing Up

Welcome to the first installment of “The First Tilt”, a blog dedicated to helping new players get their bearings in A Game of Thrones LCG. We’ll be covering a wide variety of topics, from what to buy, to basic strategies and tactics, and getting acquainted with basic themes. For this entry, we’ll be providing a buying guide for new players.

So, you’ve purchased your Core Set. But now what? One of the first thing a new player needs to play a new card game is, of course, more cards. But what to buy? There are dozens of chapter packs and six deluxe expansions. Where does a new player start? That’s what we’re here to answer.

The general consensus is that the first thing a new player should buy after purchasing the Core Set is, you guessed it, another Core Set. Now, you’re thinking to yourself, "I just dropped $40.00+ to buy my first Core Set. I already have these cards; why would I want to buy another one?" Well, see all of those cards you like so much? See their traits and really nifty abilities? Do see any others like it in the box? No? Ok. That’s why you need another Core Set. Admittedly, I thought it was asinine to buy another Core Set myself. But it makes sense. The best way to build up some of the themes from the Core Set is to buy a duplicate set.

So you buy your second Core Set. You’re becoming more familiar with the game. You’ve picked a House you really seem to like and you want to make it better. So, you go down to your FLGS or online and begin looking for what to buy next. Many new players make a mistake in their initial purchases for A Game of Thrones LCG and immediately go after Chapter Packs, and it’s an understandable mistake. They are reasonably priced and you get 60 cards (3 copies of each card). Out of 60 cards, surely there is something that can help your deck, right? Well, yes and no. The way the various Chapter cycles work is that each House gets a special theme, unique to that set. However, for the theme to be effective, a player usually needs to buy all of the various Chapter Packs in a cycle.
Instead, a new player should look at the Deluxe Expansions. Next to buying a second Core Set, a Deluxe Expansion is the smartest decision a new AGoT player can make (well, that and not playing Martell. But that’s another fight for another day). Deluxe Expansions are also a very economical choice, as well. The average Chapter Pack ranges from $12-$15, whereas a Deluxe Expansion is around $30+/-. However, a Deluxe Expansion gives you 180 cards, the equivalent of three Chapter Packs for the price of two. Also, the Deluxe Expansions have built-in themes to help players get more acquainted with the strengths of their perspective House. For example, the Stark expansion comes with two themes: Direwolf and Tully, both with their respective strengths and weaknesses. And being relatively affordable, a player could conceivably purchase multiple Deluxe expansions, whether for the same House or not.

If you are completely new to card gaming, another very wise investment would be card sleeves and deck boxes. Fantasy Flight offers the Dragon Shield line of card sleeves, which are great in quality and offer a wide array of color choices (like, say...color coordinated sleeves to the various AGoT Houses...ya know...if you're into that kind of thing). Also, Fantasy Flight does offer some great tokens in several colors, like Gold and Blue which can stand in for Gold tokens and Power tokens.

So, let’s wrap up this first installment with a review. This is a Five Step Buying Guide for a New Player:
1.) Buy a Core Set
2.) Buy a 2nd Core Set.
3.) Buy a Deluxe Expansion (or two).
4.) Invest in a Chapter Pack Cycle.
5.) Admit you have a problem…

Ok, so maybe it’s only four steps. But who has only four steps? Doesn’t five sound better? In the lists for next week: Knowledge Is Your Greatest Weapon – An Information Guide for New Players!

Thanks for playing along,
Ben