Anyone excited about A Game Of Thrones RPG?

[Vonlok The Bold]

My one big problem in the books isn't the scheming or the lack of action. I like that part and I did get deeply attatched to a lot of the characters. What I don't like is the seeming concept in the entire series that it is entirely impossible for good to really win out. Or that there even is any true good in the world. I enjoy reading fiction as something of an escape from reality, not to get more depressed as the only good characters end up dead.

That is an interesting question. I'm not sure how alignment would play out in this world.

I understand the sentiment about the books too, but the complexity of the characters, which only adds to the complexity of the various factions involved is one reason why I like the books. At the same time I did get kind of depressed by some characters actions even more than I did by some characters deaths, but I liked that too in a strange kind of way. It meant I cared about the character and didn't want them to make judgemental errors, or mistakes. Reading it can be brutal, but for whatever reason it makes me love the series even more.

 

[Captain Tagon]

Yeah, but like the guy that gets his head cut off at the end of the first book. (Name not mentioned to avoid spoilers)

Like throughout that part of the story he was the only adult character that seemed to be a truly good man. And then that ending I almost just stopped reading the series right there. I understand grim and gritty realities in some fantasy fiction and moral ambiguity is good but does everyone have to either embrace parts of evil or die?

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

I understand grim and gritty realities in some fantasy fiction and moral ambiguity is good but does everyone have to either embrace parts of evil or die?

Probably, yeah, but there's plenty of evidence that people who don't properly embrace some form of good are even more doomed.

Even some of the heroicly or culturally evil guys get it.

There's still tension though because there are characters who embrace a lot of evil and keep embracing even as they embrace good. There the ones with the life expectancy to give the emerging heroes a lot of trouble.

It's actually a pretty neat moral system. The real question is what to do with honor. The character in question certainly looses by it, but as the book progresses more and more people seem to be gaining it.

At first I thought that character was being punished and now I wonder if he wasn't being exalted as a martyr.

 

[Captain Tagon]

At first I thought that character was being punished and now I wonder if he wasn't being exalted as a martyr.

Yeah. But the problem is his death causes a lot of problems for his family and other people.

I don't know. I like the books but they aren't exactly "easy" to read.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

Yeah. But the problem is his death causes a lot of problems for his family and other people.

I don't know. I like the books but they aren't exactly "easy" to read.

Hmm, well, the characters do get challenged a lot on a number of levels. The pathos is pretty heavy even when its not overwhelming. Even though its gotten a little ridiculous by this point I'm glad George gives us enough time to mull over and reread these things. If they were coming out at the rate Harry Potter does I'd be in a lot of trouble.

To be fair, all those problems were coming regardless of whether he lived or died. The fact that he was killed almost certainly caused more problems for his opposition than it did for his allies. Doesn't make it any less sad.

 

[Nifft]

I'm just reading the first book over again. It's really interesting... every character I read in a whole new light, given what I know now, and the line between villian and hero isn't as clear when I read the book more closely.

*ALL* the characters seem sympathetically and humanely written... just because I gravitated to a certain few, that might have been more my ingrained bias than a clue from the author.

I'm about 1/4 way through Game of Thrones, too. Can't wait to see what I see in the rest of the book.

-- N

 

[Captain Tagon]

I'm just reading the first book over again. It's really interesting... every character I read in a whole new light, given what I know now, and the line between villian and hero isn't as clear when I read the book more closely.

*ALL* the characters seem sympathetically and humanely written... just because I gravitated to a certain few, that might have been more my ingrained bias than a clue from the author.

I'm about 1/4 way through Game of Thrones, too. Can't wait to see what I see in the rest of the book.

-- N

Interesting that you see it that way. In my reading of it only like 3-4 characters are even moderately sympathetically or humanely written. True, most of the rest are interesting, but as a character study on how to not live one's life.

 

[Maester Luwin]

I was wondering if anyone had checked out GOO's website & what they think of the game mechanics/ how they handled the D20 system to fit Martin's world? Thanks Maester Luwin

 

[Maester Luwin]

I will be setting my campaign in the year 195. This puts it about 100 years before the events in A Game Of Thrones itself. I think this time period actually runs pretty close to the story line in the Game Of Thrones. My intro as follows:

The year is 195 & King Daeron II sits upon the Ironthrone. To the North, beyond the Wall, Raymun Redbeard gathers the Wildlings under his banner as King Beyond The Wall. To the south Daemon Blackfyre gathers followers to contest Daeron's right to rule. The Greyjoys continue to raid the western coast in their longships. House Martell & Dorne remain uneasy allies even though a Dornish Queen shares the throne at King's Landing. Houses, both great & small, must now maneuver for their bestplace in the upcoming Game Of Thrones!

To follow other updates please refer to GOO'S forums. Thanks Maester Luwin

 

[Doug Justice]

By the way, A Feast For Crows is now done!

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