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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dausuul" data-source="post: 5297582" data-attributes="member: 58197">What I'd do:Something like the first option (catastrophe destroys King's Landing), but midway through book one. I think I'd make it a tsunami, and have it hit Dragonstone as well. For optimum carnage, place it right at the moment when Catelyn is meeting Eddard in the brothel. That way, it kills off Eddard and Catelyn Stark, Jaime and Cersei Lannister, Littlefinger, Varys, and all three Baratheon brothers... not to mention Joffrey, Tommen, Myrcella, Arya, and Sansa.Instantly there's a power vacuum. Everyone expects Tywin Lannister to fill it, but he remains mysteriously silent at Casterly Rock, ignoring all offers and entreaties. Tyrion, now the sole heir to House Lannister, has vanished on his way south from the Wall, and no one knows where he is.Meanwhile, all the other lords start squabbling over the throne and splitting into factions--Mace Tyrell, Robb Stark, Randyll Tarly, Edmure Tully, the Blackfish, Doran Martell, the Red Viper, Lysa Arryn, Balon Greyjoy, and all the rest. It's chaos and civil war all round, a dozen coalitions clawing for power. Viserys Targaryen comes racing back from exile, bringing Daenerys with him. For a little while it looks as if he's got a shot at uniting the kingdom, but then he's slain by a Faceless Man. Daenerys, who is still the timid young Dany of the first book, escapes and disappears.In this environment, the PCs have plenty of opportunity to carve out a place for themselves without any of the big names from the books looming over them. Any possibility of events proceeding according to the "canonical" plot is thoroughly scotched, so no need to worry about the players' expectations. If they need a little push to get them moving, they might come across Daenerys, who pleads with them for sanctuary. Plus there's the mystery of the Lannisters to pique everyone's interest: Why isn't Tywin moving to take control? And where is Tyrion?I think it's important to break from the books in a big way right from the start.</blockquote>

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