Westeros: A Game of Thrones. Game thread.

[johnhughthom]

Westeros: A Game of Thrones

Castle Black, Year 298 after Aegon's Landing;

Lord Commander Jeor Mormont looked out the window of his tower, watching the new recruits training in the yard below. A sudden shiver ran through his body, it wasn't the cold, he had been here long enough that he rarely shivered. Oh he noticed it, he doubted the day would ever come he didn't notice it, especially as he was getting old, but it was no longer the all encompassing cold he remembered from his early days. A knock on his door, and his maestar, Aemon, entered the room. "A raven, Lord Commander. It appears our King has been mortally wounded. He was gored by a boar, two days ago." Mormont frowned. "Two days ago? Who sent the raven?" "It came from King's Landing my Lord, it appears they sent ravens all over the realm when they received the news." Another frown. The blind maestar could sense Mormont was disturbed by the news. "Ah. I see. The King was wounded two days ago, the raven must have been sent to King's Landing immediately. Then more sent immediately from King's Landing. This news was not a surprise to some in King's Landing..." A sigh. "Still, we take no part in the squabbles to the south."

"No. No we don't. Still, there is every chance the King is already dead. Who knows what is happening in King's Landing as we speak?"

Faction List:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Dragonstone:
Characters:
Stannis
Melisandre
Davos Seaworth
Axel Florent

Players:
Beskar
Csargo
Secura
Kival

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

House Greyjoy:
Characters:
Balon
Theon
Aeron
Victarion

Players:
Jarema
scottishranger
The Stranger
Craterus

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

House Martell:
Characters:
Doran
Quentyn
Oberan
Arianne

Players:
Arjos
autolycus
Montmorency
TCV

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

House Tyrell:
Characters:
Mace
Willas
Loras
Garlan

Players:
Ishmael
Kagemusha
Diamondeye

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

House Lannister:
Characters:
Tywin
Jaime
Cersei
Tyrion

Players:
atheotes
Greyblades
Gurkhal
Seon

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

House Stark:
Characters:
Eddard (deceased)
Robb
Catelyn
Rodrik Cassell

Players:
Sigurd
Skooma Addict
White eyes

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Storm's End:
Characters:
Renly
Brienne
Beric Dondarrion
Cortnay Penrose

Players:
Double A
Khazaar
Captain Blackadder

Maps:

Clickable map of Westeros.*

Factional regions.*

Gameplay:

Westeros: A Game of Thrones is a game that may take some getting used to for many players, much of the game is up to the players to decide. So far as possible, I will try to accept any actions that you wish to attempt. The obvious exception would be orders that include other faction's or NPC characters (orders specifying they behave in a certain way, you can of course target other factions or characters), unless I receive orders from that faction confirming the action.

Each phase of gameplay will last one week real time, Monday to Friday for discussion and orders, and the weekend for results and write ups. Each phase will be one month in Westeros, so plan your orders accordingly.

Each team will have a quicktopic they can use to plan and give orders. For a faction with enough players to each play individual characters, orders can also be given via pm, these will always override any QT orders, so if you send a pm then change your mind in the QT you will need to send another pm cancelling the previous. Players are free to discuss the game with other players however they wish, email, IM etc, unless specifically told otherwise eg because they are imprisoned.

Factional results will be given in the QT, personal results via pm and there will be a general write up in thread.

Characters:

Each faction has a list of characters who are directly controlled by the players, as well as a number of minor character and allies or vassals who can be given orders, but are not fully under the player's control and may have varying degrees of loyalty and willingness to carry out orders. The factional characters have a list of stats that govern how succesfully they will carry out orders, these can change over time. Allies and vassals may give bonuses to the faction, or character within the faction.

Each team will control the faction as a whole, rather than individual characters, if a team has four players at any stage they can, if they wish, decide to control individual characters, with the faction leader able to give orders for any inactives. In this situation, orders from the faction leader to allies or vassals will always override those of other characters in the faction. If we get enough players, some allies or vassals may be allowed to join as a full member of a faction.

New players joining will go into the faction with fewest players, they will be allowed to choose if there is more than one. Factions may recruit for new players, in which case they will need to tell me the name of the new player and that person will join the faction that recruited them, regardless of player numbers.

There may also be NPCs in the areas you control, you can attempt to give orders to these characters, and they could possibly join your faction as an ally or vassal, but their reliability and loyalty will be even less certain than allies or vassals.

Military:

Each area will have a certain number of troops recruitable per turn. They will have a training cost on recruiting, as well as an upkeep cost each turn. There are four types of military on land, foot, archers, cavalry and knights, with each having their own role on the battlefield as well as differing training and upkeep costs. The stats used for battles will not be public. Battles will have many variables , including army composition, terrain and leadership.

Costs:

Foot: Training = 10 gold per thousand, Upkeep = 5 gold per thousand
Archers: Training = 15 gold per thousand, Upkeep = 5 gold per thousand
Cavalry: Training = 50 gold per thousand, Upkeep = 25 gold per thousand

There will also be naval combat, with four varieties of ship, carrack, caravel, cog and longship. Fishing fleets can also be used in combat, though they will not be very effective. Ships will also be limited in recruitment, with variable building and upkeep costs.

Carracks: Building = 150 gold per ship, Upkeep = 50 gold per turn
Caravels: Building = 100 gold per ship, Upkeep = 20 gold per turn
Cogs: Building= 50 gold per ship, Upkeep = 10 gold per ship
Longships: Greyjoys only
Fishing fleets: No upkeep, but reduced faction income if pressed into service


Diplomacy:

Factions are free to make any kind of alliance, pact or power block they wish, these can be declared publicly or kept private. No agreements will ever be binding on the players, orders will need to be sent in to keep to the terms of any deal. The only in game penalty to not keeping to a deal will be a lose of trust amongst other players.

Any orders that are blatant (or subtle) attempts to use knowledge from the books/tv series that the characters wouldn't realistically possess might result in, accidents...

FAQ:

What about xxxx character? You can ask me to put any character you feel should be in the game as part of your faction, check with me first and so long as they aren't elsewhere they will be available next turn.

How do I use sworn Houses? Sworn Houses have a set number of troops you can call up when at war, names, troop numbers and type per house are in post 2 of your faction QT. You can also use a Head of House in your orders, eg Head of House Org to govern the Gameroom.

Are there any limits on declarations? You must declare war on another faction at least 24 hours before the end of a phase.

Can I have different troop types? No, to keep combat manageable only the troop types specified will be available in the game, some others may become available through in game events. You can, however, attempt to use existing types in unusual and creative ways.

How many men can the ship types carry? These aren't strict rules, more guidelines. A carrack can carry up to 250 people before getting crowded, a caravel 150 and a cog 100. A horse takes the space of two men, so a cavalry unit = 3 spaces. You can try to cram more on, but there may be consequences.

How should orders be submitted? Faction orders should be titled as such: Faction orders for turn X, Final. It is okay to edit them up to the end of the phase, just make a post at the top of the thread which post number it is. Order pms for individuals should be titles as such: Westeros Phase X: Individual orders for CHAR NAME.

*Thanks to Beskar for the maps.

[johnhughthom]

King's Landing, Year 298 after Aegon's Landing;

The bells tolled throughout King's Landing, everybody in the city, rich and poor, knew what it meant. The King was dead. Robert Baratheon, first of his line, conqueror of the mad King was no more, killed by a boar whilst out hunting. For the small folk life went on, they had more important things to worry about, like putting food on the table, but the talk around the market stalls was speculation on the circumstances of the King's demise. All sorts of wild rumours could be heard, some of them close to the truth, but most complete nonsense.

For the noble born the situation was more personal, and dangerous. Eddard Stark had a piece of paper in his hand as he sat at his desk listening to the bells through his window. Cersei Lannister smiled as she prepared her eldest son for the day ahead. Renly Baratheon sat with Loras Tyrell, heads close together eagerly discussing their plans for the future.

For some the game of thrones had begun, for others this was merely the next stage in a game they had been playing for a long time.

When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.

[johnhughthom]

The game has started, it is now Phase One.

[Montmorency]

The Embassy of All Kingdoms has now opened in Ghaston Grey. Telegraph lines run directly from here to every royal palace and every fortified place in the world.

[The Stranger]

Pyke is open for business.

[Beskar]

Stannis: "Renly, surrender your dreams of claiming the throne for yourself and support me, the rightful King and follow the Order of Succession. I am the older brother, the Iron Throne is mine by right. :sternface:"
"Would you rather forsake honour for petty opportunism and play yourself in the hand of House Lannister?"

[Ishmael]

House Tyrell is here and Growing Strong.

[Sigurd]

Stannis: "Renly, surrender your forces to me, the rightful King and follow the Order of Succession. I am the older brother, the Iron Throne is mine by right. :sternface:"
"You would rather forsake honour for petty opportunism and play yourself in the hand of House Lannister?"

By what right do you claim succession Stannis? I was not aware of the fact that your father had the throne before Robert?