2011 Holiday Gifts Roundup: Battles of Westeros Game

Posted on December 22, 2011 by spyral

So as if there weren’t enough games centered around the world of Westeros, Fantasy Flight offers another board game based on their 2 player strategy board game system, BattleLore.

Battles of Westeros features a playing board (the kind that you build your self out of hexagon pieces), a deck of cards, plastic figures, a bunch of dice and of course a dragon’s hoard of tokens. Use these items to conquer the battlefield. If you win the coin flip, you can chose House Stark, and the loser has to play House Lannister.

Follow the battle scenarios in the included Westeros Battle guide (straight from the books A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin), or design your own. The game should give you and your foe about an hour of play time.

Permanent link to this post (134 words, estimated 32 secs reading time)
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2011 Holiday Gifts Roundup: Stark iPhone and Laptop Skins

Posted on December 21, 2011 by spyral

In the immortal words of Bob & Doug McKenzie, “This should just be the 2 days of Christmas… it’s too hard for us.”

Stark Direwolf laptop skin

Keep your portable electronics snug and warm! Or at least show your support for House Stark, like all right-thinking Game of Thrones fans. Whether you want to cover your laptop or your phone with the Stark Direwolf, these skins can protect your device and inform everyone that Winter is Coming. Durable skin is completely removable and reusable. Choose from multiple laptop screen sizes, phones and mp3 devices (not just iPhone). Also available for House Targaryen, Baratheon, Tully, Arryn, Lannister and Greyjoy.

Permanent link to this post (105 words, 1 image, estimated 25 secs reading time)
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2011 Holiday Gifts Roundup: Game of Thrones Comics

Posted on December 20, 2011 by spyral

Don’t know what to get for the George R R Martin fan who has everything? How about comics with multiple covers? Make your list… check it twice… get all the comics, they’re very nice!

Enjoy A Game of Thrones #1 “Winter Is Coming” comic with options of multiple covers. There’s plenty to choose from. The Mike Miller cover (left) shows Ned Stark under the heart tree in the godswood of Winterfell. The Alex Ross cover (right) features a man with a sword (presumably Ned Stark, but there’s certainly no shortage of men with swords in Westeros) surrounded by the 6 Stark Direwolves (there is a shortage of Direwolves so I’m certain these are them).

Alex Ross and Tommy Patterson also teamed up to create some variant covers for the first issue. The Ice Blue variant cover (left) was produced for New England Comic Book Retailers and only 1000 copies were printed. The Negative (reverse color image) is available as well. Do these covers are available in limited quantities, so this may be your last chance to pick up some rare collectible comics on the cheap from Amazon.

For more details on later issues of the A Game of Thrones comic, check out the publisher’s site at Dynamite Entertainment, where you can also order online if you can’t find them in your local comics shop.

Still not sure? Check out the first issue thanks to the extended preview!

Permanent link to this post (238 words, estimated 57 secs reading time)
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2011 Holiday Gifts Roundup: Needle

Posted on December 19, 2011 by spyral

Don’t forget to practice your Needle-work this holiday season!

Needle

Or, giveth the gift unto your little sister as Jon Snow gaveth unto Arya. Mikken takes cash or credit.

This sword is smaller than either Ice or Longclaw, befitting the Braavosi water dancer in all of us. Arya’s Needle is a limeted edition by Valyrian Steel, crafted from high carbon steel; the hilt is cast metal with nickel plating and wrapped in leather. Display plaque also includes mounting hardware. Total length of 30 inches.

In case you need convincing, here’s Maisie Williams showing you how to use the pointy end!

Permanent link to this post (100 words, 2 images, estimated 24 secs reading time)
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2011 Holiday Gifts Roundup: Fevre Dream Book and Comic

Posted on December 18, 2011 by spyral

Step out of the A Song of Ice and Fire universe and explore yet another dark side of George R. R. Martin with his novel Fevre Dream! Also available in graphic novel form.

Explore the night world of steamboats and vampires in the 1850s with either of these two versions of Fevre Dream by the Man Himself. Originally published in 1982, GRRM offers a fresh take on the life history of bloodthirsty human-like creatures who hunt mortal men and women. These guys didn’t sparkle and weren’t all beautiful. The hero of the story is Abner Marsh, the salty cap’n of Fevre Dream, a grand marvel of a Mississippi steamboat. The graphic novel is a visual rendering of the same tale; while not giving the full power of Martin’s words, it is a good read for the comic enthusiast.

Permanent link to this post (139 words, estimated 33 secs reading time)
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2011 Holiday Gifts Roundup: Map of Westeros Poster

Posted on December 17, 2011 by spyral

Learn your Westeros geography with this artistically rendered map of the Seven Kingdoms!

Don’t lose sight of the important strongholds in the realm. From the lands north of the Wall to the southron peninsula, this map encompasses Westeros and a teasing taste of the Eastern continent, Essos. Hang this map proudly in your throneroom, war tent or solar. The color and quality is good enough to display in any tower at the Citadel!

Another HBO Shop exclusive, the Westeros poster is 11 x 17 inches and comes with a plastic sleeve and hanging hook.

Permanent link to this post (95 words, 1 image, estimated 23 secs reading time)
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2011 Holiday Gifts Roundup: Night’s Watch Oath Mug

Posted on December 16, 2011 by spyral

It’s cold. You’re 700 feet up on a Wall of ice. It’s cold. You’re stuck here with a bunch of smelly dudes, rapers, theives and green boys. It’s cold. Your only entertainment is fighting Wildlings or becoming an Other. It’s cold. Not even Winter yet, the Summer snows are omnipresent. It’s cold. You’re here for life. What’s worse – this place doesn’t even have coffee.

What better way of reminding your brothers of the Vows you’ve all sworn than with the Night’s Watch Oath Mug, an HBO Shop exclusive Game of Thrones item. Holding 16 ounces, this ceramic mug has taken the black along with you crows. Settle in for a long night and serve up some of the Old Boar’s Hot Spiced Wine… your watch isn’t over yet.

Permanent link to this post (130 words, 1 image, estimated 31 secs reading time)
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Peter Dinklage and GoT Golden Globes Noms

Posted on December 15, 2011 by spyral

The nominees have been announced for the 2011 Golden Globes and guess who’s on it? HBO’s Game of Thrones has been nominated for Best Drama Series and is up against the likes of Homeland, American Horror Story, Boardwalk Empire and Boss – all cable network series, showing the talent present on cable these days.

Peter Dinklage has also made the cut, naturally, with the likes of Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family), Paul Giamatti (Too Big to Fail), Tim Robbins (Cinema Verite) and Guy Pearce (Mildred Pierce) in the Best Supporting Actor category. Tune in to NBC on January 15, 2012 as Ricky Gervais hosts The Golden Globes!

Good luck to the GoT folks!

Permanent link to this post (113 words, estimated 27 secs reading time)
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2011 Holiday Gifts Roundup: Roy Dotrice Reads Feast for Crows

Posted on December 15, 2011 by spyral

‘Tis the Ides of December
A day we ought remember
The voice of Roy Dotrice
Now reads each book apiece!
A Feast for Crows has been upgraded
For the fans no longer jaded!

As of today, you can listen to the first five books of A Song of Ice and Fire narrated by the same speaker, our beloved Roy Dotrice. A Feast for Crows has been re-recorded in secret, and currently only available as a download at Audible. If you haven’t signed up with them yet for some reason, you get Feast FREE with 30-day trial membership… also free. WHAT are you waiting for???

No disrespect to John Lee, who narrated it back in 2005. Fans came to love the voices of Mr. Dotrice since A Game of Thrones. All 224 of them.

Permanent link to this post (134 words, 2 images, estimated 32 secs reading time)
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2011 Holiday Gifts Roundup: A Song of Ice and Fire RPG

Posted on December 14, 2011 by spyral

We bring you yet another way to fight and scheme in the world of Westeros! The more the merrier, and we want this season to be pretty effing merry!

Green Ronin Publishing presents A Song Of Ice And Fire Roleplaying: Adventures In The Seven Kingdoms and A Song Of Ice and Fire Campaign Guide: A RPG Sourcebook, two core books that provide a complete roleplaying adventure. Other expansion books are also available to keep the gamer folk happy. This RPG is award-winning, so I highly suggest you pick this up if you are looking for a campaign to satisfy the GRRM fans among your tribe or guild or whatever gamers call themselves these days.

Want to try before you buy? All you tight-fisted Scrooges might be interested in the ASoIaF RPG Quick Start PDF, but you’ll have to visit Green Ronin’s website to get it.

Permanent link to this post (146 words, estimated 35 secs reading time)
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