Greetings Lords and Ladies. The War of the Five Kings began with the Lion and the Wolf, and it has been a while since we last saw a major update for either force. Whilst small releases of new units joined the battlelines there has not been quite an update until now with the Heroes 3 boxes.
Guest Writer: Carly
CMON kicks off 2022 with a bang, improving the model range of the Starks and Lannisters by updating the starter set from 2018. This update is sorely needed when you compare the models back then to some of the new ones now such as the Dragons or the beasts from the Free Folk. However, it’s not just models bulking up the oldest factions, new rules in the form of Commanders, Attachments and NCUs change the game so drastically. You must adapt to these new players, for when you play the Game of Thrones, you win, or you die.
Starks Heroes 3
Starting at top right we have Lyanna Mormont, Robb Stark King of the North, Brynden “Blackfish” Tully Outrider Commander, Eddard Stark Hand of the King, Rickard Karstark, Maege Mormont.
Lyanna Mormont
“Bear Island knows no king but the King in the North, whose name is STARK.” – Lyanna to Stannis Baratheon
Lyanna Mormont has appeared a grand total of zero times in the book, and has only been mentioned by others. The only time she makes her presence known is when she defies the Stag in the North. Due to this, speculation on her rules will be more wild than the Wildlings. However, if I were to bet on something, my thoughts would linger towards denying the enemy Commander or messing with Morale. The Morale idea would be about boosting Stark units Morale due to her fearless stance against all. But I would be more intrigued by a once per game ability to prevent an Order or Tactics card. Or lets be more creative, outright removing a Commander’s Abilities for a turn.
Robb Stark, King in the North
A second variant of the Young Wolf is given to us in all his glory. Out of the four models ever released for Robb Stark this is my favourite due to the model wearing a Crown. As for Robb’s rules it can be quite up in the air. However, we do know that Robb was a superior tactician well known for his surprise attacks.
For the tactics deck I think the popular Issue Commands tactics card has a high chance of making an appearance. Surprise Strategy is also one likely to be in his deck. But these don’t scratch the itch of the sudden assault of Robb’s forces. I think this version of Robb could be designed around getting into the flank, some form of new card that gives extra boost based on being in the flank or rear. Looking at all other northern Commanders I was pulled towards the exiled knight of the Targayren faction in his Commander form. He has a card called
Feinting Maneuver which allows a unit that is just charged to switch positions. So if you charged in the front, they moved to the flank, if they charged in the flank, they moved to the rear. This is perfect to represent Robb’s superior tactics.
Brynden “Blackfish” Tully, Outrider Commander
For those who backed the Kickstarter or were lucky enough to get a hold of the Hand of the King Expansion from the Kickstarter, this Commander is nothing new. The rules for this character have been readily available but the super thin horse and Brynden are being bulked up and released for everyone to get a hold of.
This Commander is truly unique for the game, for a long time he was the only cavalry Commander until the Dothraki showed up. Even though he is named Outrider Commander, I actually recommend grabbing one or two of the Tully Cavaliers as he turns them into true monsters with Ride-By-Attack and Ride Them Down. With the new Winterfell Guardian and the Hedge Knights, a Stark cavalry themed force is something to fear.
Eddard Stark, Hand of the King
Another character whose rules are up in the air. I don’t think we needed another Ned model with new rules. Characters such as Edmure Tully, Maester Luwin and a Stark aligned Theon Greyjoy are still without models and rules.
The Hand of the King name for Eddard may suggest what style this Commander brings to the table. I would imagine that we can see a more tactical Eddard with cards relating to some of his big moments as Hand of the King. A card that strips a unit of all of its Abilities would be perfect to represent the moment where Ned stripped the Mountain of all his titles and branded him enemy of the Crown. Ned was one out of three people who figured out the secret of the Lannister children, perhaps we could see a card that allows Ned to stop an NCU or discard cards from the opponent’s hand. As long as there is a card that calls Robert fat I’m sold on it.
Rickard Karstark
Karstarks are so crucial in the story of Westeros that their overhaul release over the past few months has been such a satisfying addition. The Karstark Spearmen fit such a crucial role alongside the Stark Bannermen as a defensive unit for the objectives which the Stark range lacks as a whole. They aren’t bad at combat either however you do need to boost them with an Attachment to make it worth your while. We know that Karstark Loyalists are coming in the future as well, resulting in a diverse range if you want a pure Karstark force.
I can only see Rickard as a Commander and an Attachment. If Rickard does come as a NCU as well I will be shocked and expect it to be the worst rules possible, this guy is no politician. As to what style the Commander could bring to the Stark force we have little go off of. It could be something similar to the Spearmen being a very defensive Commander allowing for the Starks to stick around longer therefore counteracting the attrition penalties of their Abilities. Maybe a card similar to the Shield that Guards the Realms of Men would be within this deck.
Within the books we might get hints to the rules that Rickard could have. I think we could see him with similar Abilities to Euron Greyjoy’s Attachment; providing buffs at the cost of a wound to the unit he is in everytime they take an action. This would represent the destructive nature of the Lord of Karhold’s rage due to the death of his sons at the hands of the Kingslayer. I secretly hope for a Rickard Karstark on horseback, so that I can have him ride down Stafford Lannister like he did in Battle of the Camps.
Maege Mormont
Again, those lucky enough to obtain the Kickstarter rewards in 2018 would have had the attachment variant of Maege. Whereas with Brynden we have seen him in full force, I think this release will bring something new to the table.
The Attachment variant of Maege is all about buffing Morale, this is due to the fearless nature of the Mormonts and their stubborn loyalty to the wolf no matter the cost. With the She-Bears and Mormont Bruisers being released we can also run a pure Mormont army if Maege releases with a Commander variant, which is obviously happening.
Overrun has to be in her hand, it is perfect for the brutality of the bears. Another card I can see in her hand is Rush of Aggression due to it being popular with the most savage and destructive Commanders, however both Mormont units already have Critical Blow so this card may only be useful on non-Mormont units, we could see a rework of the card just for Maege however. Other than that the rest is up in the air.
Lannister Heroes 3
From top right we have Addam Marbrand, Ser Robert Strong, The Mountain that Rides, Qyburn, Cersei with Tommen, Maimed Jaime and Kevan Lannister.
Addam Marbrand
YES! I have been hoping for this character for so long, however not quite in this way. I was expecting Addam to be on horseback since he is the Outrider Commander for Tywin Lannister. He also then went on to become the Commander of the Gold Cloaks, to then being the swordsmen that trained Jaime Lannister after Jamie lost his
hand. He warns Geoffry, he takes Tyrion into custody, he breaks the knees of deserters and leaves them as beggars as a warning. He has had crazy moments in the books. The fact he wasn’t in the show is a crime.
So what will his rules be as a foot model? I think this will be Jamie Lannister’s Commander variant doppelganger. Rename a few cards, remove the Renown card for something related to scouting or his Outriders, maybe even something like Brynden Tully’s Marshal. Maybe Martial Training for an Order or Precision to showcase his skills in a duel. We could see a NCU variant of him but I think this will relate towards him being the Commander of the City Watch and would be amazing if it was called Break Their Knees. Perhaps something that messes with Morale as this is the Lannister niche and what puts someone in line more than popping someone’s knee caps?
Ser Robert Strong
Is the Mountain now the character with the most versions of his model? Starter, New Starter, Kickstarter, Mounted Kickstarter, Heroes 3 Mounted and now Ser Robert Strong. That’s practically the Alps. However this would be a very different version of Gregor with how Ser Robert is in the books.
Brought in to be Cersei’s Champion against the Faith, I can only see him playing a role similar to how Brienne plays with Renly in the Baratheon army, being a counter charging bodyguard Attachment. Perhaps there will be no crazy rules but instead just an absolute titan increasing the damage output of units like adding additional Hits or Wounds, however this would just be the Mountain again. Truly it could be anything, but I bet there will be something about him not eating, drinking or using the privy in there. Maybe something like Belwas the Strong’s rules might be perfect where there are more buffs the more he kills.
The Mountain the Rides
A glorious model previously only available in the Kickstarter gets a magnificent remodel. He is a Solo or Attachment for the forces of Lannister. As much as the Attachment is awesome it is the Solo version that was compared to a nuke in the early stages of the game’s history. I don’t think there will be anything new for this model in the box, however I have my fingers crossed for a Commander version of this model.
Qyburn
Maesters are sorely missing from the game, we don’t have too many available in comparison to the plethora that appear in the books (Luwin, where art thou?) Qyburn should act similarly but with a sick-twisted scientist theme sprinkled over the rules. I think the rules could be similar to what the old Jaqen H’ghar rules were; rolling a dice on a small chart on the card to see what effect takes place. I think this is perfect for the wild experiments that Qyburn is renowned for.
Cersei with Tommen
I begged and begged for a Tommen model. I wanted to see a mounted Tommen as a joke model from Geoffry’s name day at the beginning of the second book but I will settle for this treat. However, Tommen is accompanied by Cersei which is certainly odd. What would it be like if this was the Sparrow, Tywin or Margery instead? Perhaps we will get four different versions of the boy king each with his own manipulator. For now I think this model will have rules similar to another two person joint NCU; Selyse and Shireen. I believe we will see two sets of rules on the card, one where Tommen puts his mother in her place and one where Cersei manipulates Tommen.
Maimed Jamie Lannister
Another model from the Kickstarter now becomes available to all. All I see is Oprah shouting “You get a Kickstarter model! And you get a Kickstarter model!” Unlike the other models that had previous versions, this model has not seen much play. Before the game wide update he only provided Victory Points when you destroyed an enemy unit you have placed Jamie in. His change has made him more lucrative and I can see him picked up by many with his one point cost. He still gives a Victory Point when you kill the unit but now when you control the Crown tactics zone the unit Jamie is in has -1 to Hit. This is huge and can certainly be exploited so don’t forget about good old maimed Jaime.
Kevan Lannister
Although I would have saved this spot in the box for someone like Stafford Lannister or Podrick Payne, Kevan is just as big a player in the Game of Thrones that he had to come at some point. Kevan, although not as powerful or wise as Tywin, was just as good at rebuffing the Lion family’s idiocy. Kevan came so close to unravelling the misrule of Cersei and Tommen, the books were written in a way to suggest he was the second coming of Tywin and the only hope to bring Lannisters back to unrelenting power. This was of course all brought down by the politics of those far better at subterfuge than him resulting in his demise by the schemes of Varys.
With that in mind, Kevan should be a great Commander on the field, almost better than Tywin. He leads the Vanguard on the front lines of the Greenfork so I think Issue Commands would be perfect. To represent his refusal to follow Cersei and the witty insults he threw at her, something to counter an order or NCU ability would be so fitting. Kevan should have an Attachment version of himself, something that brings Lannister Supremacy but what would be brilliant is for him to act like the Commander for the sake of the Commander keyword in tactics cards, similar to Nute for the Victarion. I also wouldn’t be surprised if we got a NCU Kevan as well, a perfect representation here would be something in the realm of countering other NCUs to represent him refusing the orders of Cersei but nothing too powerful that it makes him better than Varys or Littlefinger.
I am very excited about these boxes and the characters within. I will be reviewing the box set as soon as the rules are released to see what waves are created. Please let us know your theories on what each model will bring to the game.
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