Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a dig. I was justing pointing out the idea that you have interesting opinions -- because you do.
P.S. I've heard the board game is a lot of fun, but I don't know who I'd play it with. I've tried to get some board gaming in with my friends but no one ever wants to do it, so I gave up on the idea a long time ago (sometime around when Talisman got rereleased, if you can believe that).
If you ever play the boardgame with people, make sure they are people that either don't take gaming seriously or can 'leave it at the table.'
It's one of the most cutthroat boardgames I've ever played. In order to win at the game, you find yourself making alliances with people, lying to them, bluffing, negotiating at the table while your enemies are right there, which is an interesting metagaming element considering secrets always get out in settings of feudal political intrigue anyway, and generally having to play shell games within shell games.
And another cool aspect is that the world is in motion as well, and you can't spend all your resources just making alliances and fucking people over. World events, like wildling attacks, can happen too. If that happens and people don't contribute to the defense, they lose position and resources.
The coolest thing is that the player who sits on the Iron Throne decides the outcome of all ties unless one of the players has an item or status that overrides the tie.
It's a really fascinating boardgame, and very well made. But it actually encourages lies, deceit and trickery to win. Realistic, but dedicated tabletop and boardgamers are generally proud people and they don't like being outsmarted while gaming in front of their peers.
otherwise awesome game, awesome with the move sharpshooter with the shotgun style reloading and all