Season 4 Changelog
Bannermen, today we are presenting to you the master change-log for Season 4 of A Song of Ice and Fire: The Tabletop Miniatures Game.
This article will namely be just a quick brief of changes to units, though in some instances Design and Development notes will be added as well, typically in cases of an Attachment/Unit being entirely reworked. See each individual entry for specifics.
RULEBOOK CHANGES
Pg. 26, Battlefield Terrain
• We have added a third method in choosing terrain layouts for your games called “Battlefield Layouts”. This method gives players pre-generated pools of specific terrain to choose from, representing various battlefields.
Pg. 27, Determining First Turn/Deployment
• We have modified it so that the player who selects Deployment Zone will also choose which player deploys the first unit.
Pg. 27, Game Modes
• New Game Mode, Banners & Butchery, added.
New rulebook available HERE.
TOURNAMENT GUIDELINE CHANGES
This season we are experimented a bit with the guidelines for official events, namely with the addition of some Alternative Format options available to Organizers: Commander Elimination Format as an Optional Format, as well as dictating a specific list of Game Modes available to be chosen for Official Events. This is to encourage a more structured and unified front on the roads to Nationals/Worlds. Of course, for Independent Events all formats and specifics are up to the individual Tournament Organizer.
Tournament Rules can be seen HERE.
Team Tournament Rules an be seen HERE.
HOUSE STARK
Attachments:
• Maege Mormont, Lady of the Bear Island: Changes to Battle Scars.
• Greatjon Umber, Lord of Last Hearth: Changes to Order: Overrun.
Units:
• Stark Outriders: Added Order: Tactical Reposition, removed Order: Swift Retreat.
Design Notes: Stark Outriders have been in a tough spot when put up against Tully Cavaliers. As such, we have shifted their focus from only directly benefitting themselves to aiding the army in a more general sense.
• House Karstark Loyalists: Added Ferocious Assault, Added Unleashed Ferocity, changes to Flail, removed Perseverance and Valor.
Design Notes: Loyalists lacked a focused role in the stark arsenal, especially up against the more generalist use of Stark Sworn Swords. They have been reworked with as an option to allow the Stark army to explore more elements of Vicious as well as Condition token play.
• House Karstark Spearmen: Points cost decreased from 6 to 5 points.
• House Mormont She-Bears: Melee Attack Dice Value increased from 7/5/4 to 7/6/5
• House Mormont Bruisers: Added Disrupt, removed Counterstrike.
Design Notes: This change aims to give Bruisers more utility to the army as a whole, acting as a mobile-disruption unit rather than (ironically) just another brusier option available to starks.
• House Umber Greataxes: Added Ferocious Assault, Changes to Executioner’s Fury, removed Unyielding, Melee Attack Dice Value decreased from 7/6/5 to 6/5/4.
• House Umber Berserkers: Added Berserker’s Fervor, melee to Hit Value improved from 4+ to 3+, removed Berserker Axes, removed Unyielding.
Design Notes: House Umber as a whole got a touch-up. Berserkers now have the means and methods of surviving once they are whittled down (synergizing better with certain Stark Tactics Cards, as well as Greatjon Umber’s). Great Axes have solidified their role as a unit sent to destroy high-defense targets and have, likewise, been given some means of survival when reduced in ranks.
NCUs
• Rodrik Cassel, Combat Veteran: Changes to Martial Expertise.
• Howland Reed, Protector of the Neck: Changes to Hunter’s Guile, points cost decreased from 5 to 4 points.
HOUSE LANNISTER
Attachments:
• Kevan Lannister, Protector of the Realm: Change on Might of the Throne.
Design Notes: Limited Might of the Throne to Melee Attacks only.
Units:
• Kingsguard: Added Order: Resilience, removed Iron Resolve, morale improved from 5+ to 4+.
Design Notes: We’ve given the Kingsguard a bit of a glow-up. While they are fierce, it was always difficult to overlook the fact they are only eight wounds to the unit. For a center-piece unit, we have given them some additional staying-power in the form of Resilience.
• Lannisport City Watch: Morale improved from 7+ to 6+, changes to Order: Adaptive Style.
Design Notes: Adaptive Style has proven to push play in directions we were not fans of. Typically, we work to limit effects which would grant additional dice (in any large amount). We tried it here and it has proven problematic, so we have reworked the ability and the units associated with it.
NCUs:
• Pycelle, Grand Maester: Changes to Manipulation and Deception.
Design Notes: Stronk. Pycelle has always been easy to use, and his effects are impressive. We’re limiting the Grand Maester’s reach.
• Qyburn, Master of Whisperers: Changes to Little Doves.
Design Notes: Abilities like Qyburn’s, which rely on numerous conditions either within or outside the owner’s control, have proven unpopular among players, so we’re re-evaluating said Abilities.
• Tommen Baratheon, Next in Succession: Changes to Queen’s Influence.
Design Notes: Changed what cards Tommen could seek out to some more (hopefully) attractive options. Poor kid could use some additional play… And some more time away from his mother.
Tactics Cards:
• Gregor Clegane, The Mountain: Changes to Overrun Tactics card.
• Kevan Lannister, Protector of the Realm: Changes to Predictable Maneuvers card.
NIGHT’S WATCH
Attachments:
• Qhorin Halfhand, Glizzled Ranger: Changes to Battle Scars.
Units:
• Builder Scorpion Crew: Morale worsened from 2+ to 5+.
• Builder Stone Thrower: Morale worsened from 2+ to 5+, changes to Rock Volley.
Design Notes: The War Machine units are polarizing among players. While admittedly viewed as a negative experience by many, they likewise aren’t proving to be exceedingly oppressive with proper tactical counters. This usually means though knowing what to do. We’re choosing to give some more direct counters in hitting their Morale Values, giving a clear route for players to suppress them.
• Coldhands, Mysterious Ally: Melee Attack Dice Value decreased from 6 to 5, morale worsened from 2+ to 3+, changes to Eye of the Crow.
Design Notes: After the last update Coldhands was proving to be above the curve, with his “I perpetually generate Victory Points” factor not really being much of a factor. His presence has been struck on several fronts, pushing him more into the range for a utility support Solo.
• Watch Marshal: Changes to Marshal.
Design Notes: While in the last update Coldhands overshadowed the poor guy, we’ve worked to give him a bit more spotlight in this Update, not only via Coldhands seeing a reduction (which was an independent choice) but also by boosting his support-utility as well.
NCUs:
• Craster, Ally of the Watch: Changes to Rest and Refuge.
Design Notes: For Craster we decided to rework him instead of simply modifying his existing ability, giving him a unique role for being included in your Night’s Watch army.
• Samwell Tarley, Craven Scholar: Points cost decreased from 5 to 4 points.
• Gilly, The Wildling Girl: Added Gilly’s Insight, changes to Samwell’s Influence, points cost increased from 0 to 1 point.
• Qhorin Halfhand, Unwavering Ranger: Changes to Sacrifice for the Cause, changes to Halfhand’s Guidance.
Design Notes: Another top contender for negative play experience (universally, people do not like being told they cannot do something) we are limiting what he says you cannot do by just a bit.
• Yoren, Wandering Crow: Changes to Recruitment.
Tactics Cards:
• Night’s Watch Tactics Deck: Changes to The Sword In The Darkness.
• Night’s Watch Tactics Deck: Changes to The Fire That Burns Against The Cold.
• Night’s Watch Tactics Deck: Changes to The Shield Of The Realms Of Men.
• Night’s Watch Tactics Deck: Changes to The Watcher On The Wall.
• Night’s Watch Tactics Deck: Changes to The Light That Brings The Dawn.
• Night’s Watch Tactics Deck: Changes to Take The Black.
• Night’s Watch Tactics Deck: Changes to And Now His Watch Is Ended.
• Jeor Mormont, 997th Lord Commander: Change to Night Gathers Tactics card.
• Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander: Changes to For The Watch! Tactics card.
• Ser Denys Mallister, Shadow Tower Commander: Change to Tempered by Duty Tactics card.
Design Notes: We have reworked how Night’s Watch Tactics Cards work entirely. Night’s Watch, for some time, has lived in a spot where they can overall provide very daunting and problematic for players in what we could call the “medium expertise” range, with their results falling off in higher levels of tournament play. In general, player perception and result-data have typically not aligned here, with many players viewing Night’s Watch as a runaway and domineering force in the game - a perception that competitive results, specifically in higher-tournament play, do not align with. Regardless, while we always consider higher level play, that cannot be the only prevailing factor, which is what largely led to these changes. The aim is to still maintain the feeling and effects of the elite nature of Night’s Watch, while giving a clear counterplay route for players to target. We will monitor tournament data to see how this ends up affecting Night’s Watch overall, but we do suspect that NW Players will experience some phases of growing pains before adjusting, similar to Greyjoys with the previous Update.
FREE FOLK
Attachments:
• Tormund Giantsbane, Thunderfist: Changes to Order: Overrun.
• Skinchangers: Points cost decreased from 2 to 1 point.
• The Great Walrus, Steeled Through Ice and Snow: Changes to Battle Scar.
• Mance Rayder, King Beyond the Wall: Removed The King Is Dead!.
Units:
• Varamyr Sixskins, Master Skinchanger (Commander): Points cost increased from 0 to 2 points.
• Spearwives: Speed increased from 5 to 6, Melee Attack Dice Value increased from 6/6/4 to 7/7/4.
• Frozen Shore Hunters: Melee Attack Dice Value increased from 6/5/4 to 6/6/4, Range Attack Dice Value increased from 6/5/4 to 6/6/4, changes to Harpoon.
• Frozen Shore Bear Riders: Morale improved from 6+ to 5+.
• Borroq’s Boar: Points cost decreased from 2 to 0 points. Design Note: Borroq was seeing much more pay with player’s electing to leave his boar at home.
NCUs:
• Jon Snow, Turncloak Crow: Changes to Northern Resilience.
• Lady Dalla, Wife and Council: Points cost decreased from 5 to 4 points.
• Craster, Ally of Convenience: Changes to Refuge and Supplies (Now limited to only Infantry).
• Mance Rayder, Artful Tactician: Changes to Skillful Preparations. Tactics Cards:
• Mance Rayder, King Beyond the Wall: Change to Predictable Maneuvers Tactics card.
• Mag the Mighty, Mag Mar Tun Doh Weg: Changes to Overrun Tactics card.
NEUTRALS
Units:
• Golden Company Swordsmen: Changes to Order: Adaptive Style.
Design Notes: Adaptive Style has proven to push play in directions we were not fans of. Typically, we work to limit effects which would grant additional dice (in any large amount). We tried it here and it has proven problematic, so we have reworked the ability and the units associated with it.
• Lysene Sellswords: Changes to Raiders of the Free Cities, changes to Pirate’s Blades.
• Bloody Mummer Skirmishers: Speed increased from 5 to 6, Melee Attack Dice Value increased from 7/5/4 to 7/6/5
• Stormcrow Dervishes: Morale improved from 6+ to 5+. • Stormcrow Archers: Added Loyalty Through Coin. • Stormcrow Mercenaries: Morale improved from 7+ to 6+. NCUs:
• Lord Varys, The Spider: Changes to Little Birds.
Design Notes: Token reduction.
• Petyr Baelish, Littlefinger: Changes to Master of the Game.
Design Notes: Not wanting to be left behind by Varys, also had a token reduction.
• Walder Frey, Lord of the Crossing: Added Strategic Alliance, removed The Late Walder Frey, points cost increased from 4 to 5 points.
Design Notes: Walder was only seeing play in very niche and very specific lists, unbefitting of a man due such respect and stature. He has been reworked, keeping much of the same flavour, but with less stringent limitations. He is still young, after all.
TARGARYENS
Attachments:
• Belwas, Veteran Pit-Fighter: Changes to Battle Scars.
• Cohollo, Bloodrider: Changes to Battle Scars. Units:
• Stormcrow Dervishes: Morale improved from 6+ to 5+.
• Stormcrow Archers: Added Loyalty Through Coin.
• Stormcrow Mercenaries: Morale improved from 7+ to 6+.
• Dothraki Veterans: Defense improved from 5+ to 4+.
• Dothraki Hrakkars: Defense worsened from 4+ to 6+, morale worsened from 4+ to 5+, Melee Attack Dice Value decreased from 6 to 5, point cost decreased from 5 to 4.
Design Notes: Hrakkars were having a tough time competing with full wound 5 point units, so we have modified them a bit and reduced them to 4 points.
• Freedmen: Speed increased from 5 to 6.
Design Notes: Now that they have stretched a bit, Freedmen have figured out they have barely anything weighing them down, allowing them to dash across the battlefield much better.
• Drogo’s Bloodriders: Added Bloodriders’ Arakh, added Drogo’s Bloodriders, Defense worsened from 3+ to 4+, Melee Attack name changed from Dothraki Arakh to Bloodriders’ Arakh, removed Bloodrider, removed Cavalry.
Design Notes: Bloodriders held a place as a premier damage unit to one of the most lethal commanders in the game. When Drogo was changed, we also modified Bloodriders, dulling their teeth a bit, so to speak. While (in previous updates) we hit their survivability, here we have returned some of the sharpness to their bite.
NCUs:
• Hizdahr Zo Loraq, Fourteenth of That Noble Name: Changes to Merchant Lord’s Reach.
• Xaro Xhoan Daxos, Merchant Prince of Qarth: Changes to Wealth of the Thirteen.
• Mirri Maz Duur, Godswife: Changes to Maegi’s Knowledge.
• Illyrio Mopatis, Magister Of Pentos: Changes to Illyrio’s Boon.
Design Notes: We couldn’t do anything to make the names easier. Overall, most of the Targaryen NCUs lived in a space where they were just overly complicated for what they brought to the table, with players typically just choosing easier, more reliable options in the end. For numerous options, we’ve pulled them into a middle-ground of still having a wealth (heh) of abilities but each of them being just a bit more focused in what they do and what they can accomplish.
Tactics Cards:
• Targaryen Tactics Deck: Changes to Overrun.
• Targaryen Tactics Deck: Changes to Sudden Retreat.
• Targaryen Tactics Deck: Changes to Fire and Blood.
• Targaryen Tactics Deck: Changes to Unstoppable Advance.
• Khal Drogo, The Great Khal: Changes to Assault Orders Tactics card.
Design Notes: Most of the changes done here were to open up the ease of use with these cards, reducing some of the stringent and situational benefits that weighed some of these cards down.
BARATHEONS
Attachments:
• Cortnay Penrose, Castellan of Storm’s End: Changes to Might Of The Throne.
Design Notes: Limited Might of the Throne to Melee Attacks only.
• Cortnay Penrose, Loyal Tactician: Changes to Might Of The Throne.
Design Notes: Limited Might of the Throne to Melee Attacks only.
• Brienne, Rainbow Guard: Changes to Battle Scars.
Units:
• Rainbow Guard: Added Order: Resilience, added Rally Cry, removed Perseverance and Valor, removed Rally Point, morale improved from 5+ to 4+.
Design Notes: We’ve given the Rainbow Guard a bit of a glow-up. While they are fierce, it was always difficult to overlook the fact they are only eight wounds to the unit. For a center-piece unit, we have given them some additional staying-power in the form of Resilience.
• King’s Men: Melee Attack Dice Value increased from 7/6/4 to 7/6/5, changes to King’s Blade, morale improved from 6+ to 5+.
• R’hllor Queen’s Men: Melee Attack Dice Value increased from 7/6/4 to 7/6/5, added Order: Hold The Line!, added Queen’s Blade, removed Order: Queen’s Blade.
Design Notes: We really liked the concept of King’s Men and Queen’s Men interacting with Tactics Cards, but the player’s did not agree with this. We have reworked both to be independent of this limitation and instead moved them to being focused on Zone Control (or rather, your opponent NOT controlling the Crown Zone). Also focused on additional methods to give them a unique (eg, non-overlapping) role in your army.
• R’hollor Faithful: Speed increased from 5 to 6, changes to Heart Of Fire.
Design Notes: Reworked and, in general, buffed the options available from Heart of Fire and giving them a key, specific role in your army. Also gave them a small speed boost to get them where they need to be.
• Dragonstone Noble: Added Mastercraft Warhammer, added Noble’s Boster, Melee Attack name changed from Noble’s Wrath to Mastercraft Warhammer, removed Noble’s Wrath, removed Order: Sentinel.
Design Notes: Really pushed his role as a supportive-tank piece. Previously he simply existed as a nuisance to your opponent, now he does that AND bolsters those around him as well.
NCUs:
• Axell Florent, Hand of the Queen: Changes to In R’hllor’s Name.
Design Notes: Dual-efforts of both simplifying the usage of his Ability as well as giving it a bit more potency. Long live the True King.
• Selyse & Shireen, Queen and Princess: Point cost decreased from 6 to 5, changes to Fervent Conviction. Tactics Cards:
• Baratheon Tactics Deck: Changes to Baratheon Justice.
• Baratheon Tactics Deck: Changes to Sustained Assault.
• Baratheon Tactics Deck: Changes to Oath of Duty.
• Andrew Estermont, First of the King’s Men: Change to Assault Orders Tactics cards.
Design Notes: Much like the Targaryens, these were not so much anything “sweeping” so much as general quality-of-life changes to give some cards a bit more oomph as well as easing up on when they could be used (and to what effect).
GREYJOYS
Attachments:
• Victarion Greyjoy, The Iron Captain: Changes to Order: Overrun.
• Dagmer Cleftjaw, Captain of the Foamdrinker: Changes to Battle Scar. Units:
• Blacktyde Chosen: Point cost decreased from 7 to 6, added First Claim, Melee to Hit Value worsened from 3+ to 4+, morale improved from 7+ to 6+, removed Order: Martial Training, removed Embolden.
Design Notes: We wanted the Blacktyde Chosen to act as a nice support piece to the Greyjoy army when we reworked the combat units. Unfortunately they just weren’t accomplishing our goals for them, so we have hit their stats and offensive potential a bit to reduce them to 6 points, and then given them a fresh new First Claim Ability to really boost their role in passing around and manipulating Pillage.
• Drowned Men: Changes to Drowned God’s Fanatics.
• House Harlaw Reapers: Changes to Reaper’s Fervor.
Design Notes: Mixed feelings on this one. In the right hands, in the right scenario, with the right usage, their pillage-based ability could be game-changing. If any of those factors were not met, they felt underwhelming. We have reworked the Ability to be more in line with typical Pillage Abilities.
• Ironborn Trappers: Change to Order: Trapper’s Tools.
Design Notes: Granted a small amount of range on Trapper’s Tools, turning them into something akin to a very annoying mosquito.
• Silenced Men: Melee Attack Dice Value increased from 7/5/4 to 7/6/5, morale worsened from 5+ to 6+, changes to The Silence’s Infamy.
Design Notes: Further Silenced since they were proving to overshadow most other options, and not in a “lets boost everyone else” way. Opponents have figured out that having your tongue cut out is more of a hindrance than a superpower.
NCUs:
• Beron Blacktyde, Blind Beron: Changes to Zeal of The Drowned God.
Design Notes: Beron has gained a boost to now help with morale in the Greyjoy army as well as filling wounds with rocksalt.
• Tristifer Botley, Lord of Lordsport: Changes to Ironborn Diplomat.
Design Notes: Tristifer fell into the realm of “without proper setup, an opponent can ignore this” territory. While he still technically falls in this territory, the consequences for doing so have been raised.
• Asha Greyjoy, Would-Be Queen: Changes to Queen’s Promises.
Design Notes: Asha was granted a boost so she is not 100% reliant on a unit simply having pillage tokens.
• Aeron Greyjoy, The Damphair: Changes to Rise Again, Harder and Stronger.
Design Note: Small tweak to Aeron, changing his secondary trigger from “destroyed ranks” to “each time you destroy a rank”.
Tactics Cards:
• Greyjoy Tactics Deck: Changes to Finger Dance.
• Greyjoy Tactics Deck: Changes to The Iron Price.
• Greyjoy Tactics Deck: Changes to Raiding Call.
Design Notes: Some quality-of-life changes to these cards, as they were not performing quite to the level we wanted.
MARTELLS
Units:
• Darkstar Retinue: Changes to Order: Overrun.
NCUs:
• Doran Martell, Lord of Sunspear: Point cost decreased from 5 to 4.
• Ellaria Sand, Viper’s Paramour: Changes to Lysene Charm.
Tactics Cards:
• Martell Tactics Deck: Changes to Sand Diplomacy.
• Oberyn Martell, Prince of Dorne: Changes to Unexpected Exhaustion Tactics Card.
• Oberyn Martell, Prince of Dorne: Changes to Viper’s Infamy Tactics Card.
Design Notes: Much as with other factions, some minor quality-of-life changes to make these cards easier to both understand and utilize.
BOLTON
NCUs:
• Tybald, Maester of the Dreadfort: Quality of life changes to Deceitful Envoy.
Design Notes: Change to bring in line with original design intent, namely Tybald only being able to utilize his Ability when he ISN'T already on the board.
Special Rules:
• Inner Circle: Changes to back of card text.
Design Notes: For House Bolton we limited their ability to access Neutrals both for ease of player-management when it came to them having both Neutral and House Bolton versions, as well as reinforce players viewing them as their own faction and not just “Neutrals, but more Bolton”. This has limited their options to harshly, however, so we are opening up Neutrals back into their roster- with the exception of Characters appearing In-House.
Cards available for download HERE.
