“I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night’s Watch, for this night and all the nights to come.”

~ George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones ~

~ Now My Watch Begins ~

Pledge your life and honor to the Night’s Watch in A Game of Thrones: Catan! In this exciting take on the classic game of settlement building and negotiation, you and your fellow players are tasked with guarding the kingdoms south of the Wall from a continuous onslaught of Wildling raiders. But before you can mount your defense, you must be fully prepared. The lands just south of the Wall were bestowed to the Night’s Watch in order to provide sufficient resources to defend the Wall, but have fallen into disrepair. It's up to you to improve the neglected infrastructure of the Gift while working your way up through the ranks of your brothers. Only by succeeding in these tasks will you achieve your ambitions of becoming the next Lord Commander.

~ Two Horn Blasts for Wildlings ~

The Night’s Watch have been stretched thin for years. The more resources put into developing the Gift means less devoted to containing the wildling threat north of the Wall. With every settlement built, each Longest Road claimed, or with each Largest Patrol taken, more wildlings gather at their camps. As you work on the lands south of the Wall, you must also maintain a watchful eye to the north.

The wildlings won’t stay put at these camps for long. With every roll of the production dice, players also roll a twelve-sided wildling die that dictates which wildling camps are activated, moving their wildling figures along the trails one step closer to the Wall.

Once the wildlings reach the Wall, it is crucial you have guards posted on the Wall. Many different types of wildlings threaten the lands south of the Wall, and it’s up to you to be prepared for them all. Regular wildlings will breach the Wall if they outnumber the stationed Night’s Watch guards at any Wall segment they reach. Giants, meanwhile, are deadly, defeating a guard each time they attack, but are also defeated in the battle. Finally, climbers find their way over the Wall no matter what and must be dealt with before they cause too much damage.

~ Devotion to Duty ~

While the north is harsh and the constant threat of wildling attacks loom, you won't stand on the Wall alone. Many notable members of the Night’s Watch and other Heroes can aid you in the execution of your duties. For example, Yoren, the Wandering Crow, allows a player to discard one Watch Patrol card from their play area to place a guard on the Wall for free.

Other Heroes offer different abilities and benefits to each player, each turn. Taking advantage of these powerful abilities will allow you to rise rapidly above the other players. Do you have what it takes to rise high in the ranks of the Night’s Watch? Take the black, develop the Gift, and become the Lord Commander in A Game of Thrones: Catan!