Nerdhobbies - Game of Thrones

There are days when you just don’t feel like raiding, can’t find partners for role-playing, and even HearthStone has to take a break. So what do you do with your precious free time?

Interestingly, as gamers, we often have the same or very similar interests outside of games, which is why I want to talk to you about these in this new column, free according to the motto: What do gamers do when the keyboard takes a break?

I would also like to hear your ideas and suggestions, which can only happen if you diligently share them with me in the comments!

The Song of Ice and Fire!

I’m starting with the series “Game of Thrones” (GoT) or the book title “The Song of Ice and Fire”. I’m trying to keep this as spoiler-free as possible to allow everyone the chance to dive into the fantasy epic themselves.

First, it should be said that GoT is probably not the typical “nerd hobby” as might be a collectible card game or live role-playing, because it is popular among almost all segments of the population, and the only people who have so far refused it were those who found it “too mainstream”.

But what makes this world so appealing?

What ensures that even different generations are fascinated by this series?

In my opinion, it’s not just the much-praised and often criticized use of sex and violence scenes, but the design of the world as a whole – although the first points certainly also have a large influence.

Unlike what is common today, the series does not shy away from convincingly depicting a brutal, cruel, and sexist fantasy world. War is a theme in countless shows, but few address the equally terrible “byproducts”. Taboo topics such as torture of prisoners of war, rape, mutilation, or incest are discussed and examined from multiple perspectives.

Here, few moral guardians appear who want to change this: The world is cruel, and people have gotten used to it. And it is exactly these conditions that make this world so convincing. As much as I detest violence in the real world – here it is coherent, if not great, and the explicit depiction is a welcome change from the now-typical “blacking out” of atrocities.

The second major factor is the characters and their complexity.

Westeros and the surrounding areas are brimming with different characters and none of them follow a simplistic superhero scheme like: “I want to do good because it’s good.” Every one of the over 40 (more or less) relevant actors has a significant past, their own set of moral views, plans, and intentions, and the first impression of a character is rarely the same as the one you have two episodes later … before it changes again. Despite this constant shifting of perspective, all roles remain convincing – perhaps even because of it.

The last point for me is the complexity of the world.

Unlike in many other stories, it’s not just two rival parties fighting for power, but a total of 11 noble houses, which even struggle with betrayal and envy within their own ranks. Magic and dragons are a mystery, now regarded as fairy tales, and many of the world’s secrets have been forgotten.

The viewer experiences a discovery, an exciting adventure, and for every secret revealed, two new ones emerge, without leaving you completely confused. Intrigues and political maneuvering are, for me, the pillars of the plot, supported by the magnificent performance of the actors.

Very Interesting: Game of Thrones

“Game of Thrones” is definitely a series for adults and the book or audiobook series is hardly suitable for younger readers, partly due to the high level of violence, and partly due to the very complex storylines, for which I myself had to read some chapters multiple times.

However, if you are not deterred by this, you can immerse yourself in this fantasy world and engage in the highly interesting game of intrigues, and should ideally complete it before the fourth season airs in April – for now only in English.

A final tip: If you can’t handle the death of beloved characters, you should avoid this series. One of the most common lines in the series is also a program:

In the game of thrones, you win or you die.