Game of Thrones: The RPG Combat Preview

Cyanide Studios recently showcased the combat system for their latest RPG based upon the critically acclaimed HBO series and international best selling book series a Song of Ice and Fire, Game of Thrones: The RPG

Along with first glance at the new classes we were also treated to more information regarding the game's two main protagonists.

First up we have Mors Westford. A former knight and member of the Night's Watch.

“Mors is the last surviving member of House Westford, from a bloodline of knights who have been in service to House Lannister for generations. Because Mors was forced to abandon his family when he joined the Night's Watch fifteen years ago and took his oath as a sworn brother." The web bio reads.

"Mors is now one of the best rangers of his order, and his aggression in combat earned him the nickname of 'the Butcher'. He is both feared and respected, as much by his enemies as his allies. Gruff and direct, but also an experienced strategist, he prefers effective action to fruitless discussion. He is a man with an unyielding sense of honour, who would not hesitate to sacrifice his own life to defend his convictions.”

Secondly is Alester Sarwyck. A red priest from the Free Cities and worshipper of The Red God R'hllor. It is known!

“Alester is the eldest son of House Sarwyck, a noble vassal family of the Lannisters. His father was Lord Raynald Sarwyck, head of the House and Lord of Riverspring"

"Fifteen years ago, he decided to abandon his family and duties to settle in the Free Cities of the east, across the Narrow Sea. There, he entered the orders of the Clergy of R'hllor, thus becoming a red priest. He now devotes his life to his god and his faith. He is a calm and diplomatic man, loyal at heart and prefers to think before acting.”

Each of the two main characters have their own specific classes, that have their own unique feel, styling and attacks.

Westford adopts a melee approach to combat:

Landed Knight

A defence class focusing on heavy armour, swords, maces and shortswords that can salso make good use of shields and well timed attacks.

Hedge Knight

A “domination” or heavy hitter class that revolves around the use of heavy armour and favours two handed weapons such as claymores and polearms.

Magnar

This is the would-be-rogue class, that uses lighter weapons, focusing on damage-per-second over all out force. This class can also dual wield and uses medium armour, axes, hammers and daggers.

Alester Sarwyck brings a more ranged flavour to the battle.

Archer

This class uses dexterity as its discipline and makes use of light-armour, bows and crossbows.

Sellsword

This is the assassin class, mixing medium armour with swords (single handed), hammers and daggers.

Water Dancer

This class features the style of Braavosi sword fighting (Arya's 'dancing teacher') and will dance around their opponents in light armour while using swords, blunt projectiles and daggers.

Each of these two characters and each of the classes dictates which armour the player can use and equip.

Cross class customisation has also been confirmed. Want to make a water dancing-sellsword? You can!

In a similar way to Dragon Age: Origins, players can almost pause during combat to issue orders to party members or use abilities and items. The main difference being that bringing up the radial menu does not stop combat, it merely slows it down.

Game of Thrones: The RPG is really shaping up to be something great and has a chance of riding through the stigma that surrounds TV to game adaptations and quite possibly has a chance of being this year's must-have RPG.

Game of Thrones: The RPG launches May 15^th 2012 on PC, Xbox 360, and PS3