reddit is a source for what's new and popular online. vote on links that you like or dislike and help decide what's popular, or submit your own!

  1. Frequently Asked Questions for /r/gameofthrones
    1. This is the official FAQ of the Game of Thrones subreddit
  2. For People new to the series:
    1. Do I need to read the books to understand the TV show?
    2. I've seen the TV show, but should I read the books?
    3. I've seen Season 1 on TV, can I skip Book 1 and start A Clash of Kings?
    4. A list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations:
  3. About the HBO TV Series Game of Thrones:
    1. How many books does each season of Game of Thrones cover?
    2. Will each season cover a book?
    3. How many episodes are in each season?
    4. When does Season 3 begin?
    5. What's different between Season 1 and the first book?
    6. What's different between Season 2 and the second book?
    7. What are the age changes from the book to the TV series?
    8. On what channel does Game of Thrones air?
    9. I don't have HBO or cable, can I watch the episodes online?
    10. I have HBO, but I can't get HBO GO. What can I do?
    11. Where can I go to download/stream the episodes for free?
    12. Can I follow the actors of the show on Twitter?
    13. Where can I go for more information about the show?
  4. About the A Song of Ice and Fire books:
    1. How many books are in the series?
    2. In what order should I read the Dunk & Egg novellas and the ASOIAF novels?
    3. Can books 4 and 5 be read at the same time?
    4. Does the timeline in book 5 progress much past book 4?
    5. Can I read each character's POVs together, skipping the others?
    6. What's with all the new, unique POVs starting with AFFC?
    7. When is the next book being published?
    8. Where can I find the Dunk & Egg short stories?
    9. Which book is the best so far?
    10. Where can I go for more information about the books?
  5. Specific questions about the overall story/world:
    1. How much time passes during each book?
    2. Is there a scientific theory that explains the long and variable seasons?
    3. What are the "Seven Kingdoms?"
    4. Who are the nine Major Houses?
    5. What are the all the religions in ASOIAF and who practices them?
    6. What are all the names given to "natural born" offspring?
    7. The pronunciation of a character’s name is different in the show than it …
    8. Are there any maps of the whole world?
    9. What are the gold/silver/etc. exchange rates?
    10. What is the Cyvasse game?
    11. Are there any real games based on ASOIAF?
  6. Concerning the /r/gameofthrones subreddit:
    1. Is /r/gameofthrones only for the TV show? What topics are OK?
    2. Isn't /r/asoiaf already available for book discussion?
    3. No, seriously though, shouldn’t there be separate subreddits for the books …
    4. How do I get a House tag and shield next to my name?
    5. What's the policy on posting spoilers?
    6. What are all these colored blocks of text on my screen?
    7. Why isn’t specific labeling of the source of a spoiler required?
    8. Why isn't spoiler text showing up on my screen?
    9. What should I do if I see unmarked spoilers?
    10. What does it take to get banned from the subreddit?
    11. How do I recommend something for this FAQ?

Frequently Asked Questions for /r/gameofthrones

This is the official FAQ of the Game of Thrones subreddit

If you'd like to see something added or updated here, please message the moderators and let us know what you have in mind.

For People new to the series:

Do I need to read the books to understand the TV show?

Definitely not. The HBO show was intended to be viewed and enjoyed by both avid readers of the books and newcomers alike. The vast scope of the series may be intimidating to people who are not familiar with the story, but the show was designed to appeal to both old and new fans. If you get lost, HBO has a few basic and spoiler-free guides (characters, map and Houses) on its website to help viewers keep track of all the characters and settings.

I've seen the TV show, but should I read the books?

The TV show does an excellent job of translating the main plots of A Song of Ice and Fire, but the story and the way it's told has been changed to fit the visual medium. There are additional layers of complexity, side plots, characters, flashbacks, and prophesies that had to be either simplified or left out of the TV series completely. It is simply impossible to include the entirety of George R. R. Martin's imagination in a 10-episode season. The TV show is great, but the story from the books is deeper and broader. If you like the show, we strongly urge you to read the books or listen to the audiobooks to experience the bigger picture.

I've seen Season 1 on TV, can I skip Book 1 and start A Clash of Kings?

The short answer is no. The TV show is not following the books in a 1-season-to-1-book manner. The show follows the books' main story plots, but it's telling the story in a different way. Some information from books 2 and 3 (A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords) appears in season 1, and many details from book 1 (A Game of Thrones) are missing from season 1. And the books in general provide a much, much more detailed view of the world with additional story arcs and characters. Skipping ahead to book 2 will likely confuse people who have only seen the show due to the differences between the two mediums.

A list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations:

  • GRRM: George R. R. Martin (author of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels)
  • D&D: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (creators of the Game of Thrones TV series)
  • ASOIAF: A Song of Ice and Fire (the name of the book series)
  • AGOT: A Game of Thrones (book 1)
  • ACOK: A Clash of Kings (book 2)
  • ASOS: A Storm of Swords (book 3)
  • AFFC: A Feast for Crows (book 4)
  • ADWD: A Dance with Dragons (book 5)
  • TWOW: The Winds of Winter (book 6)
  • ADOS: A Dream of Spring (book 7)
  • GOT: Game of Thrones (TV series)
  • AA: Azor Ahai
  • TPTWP: The Prince that was Promised
  • RW: Red Wedding

About the HBO TV Series Game of Thrones:

How many books does each season of Game of Thrones cover?

Season 1 mainly follows the timeline of book 1 (A Game of Thrones). Minor scenes from the very beginning of book 2 (A Clash of Kings) appear at the end of season 1. A scene in book 3 (A Storm of Swords) told as a flashback to the timeline of book 1 is depicted in real time during season 1. Many details from book 1 were not depicted in season 1, and some scenes have been added to help explain the highlights of what was cut.

(Season 2 to be updated after the season is finished)

Will each season cover a book?

Seasons 1 and 2 will both cover roughly one book each. No official decision has been announced, but comments from the creators have suggested book 3 (A Storm of Swords) will take two seasons. Based on the timeline of the material, books 4 and 5 may cover 3 seasons as well.

How many episodes are in each season?

There are 10 episodes each in season 1 and season 2 (discussion threads), and 10 episodes are planned for the upcoming season 3. The number of episodes in future seasons is unknown, but it will likely be close to 10.

Season 1 Episodes:

  • Winter is Coming
  • The Kingsroad
  • Lord Snow
  • Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things
  • The Wolf and the Lion
  • A Golden Crown
  • You Win or You Die
  • The Pointy End
  • Baelor
  • Fire and Blood

Season 2 Episodes:

  • The North Remembers
  • The Night Lands
  • What is Dead May Never Die
  • Garden of Bones
  • The Ghost of Harrenhal
  • The Old Gods and the New
  • A Man Without Honor
  • The Prince of Winterfell
  • Blackwater
  • Valar Morghulis

When does Season 3 begin?

Season 3's premiere has not been officially scheduled, but it is presumed that it will air on HBO in the United States in the spring of 2013.

What's different between Season 1 and the first book?

Season 1 has a number of additional scenes added from point of views not covered in the books. These scenes provide information given in the books, but not from the same character sources. One of the scenes is actually specifically described in book 3 (A Storm of Swords) as a flashback. Season 1 also ends with a couple of scenes taken from the beginning of book 2 (A Clash of Kings). Detailed readers will also notice many small changes in set and prop designs that make subtle changes but otherwise do not effect the main story.

What's different between Season 2 and the second book?

(To be updated upon season 2's completion.)

What are the age changes from the book to the TV series?

Those characters who have been changed were all made older, especially the children. The following table shows some of the respective ages during the filming of season 1: 

Book   TV   Actor
----  ----  ------------------------------
 14    17    24   Jon      (Kit Harington)
 14    17    24   Robb     (Richard Madden)
 11    13    14   Sansa    (Sophie Turner)
  9    11    13   Arya     (Maisie Williams)
  7    10     ?   Bran     (Isaac Hempstead-Wright)
  3     6     8?  Rickon   (Art Parkinson)
 13    17    23   Daenerys (Emilia Clarke)

On what channel does Game of Thrones air?

Game of Thrones is produced by HBO and is aired exclusively on HBO and their worldwide affiliates. The broadcast stations that air the show are as follows:

  • United States: HBO
  • United Kingdom and Ireland: Sky Atlantic
  • France: Orange Cinéma Séries
  • Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and Spain: Canal+, HBO Central Europe
  • Finland: Yle2
  • Germany and Austria: TNT Series
  • Italy: Sky Cinema 1
  • Greece: Novacinema 1
  • Australia: Showcase
  • Middle East: OSN
  • Israel: yesAction

I don't have HBO or cable, can I watch the episodes online?

The only legal way to watch Game of Thrones online is via HBO GO. HBO GO is a service available only to HBO subscribers in the USA. HBO GO is now available on Roku players.

I have HBO, but I can't get HBO GO. What can I do?

Unfortunately, some cable companies have not finished negotiating terms with HBO, or are unwilling to do so. Make sure you call or write to your cable provider to let them know that HBO GO is a service that you desire (and deserve!) since you are already paying for it with your subscription to HBO.

Where can I go to download/stream the episodes for free?

/r/gameofthrones does not condone the illegal practice of downloading, streaming, or distributing the episodes online. We try to support the show to help insure it continues to get made. Please do not make posts that offer or request information about such sources. Doing so will result in the removal of your post and a warning, or ban for repeat offenses. Yes, we are well aware that such media sharing is legal in some countries. The subreddit information is not limited to those countries, nor is the legal standing of sharing clear even in countries that allow it. In any case we do not allow links to copies of the show or books.

Can I follow the actors of the show on Twitter?

Here is a list of known Twitter accounts for people involved with the show (compiled by /u/smoov):

Where can I go for more information about the show?

About the A Song of Ice and Fire books:

How many books are in the series?

There are a total of seven (7) planned books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series:

  • A Game of Thrones (August 6, 1996)
  • A Clash of Kings (November 16, 1998)
  • A Storm of Swords (August 8, 2000)
  • A Feast for Crows (October 17, 2005)
  • A Dance with Dragons (July 12, 2011)
  • The Winds of Winter (not yet released)
  • A Dream of Spring (not yet released)

In addition to the seven novels, there are also three short stories that take place in the ASOIAF world but occur approximately 100 years prior to the story that begins in A Game of Throne. Collectively they are known as the Tales of Dunk & Egg:

  • The Hedge Knight (published August 25, 1998)
  • The Sworn Sword (published September 1, 2003)
  • The Mystery Knight (published March 16, 2010)

GRRM has said that he would like to write more stories to tell the entire lives of the two characters. A fourth Tales of Dunk & Egg novella is planned for publication in 2012.

In what order should I read the Dunk & Egg novellas and the ASOIAF novels?

Preferably in the order in which they were written:

  1. A Game of Thrones (August 1996)
  2. The Hedge Knight (August 1998)
  3. A Clash of Kings (November 1998)
  4. A Storm of Swords (August 2000 )
  5. The Sworn Sword (September 2003)
  6. A Feast for Crows (October 2005)
  7. The Mystery Knight (March 2010)
  8. A Dance with Dragons (July 2011)

However, this order may not be best for first-time readers as it breaks up the continuity of the main novels quite a bit. It is still highly recommended that you read through the novellas before beginning AFFC and ADWD since background information from The Sworn Sword and The Mystery Knight will greatly improve your understanding of some events and characters from the latter books. The most often recommended order is thus:

  1. A Game of Thrones
  2. A Clash of Kings
  3. A Storm of Swords
  4. The Hedge Knight
  5. The Sworn Sword
  6. The Mystery Knight
  7. A Fest for Crows
  8. A Dance with Dragons

Can books 4 and 5 be read at the same time?

Books 4 (A Feast for Crows) and 5 (A Dance with Dragons) both cover the same period of time, following the points of view of different characters, but the later parts of book 5 do move forward in time, continuing the stories from book 4. For this reason, it is inadvisable to read both books at the same time. George R. R. Martin wrote the books separately and intends for his readers to read them in the order in which they were written.

While /r/gameofthrones highly recommends that you read the books sequentially initially, some readers have gained insight into the story by reading the books concurrently during a reread of the series. Some of the more popular suggested chapter orders for reading the books concurrently are these:

Does the timeline in book 5 progress much past book 4?

Yes, the last third or so of book 5 (A Dance with Dragons) covers new timeline and includes POVs from characters who were last covered in book 4 (A Feast for Crows).

Can I read each character's POVs together, skipping the others?

For the most part, no. Reading a single character's POV chapters together can cause confusion in the sequence of events. There are often references and details provided in one POV that relate to others. First-time readers should follow the chapters as published to have an easier time with the story. That said there are three novellas published that combine chapters that can be read independently:

  • Blood of the Dragon - Daenerys chapters from A Game of Thrones (1997 Hugo Award for Best Novella)
  • Path of the Dragon - Daenerys chapters from A Storm of Swords
  • Arms of the Kraken - Greyjoy chapters from A Feast for Crows

If you are re-reading the series and know the main points of the plot, certainly the POV chapters can be read in any order.

What's with all the new, unique POVs starting with AFFC?

The POV names have always been descriptions of the person whose perspective you're following, and from AFFC and on, some of those people are better described by their role or nickname rather than a given name. That serves two purposes:

  • It makes the new characters with POVs easier to follow because you kind of know more about them immediately from the name, and in many cases they only have one POV, so getting to know them fast is important, and it's really their "role" that's important for the one POV, not a name.
  • Sometimes the POVs are of older characters who have changed in some manner, so they are now better described by a new name, if only for a short while. This is descriptive as above, but also serves as a nice structural-spoiler-cover so that when you review the upcoming chapter names, you won't see person X and know they survived the last death-cliffhanger.

When is the next book being published?

A Dance With Dragons was made available in stores on July 12, 2011. The next book in the series (The Winds of Winter) has yet to be completed and George R. R. Martin will not speculate about a potential release date. A fair guess would be sometime in 2013.

Where can I find the Dunk & Egg short stories?

The Tales of Dunk & Egg were published as parts of collections of sci-fi/fantasy short stories by various authors and are not available to purchase individually or as an anthology. You can find them in a few different places:

  • The Hedge Knight: Legends: Stories By The Masters of Modern Fantasy, or Dreamsongs: Volume II
  • The Sworn Sword: Legends II: Shadows, Gods, and Demons
  • The Mystery Knight: Warriors I

Which book is the best so far?

The /r/gameofthrones subreddit was asked to rank the books, and the resulting order starting with the best is:

  • Storm of Swords
  • Game of Thrones
  • Clash of Kings
  • Dance with Dragons
  • Feast for Crows

For complete statistics and more information on the survey, see the Ranking the Books thread by /u/juanito89.

Where can I go for more information about the books?

Specific questions about the overall story/world:

How much time passes during each book?

Each novel covers approximately one year. Some books may take two TV seasons to cover. For specific details try this spoiler-heavy timeline of events through AFFC.

Is there a scientific theory that explains the long and variable seasons?

Many people have astrological or meteorological theories that could potentially explain the erratic seasons in Westeros, mostly involving a complex combination of astronomical explanations like a wobbly axial tilt of the planet, or an irregular orbit around multiple stars... but the truth is that no one knows the reasons behind Westeros' seasons except for George R. R. Martin. GRRM has stated the nature of the seasons is magic-based, and their cause will eventually be learned in future books.

What are the "Seven Kingdoms?"

The Seven Kingdoms is the name of the single nation that was formed when Aegon I Targaryen conquered 7 individual kingdoms in Westeros and united them under his rule. The kingdoms were as follows: The North, The Vale, The Westerlands, The Stormlands, The Reach, The Iron Islands and The Riverlands.

After the Conquest, King Aegon splintered off the southeastern edge of the Riverlands to form a territory for the Targaryens that would later be known as the Crownlands. Dorne, a large desert kingdom on the southern arm of the continent, completely resisted the Targaryen Conquest but eventually joined the Seven Kingdoms 200 years later, peaceably, through marriage. Even though the Seven Kingdoms technically included nine territories at this point, the name of the nation remained The Seven Kingdoms.

Who are the nine Major Houses?

  • House Stark of The North
  • House Arryn of the Vale
  • House Lannister of the Westerlands
  • House Targaryen (formerly) of the Crownlands
  • House Baratheon of the Stormlands and the Crownlands
  • House Tyrell of the Reach
  • House Greyjoy of the Iron Islands
  • House Tully of the Riverlands
  • House Martell of Dorne

What are the all the religions in ASOIAF and who practices them?

There are many different gods and religions in the series and some are better known than others:

The Old Gods are the countless, nameless deities originally worshiped by an ancient race of people called the Children of the Forest. When the First Men crossed the Narrow Sea, they originally warred with the Children of the Forest, but eventually made peace and abandoned their own religion to worship the Old Gods. The Northerners of current ASOIAF times are the descendants of the First Men, and so the Old Gods are very widely worshiped in the North. The Old Gods are represented by unmistakable white trees with blood-red leaves called Weirwoods that often have faces carved into their bark. Most noble houses, even in the South, keep a “Godswood” that is a sanctuary for followers of the Old Gods and often have a Weirwood tree in their center that is often called a “Heart Tree.”

The Faith of the Seven, also sometimes referred to as "The New Gods," is a religion that was brought across the Narrow Sea by the Andals when they invaded Westeros near the end of the Age of Heroes. The Andals warred with and conquered the majority of the First Men, save for those who lived in the North and could not be defeated. Thus, the vast majority of the current Westerosi population, those that live south of the Neck (which divides the North from the rest of Westeros), are descendants of the Andals and practice the Faith of the Seven.

“The Seven” are actually seven aspects of a single deity that are often worshiped as separate gods:

  • The Father (judgment and leadership)
  • The Mother (compassion and nurturing)
  • The Warrior (strength and courage)
  • The Maiden (innocence and beauty)
  • The Smith (skill and labor)
  • The Crone (wisdom and guidance)
  • The Stranger (death and the unknown)

The Faith of the Seven also has a highly structured clergy that is not dissimilar to organized religions in the real world, and is often compared very directly to Christianity. Houses of Worship in the Faith of the Seven are called Septs (Churches). Their religious leaders are known as Septons (Priests) who are all presided over by a single leader known as the High Septon (Pope). The High Septon lives and preaches mainly in the Great Sept of Baelor (Vatican) in the capitol which is a target for pilgrimage by the devout. Septas (Nuns) are female clergy members who mainly act as tutors and outreachers to followers of the Faith. The Faith of the Seven makes use of a few important symbols: the number seven, seven pointed stars, rainbows (with seven colors), and crystals that can produce said rainbows.

The Red God, R’hllor (aka The Lord of Light), is not commonly worshiped in Westeros, but his religion is very well known and often practiced on the eastern continent, Essos. The religion is largely monotheistic in that only one God is worshiped; however followers of the faith do acknowledge the existence of a second God known as “the Great Other” whose name should not be spoken. According to religious prophecy, R’hllor and the Great Other are locked in an eternal struggle over the fate of the world that will end only when their religious savior, Azor Ahai, is reborn. The clergy are known as Red Priests and Priestesses, and some have made it their life’s mission to find Azor Ahai reborn, or to cause him to be reborn. Fire, shadows, and other things related to light can all be used as religious symbols relating to R’hllor.

The Drowned God is worshiped by pirates and seamen around the world, but it originated with the Ironborn of the Iron Islands in Westeros. When the Andals invaded the Iron Islands, the invaders actually abandoned the Seven and converted to the local religion, which is a unique occurrence during the Andal invasion. The religion of the Drowned God promotes a “survival of the fittest” lifestyle which is in keeping with the general behavior of the Ironborn so much that it is hard to say whether the religion shaped the people or the people shaped the religion. Resurrection following drowning is a common motif in the religion and followers of the Drowned God must be “drowned” (baptized) with sea water to symbolize that they have “risen again” under the Drowned God. For most people, this baptism involves having sea water poured over your head, but for the extremely devout (generally clergy), the baptism involves literal drowning via being held down in the ocean and then resuscitation by a priest. A very famous prayer symbolizing this act is as follows: “What is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger.”

The Dothraki worship a deity known as the Great Stallion, though seemingly only as a means to explain the world around them and to structure their nomadic, tribalistic society, rather than to serve as a moral center or source of law. Not much is known about the Great Stallion or the Dothraki religion other than the prophecy of the Stallion who Mounts the World who it was said would unite all the peoples of the world under one Khalasar.

The Many-Faced God is a deity worshiped almost exclusively by the Faceless Men (an elite guild of assassins). The faith is sort of an amalgamation of all other faiths in that they believe all Gods are actually a single God which represents death. There is very little known about the religion because of its exclusivity and the nature of its followers.

What are all the names given to "natural born" offspring?

Children born out of wedlock (to parents who are not married to one another) are called "natural born" or "bastards." If the child's parents are both commoners, he or she can also be referred to as "baseborn," but this is used mostly as an insult. Common bastards usually do not take a surname, but bastards who have one or more noble parents are given a surname that differs depending on the region in which they're born or, in some cases, the region from which one or both of their parents come.

  • Crownlands: Waters
  • Dorne: Sand
  • Iron Islands: Pyke
  • North: Snow
  • Reach: Flowers
  • Riverlands: Rivers
  • Stormlands: Storm
  • Vale: Stone
  • Westerlands: Hill

Upon his deathbed, Aegon IV Targaryen legitimized all of his bastard children. While most of his children retained their bastard surnames, Daemon Blackfyre elected to change his surname, borrowed from one of the Targaryen ancestral swords of the same name. Daemon took the reversed Targaryen coat of arms (a black dragon on a red field) as his own and founded House Blackfyre. So even though Daemon himself was a legitimized bastard, he is technically the only bastard to use that name, since all of Daemon's children were legitimate Blackfyres. Yet despite the fact that House Blackfyre was a legitimate house, the Blackfyre name is still synonymous with Targaryen bastardry, even in current times.

The pronunciation of a character’s name is different in the show than it is in the audiobook. Which one is correct?

More than likely, the pronunciation that was used for the television show is going to be more correct than the one used in the audiobooks. George R. R. Martin worked closely with the producers, and in some cases even the actors, while the television show was in production, so the pronunciations used for it have his approval. The Audiobooks, however, were produced for the most part without GRRM’s input, so the pronunciations used for them cannot be trusted. Not only that, but the pronunciation of several of the character and locations seems to change from one audiobook to the next, despite the fact that all but one of the initial versions (AFFC) were read by the same voice artist.

Are there any maps of the whole world?

There are many fan-made maps that build upon the official canon maps published with the books or made for the television series. Quality varies, and some of the maps are more artistic than typographic. Here are links to most of the major maps:

Maps of Westeros

Maps of the World (includes any maps of just Essos)

Maps of Cities

Political Maps of Westeros (Kingdom or Region Boundaries)

Funny Maps

What are the gold/silver/etc. exchange rates?

  • 1 copper groat = 4 pennies
  • 1 copper star = 4 groats
  • 1 silver stag = 7 stars
  • 1 silver moon = 7 stags
  • 1 gold dragon = 30 moons/210 stags/11,760 pennies

What is the Cyvasse game?

Cyvasse is a two-player board game from Volantis. In Westeros it is popular in Dorne. Each side plays with ten different pieces on a board of colored squares similar to Chess. GRRM has stated the game is inspired by Chess, Stratego, and Blitzkrieg. The gameplay and pieces also share a similarity to the Chinese game Xiangqi.

What is currently known about the game includes:

  • Players align their pieces in a custom starting configuration
  • Pieces are placed in the squares like Chess, not on the points like Go
  • A screen is placed between the players to prevent them from seeing their opponent's pieces during setup
  • Once the screen is removed to start, the pieces are identifiable like Chess, not hidden like Stratego
  • The known pieces are: king, dragon, elephant, heavy horse, light horse, trebuchet, crossbow, and mountain (mountains may be a separate terrain pieces)
  • Each piece type has different attributes and powers (example: the dragon flies)
  • Players get multiples of some pieces (elephants, mountains) while others are unique (dragon)
  • The board is has three different kinds of squares, possibly checkered on each side with the third color representing the mountains between (like the river in Xiangqi)
  • Pieces may have a rock-paper-scissor's power structure like Stratego (dragons beat elephants, trebuchet beats the dragon)

Many fans have been working on a playable version of the game, but there is no current standard. Top8Games talked with GRRM about the game, and GRRM said he does not think Cyvasse could be translated to a physical game and maintain the coolness described in the books.

Are there any real games based on ASOIAF?

There are a variety of games available and in development that are based on the world of A Song of Ice and Fire:

Board Games

Card Games

Roleplaying Games

Computer Games

Thanks to Drej163 for putting together source for this list.

Concerning the /r/gameofthrones subreddit:

(I know most of these are in the sidebar already, but the redundancy of important information never hurt anyone...)

Is /r/gameofthrones only for the TV show? What topics are OK?

/r/gameofthrones strives to be a safe forum for discussion of the TV show (Game of Thrones), the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, and all other things relating to George R. R. Martin's works. All discussion on these topics is welcome so long as it follows our stated posting policy.

Isn't /r/asoiaf already available for book discussion?

Yes, and there are many other book, fantasy, television, geek, etc. subreddits that crossover and cover similar topics too. /r/asoiaf is a little more book-centric but also talks about the show, and /r/gameofthrones is a little more show-centric and also discusses the books. The two communities have different feels, posting policies, subscribers, etc., but we do coordinate some topics and overall work together to further the fans' enjoyment of GRRM's works. Redditors are encouraged to subscribe and post to both subreddits.

No, seriously though, shouldn’t there be separate subreddits for the books and the show?

No. It is almost impossible to discuss the television show without also referencing its source material (the books) and purposely limiting a community to discussion of the television show will unnecessarily constrict dialogue and could possibly be a detriment to the GRRM community by discouraging further exploration of the series. Attempts in the past to create specific TV-only or book-only subreddits have been unsuccessful because there is either too little demand for them or not enough people willing to take on the task of moderating such a community.

How do I get a House tag and shield next to my name?

If you wish to join the ranks of your favorite faction from within the ASOIAF universe, send a message to the Reddit flair system bot.

What's the policy on posting spoilers?

Spoilers are welcome on /r/gameofthrones so long as they are posted with sufficient warning and follow the guidelines set out in our Spoiler Policy.

What are all these colored blocks of text on my screen?

Text that is covered by colored blocks conceal spoilers that you may or may not wish to view. Spoilers are covered by these tags for the safety of new viewers/readers who wish to participate in discussions without being "spoiled" by learning of events from the books/show that they have not yet witnessed. Read the Spoiler Guide to learn more about how to make and read spoiler tags.

Why isn’t specific labeling of the source of a spoiler required?

The two main reasons why source labeling of spoilers (ie, specific episode or book title) isn’t required are that (a) not everyone remembers which specific book/episode their spoiler came from and requiring that they look it up every time will simply result in fewer people posting, and (b) the spoiler policy is complicated enough to understand and difficult enough to enforce as it is without requiring additional specificity. /r/gameofthrones encourages spoiler-posters to be as specific with their warnings as possible, because it means that more people can feel safe to read them and more meaningful discussion can be held, but we also recognize that at a certain point, readers must be responsible for their own spoiler-safety and only a certain amount of consideration is required on the part of posters.

Why isn't spoiler text showing up on my screen?

Spoiler tags are stylesheet-based customizations that are specific to the /r/gameofthrones subreddit. If your Reddit settings are set to disallow custom stylesheets, then you will not see colored spoiler tags, but will instead see a regular hyperlink with spoiler text that appears in an alt tag when you mouseover the link. This is also how spoilers will appear in your inbox and anywhere that is not inside /r/gameofthrones.

What should I do if I see unmarked spoilers?

Report them immediately, downvoting is not enough! Underneath every post and comment is a link marked "report." Any time you see an unmarked spoiler, hit this link and the moderators will be notified of the spoiler and may choose to remove it.

Make sure to report all kinds of spoilers, whether it is a blatant troll, a mere oversight, or even if you aren't sure whether it counts as a spoiler or not. Moderators will review every report and moderate accordingly.

What does it take to get banned from the subreddit?

Please take a look at the banning policy for complete information on that.

How do I recommend something for this FAQ?

Just message the moderators of /r/gameofthrones with what you have in mind.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy. © 2012 reddit inc. All rights reserved.

REDDIT and the ALIEN Logo are registered trademarks of reddit inc.

π Rendered by PID 11448 on app-46 running 86c9e1d.