Meeting Bob Bernard: insights into A Song of Ice & Fire

Within the competitive A Song of Ice & Fire community, some players stand out for their seriousness, consistency, and commitment to the French scene. I had the opportunity to speak with one of them: Bob Bernard, currently France’s number two and eighth in the world. A respected playe but also a very active member of the french community’s Discord, where he regularly shares analyses, discussions, and feedback from his games. While attending the SLIP tournament, which he co-organized with other players at the French Wargame Café, I took advantage of his presence to ask him a few questions and learn more about his background, his preferred factions, his vision of the game, and how he approaches tournaments.

Bob Bernard: advice from a pro!

AA – Hi Bob, first of all thank you for taking the time to do this short interview. You’re a key figure in the French A Song of Ice & Fire community, but like everyone else, you once started as a beginner. One question immediately comes to mind: how did A Song of Ice & Fire come into your life?

BB – I had already been playing wargames for a long time, starting with Warhammer Fantasy Battle. Since I’m a huge fan of the Game of Thrones universe—I loved the books—when the A Song of Ice & Fire Kickstarter appeared, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I bought the Stark starter set in 2019.

After that, I barely played for almost a year. Then the first YouTube channels started to appear. We launched the game at the club, and I quickly got hooked—so much so that I started organizing tournaments.

The rules are relatively simple and games are fairly short, but the game offers real tactical depth, with many elements to master.

At first, we mostly played among ourselves, but we eventually thought we should see what was happening elsewhere. Staying limited to two or three friends quickly becomes restrictive. Our first tournament took place in Belgium: a small event with eight players. I finished first and my friend second. That’s when we said to ourselves, “Okay, this is really cool!”

For him, it was even reassuring: he used to lose all his games against me at the club—the Stark faction was extremely strong at the time—and that tournament showed him he wasn’t actually that bad (laughs).

AA – From what you’re saying, it sounds like Stark is your faction of choice. Is that still the case, or do you play other factions as well?

BB – Yes, I started with Stark mainly for the lore—especially the characters, like Robb Stark. I really enjoy mobile factions; if there’s not enough movement on the table, I tend to get bored. After that, I moved on to the Targaryens.

In February or March 2020, there was a major tournament organized by Commander TV: Master of Westeros, one of the biggest events in Europe. There were already 100 players at the time. Honestly, going there with just a basic Targaryen starter set was very tough for me.

From a lore perspective, I also jumped on the Brotherhood Without Banners when the faction was released, even though I enjoy their list-building style a bit less.

So if I really had to name favorites, I’d say Stark and Targaryen. That said, I enjoy playing everything. I like taking a faction and asking myself, “What can I actually do with this?”

AA – Since you enjoy playing all the factions, should we assume you know all the cards inside out—from units to tactics cards?

BB – I think knowing all the cards in the game helps tremendously. I use them almost instinctively, without needing to check them, and that’s probably what sometimes gives me an edge and contributes to my overall level of play.

I wouldn’t say I have an exceptional tactical mind, but this knowledge of the cards often allows me to gain the upper hand during games.

AA – With your understanding of the game, can you point out some particularly difficult match-ups? Are there faction pairings that really give players a hard time?

BB – That’s a tough question, because every faction can build lists that counter each other. Speaking as a Targaryen player, Lannisters can be really rough to deal with. On the other hand, if a Targaryen player brings all three dragons and the opponent has no tools to handle them, they’ll often find themselves in serious trouble.

Conversely, having Tywin on the other side of the table can make several Targaryen tactics difficult—or even impossible—to use the way I’d like.

When I play dragons, Lannisters don’t necessarily have the right tools to counter them. For example, their NCUs can force me to take Panic tests at –5, but dragons pass Panic tests on a 2+. You quickly realize that this isn’t comparable to a standard unit that usually tests on a 4 or 5.

In terms of truly difficult match-ups, I’d probably say Baratheon versus Targaryen. Baratheons are very slow, while Targaryens rely heavily on mobility. In the hands of someone who really knows the faction, this is often a tough match for the Baratheon player.

AA – Do you have a specific way of preparing for tournaments, and how do you build your army lists?

BB – I don’t really prepare at all (laughs). When I go to a tournament, it’s mostly to have a good time and play with friends. I go in very relaxed. That said, if I know in advance what I’m going to face—like in a two-day tournament—then I end up replaying the game fifty times in my head during the night… and I sleep very badly (laughs).

That’s actually why I prefer not knowing my opponents ahead of time.

When it comes to list-building, I mostly go by instinct, trying to find an original concept. For example, during the two French National Championships I played this year, I brought a commander that almost nobody was using. I built a list that fit that commander perfectly. As expected, my opponents didn’t really know him, and on top of that, the list was completely aligned with my playstyle.

So yes, a lot of intuition, but always with optimization in mind. When I like a card, I ask myself how to make it truly useful. I never choose a unit or a commander just because I find them cool-looking—never ever (laughs).

AA – Do you have any advice for beginners who are just getting into the game?

BB – The main thing is to stick with it. At the beginning, it’s not easy: you have to deal with tactical cards you don’t know yet, understand the tactics board, and all of that can feel a bit overwhelming. But you improve very quickly.

First, you’ll learn your own cards, then how to play them properly. After that, you’ll master your deployments, and over time you’ll also become familiar with the cards of other factions—their strengths and their weaknesses. These are several steps that may seem long, but they come naturally.

You should never hesitate to ask questions, play games, and make mistakes. That’s how you learn.

AA – Any wishes or expectations regarding future updates for A Song of Ice & Fire?

BB – No, I don’t really have any specific expectations when it comes to the game rules. My hopes are mostly about future factions: I’d really love to see the Arryns of Westeros and the Slavers of Essos introduced.

But above all, I don’t want the Army of the Dead or the Night King. I won’t say much more… let’s just say it’s not very “lore friendly” (laughs).

AA – And to wrap things up, what about the hobby side of things? Do you enjoy painting your miniatures?

BB – For me, when you buy miniatures—especially given their price—you need to enjoy painting them at least a little. Personally, I do enjoy painting. I don’t put too much pressure on myself, but I like having a fully painted army. Sometimes I can’t manage it because of a lack of time, but generally my armies are painted.

When I really want to treat myself on the hobby side, I sometimes switch to another game. For example, Warhammer: The Old World: the miniatures are more detailed, the scenery too, and you can really enjoy the hobby aspect.

I see A Song of Ice & Fire more like a game of chess, but with painted miniatures that make the experience much more enjoyable. That said, I’d never spend ten hours on a single miniature.

A word for new players

AlanAnas: I’ll conclude with Bob’s words from the tournament’s closing remarks. It may seem intimidating at first, but there is no reason to feel discouraged. Everyone is welcome, whatever their level or experience.

A Song of Ice & Fire tournaments bring together a wide range of players, from curious newcomers to seasoned competitors. This mix is precisely what makes the community so engaging.

An event is first and foremost a chance to meet other players, discover new factions, and see different army lists and tactical approaches in action.

You rarely improve faster than by playing three or four games in a single day against varied playstyles, all within a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

Experienced players are usually happy to share advice and post-game feedback. There is no judgment and no pressure—just a shared passion for the game and an enjoyable time around the table. Whether you come to compete, to learn, or simply to have a good day, there is always room for new players.

So don’t hesitate to take the plunge. Tournaments are one of the best ways to grow in the hobby and fully enjoy the A Song of Ice & Fire community.

The French Federation of A Song of Ice & Fire

I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you about the French Federation of A Song of Ice & Fire. But what exactly is it?

The Federation’s mission is to support and structure the game’s community through a wide range of complementary actions.

It works to promote the game and its tournaments through social media, events, and live streams, while also creating a true nationwide network to connect organizers and help establish a coherent national tournament calendar.

The Federation also provides certified referees to support major events, offers French translations to make the game accessible to a wider audience, and maintains a national ranking system that leads to an annual Masters event bringing together the top 16 players.

Through partnerships, the Federation also helps improve tournament prize support and may, when necessary, organize selection processes to represent the community in European or international competitions.

Use the link below if you too want to take part in the adventure and help keep the A Song of Ice & Fire community alive: