What counsel would you give to Iron Throne's claimants?

[death to all]

Hey guys, long time lurker. I don’t know if this thread has been made yet, sorry if it has. I was recently thinking about each of the current claimants of the throne and their situations. I thought about counsel I would give them that might alleviate their situation or avoid misfortune. But, what would I say that doesn’t:

1. Betray their personality, moral code, beliefs, etc; or if it does, is the reward worth risking one of those three things

2. Deplete/destroy their capitol/resources; or if it does, what can be gained from sacrificing said capitol/resource

3. Result in them being removed from the game

Based on these things, what would you advise the claimant you support?

For example, if you were counselling Stannis, you wouldn’t say: Bend the knee to Renly. Obviously, that would lower his chances or remove him from the game. If you were counselling Daenerys, you wouldn’t tell her: Remain in Vaes Dothrak. She would lose the opportunity to conquer Westeros. If you were counselling Robb, you wouldn’t say: Forget this revenge quest, return to the North. Unless he's returning to rethink his plan of action.

I should also add, at what times in their campaign would you advise them?

If I’m supporting Stannis:

Personally, I don’t have a problem with Stannis shadowbabying Renly, so I wouldn’t advise against that. In fact, I thought the stealth approach was brilliant, and assassinations were common in warfare. The Battle of Blackwater was actually carried pretty smoothly. The Lannister/Tyrell alliance was unforeseen by everyone, so there wasn’t much he could do when they overpowered him. I think I would step in however, when the Night’s Watch allows entry into Westeros for the wildings. I would advise him not to force them to religiously convert and encourage some of them to join his cause (whether it be for winning the throne or fighting the Others), then I would tell him to reward them if they did, perhaps with lands unoccupied by Northern smallfolk. According to the ASOIAF wiki, the North is sparsely populated despite the larger land mass compared to other territories in the South. So there is plenty of space to house the wildings. He can worry about whether they will pay fealty to him after he secures the throne.

If I’m supporting Daenerys:

So many places I want to interject in her campaign. Where to start…

Even though she deceived her way into getting the Unsullied army, I think given the possibility of an obedient and nigh invincible army, the deception is well worth it. Plus, Kraznys what’s his name pretty much deserved his fate. So I wouldn’t advise against that course of action. However, once she got the Unsullied army, I wouldn’t tell her to go kill all the grown men left, right, and center. Maybe kill only the slavers or the trainers of the Unsullied, but I would allow some of the administrators to live and run the city. I would only threaten death on the administrators I allowed to live, if they don’t comply with my demands. Yes, yes, I know what you’re thinking some of those men who ran the city were probably slavers too. I know, but they have run the city for years, they can’t all die. The commoners wouldn't know how to run the place, let alone the freed slaves. I would place about 1000 or so of her Unsullied/Dothraki in key positions, instead of randoms that can be easily killed by a butcher. Then I’d have those Unsullied train future soldiers to integrate into her growing army.

If I was supporting Robb:

I would interject from the beginning and tell him to go to Manderley first and travel by boat to the Riverlands. He would have been perfectly willing to give every ship he had to Robb’s cause. That way he could avoid negotiations with the Freys altogether. I know he was in a rush to get to Sansa and Arya, but I doubt that Joffrey/Cersei would have her killed right then and there. Robb could afford to be more patient. Then, I would advise him against removing Theon from his side and order numerous guards to be placed around Jaime to prevent Catelyn from going anywhere near him!

Tl;dr, again if you were counselling one of the claimants, what course of action would you advise them that would alleviate current circumstances, prevent them, or benefit them but wouldn’t remove the respective player from the game?

Topic isn't limited to those three, if you were in the council of Jon, Cersei, Tyrion, et al what would you advise them in their respective positions?

[PrimeRhaegar]

just one counsel "watch them their all snakes".

[Mad Monkey]

If we can advise non-claimants of the Throne like Jon and Tyrion, then I want to toss some advice to Ned.

Don't ask Cersei to leave on her own. Show up at her bedroom with a phalanx of guards and give her twenty minutes to pack up her things, grab some money, and drag her and her kids to a ship bound for exile to some far off part of Essos. I happen to think that saving those kids was the right thing to do, but it was silly for him to put his faith in someone he thinks murdered his mentor and tried to kill his son to do the right thing. If you want to save someone like that, you have to take all of the responsibility and don't give them time to screw around.

[KittensRuleBeetsDrool]

"King Bread reigns supreme."

[death to all]

just one counsel "watch them their all snakes".

Not bad advice, but how does this alleviate issues of any ruler?

If we can advise non-claimants of the Throne like Jon and Tyrion, then I want to toss some advice to Ned.

Don't ask Cersei to leave on her own. Show up at her bedroom with a phalanx of guards and give her twenty minutes to pack up her things, grab some money, and drag her and her kids to a ship bound for exile to some far off part of Essos. I happen to think that saving those kids was the right thing to do, but it was silly for him to put his faith in someone he thinks murdered his mentor and tried to kill his son to do the right thing. If you want to save someone like that, you have to take all of the responsibility and don't give them time to screw around.

I agree, but Jaime and some Lannister guards might be around to oppose that course of action. What would you do with them?

"King Bread reigns supreme."

Eh?

[Good Guy Garlan]

Tommen:

- Your mom's feeling a bit sick lately. You should send her to Highgarden, maybe the weather down south would do her good. Send some guards to watch her. A lot of guards.

- Keep your kittens close

[Count Balerion]

Well, I might advise Mance not to attack the wall until the threat from the others has been dealt with. Though I daresay he thought it would be much easier.

I'd advise Tommen to eat his beets.

[Mladen]

It's not worth it, mate... Run... Run as faster as you can in opposite direction...

[Frances Bean Corbray]

Dress warmly.

And get some dragonglass. Like, a whole fuck of a lot of dragonglass.

[Malcolm of House Tucker]

To Robb: Support Stannis Baratheon's claim to the Iron Throne, because it is the only true claim. Convince your bannermen of your position before they have the chance to crown you in their fantasy of Northern independence. Most should still stand by you; it is still a quest for vengeance for Ned, it is a rescue mission for his daughters, and an opportunity to rid the realm of Lannister influence. Do not send Theon Greyjoy away. Do not pass south through the Twins. Have Manderly ships take your army across. You will not have Northern independence, but if some of your North houses get to marry into greatful Riverland houses (because North saves Riverlands from Lions) then strong bonds are created and wealth/power is accrued by your bannermen to hopefully keep them happy.

To Stannis: Ignore Ser Courtenay Penrose and Storm's End. March immediately to King's Landing with your forces after Renly's death and use your second shadow baby to kill Tyrion Lannister. Keep Melisandre at your side. In the kingswood, attempt to get Shagga and the mountain men to turn their cloaks. If successful, stage a Trojan horse victory. Stannis himself, or Davos or some other brave soldier glamoured by Mel to look like Stannis, is led (with a sizeable group of men) by Shagga's forces to the city. Shagga claims they have taken Stannis prisoner and most of his men surrendered or fled. If they can get the city gates open, to bring the "prisoners" inside, unleash hell. Stannis or "Stannis" incites the common folk to riot against the cruel Lannister forces, the City Watch breaks, and the rest of Stannis's army rushes in to sack the City. Hold Cersei and Tommen hostage to make Tywin's army back off.

To Doran Martell: Abandon the dreams of your family's reunification with House Targaryen. The dragon heirs are a long shot, and you can always reevaluate when and if they ever show up. Once Myrcella is in your care, pledge allegiance to Stannis Baratheon and march your Dornish armies up through the Stormlands to join his assault on King's Landing. Betroth Quentyn or Trystane to Shireen. Win the Iron Throne with Stannis, help him hold it, and if the young dragons should ever show up, think about whether or not you want to betray Stannis and how you would go about doing it.

[The Amethyst Empress]

To Daenerys:

"It's just a big ugly chair Dany,just go on a cruise in the Jade sea and let it go"

To Stannis:

"Get over yourself you fool,you're not Azor Ahai"

[Mad Monkey]

I agree, but Jaime and some Lannister guards might be around to oppose that course of action. What would you do with them?

I wouldn't invite them to the meeting at all -- why would I?? At the point where Ned confronts Cersei, hadn't Jaime already fled the city after attacking him in front of LF's brothel?

[death to all]

Tommen:

- Your mom's feeling a bit sick lately. You should send her to Highgarden, maybe the weather down south would do her good. Send some guards to watch her. A lot of guards.

- Keep your kittens close

Well, if you're advising Tommen, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't want harm to come to his mother, cruel though she might.

Well, I might advise Mance not to attack the wall until the threat from the others has been dealt with. Though I daresay he thought it would be much easier.

I'd advise Tommen to eat his beets.

lol he'll jail you for that!

It's not worth it, mate... Run... Run as faster as you can in opposite direction...

I totally would, but that's not how our favorite king rolls. For Dany, it would probably be fly far, far away.

Dress warmly.

And get some dragonglass. Like, a whole fuck of a lot of dragonglass.

Very good! Although, I don't think anyone could have guessed its future potential benefits, so I don't fault anyone for not thinking of making use of it.

[herr witz]

It's not worth it, mate... Run... Run as faster as you can in opposite direction...

Yeah. Pentos is pretty nice, I hear.

[Count Balerion]

If using Shagga, bring lots of goats.

[death to all]

To Robb: Support Stannis Baratheon's claim to the Iron Throne, because it is the only true claim. Convince your bannermen of your position before they have the chance to crown you in their fantasy of Northern independence. Most should still stand by you; it is still a quest for vengeance for Ned, it is a rescue mission for his daughters, and an opportunity to rid the realm of Lannister influence. Do not send Theon Greyjoy away. Do not pass south through the Twins. Have Manderly ships take your army across. You will not have Northern independence, but if some of your North houses get to marry into greatful Riverland houses (because North saves Riverlands from Lions) then strong bonds are created and wealth/power is accrued by your bannermen to hopefully keep them happy.

If he threw away notions of being king, I agree.

To Stannis: Ignore Ser Courtenay Penrose and Storm's End. March immediately to King's Landing with your forces after Renly's death and use your second shadow baby to kill Tyrion Lannister. Keep Melisandre at your side. In the kingswood, attempt to get Shagga and the mountain men to turn their cloaks. If successful, stage a Trojan horse victory. Stannis himself, or Davos or some other brave soldier glamoured by Mel to look like Stannis, is led (with a sizeable group of men) by Shagga's forces to the city. Shagga claims they have taken Stannis prisoner and most of his men surrendered or fled. If they can get the city gates open, to bring the "prisoners" inside, unleash hell. Stannis or "Stannis" incites the common folk to riot against the cruel Lannister forces, the City Watch breaks, and the rest of Stannis's army rushes in to sack the City. Hold Cersei and Tommen hostage to make Tywin's army back off.

Great advice. In retrospect, gaining Storm's End wasn't much use when he wasted time and a shadowbaby on Penrose. If he hadn't allowed Tyrion's chain and wildfire plan to finish and be used effectively in battle, he might have captured the city long before the Lannister/Tyrell reinforcements arrive.

[Sand Snake No. 9]

Rethink your career choices.

[Wmarshal]

Aegon- Vegeance, it is all you know, destroy them all. Also only attack a dragon during a storm, trust me.

[Heidrun]

It's not all about YOU. Think of other people. Being king does NOT mean "I can do whatever I want."

[Lord Bronn Stokeworth]

Stannis: Leave Davos in King's Landing to feel out Ned Stark. Or find some sort of spy to keep an eye on the action. Don't let your family issues and jealousy of Ned get in the way. And/or announce your claim once Robert dies. At the very least once Renly makes his own claim.

Renly: Accept Stannis's offer to make you his heir.. Make sure your mourning is appropriate when Stannis Baratheon I's reign is tragically cut short. As glorious as battle would be, you would avoid the nasty side effect of your sons' murdering each other over who gets to inherit. And maybe, because you're such a swell guy, give Shireen the Stormlands. Marry her off to a loyal ally (maybe even Loras) to ensure she doesn't cause trouble.

Robb: Great Jon is a cool guy. But consider for a second if he is the best guy to take political advise from. It's not like you need to make decision that night. You, at the very least, know you're fighting the Lannisters.

Dany: Sack the Slaver's Bay cities. Move on. Changing thousands of years of culture is not an easy thing. If it really means that much to you, come back AFTER you take the Iron Throne and can build a proper army/occupying force.

Aegon: I hope you got a plan buddy.

Joffery: Don't be a dick.

Tommen: Sneak away and find somewhere to live a quiet life.

Balon: Take Robb's offer of alliance. Don't let your petty vendetta get in the way of victory. It was after all, your own damn fault your sons died in a war you started.

Euron: You're a crazy, ruthless bastard. Shine on you crazy diamond. Shine on.