Arya's three kills game: your choices to make Starks win and why

[SerArthurHeath]

Jaime? Who would still be released by Catelyn after Robb sleeps with Jeyne after Winterfell burns after Theon captures it. right?

Jaime would become head of family and lead the Lannister forces

Jaime would not lose his hand and would still be blood knight Jaime who doesn't think and so would probably screw over the lannisters even more

[SerArthurHeath]

Actually with Bolton's turn less likely, Jaine probably gets killed by Karstarks after Hoat hands him over!

[The Oncoming Storm]

Lysa - to move the Vale's armies.

Ramsay - Winterfell would still be attacked, but without Ramsay Theon would never come up with faking the deaths of Bran and Rickon `> No RW etc.

Stannis - as much as I love him, if he dies, Renly and the Starks will most likely ally. Together they can defeat Lannister forces. Add the Vale to that too.

[Winterfell is Burning]

Oh, wow. I'm surprised how so many people pick Lysa - I mean, she's obviously a tool. Do you punish his weapon when you arrest a criminal, to quote Reinhard von Lohengramm. It should be obvious that Littlefinger is the one who tells her what to do, and there's what, all of 3 or so calls for his head...

Yes, but if she dies, LF has no power in the Vale, and is stuck in King's Landing. While if he dies, Lysa might stay out of the war simply because it was what LF wanted.

[SerArthurHeath]

I'm going to say Tywin, Ramsay and LF. Tywin because we've seen what happens to the bannisters when he's not there, and it hardly inspires fear. Tyrion won't be heeded, as Joff can elect a new Hand, Cersei will fight with the Tyrells if they join up, Kevan will be competent but no Tywin and Jaime will die as Bolton won't defect without the fall of WF and the presence of Tywin in KL.

Ramsay dying means no fake Bran death with all it's consequences and Winterfell probably being recaptured by loyalist forces, especially as Roose probably doesn't defect.

LF because he wants to ruin the Starks by what we can see, and he is too dangerous to keep alive. Preferably after Joff is murdered, but let's be honest, someone was always going to murder him

[SerArthurHeath]

Or, far more cruelly, Joffrey, Tommen and Myrcella. No more of Robert's "children", no legal standing no matter how dubious for the Lannisters to stand on, no support for them, and depending on timings, all kinds of people like the Reach and Dorne thrown against the Lannisters as Cersei suspects them of murdering her children

[Night'sSword]

Stannis - For the reasons stated before

Jeyne Westerling (before meeting Robb) - Stark-Frey alliance would hold. Sure there are other deaths that could keep the Freys from betraying Robb but this death is probably the surest one.

Robert Arryn - The assumption that I'm taking here is that with the death of Robert, Lysa would become even crazier and depressed which would lead her to die herself (either from extreme depression or suicide). Now the reason that both of them need to die is for the control of the Vale to go to the next in line, "The Young Falcon" Harry Hardyng. Now with a leader that the Vale would presumably love, and being young would want to prove himself in battle. I think this is a much better way for the Vale to join with the North than simply killing Lysa off.

[SerArthurHeath]

Stannis - For the reasons stated before

Jeyne Westerling (before meeting Robb) - Stark-Frey alliance would hold. Sure there are other deaths that could keep the Freys from betraying Robb but this death is probably the surest one.

Robert Arryn - The assumption that I'm taking here is that with the death of Robert, Lysa would become even crazier and depressed which would lead her to die herself (either from extreme depression or suicide). Now the reason that both of them need to die is for the control of the Vale to go to the next in line, "The Young Falcon" Harry Hardyng. Now with a leader that the Vale would presumably love, and being young would want to prove himself in battle. I think this is a much better way for the Vale to join with the North than simply killing Lysa off.

Actually, with Robert dead, Lysander has no power at all regardless of her survival

[assjfjgjsgjljljglgjfjsduar]

Tywin

Melisandre

Lysa

I took out Tyrion and subbed in Lysa; that gives the Starks the Vale.

This is from Arya's perspective and wanting the Starks to win.

[Été]

What are the parameters for a Stark "win"?

1. Robert Arryn - Harrold Hardyng joins his forces to Robb.

2. Theon - Ironborn still harry coasts, but Winterfell stays in Stark hands, reducing the Bolton incentive to rebel.

3. Tywin - obvious. Key military strategist for the Lannisters; his death means no RW.

[assjfjgjsgjljljglgjfjsduar]

Joffrey, Myrcella, Tommen.

With all of them dead, there is no more dispute over succession. Stannis takes the throne. The Starks go home to the North to grieve for Ned and live as best they can.

I think you hit on the most commonsense solution of all. The Lannisters' power and legitimacy is through those (ironically, bastard) kids. If they die, Stannis is undisputedly the king and gets everything that goes along with it. The Lannisters would be very public traitors and would probably lose a lot of their high-profile connections.

[James Targaryen]

I would kill Dany, because then her whole threat is gone, Balon, because the kingsmoot would happen so Theon would not be able to burn Winterfell, as Euron decides to go south, and Tywin, because without him, there wouldn't be a red wedding, and result of the Blackwater would not be certain (see Bourne's post)

It appears that most of you have forgotten Dany will come to the Westeros at some point, and bring her dragons.

[Versalin]

1. Tywin Lannister - Without his overall sense of direction, House Lannister won't be as much of a threat. Cersei might be good at court politics but she doesn't seem to have in mind an overall strategy to deal with the other powers in Westeros. Furthermore, with Tywin gone, Kevan might also withdraw from the game itself since he doesn't think very highly of Cersei. Cersei will hopefully go into self-destruct mode with her antics, effectively putting the Lannisters out of contention against the other powers.

2. Balon Greyjoy - With Balon dead, the Ironmen will descend into conflict amongst themselves for succession, which also means that their planned invasion of the north might be called off or temporarily suspended. Allowing the Starks to focus on securing the Riverlands and push further south.

3. Melisandre - Without her involvement, House Stark will have less to worry about 'unfortunate' deaths which can easily turn the tides in the war. Since Robb seems to be the only male Stark that's taking an active part in the war, safeguarding his life from Melisandre's sorceries is an absolute priority.

Other characters such as old Walder Frey, the Boltons and Theon Greyjoy don't necessarily have to be killed for House Stark to triumph. They appear to the opportunistic sort and should gladly align themselves with Robb as long as the Starks appear to be winning.

[blackseer]

To defend my earlier post about killing Tywin, Kevan and Tyrion (I wouldn't pick them, but it's fun to think about it).

They are the brains in the family. If Jaime became the head of the Lannisters, he would go to a frontal war against all enemies, without thinking of the consequences. He is not a good battle commander. And Cersei would be worse; she would take all of the Lannisters armies back to KL, would never ally herself to Dorne or Highgarden and, should she win against Stannis (probably), she would perish there, alone against the North, the Reach and Dorne.

The only problem remaining would be the ironmen, but they are too few to menace the three kingdoms together.

[Hero of Ice and Fire]

1. Edmure Tully

With him dead, the Lannister host goes west and (assuming everything goes as planed) is defeated by Robb. Tywin either dies, is captured (oh, two high profile Lannister caught) or at the very least has no host left and out of the picture.

2. Petyr Baelish

On his way to broker with Highgarden. Without Tywin or the Tyrells, Sannis wins upon the blackwater, Cercei and the children are put to the axe.

3. Sannis Baratheon

Hardest choise, but it's clear that Stannis wont surrender the north.

This leaves Robb to take back the north. Robb might also be able to ally him self with Highgarden (Robb+Margaery? Frey wouldn't dare do anything with the entire realm against him) or at least seal peace. If not Stannis then Balon, the ironmen rushed home when it happened in the book.

[seanbean4lyfe]

1. Tywin Lannister - Without his overall sense of direction, House Lannister won't be as much of a threat. Cersei might be good at court politics but she doesn't seem to have in mind an overall strategy to deal with the other powers in Westeros. Furthermore, with Tywin gone, Kevan might also withdraw from the game itself since he doesn't think very highly of Cersei. Cersei will hopefully go into self-destruct mode with her antics, effectively putting the Lannisters out of contention against the other powers.

2. Balon Greyjoy - With Balon dead, the Ironmen will descend into conflict amongst themselves for succession, which also means that their planned invasion of the north might be called off or temporarily suspended. Allowing the Starks to focus on securing the Riverlands and push further south.

3. Melisandre - Without her involvement, House Stark will have less to worry about 'unfortunate' deaths which can easily turn the tides in the war. Since Robb seems to be the only male Stark that's taking an active part in the war, safeguarding his life from Melisandre's sorceries is an absolute priority.

Other characters such as old Walder Frey, the Boltons and Theon Greyjoy don't necessarily have to be killed for House Stark to triumph. They appear to the opportunistic sort and should gladly align themselves with Robb as long as the Starks appear to be winning.

:agree:

If the Red Wedding didn't happen, the chance of a Stark win would be as good as it could be.

[The Shy Wolf]

Joffrey

Tommen

Myrcella

If these three died, Stannis or Renly would become king. Better them fight about it than a war of five kings.

[Davos' Middle Finger]

Victarion would not usurp Theon for the Seastone Chair. In his first POV chapter he says that he had accepted a long time ago that one of Balon's sons would take the Seastone Chair ahead of him and he had no problem with that. He only tried for the Seastone Chair himself in order to try to stop Euron from getting it.

Killing Balon off means Theon takes over the Iron Islands, at least for the moment. There would be grumbling about his Northern habits, but most of the Ironborn would accept him. And some of the more forward-thinking Ironborn lords like The Reader and Baelor Blacktyde would probably welcome a ruler who wasn't totally obsessed with the reaving culture like Balon was.

My three, choices, then are Balon, Tywin, and Lysa.

[Meshakhad]

Balon Greyjoy, Tywin Lannister, Stannis Baratheon

Theon becomes Lord Reaper of Pyke, and without his father going on about paying the Iron Price, decides to ally with his friend Robb and invade the Westerlands, easily taking Lannisport. This forces the Lannisters, now under command of Kevan, to withdraw home. The Starks and Tullys follow. Seeing as they are now outnumbered, the Lannister bannermen start to abandon their lords, declaring allegiance to Winterfell, Riverrun, or Pyke. One by one, the Lannister host disintegrates.

Renly leads the united Baratheon/Tyrell army on a glorious and successful invasion of King's Landing. Joffrey and Cersei are killed. Tyrion surrenders. Renly then offers to negotiate with the northern armies. I don't know if he'd get a peace, or if there would be a North v. South war, but I can't see the Starks losing.

Alternatively, kill Aegon the Conquerer and his sisters. The Starks reign as Kings in the North to this day.

[James Targaryen]

kill Aegon the Conquerer and his sisters.

Arya does not get the option to kill anyone until Jaquen H'gar asks her for names, which is well after Aegon dies.