One time, I remember being easily knocked out by a novice fighter because they got a critical chance hit on me and I was instantly knocked out. However, the arena gives you the exact opposite of those. If there was an absence of looters, I would try my skill at arms in the arena, for prize money and for the experience. Now, if there is a chance for you to get back to your original stance, it is not easily presented in the game. However, the combat gameplay is that the ai love to gang up on you no matter what you do and on a very easy setting, they could one-hit you giving you no chance to defend yourself. You are given the choice to follow the main storyline by taking up the Stark quest which I have usually chosen to follow because where is the fun in not doing so (and I like the Stark house as a game of thrones faction). In awoifa, you are immediately placed in King's landing (typical start for the Westeros storyline). Now my experience with awoiaf is based off of my experience and preferred style of gameplay so I know I am biased, but here are my criticisms of awoiaf. Now the real edge acok gives rather than awoiaf is that acok provides more bandits and looters to fight early in the game compared to awoiaf.

Both games basically start you off with crappy equipment and would have you hunt bandits/looters and gain and sell their loot. In terms of how you want to develop throughout the game, I would say A Clash of Kings.

A clash of kings deutsch