The Stockholm League - May 23 2012

Three tables were played in the second round of our May-Juli league. Standard tournament rules apply + printed proxy is allowed.

Table 1:
1. Jonas H (Ventrue w Undele vote)
2. Henrik K (Toreador powerbleed w dem) 1 vp
3. Daniel H (Pro-princes ???)
4. Erik M (Ahrimanes toolbox) 3 vp, 1 gw

Table 2:
1. Kalle (Assamites ???)
2. Donk (Hermanas rush)
3. Robert D (Ahrimanes bleed)
4. Marcus (!Malkavian toolbox w Louhi) 3 vp, 1 gw
5. Ober (!Toreador breed-boon) 2 vp

Table 3:
1. Ivan (Brujah gr 3-4 royalty)
2. Kristoffer L (Dem-stealth-bleed) 3 vp, 1 gw
3. Daniel H (DOM+POT bruise n bleed) 1 vp
4. Jens (Dom+Obf stealth-bleed)

League standings:
Henrik K 28 rtp
Daniel H 24 rtp
Erik M, Kristoffer L, Marcus 20 rtp
Kristofer Å, Robert D, Tomas W 8 rtp
(1 gw = 8 ratingpoints, 1 vp = 4 ratingpoints. Note: Players can play more than one game each round if their participation are needed to complete a table where at least one player has not yet played a league game this round, but only the best result each round counts for rating. No league game starts after 20.00.)

Next round is played at Dragon´s Lair, Kungsholmstorg 8 next Wednesday about 1800-ish. Be there!

Next tournament: June 9th 2012

Invoke Poison Glands Stockholm 2012
Date: June 9th 2012
Time: 12:00-20:00
Format: Standard constructed tournament, 2 rounds + final
Location: Dragon´s Lair, Kungsholmstorg 8, Stockholm
Fee: 20 SEK
Promos for all participants!
Welcome!

The Stockholm League - May 23 2012

Three tables were played in the first round of our brand new May-Juli league. Standard tournament rules apply + printed proxy is allowed.

Rules change in the tournament rules: First tie-breaker for winning the league after 10 rounds are number of game wins.

Table 1:

1. Robert D (Ahrimanes powerbleed) 2 vp

2. Henri K (Toreador powerbleed w dem) 1 vp

3. Randy (Imbued w Gehenna)

4. Ivan (Aggressive Ventrue lawfirm)

5. Tomas W (Synesios+setites masterdeck) 2 vp

Comment: Great tablehate versus Randys imbueds in this game. Misdirection played on predator, multiple crosstable 5-1 Reckless Agitation and bounces going that way. That´s what you get when you have 17 cards in play turn 4, including Champion, Ivory Bow and 3 Gehenna events.

Table 2:

1. Henrik K (Giovanni stealth-bleed) 4 vp, 1 gw

2. Jonas H (Ishtarri breed-boon)

3. Ivan (Hermanas pot-rush)

4. Randy (Arika & co bigcap stealth-bleed)

Comment: Arika got torporized by a couple of Hermanas turn 2. Clean sweap for Giovannis. Crater-decks are hard to play.

Table 3:

1. Donk (Baali Unnamed w Maleficia)

2. Daniel H (Pro-princes stealth-bleed) 3 vp, 1 gw

3. Marcus (!Malkavian toolbox w Louhi)

4. Kristofer (Assamite tap n bleed) 2 vp

5. Ober (Aus-weenie)

League standings:

Henrik K 24 rtp

Daniel H 20 rtp

Kristofer, Robert D, Tomas W 8 rtp

(1 gw = 8 ratingpoints, 1 vp = 4 ratingpoints. Note: Players can play more than one game each round if their participation are needed to complete a table where at least one player has not yet played a league game this round, but only the best result each round counts for rating. No league game starts after 20.00.)

Next round is played at Dragon´s Lair, Kungsholmstorg 8 next Wednesday about 1800-ish. Be there!

Pub talks

After our weekly games on wednesdays we go and have some beer at the local bar "La Dame Noir" here in Stockholm, talk ranges far and wide and louder with each passing beer.

This week we had an interesting discussion on the power of Dominate. It's been a joke among us that you can take any bad concept or idea and just staple dominate on it to make it work. Why is both obvious and questionable, it's a sad state of affairs that this actually works and that this is the measuring stick of all other disciplines.

After a few beers we talked and got the thought, what would be the effect of banning Govern the Unaligned? Dominate would be less of a powerhouse, but what would the loss mean? You still have Scouting mission which is comparable although less powerful. You have Conditioning, but bleeds would be reduced from 6 to 5, small but important change, also early game would be crippled with investment return from actions going down from 2 pool and 3 transfers to 2 pool and 2 transfers, a significant change also with the addition of lessened bleed. Presence bleed would be more of a contender, while those bleeds actions would be heavier they would lack the versatility of Dominate. Deflection would still be in game, but slightly lessend since bleeds deflected would not be as heavy.

How else would this change effect the game, what would be pro's and cons? Discussion is also posted on forum here

PS. This was more of a theoretical discussion since banning is something that we're mostly all inherently against, but it's interesting to theorycraft on such a thing.

Brewers Corner: Protected Resources

I will try to keep a segment in this blog called Brewers corner partly because I like beer and partly because I like to experiment with cards, ie trying to find new angles in cards that aren´t necessarily useless, but not a common sight in tier 1 decks. And in this first instance I will look at:

Protected Resources

In the meta we play in Stockholm a bleed for less than 5-6 isn´t really a justifiable action unless you have 6+ minions, you have table control or you need the edge.  I this this is an environment your decks should be built to handle if you bring them to an international/bigger national tournament. After all, bleeding is the number one form of ousting your prey in tournament viable decks.

So a card like Protected Resources which guarantees the loss of a bleed to be no more than 2 should be a card that has a major impact on most of your predators in a tournament environment, yet seeing it in tournament decks is a rare sight indeed. Why is this?

So you are guaranteed not to get bled by more than two per action for the measly cost of two pool and not being able to take the most defining action of the game, bleeding. This is of course the major drawback in the card, but there are multiple decks who don´t care that much about bleeding. Why don´t people play it more in these decks?

So you are not allowed to bleed if you want to keep this baby in play then you will have to have the deck geared towards ousting your prey in another fashion. Vote decks, trickdecks or combat- and wallish decks relying upon other means of ousting than the odd bleed for one should be really helped by this card. So why are people hesitant to add it to their decks?

In my own opinion I think it is a number of things: One of the main reasons is table image. You are someone who blocks the ebb and flow of deflected heavy bleeds. A Protected Resources is more or less a sign that says "The bleed stops here! (oh and by the way, it´s only for two)", which to many players are annoying since the card just prolongs the time it takes to oust you and doesn´t in itself help you oust your prey. It more or less denies you a potential big part of your arsenal.

Of course there is nothing in the card itself that says that you yourself can´t redirect the bleeds that targets you, but that is a bit like wearing both belt and suspenders and very easily clutters up the math in your deck (and more importantly perhaps, in your hand). In an auspex deck (and to a lesser extent a deck which features Aksinya) this would be mitigated by the versatility of the bleedbounce cards or as in Aksinyas case the surplus Protected Resources become bounces themselves.

So how to avoid this? A Lutz or other aggressive vote decks puts enough pressure forwards to not be seen as effectively timing the table. Maybe a breed-boon deck would save vital pool with this card until it shifts gear and starts going for the oust? There are a plethora of decks where it could be used in the build up phase and then burned as you have gotten the state of the table to where you want it.

I have vowed to myself to try to play this card in tournament decks more during this year and would love to hear from you readers about experiences you have had while playing or facing this card.

Until next time - May your topdecks be good and your pool be sufficient

Limit master cards?

I´m sick and tired of the master decks. It´s getting monotonous, boring and way too good. Also, it´s not really in tune with what I perceive as the theme of VTES, with methuselahs influencing minions to do their bidding. Now it´s more like players flipping, fetching and shuffling in a more and more solitaire/MTG-style of game. It´s more and more about drawing the right card (Tablets, Infernal Pursuit etc) instead of make the right decision, for example block/not block.

What about limiting master cards in decks? 20 % maybe?

For example, rounded up, this would be
20 % of 90 cards = 18
20 % of 70 cards = 14

As I see it,
Pros: Less master-focused decks, more minion-focused playing. Very subjective of course, but I think this is more fun.
Cons: Limits deckbuilding. Limits odd masters seeing play. Another reason for deckchecking/penalties in tournaments.

What do you think?

(This was also posted and discussed here)

Know your crypt: Lodin (Olaf Holte)

Clan: Ventrue
Generation: 7th
Embrace: 1852
Sire: Datura
Haven: Several residences all over Chicago.
Childer: Edgar Drummond (1865), Horatio Ballard (1881), Edward Neally (1896), Tommy Hinds (1906), Al Capone (1941), Joseph Peterson (1978), Jacob Schumpeter (1981) , Kevin Jackson (1984), Bobby Weatherbottom (1984), Riggs, Brennon Thornhill (1985) and Lorraine Matthews (1987).

• Olaf Holte was born in Norway in 1824, but he migrated to Pennsylvania  in 1830 together with his family. He was enlisted and attended the military acadamy at West Point. He was praised for his command as a lieutenant in the battle of Vera Cruz in the war against Mexico.

• It was in Vera Cruz he was embraced by Datura, the Ventrue lover of Eletria, Toreador Prince of the city. The Kindred sought an american officer to control. Olaf spent 22 years in Vera Cruz.

• He came to Chicago in 1869 and presented himself as “Lodin” to the current Prince, the Brujah Maxwell.

• In 1871 Lodin replaced Maxwell as Prince: “Right before he could deal the killing blow, Maxwell transformed himself into mist and made his escape on the night winds.”

• In 1880–1913 he struggles with the Toreador Modius (childe of Annabelle Triabell) to control Chicago.

• In “Chicago by Night 1st edition” Lodin is still the Prince. All the other Ventrue in the city are descendant from him. “He bagan creating a brood to help keep him in power, but found the constant need to destroy the incompetent and the overly ambitious.” “Lodin has taken great care to teach his Get only those disciplines he thinks they need.” “Much of Lodin´s power comes from his lieutenants. They control much of the city and have divided it up according to his orders.”

• In “Chicago by Night 2nd edition”, Lodin has been destroyed in the Council Wars of 1993. That setting is all about who will be the new prince, and his childer Ballard and Capone are two of the contenders.

• “A gaunt, tall man, he has very Nordic features. Blue eyes, prominent cheekbones and blond hair.”

• “Roleplaying hints: Let a little bit of Norwegian accent creep into your voice (it is very flat, very midwestern and the vowels drag out slightly. “Yas, we can do that. But what vill you do for me?”)”

Remarkable statistics:
Attributes: Dexterity, Stamina, Charisma, Manipulation, Appearance, Perception and Intelligence.
Abilities: Etiquette, Politics and Area knowledge: Chicago.
Disciplines: Dominate, Fortitude, Presence, Protean, with lesser Animalism, Auspex, Celerity, Obfuscate and Potence.
Backgrounds: Contacts, Herd, Influence, Resources, Retainers and Status.

Sources:
“Chicago by Night 1st edition” (WW 2201)
“Chicago by Night 2nd edition” (WW 2203)

All Stockholm tournaments 2008-2012

This is a brave attempt to summarize all tournaments held in Stockholm, Sweden, the past four years. Unfortunatelly some information is missing – if you know more, please let us know!

If the list of the finalists are with >-signs, that is the actual seating order.

Obedience Stockholm, March 15th 2008, 17 players
Finalists: Vasilis P > Ivan M-R > Henrik I > Robert D > Magnus E
Winner: Ivan M-R with Amarvati+Mata Hari breed-boon

Strained Vitae Supply Stockholm, May 10th 2008, 8 players
Finalists: Robert R > Michael H > Erik T > Henrik K > Jonas H
Winner: Jonas H (5 vp) with [unknown deck]

The Death of My Conscience Stockholm, September 30th 2008, 13 players
Finalists: Henrik K > Magnus K > Erik T > Jens J > Randal R
Winner: Randal R (3 vp) “Princes with obfuscate” Malk-Nos-vote

Confusion Stockholm, September 30th 2008, 14 players
Finalists: Robert D, Alex T, Magnus K, Vassilis P, Tomas W
Winner: Magnus K (5 vp) with ”Pander vote”

Dolphin Black Stockholm, December 6th 2008, 13 players
Finalists: Jonas H, Randal R, Tomas W, Wiktor B, Jonas S
Winner: Jonas H (3 vp) with [unknown deck]

Deny Stockholm, February 28th 2009, 14 players
Finalists: Robert D (1 vp), Randal R, Robert R, Jonas H (1 vp), Erik G (3 vp)
Winner: Erik G with “Blood of the Rabbat” Setite-sb w Rabbat bloat

Improvised Flamethrower Stockholm, March 21th 2009, 10 players
Finalists: Viktor W, Patrik N, Erik T, Alexander B (2 vp), Tomas W (1 vp)
Winner: Erik T (2 vp) with “Punmatra Lutzonance” Malkavian vote

Abandoning the Flesh Stockholm, May 2nd 2009, 10 players
Finalists: Caroline H, Robert D, Jonas H (1 vp), Ivan M-R, Henrik K
Winner: Henrik K (4 vp) with “Who needs Deep Song?” dom-ani-weenies

Stolen Police Cruiser Stockholm, June 21st 2009, 12 players
Finalists: Jonas H, Randal R, Robert D (1 vp), Ivan M-R, Magnus K
Winner: Ivan M-R (4 vp) with ”Goratix Jailhouse” Goratrix wall w aus-weenies

100 kr för köttfärsen, August 22 2010, 12 players
Finalist: Unknown.
Winner: Jonatan Sjöberg with “Lasse Royaltys” Lasombra vote

Sire's Index Finger Stockholm, September 13th 2009, 8 players
Finalists: Robert D (2 vp), Tomas W, Micael L, Alex T, Henrik K
Winner: Tomas W (3 vp) with [unknown deck]

Wormwood Stockholm, September 26th 2009, 9 players
Finalists: Erik L, Henrik K, Isak B-E, Ivan M-R, Pio W
Winner: Erik L (best ranking, final timed out with no ousts) with [unknown deck]

Truth of a Thousand Lies Stockholm, 17 October 2009, 8 players
Finalists: Daniel R, Daniel H, Robert D, Henrik K, Tomas W
Winner: Unknown.

Massai Blood Milk Stockholm, May 2 2010, 10 players
Finalists: Jens J (0,5 vp), Patrik N (1 vp), Kristofer Å (0,5 vp), Robert D, Henrik K
Winner: Henrik K (1,5 vp) with [unknown deck]

Break the Code Stockholm, May 22 2010, 16 players
Finalists: Alexander B (Vignes powerbleed, 1 vp) > Jens J (Dom-Obf sb, 1 vp) > Daniel T (Lawfirm) > Isak B-E (Kiasyd sb) > Caroline H
Winner: Caroline H (3 vp) with “Fransisco wanted to be a papa” Lasombra breed-bloat

Perpetual Care Stockholm, Oct 10 2010, 15 players
Finalists: Amalia M (1 vp) > Johan F (1 vp) > Daniel H > Pio W > Caroline H
Winner: Caroline H (3 vp) with “I want to build a block deck, too” AUS-ANI-FOR-wall

Fee Stake: Stockholm, December 26 2010, 10 players
Winner: Tomas Wallmur “Henry's Influence” anarch toolbox

Framing of an Ancient Grudge Stockholm, Apr 17 2011, 8 players
Finalists: Ivan M-R (0,5 vp), Marcus B (0,5 vp), Henrik K, Fredrik F (0,5 vp), Tomas W (0,5)
Winner: Henrik K (1,5 vp)

Poison the Well of Life Stockholm, Oct 29 2011, 19 players
Finalists: Daniel T (1 vp), Michael H (1 vp), Alexander B, Marcus B, Jens J
Winner: Marcus B (3 vp) with "Yet another Imbued deck winning a tournament" (Ventrue toolbox)

Total War Stockholm, February 25 2012, 18 players
Finalists: Alexander B (1,5 vp), Isak E-B (0,5 vp), Jens J (0,5 vp), Erik M (0,5 vp), Jonas H
Winner: Alexander B (1.5 vp) with “Geezers will find powerbleed”

Loki's Gift Stockholm, March 24th 2012, 13 players
Finalists: Jens J > Alexander B (Geezers sb) > Magnus K (Dragonbreath-breed) > Michael H (Khazars) > Robert D (Girls will find aids, 2 vp)
Winner: Jens J (3 vp) with “Govern down” dom-obf-sb

The Stockholm League - May 16 2012

Three tables were played in the tenth and final round of our current league. Standard tournament rules apply + printed proxy is allowed.

Table 1:
1. Jonas H (Torvus+Aksinya wall)
2. Caroline (Infamous Insurgeance-Dylan) 2 vp
3. Jonas S (Black Hand Lasombra sb) 2 vp
4. Ivan (Samedi w Reanimated Corpses)
5. Daniel (DOM-POT-bruise n bleed) 1 vp

Table 2:
1. Henrik K (Toreador w dem powerbleed) 1 vp
2. Donk (Hermanas)
3. Ober (!Toreador breed-boon) 3 vp, 1 gw
4. Randy (Lutz vote)

Table 3:
1. Jonas H (Assamite toolbox) 1 vp
2. Erik M (Vignes) 1 vp
3. Robert D (PRE-weenies)
4. Randy (Anson CEL-guns w Infernal Pursuit and Tablets) 2 vp, 1 gw
5. Ivan (Hermanas) 1 vp

Final standings:
Jonas S 96 rtp
Randy 96 rtp
Jonas H 78 rtp
Erik M 76 rtp
Caroline 74 rtp
Daniel H 64 rtp
Robert D 60 rtp
Ober 54 rtp
Henrik K 38 rtp
Jens 32 rtp
Fredrik F 32 rtp
Sebastian 28 rtp
Ivan 28 rtp
Tomas W 24 rtp
Erik L 24 rtp
Marcus 18 rtp
Kristofer 2 rtp
(1 gw = 8 ratingpoints, 1 vp = 4 ratingpoints. Note: Players can play more than one game each round if their participation are needed to complete a table where at least one player has not yet played a league game this round, but only the best result each round counts for rating. No league game starts after 20.00.)

As the rules for tie-breaking was a bit unclear, the two players with 96 rtp has agree to split the grand prize which is the great honour of winning! Congratulations Jonas S and Randy! 

A new league starts at Dragon´s Lair, Kungsholmstorg 8 next Wednesday about 1800-ish. Be there!

Library Lore: The Society of Leopold

In the World of Darkness, the Holy Inquisition didn´t end in the 19:th century. It continues in the form of the most feared of all vampire-hunting organizations, the Society of Leopold. While no longer officially a part of the catholic Church, the society continue the proud traditions of the inquisitors, bound to destroy everything supernatural not loyal to Christianity.

For a period immediately after the formation of the Camarilla, the Masquerade was strictly enforced and the Inquisition faded. But in modern nights, The Society of Leopold is yet again the largest and most powerful organization of hunters, and also the one that has most knowledge about vampires. Several of its agents possess True Faith.

The Society is named after Leopold of Murnau, a leading inquisitor active in the early 13:th century. The current head of the Society is Monsignor Amelio Carpaccio and it´s headquarters are Monasterio di San Michele, located outside Rome, Italy.

Sources:
“The Hunters Hunted” (WW 2205)
“Vampire: the Masquerade Revised” (WW 2300)
“The Inquisition” (WW 2020)
“Dark Ages: Inquisitor” (WW 20004)

Tournaments and playing to win

In this article I will draw heavily from David Sirlin’s series of articles on playing to win (http://www.sirlin.net/article-archive/). While he focuses on StarCraft and Street Fighter the ideas beneath are universal. Read the articles, they are awesome.

Playing to win 

 

Playing to win is what tournaments should be about. While you can enjoy a tournament in itself the main goal of the tournament should still be winning. While there is a general rule in Vtes that you should play to win I want to analyze what it means to actually do this.

To play to win every choice you make pertaining to the tournament should be with the sole goal in mind of winning said tournament, this means deck choice, meta analysis, deck tuning, deals, deal breaking and even table talk. Playing to win is not about having fun or even enjoying the game, it’s about winning and nothing else.

Letting go of mental barriers

 

The first problem a player who enjoys the game needs to overcome is the fact that “fun” has left the building and the focus is different. This means letting go of all fictitious rules and constructs that prevent him from doing the best move possible at each possible occasion. Lying, breaking deals and manipulation is what wins games other than actual cardplay. Anything allowed by the rules and anything not prevented by the rules should be seen as a possible tool to be used to win the game.

If there is a strong deckbuilding tactic, use it. If there is a chance to win the game by breaking a deal, do it. If you can influence the table to your advantage, do it.

While it can be seen as cheap playing a strong archetype every tournament available it needs to be accepted that this is just a mental construct used by players not focusing on the goal of the tournament itself.

Having alternate win-conditions, such as making it as far as possible with a weaker archetype or winning with weak discipline combos, is a false construct, it is not what the tournament is about. Letting go of mental barriers, leaving the constructs of false rules and seeing the game for what it really is gets you tournament wins.

Reaching another level of play

 

Let me quote David Sirlin: “Notice that the good players are reaching higher and higher levels of play. They found the "cheap stuff" and abused it. They know how to stop the cheap stuff. They know how to stop the other guy from stopping it so they can keep doing it. And as is quite common in competitive games, many new tactics will later be discovered that make the original cheap tactic look wholesome and fair.”

 If you have experienced this you probably understand how once a benchmark has been found in a game, the level of play will continue from this benchmark. If you want to keep up with the highest level of play you need to be part of the game from the latest benchmark set.

In Vtes you will notice this on how old player’s decks perform when they come back into the game after a few years hiatus, while their decks and play style might have been at the height of the game back then, the game has evolved and they feel hopelessly outdated.
 

This is not only due to influx of new cards, but also on how the game is viewed and how tactics in the game have evolved and been refined. Once you leave your mental barricades and join the highest level of play you will probably see that there is an enjoyment of the game even in this level, it is here that you actually feel the real depth of the game and where “game theory” is developed.

Degeneration and boundaries

 

If there is a tactic that is so strong that it breaks the game and makes it unplayable then it should either be ruled to be removed or you should probably leave the game, there is a line where a strong tactic is so overly so that it takes away from the depth of the game at higher tiers and makes the game into a shallow boring automation or randomization.
 

Degeneration of a game into an unplayable trash heap is a fear that is often attributed to the power creep of new cards, while this is a problem it takes a long time to actually happen. You need to be willing to explore a broken tactic fully and see its flaws and strengths and also give enough time to develop a useful counter that can be used before crying abuse.

If you think something is so strong it is broken because it counters your favorite tactic you might need to read this article from the beginning and leave the mental constructs that stop you from doing the best move possible in your meta choices. There are no favorites in the rules. The only boundaries set by the game are in the rules.

While doing sub-par actions, choices and deals can be a tactic for the long term (this is a social game first and foremost after all) it should still be analyzed in the light of playing to win. While most tournament style games have no social aspect Vtes does and it should not be ignored. Most high tier, high level players are also strong social personalities, while is this something that can be learned it is also something that has to be cultivated for a while and does set boundaries on balancing playing to win and having fun (or at least seeming to have fun).

Know your crypt: Aisling Sturbridge

Clan: Tremere
Generation: 10th
Embrace: 1911
Sire: Lucien De Maupassant (who disappeared in 1948)
Haven: New York
Childer: None known.

• The “Regenta Prima of the Chantry of the Five Boroughs” since November of 1996. This makes her the Tremere leader of New York - boroughs are the five parts that make up New York City – Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and The Bronx.

• Aisling was born in 1890 and had a catholic upbringing. She got interested in mysticism in her teens, learned herself Latin and Greek and started attending séances. In her early 20´s she traveled to London in her search for occult secrets, where she met Alistair Crowley and her Sire, who whisked her away to be Embraced in Vienna.

• During the 30´s and 40´s she and her Sire served the Tremere Inner Council in Europe, moving between different chantries, in particular Nuremberg, Warsaw, Krakow and Dresden. Her Sire suddenly disappeared in 1948 – Aisling is still searching for him in modern nights.

• Inner Councilor Meerlinda sent Aisling to America in the 50´s. After spending time in various locations, she was field-promoted to her current position after someone spread her predecessor´s ashes across Sheepshead Bay.

• Aisling is a natural linguist. She can speak, read and write Arabic, Cantonese, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin, Portuguese, Romany, Sanskrit, Spanish and Yiddish. That is a lot of languages, but you have time when you don´t die of age.

• Unlike many other Tremere in her position, Aisling is not completely blood bound to the clan´s Inner Council.

• Special power: Locked doors and gateways tend to open at her touch.

• “Recently, some of the higher ranks have begun to watch her with growing concern. She is one of the most dynamic and popular regents, and she has a number of high placed friends in and out of the clan. She has shown no qualms about making deals with other Kindred for assistance, eschewing much of the traditional Tremere insularity.”

Remarkable statistics:
Attributes: Dexterity, Stamina, Charisma, Perception and Intelligence.
Abilities: Alertness, Dodge, Subterfuge, Academics, Investigation, Linguistics and Occult.
Disciplines: Auspex and Thaumaturgy, with lesser Celerity, Dominate, Fortitude and Obfuscate.
Thaumaturgical paths: Movement of the Mind, Path of Blood and Lure of Flames.
Backgrounds: Allies, Mentor and Resources.

Sources:
“A World of Darkness 2nd ed” (WW 2226)
“Children of the Night” (WW 2023)
“New York by Night” (WW 2411)
“Encyclopaedia Vampyrica” (WW 2440) Aisling is credited as one of the authors!
… plus Aisling is the main character in “Clan Novel: Tremere” and also appears in “Clan Novel: Brujah” and “Clan Novel: Anthology”.

The Stockholm League - May 9 2012

Four tables were played in the ninth round of ten of our current league. Standard tournament rules apply + printed proxy is allowed.

Table 1:
1. Ivan (Nana Tablet-rush) 1 vp
2. Henrik K (Giovanni powerbleed)
3. Tomas W (Obf-Vic-vote) 3 vp, 1 gw
4. Caroline (Gangrel anarchs w ser)
5. Erik M (Vignes) 1 vp

Table 2:
1. Randy (Anson cel-guns masterdeck) 3 vp, 1 gw
2. Donk (Lazverenius toolbox)
3. Sebastian (Carna is Vignes) 2 vp
4. Robert D (Imbued w Gehenna)
5. Ober (Malkavian aus-obf sb)

Table 3:
1. Ivan (Anima Beast)
2. Caroline (Tzimisce toolbox) 3 vp, 1 gw
3. Henrik K (Toreador powerbleed w dem)
4. Jonas S (Toreador w guns & dom) 2 vp
5. Daniel H (Pro-princes sb) 

Table 4:
1. Robert D (Imbued w Gehenna)
2. Erik M (Vignes) 1 vp
3. Jonas H (Ventrue [unreadable]) 3 vp, 1 gw
4. Tomas W (Massassi & Bakr cel-rush)

Standings after the ninth round:
Jonas S 88 rtp
Randy 80 rtp
Jonas H 74 rtp
Erik M 72 rtp
Caroline 64 rtp
Robert D 60 rtp
Daniel H 60 rtp
Henrik K 34 rtp
Ober 34 rtp
Jens 32 rtp
Fredrik F 32 rtp
Sebastian 28 rtp
Tomas W 24 rtp
Erik L 24 rtp
Ivan 24 rtp
Marcus 18 rtp
Kristofer 2 rtp
(1 gw = 8 ratingpoints, 1 vp = 4 ratingpoints. Note: Players can play more than one game each round if their participation are needed to complete a table where at least one player has not yet played a league game this round, but only the best result each round counts for rating. No league game starts after 20.00.)

Next round is played at Dragon´s Lair, Kungsholmstorg 8 next Wednesday about 1800-ish. Be there!

Library Lore: Gehenna

When [Lasombra’s] dreams come true

on the day when the moon runs as blood

and the sun rises black in the sky,

that is the day of the Damned,

when Caine’s children will rise again.

– Signs of Gehenna, The Chronicle of Secrets, The Book of Nod

In vampire mythology, Gehenna is the end of the world, the time when first the Antediluvians and eventually Caine will awaken and devour all other vampires and the rest of the world.

The signs that lead up to Gehenna are given in “The Book of Nod”, “Revelations of the Dark Mother” and “The Erciyes Fragments”. Among the signs are:

- a red star appear in the sky (Anthelios)

- the “last daugher of Eve” with a crescent moon birthmark (Afifa)

- vampires of thin blood, ie Caitiffs and kindred of very high generation (Thin-Blooded Seer)

- increased activity of enemies of the vampires, like the Garou (The Unmasking)

- solar eclipses (Veil of Darkness)

- vampires start losing their abilities (Blood Weakens)

All this is not to be confused with Gehenna in the real world, or at least according to Biblical myths, were Gehenna is an actual geographical place – the Hinnom Valley south of Jerusalem, modern day Israel. In the Second Book of Chronicles some Israelite kings committed pagan cult offerings to a deity named Moloch here, including human children that was burned alive. This practice was later forbidden and the valley became a place were dead animals, trash and corpses of executed criminals was dumped. Fires always burned here to prevent diseases from spreading. The Valley of Hinnom became associated with evil and after series of early translations of Bible texts, the word became Gehenna (γέεννα) in Greek and synonymous with ‘hell’.

Back-rushing – why, where and when

The hardest thing with a combat-deck is to know when to back-rush and how much. The main problem with back-rushing is of course that you’re not damaging your prey. This in itself is not always a problem since salmoning (playing the game “up streams” i.e. back ousting all the way) might get you a gamewin, but odds are that your prey will get the gamewin or you will split the table since he will spin out of control if you don’t keep him down as well.

My own rule of thumb is this: Stay at 13+ pool and leave your predator with 2 vampires maximum. Let me explain my reasoning. The decks you mainly want to backrush are decks with high ousting power such as Powerbleed, Votes and Swarm. At 13+ pool you’re usually safe for a turn and odds are that your predator wont lunge since that would mean that you’ll rush his final 2 vamps and he will be dead. At the same time you don’t seem to be in so much control that you will get the table against you, so complain a lot about the ousting power in your back, but backrush with self-control.

When playing against the chain (Dominate) never rush the vampires with superior Dominate first. Why? Because they are not the offensive vampires – a player with 2 minions with "DOM" will more likely use govern at superior to get more minions into play to be able to oust you, a player with 2 minions with "dom" will bleed since he cannot do anything else. The vampires that actually do the ousting are the 3-5 caps with "dom" that bleed for 5 (govern+conditioning). They are the ones that are easiest to torpor and they are also the ones that start the bleeding. To avoid getting double-turned i.e. getting large bleeds bounced into you and then bled for a lot, you need to consider your deckbuilding, adding an Archon Investigation, a few Two-Wrongs or even your own bounce are possible solutions.

Backrushing swarm decks can be hard. They have high ousting power and having them save their own vampires from torpor over and over will attrition to your deck, vampires and your ability to go forward. Deckbuilding is also the solution here, Carver's Meat Packing and/or Scourge of the Enochians are both excellent choices for most rush-decks.

When seeing that your predator plays a high oustpower deck you need to consider where to place the first rush. A predator with Dominate will bring his highest cap vampire into play first, this means at least 1 or 2 turns without bleeds while he builds up, that means that your first rush can easily go forwards to deny blood from Villeins and actions to gain pool. Vs. vote-decks you need to consider the votes available on the table and screw over your predators ability to solo-vote all the damage on you. Vs. swarm you need to go backwards at once and hope your countercards will show up sooner rather than later.

Know your crypt: Huitzilopoctli

Clan: Baali
Generation: 4th
Embrace: 4500 BC
Sire: “Ashur” (suspected to really be Saulot)
Haven: A sleepy little town outside Mexico City, Mexico
Childer: Hay-Tau, Camazotz (aka “Nezahualcoyotl”;‘Coyote who fasts’), Cybele (“progeny of one of the Shaitan”), Azaneal, as well as several decoy childer.

• Shaitan was born as a slave and later Embraced in what is now referred to as the Second City. “Beautiful beyond comparison, his beauty alone elevated him in rank as a flavored servant of Ashur.” Eventually he travelled east, through Mesopotamia, met “Children of Lillith” [sic!] and learned philosophies and powers which he then taught to the other vampires in the Second City, all except the Gangrel antediluvian, who informed Ashur about Shaitans contacts with Lillith. Such contacts were forbidden, and Ashur banished Shaitan and all his followers from the Second City.Shaitan again travelled east. Now he met Baal, a demon who offered him great power and revenge on the other cainites. Shaitan took the deal.

• Shaitans original name might have been Adriel.

• Various sources state various founders of the Baali, among them Shaitan, Nergal, Moloch and “The Unnamed”. Some sources also talk about a group of vampires called “the Shaitan”.

• Since 1200 BC, Shaitan has ruled the area that is Mexico today, either in person or by proxy. During the time of the Aztec Empire he was known as Huitzilopoctli, god of fire and war – the name means ’Hummingbird on the Left’ or ‘Left-Handed Hummingbird’.

• The Sabbat Regent Melinda Galbraith is bound by blood to Shaitan. “I see them. Beyond the walls of my Haven they squabble. Little children playing foolish games. So easily they dance, puppets all …”

• “You do not talk to fools. Anyone who does not succumb to your power is not worth acknowledging, unless he has True Faith. Ignore the weak; destroy the strong.”

• “Anyone attempting to go toe to toe with Shaitan will be smashed to pulp.”

Statistics: (Note: 9 is maximum for a 4th generation vampire)
Abilities: Str 9, Dex 8, Sta 9, Cha 8, Man 9, App 0, Per 6, Int 6, Wit 7
Disciplines: Animalism 6, Auspex 9, Celerity 6, Chimestry 6, Daimoinon 9, Dark Thaumaturgy 7, Dementation 8, Dominate 9, Fortitude 7, Obtenebration 4, Presence 9, Protean 7, Potence 9, Thaumaturgy 4, Visceratika 3
Backgrounds: Alternate Identity, Allies 9, Contacts 9, Herd 9, Influence 9, Resources 4, Retainers 9, Status 9
Path of Enlightment: Path of Evil Revelations 10
Derangements: Obsession (“Shaitan feel he must corrupt all of humanity to please Baal. Naturally, he is right.”)

Sources:
“The Chaos Factor” (WW 4101)
“Encyclopaedia Vampyrica” (WW 2440)
“Clanbook: Baali” (WW 2817)
“Dark Ages Companion” (WW 2804)

Good decks gone bad

Looking back at my old deck archive I sometime ask myself what the hell I was thinking when composed some of the decks I find. Same thing goes for when I look at my first tournament winning deck, how did I win with this?!? (http://www.thelasombra.com/decks/twd.htm#2k8domcstockholm)

Naturally decks become worse when there are new better cards printed. Cards such as Villein, Deep Song, Abbot, and Ashur Tablets. I do sometimes construct old school decks using old school cards… No I don’t, perhaps I build them in my ARDB then I look at the deck and tell myself that this is inferior to another deck and then I leave them in the archive.

Although the other day I did not, I braved the Stockholm meta by constructing an old school Assamite breed boon deck using Alamut. I did use new cards such as Black Throne but did not to use Amaravati… I got zero VPs but had a little fun.

Then there is how the local meta can screw your, otherwise awesome, deck. This used to be such a powerful deck and now I only loose and loose, how, what, when, why? Well the meta just evolved past your old deck and it no longer is good. Sure it still might be good somewhere but not where you are. For example, decks that are good but don’t do well in the Stockholm meta right now are Stickmen or weenie PRE because there are just to much wakes paired deflections or telepathic misdirections.

But something that is very fun is that the Stockholm meta changes at a very high rate, I would say that it is becoming very more vote oriented. Think I will have to pack more Delaying Tactics or perhaps build a deck with Yawp Court :-D.

 /Randyman

Archetypes - worth playing?

14 archetype-masters have been published for VTES:
Bravo (Gehenna:C)
Capitalist (BH:C, HttB:PKia2)
Cavalier (HttB:R)
Conniver (Gehenna:C)
Creep Show (BH:C/PN)
Curmudgeon (Gehenna:C)
Dabbler (HttB)
Guru (BH:C/PM)
Loner (Gehenna:C)
Monster (LotN:R)
Perfectionist (Gehenna:C, KoT:C)
Rebel (Gehenna:C)
Sociopath (BH:C/PTr2)
Traditionalist (Gehenna:C)

Some of these are wallpaper, some playable, none really strong. Or? We ask a panel of experienced Stockholm players what archetypes they have played.


1. What archetypes have you played? Any odd ones?

Randyman: I´ve played Capitalist, Cavalier, Conniver, Creep Show, Curmudgeon, Dabbler, Guru, Monster, Perfectionist and Sociopath. But Conniver and Guru only when I tried playing starters.

Myrdin: I have tried Cavalier, Monster, Perfectionist and Creep Show. Creep Show being the only odd one.

Tomas: Cavalier, Dabbler, Guru, Monster, Perfectionist and Sociopath.

Ashur: I´ve tried Capitalist (in !Malk and Las sb), Creep Show (in Ahrimanes), Loner (in some weird bad Raptor-deck), Monster (various combat decks) and Perfectionist (many decks). I´ve also immediately traded for like 5 each of Cavalier and Dabbler when they came out, but haven´t had time to try them yet. I have big plans for Cavalier though :)


2. What is your favourite archetype?

Randyman: Dabbler right now. You can make an entire deck around that card. I like the fact
that you can react and act and use the card both for untap or blood gain.

Myrdin: At the moment it's either Cavalier or Monster. Perfectionist is nice, but I usually only use it as a measuring stick for new archetypes.

Tomas: Dabbler. I would say that I think Cavalier is the most versatile and powerful with perhaps Monster on the same powerlevel but way less powerful, but I like janky and Dabbler is both a bit janky but also versatile.

Ashur: Sadly it has to be Perfectionist, although it´s kind of boring. It´s the one I´ve played the most anyway.


3. What would you like a future archetype to do?

Randyman:
Juggernaut
Type: Master: archetype.
Put this card on a ready vampire you control. Once each turn when combat involving this acting vampire ends and the opposing minion is not ready, this vampire may burn a blood to continue the current action . A vampire may have only one archetype.

Myrdin: The main problem with the archetypes released prior to Monster and Cavalier only had one ability, which was to gain 1 blood. So in comparison to Perfectionist they had to either be trifle or gain more than 1 blood per action by being useful during blocking. The new effect of being able to untap is a strong addition although mostly if used in conjunction with blocking or acting out of turn. So I would like to see more archetypes effects other than these two, possibly gaining a handsize while acting or a once-per-action superior Infernal pursuit ability etc.

Tomas: To see  play it must be something more powerful than give one blood or be trifle. The archetypes that have seen print have been Natures/Demeanors from the Vampire the Masquerade books. Two suggestions I have right now are:

Conformist
Master. Archetype
Put this on a vampire you control. When this vampire votes in agreement with a referendum called by another minion that passes, this vampire gains one blood. A vampire may only have one archetype.

Sycophant
Master. Archetype
Put this on a vampire you control. Once per turn when a bleed is successful, this vampire may burn one blood to make the methuselah being bled burn one pool. A vampire may only have one archetype.

Ashur: I think it´s kind that most of the ones that was printed is wallpaper, and that someone decided that many should be restricted to the Sabbat. Also it´s sad that they are masters – maybe future archetypes could be actions with untap, kind of like Abbot?

When you look at the names of the archetypes from VtM it´s no problem coming up with funny ideas. Unless I´ve missed someone, this is a complete list, with a short description on each. Knock yourself out, and post your ideas in the comments or in the VEKN forum!

Architect - Creation is your passion.
Autocrat - Control-freak.
Autist - One who buries their secrets.
Avant-Garde - A fascination with the trendy and new.
Barbarian - Civilization is the crutch of the weak.
Bon Vivant - Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.
Caregiver - Actively caring or helping others.
Child - Working through immaturity and innocence.
Celebrant - Pursue excitement in all things.
Competitor - You must win everything to be happy.
Confidant - A good listener and keeper of secrets.
Conformist - You would rather follow a powerful figure than lead.
Critic - You find imperfections in everything.
Defender - You stand guard over that for which you care .
Deviant - The status quo is for suckers.
Director - Order is the name of the game.
Fanatic - One cause, full support for it.
Gallant - A rogue to themselves, a jerk to most.
Honest-Abe - The simple things in life are best.
Jester - In the school of life, you are the class clown.
Judge - Brutal honesty results in improvements.
Manipulator - It's fun to tweak the actions of others.
Martyr - The sacrifice of one is beneficial to others.
Mediator - Balance is the best way.
Optimist - Life is good. Live it.
Pedagogue - Learning is what life is all about.
Penitent - There is no right to exist. It must be earned.
Plotter - Nothing can be done right without a plan.
Poltroon - Someone cannot shoot at a target they do not have.
Praise-Seeker - The opinions of others drive existence.
Rebel - The establishment is a joke.
Survivor - Perserverence is the only way to get ahead in life.
Sycophant - Let others do the hard work and live on praise for it.
Thrill-Seeker - Take a chance on everything.
Trickster - finds the absurd in everything.
Visionary - There is something more to life and this existence.

The Stockholm League - May 2 2012

Four tables were played in the eight round of ten of our current league. Standard tournament rules apply + printed proxy is allowed.

Table 1:
1. Erik M (Vignes)
2. Randy (Warghoul-Piper aus-weenie) 2 vp
3. Henrik K (Giovanni powerbleed) 3 vp, 1 gw
4. Jonas S (Tzimisce toolbox)
5. Daniel H (Pro-princes toolbox)

Table 2:
1. Ivan (Imbued)
2. Jonas H (Setite vote) 1 vp 
3. Fredrik F (!Salubri)
4. Robert D (Imbued with Gehenna) 3 vp, 1 gw

Table 3:
1. Ivan (Snakes on a plane)
2. Daniel H (Dom-Pro sb) 1 vp
3. Donk (Hardestadt Alastor-rush)
4. Jonas S (Tsunda breed-boon w temporis) 3 vp, 1 gw
5. Fredrik F (Kiasyd sb) 1 vp

Table 4:
1. Ober (Malkavian aus-obf sb)
2. Randy (Ani-weenie w Anarch Revolts) 3 vp, 1 gw
3. Henrik K (Toreador powerbleed w dem)
4. Erik M (Vignes) 1 vp

Standings after the eight round:
Jonas S 80 rtp
Erik M 68 rtp
Randy 60 rtp
Robert D 60 rtp
Daniel H 60 rtp
Jonas H 54 rtp
Caroline 44 rtp
Henrik K 34 rtp
Ober 34 rtp
Jens 32 rtp
Fredrik F 32 rtp
Erik L 24 rtp
Sebastian 20 rtp
Ivan 20 rtp
Marcus 18 rtp
Tomas W 4 rtp
Kristofer 2 rtp
(1 gw = 8 ratingpoints, 1 vp = 4 ratingpoints. Note: Players can play more than one game each round if their participation are needed to complete a table where at least one player has not yet played a league game this round, but only the best result each round counts for rating. No league game starts after 20.00.)

Next round is played at Dragon´s Lair, Kungsholmstorg 8 next Wednesday about 1800-ish. Be there!

Library Lore: Pulse of the Canaille

Pulse of the what?! “Vampire: the Masquerade Revised” (WW 2300) states:
Canaille: The bovine masses of humanity, especially the uncultured and unsavory. The Canaille are viewed primarily as a source of sustenance.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary: 1.)  rabble, riffraff or 2.) proletarian.
Etymonline.com: the french canaille means ‘rabble’, in turn coming of the italian ‘canaglia’ meaning ‘a pack of dogs’.

In the roleplaying game Pulse of the Canaille is a level 10 Auspex power, a power only usable by Caine and vampires of the second and third generations. Not really something for player characters. From “The Player's Guide 2nd edition” (WW 2206):

Pulse of the Canaille
This is a more powerful variation of the earlier Precognition power. Pulse of the Canaille not only allows the character to sense what will happen in a certain place and time, but enables the character to sense the current moods, trends, attitudes and directions in which entire groups of mortals are heading. This power also enables the character to sense who influences or controls the affected mortals, and to identify these secret masters.

System: The character must make a Humanity roll; the difficulty depends on the size of the group being studied.
Difficulty 6.................Organization
Difficulty 7.................City
Difficulty 8.................Region
Difficulty 9.................Country
Difficulty 10...............Entire world

The number of successes obtained indicates how much is known, and may also show how tightly and in what ways the humans are controlled. If they are influenced by more than one supernatural creature, the character discerns all appropriate puppeteers.
1 success.................You sense the mood and attitudes of the mortals.
2 successes..............You also sense the mortars' future and potential.
3 successes..............You know the extent to which the mortals are controlled.
4 successes..............You sense the aura of the being(s) that controls them.
5 successes..............You know who controls them, and why.

"Sju är det nya sex"

"Sju är det nya sex"  - Something I and a few of my friends have laughingly said during the last couple of weeks.

It means "Seven is the new six" and it reflects how more people have been playing powerbleed and some using plus bleed minions at that in Stockholm. I think I'll have to give all my decks the Vignes test from now on. The Vignes test is to simulate drawing and during the fifth or sixth round try to survive beeing bleed by four minions for six each when you have no untapped minions yourself. A little simplified, but still!

Swedish ECQ 2012 report by Caroline Hyll

It didn´t go too well for the Stockholm players at this year’s Swedish ECQ in Gothenburg – but it did for one of us! Caroline Hyll was in both the ECQ and the draft finals. This is her story:

Tournament report, Swedish ECQ 2012, by Caroline Hyll

Preparations
I think I did all the preparations wrong compared to the usual advices. I chose my deck in the very last minute. I didn’t choose an optimized, slimmed deck. Instead, I chose a 90-card deck which I’d only played once before. The choice was between a rather boring AAA vote deck with lots of Sudden Reversals, and a Tzimisce bruise and bleed deck.

I constructed the Tzimisce deck after reading some discussions on combat as a delivery mechanism rather than an ousting mechanism in itself. The deck is focused on bleeding, with Deep Song as a tapping or bashing mechanism. The deck wants to bounce rather than block, but can do some blocking. I anticipated my greatest problem to be heavy poolgain decks such as Liquidation/Ashur Tablet decks, since my each of my minion would bleed for a maximum of 3. That is usually possible to out-bloat.

Finally, I went for the Tzimisce deck anyway because I thought I would enjoy to play it more.

Round 1
1. Girls will find animalism combat (Hugh Angseesing)
2. Malkavian Kindred Spirits bleed (Henrik E)
3. Harbingers of Skulls block & Trochomancy-bleed (Tom)
4. Huitzilopochtli & IC’s master bleed (Alex B)
5. Tzimisce bruise and bleed (me)

My crypt was Lolita, Little Taylor of Prague, Lambach and Meshenka. My first minion was Lolita. After her I influenced out Meshenka, and then Lambach.

In theory Hugh was one of the worst possible preys I could have. A bloat deck with fight. My deck didn’t have a lot of ways to return blood to my minions, so animalism combat would eventually wear me down. However, an early fame allowed me to do some pool damage to Hugh while torporizing Cybele; his first minion. Huitzilopochtli was Pentexed by his predator rather early in the game.

Eventually, Cybele was Golconda’d by my predator when my prey got low on pool. However, a second Fame (Anthelios was in play), some sizy deflected bleeds and a crucial Sudden on a Villein eventually allowed me to oust. My grandprey was then rather low on pool and I got the second VP rather quickly. My predator was ousted by Trochomancy bleeds. Then the table timed out.

Result: 2.5 VP and 1 GW for me and 1.5 VP for Tom.

Round 2
1. Tzimisce wall (Akseli)
2. Anson Infernal Pursuit guns (Adam Esbjörnsson)
3. Stanislava Baltimore Purge (Andreas)
4. Tzimisce bruise and bleed (me)
5. Turbo Baron (Tomas Wallmur)

I can’t remember who started here, but I got Lolita, Velya, Elizabeth Westcott and Meshenka in my opening crypt. Lolita was first up, as usual. My grandpredator was playing Tzimisce of the same groups as I. We decided that he would bring up Elisabeth Westcott and I would bring up Meshenka. His first minion was Corinne Marcon, who was Pentexed by Adam the turn she came up. The Pentex would stay for a very long time.

Adam brought up two celerity weenies and then Anson. My predator’s first vampire was Stanislava. She was rushed and torporized with zero blood by Adam before she could take an action.

Tomas brought up Mina Grotius. I hadn’t seen his deck before so I assumed that it was some sort of Harbinger of Skulls Trochomancy bleed deck with some strange Soulgem trick. Tomas had a horrible card draw and didn’t get his deck started. I put a Fame on Mina after shortly considering to put it on Anson. I had played against Adam’s deck type before and knew that he was the major threat at the table, having at that time no predator (the predator’s only minion being Pentexed) and a prey with no minions.

However, I decided that I needed to go for my VP as fast as possible since I didn’t believe I would be able to handle Adam in a confrontation. For similar reasons I didn’t remove the Pentex on my grandprey’s Corinne, though I would have if I’d had a decent combat hand. At that time, I had a horrible combat hand. I didn’t see why Adam would want me to be strong and I believed that he would have tried to torporize my vampires if I had attempted to remove it. Thus, no Pentex removal. Instead, I torporized Mina to activate the Fame, and bled.

My predator was eventually ousted by Adam, and I ousted my prey. At that time Adam was very strong and I cooperated with my prey (the other Tzimisce deck) to weaken him.

After 2-3 turns, Adam was in a quite bad shape with several torpored minions. My prey had his Pentexed Corinne in torpor but he had 4 other ready minions. I had 3 ready minions. I decided that I needed to go forward so that my prey wouldn’t oust before I did. I influenced out and contested Elizabeth Westcott. In return, my prey contested Meshenka. Soon after that, the table timed out.

Result: 1.5 VP for me, 1.5 VP for Adam and 0.5 VP for Akseli.

Round 3
1. Legacy of Pander (Sebastian)
2. Tzimisce bruise and bleed (me)
3. Lutz & friends OBF/PRE vote (Pascal Bertrand)
4. Lasombra vote (Peter)
5. Puppeteer Giovanni power bleed (Daniel)

I got Lolita, Velya, Dragos, and Little Taylor of Prague in my opening crypt.

On his first turn, my predator brought up Angela Decker (1-cap pander). I transferred on Lolita. On his second turn, by predator brought up two additional weenie panders, giving clear signs of being a Legacy of Pander deck. That intimidated me. I had some Auspex cards on my hand but no wakes. I influenced out Lolita and started going for Velya, to get the cardinal votes. Pascal had a rather slow start but I couldn’t use the opportunity since I had to be in defensive mode.

On his third turn, my predator had 4 minions. However the table was very vote-heavy and did not allow the Pander deck to pass his Crusades or other key votes. The Pander deck was then bled out rather quickly by the Giovanni deck. At that point I could start acting offensively, since I had a decent amount of bounce on my hand.

Eventually I ousted Pascal (who had pool gained quite decently) by a combination of bleeds and bounces. After that I was low on bounces and was bled until ousted by the Giovanni deck.

Result: 1 VP for me, 2.5 VP for Daniel and 0.5 VP for Peter.

Final
With a total of 1 GW 5 VPs, I had some hopes that I was qualified. When they announced the qualified players and didn’t mention me before “and now to the finalists” I wondered if they had forgotten about me. But it turned out that I got into the final, by tournament points. I was quite shocked, but also delighted of course. At last year’s qualifier (GothCon 2011) I also managed to get to the final but I chose to yield my place since it was my birthday and we had a booking at a Michelin star restaurant. This year however I could happily join the final.

1 Lasombra Black Hand Deathstar (Marko Lindroos)
2 Anson Infernal Pursuit guns (Adam Esbjörnsson)
3 Kiasyd stealth bleed (Michael Holmström)
4 Tzimisce bruise and bleed (me)
5 Eze necromancy toolbox (Norbert Flasko)

I had a rather bad crypt draw, but just as in every other game during the tournament I managed to get my one copy of Lolita in my opening draw, and she was my first minion. After her I influenced out Caliban.

Michael put me in a rather bad shape rather quickly. For two crucial rounds I only had Lolita to defend with, i.e. no bounce and no cycling of my ANI combat. I also didn’t draw any wakes.

At one point a bleed by Adam was bounced to me by Michael. Adam had also had a bad draw and was desperate to get into a fight and cycle some cards. I agreed to block him (and tapping out) if he would then rush and torporize one of Michael’s minions. Adam didn’t manage to draw a decent fighting hand, and did not manage to torporize one of Michael’s minions. Adam’s next rush then went towards Marko. Shortly after that, I was ousted by Michael’s dominate bleeds. I might have been able to survive for another round if I had played my DI at another point, but I probably wouldn’t have been able to last for long since Michael had 4 dominate vampires and Adam didn’t rush enough forward. However, since Adam won in the end I suppose he made the right decisions.

Result: Michael 1 VP, Norbert 1 VP and Adam 3 VP and the tournament victory.

Aftermath
All the three rounds I played were interesting and rewarding games of VTES. Of course I’d wished to stay longer in the finals, but such is life. It was a very nice tournament.

If I would play the deck again I would ditch the Yawp Court (which I never played) and the Target Vitals, and add a bounce card and a wake.

/Caroline