An epiphany of talons

I had an epiphany when I woke up on the morning of the Swedish Nationals and added one Raking Talons. It helped me win the final.

This is what happened in the tournament. Some details may be wrong, but in whole quite close to the truth.

Round 1
Me (deck below) - Otso (Aus wall) - Randy (Orlando vote) - Henrik.K (Ventrue) - Adam (imbued)

I was the starting player and having both Rock Cat and Carlton on hand I opted for a Tupdog.
Otso put up a aus-weenie, so I misdirected that and played Rock Cat. Otso played DI on the cat. I played Carlton instead and that Adam DI:ed.
     The rest of the game I hit my head against the aus-wall and the whole table struggled because of Otso's Smiling Jack.
     The table collapsed when Smiling hit 5 or 6 and Henrik was able to pick up the remaning pieces.

Henrik ("Ashur") 1 gw + 4 vp, Otso 1 vp

Round 2
Anders (Shamblers) - Daniel (!Ventrue grinder) - Me - Alexi (IC Flurry bleed) - Jens (Shamblers)

Comfortable game for me. The two shambler decks were neutralizing each other, doing the odd rush against Alexi and Daniel.
     Alexi managed (before I should have ousted him) take out Jens thanks to Enkil Cog. I still could oust him and Anders (only at 2) in one turn.
     Daniel was a little crippled due to having previously being rushed, so I could quite easily oust him after a while.
     I was aware of the ousting capabilities of Daniels deck, so I played it safe the whole game.

Me 1 gw + 4 vp, Alexi 1 vp

Round 3
Jonathan (Create gargoyle w dom) - Isak (Kiasyd tablet bleed) - Marko (Nahir) - Me - Stefan (Mistress F Flurry bleed)

Jonathan started out strong and poor Marko was eating both some bleeds from Isak as well as some deflects.
     At one point I played a little reckless and was immediatly rewarded by some Deflections and bleeds from Marko, which almost ousted me.
     The next turn I was able to get Stefan. Jonathan ousted Isak and Marko, but my position was now quite good and I could win the end game.

Me 1 gw + 3 vp, Jonathan 2 vp

Final
Me - Otso (Aus-wall) - Ivan (Ventrue lawfirm multi-act) - Henrik E (Kindred Spirits-bleed w Santalous and Lutz) - Ville (Turbo-Nergal)

I was second seed and ended up having Otso (1st seed) as my prey again. I was prepared for the eternal pain of having an aus-wall in front of me until I saw my opening hand; Raking Talons. I managed to eat Otso's first vampire, Victoria, so it took him a longer time to set up,
giving Ivan more room to do his thing.
     Henrik stopped the Nergal deck quite easily with the master denial of Santalous.
     Ivan ousted Henrik soon after Henrik got Ville.
     Except for my first turn, I did very little during the game, I just tried to opt my hand and hope for the best. Now and then I probed Otso's defenses and after a while he showed all signs of running out of wakes. Ivan had an contested Anarch Troublemaker that would come in play on his next turn. So I deliberately "overextended" my pool by getting up a new vampire (Hannigan), the other three were tapped. I thought this should be enough for Ivan using the AT on me. And I was right. I had 4 On the Qui Vie on hand and could handle his assault quite well. Now Otso had 2 untapped vampires, so I used AT and ousted him and Ivan in one turn.

Me 1 gw + 3 vp, Ivan 1 vp, Henrik E 1 vp

Tournament Winning Deck:
Vamps (12)
1 Bryan Van Duesen (7, aus DOM pre THA, Tremere Antitribu, 2, Sabbat: +1 bleed)
1 Heinrick Schlempt (2, tha, Tremere Antitribu, 2, Sabbat)
1 Brooke (3, dom tha, Tremere Antitribu, 2, Sabbat)
1 Hannigan (5, AUS dom THA, Tremere Antitribu, 2, Sabbat)
1 Kurt Strauss (5, aus DOM tha, Tremere Antitribu, 2, Sabbat)
1 Reverend Blackwood (6, DOM obf THA, Tremere Antitribu, 2, Sabbat Bishop)
1 Selena (6, AUS DOM THA, Tremere Antitribu, 3, Sabbat)
5 Tupdog

Library (61)
Masters (9)
1 Pentex Subversion
1 Anarch Troublemaker
1 Misdirection
2 Direct Intervention
2 Blood Doll
1 PB: Montreal
1 Coven

Actions (8)
8 Govern the Unaligned

Action Modifiers (18)
4 Bonding
4 Conditioning
10 Mirror Walk

Allies (10)
1 Carlton van Wyk
4 Hexaped
4 Nephandus
1 Rock Cat

Combat (1)
1 Raking Talons

Reactions (13)
5 Deflection
6 On the Qui Vie   
2 Delaying Tactics

Events (2)
2 Unmasking

/Robert D ("BobbyDoc")

Meet the Prime Mover

The column The Wyrm´s Turn have a recent interview with the rather reclusive Mark Rein-Hagen, creator of the World of Darkness, Ars Magica and other great stuff. Without him we probably wouldn´t be flipping these odd paper pieces at all, as he both made up Vampire: The Masquerade and co-founded Wizards of the Coast. It wouldn´t surprise me if his new boardgame Democracy is brilliant. Have a nice read!

The Stockholm League - October 10 2012

Cybele - the girliest girl? Art by ~Toxs1n.

Three tables were played in the first round of ten in our October-December league. Standard tournament rules apply + printed proxy is allowed.

Table 1:
1. Erik M (Aus-weenie)
2. Jens (Shamblings w Dragon Breath Rounds)
3. Randy (G1/2 PRE powerbleed w tablets) 1 vp
4. Henrik K (G5/6 lawfirm/grinder)
5. Donk (Girls) 4 vp, 1 gw

Table 2:
1. Marcus (G4/5 lawfirm) 4 vp, 1 gw
2. Tomas (Baali/Setite soulgem-turbo)
3. Jonas H (Setite vote) 1 vp
4. Jonas S (Samedi w Shamblers)
5. Jan Erik (Lawfirm w Arika)

Table 3:
1. Jens (Infernal Anson w guns) 1 vp
2. Robert D (Pre-weenies)
3. Masso (Saulot Lord of Serenity wall) 0,5 vp
4. Henrik K (!Ventrue grinder w Haven Uncovered) 2,5 vp, 1 gw
5. Erik M (!Brujah w guns)

In this game Jens got a fantastic start. In turn 3 he hade two princes in play, plus Anarch Troublemaker, Parthenon, Anthelios, Dreams of the Sphinx and a .44 Magnum on Anson. He also had played Villein for 8 and Giant´s Blood on Anson, and Parity Shifted his prey for 5. But in true Jens fashion he didn´t think it looked so good for him! This time he was kind of right though - his next prey was a bit too rough on him, and after some Haven Uncovered and Wash the !Ventrue grinder could oust him and then get the game win on time.

League standings:
Donk, Marcus 24 rtp
Henrik K 18 rtp
Randy, Jens 4 rtp
Masso 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. If more players than 5 want to play such a table, lowest vp-count this round has priority. No league game starts after 20.00.)

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

The Stockholm League - October 3 2012 - Final result

Nazi-Jesus, currently in the service of Henrik K.

Congratulations to Jens, reigning and defending Stockholm league champion!

Two tables were played in the tenth and final round of ten in our August-October league. Standard tournament rules apply + printed proxy is allowed.

Table 1:
1. Henrik K (G4-5 Ventrue lawfirm-grinder)
2. Jens (Shambling Hordes w Dragon Breath Rounds) 3 vp, 1 gw
3. Donk (Enkidu rush)
4. Marcus (Imbued w dem weenies) 2 vp
5. Tomas W (Anson vote?)

Table 2:
1. Masso (Unnamed w Shatter the Gates)
2. Robert D (AUS+FOR wall) 2 vp
3. Henrik K (!Ven w Mathias and Spirit Marionette) 3 vp, 1 gw
4. Tomas W (!Toreador breed-boon w ani)
5. Alex (G5-6 Baali vote)

Final league standings:
Jens 106 rtp
Jonas H 80 rtp
Robert D, Randy 64 rtp
Henrik K 56 rtp
Ivan 52 rtp
Jan Erik 48
Tomas W 44 rtp

Marcus, Caroline 36 rtp
Masso 32 rtp
Kristofer 30 rtp
Ober 24 rtp
Kim, Donk 20 rtp
Erik M 16 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.)

Our next ten week league begin at Dragon´s Lair, Kungsholmstorg 8 next Wednesday about 1800-ish. Be there!

Tournament reminder!

Wondering why the people on the picture here seem so tense? They are getting ready for 
Protected Resources Stockholm 2012
When? 2012-10-20, 12.00-20.00
Where? Dragon´s Lair, Kungsholmen
Format: Constructed, 2 rounds + final
Fee: 20 SEK
Promos for everone!
Questions? Leave a comment below!
Welcome!

BobbyDoc swedish champion 2012!

 Stockholmjyhad would like to offically congratulate Robert Doktorow (aka "BobbyDoc"), the 2012 Swedish champion. Finally a Stockholm player made it!

Extra cred for playing a deck he threw together just prior to the tournament without any playtesting. And with Hexaped!

Stay tuned for more comments, reports and possibly a deck list here and/or at the VEKN forum.

The Stockholm League - September 26 2012

 Untap and Disguised Weapon in one card. Balanced?

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

Table 1:
1. Caroline (Ani-For-Aus wall w Mordecai) 3 vp, 1 gw
2. Tomas W (!Toreador vote w animalism)
3. Kim (Ahrimanes toolbox) 1 vp
4. Henrik K (!Ventrue w Mathias and Spirit Marionette)

Table 2:
1. Jens (Shambling Hordes w Dragon Breath Rounds)
2. Ivan (Imbued ???) 5 vp, 1 gw
3. Donk (Enkidu rush)
4. Johnny (Turbo-Cybele)
5. Jonas H (Dom-weenies)

Table 3:
1. Alex (Ventrue lawfirm)
2. Masso (The Unnamed Enkil-Homonoculus-sb)
3. Kim (!Nosferatu rush/wall) 3 vp, 1 gw
4. Henrik K (!Ventrue w Mathias and Spirit Marionette)
5. Tomas W (G4-5 presence-princes w Parity Shifts) 2 vp

Table 4:
1. Caroline (!Ventrue anarchs) 1 vp
2. Donk (Enkidu rush)
3. Jan Erik (PRE-AUS Jost & Rebekka) 3 vp, 1 gw
4. Jonas H (Dom-weenies) 1 vp
5. Johnny (Daughters breed-boon)

League standings:
Jens 86 rtp
Jonas H 80 rtp
Randy 64 rtp
Robert D 56 rtp
Ivan 52 rtp
Jan Erik 48
Tomas W 44 rtp
Henrik K, Caroline 36 rtp
Masso 32 rtp
Kristofer 30 rtp
Marcus 28 rtp
Ober 24 rtp
Kim, Donk 20 rtp
Erik M 16 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.)

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