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Noblesse Oblige
CLAN VENTRUE NEWSLETTER MAY 2005
CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Dignitas
3. Shepherds and Stewards
4. Tribunes at work
Introduction
Apologies for the late arrival of the newsletter, this was supposed to
arrive in February. One of my parents is really ill and the real world
took over for a good few months. I should be back to normal now, whatever
that is.
This month’s issue was written and compiled by David Knowles
(manor2001 –at- yahoo –dot- com)
Dignitas – the dictats of the Directorate: The Unforgiven
This month the board of directors take at look at the forbidden few, i.e.
some of those cards which are so unpopular it hurts.
Firstly, one of the most hated women on the planet – Millicent Smith (the
Puritan Vampire Hunter). Why is auntie Millie hated so much? Well, she
sits in your hand until you need her, which is never a good sign; and
during your discard phase, your predator takes control of her. So, if
you’re playing with a bleed bouncing prey or your prey is a weenie horde,
you probably want to get rid of her. However, if your prey can’t bounce
and doesn’t have seven+ minions in play, playing Millicent can cause them
real problems. As Millicent only screws up blocking, you can still bleed
bounce and vote against stuff, you just can’t block for a turn while your
predator has her. Millicent often destabilises the table, which can be a
great advantage for you. If you know how to deal with her, she can win you
the game, but can often be a hand jam. I won the Eye of Hazimel tourney
using her to get in the killer bleeds I needed in two of the three games
played.
Millicent Smith, Puritan Vampire Hunter
Unique Master.
During your discard phase, your predator takes control of Millicent. If
the Methuselah controlling Millicent has any of his or her acting
vampire's actions blocked, then Millicent and the acting vampire are
burned without combat.
Next, currently the most untrendy, ‘you should never ever ever play this’
card, Short Term Investment. Well I’m sorry but I disagree with the above
statement. There are decks where STI can be useful – not very many though.
If you are playing a deck with 10 or less Masters, especially if you are
concerned with blood conservation, then STI or preferably Slave Auction,
can be a viable card. It also teams up with the Parthenon quite happily.
Yes it takes 4 master phase actions to complete its task, for 2 net pool
gain, and this is poor. So its only redeeming feature is that it does not
cost your minions blood, and that can be vital. For the difference of 1
extra card, 2x Ascendance gives you the same Pool gain, for 2 less master
phase actions, and are therefore more useful if you have space for the
extra card. In truth I don’t like any of these cards much, but continue to
see them used well by some players.
Short-Term Investment
Master
Cost: 1 pool
{Put this card in play and} move 3 blood from the blood bank to this card.
You may use a master phase action to move 1 blood from this card to your
blood pool. Burn this card when the last blood counter on it is removed.
And finally Honor the Elders. I think that for many of the very
high-capacity Ventrue decks, this card could be extremely useful. Any card
which gives your vampire blood is inherently good. Often with high-cap
decks we use multiple copies of specific vampires to make certain that we
draw them earlier and are able to bring them into play as soon as
possible. Because Honor the Elders also puts blood into our Uncontrolled
region, this helps pay to bring out high-cap vamps or to at least payback
for those we have drawn but don’t want to bring into play. Combined with
cards like Effective Management or Clotho’s Gift it can used as a valuable
addition to Bloating (large Pool gain)
Honor the Elders
Cardtype: Political Action
Political Card - Worth 1 Vote. Called by any vampire at +1 stealth.
Successful referendum means that each ready vampire with a capacity above
7 gains 1 blood from the blood bank, and each vampire with a capacity
above 7 in any uncontrolled region gains 1 blood from the blood bank.
Shepherds and Stewards – ‘The Young Ones’
Having looked at some of the senior members of our clan in the previous
few months, it’s time to look at a few Ventrue Neonates (young vampires).
I intend to look at Group vamps sometime in the near future, concentrating
for now on the olde cards.
Rufina Soledad
Group: 1
Capacity: 2
Discipline: for
As her name suggests (well in English anyway), Rufina is solid. With only
basic Fortitude, she’s a vaguely useful blocker and a handy little rusher.
She’s the kind of girl who likes .44s, IR Goggles, Brass Knuckles and
Weighted Walking Sticks in her Christmas stocking. She’s probably happy
riding her Bike or hangin’ with her friend Mr.Winthrop.
Diana Vick
Group: 3
Capacity: 3
Discipline: dom pre
If you are using a deck with Presence (combat ends) as its primary combat
defence, Diana is a very handy Bleed Bouncer – using Deflection. She only
has to Bounce 3pts of Bleed, to pay for herself. She can also be used to
block rushes etc to prevent your bigger minions from being smashed up. So
she’s real handy in the right circumstances.
Gideon Fontaine
Group: 1
Capacity: 3
Discipline: PRE
Gideon the Voter! Do I need to say more. O.k. he can block and combat ends
with Staredown as well.
Itzahk Levine
Group: 2
Capacity: 3
Discipline: cel pre
Useful with Toreador weenies, Itzahk isn’t too hot for most Ventrue decks.
Celerity just isn’t seen much with our Clan. At least he’s Group 2, so can
fit with loads of other dudes.
Lana Butcher
Group: 3
Capacity: 3
Discipline: dom for
Lana is magnificent in my opinion. Any 3 Cap’ who can Deflect and take
some heat in combat is a true bargain. Like Rufina, you can tool her up
with simple weapons, and use her as an efficient blocker. What a girl!
Roland Loussarian
Group: 1
Capacity: 3
Discipline: for pre
Again a cheap blocker/basher, who can combat ends and is handy with votes.
Tribunes at work - Decks of the Month
Deck name: What’s the Hold Up?
Crypt:
2x Gracis Nostinus: Ventrue 7. Camarilla Primogen. A younger vampire
failing to block him is tapped. PRE, DOM, for, aus
1x Horatio Ballard: Ventrue 7. Camarilla. PRE, DOM, FOR, aus
2x Edward Vignes: Ventrue 6. Camarilla. PRE, DOM, for
1x Alan Sovereign: Ventrue 6. Camarilla. DOM, AUS, pre, for
2x Ranjan Rishi, Camarilla Scholar: Ventrue 5. Camarilla. DOM, PRE, for
2x Catherine du Boise: Ventrue 5. Camarilla. DOM, pre, obf, for
1x Iyana Ravidovitch: Ventrue 5. Camarilla. Burn a blood to gain
Intercept. pre, dom, for, aus
1x Elena Gutierrez: Ventrue 4. Camarilla. pre, dom, aus
Library: 90 cards
5x Blood Doll
1x Uptown Hunting Ground
1x KRGC News Radio
1x Anarch Troublemaker
1x Ventrue Headquarters
8x Anarch Revolt
3x Restoration
1x Dominate Kine
5x Revelations
13x Bonding
15x Wake with Evening's Freshness
8x Deflection
1x Spirit's Touch
1x Enhanced Senses
12x Delaying Tactics
7x Majesty
7x Staredown
This month’s first deck is a very simple affair. Bring out 2-3 minions
only, put as many Anarch Revolts in play as possible and Bonding bleed
your prey. The Anarchs will make you a target for the table, hence so many
Wakes, Delaying Tactics and combat defence. The Revelations should be used
to prevent your prey from gaining pool, bleed bounce or intercept. Use the
Anarch Troublemaker only when you are sure you can oust your prey. If
possible, steal a Hunting Ground with the Dominate Kine. Ventrue
Headquarters works in multiple ways. Firstly, Anarch Revolts can be voted
off the table, so the HQ helps in vote defence. Secondly, it can provide
basic vote defence, especially against weenie vote decks, and gives you
some negotiation capability when other players vote.
The second deck is a Ventrue-Nosferatu based toolbox deck, with Fortitude
and Obfuscate as its main disciplines, and not a Samedi in sight!, It also
uses small pieces of Potence and Animalism for added flavour and violence.
The bloat engine is both clanless and disciplineless, being based on 4th
Tradition and Parity Shift.
The deck has a surprising amount of intercept, i.e. 6x 2nd Tradition, 3x
Instinctive Reaction, and one each of KRGC News Radio, Channel 10, Sports
Bike, and a Raptor. Along with a good sprinkling of Titles, this means
that the deck can often jam up both prey and predator, and cut plenty of
deals, which always makes the Ventrue happy.
Deck Name: The Baronless Knights
Crypt:
2x Suhailah: Ventrue 9. Camarilla Prince. She has +1 stealth if her prey
has a ready Prince or Justicar, +1 bleed. OBF, FOR, ser, pot
2x Queen Anne: Ventrue 10. Camarilla Prince. +1 Bleed, +1 additional Bleed
vs Tremere. PRE, DOM, FOR, aus, obf
1x Nakova, Advocate of Golconda: Ventrue 6. If she’s burned the opposing
vampire takes 4 unpreventable damage. FOR, pot
2x Sheldon - Lord of the Clog: Nosferatu 9. Camarilla Justicar. ANI, OBF,
POT, AUS, for
1x Nikolaus Vermeulen: Nosferatu 7. Camarilla Prince. During untap, may
move 1 blood to uncontrolled. POT, obf, for, ani
1x Chester DuBois: Nosferatu 7. Camarilla Primogen. ANI, POT, for, obf
1x Ferox: Gargoyle 7. Independent. Younger vampires pay 1 blood to attempt
to block him. POT, VIS, FOR, ani, Flight
1x Ferox: Gargoyle 7. Independent. Advanced. In combat opponents can’t
play Thaumaturgy or Necromancy. POT, VIS, FOR, ani, Flight
1x Zack North: Gangrel 6. Camarilla. +1 strength. pro, pot, for, ani
Library: 90 cards
1x Slum Hunting Ground
1x Uptown Hunting Ground
2x Minion Tap
3x Blood Doll
1x Ventrue Headquarters
1x Elysium: Palace of Versailles
1x KRGC News Radio
1x Channel 10
2x Effective Management
1x Creepshow Casino
2x Fortitude
10x 4th Tradition: the Accounting
3x Restoration
3x Bum’s Rush
2x Ambush
5x Cloak the Gathering
4x Swallowed by the Night
1x Kiss of Ra
8x Parity Shift
6x Wake with Evening’s Freshness
6x 2nd Tradition
3x Instinctive Reaction
6x Unflinching Persistence
6x Rolling with the Punches
7x Torn Signpost
1x Sports Bike
1x Raptor
1x Mr.Winthrop
1x Sengir Dagger or Ivory Bow
See y’all soon - Manorr
Noblesse Oblige
CLAN VENTRUE NEWSLETTER MAY 2005
CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Dignitas
3. Shepherds and Stewards
4. Tribunes at work
Introduction
Apologies for the late arrival of the newsletter, this was supposed to
arrive in February. One of my parents is really ill and the real world
took over for a good few months. I should be back to normal now, whatever
that is.
This month’s issue was written and compiled by David Knowles
(manor2001 –at- yahoo –dot- com)
Dignitas – the dictats of the Directorate: The Unforgiven
This month the board of directors take at look at the forbidden few, i.e.
some of those cards which are so unpopular it hurts.
Firstly, one of the most hated women on the planet – Millicent Smith (the
Puritan Vampire Hunter). Why is auntie Millie hated so much? Well, she
sits in your hand until you need her, which is never a good sign; and
during your discard phase, your predator takes control of her. So, if
you’re playing with a bleed bouncing prey or your prey is a weenie horde,
you probably want to get rid of her. However, if your prey can’t bounce
and doesn’t have seven+ minions in play, playing Millicent can cause them
real problems. As Millicent only screws up blocking, you can still bleed
bounce and vote against stuff, you just can’t block for a turn while your
predator has her. Millicent often destabilises the table, which can be a
great advantage for you. If you know how to deal with her, she can win you
the game, but can often be a hand jam. I won the Eye of Hazimel tourney
using her to get in the killer bleeds I needed in two of the three games
played.
Millicent Smith, Puritan Vampire Hunter
Unique Master.
During your discard phase, your predator takes control of Millicent. If
the Methuselah controlling Millicent has any of his or her acting
vampire's actions blocked, then Millicent and the acting vampire are
burned without combat.
Next, currently the most untrendy, ‘you should never ever ever play this’
card, Short Term Investment. Well I’m sorry but I disagree with the above
statement. There are decks where STI can be useful – not very many though.
If you are playing a deck with 10 or less Masters, especially if you are
concerned with blood conservation, then STI or preferably Slave Auction,
can be a viable card. It also teams up with the Parthenon quite happily.
Yes it takes 4 master phase actions to complete its task, for 2 net pool
gain, and this is poor. So its only redeeming feature is that it does not
cost your minions blood, and that can be vital. For the difference of 1
extra card, 2x Ascendance gives you the same Pool gain, for 2 less master
phase actions, and are therefore more useful if you have space for the
extra card. In truth I don’t like any of these cards much, but continue to
see them used well by some players.
Short-Term Investment
Master
Cost: 1 pool
{Put this card in play and} move 3 blood from the blood bank to this card.
You may use a master phase action to move 1 blood from this card to your
blood pool. Burn this card when the last blood counter on it is removed.
And finally Honor the Elders. I think that for many of the very
high-capacity Ventrue decks, this card could be extremely useful. Any card
which gives your vampire blood is inherently good. Often with high-cap
decks we use multiple copies of specific vampires to make certain that we
draw them earlier and are able to bring them into play as soon as
possible. Because Honor the Elders also puts blood into our Uncontrolled
region, this helps pay to bring out high-cap vamps or to at least payback
for those we have drawn but don’t want to bring into play. Combined with
cards like Effective Management or Clotho’s Gift it can used as a valuable
addition to Bloating (large Pool gain)
Honor the Elders
Cardtype: Political Action
Political Card - Worth 1 Vote. Called by any vampire at +1 stealth.
Successful referendum means that each ready vampire with a capacity above
7 gains 1 blood from the blood bank, and each vampire with a capacity
above 7 in any uncontrolled region gains 1 blood from the blood bank.
Shepherds and Stewards – ‘The Young Ones’
Having looked at some of the senior members of our clan in the previous
few months, it’s time to look at a few Ventrue Neonates (young vampires).
I intend to look at Group vamps sometime in the near future, concentrating
for now on the olde cards.
Rufina Soledad
Group: 1
Capacity: 2
Discipline: for
As her name suggests (well in English anyway), Rufina is solid. With only
basic Fortitude, she’s a vaguely useful blocker and a handy little rusher.
She’s the kind of girl who likes .44s, IR Goggles, Brass Knuckles and
Weighted Walking Sticks in her Christmas stocking. She’s probably happy
riding her Bike or hangin’ with her friend Mr.Winthrop.
Diana Vick
Group: 3
Capacity: 3
Discipline: dom pre
If you are using a deck with Presence (combat ends) as its primary combat
defence, Diana is a very handy Bleed Bouncer – using Deflection. She only
has to Bounce 3pts of Bleed, to pay for herself. She can also be used to
block rushes etc to prevent your bigger minions from being smashed up. So
she’s real handy in the right circumstances.
Gideon Fontaine
Group: 1
Capacity: 3
Discipline: PRE
Gideon the Voter! Do I need to say more. O.k. he can block and combat ends
with Staredown as well.
Itzahk Levine
Group: 2
Capacity: 3
Discipline: cel pre
Useful with Toreador weenies, Itzahk isn’t too hot for most Ventrue decks.
Celerity just isn’t seen much with our Clan. At least he’s Group 2, so can
fit with loads of other dudes.
Lana Butcher
Group: 3
Capacity: 3
Discipline: dom for
Lana is magnificent in my opinion. Any 3 Cap’ who can Deflect and take
some heat in combat is a true bargain. Like Rufina, you can tool her up
with simple weapons, and use her as an efficient blocker. What a girl!
Roland Loussarian
Group: 1
Capacity: 3
Discipline: for pre
Again a cheap blocker/basher, who can combat ends and is handy with votes.
Tribunes at work - Decks of the Month
Deck name: What’s the Hold Up?
Crypt:
2x Gracis Nostinus: Ventrue 7. Camarilla Primogen. A younger vampire
failing to block him is tapped. PRE, DOM, for, aus
1x Horatio Ballard: Ventrue 7. Camarilla. PRE, DOM, FOR, aus
2x Edward Vignes: Ventrue 6. Camarilla. PRE, DOM, for
1x Alan Sovereign: Ventrue 6. Camarilla. DOM, AUS, pre, for
2x Ranjan Rishi, Camarilla Scholar: Ventrue 5. Camarilla. DOM, PRE, for
2x Catherine du Boise: Ventrue 5. Camarilla. DOM, pre, obf, for
1x Iyana Ravidovitch: Ventrue 5. Camarilla. Burn a blood to gain
Intercept. pre, dom, for, aus
1x Elena Gutierrez: Ventrue 4. Camarilla. pre, dom, aus
Library: 90 cards
5x Blood Doll
1x Uptown Hunting Ground
1x KRGC News Radio
1x Anarch Troublemaker
1x Ventrue Headquarters
8x Anarch Revolt
3x Restoration
1x Dominate Kine
5x Revelations
13x Bonding
15x Wake with Evening's Freshness
8x Deflection
1x Spirit's Touch
1x Enhanced Senses
12x Delaying Tactics
7x Majesty
7x Staredown
This month’s first deck is a very simple affair. Bring out 2-3 minions
only, put as many Anarch Revolts in play as possible and Bonding bleed
your prey. The Anarchs will make you a target for the table, hence so many
Wakes, Delaying Tactics and combat defence. The Revelations should be used
to prevent your prey from gaining pool, bleed bounce or intercept. Use the
Anarch Troublemaker only when you are sure you can oust your prey. If
possible, steal a Hunting Ground with the Dominate Kine. Ventrue
Headquarters works in multiple ways. Firstly, Anarch Revolts can be voted
off the table, so the HQ helps in vote defence. Secondly, it can provide
basic vote defence, especially against weenie vote decks, and gives you
some negotiation capability when other players vote.
The second deck is a Ventrue-Nosferatu based toolbox deck, with Fortitude
and Obfuscate as its main disciplines, and not a Samedi in sight!, It also
uses small pieces of Potence and Animalism for added flavour and violence.
The bloat engine is both clanless and disciplineless, being based on 4th
Tradition and Parity Shift.
The deck has a surprising amount of intercept, i.e. 6x 2nd Tradition, 3x
Instinctive Reaction, and one each of KRGC News Radio, Channel 10, Sports
Bike, and a Raptor. Along with a good sprinkling of Titles, this means
that the deck can often jam up both prey and predator, and cut plenty of
deals, which always makes the Ventrue happy.
Deck Name: The Baronless Knights
Crypt:
2x Suhailah: Ventrue 9. Camarilla Prince. She has +1 stealth if her prey
has a ready Prince or Justicar, +1 bleed. OBF, FOR, ser, pot
2x Queen Anne: Ventrue 10. Camarilla Prince. +1 Bleed, +1 additional Bleed
vs Tremere. PRE, DOM, FOR, aus, obf
1x Nakova, Advocate of Golconda: Ventrue 6. If she’s burned the opposing
vampire takes 4 unpreventable damage. FOR, pot
2x Sheldon - Lord of the Clog: Nosferatu 9. Camarilla Justicar. ANI, OBF,
POT, AUS, for
1x Nikolaus Vermeulen: Nosferatu 7. Camarilla Prince. During untap, may
move 1 blood to uncontrolled. POT, obf, for, ani
1x Chester DuBois: Nosferatu 7. Camarilla Primogen. ANI, POT, for, obf
1x Ferox: Gargoyle 7. Independent. Younger vampires pay 1 blood to attempt
to block him. POT, VIS, FOR, ani, Flight
1x Ferox: Gargoyle 7. Independent. Advanced. In combat opponents can’t
play Thaumaturgy or Necromancy. POT, VIS, FOR, ani, Flight
1x Zack North: Gangrel 6. Camarilla. +1 strength. pro, pot, for, ani
Library: 90 cards
1x Slum Hunting Ground
1x Uptown Hunting Ground
2x Minion Tap
3x Blood Doll
1x Ventrue Headquarters
1x Elysium: Palace of Versailles
1x KRGC News Radio
1x Channel 10
2x Effective Management
1x Creepshow Casino
2x Fortitude
10x 4th Tradition: the Accounting
3x Restoration
3x Bum’s Rush
2x Ambush
5x Cloak the Gathering
4x Swallowed by the Night
1x Kiss of Ra
8x Parity Shift
6x Wake with Evening’s Freshness
6x 2nd Tradition
3x Instinctive Reaction
6x Unflinching Persistence
6x Rolling with the Punches
7x Torn Signpost
1x Sports Bike
1x Raptor
1x Mr.Winthrop
1x Sengir Dagger or Ivory Bow
See y’all soon - Manorr
AB2 KMW
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