V:EKN Ravnos Newsletter Vol 1 number 5 August 1st 1998
Welcome to the Official VEKN Ravnos Newsletter. This issue will be one of 3
parts: mixing the clans. In the game of Jyhad, Ravnos may at times need to
be paired up with other clans for exciting clan and skill combinations.
This month’s highlights will be the Ravnos’ closest clan skillwise, the
Gangrel.
This month’s sections include:
1) Hacker Chandler – short story
2) Ravnos Strategy: Protean and the Ravnos
3) Ravnos Deck - Ravnos Gangrel – Unholy Alliance Blood Gain Deck
1) Chandler Hungerford perched over his newly acquired top of the line
laptop in the back of a dimly lit used car lot. The laptop was downloading
a database of Ventrue investments. He was to give them to Ingrid Rossler for
“safe keeping”. “Chandler Hungerford” he thought to himself, “you are
computer hacking.” Proud in his thought he inhaled deeply and raised his
eyes to the clear night veil as he waited for the database to complete
downloading. As he did this he noticed out of the corner of his eye a gray
hazy blur move behind an old Beetle. “He’d have to continue this
downloading somewhere else”,he thought packed up the laptop and scurryed
into the backways.
It didn’t matter. The figure was still on him, keeping a safe distance
so as not to be recognized. He rested the laptop down on the gravel and hid
behind a corner, peering over the edge. The figure was closer, and seemed
to Chandler, to be holding a bow and flaming arrow. Chandler didn’t like
this. He couldn’t move, paralyzed by thought. His ears picked up the slow
grating sound of the laptop being lifted off the gravel. This was it, he
had to act now, he thought. Sensing the stranger off guard he leapt into
the alley, claws first. He was met with the flaming arrow a half inch from
his face. Recoiling in horror, Chandler seized and fell to the ground,
convulsing in a fetal position.
The figure then pulled a cigar out of his mouth, flicked the ashes onto
Chandler’s trembling body and whispered into his ear ”You didn’t really
think this little cigar here was … an arrow now did you?” The figure then
put out the cigar on Chandler’s chest. All Chandler could do was tremble
and mouth a scream.
2) Ravnos Strategy: Gangrel and the Ravnos
While it is obvious that the Gangrel and Ravnos are very similar in terms
of skills coming up with a Ravnos deck which uses protean can be a problem
sometimes.Protean the Gangrel’s innate skill, is perhaps the most useful
skill in adapting to situations. On top of that almost every protean card
is useful. Note however that if using all four skills (chimerstry,
fortitude, animalism, protean) some protean cards may become redundant.
This depends on your deck. With these four skills one could come up with a
variety of deck ideas. Constant untap, bleed, block and bruise, rush combat
and even blood gain. I’ll just outline some key points and cards in each
strategy.
Perpetual Untap – Dartmoor, England, Earth Meld, Homunculus, Shadow of the
Beast (so you can maneuver to long range and Earth Meld) Even a Body Flare
or 2 is sweet when blocking after the opposing vampire declares a hand
strike. Nice to have some Army of Rats and Raven Spies to block.
Bleed – stealth, Laptops, Computer Hacking. Perhaps some Rom Gypsies or
Heidelberg. What else does bleeding do?
Block and Bruise – Fortitude damage prevention cards, Ignis Fatuus, Raven
Spy, Cat’s Guidance, Flesh of Marble, Horrid Reality, Dog Pack, Shadow of
the Wolf. Wolf Claws, etc. You could block and use Illusions of the Kindred
and then aggravate your hand and amaranth.
Rush – Fortitude damage prevention cards, Uncontrollable Rage, Flesh of
Marble, Wolf Claws, etc.. This deck can be a fast kill deck with many
minions going after one Haven Uncovered vampire in one turn. It can also be
a slow developing deck setting up defenses, equipping, then going after key
vampires.
Blood Gain – Palatial Estate, Fifth Tradition, Fourth Tradition,
Restoration, stealth. With the amount of stealth and blood gaining cards
these clans have there should be no problem in LSJ put up a very good Ravnos
Gangrel blood gain deck on the Corrupters Jyhad page using even Timothy
Crowley for Fifth and Fourth tradition.
3) Ravnos Gangrel – Unholy Alliance Blood Gain Deck
The Crypt
Ingrid Rossler (x2) - GAN 9 ANI FOR PRO - Prince of Geneva; While ready, you
get two extra transfers
Darius Styx (x1) - RAV 9 ani CHI FOR PRO - (D) action: Pick a card at random
from a Methuselah's hand. If it is an equipment or retainer card, place it
on Darius at no cost; otherwise return it to the Methuselah's hand
Katarina (x2) - GAN 9 ANI FOR pro- Prince of Glasgow; +1 bleed vs. RAV
Konstantin, Baro of the Caravan (x1) - RAV 9 ANI CHI FOR (D)+1 stealth:
Steal equipment from another minion
Joaquina Amaya (x2) - RAV 6 ANI CHI FOR - +1 stealth when equipping
Vaclav Petalengro (x1) - RAV 6 ANI CHI for - +1 intercept vs. GAN
Salbatore Bokkendro (x2) - RAV 4 for CHI pro
Raven (x1) - GAN 5 PRO FOR ani
Total - 12 Vampires
The Library
Master - total - 19 cards
Backways (1)
Eco Terrorists (1)
Minion Tap (4)
Fortune Teller Shop (1)
Information Highway(1)
Major Boon (1)
Blood Doll (2)
Protean (4)
Chimerstry (1)
Secure Haven (1)
Sudden Reversal (2)
Action/Action Modifiers - total - 35 cards
Gangrel Justicar (1)
Fifth Tradition (4)
Fourth Tradition (4)
Restoration (3)
Palatial Estate (1)
Leather Jacket (2)
Army Of Rats (2)
Rumors of Gehenna (1)
Earth Control (5)
Fata Morgana (5)
Sensory Deprivation (4)
Freak Drive (2)
Raven Spy (1)
Reactions - total - 18 cards
Cat's Guidance (5)
Ignis Fatuus (4)
Rat's Warning (1)
Guard Dogs (1)
Veiled Sight (1)
Wake With Evening’s Freshness (2)
Forced Awakening (3)
2nd Tradition (1)
Combat - total - 18 cards
Apparation (2)
Flesh of Marble (2)
Skin of Night (2)
Undead Persistence (1)
Skin of Steel (1)
Rolling With The Punches (1)
Earth Meld (4)
Indomitability (1)
Wolf Claws (1)
Form of Mist (4)
Total: 90 cards
This deck gets it’s actions across. Just in case, it has a few backup
plans to deal with combat and bleeding. It stays alive and survives. All
the while hopefully Sensory Depriving some vampires along the way. Next
month we will look at Ravnos and the discipline Serpentis. Till then, take
care,
J D Stevers