Who's Who in the V:TES Community

Vital Statistics:

Name:
Year of Birth:
Occupation:
Other Games Played:
Number of Cards owned:
Number of Decks ready to play:
Play in:

Daniel C. Martinez AKA Dragos
1974
Service Operations at GE Ultrasound
GURPS/VtM/Board Games/MK
20000+
22
Sao Paulo - Brazil

Q1: How (and when) did you begin your career as a VTES-player? Who introduced you to the game? Where did you play originally?
I was an RPG player since '92. Never liked the "Fantasy" aproach from GURPS and D&D. Magic came and I thought: "it sucks". Then there was Jyhad, a game of gothic horror involving Vampires and other creatures of the night. Seemed quite nice. Became addicted, must play it at least one a week.

Q2: Which of the Sets and Expansions to VTES is your favorite, and why is it your top choice?
Bloodlines. No doubt about it. Because it introduced lots of new Clans and disciplines, and most of all introduced many new rules, broadening the players horizons. Most of them are (until today IMHO) more difficult to play than the "regular" Clans, and presents a new challenge to whomever plays them. Also at that time, I had also started to read about the RPG and it seemed really nice to play with some Bloodlines.

Q3: What is your favorite deck to play, and why?
Anyone that is interesting and different enought to draw people's attention. That's what keeps me playing. It really sucks to see the same damn deck with the same players every week. I like to see new ideas, and therefore I encourage people to bring them up. Even if I loose, I don't care. I'll always try to push that hard to go hyper-ultra-mega-new combo.

Q4: If you could add something to the game, what would it be?
Other WoD stuff: A Mage, Werewolf, Mummy, KotE, whatever expansion. Not sure how, as I have discussed the possibilities with many people and never seemed to reach an agreement... but hey, it's worth the try! As I said before, I like new ideas, and adding other creatures as "non-allies" to the game would be really cool.

Q5: What do you do to help promote the game / why are you in this list of people?
Nowadays I manage the biggest and most complete webpage for VTES in Brazil:
DominioSP: www.dominiosp.hpg.com.br

I have embraced (teach them how to play) LOTS of players, and at least 6 of the Brazilian Princes have become aware of the princedom thanks to me. I am also a prince myself and have been organizing VTES events for at least 5 years. I participate on all Brazilian discussion lists and in various forums, always letting the local players know about the VTES news. I assemble decks for sale for a real cheap price, and import boosters from older expansions for sale (as our local distributor does not bring them) as well. Anyone interested in selling (really cheap!) your unused stuff, please mail me. As a consequence of all that hard work, Brazil has more than 400 players (believe me, that's a lot for a 3rd world country).

Q6: What is your favorite deck style for casual play / tournament play?
Casual play I would say the toolbox or combat. I also like the one trick pony style. The important thing is trying to come up with anything not seen yet.
Tournament play...well anything that has Dominate; with lots of deflections. Our tournament metagame is really boring in my opinion. Lots of S+bleed decks; that's why I organize but almost never play'em...

Q7: Is there a difference between your casual play and tournament play?
Oh, my, yes! See above! If only tournaments are left for VTES, I would quit playing, probably. From my POV, tournaments are necessary to bring more players to the game. Many of them seem to have a "necessity" for tournaments, but the casual play is where the fun is (usually called here as "4FUN").

Back to the index of Who's Who in V:TES.

Q1: How (and when) did you begin your career as a VTES-player? Who introduced you to the game? Where did you play originally? I was an RPG player since '92. Never liked the "Fantasy" aproach from GURPS and D&D. Magic came and I thought: "it sucks". Then there was Jyhad, a game of gothic horror involving Vampires and other creatures of the night. Seemed quite nice. Became addicted, must play it at least one a week.	Q2: Which of the Sets and Expansions to VTES is your favorite, and why is it your top choice? Bloodlines. No doubt about it. Because it introduced lots of new Clans and disciplines, and most of all introduced many new rules, broadening the players horizons. Most of them are (until today IMHO) more difficult to play than the "regular" Clans, and presents a new challenge to whomever plays them. Also at that time, I had also started to read about the RPG and it seemed really nice to play with some Bloodlines.
Q3: What is your favorite deck to play, and why? Anyone that is interesting and different enought to draw people's attention. That's what keeps me playing. It really sucks to see the same damn deck with the same players every week. I like to see new ideas, and therefore I encourage people to bring them up. Even if I loose, I don't care. I'll always try to push that hard to go hyper-ultra-mega-new combo.	Q4: If you could add something to the game, what would it be? Other WoD stuff: A Mage, Werewolf, Mummy, KotE, whatever expansion. Not sure how, as I have discussed the possibilities with many people and never seemed to reach an agreement... but hey, it's worth the try! As I said before, I like new ideas, and adding other creatures as "non-allies" to the game would be really cool.
Q5: What do you do to help promote the game / why are you in this list of people? Nowadays I manage the biggest and most complete webpage for VTES in Brazil: DominioSP: www.dominiosp.hpg.com.br I have embraced (teach them how to play) LOTS of players, and at least 6 of the Brazilian Princes have become aware of the princedom thanks to me. I am also a prince myself and have been organizing VTES events for at least 5 years. I participate on all Brazilian discussion lists and in various forums, always letting the local players know about the VTES news. I assemble decks for sale for a real cheap price, and import boosters from older expansions for sale (as our local distributor does not bring them) as well. Anyone interested in selling (really cheap!) your unused stuff, please mail me. As a consequence of all that hard work, Brazil has more than 400 players (believe me, that's a lot for a 3rd world country).	Q6: What is your favorite deck style for casual play / tournament play? Casual play I would say the toolbox or combat. I also like the one trick pony style. The important thing is trying to come up with anything not seen yet. Tournament play...well anything that has Dominate; with lots of deflections. Our tournament metagame is really boring in my opinion. Lots of S+bleed decks; that's why I organize but almost never play'em...
Q7: Is there a difference between your casual play and tournament play? Oh, my, yes! See above! If only tournaments are left for VTES, I would quit playing, probably. From my POV, tournaments are necessary to bring more players to the game. Many of them seem to have a "necessity" for tournaments, but the casual play is where the fun is (usually called here as "4FUN").