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 already a big fan of the RPG, and I must of been one of the first people I know to buy it when it came out (in 1991 IIRC). I was also a big M:tG CCG player, and so when V:tES came out, I just had to get it. At the time I was at college, and we had a situation where everyone in the common room would bring their Magic decks to play in their breaks. Myself and my friend Lee started bringing V:tES instead, and we quickly converted everyone into the playing that game as well. It wasn't long before we had our own thriving environment with lively trade and a ongoing metagame and everything. I put my cards away when I went to university as I couldn't find any other regular players. Besides WotC had dropped the game, and there was no visible interest from either the industry or the public market. The cards lay gathering dust for years until I went to GenCon UK 3 years ago and saw (and participated in) my first official VEKN tournament. That got me pretty hooked again, and now I'm doing my bit as a VEKN Prince to get (and keep) people playing.	Q2: Which of the Sets and Expansions to VTES is your favorite, and why is it your top choice? I have to say I do have a soft spot for Ancient Hearts. The set had some familiar faces from the RPG (e.g. Queen Anne) and besides it was set in Europe, which appeals more to me as it's closer to home. Also, I like both the Setites and the Assamites, and I had decks based around them that have actually changed very little over the years. Having said that, I'm also really into Bloodlines. The set really does put a new spin on things, and I am absolutely determined to try and make decks based around the vampires that work ok. It's pretty tough to win with guys like the !Salubri, the Daughters, the Samedi or the Baali, but I'm going to keep trying... :)
Q3: What is your favorite deck to play, and why? A big favourite is the Setite deck I played and won with at the Friday night tournament at GenCon UK this year. I think the deck list has been circulated already. It should have had a couple of Mind Rapes in it too, but I took them out to put into a Ventrue deck I was working on at the time. I also like my Blood Brothers toolbox deck which I used for the February (Baltimore) Storyline. It's pretty versatile, resilient, and full of surprises. My biggest favourite of all is probably my Tremere aus/tha combat deck. It does brilliantly in friendly play, and scores VPs in every game, although it has yet to make into a tournament final. I don't have the decklist on me but the latest incarnation is something like: Academic Hunting Ground Arcane Library Blood Doll x 5 Chantry Giants Blood Haven Unconvered KRGC News Radio Mob Connections Powerbase: Montreal Rack, The 14 Apportation x 8 Blood to Water x 4 Telepathic Tracking x 6 Theft of Vitae x 10 Walk of Flame x 6 34 Eagle's Sight x 4 My Enemy's Enemy x 4 Spirit's Touch x 4 Telepathis Misdirection x 4 16 Ankara Citadel Leather Jacket x 4 Palatial Estate Hawg x 2 IR Goggles x 2 10 Forced Awakening x 6 Magic of the Smith x 2 Nose of the Hound x 4 Perfect Clarity x2 Pulse of the Cainaille x 2 16 Aisling Strubridge x 2 Blyhte Candeleria x 1 Hannigan x 2 Justine x2 Merill Molitor x 1 Muaziz x 2 Rebbekah x 2	Q4: If you could add something to the game, what would it be? Jeez that's a tough one. There are loads of things I'd like to see added to the game, but it's entirely possible that LSJ will have those bases covered already. I'd like to see more Sabbat vampires, plus a few more Bloodlines too. I'd like to see the Inconnu introduced as a new sect. Plus I'd like to see new and more interesting vote cards to liven up the political strategy. Mind you, if I got to change the game myself in any way I wanted without fear of retribution, I would be torn between a) going back to the old visual design of the cards, and b) reversing the ruling on first strike so that it *does* beat strike: combat ends, and strike: dodge.
Q5: What do you do to help promote the game / why are you in this list of people? I try to run regular tournaments, and I usually help out with national events. I pulled organiser and demo duties at GenCon UK this year, and I also ran the UK CE pre-release. I've also written on the game for Scrye magazine, and I've managed to land playtest duties in times past too. Perhaps the most useful thing I've done recently is lobby postively on the newsgroup to shut down the grumbling on crypt groupings. It's a done deal now - TBH I'm tired of arguing about it, and I just wish people would get used to the idea...	Q6: What is your favorite deck style for casual play / tournament play? I like combat best, although voting is good fun too. I think bleed decks are pretty dull, and there's no excuse to bring them out for any style of play if you've got other good decks to choose from in your collection. As I mentioned above, I've been doing a lot of experimentation with the various Bloodlines in casual play, although as works in progress these decks don't do that well, and I wouldn't call them my favourites (yet). My most fun deck at the moment is my Lasombra Baltimore Purge deck - there are groans all round from my players already about it, and I haven't even had it long... :)
Q7: Is there a difference between your casual play and tournament play? A little. Casual play sees much more experimentation and greater risk-taking. My decks are built primarily for fun. Trouble is, I usually end up using them in tournaments too because I'm too lazy to take them apart so I can combine the cards into something more competitive...

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