Introduction:
Before I get all lazy and drunk in the coming days I thought it would
be nice to give you this newsletter with my first impressions on how
Bloodlines may inspire new Brujah decks. No strategies yet, as I am
just starting to get a feel for the new cards, clans and concepts. I
actually just compiled a list of stuff I had promised in earlier
newsletters ("...will have to wait for a future edition"), and it
looks like there are still many things to do and write about. Then
again at the moment I feel like going with the flow, so have patience
if the course of concepts, strategies and decks in the months to come
will look a little erratic.
Fiction:
From: acrostic@firemail.de
Sent: December 25 2001 21.17 h
To: ilpapasympatico@getaway.com
Subject: The stranger among us
Dear Sir,
just a quick update on the observation campaign here in Munich. Things
have been calm all through December, but after I got word from Dre
about Sheldon's mysterious emissary I started to investigate a few
hitherto seemingly insignificant observation. Looks like this figure
whom I have nicked "The Scavenger" privately and shall refer to by
that name is also closely watching the Ventrue and Giovanni operations
we are aware of by now, namely sanguis.com, UBAE, the Constantin Film
- Mausoleum Prod. connection and various local political campaigns. He
appears as the typical clandestine figure in black you would expect
from a Cold War spy novel, always on the move, at home in back alleys,
sewers and cheap hotel rooms. I don't know his name, address or
agenda, but he seems to be well informed about all the current
affairs. I myself saw The Scavenger's shady silhouette on a
surveillance tape from sanguis.com's office which to this day is held
by the police investigating the case. He apparently took a cut from a
newspaper out of Dre's old apartment, and I found out that someone was
researching the media coverage of the Vasilis execution in Italy
shortly thereafter. It might have been The Scavenger, as per the
information provided by me about the Camarilla conclave - the same
reference to an arcane italian accent. The question whether he is a
hitherto unknown Primogen of Sheldon's own clan or some even more
sinister figure of unknown origin I will leave to you to answer.
But I have one important information: As you predicted he at last
returned to Munich. To know that he would arrive meant a good chance
for us to finally follow him. We had an eye on all airports and train
stations and the necessary bit of luck. Just about half an hour ago I
suddenly saw him at the airport (where I am still at the moment). A
monk-like apparition in a black hooded parka, his sole piece of
luggage showing a KLM tag, so I presume he came in from Amsterdam. At
this moment he is sipping a coffee at a place not 50 meters from here,
it looks like he is waiting for another plane to land - more
precisely: for someone on this plane. The only flight that is expected
to come in at this gate is Egypt Air 773 from Cairo. I hope to be able
to follow him and find out a) who he is going to meet, b) where he
lives, and c) what his plans are.
Sincerely yours
A. Kreuzeder (on behalf of the Cold Dawn)
"So this is the last thing we heard from our contact", the Don
inquires after he had read the printout. "A fellow Cold Dawn mortal
found his body in his apartment in the morning of the 27th," the
impersonal voice of Mr. Winthrop replies. "The 59th drug victim of the
year 2001 in Munich, the official report says. The police claims that
no evidence for a criminal act was found." The Don scratches his chin.
"Cairo, hmm... Send for Dre, will you?" Mr. Winthrop stiffly bows. "As
you wish, Sir."
A discussion of new cards:
Bloodlines introduced the concept of multi- and dual-discipline cards.
The multi-discipline angle has the purpose of making the BL vampires
mix well with old clans and making their unique disciplines useful.
Generally they have a modest effect for the secondary (old)
discipline. Let's have a quick look on multi-discipline cards
involving the Brujah set of disciplines (Celerity, Potence and
Presence):
Name: The Missing Voice
Cardtype: Action Modifier
Discipline: Melpominee/Celerity
[cel] Requires a vampire with a capacity greater than 4. Vampires with
a capacity less than 5 get -1 intercept when attempting to block this
action.
Celerity got (in combination with Melpominee) some more low or
pseudo-stealth cards. This is one of them. Brujah stealth decks are
sort of tricky, as normally bruise strategies lend themselves more
easily to our clan. Still: The Missing Voice costs no blood (as
opposed to the 2 for Alacrity) and removes low capacity blockers
without intercept from the picture. Might go into a few Brujah bleed
or political decks.
Name: Siren's Lure
Cardtype: Action Modifier
Discipline: Melpominee/Celerity
[cel] This vampire burns 2 blood to get +1 stealth.
Basically the same as Alacrity for Celerity. If you want to get +2
stealth at the cost of 4 blood, this your card. Otherwise it's the
same as Alacrity - a few for surprise value can change the game for
you.
Name: Swiftness of the Stag
Cardtype: Combat/Action Modifier
Discipline: Spiritus/Celerity
[cel] Press.
Another press. I'd rather use Flash.
Name: Basilisk's Touch
Cardtype: Combat
Cost: 2 blood
Discipline: Mytherceria/Potence
Only usable in combat with an ally or younger vampire. Only usable
before range is determined.
[pot] This vampire gets +1 strength for the remainder of combat.
Many dual-discipline cards with Potence add to the vampires strength.
They are all more expensive than Fists Of Death, so there's rarely
need to include them. Basilisk's Touch is probably the worst (due to
the cost and restriction).
Name: Compress
Cardtype: Combat
Cost: 2 blood
Discipline: Thanatosis/Potence
[pot] Strike: strength+2 damage.
Compress at least can give you +2 strength with inferior Potence. The
cost is high though.
Name: Conflagration
Cardtype: Combat
Cost: 1 blood
Discipline: Daimoinon/Potence
[pot] Strike: 2R damage.
This is the same as Sacrament Of Carnage for inferior Potence.
Cornercase, as the card it mimmicks, and that has +1 extra damage at
superior.
Name: Earth Swords
Cardtype: Combat
Discipline: Mytherceria/Potence
[pot] Strike: 1R damage.
Thrown Gate without the maneuver. Nuff said.
Name: Lapse
Cardtype: Combat
Cost: 2 blood
Discipline: Temporis/Potence
Only usable before range is determined.
[pot] This vampire gets +2 strength this round.
See Compress.
Name: Vengeance of Samiel
Cardtype: Combat
Cost: 1 blood
Discipline: Valeren/Potence
[pot] Strike: use your hand or melee weapon at +1 damage.
Undead Strength with a blood cost, so no use...
Name: Condemnation: Languid
Cardtype: Action
Discipline: Daimoinon/Presence
+1 stealth action. Condemnation.
[pre] (D) Tap a younger vampire.
Somewhat related to Mind Numb - different restriction, lesser effect.
If you do the tap'n'bleed game with huge Brujah, it might be useful.
Name: Echo of Harmonies
Cardtype: Action Modifier
Cost: 1 blood
Discipline: Melpominee/Presence
Only usable during a referendum.
[pre] If you burn the Edge for a vote, this vampire gains two
additional votes.
Bewitching Oration with a double cost - burn the Edge and a blood.
Name: Internal Recursion
Cardtype: Reaction
Cost: 1 blood
Discipline: Temporis/Presence
Only usable by a vampire who successfully blocks.
[pre] This blocking vampire can end combat as a strike during the
resulting combat. If he or she does so and the acting minion is an
ally or a younger vampire, this blocking vampire untaps.
S:CE with a restriction on blocking and a conditional untap at
inferior Presence - cornercase, but might be usable in a Second
Tradition wall deck.
Name: Madrigal
Cardtype: Action Modifier/Reaction
Discipline: Melpominee/Presence
Only usable during a referendum before votes are cast.
[pre] Only usable by a reacting vampire. Gain 2 votes.
Same as Dread Gaze.
Name: Psychomachia
Cardtype: Action Modifier
Cost: 1 blood
Discipline: Daimoinon/Presence
Only usable when an ally or younger vampire is attempting to block.
[pre] Cancel the current action and untap this acting vampire. The
blocking minion is not tapped.
Change Of Target with a blood cost and a restriction. Useless.
Name: Putrefaction
Cardtype: Combat
Cost: 1 blood
Discipline: Thanatosis/Presence
[pre] Strike: combat ends.
S:CE for 1 blood. Can you say Majesty? Or Catatonic Fear?
Name: Repulsion
Cardtype: Action Modifier
Discipline: Obeah/Presence
[pre] Only usable when the acting vampire's action is announced. If
this action is blocked, the acting vampire gets 1 optional maneuver,
only usable to maneuver to long range, during the resulting combat.
Nice addition for pure S.CE decks, as they can go to long to avoid IG.
I'd rather use a Flash though, as Celerity is still the most common
discipline of our clan.
Name: Rewind Time
Cardtype: Reaction
Cost: 2 blood
Discipline: Temporis/Presence
[pre] Reduce a bleed against you by 1.
A new effect in our repertoire, but very costly.
Name: Rigor Mortis
Cardtype: Combat
Cost: 1 blood
Discipline: Thanatosis/Presence
Only usable before range is determined. A minion can play only one
Rigor Mortis each round.
[pre] The opposing minion cannot use any additional strikes this
round.
Might be usable in a high-combat environment to get an edge over other
Brujah, !Bru or Assamite decks.
Name: Toreador's Bane
Cardtype: Combat
Discipline: Melpominee/Presence
Only usable in combat with a Toreador, Toreador antitribu, ally or
younger vampire.
[pre] Strike: combat ends.
Another conditional S:CE. One word: Majesty.
Clearly none of these cards was intended to be a killer for the
secondary discipline. The extra stealth with Celerity will probably
see some use, also the +2 strength effects can do us good with all the
medium size CEL/pot vampires our clan offers - although Taste Of Vitae
is a must after paying for these.
Their real usability depends on how the Brujah can crossover with the
BL clans. The True Brujah look like an obvious partner, but they are
scarce and - with all their untap during your turn effects - demand a
very versatile deck concept. Bash'n'Vote'Bleed is not unheard of as a
Brujah strategy, but it will be difficult to get all these moving
parts (plus Temporis) into one deck. Some Baali (Huitzilopochtli, Mary
The Black and to a lesser degree Sargon) fit quite well discipline
wise. I have some ideas to mix Brujah with Daughters Of Cacophony
using Presence as a main discipline and Melpominee/Celerity split
cards to get going - but that would probably be more viable with
Toreador. More ideas in this newsletter as soon as I can develop them,
and also a big encouragement to all my readers: If you have
interesting concepts for BL/Brujah decks, please feel free to send
them to me at skaffen_amtiskaw@mail.ru.
There is one more card I have to mention: a split discipline card
clearly intended for Brujah and their Sabbat brethren:
Name: Iron Heart
Cardtype: Reaction
Cost: 1 blood
Discipline: Potence & Presence
[pot][pre] Burn an action modifier that requires Presence [pre] as it
is played. That card has no effect. Any cost paid is retrieved.
[POT][PRE] As [pot][pre] above, but burn an action modifier that
requires Dominate [dom].
This card has quite some potential: Burn those big extra bleeds with
Conditioning or Aire Of Elation, the stealth from Bonding, the extra
votes from Bewitching Oration or Awe or that pesky Seduction on your
Prince. Note that you can cancel an action modifier played by any
player, so it's also useful cross-table to save another player.
Deck:
Archons Of The Cold Dawn
This deck won the December 15th constructed tournament in Darmstadt.
My report from the games I played can be found at our local Yahoo
Group here: groups.yahoo.com/group/vtesmunich/message/139 (please
ignore the many typos...) It is basically another Euro-Brujah deck,
derived from last month's deck of the month with a stricter emphasis
on rush and a more focused crypt.
Crypt: (12 cards) [Min: 19, Max: 32, Avg: 6,58]
2 Anvil (dom CEL POT pre tha, Brujah, 6,
Primogen)
3 Constanza Vinti (CEL DOM POT, Brujah, 8, Prince)
2 Dónal O'Connor (CEL DOM POT, Brujah, 8, Prince)
1 Dre (cel pot, Brujah, 3)
2 Theo Bell (cel dom POT pre, Brujah, 7)
2 Volker (CEL pot, Brujah, 5, Prince)
Library: (90 cards)
Master (12 cards)
1 Archon Investigation
5 Blood Doll
1 Depravity
1 Dreams of the Sphinx
2 Haven Uncovered
2 Information Highway
Minion (78 cards)
2 Anathema
3 Archon
4 Blur
1 Brujah Justicar
4 Bum's Rush
5 Conditioning
5 Deflection
2 Disarm
1 Fists of Death
5 Flash
5 Govern the Unaligned
8 Immortal Grapple
1 Kindred Restructure
4 Pursuit
7 Second Tradition: Domain, The
3 Side Strike
6 Taste of Vitae
7 Torn Signpost
3 Undead Strength
2 Wake with Evening's Freshness
Final Note:
I'm just beginning to explore BL oriented decks (and didn't get Nu,
The Pillar yet - so much for testing last month's plan), so no promise
for next month. I would take this opportunity to thank all the Munich
players for all the great games and for not playing with Brujah clan
hosers yet, even if I tormented them with a torrent of Brujah
creations this year.
You can contact me at skaffen_amtiskaw@mail.ru, and kindly direct all
abuse to /dev/null
Thanks for reading
Skaffen
Chantry Elder Of Munich
colddawn.vr9.com
Comederunt alieni robur eius et ipse nescivit sed et cani effusi sunt
in eo et ipse ignoravit. (Hos 7,9)