This newsletter can also be viewed at: http://whitestar.ddg.com/vtes/newsletterarchive.html VEKN Official Gangrel Newsletter Vol. 1 Number 2 February 1999 FROM THE EDITOR Greetings from your Editor. It^Òs been several months since the last Gangrel newsletter, and the responsibility has been passed on to me. I will do my best to inform and entertain you all. As editor, I welcome all submissions of original work. The clan Gangrel is very dedicated to storytelling, and I am especially interested in including works of fiction every month. Just send me e-mail, and I will gladly accept it. Sincerely, Greg "Wolf Claws" Faulkner Editor IMPACT OF VTES RULES TEAM RULINGS 05-JAN-99 There was only one ruling that will affect the play of Gangrel decks specifically. The Tomb of Ramses, III errata will be useful in bringing out the big guns, and Gangrels have their share of large capacity vampires. Stanislava, Basilia, Angus - The Unruled, Wynn, Ingrid Rossler, and Katarina are all 9 capacity or above. Even though the vampire will come out with only half the blood, it can easily be replaced by one or two Restorations. However, don^Òt think this benefits the Gangrels alone. The card will be much more deadly with Ventrue and Toreador who can regain the blood with one vote and a Voter Captivation. Be wary of the vote decks, which were already threatening enough to the Gangrel clan. The remainder of the rulings were necessary clarifications of card texts, that did not hinder or benefit the Gangrel clan. VAMPIRE OF THE MONTH Ingrid Rossler Gangrel 9 capacity FOR ANI PRO dom Prince of Geneva: If Ingrid is ready, you get two extra transfers during your influence phase. At a 9 capacity, she is a little overpriced compared to the princes of other clans, but the disappointment ends there. She is superior to Katarina in both her skills and her special ability. Her combination of skills and votes makes her the perfect counterpart to Stanislava. Her ideal role would be to use her in a Gangrel deck accentuated with Dominate cards to add a little bleed deflection, but she is also a killer addition to the Protean/Dominate sneak and bleed decks alongside Illiana and Caitlin. Her title also makes her one of only three Gangrels that are able to play Traditions. And what about her special ability? It is just as useful as an Information Highway, but better in some ways. Unlike an Information Highway, her special ability cannot be stolen, destroyed, or suddenly reversed, and it is unlikely to be contested. When used together, the scene can get ugly: Turn 1: Information Highway, 1+2 = 3 transfers (3 to Ingrid Rossler) Turn 2: 4+2 = 6 transfers (6 to Ingrid Rossler - she becomes ready) Turn 3: 4+2+2 = 8 transfers (7 to Illiana - she becomes ready) ... and you are well on your way to a brutal Protean/Dominate deck. Add a TOR III to Stanislava in the second turn, and your prey could be looking at Ingrid and Stanislava by the end of the third turn. LIBRARY CARD OF THE MONTH Shepherd's Innocence Action Animalism 2 blood (+1 stealth action) Normal: Take control of a card in play that requires Animalism. If it is an equipment or retainer card, place it on any vampire you control. Superior: Take control of all cards in play that require Animalism. You may put the equipment and retainer cards on any vampires you control. Rarity: Common Clearly its a double-edged sword. Not only does this card take control of all animalism retainers (Raven Spy, Wolf Companion, Owl Companion, Raptor, Murder of Crows), but it can also be used on the Army of Rats and Tier of Souls. This is the kind of card that can win you the game or make you weep. With so many other clans out there who depend on Animalism (Nosferatu, Nosferatu-Antitribu, Ravnos, Tzimisce, Gangrel-Antitribu) it's guaranteed to come back to haunt you at some point. The real fear of the card should be that it can be played from an opponent across the table. The player may be targeting only your Animalism cards, but you cannot block the action because it is undirected and you are neither the predator nor the prey of the acting Methuselah. If this is the case, then you will unfortunately be stuck hoping that your prey or predator will intercept the action for you. Don^Òt count on it. Instead, be prepared to cancel the action with a Direct Intervention. Better yet, have a means of regaining your cards (and theirs) with your own Shepherd's Innocence. At least one Shepherd's Innocence is a must in any Gangrel deck, even if you aren't playing with retainers yourself. DECK OF THE MONTH (Your deck goes here.) Yes, I do have my own constructed decks, and I am willing to share... but this is a reminder to all readers that I am looking for a wide variety of inputs. As editor, I want to manage and distribute the creations of the players. .....until next time. Please send all comments and submissions to: Greg Faulkner