Toreador Clan Newsletter Vol 1, Issue 1 I. Introduction Toreadors do not skulk in the sewers like the Nosferatu, they live in the echelons of society; enjoying champagne and caviar while the Nosferatu eat rats. While a Ventrue pushes papers behind a desk in a dark office, a Toreador fills a canvas with beauty. The Brujah believe a party is a case of beer and a motorcycle, while Toreadors enjoy elegance, charm and wit. While both the Toreadors and Malkvians understand the dark secrets of the universe, the Malkavian is driven insane while the Toreador simply incorporates it into her muse. The Toreadors are looked upon with envy by the other clans. They are able to mingle in the highest levels of society without the threat of discovery. As artists, their eccentricities and unusual hours are not only accepted, they are expected. Therefore, it is with great pleasure that I bring you the Toreador Clan Newsletter. II. Soap Box A recent thread on the discussion group indicated that Toreadors are generally a weaker clan than the other Camarilla clans. The Ventrue have the benefit of Fortitude and make a better voting deck, the Brujah have potence and make a better combat deck and the Malkavians have obfuscate and make a better bleed deck. While the Toreador's combination of disciplines gives them no obvious advantage, they do benefit from some of the best clan specific cards. They have cards which can help improve voting, bleeding and combat. This newsletter will explore different Toreador decks and strategies and will prove that they are not an inferior clan. III. Minion of the Month Anneke - 10 Capacity AUS CEL PRE dom "Toreador Justicar: Anneke may attempt to block a vampire after others have declined or failed to do so. +1 bleed" The Justicar seems an appropriate place to start our discussion. Although she has the benefit of both presence and dominate, she is much better suited in a defensive role. Her special ability, a permanent eagles sight, is perhaps one of the most unusual, especially since her skills tend to run counter to combat. If Don Cruez or Agnus had her ability, I'm sure they would be staples of any combat/intercept deck. However, superior Celerity gives her the ability to both avoid taking damage and press the combat until she can gain the upper hand. The auspex gives her view over the entire table, ensuring that no clan should be able to act without her knowledge and approval. Many interesting deck combination can be made with just Anneke. Anneke with 2nd Tradition could block almost any action on the table. Add obedience (even at the inferior) and only Justicars and IC Members will be able to take any successful actions. Anneke could also be combined with majesties, allowing her to block and then pay to untap, leaving her ready and able to block all other actions on the table. Get a weapon in her hand (especially an Ivory bow) and the table will be cleared very quickly. The possibilities are endless. IV. Card of the Month Resplendent Protector "Retainer with 1 life. Protector may prevent 1 damage to the vampire employing her." A human flak jacket at no cost! While it does take an action to equip and can be killed in ranged combat, the protector is better than a flak jacket because it is free. It also has the benefit of not being equipment and therefore not being easily stolen or getting in the way of Vast Wealth searches for guns. IV. Deck of the Month Toreador Interceptors The following deck attempts to show just how powerful the Toreadors can be as a Celerity Gun deck. Toreadors have the only minions below 7 capacity with both AUS and CEL, and have half the minions below 6 with both aus and cel. Combine this support group with Anneke and you can create a nasty intercept deck. 1 X Dieter Kleist 2 aus 1 X Colin Flynn 3 aus cel 1 X Isabel de Leon 3 AUS 1 X Dorian Strack 4 AUS cel 2 X Felicia Mostrom 5 AUS CEL pre 2 X Kallista, Master Sculptor 6 AUS CEL pre pro 2 X Marcellus 8 AUS CEL pro 2 X Anneke 10 AUS CEL PRE Average 5.8, Best 12, Worst 36 14 - Masters 4 - Blood Doll 4 - Vast Wealth 2 - Minion Tap 1 - Society Hunting Ground 1 - Art Museum 1 - Giants Blood 1 - Recruitment The Minion Taps, Blood Dolls, Art Museum and Giants Blood are there to generate pool, especially since you have both a larger than average crypt and need to pay for weapons. The vast wealth will help you equip faster while the recruitment will help you find Anneke (if she is missing). 14 Masters is a bit low but since this is essentially a combat deck, I need to avoid having master jam my hand. 10 Equipment / Retainers: 5 -.44 Magnum 1 - Assault rifle 1 - Ivory Bow 2 - Resplendent Protector 1 - Catacombs The weapon selection is a matter of personal choice. However, I find that .44s offer the best bang for the buck, since you are not limiting to the number of strikes per combat. The Protectors could be replaced with Leather Jackets or flak jackets; however, because of the vast wealth I would hate to play one only to pull a Jacket. The Catacombs is very important. Your biggest threat comes from fortitude decks with either Kiss of Ra or the Dawn Op, DOTB combination. Since both these will result in your going to torpor, you'll want to make it easier and cheaper to get out. 6 Actions: 1 Psychic Projection 1 Revelations 2 Fifth Tradition 2 Fourth Tradition The Projection and Revelations are optional depending on your library. However, there is nothing quite as enjoyable as watching your prey play with an open hand. The traditions take advantage of titled minions in your crypt. 2 Action Modifers: 2 Alacrity Very expensive stealth but crucial when your Brujah predator with a sport bike blocks all your equips. 24 Combat 6 Flash 4 Pursuit 4 Side Strike 2 Glaser Rounds 4 Aura Reading 2 Blur 2 Backstab Standard collection of Maneuver / Additional Strike cards. You need to make sure you can get away from Immortal Grapple while getting enough additional strikes to send minions to torpor. The aura reading in nice because you can either expose an opponents hand or use it to help cycle cards and avoid hand jam. Truly evil players may want to add dragons breath rounds but I hate wasting guns like that. 32Reaction 12 Forced Awakening 4 Fast Reaction 4 Spirits Touch 4 Enhanced Senses 4 Precognition 2 Eagles Sight 2 2nd Tradition Lots of wake and intercept, exactly what you would expect. The fast reaction is to kill the wimpy S:CE players. Four of those should send 4 minions to torpor. Political Actions 2 Praxis Seizure: Paris These are useful if you don't get any titled minions in your crypt. You could probably pass the vote by bribing or intimidating other with your intercept ability. V. Letters Please send all comments, questions and criticism to toreadors@hotmail.com Deck ideas and strategies are encouraged. Submitted by Chris Miller, September 9, 1999