Official VEKN Nosferatu Newsletter |
3Back http://anarch.triskle.net/ |  |
Contents:
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Fiction
3.0 New Crypt
3.1 Vampires of Note
4.0 New Library
5.0 Everything is better with Dominate!
5.1 Dominant Crypt Choices
6.0 Decks
6.1 Deck 1: Ugly Dominance
6.2 Deck 2: Updated Royalty
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1.0 Introduction:
This brief missive lifts the sewer lid on the current state of play for the Nosferatu in vtes, following the recent releases of Keepers of Tradition and Heirs to the Blood. Please accept my apologies if the formatting is off, this was created offline, then uploaded via google groups.
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2.0 Fiction:
Calebros shifted his bulk uncomfortably in his heavily stained office chair. The chair, like its occupant was hideously leathery, sagging, and looked like it had spent the last few decades in a sewer, which indeed, both had. He tried to focus on what the excited youngster was waving in his face. It looked like muddy printouts, and photographs, but the speed of their movement made it impossible to discern any detail. Calebros cursed his own nature, and (briefly) considered employing someone to filter out meetings like these. "What..." he rumbled "have you got there?" The Neonate, who went by the unfortunate moniker of Slag, ceased their excited jiggling and stream of chatter, and with a deep inhalation and an effort of will managed to blurt "Crusaders! Across the Atlantic! Moving across Eastern Europe, it’s all there, I got it off the network!"
Frowning, Calebros pondered. He had no doubt as to the value of the new technology Slag seemed obsessed with as one of Uncle Smelly’s disciples, and fast data connections run underground were almost a gift to the Nosferatu, diviners of secrets. Slag was far too young to remember the crusades, however, as was he. After a moment chewing on what once may have been a lip, as Slag looked on, barely able to contain her excitement, Calebros said "Leave it with me."
Beaming, Slag dropped the sheaf onto Calebros' desk. Her expression froze in place as the papers clipped a brass angle poise lamp and sent it wobbling. Turning on her heel, she almost sprinted out of the dank office that served at Calebros' home and office.
Calebros sighed and steadied the lamp. Eyes closed, and rubbing his temples he could almost feel the weight of his Princely crown. As he opened them again, the first thing that swam into focus was Slag's pictures. Something jarred. Trusting instincts that had served him for centuries, he spread the printouts across his desk. For a few minutes he sat in silence, rearranging the pattern in front of him, as if trying to discern some hidden meaning. With each iteration he sat progressively straighter, until he reached a gnarled hand to a long neglected Bakelite telephone, lifted it and spoke clearly and slowly. Although the recipient of the call had no need to draw breath, the contents of the call caused an audible gasp. "Listen carefully. I need three things:
Firstly, I am going on a trip. Europe. Poland. Make all the necessary formal arrangements.
Second, there may be a requirement for outside contractors. Please enquire as to local assets.
Lastly, I am going to dictate something for you to take to the Justicar. He will take it to his peers. Make sure you write down what I am about to say exactly."
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3.0 New Crypt:
The Nosferatu as a clan have seen an influx of some new crypt options and access to some nice library additions in the last few big sets (Keepers and Heirs). Below are some of what I consider highlights, and some ideas of how to use them.
Keepers of Tradition saw no new Nos starter, but the boosters contained a number of vamps, ranging from Nichodemus (potence weenie) all the way to Alonso Petrodon and Josef Van Buren, the g4/5 Justicar and Inner Circle members. Overall Nos got some decent choices, including a vein of Dominate. The Heirs expansion saw a mixed precon with Samedi, but no new vamps in it.
3.1 Vampires of note:
Josef Van Buren (http://www.secretlibrary.info/index.php?crypt=1230) Poor Josef is slightly underwhelming. His +1 stealth in lieu of any more bleed is strange. He's an Inner Circle member, and has superior Obfuscate, so it seems like he's the runt of the new IC litter. Off clan disciplines are DEM and cel. Although he's not the only Nos in the new batch with access to dementation, I think you'd struggle to make a deck around it. Cel at inferior gives some extra rush combat options, but at 11 pool, its a very pricy non-dedicated combat minion to be throwing around. Josef's special, whilst amusing isn't good, per- se and is in the same vein as Gerald Rafin.
Alsonso Petrodon (http://www.secretlibrary.info/index.php?crypt=1170) Alsonso is much more worth a look than his boss. He has the same innate bleed, a semi-practical special, and access to DOM. As 10 cap Justicar, you could base a deck around his title, and DOM/OBF and get access to something approximating a political / malk '94 deck (not that I'd ever advocate that!).
Baron Dieudonne (http://www.secretlibrary.info/index.php?crypt=1176) The new Prince of Brussels, taking over from Niklaus Vermulen. A very good vampire with a reasonable discipline spread, title, and a built in inferior Freak Drive. I expect to see him get some use in new Royalty decks.
Jeremy Wix Wyzchovsky (http://www.secretlibrary.info/index.php? crypt=1226) A solid 5 cap with a built in camera phone, and all in- clan disciplines at inferior.
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4.0 New Library:
Despite the lack of a KoT precon and the dilute Heirs one, there are still a number of good new cards available for the Nosferatu to use, and some good reprints.
Warsaw Station. (http://www.secretlibrary.info/index.php?lib=1967) A solid investment of pool in higher cap decks, where actions and minions are important since you'll be using fewer of both.
Old Friends. (http://www.secretlibrary.info/index.php?lib=1948) A boon for Royalty decks, giving extra vote push to compliment animal magnetism, or if you've got the votes locked down, extra bleed.
Deep Song. (http://www.secretlibrary.info/index.php?lib=1928) An excellent card for the Nos, giving extra bleed to a discipline set that's lacked it, or another rush option to a clan with potence and animalism to hand.
Heirs has seen some extra +1 stealth cards as inferior versions of bloodline cards, as well as a +1 strength strike and a dodge, but nothing spectacular.
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5.0 Everything is better with Dominate!
Tired of being the bounce sink at your friendly and competitive games? Sick of your prey table sweeping because he can outpace you? Then the g4/5 Nos have something for you!
Yes, there seems to be a reasonable vein of Dominate in the new cards, allowing some extra deck options that previously Nos have struggled with. Traditional Nos decks seem to fall into the (reasonably successful) Royalty deck, or (more dicey) rush combat. Adding dominate allows the Nos to consider threat bleed, and stealth bleed. Further, governing / scouting down gives them some much needed pool recuperation.
http://www.thelasombra.com/decks/twd.htm#2k9socnewark – This is a fair example of a threat/bleed deck built using the new Nos, some rushes, combat and some powerful bleed.
http://www.thelasombra.com/decks/twd.htm#2k9englishecq – A similar example (albeit not using Nos, but still relying on pot, dom, ani)
5.1 Dominant Crypt Choices:
Sergei Voshkov, The Eye - http://www.secretlibrary.info/index.php?crypt=1267 – Sergei is useful, even given his inferior dominate. His native +1 intercept means that if he elects to block in front of a stealthy predator, he can deflect when his block attempt fails, making it harder for your prey to deal with. If he successfully blocks, then he has the option of getting rid of offensive actions, and remaining untapped via cat’s guidance.
Alonso Petrodon - http://www.secretlibrary.info/index.php?crypt=1170 - I mentioned him earlier, he’s a good solid vamp for his price, and has a good set of disciplines and a title to base any number of different deck archetypes off.
Gustaphe Brunnelle - http://www.secretlibrary.info/index.php?crypt=1215 – Gustaphe has 1 vote, and good disciplines for a threat bleed deck. It would be possibly worth basing the deck around him as the star. His built in rush only adds to his appeal.
Echo - http://www.secretlibrary.info/index.php?crypt=751 – The poor relation of the choices here (and predating KoT). Her lack of access to animalism no vote, inferior Dom, and limited-usefulness special probably won’t see her used much Harold Tanner - http://www.secretlibrary.info/index.php?crypt=1219 – Another good vampire for his price. He has a reasonable discipline spread, particularly for a rush / threat bleed deck and a special that means greater intelligence about what your pred / prey are up to.
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6.0 Decks
Below are two decks showing what you can do with the new crypt and library cards available. I’ve selected a deck with off-clan Dominate and a more traditional Royalty type.
6.1 Deck 1: Ugly Dominance:
This is a potential deck based around some of the above with some support from non-Nossies patterned after Mike Wilson's 2009 English ECQ deck - http://www.thelasombra.com/decks/twd.htm#2k9englishecq.
Deck Name: Ugly Dominance
Created By: John Best after Mike Wilson
Crypt: (12 cards, Min: 19 Max: 32 Mean: 6.41)
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4x Gustaphe Brunelle (8) ANI DOM POT obf Primogen Nosferatu:4
1 x Conrad Adoula (8) DOM OBT POT cel ani Lasombra:4
2x Harold Tanner (6) POT ani dom obf Nosferatu:4
1x Joseph Cambridge (6) POT ani dom obf Bishop ! Nosferatu:4
1x Otieno (6) OBT POT ani dom Lasombra:4
1x Virginie, Prodigy (6) DOM POT obt Bishop Lasombra:4
1x Beetleman (4) ANI obf Nosferatu:4
1x Stick (3) ANI ! Nosferatu:4
Min 19 Max 32 Mean 6.41
Library (90 cards)
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Action (12)
2x Army of Rats
7x Govern the Unaligned
3x Scouting Mission
Action Modifier (10)
5x Bonding
5x Conditioning
Combat (23)
7x Aid from Bats
8x Carrion Crows
4x Taste of Vitae
4x Thrown Gate
Combo (3)
3x Swallowed by the Night
Equipment (1)
1x Ivory Bow
Master (16)
4x Blood Doll
2x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Giant's Blood
1x KRCG News Radio
1x WMRH Talk Radio
1x Wash
1x Slum Hunting Ground
1x Dominate
2x Direct Intervention
2x Fame
Reaction (22)
5x Cats' Guidance
7x Deflection
4x On the Qui Vive
2x Sense the Savage Way
2x Wake with Evening's Freshness
Retainer (5)
1x Mr. Winthrop
4x Raven Spy
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6.2 Deck 2: Updated Royalty
This is what I'm running at the moment, it's had some success, making it to 2 finals and getting a load of VPs, but never taking first place. Its my take on a standard-ish Nos Royalty deck but it uses Cock Robin's special to untap after a Deep Song bleed, and Warsaw to untap after a poli. It has hints of breed/boon and Casino and Niklaus specials allow me to turbo out minions / recoup income from hunting grounds:
Deck Name: A song of Deep Cock.....Robin
Created By: John Best
Crypt: (12 cards, Min: 24, Max: 39, Mean:7.58 )
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3x Calebros (5) obf pot ANI Prince Nosferatu:2
4x Nikolaus Vermeulen (7) ani for obf POT Prince Nosferatu:2
2x Casino Reeds cel dem (9) ANI OBF POT Prince Nosferatu:3
3x Cock Robin (10) aus for ANI OBF POT Justicar Nosferatu:3
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Possibly the Library could do with more diversity, and previous versions have included Murat, Jara Drory, Ellison Humboldt, and even Sundown. Its quite a weighty crypt too, but the breed boon / parities / Vamp's special pull backs seem to be able to cope.
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Library [77]
Action [10]
4x Third Tradition: Progeny
5x Deep Song
1x ShreckNET
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The ShreckNET is a recent addition. The deep songs are gold, both as responsible bleed, and to give Cock Robin more actions per turn.
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Political Action [15]
4x Parity Shift
4x Kine Resources Contested
4x Consanguineous Boon
1x Praxis Seizure: Houston
1x Praxis Seizure: Stockholm
1x Reinforcements
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I take some stick for putting Reinforcements in, but I really rate it. It allows me to build the deck again midgame.
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Event [1]
1x Narrow Minds
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With no option to bounce (ok with this crypt size, Lost in Translation is an option, but in previous versions I found the blood drain a bit heavy) Narrow Minds is a no brainer. I've had cross table abuse for playing it, but honestly I'd rather they were losing blood, than I was losing pool.
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Action Modifiers [18]
2x Animal Magnetism
3x Forgotten Labyrinth
2x Spying Mission
2x Elder Impersonation
2x Cloak the Gathering
2x Into thin air
2x Faceless Night
3x Old Friends
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No real surprises here.
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Combo [3]
3x Swallowed by the night
Reaction [8]
6x Second Tradition: Domain
3x Mental Maze
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Its not a combat heavy deck, so whilst there is some intercept, I'd like to avoid combat if at all possible. The Mental Mazes have been surprisingly good for that reason.
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Combat [6]
6x Aid from bats
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The combat is admittedly weak, but I've tried several variations up to and including pot/ani nastiness, but it just seemed to detract from the flow of the deck.
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Masters [15]
3x Blood Doll
1x Elysium: Palace of Versailles
1x Slum Hunting Ground
1x The Labyrinth
1x Warsaw Station
1x Archon Investigation
1x Papillon
3x Obfuscate
2x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Direct Intervention
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I'm loving Warsaw, again giving extra untap options to a chunky crypt. Dreams I always get use from, and the Obfuscate masters work for the 3rd trads, or failing that, bolster Calebros or Niklaus.
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Thanks for reading; I hope you’ve found it useful, informative and interesting. If you haven’t, I hope you get dragged down a manhole.
John Best
Prince of Manchester (other)