VEKN Brujah Newsletter January 2002 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)