FOLLOWERS OF SET NEWSLETTER - Vol 3 Iss 1 - October 2001

FOLLOWERS OF SET NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 1 October 2001 Author: Wes ========================================================== TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Fiction Setite Tactics Vampire Analysis - Khay'tall Card Analysis - Free States Rant Sign Off =================================================== INTRODUCTION When the opportunity to write a newsletter initially became available, I jumped at the chance. I love this game and I love to write. The choice of clans to write about was unfortunately limited to only a few options. My favourite clan, the Followers of Set, was already taken by Norman S. Brown Jr., the so-called Archon of the Swamp. I therefore decided to write for the Brujah Antitribu, who had risen to prominence with their own 'starter deck'. Now that Mr. Brown has stopped writing the newsletter, I took the chance to snap it up. The Brujah Antitribu newsletter survives my departure with a new editor, Derek Ray who is more than qualified to write about one of the more thug-like clans in the game. Enjoy! =================================================== FICTION It had been some time since Julian Sanders had reported to his mistress Nefertiti. The memory of her sweet vitae trickling down his parched throat brought pangs of hunger and desire. No longer satisfied with the vitae of mere mortals, he had long since succumbed to temptation and sold his soul for the forbidden nectar. Of course, where Setite vitae was concerned, once was never enough and he was soon addicted to the blood of the elder Nefertiti. At first, his mistress had happily provided all that he desired. In exchange, all she requested was the occasional bit of information about the Sabbat or the Brujah Antitribu. Although it was against the tenets of the Sabbat to reveal such information, there was a more important consideration... the next fix. In this way, the Followers of Set had learned about the recent Sabbat incursions along the Eastern Seaboard and were able to remove their people from harm's way. Factions within the Sabbat would certainly have relished the destruction of any Setites as much as they enjoyed the destruction of the many Camarilla victims. Julian did not consider himself a traitor to the Sabbat. He was just a lick with a habit. Besides, he thought to himself, the Sabbat is all about freedom. Why shouldn't he be allowed to consort with vampires outside the sect? Nevertheless, he now often found himself performing tasks for Nefertiti which he would never have considered before. Attacking and destroying a particular Toreador vampire in Atlanta was nothing he had a problem with but planting an explosive device in a radio station owned by a Sabbat Archbishop? Suffice to say, Julian watched his back these nights. One was never too sure who was watching... Nefertiti greeted him warmly and placed his eager fangs lovingly against her breast. She smiled as he let go and whispered in his ear, 'Julian, I have one final task for you and then you will be free of your obligations'. Julian objected, 'But mistress, I live to serve your every need! Please, do not--' 'Shhhhh...', Nefertiti pressed her index finger to Julian's mouth, 'You will understand soon enough.' She led him into the basement of the compound, followed by several strangely garbed servants. She signalled to one of her ghouls and the man nodded and unlocked a padlocked door. Inside, bound by heavy iron chains and staked through the chest was a vampire who Julian was very familiar with. 'Sela?!? But how...?' Nefertiti smiled innocently and motioned Julian over to the prostate form of his fellow clan-mate. 'Drink her soul, Julian... destroy her.' Julian knew this was wrong but could not stop himself. Nefertiti's commands had become more powerful than any loyalties he might have had to Sela. With only a moment's hesitation, he leapt at Sela and within ten minutes nothing was left of her but ashes. In the euphoria that followed, Julian lost track of time and space. When he awoke from his trance, he was unable to move. A sliver of wood protruded painfully from his chest and the chains that bound Sela now held him in place. Nefertiti and her servants were gone. Someone powerful was pounding on the door of the cell. It was now only a matter of time before the Sabbat entered and destroyed him for his crime. His mistress had betrayed him. A reddish tear descended down his paralyzed cheek. Even though his unlife would soon come to an end, all that he could think of was the sweet taste of his mistress' vitae. =================================================== SETITE TACTICS Voting is easier for the Setites than it is for most clans. While we don't always have the inherent titles required to pass votes, we do have access to helpful Presence vote modifiers such as Bewitching Oration and Awe. These cards can often make the difference between a passed or failed referendum. A problem with all votes is that they are undirected. This means that either our predator or our prey can attempt to block the political action. Unfortunately, both have a reason to try to stop you. Your prey will not want to suffer whatever nastiness the vote entails while the last thing your predator wants is to see your deck succeed. All votes have an inherent +1 stealth, which is helpful, but is it enough? Lately, it seems that almost every deck has some way to produce intercept to stop actions. It has almost become a necessity with many of the cards that came out of the Final Nights expansion. Fortunately, the Setites have access to many sources of stealth. Whereas a Ventrue will often find their votes blocked because it is obvious they have limited options in adding stealth, no Methuselah in their right mind will bother to waste their precious intercept to stop a clan as sneaky as the Setites. With Obfuscate and Serpentis transient steatlh modifiers as well as two inexpensive locations to provide stealth for votes (Opium Den, Creepshow Casino), it is unlikely that they will be able to stop you. VAMPIRE ANALYSIS Khay'tall 9 Capacity OBF PRE SER aus DOM Khay'tall gets +1 stealth on political actions. Vampires with corruption counters cannot cast votes against any referendums called by Khay'tall. Khay'tall comes with every clan-discipline at maximum... always a plus. Additionally, he possesses superior Dominate which is arguably the most potent discipline in the game. This synchronizes well with Kementiri(dom), Nefertiti(DOM), Kephamos(dom) and Count Ormonde(dom) Considering Khay'tall's other special, Nefertiti may be the most logical vampire to couple him with. They both share four superior disciplines and Nefertiti's special can be used to prevent votes called by Khay'tall from passing. It's an expensive duo at 19 pool, but it could be the making of a potent combination. I've always tried to avoid 9-caps myself. They are difficult to influence out as the most transfers you will have in a typical game is 4 per turn. This means that barring cards like Zillah's Valley or Information Highway, you will need at least three full turns before your 9-cap is ready to go. A lot can happen in those three turns, especially with a weenie deck behind you. Khay'tall can play the vote denial game quite well, but only for votes that he himself calls. An additional action is required, a Corruption, which can be played by any vampire, not just yours. Typically though, it would be a very costly way in terms of actions to ensure that one vote passes. If you go this route, don't forego the Bewitching Orations; they may prove a better method of getting your votes to pass. CARD ANALYSIS Free States Rant Political Card - Worth 1 Vote Called by any Independent vampire at +1 stealth Allocate X points among one or more ready vampires, where X is half of the capacity of the acting vampire (rounded up). No more than 3 points can be allocated to a single vampire. Successful referendum means each vampire burns 1 blood for each point assigned. In this referendum, titles are worth 1 less vote each (even in the Prisci sub-referendum), and burning the edge for a vote is worth an additional vote. Detroit players will not be surprised by this card showing up here... it's probably my favourite card in the Final Nights set and I have several decks that make use of it. Blood is the fuel that makes vampires go. Without their blood, vampires are robotic drones that must hunt and hunt and hunt. A vampire stuck in a hunting loop is no threat to you, whether it is in front of you or behind you. They will generally be tapped, with only one blood on them and unlikely to bleed you or block your actions. Used en masse, Free States Rant will devastate any deck it goes up against. Although not designed specifically with the Setites in mind, it certainly seems to suit us well. With Obfuscate and Presence, we have more of a chance to pass this vote than any other independent clan. Since titled votes are decreased by 1 for this vote, a well-placed Bewitching Oration will often be enough to pass it. Because the effect of the referendum is tied to the size of the vampire that called it, larger vampires are preferred. Having an odd-numbered capacity is also beneficial as the effect rounds up. Khay'tall will hit for 5 while Sutekh will hit for 6. This does not mean however that you should resign yourself to calling this vote only with large vampires. Consider a fleet of Aabt Kindred, each with a Presence skill card each calling a Free States Rant. The damage adds up regardless, and it is still a more cost-effective way to remove blood than using Cryptic Missions. The best targets are obviously those vampires that can be emptied right away; those with 3 or less blood being ideal. My preference is to aim at my prey's vampires most of the time, but if I need to slow down my predator, their vampires are certainly legitimate targets. Since the Edge is worth two votes in this referendum, it is useful that we have it when the vote is called. Therefore, Edge Vitiation works well with this card, though you are unlikely to keep it if you target your predator too many times. SIGN OFF It never seems that I have room to write all that I want to say once I get going, so please excuse the long-windedness of this newsletter... Regardless, I hope that you have enjoyed it. If there are any topics which you would like for me to discuss here, please feel free to contact me. My email address is gh...@NOSPAMmnsi.net. Please remove the NOSPAM to email me.

> Considering Khay'tall's other special, Nefertiti may be the most logical > vampire to couple him with. They both share four superior disciplines > and Nefertiti's special can be used to prevent votes called by > Khay'tall from passing. It's an expensive duo at 19 pool, but it could be > the making of a potent combination. > How can you effectively use the 2 vamps, since Nefertiti (and Corruption card) can place counter on her prey only? What if your predator has a political deck?

"Cartman" <federi...@libero.it> wrote > > > How can you effectively use the 2 vamps, since Nefertiti (and Corruption > card) can place counter on her prey only? What if your predator has a > political deck? Steal your predator's titled vampires with Temptation perhaps? I don't know really... it may not be a viable idea. Frankly, investing 19 pool to get the effect seems too expensive to me. OTOH both are large enough to make Free States Rant hurt quite a bit... The deck would not have to be focused on politics necessarily. The two vamps pair nicely because they have 4 disciplines in common at superior, not just because their specials synergize. Presence, Dominate bleeds using Obfuscate stealth sounds rather nasty... Cheers, WES

"Cartman" <federi...@libero.it> wrote in message news:1%uC7.12596$Qj6.9...@news.infostrada.it... [ quoted text not captured ] Use Temptation or Mind Rape to borrow a vampire's votes. Play the table too, put some of the FSR points somewhere where you can get some cross-table support, use BO and Bribes. The beauty of most Political Actions is that their effect can be shared around, correctly placed, you'll get the votes you need. Also don't forget that the reduction in vote ability as getting 2 for the edge changes the landscape quite signifigantly ( e.g. the Prisci sub-referendum is always worth 0 votes unless Gratiano is out ).

> Since the Edge is worth two votes in this referendum, it is useful that we > have > it when the vote is called. Therefore, Edge Vitiation works well with this > card, though you are unlikely to keep it if you target your predator too > many times. I've found that Edge Vitiation is a good distraction, every time I've got it out my predator goes after it first ( although that might have something to do with me usually also having Victoria out ). I've found that the easiest way to get the edge before a Free States Rant is to just Night Moves your prey, it's practically unblockable ( and also works well with Enticement ).

> > When the opportunity to write a newsletter initially became available, I > jumped at the chance. I love this game and I love to write. The choice of > clans to write about was unfortunately limited to only a few options. My > favourite clan, the Followers of Set, As the follower of set is your favorite clan, I have few things to say because it's mine too! In fact, I have a big problem with the follower, they can do too many different things......... -vote, as you explane in this newsletter -corruption, really fun -nightmoves+enticement, I just finish a sort of toolbox deck with it....It works well with 4 players but I didn't test with 5. And if you plane to play with a 4 cards limit.... you may mix ! For info, my deck : There are 93 cards but it depend on the envirronement 12 VAMPIRE (follower, ser obf pre) cap. 2 celine/fol/obf ser 3 2 nepata/fol/obf ser pre 4 2 dedefra/fol/SER obf/+1tsr vs camarilla 5 2 count ormonde/fol/ser OBF pre 5 2 sir marriot/obf ser PRE 5 1 hesha/fol/obf SER pre/+1 blood & stealth when hunt 6 1 sarrasine/OBF PRE ser/burn edge = 2 master phase 7 16 reaction 4 Ecstasy(-1bleed/if 0, -1blood too) 2 banner of neutrality(-1bleed) 4 Wake with Evening's Freshness 4 dread gaze (+2/+4 vote) 2 delaying tactic 19 Action modifier 5 elder impersonnation 5 lost in crowds 3 form of the serpent ser/+1stealth/manoeuver 3 obf/+1stealth/manoeuver 3 facelest night 18 action 7 enticement (burn edge=-2/3blood for prey), 0blood /11 5 night moves, 0blood /10 2 propaganda 3 enchanted kindred 1 +2 bleed/+1blood 12 combat 2 skin of the adder 1prevent/&+1str 3 majesty 2 catatonic fear 3 dodge 2 zip gun 5 Equipment 2 sport bike 2 44 magnum 1 palatiel estate 23 Master 5 blood doll 0 major boon(if big bleed envirronement) 2 tabloid newspaper (cross table intercept) 1 KRCG (intercept) 2 HG 2 Opium Den, +1stealth 1 direct intervention/2 2 Serpentis 2 the barrens 1 dream of the sphinx 2 jake washington 3 obfuscate

"cure" <cu...@caramail.com> wrote in message news:64a19912.01102...@posting.google.com... [ quoted text not captured ] look into Forgotten Labyrinth +2/+3 stealth on a non-bleed action, works really well with an Enticement ( which is not a bleed ) > 18 action > 7 enticement (burn edge=-2/3blood for prey), 0blood /11 > 5 night moves, 0blood /10 > 2 propaganda > 3 enchanted kindred > 1 +2 bleed/+1blood > > 12 combat > 2 skin of the adder 1prevent/&+1str > 3 majesty > 2 catatonic fear > 3 dodge Any particular reason why you're using dodge? If you can dodge 99% of the time you can S:CE as well so why dodge if you can S:CE? > 2 zip gun > > 5 Equipment > 2 sport bike > 2 44 magnum > 1 palatiel estate > > 23 Master Seems a bit master heavy to me, but if it works for you..... [ quoted text not captured ]

"Wes" <gh...@NOSPAMmnsi.net> wrote in message news:<9re8d...@enews3.newsguy.com>... > "Cartman" <federi...@libero.it> wrote > > > > > How can you effectively use the 2 vamps, since Nefertiti (and Corruption > > card) can place counter on her prey only? What if your predator has a > > political deck? > > I don't know really... it may not be a viable idea. Frankly, investing 19 > pool to get the effect seems too expensive to me. OTOH both are large enough > to make Free States Rant hurt quite a bit...[and] The two vamps > pair nicely because they have 4 disciplines in common at superior, not just > because their specials synergize. Presence, Dominate bleeds using Obfuscate > stealth sounds rather nasty... I've been winning regularly with a Nefertiti/Khay'tall/Ormonde tag team deck that uses Free State Rant and Charming Lobby, then follows up with Banishments. It's death on its prey, and good at table balancing too. Since the vamps all have dominate, I pack Deflection and Obedience to reduce the Setites' vulnerability to rushes and bleeds. Voter Cap and Consanguinous Boon give it pool gain. In short, yes, they're worth the 19 pool.

"Emmit Svenson" <emmits...@hotmail.com> wrote > > I've been winning regularly with a Nefertiti/Khay'tall/Ormonde > tag team deck that uses Free State Rant and Charming Lobby, then > follows up with Banishments. It's death on its prey, and good at table > balancing too. Since the vamps all have dominate, I pack Deflection > and Obedience to reduce the Setites' vulnerability to rushes and > bleeds. Voter Cap and Consanguinous Boon give it pool gain. In short, > yes, they're worth the 19 pool. Very cool. I wonder... do you often find yourself using the 'corruption counters preventing votes' aspect of this combination of vampires or are you using them more because their disciplines jive well? I found the latter far more useful myself. Actually, would you mind posting the deck? You could also email it to me if you're not up to posting... Thanks. Cheers, WES

"Wes" <gh...@NYETSPAMmnsi.net> wrote in message news:<9rljq...@enews2.newsguy.com>... > ... do you often find yourself using the 'corruption counters > preventing votes' aspect of this combination of vampires or are you using > them more because their disciplines jive well? I found the latter far more > useful myself. Oh, for the disciplines, of course, but Khay'tall's extra stealth on political actions is pretty darn useful too, and I have occasionally gotten some use out of the corruption counter situation. [Side question to LSJ: does Khay'tall get additional stealth when playing Charming Lobby?] I'll get a deck list to you.

Emmit Svenson wrote: > [Side question to LSJ: does Khay'tall get additional stealth when > playing Charming Lobby?] When attempting any political action, yes. -- LSJ (vte...@white-wolf.com) V:TES Net.Rep for White Wolf, Inc. Links to revised rulebook, rulings, errata, and tournament rules: http://www.white-wolf.com/vtes/

"LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message news:3BDECA44...@white-wolf.com... > Emmit Svenson wrote: > > [Side question to LSJ: does Khay'tall get additional stealth when > > playing Charming Lobby?] > > When attempting any political action, yes. Does that mean that Charming Lobby can be tossed for a vote? ( providing I'm not the one calling the referendum )

In message <ttud1rb...@news.supernews.com>, GreySeer <e...@i.think.not> writes: >> When attempting any political action, yes. > >Does that mean that Charming Lobby can be tossed for a vote? ( providing I'm >not the one calling the referendum ) No. The action that Charming Lobby provides is a political action. It is not a Political Action card "Worth 1 vote". Similarly, compare Elysium: The Arboretum, with built-in political action. -- James Coupe PGP Key: 0x5D623D5D EBD690ECD7A1F If I had a dick, I'd go get laid. We can do the B457CA213D7E6 next best thing. Let's kill people. Oh, not *you*. 68C3695D623D5D

GreySeer <e...@i.think.not> wrote in message news:ttud1rb...@news.supernews.com... [ quoted text not captured ] No, it does not have the 'worth one vote' text (though [6.3.3.] seems somewhat ambiguous in this, it says that card text is ignored in political cards burned for votes...). Flux

In message <3bdf...@212.18.160.197>, Flux <fl...@netc.pt> writes: >No, it does not have the 'worth one vote' text (though [6.3.3.] seems >somewhat ambiguous in this, it says that card text is ignored in political >cards burned for votes...). Charming Lobby isn't a political action card, it just happens to provide a political action. [ quoted text not captured ]

GreySeer wrote: > "LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote: > > Emmit Svenson wrote: > > > [Side question to LSJ: does Khay'tall get additional stealth when > > > playing Charming Lobby?] > > > > When attempting any political action, yes. > > Does that mean that Charming Lobby can be tossed for a vote? ( providing I'm > not the one calling the referendum ) It never matters if you're the one calling the referendum or not. It only matters if you've gained a vote from a PA card yet or not. At any rate, CL is not a Political Action Card (not the lack of the appropriate symbol on the card), so it cannot be burned as one. [ quoted text not captured ]

"LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message news:3BDFF851...@white-wolf.com... > GreySeer wrote: > > "LSJ" <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote: > > > Emmit Svenson wrote: > > > > [Side question to LSJ: does Khay'tall get additional stealth when > > > > playing Charming Lobby?] > > > > > > When attempting any political action, yes. > > > > Does that mean that Charming Lobby can be tossed for a vote? ( providing I'm > > not the one calling the referendum ) > > It never matters if you're the one calling the referendum or not. > It only matters if you've gained a vote from a PA card yet or not. > > At any rate, CL is not a Political Action Card (not the lack of the > appropriate symbol on the card), so it cannot be burned as one. The current card text for Charming Lobby is "+1 stealth ={political action. [pre] Call a referendum listed on a political action card in your hand (play that card) or allowed by an effect in play. If the referendum passes, then the next referendum called by any vampire}= thereafter passes automatically. [PRE] As above, and {this vampire gains} 2 votes for the first {referendum}." So Charming Lobby is not a Political Action card even though the card text says +1 stealth political action?

In message <tu1af8d...@news.supernews.com>, GreySeer <e...@i.think.not> writes: >So Charming Lobby is not a Political Action card even though the card text >says +1 stealth political action? A card can provide a political action without being a political action card. See Elysium: The Arboretum et al. [ quoted text not captured ]

GreySeer wrote: > So Charming Lobby is not a Political Action card even though the card text > says +1 stealth political action? Right. [ quoted text not captured ]