rec.games.trading-cards.jyhad

Delaying Tactics & Alamut: Designer's Intent?

56 messages from 21 participants · 17 June 2002 – 26 June 2002
original thread on Google Groups

Halcyan 2

Okay, we all know that when designers create cards, they often cannot magically predict that some future cards may mess up the functionality of the cards they're creating (hence Card Text Migrations and their "Some cards have been printed in more than one set, and some of those cards have had their functions alter slightly or changed dramatically."). However, it still baffles me at times why some times *are* changed while some things *aren't*. The reason why I'm posting this was that I was just looking up the text of Delaying Tactics to follow up on a ruling and I noticed some interesting quirks about the card text. Most notably: #1. All of the references concerning the acting minion refer to him as a "vampire." Of course up till Bloodlines, only vampires have been able to call votes (now we have a Herald of Topheth using a Charming Lobby). So first off what happens if a Delaying Tactics wants to be played on a Herald's vote? My gut reaction is that it can't, but looking at the card text, perhaps the vote is cancelled, the untap and returning the card is ignored (since he's not a vampire), and the "same political action" prohibition is maintained as well? #2. Also, it seems odd that if Gideon calls a KRC that is Delayed, even though Democritus, Mary the Black, and Smudge cannot call another KRC that turn ("same political action"), a Herald of Topheth still can, since Delaying Tactics right now prevents the Methusaleh's *vampires* from calling the same political action. Once again, it seems pretty clear that Delaying Tactics was designed to prevent any of the Methusaleh's minions from calling that vote (and I'm pretty sure one of the printings had that text) but a while back, White Wolf decided to try to clean things up and since there was no way for allies to call votes at the time, they kept the text to "vampires." And now here comes the Herald who manages to slip under the radar. (Boy I hate that card! This card has perhaps created a record number of rule-breaking, rule-changes, or rule-whatevers! Grrr...). So what I'm pretty much saying is that it *seems* that due to the Herald (an ally who can call a vote), Delaying Tactics does not seem to serve the same functionality that the designer intended (and I don't want to go on and on about who can interpret "designer's intent" and all). On a slightly different note, I've always been a bit annoyed by the FN change to Alamut. In the original AH edition, you could tap it to give an ally votes. But then FN changed it to just vampires. At the time, I thought "ok, no big deal. Yeah, I can't have my Hell Hound vote anyway, but it seems like they're just trying to streamline things and avoid corner-cases like voting allies or something." And then comes the Herald of Topheth, who can vote (Dread Gaze, BO, etc.). So I'm just a bit curious *why* Alamut was changed in Final Nights. Why *shouldn't* it be able to be used with Heralds? Halcyan 2

The Lasombra

On 17 Jun 2002 01:16:49 GMT, (Halcyan 2) asked about Delaying Tactics: >#1. All of the references concerning the acting minion refer to him as a >"vampire." Of course up till Bloodlines, only vampires have been able to call >votes (now we have a Herald of Topheth using a Charming Lobby). So first off >what happens if a Delaying Tactics wants to be played on a Herald's vote? The political action is cancelled, and stays in the ash heap. This portion of the text refers only to the political action, and mentions nothing about the actor. The Herald is not untapped and the restriction about playing it again is not applied. >#2. >On a slightly different note, I've always been a bit annoyed by the FN change >to Alamut. In the original AH edition, you could tap it to give an ally votes. >But then FN changed it to just vampires. At the time, I thought "ok, no big >deal. Yeah, I can't have my Hell Hound vote anyway, but it seems like they're >just trying to streamline things and avoid corner-cases like voting allies or >something." And then comes the Herald of Topheth, who can vote (Dread Gaze, BO, >etc.). So I'm just a bit curious *why* Alamut was changed in Final Nights. Why >*shouldn't* it be able to be used with Heralds? Because mixing the Baali, Heralds, Assamites, Alamut, and Voting in the same deck is sure to be a handicap that even the most competent among us will shun. None of the Assamite allies should have any influence over a vampiric vote, and that was why it was changed. Heralds and Baali are in the game only to serve as a handicap for thoses people that need them against their regular gaming groups. Paying a pool to untap the Baali, paying 3 pool to recruit the Herald, paying a fifth pool to keep it from burning during your influence phase all before it can act is a pretty serious handicap when you could just have used Antoinette DuChamp or Igo the Hungry for one pool. There is no good strategic reason to play Baali over the other clans, only the challenge of the handicap continues to allow them to see play. Carpe noctem. Lasombra http://www.TheLasombra.com

Chris Arthur

[snip] > > There is no good strategic reason to play Baali over the other clans, > only the challenge of the handicap continues to allow them to see > play. > I agree with TheLasombra in that the Baali are handicapped. The cost of one pool per turn per Baali is too much. Perhaps the blood could be burnt off the Baali rather than from the pool? (I realise it doesn't make as much sense thematically). Chris.

reyda

"Chris Arthur" <chr...@comcen.com.au> wrote in message news:5a63bace.02061...@posting.google.com... > [snip] > > > > > There is no good strategic reason to play Baali over the other clans, > > only the challenge of the handicap continues to allow them to see > > play. > > > > I agree with TheLasombra in that the Baali are handicapped. The cost > of one pool per turn per Baali is too much. The cost is not too much . Look at how strong vampires they are. One avoids hand jam, the others gives you the edge no matter what, the other reduces your prey's size by one etc... They are quite great. You don't have to play a mono baali deck, just fit them where you want to. Look also at their discipline points which are above the standard. Think also you can use strong cards like the condemnations,concordance or conflagration... > Perhaps the blood could be burnt off the Baali rather than from the > pool? (I realise it doesn't make as much sense thematically). it *does* make sense thematically since it's the methuselah struggling against demonic forces to keep the baali interested in his jyhad matters and not go perform some ritual involving sacrifice of chikens to curse certain soccer team =)

James Coupe

In message <3d0d3f1d...@text.giganews.com>, The Lasombra <thela...@hotmail.com> writes: >Paying a pool to untap the Baali, Pedantry: Paying a pool not to tap the Baali. (The point is still valid, but this one really, really needs to be understood by people.) -- James Coupe PGP 0x5D623D5D I am woman. Here, me raw. EBD690ECD7A1FB457CA2 13D7E668C3695D623D5D

Noal McDonald

thela...@hotmail.com (The Lasombra) wrote: > There is no good strategic reason to play Baali over the other clans, > only the challenge of the handicap continues to allow them to see > play. You should be ashamed of yourself for promoting such utter nonsense. If it wasn't for the Infernal mechanism, the Baali would be gossly overpowered. Name another clan that effectively pull off stealth bleed and back it up with ranged aggravated damage using in-clan disciplines. Name another clan that has access to a card that can be used to interecept or increase a bleed. Name another clan that permanently cause the controller of a vampire to lose a pool if it is blocked after permanently giving it -1 stealth. It is because of the raw power of Baali, that people (including myself) are putting efforts into making competitive decks centered around them. FWIW, I just missed getting into the finals of the Toronto tournament on Saturday using a Baali (w Setites) deck that's about half way through its development cycle because of a 3 way tie for 5th place and I had the lowest tournament points. By the time Origins gets here, I intend to prove that I can qualify for the nationals using a Baali deck. (even though I've already qualified using the Loyalty of Lunatics deck) That is, assuming that I don't opt to win the sealed deck tournament with Beast instead. ;-) Regards, Noal

lehrbuch

halc...@aol.com (Halcyan 2) wrote in message news:<20020616211649...@mb-mr.aol.com>... > So what I'm pretty much saying is that it *seems* > that due to the Herald (an ally who can call a > vote), Delaying Tactics does not seem to serve > the same functionality that the designer intended > (and I don't want to go on and on about who can > interpret "designer's intent" and all). It could equally well be the designer of the Herald's intent that it interacts in the way that it does with Delaying Tactics. Unless a designer says otherwise, it is best to assume that the printed card texts and their interactions are the designer's intent. Are you saying that current designers should not contradict the intent (if they know) of previous designers? If so, how does the game change? How can new cards be anything other than old cards with new pictures and names? * lehrbuch

Curevei

>thela...@hotmail.com (The Lasombra) wrote: >> There is no good strategic reason to play Baali over the other clans, >> only the challenge of the handicap continues to allow them to see >> play. > >You should be ashamed of yourself for promoting such utter nonsense. >If it wasn't for the Infernal mechanism, the Baali would be gossly >overpowered. Okay. >Name another clan that effectively pull off stealth bleed and back it >up with ranged aggravated damage using in-clan disciplines. Tzimisce. Gangrel, !Gangrel including nondiscipline cards (Computer Hacking). Assamites including nondiscipline cards, though to be effective at stealth bleed I wouldn't bother with the Tastes of Death. Then, there are ineffectual ways to do it like Giovanni with Torment the Soul. But, anyway, I wouldn't rate this as particularly important. If I'm going to bleed at stealth, whether I can hit people or not isn't usually one of my concerns. Though, I do think my tournament Baali deck is better with Conflagrations than without. Name >another clan that has access to a card that can be used to interecept >or increase a bleed. Name another clan that permanently cause the >controller of a vampire to lose a pool if it is blocked after >permanently giving it -1 stealth. No bleed bounce. Not all that inexpensive vampires. Limited number of vamps with dai/DAI in the game. Unless you get tricky, you have to push forward hard which seems to be out of favor table politicswise in a lot of places. >It is because of the raw power of Baali, that people (including >myself) are putting efforts into making competitive decks centered >around them. There are some decklists I've seen that are nifty. There's no decklist I've seen that I'd consider tier 1, 1.5. >FWIW, I just missed getting into the finals of the Toronto tournament >on Saturday using a Baali (w Setites) deck that's about half way >through its development cycle because of a 3 way tie for 5th place and >I had the lowest tournament points. By the time Origins gets here, I >intend to prove that I can qualify for the nationals using a Baali >deck. (even though I've already qualified using the Loyalty of >Lunatics deck) That is, assuming that I don't opt to win the sealed >deck tournament with Beast instead. Good. People should try challenging strategies to see if they can elevate the game by discovering something others haven't. But, it was amusing to hear The Lasombra pan them so. IMO, they are conceptually bad, as most extremes are. Their cards and specials are really powerful, too much so without a drawback. But, their drawback screws them by being so severe, which preserves balance but isn't the way I'd design for a game.

HD

"reyda" <true_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<3d0da353$0$10645$79c1...@nan-newsreader-03.noos.net>... [ quoted text not captured ] What's the background story for the Baali? Are there any good web links? I don't know that much about them, and I assume that there are a few other people that don't know who they are or where they came from. Does anyone have a decent Baali deck that they have posted or are willing to post? (web links) Even if the Baali only make a guest appearance, it would be cool to see some decks where they are definitely worth the cost (handicap?) Cheers, Howard

The Lasombra

On 17 Jun 2002 19:02:47 -0700, hdma...@hotmail.com (HD) wrote: >What's the background story for the Baali? Are there any good web >links? From http://www.TheLasombra.com/ClanPages/baali/ Patman's Baali Page http://www.patman.org/wod/clans/baali3.asp Bertish's Baali Page http://www.patman.org/wod/clans/baali2.asp Vampire49's Baali Page http://vampire49.tripod.com/clans/baali.html White Wolf's Baali Page http://www.white-wolf.com/vtes/BLbaa.html >I don't know that much about them, and I assume that there are >a few other people that don't know who they are or where they came >from. >Does anyone have a decent Baali deck that they have posted or are >willing to post? (web links) There were two newsletters, they are archived here: December 2001 http://www.thelasombra.com/newsletter/baali_december_2001.htm February 2002 http://www.thelasombra.com/newsletter/baali_february_2002.htm > Even if the Baali only make a guest >appearance, it would be cool to see some decks where they are >definitely worth the cost (handicap?) VTES Shetland's Baali Page has 7 Baali decks http://www.vtesshetland.com/decksBaa.php 17 Baali Decks as they appeared on this newsgroup: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rgtcjdeckarchive/messagesearch?query=baali [ quoted text not captured ]

reyda

"James Coupe" <ja...@zephyr.org.uk> wrote in message news:O4MzzQvd...@gratiano.zephyr.org.uk... > In message <3d0d3f1d...@text.giganews.com>, The Lasombra > <thela...@hotmail.com> writes: > >Paying a pool to untap the Baali, > > Pedantry: > > Paying a pool not to tap the Baali. this is no pedantry dear James =) some people may think that the baali are immune to, say, sensory deprivation. But this is not true. reyda

Jeroen

dhar...@my-deja.com (Noal McDonald) wrote in message news:<bb705c59.02061...@posting.google.com>... > thela...@hotmail.com (The Lasombra) wrote: > > There is no good strategic reason to play Baali over the other clans, > > only the challenge of the handicap continues to allow them to see > > play. > > You should be ashamed of yourself for promoting such utter nonsense. > If it wasn't for the Infernal mechanism, the Baali would be gossly > overpowered. > Indeed. > > It is because of the raw power of Baali, that people (including > myself) are putting efforts into making competitive decks centered > around them. > Someone in my playgroup is trying to make a Huitzil-great Beast - TOGP deck. It does need some tweaking but is fearsome when it takes off. Minion Tapped Huitzilopochtli + For skillcard, equip with Soul Gem Freak Drive + Call the Great Beast. Great Beast enters Play, Huitzil burns, triggering the soul Gem. a Camm Justicar enters play. Great Beast has NEC and possesses Huitzil back and gets his Soul Gem back. Here is IMO the inherent design flaw: Huitzil needs another (for) skill card to keep repeating this trick. Ideas anyone? BTW, 2 questions regarding this deck: 1. The Great Beast is unique. Does this mean the Minion with the name 'Great Beast' or do Call the Great Beast cards in play contest with the minion. I guess not, but just to be sure. 2. Can The great Beast Call the Great Beast (Great Beast phone home...)? He burns before contesting, right? Jeroen

Jeroen

"reyda" <true_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<3d0da353$0$10645$79c1...@nan-newsreader-03.noos.net>... > "Chris Arthur" <chr...@comcen.com.au> wrote in message > news:5a63bace.02061...@posting.google.com... > > [snip] > > The cost is not too much . Look at how strong vampires they are. > > One avoids hand jam, the others gives you the edge no matter what, the other > reduces your prey's size by one etc... Reduces your prey's size by one what? cm, inch,... :-) Could be nice for fat V:TES players. No need for a diet, just sit as the prey of a Baali deck.

James Coupe

In message <3d0ead28$0$21748$79c1...@nan-newsreader-03.noos.net>, reyda <true_...@hotmail.com> writes: >> Paying a pool not to tap the Baali. > >this is no pedantry dear James =) >some people may think that the baali are immune to, say, sensory >deprivation. But this is not true. No, indeed not. However, in The Lasombra's case - where it was merely referencing the additional cost in general - it was pedantic, IMO. [ quoted text not captured ]

reyda

"Jeroen" <joen...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:5f0d2397.02061...@posting.google.com... > BTW, 2 questions regarding this deck: > 1. The Great Beast is unique. Does this mean the Minion with the name > 'Great Beast' or do Call the Great Beast cards in play contest with > the minion. I guess not, but just to be sure. this card represents a unique vampire once there is more than 10 counter on it, but it seems you can have multiples call of the great beat in play =) card text : "When this card has more than 10 ritual counters, burn this Baali and choose three Disciplines; this card becomes a *unique* clanless independent infernal vampire with 9 capacity, 4 strength and 3 bleed. The Great Beast has the chosen three Disciplines at superior."... > 2. Can The great Beast Call the Great Beast (Great Beast phone > home...)? He burns before contesting, right? yes , right, but he has to be a baali to do the action ;)

reyda

"Jeroen" <joen...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:5f0d2397.0206...@posting.google.com... [ quoted text not captured ] if it were centimeters, that would be very bad for me : i'm already quite small, i would have to rush mainyu asap =)

James Coupe

In message <3d0ef805$0$17630$79c1...@nan-newsreader-02.noos.net>, reyda <true_...@hotmail.com> writes: >this card represents a unique vampire once there is more than 10 counter on >it, but it seems you can have multiples call of the great beat in play =) No. * All "Call the Great Beasts" become the same unique vampire and will contest accordingly. http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=3C0CEBAD.E5B1318C%40white-wolf.com [LSJ 20011204] [ quoted text not captured ]

reyda

"James Coupe" <ja...@zephyr.org.uk> wrote in message news:+eHfKSzw...@gratiano.zephyr.org.uk... > In message <3d0ef805$0$17630$79c1...@nan-newsreader-02.noos.net>, reyda > <true_...@hotmail.com> writes: > >this card represents a unique vampire once there is more than 10 counter on > >it, but it seems you can have multiples call of the great beat in play =) > > No. > > * All "Call the Great Beasts" become the same unique vampire and > will contest accordingly. > > > http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=3C0CEBAD.E5B1318C%40white-wolf.com So a vampire will contest with an action card ? how disturbing...

James Coupe

In message <3d0efc0f$0$2471$79c1...@nan-newsreader-01.noos.net>, reyda <true_...@hotmail.com> writes: >> * All "Call the Great Beasts" become the same unique vampire and >> will contest accordingly. >> >> >> http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=3C0CEBAD.E5B1318C%40white-wolf.com > >So a vampire will contest with an action card ? how disturbing... No, the vampires will contest with each other. Call the Great Beast: "...this card becomes a unique clanless..." The Call the Great Beast action card is not unique. You could have five in play, if you wanted. [ quoted text not captured ]

reyda

"James Coupe" <ja...@zephyr.org.uk> wrote in message news:LPaCe11F...@gratiano.zephyr.org.uk... > In message <3d0efc0f$0$2471$79c1...@nan-newsreader-01.noos.net>, reyda > <true_...@hotmail.com> writes: > >> * All "Call the Great Beasts" become the same unique vampire and > >> will contest accordingly. > >> > >> > >> http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=3C0CEBAD.E5B1318C%40white-wolf.com > > > >So a vampire will contest with an action card ? how disturbing... > > No, the vampires will contest with each other. > > Call the Great Beast: > > "...this card becomes a unique clanless..." thank you ! that's exactly what i pointed in my previous post =) > The Call the Great Beast action card is not unique. You could have five yes, that's also what i stated in my previous post. your answer was quite unwitty, and this is uncommon indeed ;)

HD

> reyda wrote... > > > James Coupe wrote... > > > > In message <3d0d3f1d...@text.giganews.com>, The Lasombra > > <thela...@hotmail.com> writes: > > >Paying a pool to untap the Baali, > > > > Pedantry: > > > > Paying a pool not to tap the Baali. > > this is no pedantry dear James =) > some people may think that the baali are immune to, say, sensory > deprivation. But this is not true. > > reyda What are you guys talking about? How does the blood payment work for the Baali? Is it "pay a pool to untap" or something else altogether... and how is this effected by various cards like Sensory Deprivation? Just wondering... Thanks, Howard

LSJ

HD wrote: > What are you guys talking about? How does the blood payment work for > the Baali? Is it "pay a pool to untap" or something else > altogether... and how is this effected by various cards like Sensory > Deprivation? Just wondering... During his or her untap phase, a Methuselah who controls an infernal minion burns one pool or taps that infernal minion. [BL 3.6] -- LSJ (vte...@white-wolf.com) V:TES Net.Rep for White Wolf, Inc. Links to V:TES news, rules, cards, utilities, and tournament calendar: http://www.white-wolf.com/vtes/

The Lasombra

"HD" asked: > What are you guys talking about? See section 3.6 of the Bloodlines rules sheet, here: http://www.white-wolf.com/vtes/rulebook/BLrules.html > How does the blood payment work for the Baali? During his or her untap phase, a Methuselah who controls an infernal minion burns one pool or taps that infernal minion. > Is it "pay a pool to untap" or something else altogether... You untap all of your cards at the start of the untap phase (unless card text prevents, of course). At the end of the untap phase, if you have not paid 1 pool for each Baali whom you wish to remain untapped, you will have to tap them. > and how is this effected by various cards like Sensory > Deprivation? It doesn't interact with Sensory Deprivation in any way. During his or her untap phase, a Methuselah who controls an infernal minion burns one pool or taps that infernal minion. Carpe noctem. Lasombra http://www.TheLasombra.com -- Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG

reyda

"The Lasombra" <thela...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:268b3c67a6383a3566f...@mygate.mailgate.org... > > and how is this effected by various cards like Sensory > > Deprivation? > > It doesn't interact with Sensory Deprivation in any way. > > During his or her untap phase, a Methuselah who controls > an infernal minion burns one pool or taps that infernal minion. Hence my statement : people who don't really figure how to pay the infernal cost (thinking "pay one pool to untap" instead of "pay one pool not to tap") might think you can untap a baali afflicted by sensory deprivation or mind numb or whatever... so the reminder is *always* welcome =) reyda

James Coupe

In message <3d0f08f9$0$17632$79c1...@nan-newsreader-02.noos.net>, reyda <true_...@hotmail.com> writes: >> >So a vampire will contest with an action card ? how disturbing... >> >> No, the vampires will contest with each other. >> >> Call the Great Beast: >> >> "...this card becomes a unique clanless..." > >thank you ! that's exactly what i pointed in my previous post =) No, it's not. The action card does not contest a vampire in any way. The vampire that the action card eventually creates will contest a similarly created vampire. The action card does not contest a vampire. [ quoted text not captured ]

reyda

"James Coupe" <ja...@zephyr.org.uk> wrote in message news:fmWXUe92...@gratiano.zephyr.org.uk... Just a reminder =) Jeroen asked this : > 1. The Great Beast is unique. Does this mean the Minion with the name > 'Great Beast' or do Call the Great Beast cards in play contest with > the minion. I guess not, but just to be sure. to which i replied : this card represents a unique vampire once there is more than 10 counter on it, but it seems you can have multiples call of the great beat in play =) (further explanation, not part of my previous post : it means that you can have as many great beasts you want on the table, but once one reaches the 10 counter limit, it is now a vampire, which is unique and do contest. But the so called Great Beast will not contest the other action cards.) is it so difficult or is my english so crappy ? =) i think there is some misunderstanding there !

Jon Stahler

"lehrbuch" <ri...@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:5fee5473.02061...@posting.google.com... > halc...@aol.com (Halcyan 2) wrote in message > news:<20020616211649...@mb-mr.aol.com>... > > So what I'm pretty much saying is that it *seems* > > that due to the Herald (an ally who can call a > > vote), Delaying Tactics does not seem to serve > > the same functionality that the designer intended > > (and I don't want to go on and on about who can > > interpret "designer's intent" and all). > > It could equally well be the designer of the Herald's intent that it > interacts in the way that it does with Delaying Tactics. > Doesn't the Herald play the Charming lobby "As a vampire" ? With the ruling on Rafastio Ghouls and Burst of Sunlight, the ally acts as a vampire through the play of the card. So, throughout the entire Charming Lobby action (and subsequent referendum) the Herald would be acting as a vampire, so technically, couldn't you play a delaying tactics and get the same results as when playing it against a vampire calling a vote? Just curious...

James Coupe

In message <3d0f4f74$0$12948$79c1...@nan-newsreader-01.noos.net>, reyda <true_...@hotmail.com> writes: >i think there is some misunderstanding there ! You stated: > >So a vampire will contest with an action card ? how disturbing... This suggests that you believe the vampire will contest with an action card. This is not the case. The Great Beast vampire will contest with another Great Beast vampire. It will not contest with a Great Beast action card currently in play. [ quoted text not captured ]

reyda

"James Coupe" <ja...@zephyr.org.uk> wrote in message news:N56jT9GH...@gratiano.zephyr.org.uk... > In message <3d0f4f74$0$12948$79c1...@nan-newsreader-01.noos.net>, reyda > <true_...@hotmail.com> writes: > >i think there is some misunderstanding there ! > > You stated: > > > >So a vampire will contest with an action card ? how disturbing... > > This suggests that you believe the vampire will contest with an action > card. This is not the case. The Great Beast vampire will contest with > another Great Beast vampire. =) this was just a trait of irony from the offensive little prick =) who can believe an action card will contest a vampire card ? =p > It will not contest with a Great Beast action card currently in play. i know, i know...

James Coupe

In message <3d0f596a$0$12949$79c1...@nan-newsreader-01.noos.net>, reyda <true_...@hotmail.com> writes: >=) this was just a trait of irony from the offensive little prick =) Irony shouldn't be attempted without the help of a trained professional. Preferably one that knows the difference between sarcasm and irony, too, which are two entirely different things. [ quoted text not captured ]

reyda

"James Coupe" <ja...@zephyr.org.uk> wrote in message news:nKZZvFKI...@gratiano.zephyr.org.uk... > In message <3d0f596a$0$12949$79c1...@nan-newsreader-01.noos.net>, reyda > <true_...@hotmail.com> writes: > >=) this was just a trait of irony from the offensive little prick =) > > Irony shouldn't be attempted without the help of a trained professional. are you ready to give me lessons ? > Preferably one that knows the difference between sarcasm and irony, too, > which are two entirely different things. You are right (for the first time of this thread, maybe ?) and it is my mistake. I used the french acceptation for irony, which may be different from the english one. defined in the littré, it says "Sarcasme : bitter and insulting irony". As i didn't want to be bitter or insulting, i guess i didn't have to use the word sarcasm here. I don't really knowif it's different in english , so if you can light my fire, you are welcome.

The Lasombra

"Jon Stahler" asked: > Doesn't the Herald play the Charming lobby "As a vampire" ? Yes. He can't play Delaying Tactics as a vampire though, and Delaying Tactics doesn't have any way to treat him as anything other than the ally he is. > With the ruling > on Rafastio Ghouls and Burst of Sunlight, the ally acts as a > vampire through the play of the card. Right. Burst of Sunlight, and only Burst of Sunlight, treats him as a vampire. All other cards (ie the ones he didn't play) treat him as the ally he is. > So, throughout the entire Charming Lobby action (and > subsequent referendum) the Herald would be acting as a vampire, so > technically, couldn't you play a delaying tactics and get the same results > as when playing it against a vampire calling a vote? No. Only the cards he plays "as a vampire" treat him as a vampire. [ quoted text not captured ]

Noal McDonald

cur...@aol.commetal (Curevei) wrote: >>Name another clan that effectively pull off stealth bleed and back it >>up with ranged aggravated damage using in-clan disciplines. > > Tzimisce. Gangrel, !Gangrel including nondiscipline cards (Computer Hacking). > Assamites including nondiscipline cards, though to be effective at stealth > bleed I wouldn't bother with the Tastes of Death. Without permanents, none of these clans can bleed for more than 3. Gangrel and Assamites can't bleed for more than 2. That's not what I call "effective." You need more than stealth for stealth/bleed. Without permanents, Baali can bleed for 5 (Legal Manip/Sense the Sin) and with PRE get that pool back that you lost from untapping them. Even more, they have better permanents for bleed. > But, anyway, I wouldn't rate this as particularly important. If I'm going to > bleed at stealth, whether I can hit people or not isn't usually one of my > concerns. Though, I do think my tournament Baali deck is better with > Conflagrations than without. As IG decks became popular in tournaments, I've seen a lot of ranged damage rush (or intercept) combat decks lately, most of which have effective means of dealing with S:CE. Even if they don't, they don't fear blocking you because you won't damage them. However, if you throw ranged agg, most people are going to be a lot more hesitant to block you, meaning less need for stealth and combat cards and more bleed cards. One other thing I've been surprised than people haven't done is destroy vampires that have been deflected to you. If they're in torpor or burned, they can't be deflected to you. Granted, that puts less pressure on your predator, but if he's deflection happy, that will contribute to hand jam. By using agg damage, you can either discourage someone from getting chippy after you've been deflected or deal with those who are bleeding you. > No bleed bounce. True. Banner of Neutrality is semi-useful at best. Major Boon is probably a card that I'll have to add to the deck at some point. As it is, I've been using the Setite's Golconda Towers and lots of Blood Dolls. > Not all that inexpensive vampires. The 7 and 8 caps are quite good, though. I paired them up with 5 cap Setites and the Setite Archon. It's made for a good mid-cap crypt. > Limited number of vamps with dai/DAI in the game. With the power of Daimonion, that's for the best. > Unless you get tricky, you have to push forward hard which seems to be out of > favor table politicswise in a lot of places. Since you generally can only get 2 Baali on the table at once, you really have to pace yourself. I've been using Temptation to get multiple actions or action/untap to block. > There are some decklists I've seen that are nifty. There's no decklist I've > seen that I'd consider tier 1, 1.5. Give it time. After I'm confident I've made the Baali deck as competetive as possible, I'll be happy to judge its performance. > Good. People should try challenging strategies to see if they can elevate > the game by discovering something others haven't. As I mentioned, I'm using Temptations to compensate and Setites are a better match for the Baali than the !Salubri using Blessing of the Name. > But, it was amusing to hear The Lasombra pan them so. That was really odd. > IMO, they are conceptually bad, as most extremes are. But only because of their Infernal trait. How much of an obstacle it is depends on the deck designer, I should think. > Their cards and specials are really powerful, too much so without a drawback. Which is what my original point was. Glad we agree! :-D > But, their drawback screws them by being so severe, which preserves balance > but isn't the way I'd design for a game. ...and once you've effectively dealt with that drawback, they're very scary.

Ben Peal

The Lasombra wrote: > >Does anyone have a decent Baali deck that they have posted or are > >willing to post? (web links) Don't forget the Baali deck that won a tournament: http://www.thelasombra.com/decks/twd.htm#2k2oakland - Ben Peal, Prince of Boston fu...@mindstorm.com

Curevei

>>>Name another clan that effectively pull off stealth bleed and back >it >>>up with ranged aggravated damage using in-clan disciplines. >> >> Tzimisce. Gangrel, !Gangrel including nondiscipline cards (Computer >Hacking). >> Assamites including nondiscipline cards, though to be effective at stealth >> bleed I wouldn't bother with the Tastes of Death. > >Without permanents, none of these clans can bleed for more than 3. >Gangrel and Assamites can't bleed for more than 2. That's not what I >call "effective." You need more than stealth for stealth/bleed. A good volume of bleeds for 2-3 is a lot more consistent than tossing around 5s; at least, it seems so nowadays. For Tzimisce, inferior Vicissitude is all that's required. Not a whole lot of stealth, but then, how many people register that they can easily bleed for 3 without tooling up? Gangrel/!Gangrel would need PRO for the requisite (per the question) ranged Body Flare, but that's not that hard for the Gangrel. Tried Assamite stealth bleed with a couple ToDs and wasn't happy; required more moving parts than a simple deck would like; so, I could take that off the list of "effective". Thing is, I've seen Tzimisce and Gangrel, 1.5 discipline bleed decks that can consistently get out at least 4 vamps, which makes frequent 2-3 bleeds possible. And, of course, these decks could fit in some offensive combat without effort. >Without permanents, Baali can bleed for 5 (Legal Manip/Sense the Sin) >and with PRE get that pool back that you lost from untapping them. Bleeds of 5 have their own problems, such as getting bounced. But, I found that I really didn't like having to throw around 5 bleeds with Baali as losing a Baali in a Baali deck (to something like Archon Investigation) hurts more than losing some Dominate dweeb swinging for 5. >Even more, they have better permanents for bleed. D'habi Revenant? The one deck I've seen where I'd be comfortable playing this was one of the Baali Embrace decks. I have issues with taking the time for the action and having the card take up space in the hand. Also will put them up to a 4 bleed with Sense the Sin. I guess one key thing to having them work (in the normal bleed deck) is hope the other players don't play AI. I'd much rather play Tzimisce with Living Manses than try to add permanent bleed onto the printed Baali. >As I mentioned, I'm using Temptations to compensate and Setites are a >better match for the Baali than the !Salubri using Blessing of the >Name. BotN does help in one regard. Two intercept is more likely to stop some annoying things people try to do to you than one. In theory, it means your only bad match ups are serious stealth decks and serious combat decks.

Ramsteiner

"The Lasombra" <thela...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<89d143a0db72d897f63...@mygate.mailgate.org>... [ quoted text not captured ] Here is what I find disturbing by what you just stated, Lasombra. Within the rulebook (written) rules it is stated that allies can not call referendums, but the Herald can do so through the use of Charming Lobby. Now through whatever logic that allows the Herald to play a referendum, I was certain it was due to the Herald playing Charming Lobby "as a vampire of 5 capacity" and not as a simple ally. Now you have gone and just told me it isn't. So now I am again at a loss as to how a Herald is able to play a discipline card and call a referendum as an ally and not as a vampire (which is required to play both discipline cards and call referendums). This is especially in light of Charming Lobby's statement of "Call a referendum." which an ally is not able to do as an ally. I know all about the "cards override the rulebook rules" statement in the rules, however, I do not see how Charming Lobby allows an ally to call a referendum as a ally when the rules clearly states otherwise, unless the ally is calling it "as a vampire of X capacity". Michael Eichler Prince of Ramstein (Never liked the bloody rule allowing allies to play discipline cards that require them to be placed "on the acting vampire" when it is an ally playing the card)

Joshua Duffin

"Ramsteiner" <michael...@ramstein.af.mil> wrote in message news:9c15fdd3.02061...@posting.google.com... > "The Lasombra" <thela...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<89d143a0db72d897f63...@mygate.mailgate.org>... > > "Jon Stahler" asked: > > > So, throughout the entire Charming Lobby action (and > > > subsequent referendum) the Herald would be acting as a vampire, so > > > technically, couldn't you play a delaying tactics and get the same results > > > as when playing it against a vampire calling a vote? > > > > No. > > Only the cards he plays "as a vampire" treat him as a vampire. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > Here is what I find disturbing by what you just stated, Lasombra. > Within the rulebook (written) rules it is stated that allies can not > call referendums, but the Herald can do so through the use of Charming > Lobby. Now through whatever logic that allows the Herald to play a > referendum, I was certain it was due to the Herald playing Charming > Lobby "as a vampire of 5 capacity" and not as a simple ally. Now you > have gone and just told me it isn't. The Herald *does* play Charming Lobby "as a vampire of 5 capacity". However, *only* that Charming Lobby (and other cards the Herald plays "as a vampire") will treat the Herald "as a vampire". To everything else in the world (including all cards played by other players), he remains an ally. This is why Delaying Tactics doesn't treat him "as a vampire". Only cards the Herald himself plays will treat the Herald "as a vampire". Josh was a vampire was not a vampire

Ramsteiner

"Joshua Duffin" <jtdu...@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<aeqnf4$9c4c8$1...@ID-121616.news.dfncis.de>... [ quoted text not captured ] Hello Josh, I know you know exactly how I feel about this whole ruling, but that is beside the point. Unfortunately, that is not what I have read and understood from LSJ's original post. "For allies that are able to play certain cards "as a vampire", they are treated as vampires for all parts of the resolution of the play of the appropriate cards. This includes the resolution of an action card and the resolution of a strike card..." This tells me that if the Herald uses Charming Lobby "as a vampire of 5 capacity", then it is treated as a vampire throughout the entire action. Thus, a Delaying Tactics should have the proper effect as the Herald (an ally, normally) calls a referendum using Charming Lobby (as a vampire of 5 capacity) and would remain acting as a vampire of 5 capacity until the conclusion of the referendum called using a Charming Lobby. That is, unless LSJ is considering the called referendum during a Charming Lobby a continuing effect granted by the card or an effect given by the card in play. But that does not seem to make sense for Charming Lobby. It would make sense for Rutor's Hand or Shadow of the Beast. But let us also consider this, what happens when we start having allies that can play Fortitude cards "as a vampire of X capacity"? Will the Action Modifiers "Daring the Dawn", "Dawn Operation" and "Day Operation" affect the playing ally? "Daring the Dawn" gives aggravated damage to the playing -vampire- after the action is complete. Would this also apply to an ally playing "as a vampire of x capacity"? "Dawn Operation" states if the action is blocked, all damage in the resulting combat is aggravated. Would the ally be treated "as a vampire of x capacity" during such a combat or as an ally in determining damage effects (torpor for aggravated or normal for aggravated)? "Day Operation" just sends the user into torpor after the action takes place. Does this mean the ally playing it "as a vampire of x capacity" would be sent to torpor after the action is complete? From the reading of what LSJ has written, the answers are not readily apparent as he only makes mention of card effects concerning Action and Combat cards, unless something new has been put forward that I have not read yet. [ quoted text not captured ]

LSJ

Ramsteiner wrote: > "For allies that are able to play certain cards "as a vampire", they > are treated as vampires for all parts of the resolution of the play of > the appropriate cards. This includes the resolution of an action card > and the resolution of a strike card..." > This tells me that if the Herald uses Charming Lobby "as a vampire of > 5 capacity", then it is treated as a vampire throughout the entire > action. It should tell you that the Charming Lobby treats the Herald as a vampire. It says nothing about the ally being treated as a vampire for other effects. > Thus, a Delaying Tactics should have the proper effect as the > Herald (an ally, normally) calls a referendum using Charming Lobby (as > a vampire of 5 capacity) and would remain acting as a vampire of 5 > capacity until the conclusion of the referendum called using a > Charming Lobby. No. There are no effects lying around that enable DT to be played on the Herald "as if the Herald were a vampire". > But let us also consider this, what happens when we start having > allies that can play Fortitude cards "as a vampire of X capacity"? > Will the Action Modifiers "Daring the Dawn", "Dawn Operation" and "Day > Operation" affect the playing ally? Any card that the ally plays "as a vampire" (or anyone else plays that treat the ally "as a vampire") would treat the ally as a vampire, yes. > "Daring the Dawn" gives aggravated damage to the playing -vampire- > after the action is complete. Would this also apply to an ally > playing "as a vampire of x capacity"? Yes. > "Dawn Operation" states if the action is blocked, all damage in the > resulting combat is aggravated. Would the ally be treated "as a > vampire of x capacity" during such a combat or as an ally in > determining damage effects (torpor for aggravated or normal for > aggravated)? Probably not. If it were worded differently ("all damage done to this vampire and to any other vampires in the resulting combat is aggravated") then maybe. > "Day Operation" just sends the user into torpor after the action takes > place. Does this mean the ally playing it "as a vampire of x > capacity" would be sent to torpor after the action is complete? Yes. > From the reading of what LSJ has written, the answers are not readily > apparent as he only makes mention of card effects concerning Action > and Combat cards, unless something new has been put forward that I > have not read yet. It makes mention of "all parts of the resolution of the play of the appropriate cards" (see the quote you cited above). [ quoted text not captured ]

Emile Bosman

cur...@aol.commetal (Curevei) wrote in message news:<20020618193254...@mb-mm.aol.com>... > >>>Name another clan that effectively pull off stealth bleed and back > it > >>>up with ranged aggravated damage using in-clan disciplines. > >> Well if you're playing S&B why back it up with Ranged aggravated damage if you get blocked you weren't playing S&B the way it's suposed to. > >> Tzimisce. Gangrel, !Gangrel including nondiscipline cards (Computer > Hacking). > >> Assamites including nondiscipline cards, though to be effective at stealth > >> bleed I wouldn't bother with the Tastes of Death. > >Without permanents, none of these clans can bleed for more than 3. > >Gangrel and Assamites can't bleed for more than 2. That's not what I > >call "effective." You need more than stealth for stealth/bleed. (snip) Although the Baali are cool they have the same problem as most Sarce BL's they tend to become a target if you've centered you're deck around having atleast one Baali on the table you're strategy becomes very fragile and you're not likely to get more Baali influenced out besides for they're cost paying 2 or 3 pool to keep you're minions from tapping is suicide. Cards like ToGP Hostile Take over Sensory Deprevation and Pentex Subversion are a few card most likely to hit the baali in you're active region then you're Settis or what ever you play them with. As single vampires the Baali are good but they're cost is too much and I can't say that the cards Dai provides give you new means of playing obf pres fact still remains that it's best used for bleeding or voting and I don't see any reason why you'd want to be playing Baali for that, except maybey for the chalenge. Emile "We are an ape with a symbiotic relationship to a mushroom"

Joshua Duffin

"Ramsteiner" <michael...@ramstein.af.mil> wrote in message news:9c15fdd3.02062...@posting.google.com... > Hello Josh, > > I know you know exactly how I feel about this whole ruling, but that > is beside the point. Yes, I know. :-) > Unfortunately, that is not what I have read and understood from LSJ's > original post. > > "For allies that are able to play certain cards "as a vampire", they > are treated as vampires for all parts of the resolution of the play of > the appropriate cards. This includes the resolution of an action card > and the resolution of a strike card..." > > This tells me that if the Herald uses Charming Lobby "as a vampire of > 5 capacity", then it is treated as a vampire throughout the entire > action. Thus, a Delaying Tactics should have the proper effect as the > Herald (an ally, normally) calls a referendum using Charming Lobby (as > a vampire of 5 capacity) and would remain acting as a vampire of 5 > capacity until the conclusion of the referendum called using a > Charming Lobby. Not so. This is not what the ruling means or was ever intended to mean. I had the same confusion when the ruling was first made, and LSJ answered the question here: http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&selm=3CD159D1.8D23 7915%40white-wolf.com The ruling is only saying that *the cards it plays* treats it as a vampire. The "resolution of the play of the appropriate cards" refers only to the effects of *those cards themselves*; it does not include other cards involved in the action or strike or what-have-you that those cards create/affect. Josh was never a vampire

Ramsteiner

LSJ <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message news:<3D11C33D...@white-wolf.com>... > Ramsteiner wrote: > > "For allies that are able to play certain cards "as a vampire", they > > are treated as vampires for all parts of the resolution of the play of > > the appropriate cards. This includes the resolution of an action card > > and the resolution of a strike card..." > > This tells me that if the Herald uses Charming Lobby "as a vampire of > > 5 capacity", then it is treated as a vampire throughout the entire > > action. > > It should tell you that the Charming Lobby treats the Herald as a vampire. > It says nothing about the ally being treated as a vampire for other > effects. > I really don't follow the stream of thought on that. If, per the ruling, the ally becomes subseptible to vampiric effects because is plays a card "as a vampire of x capacity". Why would the "vampire benefits/vulnerabilities" being granted to the ally only apply upon the cards it plays and not cards that other minions could play specifically against vampires during those actions? Sort of sounds one sided to me. Is the ally an ally or is it a vampire during the play of cards when it plays cards "as a vampire of x capacity"? > > Thus, a Delaying Tactics should have the proper effect as the > > Herald (an ally, normally) calls a referendum using Charming Lobby (as > > a vampire of 5 capacity) and would remain acting as a vampire of 5 > > capacity until the conclusion of the referendum called using a > > Charming Lobby. > > No. There are no effects lying around that enable DT to be played on > the Herald "as if the Herald were a vampire". > What about the action the Herald played? If it plays a card "as a vampire of 5 capacity", then it is acting as a vampire. It would seem to follow that effects from other minions could affect with card effects that specifically target vampires as the Herald is currently acting as a vampire during the course of the action. Sort of like transforming yourself into living sand. If hit with enough heat/fire at one time, you would become subseptible to turning to glass whereas if you were just a normal flesh and blood you would be char-broiled. [ quoted text not captured ] Ok, so action modifiers is part of the resolution of the play of the appropriate card(s). Why wouldn't reaction cards also be part of the resolution of the play of the appropriate card(s). Don't reaction card affect the course of the resolution of play by introducing obstacles to the committed action? During a referendum action, if the action modifier Bewitching Oration enhances the acting vampire's or acting "as a vampire"'s vote for the referendum; doesn't the reaction Kindred Coercion affect the refendum's votes through the cancelation of some of the voters? But now to something different. The last segment of the statement "as a vampire of x capacity", specifically "of x capacity"; what does it mean? Does it mean that the ally is limited to cards it can afford to pay as a vampire of like capacity in blood (life) cost? Example: Shadow Court Satyr has the text "...as a vampire of 1 capacity..." when dealing with a discipline card it can use. If the Satyr is played with Decapitate, would it be able to use it in a combat? Or does it something else all together? Or maybe nothing at all, except for the Herald who can now play Voter Captivation. [ quoted text not captured ]

Ramsteiner

"Joshua Duffin" <jtdu...@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<aet9kj$9ehvp$1...@ID-121616.news.dfncis.de>... [ quoted text not captured ] Hi Josh, The URL didn't go through for me. If it works on your end, then I am being blocked from viewing it via my server. Changing server's is not an option as I have no other server to switch to. Until later Michael Eichler

LSJ

Ramsteiner wrote: > LSJ <vte...@white-wolf.com> wrote in message > > Ramsteiner wrote: > > > "For allies that are able to play certain cards "as a vampire", they > > > are treated as vampires for all parts of the resolution of the play of > > > the appropriate cards. This includes the resolution of an action card > > > and the resolution of a strike card..." > > > This tells me that if the Herald uses Charming Lobby "as a vampire of > > > 5 capacity", then it is treated as a vampire throughout the entire > > > action. > > > > It should tell you that the Charming Lobby treats the Herald as a vampire. > > It says nothing about the ally being treated as a vampire for other > > effects. > > > I really don't follow the stream of thought on that. If, per the > ruling, the ally becomes subseptible to vampiric effects because is > plays a card "as a vampire of x capacity". Why would the "vampire He doesn't. Per the ruling, the ally plays *the card* as a vampire. > benefits/vulnerabilities" being granted to the ally only apply upon > the cards it plays and not cards that other minions could play > specifically against vampires during those actions? Sort of sounds > one sided to me. Is the ally an ally or is it a vampire during the > play of cards when it plays cards "as a vampire of x capacity"? Because the card is played as if he were a vampire. Other cards that are not played as if he were a vampire do not treat him as a vampire. > > > Thus, a Delaying Tactics should have the proper effect as the > > > Herald (an ally, normally) calls a referendum using Charming Lobby (as > > > a vampire of 5 capacity) and would remain acting as a vampire of 5 > > > capacity until the conclusion of the referendum called using a > > > Charming Lobby. > > > > No. There are no effects lying around that enable DT to be played on > > the Herald "as if the Herald were a vampire". > > > What about the action the Herald played? If it plays a card "as a > vampire of 5 capacity", then it is acting as a vampire. It would seem > to follow that effects from other minions could affect with card > effects that specifically target vampires as the Herald is currently > acting as a vampire during the course of the action. Sort of like > transforming yourself into living sand. If hit with enough heat/fire > at one time, you would become subseptible to turning to glass whereas > if you were just a normal flesh and blood you would be char-broiled. Remember: card text has priority over WoD flavor/backstory. The game would be unplayable as anything other than a cooperative story-telling pastime otherwise. He doesn't transform himself into living sand nor into a vampire. He plays the card as a vampire. > [...] > > > From the reading of what LSJ has written, the answers are not readily > > > apparent as he only makes mention of card effects concerning Action > > > and Combat cards, unless something new has been put forward that I > > > have not read yet. > > > > It makes mention of "all parts of the resolution of the play of > > the appropriate cards" (see the quote you cited above). > > Ok, so action modifiers is part of the resolution of the play of the > appropriate card(s). Why wouldn't reaction cards also be part of the ? If the "appropriate card(s)" are the action modifiers, sure. > resolution of the play of the appropriate card(s). Don't reaction Modifiers and Reactions are restricted in the same way as each other. If they aren't played "as a vampire" then they don't treat the ally as a vampire. > card affect the course of the resolution of play by introducing > obstacles to the committed action? During a referendum action, if the > action modifier Bewitching Oration enhances the acting vampire's or > acting "as a vampire"'s vote for the referendum; doesn't the reaction > Kindred Coercion affect the refendum's votes through the cancelation > of some of the voters? If the KC is played as if the ally were a vampire, sure. The Herald can play BO as a vampire (since it requires presence). He could even play Dread Gaze as a vampire on a referendum called by another Methuselah's minion. If some effect allowed Kindred Coercion to be played on the Herald as if he were a vampire, then it could be played as if he were a vampire. Currently, there is no such effect. > But now to something different. The last segment of the statement "as > a vampire of x capacity", specifically "of x capacity"; what does it > mean? He plays card as a vampire of X capacity. If the card requires him to have a certain capacity (e.g. Death of My Conscience) or wishes to compare his capacity to the target (e.g., Seduction), then the stated capacity is used to determine if the card can be played or if the target is legal. > Does it mean that the ally is limited to cards it can afford to pay as > a vampire of like capacity in blood (life) cost? Example: Shadow No. Life is not limited by capacity. > Court Satyr has the text "...as a vampire of 1 capacity..." when > dealing with a discipline card it can use. If the Satyr is played > with Decapitate, would it be able to use it in a combat? Sure. > Or does it something else all together? Or maybe nothing at all, > except for the Herald who can now play Voter Captivation. Capacity would still not limit his life in that case. [ quoted text not captured ]

LSJ

Ramsteiner wrote: > "Joshua Duffin" <jtdu...@yahoo.com> wrote in message > > http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&selm=3CD159D1.8D23 > > 7915%40white-wolf.com > The URL didn't go through for me. If it works on your end, then I am > being blocked from viewing it via my server. You have to use the whole URL - Josh's news poster split the long line (and using just the first line of the URL won't work). http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&selm=3CD159D1.8D237915%40white-wolf.com Or try this shorter URL for the same message: http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=3CD159D1.8D237915%40white-wolf.com [ quoted text not captured ]

Brian

> Although the Baali are cool they have the same problem as most Sarce > BL's they tend to become a target if you've centered you're deck > around having atleast one Baali on the table you're strategy becomes > very fragile and you're not likely to get more Baali influenced out > besides for they're cost paying 2 or 3 pool to keep you're minions > from tapping is suicide. So? All you need is one, really, and Contagion makes sure that you're not the only one takin' the pain. > Cards like ToGP Hostile Take over How much would you bid for a minion that costs 1 every turn or stays tapped? > Sensory Deprevation and Pentex > Subversion are > a few card most likely to hit the baali in you're active region then > you're Settis or what ever you play them with. Pentex when you have other vamps with Obfuscate? Not a good plan, usually. Sensory Deprivation? Use Blessing of the Name. Baali don't untap in that deck anyway, Sens Dep is a non-issue. > As single vampires the Baali are good but they're cost is too much and > I can't say that the cards Dai provides give you new means of playing > obf pres Sure it does, you add Bum's Rush and Conflagration to an otherwise usual stealth bleeder. > fact still remains that it's best used for bleeding or voting > and I don't see any reason why you'd want to be playing Baali for > that, except maybey for the chalenge. Originally, I played Baali cause they were challenging. Then I realized that Giotto bleeds, freak drive, bum's rush, Conflagration is a totally new angle. No hand jam, either. Something like Basil 2 Lena Rowe Nepata Hadrian Garrick Count Ormonde Sir Mariott D'Urban 5 Giotto Verducci With lots of stealth, bleed, Presence masters, and Ambush + Freak Drive + Conflagration, it's pretty formidable. Usual S+B, but ass-kickings in place of Deflections. Give Baali a try, they're not as bad as some clans. "I've seen Ahrimanes win a tournament" --Brian

Emile Bosman

(snip) > Sure it does, you add Bum's Rush and Conflagration to an otherwise > usual stealth bleeder. > > > fact still remains that it's best used for bleeding or voting > > and I don't see any reason why you'd want to be playing Baali for > > that, except maybey for the chalenge. > > Originally, I played Baali cause they were challenging. Then I > realized that Giotto bleeds, freak drive, bum's rush, Conflagration is > a totally new angle. No hand jam, either. Well sure Bum's Rush and Conflagration is nifty but couldn't I replace those cards with bleed cards which would make for a more competative deck > Something like > Basil > 2 Lena Rowe > Nepata > Hadrian Garrick > Count Ormonde > Sir Mariott D'Urban > 5 Giotto Verducci > > With lots of stealth, bleed, Presence masters, and Ambush + Freak > Drive + Conflagration, it's pretty formidable. Usual S+B, but > ass-kickings in place of Deflections. Give Baali a try, they're not > as bad as some clans. I'm planning on making a Baali deck just not sure what it's going to do yet I have 4 Call the Great Beast so I'm probably going for a Beast deck. A few months ago we had a tourny here in Holland and Tobias had a deck idea using fear of the Void below and a card discard loop I've also been thinking about that but there isn't a card that provides you with a press every round except the meathook but that's only at short range if anybody knows of a way to make such a loop I'd be realy interested. [ quoted text not captured ]

XZealot

> A few months ago we had a tourny here in Holland and Tobias had a deck > idea using fear of the Void below and a card discard loop I've also > been thinking about that but there isn't a card that provides you with > a press every round except the meathook but that's only at short range > if anybody knows of a way to make such a loop I'd be realy interested. How about a Trap? Comments Welcome, Norman S. Brown, Jr. XZealot Archon of the Swamp

Noal McDonald

Since you're really replying to my post, I'll feel free to respond. ebo...@hotmail.com (Emile Bosman) wrote: >>>>> Name another clan that effectively pull off stealth bleed and back >>>>> it up with ranged aggravated damage using in-clan disciplines. > > Well if you're playing S&B why back it up with Ranged aggravated > damage if you get blocked you weren't playing S&B the way it's suposed > to. Noal's Theory of Stealth Bleed: If you can reliably inflict aggravated damage or large amounts of regular damage, your opponents will be less likely to try to block. Corollary: If your opponents are less likely to block, you will need less cards for stealth (which jam the hand), freeing up the card slots for more powerful bleeds and better defense (which are more easily cycled). The biggest weakness with typical S&B is Rush Combat. While Baali can't deal well with a weenie IG deck, it can fight back against the ranged combat decks (Assamite decks, Carrion Crows/Aid From Bats decks, etc.) I've seen a lot of lately. > Although the Baali are cool they have the same problem as most Sarce > BL's they tend to become a target if you've centered you're deck > around having at least one Baali on the table Most decks center around having at least one vampire of some clan or another on the table. ;-) As with any non-weenie deck, I usually get out about 3 or 4 vampires on the table and if one or more takes a hit, it's gonna suck and may even spell doom. However, because of the reputation of the Infernal trait, Baali are less likely to be targeted than Setites, Malks, !Malks, etc. > you're strategy becomes very fragile and you're not likely to get more > Baali influenced out besides for they're cost paying 2 or 3 pool to keep > you're minions from tapping is suicide. Not planning to compensate for that pool loss is suicide. However, I do plan for it. Blood Dolls and Legal Manips pay for it. Temptations make paying to untap unnecessary once they're low in blood (from the aforementioned Blood Dolls and Legal Manips). Golconda Towers cashes out a vampire that has become useless. > Cards like ToGP Hostile Takeover These cards aren't designed so much to purchase someone's vampire as it they are designed to make a person pay a lot of pool for the privelege of keeping it and, as such, they suck for any non-weenie deck. So either pack SRs to counter them or use the pool you just got to bring out another one. > Sensory Deprevation Also sucks for any non-weenie deck. Can be intercepted. See Sense the Sin. > and Pentex Subversion Easily gotten rid of with other vampires using stealth, such as the Setites that I pair the Baali with. > As single vampires the Baali are good but they're cost is too much and > I can't say that the cards Dai provides give you new means of playing You're welcome to your opinion. However, I will prove you wrong with the future tournament track record of my Baali/Setites deck. As mentioned previously, it's still in the development cycle, but I'm pleased with it's progress. See the recent Toronto Tournament Report thread, "Toronto Tournament Report 6/15/02 - He Meddles Again!" for details. Regards, Noal

Sorrow

> The biggest weakness with typical S&B is Rush Combat. While Baali > can't deal well with a weenie IG deck, it can fight back against the > ranged combat decks (Assamite decks, Carrion Crows/Aid From Bats > decks, etc.) I've seen a lot of lately. Actually, the Baali have one of the best anti combat cards in the game: Fear the Void Below. It makes IG combat moot and, unless they are denied a strike, they can always S:CE out. I'm not sure why the Baali have to fear Rush Combat...? Sorrow --- "Our generation has had no Great Depression, no Great War. Our war is a spiritual war. Our depression is our lives." - Tyler Durden

David Cherryholmes

On 24 Jun 2002, Emile Bosman wrote: > Well sure Bum's Rush and Conflagration is nifty but couldn't I replace > those cards with bleed cards which would make for a more competative > deck Maybe, but I think the days of pure speed bleed ala "Malk decks" are over. Sure, their first prey is still pretty reliably doomed, but it's all about the table wins now and I think they get smeared mid-game. To survive and take the game they need to account for minions to their right and left tooling up with the permenant elements of intercept walls, which ranged agg rush - available as a two card combo - should be able to provide. There's also a large benefit gained from making an early, flashy rush in terms of actions that you might not've been able to block but that never got played because your predator (or worse, that guy cross-table who thinks your PB:M is there for him) doesn't see you as a helpless target. I also think one good early rush on your predator is about all you need, on average, to tip him upstream without castrating him, freeing you up in terms of minion actions and deck space to focus on your prey. David Cherryholmes Prince of Durham, NC

James Coupe

In message <U4%R8.458$mp2.2...@newshog.newsread.com>, Sorrow <jcb...@yahoo.com> writes: >Actually, the Baali have one of the best anti combat cards in the game: >Fear the Void Below. It makes IG combat moot and, unless they are >denied a strike, they can always S:CE out. I'm not sure why the Baali >have to fear Rush Combat...? Erm, how does it make IG rush combat moot? The round *defaults* to long. A well-played IG deck is usually packing some maneuvers, too. [ quoted text not captured ]

Sorrow

> >Actually, the Baali have one of the best anti combat cards in the game: > >Fear the Void Below. It makes IG combat moot and, unless they are > >denied a strike, they can always S:CE out. I'm not sure why the Baali > >have to fear Rush Combat...? > Erm, how does it make IG rush combat moot? The round *defaults* to > long. A well-played IG deck is usually packing some maneuvers, too. Because they usually aren't packing *that* many. They can't afford to. Potence only combat decks rely on the BR for the maneuver and *might* pack a few "Fake Outs". Celerity/Potence decks will pack some Flash and Pursuit, but they can't afford that many. Perhaps 9? Fear the Void Below also has a maneuver at outferior plus there's also Behind You and Swallowed by the Night at OBF. Not counting the initial FtVB, each round the combat deck is going to need 2 maneuvers for the first one you play making your vamps very difficult to catch and making the combat deck more or less moot. Sorrow --- I keep telling them that I think they're out to get me. They ask me if I feel remorse and I answer, "Why of course! There's so much more I could have done if they'd let me!" So it's Rorschach and Prozac and everything is groovy

James Coupe

In message <JF0S8.475$mp2.2...@newshog.newsread.com>, Sorrow <jcb...@yahoo.com> writes: >> Erm, how does it make IG rush combat moot? The round *defaults* to >> long. A well-played IG deck is usually packing some maneuvers, too. > >Because they usually aren't packing *that* many. They can't afford to. >Potence only combat decks rely on the BR for the maneuver and *might* >pack a few "Fake Outs". Celerity/Potence decks will pack some Flash >and Pursuit, but they can't afford that many. Perhaps 9? Bum's Rush is also packing a useful maneuver, if unblocked. Leaving a Baali untapped is generally foolish (except for the first time out, of course) and with no intercept or bounce to hand, Wakes aren't that great for them. [ quoted text not captured ]

Derek Ray

In message <Pine.GSO.4.21.02062...@petsparc.mc.duke.edu>, David Cherryholmes <d...@petsparc.mc.duke.edu> mumbled something about: >On 24 Jun 2002, Emile Bosman wrote: > >> Well sure Bum's Rush and Conflagration is nifty but couldn't I replace >> those cards with bleed cards which would make for a more competative >> deck > >Maybe, but I think the days of pure speed bleed ala "Malk decks" are >over. Sure, their first prey is still pretty reliably doomed, >but it's all about the table wins now and I think they get smeared >mid-game. To survive and take the game they need to account I'm not sure. I think that if you've included a sufficiently viable "long-term" element to your monster bleed deck, or just a good alternate plan in case chucking around bleeds of 5 at 3 stealth isn't going to fly (and realize that sometimes it WON'T), then stealth bleed is still the most efficient and consistent way to win. Putting 10 each in your deck of Govern, Condition, Lost in Crowds, and Faceless Night won't work anymore, of course. But if you hybridize your deck sufficiently, and manage to NOT look like a stealth/bleed deck until you obliterate your first prey for 12 pool in one turn, then you're going to be well on your way. Stealth vote is right behind; it falls short because of the vote-lock problem. If you can't gain or maintain vote lock, your deck is constantly teetering on the edge of success. >been able to block but that never got played because your predator (or >worse, that guy cross-table who thinks your PB:M is there for him) doesn't >see you as a helpless target. I also think one good early rush on your >predator is about all you need, on average, to tip him upstream without >castrating him, freeing you up in terms of minion actions and deck space >to focus on your prey. I don't know about this, either. If I think my prey's trying to turn me into a speed bump, I lean even FURTHER to the left than I normally would, and I make him either waste too many resources killing me, or (more often than not) NOT kill me in the hopes that I'll die fast enough, leaving me room to grab a VP. I rarely wall up these days; it's often exactly what my prey wants me to do, and if he wants that, he must be weak against me in some fashion. So I put pressure on any weakness I perceive. (In general, there's a point beyond which walling up simply delays your own demise; I prefer to "go for it" at that point, because sometimes you can pull off a miracle and draw into the hand you need... and sometimes your predator can end up with all his minions Sense Depped out of nowhere. It also puts a small amount of pressure on your grandpredator to "help you now or face the consequences", if you're suffering from the got-rushed-backwards syndrome.) -- "There's no gray. There's just white that's got grubby." -- T.P.

David Cherryholmes

On Wed, 26 Jun 2002, Derek Ray wrote: > David Cherryholmes <d...@petsparc.mc.duke.edu> mumbled something about: > >Maybe, but I think the days of pure speed bleed ala "Malk decks" are > >over. Sure, their first prey is still pretty reliably doomed, > I'm not sure. I think that if you've included a sufficiently viable > "long-term" element to your monster bleed deck, or just a good alternate > plan in case chucking around bleeds of 5 at 3 stealth isn't going to fly > (and realize that sometimes it WON'T), then stealth bleed is still the > most efficient and consistent way to win. But those long term elements and alternate plans take cards, and the presence of these cards morph the deck into something other than "pure speed bleed." There is a guy in my play group who still hauls out his Malk deck from back in the day, when he gets tired of playing one of his decks o' many weeners, and he still insists that it be nothing but stealth and bleed. No combat defense, no wakes, no deflections.... nothing else. He's of the mind that anything else just slows the deck down. He usually creams one guy and then dies to rush, or votes, or sufficiently tooled up intercept. That's what I was speaking towards. > Putting 10 each in your deck of Govern, Condition, Lost in Crowds, and > Faceless Night won't work anymore, of course. But if you hybridize your > deck sufficiently, and manage to NOT look like a stealth/bleed deck > until you obliterate your first prey for 12 pool in one turn, then > you're going to be well on your way. Agreed. And a straight stealth bleed deck will have a hard time looking like anything else. Maybe it could pull off "I'm a stealth bleed deck holding real still," but it won't look like anything other than what it is. > Stealth vote is right behind; it falls short because of the vote-lock > problem. If you can't gain or maintain vote lock, your deck is > constantly teetering on the edge of success. I played my bribes deck last night for the first time in a while. Sat down between a weenie presence, praxis seizure predator and an IC prey. I went down eventually, but bribed a lot of votes through, including a Dramatic Upheaval. I'm not sure I agree with the importance of vote lock, but certainly nobody is going to give you the oust; you need Plan B for that. > >I also think one good early rush on your > >predator is about all you need, on average, to tip him upstream without > >castrating him, freeing you up in terms of minion actions and deck space > >to focus on your prey. > > I don't know about this, either. If I think my prey's trying to turn me > into a speed bump, I lean even FURTHER to the left than I normally > would, and I make him either waste too many resources killing me, or > (more often than not) NOT kill me in the hopes that I'll die fast > enough, leaving me room to grab a VP. That's why it's one rush. Just one. You still let your predator do predator things to you and you take your lumps, but if all the players are actually putting pressure on their prey then he should be focused elsewhere by midgame. No, there's nothing certain about that, but it's not a bad rule of thumb. And of course a predator with disposable minions couldn't care less, but I wouldn't bother doing it to them. > I rarely wall up these days; it's often exactly what my prey wants me to > do, and if he wants that, he must be weak against me in some fashion. > So I put pressure on any weakness I perceive. (In general, there's a > point beyond which walling up simply delays your own demise; I prefer to > "go for it" at that point, because sometimes you can pull off a miracle > and draw into the hand you need... and sometimes your predator can end > up with all his minions Sense Depped out of nowhere. It also puts a > small amount of pressure on your grandpredator to "help you now or face > the consequences", if you're suffering from the got-rushed-backwards > syndrome.) I don't think an early rush will just take over your predator's mind and turn him into a wall. I do think that you've shown you are capable of torporing his minions, of which he now has one less. He's still going to do to you whatever it is he was going to do, but with a little less volume and a little less to defend himself with. The main point is to keep your backwards-action under the radar, like dropping a Blood Doll as opposed to a Minion Tap. What I want is to get an effect without actually getting my predator into the mindset of "I'm getting ousted backwards." [ quoted text not captured ]