The final round of playtesting is underway!

From the Designers' Diary: www.vekn.net/index.php/designers-diary/215-final-round-of-playtesting-underway We're more than a bit overdue with a progress for you all, so here's the latest update: The fourth and final round of playtest is presently underway! Many thanks to our playtesters, whose testing, deck lists, game reports, and feedback have enabled us to get the cards near to a publishable state. The final cuts have been made, and this last round is mainly about power tuning and tightening up the card text templating. All cards have artists commissioned for them, and the artists are working away on them. We have a bunch of finished pieces already, and we're thrilled with the level of quality. As the artwork nears completion, we'll be better able to make announcements about the release date and the sneak preview schedule. The set itself is named Danse Macabre. It consists of 36 cards - 14 library cards and 22 crypt cards. It's focussed on the main Sabbat clans, and the crypt cards are all in Group 5. The library cards focus on helping the weaker Sabbat clans: Brujah antitribu, Gangrel antitribu, and Nosferatu antitribu. Other library cards include (but are not exclusive to) Sabbat-specific political actions and cards for the Black Hand. Amazingly, we didn't see anyone post a spoiler of the artwork for the set by Heather Kreiter which she had on display at Origins, so here it is, plus one from another artist: By Heather Kreiter By Christel Espenkrona We have a couple more diary entries typed up and ready to publish, but posting them all at once would make this entry rather long, so we'll post them over the next few days. Stay tuned! - The VEKN Design Team V:EKN Website Coordinator

And you can't say and aproximate date for the release ?? pls B-)

> malkavianbarcelona wrote: > And you can't say and aproximate date for the release ?? pls B-) > State of the VEkN on the Weekend. Be prepared

Awesome artwork! I really like Heather's one Prince of Paris, France Ratings Coordinator, Rules Director

just wondering any chance the three cards/artwork that were never printed at KOT will actually be set into cards or are these in the WOTC/CCP purview.

> blackday wrote: > just wondering any chance the three cards/artwork that were never printed at KOT will actually be set into cards or are these in the WOTC/CCP purview. > Those are CCP's property.

> Ankha wrote: > Awesome artwork! I really like Heather's one > Heather is always awesome! Finnish Politics!

I want a demon puppy... they're so adorable and piecemeal... Retired Baron of Sydney, Australia, 418

My guess for the portraits is that the first one is a !Gangrel, and the second one is a Lasombra.

First one I would go for a tzimisce. Or a giovanni

The other one is also pretty damn nice. Who made that awesome picture? Prince of Lidingö

> malkavianbarcelona wrote: > And you can't say and aproximate date for the release ?? pls B-) > I would propose that it be released in the same month as the EC. That way it would not be legal in time to distort the championship but could be used in side tournaments at the event.

> Klaital wrote: > My guess for the portraits is that the first one is a !Gangrel, and the second one is a Lasombra. > I'd say !Gangrel and !Toreador .

I suppose I've just totally missed discussion of this but could someone clue me in on how cards from this new "expansion" are to get printed and find their way into our decks? Have there been new tournament rules issued to cover this?

You're supposed to print them out yourself, in color, on "standard" paper (whatever the hell that is), and then put a normal VTES card in a sleeve and put the cut-out new card in the sleeve so it covers to original card. It needs to be noted that some of the more obnoxious judges have already declared they will disqualify you if you use anything but this exact method. It needs also to be noted that if you want to use any of the new cards, you are required to play with sleeves. And finally, it needs to be noted that you can distinguish these "double" cards from the outside, but this is not considered a problem or in any way advantageous. Also, the tournament rules have been updated accordingly.

The first one is a Tzimisce for sure. Look at what he did to the dog .

> Izaak wrote: > You're supposed to print them out yourself, in color, on "standard" paper (whatever the hell that is), and then put a normal VTES card in a sleeve and put the cut-out new card in the sleeve so it covers to original card. > "Standard paper" is the 80gsm you can buy in reems fairly cheaply from your local stationery store. The other easy way to think of it is "photocopy paper". > It needs to be noted that some of the more obnoxious judges have already declared they will disqualify you if you use anything but this exact method. > It's not that hard a method, and if that's the rule, its the rule. The Judge isn't the person to rage at. If you have a problem, complain to the IC. You'll easily be able to print these at your local printing store. > It needs also to be noted that if you want to use any of the new cards, you are required to play with sleeves. > Yes, to ensure there is a far lower chance for deck stacking, prior knowledge of cards and 'cheating'. @FredSCT There will be a PDF. Transfer it to a USB or something similar, then go to Kinko's or whomever your local public printing company is. Ask them to print you a bunch of copies in colour... that will probably be at 300dpi on 80gsm paper... that's the 'method' for getting the cards printed. Then just get your some of your 12,000 WWEF you don't use, put them in a sleeve and then slide the printed card in front. Done. Retired Baron of Sydney, Australia, 418

> MTacla wrote: > The first one is a Tzimisce for sure. Look at what he did to the dog . > HaHa! I see your point. At first I saw dogs and thought "veterinarian", must be gangrel. But I see the "demon puppy" is all sewn together. Could it be a "War Puppy Ghoul"?

> Izaak wrote: > And finally, it needs to be noted that you can distinguish these "double" cards from the outside, but this is not considered a problem or in any way advantageous. > Except for the fact that a)it isn't true if you are using fully-opaque sleeves, b)if it is, you need to learn to use a scissors better, and c)if you are trying to notice such things, or have set your deck up to do so, perhaps you need to be DQed from the tournament? Kevin M., Prince of Las Vegas "Know your enemy and know yourself; in one-thousand battles you shall never be in peril." -- Sun Tzu, *The Art of War* "Contentment...Complacency...Catastrophe!" -- Joseph Chevalier Please visit VTESville daily! vtesville.myminicity.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/129744447064017

> Randy wrote: > The other one is also pretty damn nice. > > Who made that awesome picture? > That was done by Christel Espenkrona of Sweden. Galleries of her diverse artistic talents can be found here: espenkrona.blogspot.com/ foxycharlie.deviantart.com/gallery/ Many thanks to her!

> KevinM wrote: > > > Izaak wrote: > > And finally, it needs to be noted that you can distinguish these "double" cards from the outside, but this is not considered a problem or in any way advantageous. > > > Except for the fact that a)it isn't true if you are using fully-opaque sleeves, b)if it is, you need to learn to use a scissors better, and c)if you are trying to notice such things, or have set your deck up to do so, perhaps you need to be DQed from the tournament? > I tend to disagree on all of your counts, KevM. It's actually the thickness of the sleeve that contains the extra sheet of paper that can give its location in the deck away. Tried and tested it. Yes, I know that seems weird, since paper is not very thick and all, but still... Nothing to do with handling scissors (though I'd prefer to use some kind of knife and a ruler to cut out the cards, just to be sure). And how are you going to prove I actually am "trying to notice" the cards? They're just there, in the deck, leaving just enough extra space between it and the card on top or below of it to be visible. It's not like I am going to try to shuffle them to the top (or bottom) of a stack of cards; fact remains, in some cases, they can be visible. Good thing there's the opportunity (or obligation?) to cut ones deck right before the start of a game, right? No need to DQ people then (all in all it seems a bit silly to DQ people from tournaments of a 'dead' game; better try and keep all the playerrs we still have). "They had forgotten the first lesson, that we are to be powerful, beautiful, and without regret." ~ Armand.

The same thing already happens with bent cards.

> Angel74 wrote: > > > KevinM wrote: > > > > > Izaak wrote: > > > And finally, it needs to be noted that you can distinguish these "double" cards from the outside, but this is not considered a problem or in any way advantageous. > > > > > Except for the fact that a)it isn't true if you are using fully-opaque sleeves, b)if it is, you need to learn to use a scissors better, and c)if you are trying to notice such things, or have set your deck up to do so, perhaps you need to be DQed from the tournament? > > > I tend to disagree on all of your counts, KevM. It's actually the thickness of the sleeve that contains the extra sheet of paper that can give its location in the deck away. > Right, we agree. As I said, you are trying to notice such things. If you weren't, how did you know where in the deck the card was? fr.ex. I don't look at my deck during the game, I look at the other players and their minions and my minions and my cards in-hand. If you cannot stop looking at the order of the cards in your deck and need a box to cover your deck so it's not visible to you -- or some better sleeves -- I'm sure a judge can furnish you with such an object. If I were you, I'd ask so that no one could accuse me of cheating. Kevin M., Prince of Las Vegas "Know your enemy and know yourself; in one-thousand battles you shall never be in peril." -- Sun Tzu, *The Art of War* "Contentment...Complacency...Catastrophe!" -- Joseph Chevalier Please visit VTESville daily! vtesville.myminicity.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/129744447064017

So some people may predict that, maybe, the next card on top of his deck will be from the PDF expansion. Wow. The drama. I'm expecting you not to see it as potential cheating. But rather see it as an opportunity for a lot of Yu-Gi-Oh style topdecking action ! Imagination is our only weapon in the war against reality -Jules de Gaultier

maybe the design team can give us kine card spoilers every few days until the official release? it may also help the team see the card in a different light based on the comments...

I want a war ghoul puppy!

> jtroyve wrote: > maybe the design team can give us kine card spoilers every few days until the official release? > What can be fun too would be to show a refused card along with the reason. I am sure there was a pearl that went throught one or two playtesting round before someone show that there was a fundamental flaw in the logic

> Ohlmann wrote: > What can be fun too would be to show a refused card along with the reason. I am sure there was a pearl that went throught one or two playtesting round before someone show that there was a fundamental flaw in the logic > I can see the flamewar from here

> Non-existant user wrote: > I can see the flamewar from here > Well, there WILL be flamewar left and right about the set anyway

> Ohlmann wrote: > > > Non-existant user wrote: > > I can see the flamewar from here > > > Well, there WILL be flamewar left and right about the set anyway > Hence the name of the expansion "War of Flames".

> johannes wrote: > > > Ohlmann wrote: > > > > > Non-existant user wrote: > > > I can see the flamewar from here > > > > > > > > Well, there WILL be flamewar left and right about the set anyway > > > Hence the name of the expansion "War of Flames". > As Johannes instigates five hundred more posts in an otherwise winding-down thread.... Kevin M., Prince of Las Vegas "Know your enemy and know yourself; in one-thousand battles you shall never be in peril." -- Sun Tzu, *The Art of War* "Contentment...Complacency...Catastrophe!" -- Joseph Chevalier Please visit VTESville daily! vtesville.myminicity.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/129744447064017

I have an easy fix: stick a piece of paper at the BACK of original VTES cards in each sleeve too. This way everything will look just the same. That is if you are worried about yourself not being able to withstand to cheat. If you are a perfectly honest and normal person as 99% of the players are, don´t bother.

> KevinM wrote: > Right, we agree. As I said, you are trying to notice such things. If you weren't, how did you know where in the deck the card was? > I cannot help looking at the deck every once and while; if I do not glance at its global direction when drawing a card for example, I might knock the pile over, which I tend to find inconvenient (as do the other players at the table, probably...). Has nothing to do with 'trying to notice' anything. > KevinM wrote: > fr.ex. I don't look at my deck during the game, I look at the other players and their minions and my minions and my cards in-hand. > Yeah, sure. I totally believe you when you say you don't look at your deck during a game. Not. > KevinM wrote: > If you cannot stop looking at the order of the cards in your deck and need a box to cover your deck so it's not visible to you -- or some better sleeves -- I'm sure a judge can furnish you with such an object. > Sigh. How can you tell the difference between looking at a stack of cards and looking at the order of the cards in the stack? I'm not talking about picking up the deck and browse through the cards, I'm sure you got that... > KevinM wrote: > If I were you, I'd ask so that no one could accuse me of cheating. > Which is probably just you. Must be real fun, participating in your tournaments, where you could get disqualified for looking at your deck during a game. You know what? Never mind all this. I'll go with your exquisit tip and box my decks from now on. See if nobody protests against that. "They had forgotten the first lesson, that we are to be powerful, beautiful, and without regret." ~ Armand.

> Angel74 wrote: > You know what? Never mind all this. I'll go with your exquisit tip and box my decks from now on. See if nobody protests against that. > It's been a tournament rule in that other successful Pro Tour CCG for two decades, for folks like yourself who have "deck issues". It works for them, I'm sure it'll work for you. Kevin M., Prince of Las Vegas "Know your enemy and know yourself; in one-thousand battles you shall never be in peril." -- Sun Tzu, *The Art of War* "Contentment...Complacency...Catastrophe!" -- Joseph Chevalier Please visit VTESville daily! vtesville.myminicity.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/129744447064017

> KevinM wrote: > > > Angel74 wrote: > > You know what? Never mind all this. I'll go with your exquisit tip and box my decks from now on. See if nobody protests against that. > > > It's been a tournament rule in that other successful Pro Tour CCG for two decades, for folks like yourself who have "deck issues". It works for them, I'm sure it'll work for you. > Can you back that up? I'd google it myself but the burden of proof is surely on you.

Can I back it up? Maybe, I don't know. I don't care enough to try, and it's irrelevant if it's "true" or not. I was just suggesting a method for Angel74 to use so that he wasn't accused of cheating, which he clearly is not doing on purpose, but might be doing by accident, since he isn't able not to focus on his card backs and the items inside them. Kevin M., Prince of Las Vegas "Know your enemy and know yourself; in one-thousand battles you shall never be in peril." -- Sun Tzu, *The Art of War* "Contentment...Complacency...Catastrophe!" -- Joseph Chevalier Please visit VTESville daily! vtesville.myminicity.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/129744447064017

> KevinM wrote: > I was just suggesting a method for Angel74 to use so that he wasn't accused of cheating, which he clearly is not doing on purpose, but might be doing by accident, since he isn't able not to focus on his card backs and the items inside them. > ...for which I am eternally grateful. I wish more folks would be as helpful and constructive as you are. You're a real sport, Kev. Thanks. "They had forgotten the first lesson, that we are to be powerful, beautiful, and without regret." ~ Armand.

Hooray for constructive debate!!! Kevin M., Prince of Las Vegas "Know your enemy and know yourself; in one-thousand battles you shall never be in peril." -- Sun Tzu, *The Art of War* "Contentment...Complacency...Catastrophe!" -- Joseph Chevalier Please visit VTESville daily! vtesville.myminicity.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/129744447064017