TWD + Report: Finnish ECQ (Ropecon 2012)

Tournament: Finnish 2012 ECQ Date: Friday July 27th, 2012 Place: Ropecon 2012 gaming convention, Dipoli, Espoo, Finland Players: 71 Format: EC Qualifier (constructed), 3R+F Organizer/judge: Petri Wessman Winner: Randal Rudstam (see below for deck list) This year's Finnish ECQ was run, once again, at the Ropecon gaming convention. While the attendance this year was somewhat lower than during previous years, it was still quite decent with 71 players participating. Most of the players were Finnish, but we did have some international guests also (Denmark, Sweden and France were represented by brave travelers). This year the tournament was run at "Täffä" (TF), the building next to the main Dipoli conference center. This has previously been the domain of board games, but we decided to try to move card game tournaments there this year. While it wasn't totally ideal, being a bit cramped at times, I feel it was still a bit better than the main building -- if nothing else, the ventilation worked somewhat better. I got everything set up well on time, thanks to various volunteers on site (thanks, all!), and we got the tournament started more or less on time -- a concern, since TF closes for the night at some point. I didn't see any one deck type dominate the scene. Oh, there were lots of recognizable archetypes being used, but even those often had some tweaks in them. Less Animalism than I was expecting, honestly... maybe everyone was expecting the Nana deck type to be too well known and prepared against? Not sure. The old staple of Dominate was everpresent, of course, but even that didn't seen to be as overwhelmingly represented as during some previous years. Overall, all I can really say about the decks I saw in general is: huge variety. This, in my mind, is a good thing. The final round was an interesting affair; lots of action without things getting bogged down at any point. ıi]two[/i] Swedes made it to the finals, and the final win went to one of them (Randal). See below for deck lists and a transcript of the final round. I would like to thank all the players for helping keep everything running smoothly, and especially the Finnish NC Janne Lönnqvist who was, once again, an immense help with everything (including providing everyone with a huge pile of promo cards). P.S. Randal has a blog post up which also has some notes about the tournament. P.P.S. I can't personally make it to the EC this year, our second child will be born this month assuming everything goes well, and I need to be at home to help with things (the first-born is only 1.5 years at the moment, and takes up lots of time also). Maybe next year. -Petri “Orava” Wessman Results The bolded players received EC qualification for 2012. RankNamePrelim GWsPrelim VPsFinal VPsDeck/comment 1Randal Rudstam294Gubbarna (see below) 2Michael Holmström29Lutz and Unmada shifts the temptation (see below) 2Otso Saariluoma311With Cannon You Can (see below) 2Aleksi Nuora29Daughters Will Sing Satanic Messages 2Tomi Sillanpää2101Lasombra Dominate (see below) 6Heikki Palomäki28 7Petrus Makkonen27"AVENGER" Time Management Co. 8Adam Esbjörnsson26 9Tuomas Vuokko16.5 10Mikko Hyvärinen16 11Jari Mäkikyrö15.5 12Ida Olsson Bjärmark15.5 12Hannu Kokkonen15.5 14Jarkko Suvela15 15Timo Rekola14 16Mika Nurmikolu14 17Juha Nyholm14 18Toni Karjalainen14 18Niina Stenberg14 20Marko Lindroos13 21Jari Vulli13 22Tuukka Kallas13 23Raymond Mäkeläinen13Lasombra 2000 24Pascal Bertrand12.5Shalmath Wall 25Ari Lensu04.5Paha Arkkitehti 26Timo Snellman04 27Otso Turunen04 28Karri Malm03.5Kindred Spirits bleed 29Teemu Pulkkinen03Malkavian S+B 30Kari Mäkinen03 31Sebastian Schiavone03 32Are Vaskela02.5 32Antti Horelli02.5 34Marko Saari02.5 34Simo Kuosmanen02.5Nosset Dominatella 36Johan Wahlström02 37Tommi Hakomaa02Aabt Kindred Anarch Vote 37Akseli Jalava02 37Lasse Pöyry02 40Aleksi Kivilahti02 41Samuel Mäenpää02 42Isak Esbjörnsson Bjärmark01.5Shambling Softfoot 43Teemu Sainomaa01.5 43Juho Vuorikoski01.5 45Matias Frosterus01.5 46Antti Iivari01 47Sauli Samila01 47Johannes Leppä01 47Jyri Puhakka01 50Klas Swanljung01 50Olli-Kalle Kauppinen01 52Reima Tuovinen01 52Jussi Hattara01Armin Hammer 52Juhani Puska01 55Mikko Berkovits00.5 55Kimmo Pekkola00.5 57Ville Kilpi00 57Mikko Moisander00 59Mikko Laine00 60Joonas Kirsi00 60Jesper Wøldiche Rahkonen00 60Ari-Pekka Alestalo00 60Matti Palomäki00 64Janne Lönnqvist00 65Anssi Rekola00 65Tom Lindberg00 65Tuomas Sallinen00 65Lauri Salmi00 65Pasi Karjalainen00 70Peter Kaario00 DQTapio Törrönen00Imbued The DQ is from leaving the tournament after two rounds (he let me know well before 3rd round started, so no problem there). Decklists Tournament Winner (Randal Rudstam) Deck Name: Gubbarna Description: A bleed deck that I tweaked for the RopeCon meta by using less bleed and more stealth and reaction cards. Original Stefan Karlsson, lates update from who I tweaked the deck Alexander Båskman Crypt (Capacity min=10 max=11 avg=10.5; 12 cards) ==================================================== 3x Arika 11 aus cel DOM FOR OBF PRE Ventrue:2 1x Esau 10 AUS DEM DOM OBF PRE Malkavian:3 1x Etrius 11 pro AUS DOM OBF THA Tremere:2 4x Huitzilopochtli 10 AUS DAI DOM OBF PRE POT Baali:2 1x Leandro 11 cel dom AUS OBF PRE Malkavian:2 1x Nefertiti 10 cel pot DOM OBF PRE SER Follower of Set:2 1x Ur-Shulgi, The Shepherd 11 aus CEL DOM OBF QUI THA Assamite:2 Library (72 cards) ===================== Master (30 cards) 6x Ashur Tablets 1x Coven, The 2x Dreams of the Sphinx 1x Giant's Blood 1x Golconda: Inner Peace 2x Information Highway 1x Jake Washington (Hunter) 1x Metro Underground 1x Monastery of Shadows 1x Parthenon, The 1x Pentex(TM) Subversion 6x Villein 6x Zillah's Valley Event (1 cards) 1x Anthelios, The Red Star Action (7 cards) 2x Entrancement 3x Intimidation 1x Mind Rape 1x Unleash Hell's Fury Political Action (1 cards) 1x Banishment Action Modifier (18 cards) 1x Cloak the Gathering 2x Conditioning 3x Elder Impersonation 1x Enkil Cog 3x Faceless Night 1x Foreshadowing Destruction 1x Into Thin Air 5x Lost in Crowds 1x Spying Mission Reaction (10 cards) 2x Deflection 2x Eyes of Argus 4x Obedience 2x On the Qui Vive Combo (5 cards) 2x Force of Personality 1x Hide the Mind 2x Murmur of the False Will Other Finalists Aleksi Nuora Deck Name : Daughters Will Sing Satanic Messages Author : Aleksi Nuora Description : They say that if you play Lily Prelude backwards it sounds like "4 pool damage to my predator" Crypt [12 vampires] Capacity min: 1 max: 6 average: 4.33333 4x Yseult (6) Daughter of Cacophony(group 3) 2x Angela Preston (5) Daughter of Cacophony(group 2) 2x Tupdog (1) Gargoyle(group 3) 1x Gael Pilet (6) Daughter of Cacophony(group 2) 1x Delilah Monroe (4) Daughter of Cacophony(group 2) 1x Celeste, The Voice of a Secret (3) Daughter of Cacophony(group 2) 1x Muse (3) Daughter of Cacophony(group 2) Library [80 cards] Action [2] 2x Charming Lobby Action Modifier [36] 4x Awe 4x Bewitching Oration 4x Cryptic Rider 4x Echo of Harmonies 8x Missing Voice, The 1x Perfect Paragon 3x Virtuosa 8x Voter Captivation Action Modifier/Combat [5] 5x Force of Personality Action Modifier/Reaction [6] 6x Madrigal Master [17] 1x Antediluvian Awakening 3x Bastille Opera House 1x Bleeding the Vine 3x Conductor 1x Creepshow Casino 2x Paris Opera House 1x Pentex(TM) Subversion 2x Protected Resources 2x Wash 1x Wider View Political Action [14] 3x Kine Resources Contested 11x Lily Prelude Michael Holmström Deck Name : Lutz and Unmada shifts the temptation Author : Michael Holmstrm Description : This is a vote deck with no big surprise in it. Bring out your big minions with votes and Parity Shift to your heart's content. There is one card that is maybe too strong to try out for your self Crypt [12 vampires] Capacity min: 9 max: 11 average: 10 4x Lutz von Hohenzollern (11) inner circleMalkavian(group 4) 4x Unmada (10) justicarMalkavian(group 5) 2x Dmitra Ilyanova (9) justicarBrujah(group 5) 2x Undele (9) magajiIshtarri(group 5) Library [63 cards] Action Modifier [12] 2x Elder Impersonation 2x Faceless Night 3x Forgotten Labyrinth 2x Into Thin Air 3x Lost in Crowds Combat [4] 4x No Trace Master [26] 1x Coven, The 1x Giant's Blood 1x Golconda: Inner Peace 2x Information Highway 1x Monastery of Shadows 1x Pentex(TM) Subversion 3x Protected Resources 1x Secure Haven 1x Temptation of Greater Power 6x Villein 8x Zillah's Valley Political Action [21] 1x Anarchist Uprising 1x Ancient Influence 1x Ancilla Empowerment 3x Banishment 1x Conservative Agitation 5x Kine Resources Contested 1x Neonate Breach 6x Parity Shift 1x Political Stranglehold 1x Reins of Power Otso Saariluoma Deck Name : With Cannon You Can Author : Otso Saaruiluoma Description : Ropecon 2012 finalist Crypt [12 vampires] Capacity min: 3 max: 11 average: 7.33333 4x Anson (8) princeToreador(group 1) 2x Volker, The Puppet Prince (5) princeBrujah(group 2) 1x Alexandra (11) inner circleToreador(group 2) 1x Anneke (10) justicarToreador(group 1) 1x Francois Villon (10) princeToreador(group 2) 1x Marcellus (8) princeToreador(group 2) 1x Victor Tolliver (4) Brujah antitribu(group 2) 1x Sarah Brando (3)Brujah antitribu(group 2) Library [78 cards] Action [2] 1x Big Game 1x Bum's Rush Combat [25] 1x Blur 6x Concealed Weapon 8x Infernal Pursuit 4x Psyche! 3x Pursuit 1x Sideslip 2x Taste of Vitae Equipment [6] 6x .44 Magnum Event [2] 1x Anthelios, The Red Star 1x Dragonbound Master [34] 9x Ashur Tablets 1x Direct Intervention 1x Dreams of the Sphinx 1x Fame 1x Giant's Blood 4x Haven Uncovered 1x Information Highway 1x Lilith's Blessing 1x Parthenon, The 1x Pentex(TM) Subversion 1x Powerbase: Montreal 6x Villein 1x Wider View 5x Zillah's Valley Political Action [2] 2x Parity Shift Reaction [7] 7x Second Tradition: Domain Tomi Sillanpää Deck Name : Tomi's Ropecon 2012 Finalist Deck Author : Tomi Sillanpaa Description : Nothing too unique here. Crypt [12 vampires] Capacity min: 3 max: 7 average: 5.41667 3x Banjoko (5) Lasombra(group 3) 2x Henri Lavenant (7) Lasombra(group 3) 2x Ermenegildo, The Rake (5) Lasombra(group 4) 1x Isanwayen (6) Kiasyd(group 4) 1x Onaedo (6) Lasombra(group 4) 1x Virginie, Prodigy (6) bishopLasombra(group 4) 1x Dame Hollerton (5) Kiasyd(group 4) 1x Lucy Markowitz (3) Lasombra(group 4) Library [80 cards] Action [16] 14x Govern the Unaligned 2x Tattoo Signal Action Modifier [27] 5x Art of Memory, The 3x Bonding 3x Conditioning 2x Foreshadowing Destruction 2x Seduction 4x Shadow Play 4x Shroud of Absence 2x Shroud of Night 1x Stone Travel 1x Tenebrous Form Ally [7] 7x Nocturn Combat [3] 1x Oubliette 2x Shadow Body Master [16] 1x Anarch Troublemaker 3x Corporal Reservoir 2x Coven, The 1x Direct Intervention 2x Dreams of the Sphinx 1x House of Sorrow 2x Life in the City 1x Path of Night, The 1x Pentex(TM) Subversion 1x Remover 1x Watchtower: Four Ride Forth Reaction [11] 6x Deflection 2x Delaying Tactics 3x On the Qui Vive Final Round Transcript This is based on my personal notes, scribbled down during the game. Some detail is missing and there may be mistakes here and there. The final round was played in Dipoli, since TF was closing for the night at 3am latest. Play started at 1:10 am and ended at 2:21 am. The players were (in seating order): Michael Holmström Randal Rudstam Aleksi Nuora Otso Saariluoma Tomi Sillanpää Turn 1 Michael: Zillah Randal: Information Highway, gets Washed by Aleksi Zillah Anthelios Aleksi: trade Protected Resources for a Wash (Anthelios) Otso: Zillah Tomi: bring out Lucy Markowitz Turn 2 Michael: Zillah bring out Dmitra Ilyanova Randal: Pentex on Dmitra Aleksi: bring out Yseult Otso: Zillah bring out Volker bring out Francois Villon Tomi: Coven Lucy plays Nocturn Lucy bleeds w/Conditioning bring out Banjoko Turn 3 Michael: Villein Dmitra for 8 Randal: bring out Arika Aleksi: Yseult tries to call KRC, Villon blocks w/2nd Trad, V gets concealed Magnum after lots of presses and Infernal Pursuits, Yseult goes to torpor bring out Delilah Monroe bring out Tupdog Otso: Villein Francois Villon empty, use Coven on him Dreams of the Sphinx Villon steals 2 blood from Banjoko bring out Sarah Brando Tomi: Lucy rescues Yseult Banjoko bleeds with GtU Turn 4 Michael: bring out Lutz Randal: Villein Arika for 8 Ashur Arika bleeds, gets Enkil Cog bring out Huitzilopochtli Aleksi: use Coven on Yseult Yseult removes Pentex Otso: Lilith's Blessing Sarah bleeds for 1 Volker bleeds for 1 Villon steals 2 from Yseult Tomi: Banjoko bleeds with GtU Lucy does the same bring out Ermenegildo Turn 5 Michael: Villein Lutz for 10 Lutz calls Political Stranglehold, passes Dmitra calls Conservative Agitation 4/1, passes Randal: Ashur Huitzilopochtli plays Unleash Hell's Fury Arika bleeds for 6 (Intimidation) Huitzilopochtli bleeds for 2 Aleksi: Protected Resources Yseult hunts Otso: Parthenon Giant's Blood on Villon Villon bleeds for 2, bounced to Michael Volker gets a Magnum Sarah bleeds for 1 Tomi: Corporal Reservoir on Banjoko Lucy hunts Banjoko bleeds for 1 w/Art of Memory Ermenegildo bleeds for 1 bring out Dame Hollerton Turn 6 Michael: Villein Lutz for 3 Protected Resources Lutz hunts Dmitra votes blood for Lutz & herself Randal: Metro Underground Huitzilopochtli bleeds for 2 Arika bleeds for 3 Aleksi: Bastille Opera House Yseult bleeds, Villon blocks w/2nd Trad, Yseult goes to torpor Delilah bleeds, Villon blocks w/2nd Trad (Randal's) Arika bleeds w/Enkil, Aleksi ousted (@1:47) Otso: Haven Uncovered on Arika Ashur Volker rushes Arika, Arika goes to torpor Villon calls Parity Shift from Randal, passes Tomi: Ermenegildo bleeds with GtU and Art of Memory Dame rescues Arika Lucy bleeds for 1 Banjoko bleeds with GtU Turn 7 Michael: Lutz calls KRC 3/1, passes Dmitra calls Banishment on Banjoko, does not pass Randal: Ashur (3rd) Arika hunts, Villon tries to block but fails Otso: Ashur x 2 Sarah rushes Arika, Obedience Volker rushes Arika, runs into Hell's Fury, goes to torpor Villon rushes Arika, Obedience Arika bleeds for 6 (Enkil) Tomi: Anarch Troublemaker Dame bleeds with GtU Turn 8 Michael: Villein Dmitra for 3 Lutz calls KRC 3/1, passes Dmitra votes blood for herself, passes Randal: Huitzilopochtli bleeds for 4 (Mind Rape), Direct Intervention from Otso Huitzilopochtli bleeds for 3 (Entrancement) Arika bleeds for 4, Otso is ousted (@2:06) Tomi: Ermenegildo gets Nocturn Nocturn bleeds for 1 Dame bleeds with GtU Banjoko bleeds with GtU Arika bleeds for 9 (Enkil), gets bounced, plays Spying Mission Turn 9 Michael: Protected Resources (yes, a second one) Dmitra calls Parity Shift from Randal, DI from Tomi Lutz bleeds for 3, Huitzilopochtli bounces to Tomi, bleed succeeds (both Protected Resources burn) Dmitra bleeds for 1 Randal: Coven (contest) Villein Huitzilopochtli for 8 play Dreams (via Huitzilopochtli's special) Tomi: give up on Coven contest Banjoko gets Nocturn Nocturn bleeds for 1 Dame bleeds with GtU, Michael is ousted (@2:12) Ermenegildo bleeds for 4 Lucy bleeds for 2 Turn 10 Randal: Jake Washington Huitzilopochtli's bleeds for 2 (Entrancement), boosted to 6 Arika bleeds for 4, Tomi is ousted (@2:21) Pics Some pictures from the tournament, by Marko Saari. Attachment DSC_9250.jpg not found Attachment DSC_9283.jpg not found Attachment DSC_9287.jpg not found Attachment DSC_9323.jpg not found Attachment DSC_9338.jpg not found Attachment DSC_9341.jpg not found Attachment DSC_9345.jpg not found Attachment DSC_9359.jpg not found

The latest Cause and Effect video talks about the tournament. Cause and Effect video

Thanks, Petri, for running the tournament and for the extensive report, once again! Especially with the progenies eating up your spare time. And congrats to Randy, it's nice to lose to a man who´s always so jolly. (Some Swedish mind tricks, I'm sure. ) Here are a few comments on the Ropecon tournament and the finals from my perspective: First of all, I have to say my luck was phenomenal all day long. I had crypt acceleration in all four games, I played Giant's blood in at least three out of four games, and so on and so forth. Some highlights form the prelims: In the first round I was one pool short of being ousted by Marko L.´s Week of Nightmares lunge, in the second round my prey and grandpray were contesting Stanislava, and in the third round I had to get my own Anson to torpor and diablerize him afterwards to release contested Pentex on Pascal's Shalmath (thanks, Pascal, for the tip!). In the finals I chose to sit as Aleksi's pray as I was rather confident I could trump his deck without spending too many resources. I'll comment on some details of the game: - I'm pretty sure the first round was as follows: Michael: Zillah' Valley Randy: Information Highway --> gets Washed by Aleksi; Zillah's Valley; Anthelios Aleksi: trading Rrotected Resources for Wash via Anthelios Me: Zillah's Valley (which notably didn't get washed) So Aleksi didn't just discard his Protected Resources, but traded it for Wash to get some measure of control over the 10- and 11-caps popping up around him. I think he didn't know what he was up against or he might have played differently. Incidentially, he ended up playing the wash on one of my two first Villeins, which was pretty much all the pood damage he did to me during that game. - One point that really defined the game in a fundamental way was the crypt draws: Toni didn't get his Govern chain, so he was not able to build up resources and rather had to start bleeding Michael right away. Michael, on the other hand, had his own problems with Unmada's no-show. If I'm correct he was not allowed to play a single stealth or combat card during the entire game. So with all those and all the crypt acceleration, he had hard time digging up his political actions which actually consisted a thrid (21/63 !) of his deck. And I of course had no Anson, which really crippled me as I had to choose between playing my pool gain masters and trying to outrace Radal's Ashurs to set up my deck. I also had to cycle through a lot of cards to get my first concealed / magnum and decking myself was actually somewhat of a concern in the back of my mind. - I misread Michael's strength. At the time, I didn't realise the extent of his hand management issues and I really wanted to keep him in a tight leash. I guess this point needs some more elaboration: I was afraid Michael would be baiting his time to be able to double-oust both Randy and me in a single turn (and as he was doing only moderate amounts of pool damage to Randall, using Dmitra's special and whatnot, it really felt he was slow-playing and trying to position the table). Also, I knew that he played Temptation of Greater Power and I didn't want him to have tons of pool when he would get Randall. And finally, I was confident I could hinder Tomi in a serious way shoud need arise so I was quite happy to give him some space to go forward. - After the finals I claimed Tomi had to make the deal to DI Michael's Parity Shift, but now I'm not so sure. Considering Michael's hand management issues, Tomi woud have had a decent chance to win the pool damage race, especially with the DI in hand, even with Protected Resources and 14 pool in front of him. - I didn't pay for Arika's special. So that's two pool from two turns with Parthenon in play. I guess it really was 2 a.m. All in all, it was a really tight game: four out of five players had a very real chance to get the game win. Aleksi sort of ended up between rock and a hard place, but kudos to him for getting to the finals with daughters! So this year's Finnish ECQ win went to Swedes. Perhaps we'll have the chance to get back at them in the Swedish Nationals, this time "with a bit more dominate"...

Thanks for the tournament, people! And very good episode of C&E. I was playing Al'Muntaquim (also mentioned in the C&E episode), and I'll have to admit that it was my first time playing against a proper Anson + Ashurs deck. I was hoping it would've been a Presence version once I got a hang of what was happening in front of me in the final game, but Celerity with guns was ultimately way worse than what I had even dreamt of. It was a very interesting game, however, as was the whole tournament. I kinda had the same feeling as Adam about the finals - if I had gotten in, it most likely would've been a horrible rapeage, so I think it was better for me NOT to be there. Even more so because there were a couple of flaws in my deck which I figured out after the tournament, one of which was the relatively small amount of Outsides of Hourglass. Great going, guys, and it was awesome to see so many good and interesting decks and players! Also got some great trades done. "Oh, to the Hades with the manners! He's a complete bastard, and calling him that insults bastards everywhere!" -Nalia De-Arnise garourimgazette.wordpress.com/ www.vekn.net/forum-guidelines

First round corrected (thanks Otso, your clarifications explained some weird things in my notes which I wasn't sure about Some more pics (again by Marko Saari, thanks!) Attachment DSC_9295.jpg not found Attachment DSC_9299.jpg not found Attachment DSC_9305.jpg not found Attachment DSC_9307.jpg not found Attachment DSC_9312.jpg not found Attachment DSC_9332.jpg not found Attachment DSC_9348.jpg not found Attachment DSC_9358.jpg not found

awesome pictures ! @Petri: I was playing Shalmath Wall, iirc.

1/ The final had no time limit? 2/ From what I read, Otso was heavily involved in Aleksi being oust. Yseult and Delilah can't block Huitzilopotchli and Arika which is a big problem. To make things worse, Otso sends Yseult to torpor, and when she comes back and break her pentex, François Villon steals her remaining blood. No wonder Randal makes his VP and becomes unstoppable. What was the idea behind ousting Aleksi? Prince of Paris, France Ratings Coordinator, Rules Director

A Daughter deck can't not be super-aggressive, so Aleksi would have to be super-aggressive. Otso plays a combat deck so he cannot take any pool damage, especially if he has no second traditions on his hand. So Otso has to rush Aleksi in order to win, no matter if it helps Randal. The worst seating possible for a rush deck will always be to have an aggressive predator as well as an aggressive grandpredator. Seeing how all four decks except Otso's were aggressive decks, Otso had really poor chances to win this game no matter what he did. Adam Esbjörnsson, Prince of Örebro

> Pascal wrote: > > > Ankha wrote: > > 1/ The final had no time limit? > > 2/ From what I read, Otso was heavily involved in Aleksi being oust. Yseult and Delilah can't block Huitzilopotchli and Arika which is a big problem. To make things worse, Otso sends Yseult to torpor, and when she comes back and break her pentex, François Villon steals her remaining blood. No wonder Randal makes his VP and becomes unstoppable. What was the idea behind ousting Aleksi? > > > > The final round was played in Dipoli, since TF was closing for the night at 3am latest. Play started at 1:10 am and ended at 2:21 am. > > Ok, I was confused by > Tomi is ousted (@2:21) > Relative time since the start of the game would be easier to understand. Prince of Paris, France Ratings Coordinator, Rules Director

> Xaddam wrote: > A Daughter deck can't not be super-aggressive, so Aleksi would have to be super-aggressive. Otso plays a combat deck so he cannot take any pool damage, especially if he has no second traditions on his hand. So Otso has to rush Aleksi in order to win, no matter if it helps Randal. The worst seating possible for a rush deck will always be to have an aggressive predator as well as an aggressive grandpredator. Seeing how all four decks except Otso's were aggressive decks, Otso had really poor chances to win this game no matter what he did. > I would agree if the DoC deck was a bleed deck, but it's clearly a vote deck. How did Otso know the first vote called was for him, not Aleksi's predator (because when you play DoC and you have an Inner Circle bleeding, you usually try to backoust him before he gets you)? Was there any kind of deal? Prince of Paris, France Ratings Coordinator, Rules Director

The way I see it, I didn't actually do all that much to oust Aleksi. I stole some blood and blocked him torporizing his vampire(s) alright, but I believe that it didn't really contribute to the speed with which he got ousted, as it didn't alter his pool total. Yseult's and Delilah's specials weren't really relevant, as any attempt to block would just help Randall with his card flow anyways. I didn't rush Aleksi, and I certainly didn't want him to die. I just wanted to deny him his actions, as, IMHO, there were no actions he could take that would benefit the both of us. The only way for him to gain pool and stay longer in the game would be to voter cap after a damaging vote, and that was out of the question for me, barring, of course, voting backwards. And for Aleksi, backousting Randall would just give him a lot more difficult predator. I wanted to sit in front of Aleksi to get an initial predator who couldn't hurt me so that I could get my game going. I was actually quite happy with the seating and I didn't mind having aggressive pool damage decks around me. I still think, that had Anson just showed up, the position would have been quite advantageous for me. As far as the first KRC is considered, I was eager to block him to Infernal Pursuit into concealed/magnum and draw into some good masters for my turn. Had Aleksi indicated that he wanted to call it backwards as he announced the action, I might have chosen not to block, but that was not the case.

> Ankha wrote: > Relative time since the start of the game would be easier to understand. > True enough. Well, I guess people will be able to puzzle it out anyway

> Ankha wrote: > How did Otso know the first vote called was for him, not Aleksi's predator (because when you play DoC and you have an Inner Circle bleeding, you usually try to backoust him before he gets you)? Was there any kind of deal? > Back ousting was not an option for me as I would have only traded Arika for Lutz. Against Arika I could at least get the Protected Resources back but I would have had very little chance against Lutz as my predator. Even if back ousting was an option, I knew that the longer I would wait to go forward the harder it would become, with Otso cycling into more 2nd Trads and influencing princes every turn. In hindsight, it might have been better to call that first KRC backwards in order to cycle into Virtuosas or stealth locations using Yseult's special. But, considering that I had a Force of Personality in hand, Otso hadn't had a good chance to cycle cards yet and Anson wasn't there to clear out masters, I figured it was worth the risk to either do pool damage or take out a 2nd Trad. As it turned out, Infernal Pursuit was a pretty good card, Yseult ended up in torpor and my game was pretty much over.

> Otso wrote: > Aleksi sort of ended up between rock and a hard place, but kudos to him for getting to the finals with daughters. > Cheers. I was just happy to be sitting in the finals, daughters or no daughters.

Appropos, as mentioned before tournament, we were some 96 euros short of the money used for the qualifier shirts. So we asked volunteers to pitch in by purchasing some VTES pins for the sum they thought fitting. Thanks to the generous players (I think I saw some people handing out fivers) we got 108 euros so I didn't have to take the needed money solely from my own wallet. The difference went to purchase some boosters for Saturday's draft's prizes. Once again guys (and gals), thanks for being so understanding and helpful! Attachment Thanks.jpg not found Finnish Politics!