Hello all,
Have had a couple of new players join and one of the things they struggled with the most was turn and combat sequencing. Including things like when to play an action vs an action modifier or even a reaction card.
So I put together a cheat sheet / new player guide which is clear and doesn't contain too much noise. It's not meant to be a replacement for the rules, but it should be enough for a new player to get up to speed with the core mechanics of the game and when to do what.
Am open to feedback, typos or spelling errors. As previously mentioned not every rule is here and I would expect the play group to fill players in on the finer details of the game. But hopefully these will help.
High quality A3 PDF: db.tt/x8Sp5wdV (11MB — recommended)
High quality A4 PDF: db.tt/eToTCTHk (11MB — two sheets)
150 DPI Images:
A3: db.tt/jxPGZCMh
A4: db.tt/2GtdDHAz and db.tt/Tx1dDhdj
Amaranth Deck Building Tool : VTES NZ : VTES ANZ Facebook
Sheet 1: I'd write "You" rather than "What you do", to keep it in line with "other players" and to make it more simple. "Cardless actions: Bleed (1 by default), " is a bit unclear whereas you can bleed only once with all your minions, or each of your minion. I'd write "(max: once per minion)" Cardless actions is missing "leave torpor" "4. Infulence phase": typo, should be "Influence"
Block 4. Influence phase. I'd rather write:
You have 4 transfers to use.
1 tranfer: move 1 pool to one of your uncontrolled minion
2 transfers: move 1 pool back from one of your uncontrolled minion
4 transfers and 1 pool: draw a new crypt card
"Cancel Event cards with certain cards". I'd write "with cards such as Not to Be" (just like you did with Sudden Reversal Combat Sequence "When a minion is blocked or attacked combat occurs". The term "attacked" doesn't exist after Jyhad edition. Use "A minion enters combat when he or she is blocked, or through cards such as Bum's Rush" "Each of the below steps" => "of the steps below" "Range by default is close (it's either long or close)" => "(it can switch between long and close)" "(unless steal life / first strike)" => "(steal blood and first strike happen first)" "A damage empty vampire goes to torpor" => "A damaged..." "(only 1 set of additional strikes allowed)" => "(only 1 source...)" Minions (vampires and allies): usage of "they" when it should be "he or she" "Only ready untapped minions can perform actions" => add "(except to leave torpor)" "(multiple hunts and rescues allowed)" => I would add an asterisk to those actions (and diablerie) in the "3. Minion phase" block and write "(except cardless actions marked with *. See 3.)"
"The first player only has 1 transfer. This increases by 1 each turn until the 4th player has 4 transfers" => ambiguous. One could think the first player has 2 transfers on the 2nd turn etc. I'd rather write:
"On the first turn, the first player has 1 transfer, the second player 2 transfers, the third player 3 transfers. After that, all players have 4 transfers each turn."
"Once the cost has been met the crypt card is flipped..." => this is wrong, crypt cards are flipped at the end of the influence phase. => "At the end of the influence phase, each crypt card with enough blood to reach its capacity is moved to the ready region, face up (extra blood wears off)."
"Your prey is to your left – oust them by reducing their pool to 0 (gain a Victory Point / VP)" => "...to 0 in order to gain 1 Victory Point and 6 pool." Also replace "them" by "him or her" "Your predator is to your right – prevent them from ousting you." => replace "them" by "him or her" "A directed action targets another player or a card controlled by them." => "or a card he or she controls" "Only the controller targeted by the directed action can block it." => "Only the player..." "or 2 hours have passed"
Prince of Paris, France
Ratings Coordinator, Rules Director
Cool; thanks for the input and taking the time to work through it.
Will work through the comments and see what works space wise (a lot of the text was driven by space constraints).
Amaranth Deck Building Tool : VTES NZ : VTES ANZ Facebook
I think it's too much text and too in depth on some parts and not enough on other parts.
Things I think are not usefull for new players:
All the clans and disciplines. This is not relevant in a well made deck. Instead put focus on card requirements: a minion card with a clan symbol -> need clan vampire in play. Display the distinction between inferior and superior better and focus on ICON matching instead of what all the icons difficult names are. The names are not relevant, but icon matching and the difference between inferior (only inferior) or superior (choice) is important.
You are also completely missing what action and vampire defaults are.
You should make clear that vampires have 1 strength 0 stealth and 0 intercept. Also that bleeds do 1 damage and are at 0 stealth but other actions default to 1 stealth.
Another thing that isnt highlighted enough is that you do not draw when the turn starts. This contrary to most other games.
I generally like the left side of the A3 and dislike the right side. I think the right side could be better explained with an enlarged and denoted card. This will make it more visually appealing while conveying the relevant information.
I'd change the "Turn order" diagram.
Keep it a pentagon, but invert it, and have "You" on the bottom circle, "Prey" and "Predator" on its sides, and "Grand-prey", "Grand predator" on the opposites
> Pascal wrote:
> I'd change the "Turn order" diagram.
> Keep it a pentagon, but invert it, and have "You" on the bottom circle, "Prey" and "Predator" on its sides, and "Grand-prey", "Grand predator" on the opposites
>
Good idea — done.
Amaranth Deck Building Tool : VTES NZ : VTES ANZ Facebook
> 2wayspeaker wrote:
> You are also completely missing what action and vampire defaults are.
>
Default bleed of 1 is mentioned as is default strike of 1.
> 2wayspeaker wrote:
> Another thing that isn't highlighted enough is that you do not draw when the turn starts. This contrary to most other games.
>
Draw immediately when a card is played is mentioned twice.
New players appear to grasp the concept of stealth and intercept fairly well, which is why it is lightly touched on here. Again this is not meant to replace the rule book, the primary goal is to assist with turn flow ie. when to play certain cards / what to do during your turn. That's why the two flow diagrams are so prominent.
I suspect (hope) after 1 or 2 games the sheet will be redundant for most players.
Amaranth Deck Building Tool : VTES NZ : VTES ANZ Facebook
So I got some printed and laminated — they came out really polished looking.
Field tested them last night and they were really helpful for the new players. The main thing they used it for was referencing the turn and combat sequencing — so they hit the make there.
Also let them keep the cheat sheet, which was a nice "shiny" thing to take home and has a lot extra fluff to look at during the day. Also figure it's a good talking point, if any one sees it they're likely to ask "What's that?" which could be a good introduction to the game.
In terms of practicality the A4 version is probably more practical (smaller size and page 1 has the important stuff) — but it lacks that wow / impressive factor which I think is important in terms of attraction.
Here's some shots printed and of the night...
Amaranth Deck Building Tool : VTES NZ : VTES ANZ Facebook
It would be great to make the source file available for translation, if you don't mind. What file format is it?
Prince of Paris, France
Ratings Coordinator, Rules Director
Sure, it was constructed using Omnigraffle (OSX)
Here are the source files:
// A3
www.dropbox.com/sh/bwaccrnueblp8hq/AADEvv8sVTXTw6Ry4CiUQ_dsa?dl=0
// A4
www.dropbox.com/sh/l8bdo55ojbv4oet/AABhlFvqlwUkOOVqdy2aFH8fa?dl=0
Released under Creative Commons Licence — creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Amaranth Deck Building Tool : VTES NZ : VTES ANZ Facebook
> alek wrote:
> Agree with 2wayspeaker that part with clans is not really needed and takes a lot of space
>
Yes, I agree to a degree — however due to the size of the A3 version they don't impact the functional components of the sheet. I think they're important as they show the depth, scope and colour of the V:TES world —and form another basis for conversation / interest (the icons are visually appealing and fairly unique to the game).
There's nothing stopping people from printing A4 sheet on A3 paper if they prefer not having the clans / disciplines...
Amaranth Deck Building Tool : VTES NZ : VTES ANZ Facebook
> Ankha wrote:
> It would be great to make the source file available for translation, if you don't mind. What file format is it?
>
You're also welcome to add them to the Downloads page.
Amaranth Deck Building Tool : VTES NZ : VTES ANZ Facebook
> Ke. wrote:
>
> > Ankha wrote:
> > It would be great to make the source file available for translation, if you don't mind. What file format is it?
> >
> You're also welcome to add them to the Downloads page.
>
They have been added to the Downloads page:
www.vekn.net/downloads
V:EKN Website Coordinator
And here are some suggestions made on Facebook:
> Tom H. R. Vandenberghe Nicely done. If I may give some advice: it would be helpful to new players if it explained somewhere what actions happen at an inherent +1 stealth (such as hunting or equiping).
>
> Michał Misztal Very goof and helpful sheet, but Tom's idea to add information about stealth is not bad either. Can you add this to the sheet?
>
V:EKN Website Coordinator
> Damnans wrote:
> And here are some suggestions made on Facebook:
>
> > Tom H. R. Vandenberghe Nicely done. If I may give some advice: it would be helpful to new players if it explained somewhere what actions happen at an inherent +1 stealth (such as hunting or equiping).
> >
> > Michał Misztal Very goof and helpful sheet, but Tom's idea to add information about stealth is not bad either. Can you add this to the sheet?
> >
Thanks, have updated with references to stealth and intercept — main line:
A successful block requires intercept equal or greater than the current level of stealth.
Also added a flow to cover successful presses.
Amaranth Deck Building Tool : VTES NZ : VTES ANZ Facebook
> Ke. wrote:
>
> Thanks, have updated with references to stealth and intercept — main line:
>
> A successful block requires intercept equal or greater than the current level of stealth.
>
> Also added a flow to cover successful presses.
>
The Downloads section has been updated accordingly.
V:EKN Website Coordinator
One more suggestion made on Facebook:
>
> Sonam Adinolf Under "cardless actions", "Trade Equipment". I'm pretty sure if you add that the list is complete.
>
V:EKN Website Coordinator