THE GUARDTOWER MONTHLY
Issue #6 • Unprecedented Edition • June 2003
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VTES: Beginning strategy
By Alexander James

Last month I mentioned some key deck archetypes for this
game. Before I get into how to construct your stereotypical deck
types, I will outline the tools you have to building these decks:

Disciplines.
Although some decks can function without using any disciplines
(these are rare, usually all master card decks or the much
dreaded Computer Hack deck), you’ll typically find that these monsters
you’re transferring into play are done so to utilize their discipline
combinations.

I’ll cover a few (popular) cards from the big twelve and the
Anarch concept. I will name a lot of cards, not explaining what
they do in detail. For information on card texts, please visit http://
monger.vekn.org/ or http://www.white-wolf.com/ (I prefer the
former).

Animalism (ANI) is control over beastly critters. There is decent
good combat, with Carrion Crows and Aid From Bats. There
is intercept with Cat’s Guidance and Raven Spy. There is also the
ever popular Army of Rats or Tier of Souls for pool damage. Don’t
forget the under used Rats Warning and Guard Dogs for untapping
and blocking (much like a WWEF or FA). Often used with Auspex
in a Wall deck, on its own, or in some dedicated combat decks.

Auspex (AUS) is telepathic/psychic brain powers. It is good
for intercept, and that’s about it. It does have some bleed boosters
with Pulse of Canaille and Melange and it has some bleed defense
with Telepathic Counter and Telepathic Misdirection. You can also
cancel a vampire’s votes with Telepathic Vote Counting. Often seen
with ANI, on its own, or on the side with just the bleed defense
cards.

Celerity (CEL) is super speed! A combat support discipline,
with Psyche! to restart ending combats, Pursuit, Blur and Side Slip
to fight better and save yourself in the process. No one expects
Alacrity to be your stealth modifier. Consider CEL with guns (like
.44 Magnum) and consider it the only stealth some clans have access
to (short of the master card Creepshow Casino).

Dementation (DEM) is crazy control. Literally. Go all wacko
and bleed for a lot, with Kindred Spirits, Confusion, and Eyes of
Chaos. Some people like the costly Coma which sends a vampire
straight to torpor. There are other funky actions, specifically Lunatic
Eruption, and a combo card Madman’s Quills to boost your bleed
up even more. DEM is usually thrown straight in with Obfuscate
to make a standard Stealth and Bleed deck.

Dominate (DOM) is dominating other people, aptly named. It
bleeds as much, or better than DEM using Condition, or Govern
the Unaligned. It also has better bleed defense than AUS, with Deflection
and Redirection. Consider also a good combat defense card,
Obedience. Steal resources with Dominate Kine and steal allies with
Far Mastery. As previously mentioned, 81% of all tournament winning
decks use DOM. Consider it with Obfuscate to bleed at stealth,
on the side to bounce bleeds or steal important allies or with Princes
to block with Second Tradition and end combat with Obedience.

Fortitude (FOR) will make you as strong as a mountain (hence
the picture). It is one of the better forms of combat defense, with
Rolling with the Punches and Hidden Strength. Also use it to make
actions difficult to block with Dawn Operations, Daring the Dawn,
and Kiss of Ra. These all have hefty costs which Restoration and
Rapid Healing can help overcome. Lets not forget Freak Drive,
which untaps you after taking any action, all for just one blood. Its
uncommon in Camerilla booster packs and is included in the Ventrue
Preconstructed deck.

Obfuscate (OBF) makes your vampire hidden. Stealth is its
main theme with Lost in the Crowds and Forgotten Labyrinth. Use
Swallowed by the Night for either stealth or a maneuver. Use Disguised
Weapon to bring in Flamethrowers or Assault Rifles without
taking an action. It also has an answer to bleed bounce, Spying Mission.
Combine with bleed modifiers (DEM or DOM) or with votes
or any other deck that has very important actions it can’t afford to
get blocked.

Obtenebration (OBT) gives you control over shadows. It can
give you stealth, it can give you intercept, and it can give you dodges,
ending of combat and torping of vampires (Shadow Play, Darksight,
Arms of the Abyss, Oubliette, Entombment respectively). It is a good
does-nearly-everything (Tool Boxy) discipline.

Potence (POT) if you like to throw down and fight, this is
your discipline. Torn Signpost, Increased Strength, Fire in the Blood,
Immortal Grapple, Pushing the Limits will do nine damage, making
sure they don’t dodge or end combat. You’ll have to find another
discipline to do something else though, as other than destroy
locations, combat is all POT does. Tastes great by itself, with Celerity
and/or Fortitude, or Dominate.

Presence (PRE) is being all pretty and influential. Its the games
answer to combat. It has Majesty to end combat. Nuf said. Bewitching
Oration and Awe can rack you up more votes and then gain
blood or pool with Voter Captivation. Bleed with Social Charm
and Aire of Elation. Good with stealth (OBF) to vote or bleed rather
successfully.

Protean (PRO) is something funky with metamorphosis, but
not like Kafka. End combat and continue your action with Form of
Mist. Do some Earth Meld for some more ending of combat, or
have Earth Control and get stealth. Do combat offensively and defensively
with Claws of the Dead and Flesh of Marble. All these
and more are easy to get in booster packs of Anarchs.

Thaumaturgy (THA) is pure vampire magic. Combat away
with Weather Control, Apportation, Theft of Vitae and the next round
of combat hit with Walk of Flame. Wind Dance to save your butt
from bad combats. Get some more actions with Rutor’s Hand, or
go for equipment with Magic of the Smith. You’ll most likely use it
with AUS.

GO ANARCH! It is brand new and not technically a skill, but
its close enough. Anarch is an action you can take, which grants
you access to a bunch of cards. Fee Stake: Perth (and other cities)
gets you two votes as an action. Fire Brand is a vote that gets you a
vote and untaps another Anarch each turn if you want. Consider
Status Perfectus to get your Anarchs into other combats. Don’t forget
Cry Wolf for a one turn Werewolf to beat up some stuff. The
Mole is a useful card that can either give intercept, untap you to
block, or fail a bleed. Versatility is the name of the game here, but
expect lots of voting flying around and some funky toolboxy decks
from the Anarchs.

I’ll see you next month when I put together some stereotypical
archetypical decks. Don’t forget, we play every Wednesday at 7pm.