Lack of Posts...

Just a quick post to apologise for my recent lack of posts...

The girlfriend and I have been busy of late with locating a suitable new place to move to here in London, followed by actually moving house, and have only just regained regular Internet access at the new place.

That said, we were able to attend one of the weekly games here in London at the 'Jugged Hare' this week which was really inspirational. (thanks must go to the regulars for their great welcome and intense gameplay as well as the pleasure of meeting another 'oldbie/newbie' who also happened to visit this week).

That experience has me all fired up to get our cards sorted and catalogued so I can get into building some proper decks (although the Akunanse pre-con I played in the first game held up surprisingly well) and will also hopefully start posting regularly again on here soon.

I am looking forward to meeting some of the other regulars at further weekly games soon and am now also looking forward, if with a little trepidation, to the UK nationals next month. :)

Newbie Game Review

We've now held the game hosted at my place where several players new to the game attended so thought I'd better post a bit of a review of the game. For various reasons, I have limited references to the players by initials for privacy, so hopefully it is still okay to follow.

Originally planned to be a game of 5 players, with the welcome arrival of a last minute addition we ended up with 6 players including my partner JB and I. After a random draw we then ended up with JB starting with a Third Edition Malkavian antitribu deck, followed by BL playing the KoT Malkavian deck, JW playing the KoT Ventrue deck, myself SB playing the KoT Toreador deck, MB on a Third Edition Tremere deck and LC playing the KoT Brujah deck.

I initially ran through a basic overview of the rules, along with a bit of a spiel about the clans we were playing and their styles and also a bit about the Camarilla versus the Sabbat, to try and add some of the story aspect to the game, as well as the straight mechanics. Then we simply got stuck into a game, as I have found that this is probably the best way to introduce the technicalities of the game.

The game went reasonably slowly at first whilst people got accustomed to the rules and cards, but I think it went quite well. The random draw had ended up with JB and I at opposite ends of the table, so she was able to help out with explanations at one end of the table and I was able to help out at the other.

LC seemed to grasp the concept of the game really quickly and MB rapidly consulted and absorbed the rules, as seems to be his way, and indeed at one stage correcting me on a fairly crucial rule, which was somewhat embarrassing, but also excellent and reasonably humourous to see. :)

BL tended to be a bit more of a dark horse, playing her game fairly close the chest, so she was a bit harder to read, whilst JW seemed pretty laid-back but also seemed to indicate a firm understanding of the game as well with one or two perceptive comments, so all in all, a good start. :)

In terms of interesting game plays, I was unfortunately paying more attention to introducing the game than take any notes so nothing much to report on that score.

Overall though the game was pretty balanced with everyone losing pool at about the same rate, so the chosen starter decks worked out quite well in that regard, playing together nicely as a balanced set. In the end, as the game had gone on for a few hours, people were starting to want their evening meal so having slightly more pool than the others, I now started to put the pressure on my prey, MB.

MB had gotten a bit caught in the middle between my gun-toting Toreador and LC's predictably combat nasty Brujah and had also seemed to suffer a bit of hand-jam. I guess this is one potential down-side to the Tremere deck, in that it has some useful combinations but sometimes you have to get the combinations to cycle the cards effectively and unless you cycle the cards, you don't get the combinations. To a certain extent you therefore also need to have a reasonable knowledge of how to make the combinations work, to build the combinations you need, which can be fun when they do and frustrating when they don't. I had originally planned on playing this deck myself but on the day went with random selection, so not sure if it was a good idea or not.

I had been fairly fortunate in that my predator JW, who seems a pretty nice guy, had played it fairly laid-back throughout the game and hadn't put too much pressure on me. This meant that I had the pool and resources to now put the pressure on, in order to finish up the game. As a result MB ended up being ousted first, giving me a further pool boost and LC followed not long after this, as she and MB had depleted each other's resources somewhat, battling each other in their corner of the table.

JB, who had more experience and is also just a pretty good player per se, was a bit harder to overcome and so it was a bit of a race to to kill her before she could kill BL. At this point it was great to see that rather than lose interest now they were out of the game, MB and LC seemed glued to the action now that the end game was in sight and the subsequent increased action started to take place. In the end I was able to get through JB albeit with a bit of a struggle and some hasty debate from all parties concerned in regards to some political actions and their suggested conditions.

I then ran into a wall against BL who, in perhaps the most impressive play of the day, managed to use what I think was just one of her vampires to successfully block 4 of mine. Eventually I managed to also get chip away at her as well however and by that stage she had now bled JW enough to allow me to finish him off soon afterwards as well.

As an introduction to the game, it wasn't overly really ideal that I swept through everyone but by this time everyone had had a good introduction to the game and were keen for food (kudos to JB for her excellent curry and chilli on which made added to the day being just as enjoyable as the game itself) and I thought it better everyone saw the end to the game, than just halt it without finishing.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the game though and were either keen to play again or were perhaps just typically English in their politeness, it is sometimes hard to tell which is which. :)

I really should have gotten a photo or two of the day but JB and I both forgot to do so whilst playing hosts, so hopefully next time.

Reflections

Like the longed-for recollection of half-forgotten distant tunes, invoking old memories of past friends and past days, so sometimes I forlornly miss my old cards. Whilst resigned to the fact that they are gone, ransomed off in order to take my life in new directions, to enable my heart to follow new paths and look afresh upon new pastures and new loves.... yet, despite this pragmatic realisation, their memory still courses through my veins.

I yearn for the familiar feel of enthusiasm at carefully selecting and extracting any of my numerous chosen favourite decks of the given moment from their lovingly customised housing in anticipation of a new game, a new possibility. Like the well-worn feel of much loved tools in a craftsman's hands, the honeyed wood smooth with years of use, so were my cards, in their case of leather and brass and felt and wood. That faint smell of card within my nostrils upon opening up this treasure trove of knowledge and intricate potential. The challenge of calculation, assessment and refinement in hopes that, handled with sufficiently strategic manipulation, they could work their magic. The shaving away here of that slightly irregular card, the joining of that card with this card, to smooth and polish the finished article into a finely structured musical instrument, the parts coalesced into so much more than their individual abilities. Now, resonant, and if skill-fully played, a building symphony through a series of melodious rounds, to reach the crescendo of that perfect turn, when the cards blend together in that carefully planned, yet hardly dared for, perfect harmonious combination to bring your prey, or be it your predator, to their knees.

For all this, I harbour no regrets, a thousand times the same choices offered, a thousand times I would choose thus again, for what was gained in return was emphatically worth it, and yet, undeniably, as sure as the invoked memories of a once much-loved melody transport me back to moments in time long gone, I miss them...

V:TES Symbol

Long ago I found that playing V:TES on a regular basis means you tend to end up noticing references to it in many places. I was always particularly fond of the tri-serpentes V:TES symbol and have tended to enjoy seeing it or similar symbols lurking about the place.

Below are a few of the ones I have noticed along with some of the cool directly related V:TES items bearing the symbol that I have taken note of.

'Snakes' is a woodcut by one of my favourite artists, M. C. Escher which was which was first printed in July 1969. Whilst I can't be certain, I personally suspect that this is the image that was perhaps the inspiration for the actual symbol used Vampire:The Eternal Struggle. The angles of the snake's head and body and the tail all seem reminiscent of the V:TES symbol. Either way, it is a pretty cool picture. Escher is a pretty popular artist so you no doubt are already familiar with his work, but if on the off-chance you aren't, then I highly recommend having a look at his material.

This is the symbol for the Wychwood Warriors (officially called the Oxford University Historical Re-enactment Society) which are an Anglo-Saxon and Viking re-enactment group based at Oxford University, that my girlfriend used to be a part of. I am not sure about the history of this particular symbol and whether it has any historical provenance or is simply a modern day invention by someone associated with the group.

A picture of the V:TES symbol on the window of the Ink Pit Tattoo ^** shop in Adelaide, South Australia.

I occasionally pondered the idea of visiting this place and asking them how they ended up using that symbol and whether they also played the game at all, but I never found myself near the place on foot and it wasn't really my sort of location to visit as such, nestled between a dodgy photo studio and an adult shop. Still, I guess if you ever want a tattoo of the symbol done and are visiting Adelaide, this may be the place to go.... >;-)

^{** (Shop link is to Google streeview in case you want a closer look at the symbol)}

Also slightly reminiscent of the V:TES symbol is the cover art for the Black Crowes album Three Snakes and One Charm. Whilst I have not actually heard this album myself, call me weird when I say the cover art alone makes me want to possibly try it out sometime. No doubt I or someone else could come up with one of the now infamous 'Girl decks' that seem prevalent in the tournament scene, named after the 6th track, 'Girl(s) from a Pawnshop'... :P

An example of another vaguely similar design from historical sources is for the coat of arms of Ednowain ap Bradwen, Lord of Merioneth, who lived in the early 1100's. An example of the coat of arms can apparently still be seen in Bangor Cathedral, in north-west Wales. The design itself is similar to and thought to be based upon the 3 intersecting moons from other heraldic designs, seen in the image inset.

Moving onto to actual V:TES paraphernalia, this is a picture of the V:TES tablecloth sold by www.vtes.de (and quite possibly other vendors) I actually bought one of these myself but to be honest, I am not overly fond of the slippery nature of the synthetic fabric or the rubbery texture of the snake symbol itself, which reminded me of the old-school iron-on t-shirt designs that used to be about which would peel off after much use. Hopefully this design is more durable than they used to be though and I still just like having it as an item.

These sterling silver coins were apparently exclusively made as part of a series of 'Relics' for the Vampire the Ethernal Struggle European Championship in Budapest, 2005. It was stated that they were pure silver, 5 cms in diameter, and came in separate boxes. There were only 14 of them at the time, and you were able to bid on them during the last day of the event. The starting bid was to be €60. It was also stated that the winner might have one for a prize... (they were estimated to be worth €80 a piece). I wonder what they ended up going for? I am jealous! I want one... :)

This is one of the V:TES edges that apparently the V:TES community in Zaragoza in Spain give to any new Methuselahs visiting one of their tournaments for the first time. Apparently they have been giving these out as a tradition since the European Championship Qualfiers in 2006. I came across these and the other great prizes available as part of an article about their Storyline Lucita d’Aragón 2008 - Festivo dello Estinto II event. I am starting to realise the European V:TES community has style. If this tradition has hopefully continued I am also definitely going to have to visit one of their tournaments one of these days... >;-)

Here we have the V:TES symbol on a bag from the V:TES European Championship 2010 which were held in Paris. I stumbled across this item via one of extrala's blog posts over at vtesec2010.blogspot.com. I wonder if the bag is like one of the Ultra-pro deck carrier bags, as I have pondered getting one of these, so one with the V:TES symbol emblazoned on it would be great.

Speaking of the V:TES European Championship 2010 in Paris, extrala's blog of the event also had a picture of this intriguing looking item that is a custom edge or championship medal or some-such with the Paris V:TES symbol on it. I wasn't able to find a photo with more detail of this item else-where but I like the look of it. - Note: Since first adding this entry I have now located a site that in fact allows you to order these edges and in a wide range of materials from what I think is white plastic right up to them being made in bronze, silver or gold plated etc. They are available from www.shapeways.com. and here is a picture of the model that they are made from, in whatever material you choose.

There are also a wide variety of t-shirts around with the V:TES symbol on them, such as ones seen here courtesy of yet another of extrala's blogs from the V:TES 2009 European Championships which took place in Palma de Mallorca in Spain. Rather than continue this post with the plethora of t-shirts around with the V:TES symbol on them though, I think I will leave those for another blog or another blogger to post about another day...

Disclaimer: Most of the images above are not my own material and hopefully it is okay to have included them for this post, but if any of the original owners has any objections, leave a comment or drop me an email and I'll gladly remove them :)

Vaguely Rambling About PreCon Decks

The Wandering Counselor helpfully commented on one of my posted PreCon deck lists today about their equivalent being listed at The Lasombra's site and also over at extrala's blog which are well worth a look.

Note: Since adding this post I have now realised about the existence of the Secret Library's Preconstructed Deck Lists which are great in that they already allow them to be exported in many formats, including the 'ELD' format.

This made me realise something. I should possibly explain why I have been posting these PreCon decks when they are already listed else-where and am therefore seemingly just re-hashing over pre-existing material. It also provides me with a convenient vehicle to start toeing the waters of posting something more substantial than simple lists of cards and game attributes. To start musing upon what direction I want the blog to move in. I tend to do a lot of this, vaguely contemplating about the probably inconsequential...

Okay, so to a certain extent posting PreCon decks has admittedly been a means to ease me into the habit of posting on the blog, to which I am still new. Equally true is the fact that whilst I have several uncompleted posts and ideas sitting in the wings, my current content sources are still somewhat lacking, so listing the decks also makes for handy post material...

Further to this though, the lists have another dual purpose.

On one hand these lists initially serve as a sort of record of the decks I have started to acquire and play. As I catalogue and enter each one into the FELDB and ARDB I have also added a record of these to the blog. Having discovered that I couldn't easily find any FELDB and/or ARDB format copies of these PreCon decks available on-line, I consequently thought that rather than manually having to enter them, others might also find the links to these of use. The listed decks already contain links to the FELDB *.eldb format and I will be adding the ARDB versions in the near future. (I am currently liaising about the new beta version of the ARDB so might wait until that process is completed.)

On the other hand their primary purpose is that of precursors to a review of these decks, both in and of the decks themselves and also in terms of how suitable I have found them to be as potential introductory decks for use with newbies. Thus these lists will be used as an accompaniment to these reviews, allowing me to link to the decks in question as handy reference tools when I discuss them.

As to the introductory process itself, I have now found this to be diverging along two distinct paths.

Firstly it has become geared towards introducing the game to my girlfriend, who was already familiar with it from when we first met but had never actually played it - she so far seems to have really taken to it and enjoying the game, which has been heartening to experience. :)

Secondly in the direction of introducing the game to some friends when hosting a regular gaming day that seems to be becoming established between the group of us on a rotational hosting basis.

I guess thirdly, I have subsequently found that the starter decks have also been a good way to re-introduce myself to the game, to re-familiarise myself with many of the cards I used to play with and as the basis for an introduction to many of the new cards.

Once I find sufficient time to collate and assess my steadily burgeoning new card collection I'll hopefully progress to once again creating my own decks and will then seek to list all of those on here as well. Well maybe not all of them... One or two of the decks I may well hold back from public viewing in perhaps slightly deluded hopes of a tournament win or two at some point. Plenty of time for those to be listed after that... >;-)

KoT PreCon Ventrue Deck

The following lists the details for the 'Ventrue' pre-constructed Deck from the 'Keepers of Tradition' expansion.

I have also stored the details for this deck in a format loadable by the Fragment of Elder Library Deck Builder (F)ELDB software.

Download 'Keepers of Tradition - Ventrue PreCon Deck.eld'.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Deck Name: Keepers of Tradition Ventrue PreCon Deck
Created By: L. Scott Johnson
-------------------------------------------------------------
Crypt: (12 cards, Min: 14, Max: 42, Avg: 7.66)
-------------------------------------------------------------
2  Gotsdam              ani AUS DOM FOR PRE      9   Ventrue  
2  Gustav Breidenstein  aus cel pot DOM FOR PRE  10  Ventrue  
2  Hardestadt           cel pro DOM FOR POT PRE  11  Ventrue  
2  Jackson Asher        dom                      2   Ventrue  
2  Johannes Castelein   DEM DOM FOR PRE          9   Ventrue  
2  Joáo Bilé            pre DOM FOR              5   Ventrue  
-------------------------------------------------------------
 
Library: (77 cards)
 
Master (14 cards)
  1 Dominate
  2 Esgrima
  1 Fortitude
  1 Golconda: Inner Peace
  2 Instability
  1 Powerbase: Montreal
  1 Presence
  1 Social Ladder
  2 Special Report
  2 Vessel
 
Action (4 cards)
  1 Dominate Kine
  3 Fourth Tradition: The Accounting, The
 
Action Modifier (15 cards)
  3 Aura of Invincibility
  5 Conditioning
  3 Freak Drive
  4 Seduction
 
Political Action (19 cards)
  3 Can't Take it with You
  5 Honor the Elders
  6 Kine Resources Contested
  2 National Guard Support
  1 Praxis Seizure: Atlanta
  1 Praxis Seizure: Miami
  1 Reins of Power
 
Reaction (3 cards)
  3 Second Tradition: Domain, The
 
Combat (16 cards)
  4 Armor of Vitality
  2 Haymaker
  4 Majesty
  6 Soak
 
Equipment (1 cards)
  1 Martinelli's Ring
 
Combo (5 cards)
  5 Murmur of the False Will
-------------------------------------------------------------

KoT PreCon Toreador Deck

The following lists the details for the 'Toreador' pre-constructed Deck from the 'Keepers of Tradition' expansion.

I have also stored the details for this deck in a format loadable by the Fragment of Elder Library Deck Builder (F)ELDB software.

Download 'Keepers of Tradition - Toreador PreCon Deck.eld'.

--------------------------------------------------------
Deck Name: Keepers of Tradition Toreador PreCon Deck
Created By: L. Scott Johnson
--------------------------------------------------------
Crypt: (12 cards, Min: 12, Max: 38, Avg: 6.66)
--------------------------------------------------------
2  Epikasta Rigatos   cel AUS DOM PRE      8   Toreador  
2  Eugene             AUS CEL FOR PRE      8   Toreador  
2  Kateline Nadasdy   AUS CEL PRE          7   Toreador  
2  Rafael de Corazon  AUS CEL DOM OBF PRE  11  Toreador  
2  Sean Andrews       cel                  2   Toreador  
2  Thomas De Lutrius  aus cel pre          4   Toreador  
--------------------------------------------------------
Library: (77 cards)
 
Master (10 cards)
  1 Auspex
  1 Celerity
  2 Contingency Planning
  2 Fame
  1 Presence
  1 Rack, The
  2 Vessel
 
Action (7 cards)
  1 Entrancement
  6 Public Trust
 
Action Modifier (11 cards)
  4 Approximation of Loyalty
  4 Crocodile`s Tongue
  3 Suppressing Fire
 
Political Action (6 cards)
  4 Kine Resources Contested
  1 Praxis Seizure: Houston
  1 Praxis Seizure: Washington, D.C.
 
Reaction (13 cards)
  3 Eagle`s Sight
  4 Minor Irritation
  2 On the Qui Vive
  4 Telepathic Misdirection
 
Combat (14 cards)
  2 Concealed Weapon
  3 Psyche!
  6 Pursuit
  3 Taste of Vitae
 
Equipment (16 cards)
  5 Beretta 9mm
  1 Bowl of Convergence
  3 Desert Eagle
  2 IR Goggles
  1 Ivory Bow
  1 Mark V
  3 Sniper Rifle
--------------------------------------------------------

KoT PreCon Malkavian Deck

The following lists the details for the 'Malkavian' pre-constructed Deck from the 'Keepers of Tradition' expansion.

I have also stored the details for this deck in a format loadable by the Fragment of Elder Library Deck Builder (F)ELDB software.

Download 'Keepers of Tradition - Malkavian PreCon Deck.eld'.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Deck Name: Keepers of Tradition Malkavian PreCon Deck
Created By: L. Scott Johnson
--------------------------------------------------------------
Crypt: (12 cards, Min: 12, Max: 42, Avg: 6.66)
--------------------------------------------------------------
2  Aleister Crowley       aus obf DEM PRE THA  7   Malkavian  
2  Cassandra Langely      dem                  2   Malkavian  
2  Florentina Lengauer    aus OBF              4   Malkavian  
2  Lutz Von Hohenzollern  pot AUS DEM OBF PRE  11  Malkavian  
2  Morel                  AUS DEM OBF          6   Malkavian  
2  Tryphosa               AUS DEM DOM OBF POT  10  Malkavian  
--------------------------------------------------------------
Library: (77 cards)
 
Master (17 cards)
  1 Auspex
  1 Bleeding the Vine
  1 Coven, The
  1 Dementation
  2 Effective Management
  1 Elysium: The Arboretum
  1 Giant's Blood
  1 High Museum of Art, Atlanta
  4 Life in the City
  2 Obfuscate
  2 Vessel
 
Action (13 cards)
  5 Forgery
  6 Kindred Spirits
  2 Sleep of Reason
 
Action Modifier (23 cards)
  3 Change of Target
  6 Eyes of Chaos
  6 Into Thin Air
  4 Spying Mission
  4 Veil the Legions
 
Political Action (1 cards)
  1 Praxis Seizure: Chicago
 
Reaction (12 cards)
  3 On the Qui Vive
  2 Poison Pill
  2 Shattered Mirror
  3 Spirit's Touch
  2 Voice of Madness
 
Combat (4 cards)
  4 Glancing Blow
 
Equipment (5 cards)
  3 Cooler
  2 Learjet
 
Combo (2 cards)
  2 Deny
--------------------------------------------------------------

KoT PreCon Brujah Deck

The following lists the details for the 'Brujah' pre-constructed Deck from the 'Keepers of Tradition' expansion.

I have also stored the details for this deck in a format loadable by the Fragment of Elder Library Deck Builder (F)ELDB software.

Download 'Keepers of Tradition - Brujah PreCon Deck.eld'.

--------------------------------------------------------
Deck Name: Keepers of Tradition Brujah PreCon Deck
Created By: L. Scott Johnson
--------------------------------------------------------
Crypt: (12 cards, Min: 14, Max: 42, Avg: 6.5)
--------------------------------------------------------
2  Adana de Sforza  aus CEL OBF POT PRE PRO  11  Brujah  
2  Garret           pot pre                  3   Brujah  
2  Herbert Westin   pot OBF PRE              5   Brujah  
2  Jann Berger      dem for CEL POT PRE      10  Brujah  
2  Reginald Moore   PRE                      4   Brujah  
2  Tomaine          CEL POT PRE              6   Brujah  
--------------------------------------------------------
Library: (77 cards)
 
Master (10 cards)
  1 Celerity
  1 KRCG News Radio
  2 Major Boon
  1 Nod
  1 Potence
  1 Presence
  1 Tension in the Ranks
  2 Vessel
 
Action (14 cards)
  4 Enrage
  2 Entrenching
  5 Harass
  3 Public Trust
 
Political Action (4 cards)
  2 Finding the Path
  2 Year of Fortune
 
Reaction (3 cards)
  3 On the Qui Vive
 
Combat (32 cards)
  6 Brute Force
  3 Immortal Grapple
  3 Psyche!
  3 Relentless Pursuit
  4 Slam
  4 Stutter-Step
  3 Taste of Vitae
  3 Torn Signpost
  3 Weighted Walking Stick
 
Equipment (9 cards)
  4 Bang Nakh -- Tiger's Claws
  2 Bundi
  1 Drum of Xipe Totec
  1 Phased Motion Detector
  1 Sengir Dagger
 
Combo (5 cards)
  5 Resist Earth's Grasp
--------------------------------------------------------

Expanding the Collection

The first few games pottering about playing some test games with the 'Lords of the Night' pre-constructed decks were fun and provided a good taster of how much I still love this game. Still, whilst some of the available pre-con decks will possibly do the trick for introducing some others to the game, they don't really compare to properly constructed decks of course, and for that I was going to need more cards.

On the basis that I really want to get playing properly again, I decided to expand the collection a little.

I searched about for some cards and found that there didn't seem to currently be that many suitable sellers in the UK with the sort of stock I was after. There seemed to be better deals available in the USA but my fear was that whilst I wanted to try to take advantage of some bulk-purchase deals, I may well get hit with a large customs charge if I shipped over too many to the UK at once.

Credit must therefore go to the girlfriend who found a sale going on over at www.vtes.de in Germany where they had started selling off their V:TES stock and had bulk quantities of boosters and starter decks.

Being in Europe, I wouldn't get hit with any nasty customs charges so that was a relief. They had a deal where you basically get 2 booster boxes for free if you are buying a batch of ten booster boxes. (there was also a smaller deal with 5 booster boxes) They also only seemed to charge €10 for shipping no matter how many boxes, so that sounded like a reasonable deal to me. :)

In the end I decided on going with the 10 x booster deal, along with a selection of some of the half starter boxes, seeking to gain knowledge of the different expansions that have been released since I stopped playing. Not all the expansions were still available but the ones I acquired should provide a reasonably good introduction to many of the latest expansions and drag me into the modern game perhaps, albeit kicking and screaming a little.

So, I have now expanded the collection with the following:

• 1 x V:TES Black Hand Booster Display
• 1 x V:TES Ebony Kingdom Booster Display
• 2 x V:TES Gehenna Booster Display
• 2 x V:TES KMW Booster Display
• 1 x V:TES Lords of the Nights Booster Display
• 1 x V:TES Nights of Reckoning Booster Display
• 1 x V:TES Sword of Caine Booster Display
• 1 x V:TES 3rd Edition Booster Display
• 1 x V:TES Lords of the Nights Starter Display (4 different starters)
• 1 x V:TES Legacies of Blood Starter Display (4 different starters)
• 1 x V:TES KMW Starter Starter Display (4 different starters)
• 1 x V:TES Keepers of Tradition Starter Display (4 different starters)
• 1 x V:TES Black Hand Starter Display (4 different starters)
• 1 x V:TES 3rd Edition Starter Display (4 different starters)
• 2 x V:TES Blood Shadowed Court Collector Deck

Ascii art

Wading through my old V:TES files I came across these old ascii-art pictures I did years ago, from back in the days when was on alt.ascii.art as well as rec.games.trading-cards.jyhad, so thought I'd post them here >;-)

                              ______  
                         ,-~~~,^.___~~-,
                      _-'.-~~/   \  `,  `,
                    ,' ,'    \   /    `,  `-,
                  ,'_-'       | |       `,   `, 
                 /-'           \_~~--_    `,   ; 
                                 ~>   )    ;    ;  
                ,--~~~,      __--~  _/`     ;   ;    \ 
             _-~      ;   ,-~   _--~        ;   ;     ;\ 
            ;    ,-,  `; (    <~    _--~~~--'   ;     ; ;  
           ;   ,'  `,  `-_`-_  `-.~~  _-----___-'      ; ; 
          ;   ,'    `-_   ~-.~-.  `-,'         _--.    ; `,
         ;   ;    ,---_~-, ,'   ;-,  `\  __---~    |    ; ;
         ;_--~-_,'     ~-_;   ,`-__;  _;~    _-,  /_-~--_ ;
        <`        _--_       ;_    ~~~   ,--~,'          `,
         ;~-__.--'    ~-_    ; ~-_   _,-;    ;__--~~-.__-';
          ;   ;          ~~--'    ~~~  ,'           _.'  ; 
           `,  ;_                ,'   ,'        __-~   ,' 
            `-,  ~-_            ;    ',  __--~~~     ,' 
               ~--_ ~-__ spb    `,     ~~       __--~ 
                   ~----~~~       ~~--_____---~~ 
        
                            V:TES Symbol



                     __,-----,,,,  ,,,--------,__ 
                  _-/|\\/|\\/|\\\|\//\\\//|/|//|\\_ 
                 /|\/\//\\\\\\\\\\//////////////\\\\ 
               //|//           \\\///            |\\|\ 
              ///|\/             \/               \|\|\ 
             |/|//                                 |\\|\  
            |/|/                                    \|\|\
            ///;    ,,=====,,,  ~~-~~  ,,,=====,,    ;|\|\
           |/|/   '"          `'     '"          "'   ;|\|
           ||/`;   _--~~~~--__         __--~~~~--_   ;/|\|
           /|||;  :  /       \~~-___-~~/       \  :  ;|\| 
           /\|;    -_\  (o)  / ,'; ;', \  (o)  /_-    ;|| 
           |\|;      ~-____--~'  ; ;  '~--____-~      ;\| 
            ||;            ,`   ;   ;   ',            ;||
          __|\ ;        ,'`    (  _  )    `',        ;/|__ 
      _,-~   \|/;    ,'`        ~~ ~~        `',    ;|\   ~-,_ 
    ,'         ||;  '                           '  ;\|/       `, 
   , _          ; ,         _--~~-~~--_           ;            _',
  ,-' `;-,        ;        ,; |_| | |_| ;,       ;;        ,-;' `-,
        ; `,      ;       ;_| : `~'~' : |_;       ;      ,' ;
         ;  `,     ;     :  `\/       \/   :     ;     ,'  ;
          ;   `,    ;     :               ;     ;    ,'   ;
           ;    `,_  ;     ;./\_     _/\.;     ;   _,    ;
  spb   _-'        ;  ;     ~~--|~|~|--~~     ;   ;       '-_
    _,-'            ;  ;        ~~~~~        ;   ;           `-,_
  ,~                 ;  \`~--__         __--~/  ;                ~,            
                      ;   \   ~~-----~~    /   ;                   
                       ~-_  \  /  |  \   /  _-~                    
                          ~~-\/   |   \/ -~~                       
                         (=)=;==========;=(=)
  
                     Old-school cliche vampire :P
 
  

Glossary

Glossary of common V:TES terms

In-Game Terms

Meta-Game Terms

Sects

Clans

Disciplines

Much of the original content for this list was taken from the rulebooks that come with the starter decks.

This post will be an ongoing process as I adjust and add to the list but its initial purpose will be as a starting point reference for some players new to the game that will playing a local once-off game at my place in a couple of weeks time. It seems to have taken a surprisingly long time to compile and may well still require corrections that will form part of this aforementioned ongoing process.


In-Game Terms

• Acting Minion:
  The minion performing the current action.
• Action Card:
  A card that a minion can play to perform a special action. Includes equipment, retainer, ally and political action cards.
• Action Modifier:
  A card that the acting minion can play to modify the action he is performing.
• Additional Strike:
  Allows a minion to strike an additional time in the same round of combat (at the same range as the initial strike).
• Aggravated Damage:
  Type of damage that vampires cannot heal. It can even burn a wounded vampire.
• Ally:
  A non-vampire minion. Brought into play by a "recruit ally" action, he acts independently of the minion who recruited him.
• Ash Heap:
  The discard pile. Cards that are burned are returned to their owner's ash heap.
• Bleed:
  An action that attempts to burn another player's pool. By default, it can only be attempted against a player's prey.
• Block:
  The successful attempt of a minion to prevent the action of another minion. Typically concluded with combat.
• Blocking Minion:
  The minion currently attempting to block an action, or the minion who has successfully blocked the current action.
• Blood (also Blood Counter):
  A token representing a vampire's capability to heal himself or to perform certain feats.
• Blood Bank:
  Repository of blood counters not in use.
• Blood Cursed:
  A vampire with Blood Curse cannot commit diablerie.
• Blood Hunt:
  The act of burning a vampire that committed diablerie. A referendum is conducted to see if a blood hunt is called.
• Bounce:
  To redirect a bleed action aimed at you on to another player.
  
• Burn:
  Discard. A burned card goes to its owner's ash heap. A burned counter or token is returned to the blood bank.
• Cainite(s):
  Another term for vampire(s).
• Capacity:
  The maximum number of blood counters a vampire can have. It is also a relative measure of the vampire's age.
• Circle:
  Each Blood Brother is identified with a particular circle. A vampire without a circle designation is his own circle.
• Combat Card:
  A card that a minion can play in combat.
• Combat Ends:
  A strike that ends combat before any damage or other strike effects happen.
• Contest(ed):
  The struggle for control of a unique card or title.
• Controlled Region:
  Area containing a Methuselah's controlled cards.
• Crypt:
  The deck of cards containing a player's vampires.
• Deflect:
  To redirect a bleed action aimed at you on to another player.
  
• Diablerie:
  The act of burning a torporous vampire. Can be used to gain a Discipline.
• Diablerist:
  A vampire who commits diablerie. A blood hunt can be called to burn a diablerist.
• Directed Action:
  An action of one Methuselah's minion that targets one or more other Methuselahs (or the minions or cards they control).
• Dodge:
  A strike that protects a minion and the cards on him from an opposing minion's strike. Retainers are not protected.
• Draft:
  A card effect that can only be used in a draft or sealed deck tournament.
• Edge:
  A token symbolizing who has the upper hand at the moment.
• Equipment:
  An object a minion uses for a special bonus or ability.
• Event:
  Event cards represent events that affect the World of Darkness as a whole. Each discard phase, a Methuselah may use a discard phase action to put an event card in play. Each unque event can only be played once in a game.
• First Strike:
  An offensive strike done faster than normal, so that the strike resolves before a normal offensive strike would.
• Hunt:
  The action that a vampire takes to regain blood.
• Infernal:
  An infernal minion doesn't untap as normal in the untap phase. During the controller's untap phase, the player may burn a pool to untap him.
• Influence Phase:
  The phase of a turn in which a Methuselah may make transfers to her uncontrolled vampires and during which vampires are moved from the uncontrolled region to the ready region.
• Intercept:
  A measure of how well a minion can block the action of another minion. If it equals or exceeds the acting minion's stealth, the minion's block is successful.
• Kinred:
  Another term for vampires.
• Library:
  The deck containing a player's minion and master cards from which her hand is drawn.
• Life (also Life Counter):
  A token representing a retainer's or an ally's health.
• Maneuver:
  The efforts of a minion in combat to move away from or to close in on the opposing minion.
• Master Card:
  A library card that can be used as a master phase action.
• Master Phase Action:
  The Methuselah's personal activity for the turn.
• Methuselah
  Each player represents one of these, an ancient vampire, mostly influencing the world through younger minions. The term is generally interchange-able with player.
• Minion:
  A vampire or ally.
• Minion Card:
  Any library card that is not a master card -- a card that a minion can play.
• Out-of-Turn Master Card:
  A type of master card that can only be played during another player's turn, using the next master phase action of the player playing it.
• Phase(s):
  The sequence which each player follows each round, made up of the Untap, Master, Minion, Influence and Discard phases.
• Polling:
  The step of a referendum during which votes are cast.
• Pool:
  A token representing a Methuselah's status. Also, a collection of such tokens. A Methuselah is ousted if she loses all of her pool.
• Predator:
  The player to a Methuselah's right.
• Press:
  The efforts of a minion in combat to escape from or to give chase to the opposing minion.
• Prey:
  The player to a Methuselah's left. A player receives a victory point and 6 pool when her prey is ousted.
• Reaction Card:
  A card played by a Methuselah's ready, untapped minion in response to an action taken by a minion controlled by another Methuselah.
• Ready Region:
  Area containing a Methuselah's minions that are not in torpor.
• Red List:
  Any player may use a master phase action to mark a Red List minion for the current turn. Once per turn any ready vampire controlled by that player may take a a +1 stealth (D) action that costs 1 blood to enter combat with a marked Red List minion. If a vampire burns a Red List minion in combat or as a (D) action, including diablerie, the controller may go through their library, ash heap and/or hand to get a master trophy card to put on that vampire and then reshuffle her library or draw back up to her hand size as necessary. This is done before the blood hunt referendum is called, if any.
• Referendum:
  The part of a political action (or a blood hunt referendum) during which the terms are set, the votes are cast and the effects are applied (if it passes).
• Research Area:
  Some cards can be moved to a special area called the research area. The cards in the research area are face down and out of play; they can be affected only by cards and effects that say so explicitly. A player may look at the cards in their research area at any time.
• Retainer:
  A mortal creature or being that serves a minion. Brought into play by an employ retainer action, he remains with the minion who employed him and cannot act independently.
• Scarce:
  When a Methuselah moves a scarce vampire from the uncontrolled region to the ready region during the influence phase, they must burn 3 pool for every other vampire of the same clan already in play.
• Stealth:
  A measure of how well a minion evades other minions' attempts to block his action. If it exceeds the blocking minion's intercept, the block fails.
• Slave:
  Some minions are identified as slaves of a specified clan. A slave cannot take a directed action if unless the controller controls a ready member of the specified clan. If a member of the specified clan is blocked, the controller can tap the slave and untap the acting vampire and to have the slave enter combat instead.
• Sterile:
  A vampire that cannot take an action to create a vampire.
• Strength:
  The amount of damage a minion inflicts with a normal hand strike.
• Strike:
  The effort of a minion in combat to harm his opponent or to avoid being struck by his opponent.
• Tap:
  Turn (a card) sideways. Typically done to indicate that the card has been activated for some purpose.
• Torpor Region:
  Area where vampires are placed when they cannot heal damage done to them. A vampire in torpor is vulnerable to diablerie attempts. A vampire in torpor is not ready but is still considered controlled.
• Transfer:
  Influence phase action used to move pool to or from an uncontrolled vampire or to move a card from the crypt to the uncontrolled region.
• Trifle Master Card:
  A special 'lesser' master card that allows up a single extra master phase after being played.
• Uncontrolled Region:
  Area containing a Methuselah's uncontrolled vampires. Allies are also placed here when they are recruited to indicate that they cannot act, although they are controlled.
• Undirected Action:
  An action that is not directed.
• Untap:
  Restore a card to the normal, upright, position. See Tap.
• Victory Point:
  The measure of a player's ranking. A player receives a victory point when her prey is ousted and for being the last player in the game. The player with the most victory points at the end of the game wins.
• Withdraw:
  An attempt to leave the game by a player who has run out of cards in her library.
• World of Darkness:
  A fictional dark alternative world to our own in which the game takes place.
• Wounded:
  A vampire who has received damage that he has not healed or a vampire in torpor or on his way to torpor is said to be wounded.

More info::

The Lasombra's V:TES Abbreviations List

Meta-Game Terms

• ARDB:
  Anarch Revolt Deck Builder - software that allowed you browse all the cards, create/record decks and inventory
As the name suggests, a deck constructed to focus on bleeding their prey.
• Bleed deck:
  As the name suggests, a deck constructed to focus on bleeding their prey.
• CCG:
  Collectable Card Game.
• Combat deck:
  As the name suggests, a deck constructed to focus on combat.
• ELDB:
  Elder Library Deck Builder - software that allowed you browse all the cards, create/record decks and inventory. Deprecated, mostly replaced by ARDB and FELDB.
• FELDB:
  Fragment of Elder Library Deck Builder - software that allowed you browse all the cards, create/record decks and inventory
• Intercept deck:
  As the name suggests, a deck constructed to focus on intercepting other players actions.
• Jyhad
  The original name of the game and often now used to refer to that base set of cards.
• TCC:
  Trading Card Central - an online card trading site.
• TCG:
  Trading Card Game.
• Toolbox:
  A diverse deck style that rather than focusing on bleeding, voting or intercept and combat, does mixture of all of them.
• Vote deck:
  As the name suggests, a deck constructed to focus on political actions.

More info::	extrala's V:TES colloquial dictionary
	The Lasombra's V:TES Deck Terminology List

Sects And Titles

• Anarch:
  Not a sect as such, the Anarchs are independent but with a special attribute. More info: section 10.5 at the V:EKN
• Antitribu:
  The 'anti-clans' made up of members of a former Camarilla clan that have joined the Sabbat which oppose the Camarilla.
• Black Hand:
  Not an actual sect as such, but an elite sub-sect of the Sabbat that essentially comprise the Sabbat assassins.
• Camarilla:
  The traditional sect that enforces the Traditions and Masquerade, composed of six to seven clans (dependent upon chronology) Brujah, Gangrel, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Toreador, Tremere and Ventrue, plus to an extent the clanless Caitiff. Refer section 10.1 at the V:EKN
• Indepedent:
  All clans not aligned with the other major sects are termed Independent. More info: section 10.4 at the V:EKN
• Laibon:
  The third major sect, the "Laibon" compsoed of the four clans Akunanse, Guruhi, Ishtarri and Osebo. More info: section 10.3 at the V:EKN
• Sabbat:
  The vampire sect that rejects the Camarilla Traditions and Masquerade, composed of the Ahrimanes, Blood Brothers, Brujah antitribu, Gangrel antitribu, Harbingers of Skulls, Kiasyd, Lasombra, Malkavian antitribu, Pander, Nosferatu antitribu, Salubri antitribu, Toreador antitribu, Tremere antitribu, Tzimisce and Ventrue antitribu. More info: section 10.2 at the V:EKN
• Votes:
  
  

  Title:	Sect:	Votes:
  Archbishop:	Sabbat	2
  Baron:	Anarch	2
  Bishop:	Sabbat	1
  Cardinal:	Sabbat	3
  Inner Circle:	Camarilla	4
  Justicar:	Camarilla	3
  Kholo:	Laibon	2
  Magaji:	Laibon	2
  Primogen:	Camarilla	1
  Prince:	Camarilla	2
  Prisci:	Sabbat	3
  	The prisci as a group have 3 votes. During a referendum, the prisci block of 3 votes is cast "for" or "against" the referendum according to the prisci subreferendum.
  Priscus:	Sabbat	1
  	This vote is only usable for the Prisci sub-referendum, the result of which then decides the Prisci vote of 3 votes for, against or abstain (if the sub-referendum is tied) from the main referendum.
  Regent:	Sabbat	4

Clans:

	Name:	Main Sect:	Notes:	Common Disciplines:
	Abomination:	Independent		?	?	?
	Ahrimanes	Sabbat	Scarce.
	Akunanse	Laibon
	Assamite	Independent	Blood cursed.
	Baali	Independent	Infernal.
	Blood Brothers	Sabbat	Sterile.
	Brujah	Camarilla
	Brujah antitribu	Sabbat
	Caitiff	Camarilla	Clanless	?	?	?
	Daughters of Cacophony	Independent
	Followers of Set	Independent
	Gangrel	Camarilla
	Gangrel antitribu	Sabbat
	Gargoyles	Independent	Slave. Flight.
	Giovanni	Independent
	Guruhi	Laibon
	Harbingers of Skulls	Sabbat
	Ishtarri	Laibon
	Kiasyd	Sabbat	Cold iron vulnerability.
	Lasombra	Sabbat
	Malkavian	Camarilla
	Malkavian antitribu	Sabbat
	Nagaraja	Independent	Scarce.
	Nosferatu	Camarilla
	Nosferatu antitribu	Sabbat
	Osebo	Laibon
	Pander	Sabbat		?	?	?
	Ravnos	Independent
	Salubri	Independent	Scarce.
	Salubri antitribu	Sabbat
	Samedi	Independent
	Toreador	Camarilla
	Toreador antitribu	Sabbat
	Tremere	Camarilla
	Tremere antitribu	Sabbat
	True Brujah	Independent	Scarce.
	Tzimisce	Sabbat
	Ventrue	Camarilla
	Ventrue antitribu	Sabbat

Discplines:

	Abombwe:	cancelling and/or activating frenzy effects
	Animalism:	retainers, animal themed damage, maneuver, press, combat-based familiars
	Auspex:	intercept, tapping/untapping, dodge, card reveals, forced discard, strength increase, minion find,block cancellation, vote cancellation, bleed reduction, strike cancellation
	Celerity:	dodge, additional strikes, maneuver, weapon theft, ranged damage, undodgeable strikes, stealth, intercept, card cycling, direct combat, stealth bleed and continued combat
	Chimerstry:	minion swaps, weapon aquisition, blood gain, pool gain, specialised blood theft, stealth
	Daimoinon:	aggravated damage, aggravated damage immunity, corruption, pacts, negative effects on minions/methuselahs
	Dementation:	increased bleeds, bleed-based pool gain, forced tap, untap restriction, forced combat, discpline restriction, reduced intercept, direct torporisation
	Dominate:	increased bleeds, action-based influence, block cancellation, vote cancellation, action cancellation, minion control, untap restriction
	Fortitude:	damage prevention, blood gain, torpor rescue, untap, unblockable actions, press, aggravated damage conversion, temporary fortitude, delayed torpor
	Melpominee:	forced tap, vote gain, block prevention, stealth, intercept, bleed increase, aggravated damage, stackable pool burn
	Mytherceria:	forced tap, location burn/find, card cycling/recycling, grapple cancellation, ranged damage, blood/discpline theft, bleed reduction, stealth, intercept
	Necromancy:	card recycling, allies & retainers, intercept, stealth, blood gain, location/torpor protection
	Obeah:	ally life gain, blood gain, blood transfer, recycling retainers/allies, untap, increased bleed, minion lockdowns, minion control
	Obfuscate:	stealth/block cancellation, increased bleed, acting minion swap, vote gain, dodge, end combat, maneuver, press, mid-combat weapon equip
	Obtenebration:	stealth, intercept reduction, block cancelling, strike:torpor, end combat, aggravated damage, dodge, ranged damage, maneuver, set range, press, blood burn, demon allies & retainers
	Potence:	strength increase, weapon destruction, press, location burn, direct minion damage, bleed increase, weapon damage increase, card cycling, grapples
	Presence:	vote increase, vote benefits, increased bleed, bleed-based pool gain, block cancellation, end combat, dodge, forced tap, action restriction, ally/retainer find
	Protean:	aggravated damage, torpor rescue, press, maneuver, end combat, strength increase, damage prevention, unblockable actions
	Quietus:	ranged damage, aggravated damage, maneuver, rang set, first strike, combat reducers, location burn, forced tap, untap, block cancellation, ally life gain
	Sanguinus:	strength increase, blood transfers, blood gain, combat cancellation, card recycling, stealth, intercept, bleed increase, additional strikes, damage prevention, combat transfer, equipment transfer
	Serpentis:	blood theft, edge-based pool burn, blood burn, bleed increase, corruption, phobia, minion control, stealth, maneuver, end combat, dodge, damage prevention, bleed reduction
	Spiritus:	directed combat, blood gain, untap, retainer find, maneuver, press, hunt increase, aggravated damage, stealth, intercept decrease, minion control
	Temporis:	untap, card recycling, influence, unpreventable damage, minion burn/find, aggravated damage, card cancellation, action cancellation, unblockable action, vote gain, strength increase, set range
	Thanatosis:	aggravated damage, damage prevention, block cancellation, bleed increase, dodge, maneuver, incremental stength damage, additional strike cancellation, stealth, minion control, retainer transfer/boost
	Thaumaturgy:	aggravated damage, blood theft, press, maneuver, strength increase, damage prevention, reaction restricters, blood burn, equipment find, untap, increased action cost, stealth, action cancellation
	Valeren:	block cost, bleed increase, aggravated damage, direct combat, blood gain, torpor rescue, blood hunt restriction, hand increase, damage prevention, unpreventable damage, end combat, bleed reduction
	Vicissitude:	bleed increase, stealth increase, stealth decrease, ally protection, mirrored damage, end combat, aggravated damage, maneuver, grapple cancellation, torpor rescue, burn prevention
	Visceratika:	gargoyle protection, location protection, stealth increase, maneuver, press, end combat, set range, ranged damage, first strike, damage increase, damage prevention, intercept

The above table is by no means an exhaustive list of the effects that any given discpline has available to it, so much as simply providing a rough idea of the sort of effects some of the cards for each discpline are capable of.

More info::

James Coupe's General Discipline Explanations