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 :)