IBERIAN OPEN 2002
Spanish Qualifier for the European Championship
2002
Final Round Transcription
Final Round Transcription
Before I comence the report on the final round, I would like to explain that, due to the speed at which most of the final round was played, it is possible that I have made some transcription mistakes (mainly with the numbering of the Shambling Hordes).
It is also necessary to mention that, in this report, Linus' comments are missing, because either he could not make them or he was not able to send them to me.
Next you will see the most important symbols (with their meanings) used in the transcription:
/ = use or be affected by
> = at superior level
< = at inferior level
b (after a number) = blood
p (after a number) = pool
%...% = beginning and end of a referendum
x...x = beginning and end of a combat
For more information about how to transcribe a game, click
HERE.
Choosing table positions:
LINUS
MILLICENT
->
LINUS
MILLICENT
->
LINUS
-> IÑAKI
MILLICENT
->
LINUS
-> IÑAKI ->
CÉSAR
MILLICENT
->
LINUS
-> IÑAKI ->
CÉSAR
-> CENTELLA
Table positions and starting
player:
CÉSAR ->
CENTELLA ->
MILLICENT ->
LINUS -> IÑAKI
|
CÉSAR: First of all, where should I seat?. I wanted Millicent's deck to be cross-table, but I did not like the idea of having either a Malkavian or Millicent's bloat deck as my predator, so I chose to seat between Iñaki and Millicent, with the hope that the only combat deck in the final round became my prey so that the political decks on the table could help me; although I also preferred to have Centella's deck as my predator, since he would surely rush Iñaki's vampires instead of mine. MILLICENT: Oh, God! So close to Centella!. With so many seats he could choose, and he finally wanted to become my predator. :) We have already played other games together in the same seating order, and my behaviour was always the same: forgetting all about my prey and focussing on Centella until he was weak enough to ignore me in his fight for survival. In this game he would surely have to survive his predator's Kine Resources Contested. However, this was the Iberian Open's final round. So I should do my best. No hatred, no hatred.... Baaaaaah!!! It was proven to me that nothing should stop me during a game (always respectfully and kindly); and that's the reason why my great mistake in my approach to the game, since I focussed on my prey letting Centella become dangerous as he was summoning zounds of Shambling Hordes that would put an end to my aspirations in not too many turns. Inexcusable mistake!!! Centella and I are friends, ¿huh?, but I have learnt from my mistakes, so I will NEVER make the same mistake while being your prey, even if we play together again in the final round of the European Championship 2002 in Vienna, in the case we qualify for it ;-) Greetings to you and the rest of the finalists. |
First Turn
CÉSAR
Khay'tall +1
|
CÉSAR: Uncontrolled region problems! No big vampire with votes (neither Arika nor Queen Anne, but though Khay'tall has all the disciplines I use, he is no good for playing The Embrace, although he is not so bad a vampire if I only have one starting transfer. When I bring him out, I will be able to play Govern the Unaligned on Sir Walter Nash (who has votes) at stealth, if necessary. The rest of my uncontrolled vampires are Heather Florent and Roland Loussarian. |
CENTELLA
Rudolfo Giovanni +2
MILLICENT (30)
Sheldon +3
|
MILLICENT: Damn!!! Arika is missing during the entire tournament. My uncontrolled region could be much better. And my hand... Good, 2 Minion Tap, Fifth Tradition, Freak Drive... Cool! |
LINUS
Watenda +3; enters play
|
IÑAKI: The bloody Majesty destroyer entered play. :-( |
IÑAKI
Jost Werner +2
Remilliard +2
Second Turn
CÉSAR
Khay'tall +4
|
CÉSAR: Let's keep influencing Khay'tall to Govern younger vampires later. |
CENTELLA
Andrea Giovanni +3
Rudolfo Giovanni +1; enters play
MILLICENT (27)
Sheldon +4
LINUS
Watenda attempts to bleed
Greger Andersen +4
IÑAKI
Jost Werner +4; enters play
Third Turn
CÉSAR
Khay'tall +4; enters play
|
CÉSAR: I finally have a vampire in play, but Centella can already summon his Shambling Hordes with Rudolfo Giovanni, since he had just discarded a Shambling Hordes, and in addition, Iñaki had brought out the vampire who could be more dangerous for me, Jost Werner, with a default +1 stealth on each of his actions. |
CENTELLA
Dreams of the Sphinx
Rudolfo Giovanni Shambling Hordes1
/Dreams of the Sphinx Andrea Giovanni
Andrea Giovanni +3; enters play
|
IÑAKI: This was the beginning of a tremendous nightmare (I say so because it looked like *Thriller*). |
MILLICENT (23)
Sheldon +2; enters play
François Villon +2
LINUS
Greger Andersen +2; enters play
Carlotta Giovanni +2
IÑAKI
Palla Grande
|
IÑAKI: Playing a Palla Grande so early is more a curse than a blessing, since I played it as a discard (I had another one in my hand), and the rest of players (specially my prey) entered frenzy when I played it, as it usually happens. |
Remilliard enters play
Delilah Monroe +4; enters play
Fourth Turn
CÉSAR
Khay'tall Govern the Unaligned> Sir Walter Nash
Sir Walter Nash +4; enters play
|
CÉSAR: I keep bringing out vampires so that I can create a horde via Embraces and Third Traditions. My pool gain depends on the votes on the table, things are not going well, Iñaki is going too fast for me. I need a political ally at the table, preferably Linus, who can give me his support for the Kine Resources Contested I call against Centella and Iñaki, but I should play several KRC in a turn, since otherwise, my vampires will be sent into torpor soon. |
CENTELLA
/Dreams of the Sphinx (hand size)
Blood Doll Andrea Giovanni; -1b
Rudolfo Giovanni attempts to hunt
Andrea Giovanni Shambling Hordes2
|
IÑAKI: The summoning of Shambling Hordes did not seem to stop!!! |
MILLICENT (19)
Minion Tap Sheldon (8)
Sheldon Fifth Tradition: Hospitality
|
MILLICENT: Being both cards the basis of my deck, my starting moves could not be better. IÑAKI: Well, from this time on, Millicent's deck proved to be a nostalgic farewell to old Fifth Tradition: Hospitality. |
LINUS
/edge
Dominate Greger Andersen
Carlotta Giovanni+2
Lucian +2
IÑAKI
Delilah Monroe attempts to bleed, Freak Drive<
Jost Werner Propaganda>
Remilliard attempts to bleed, Aire of Elation<
Angela Preston +1
|
IÑAKI: I know that Palla Grande was a discard but, with my starting hand, I could not waste it, couldn't I?. I perfectly understand my prey's stress when seeing this master card, but being my prey a Ventrue... my Propaganda would surely succeed ;-).
From left to right: David Serrano, Iñaki Puigdollers, Ginés Quiñonero (aka Damnans), César Márquez, Héctor Paños (standing), Pablo "The Beast from Logroño" (standing), Iván Zaldívar "Chukel" (standing), Javier Centella, and José Vicente Coll's (aka Millicent) crown of the head. |
Fifth Turn
CÉSAR
Sir Walter Nash The Embrace1 (Obfuscate)
The Embrace1 attempts to hunt
Khay'tall Consanguineous Boon (Ventrue)
%
CÉSAR +3
%
Khay'tall Voter Captivation> (1b, 2p)
Roland Loussarian +3; enters play
|
CÉSAR: It seems my deck is working, because I am allowed to gain pool "against" Iñaki, who is going very fast. Centella does not stop summoning Shambling Hordes, but he does not move!. If he keeps playing like this, Millicent will have no pressure and will sweep the entire table in a few more turns.
From left to right: Iñaki's head, César Márquez (behind Iñaki's big head), Alcañiz (in blue t-shirt), Javier Centella, Damnans, Pau Vilar, Xavier Abad, unknown guy (standing), Millicent. |
CENTELLA
Francesca Giovanni Masquer
Andrea Giovanni Shambling Hordes3
|
IÑAKI: The endless summoning of Hordes.... during the entire game... |
MILLICENT (22)
Information Highway
Sheldon Kine Resources Contested (LINUS 3, MILLICENT 1)
%
MILLICENT +4
LINUS -2
%
|
IÑAKI: I guess Millicent did not like it much, but if he did not want to excessively destabilize the game, then he should assign the1 pool loss to himself. If Millicent had chosen Centella instead, bad thing, because Centella's predator was a Ventrue with Obfuscate; if Millicent had chosen César instead, bad thing as well, since César was my prey and was under pressure; and if Millicent had chosen me instead... Linus (my predator, who played with a Malkavian deck) would have taken much advantage from it. Thus there was no other choice for Millicent but to make a little sacrifice... |
Khay'tall +1
|
MILLICENT: From this and next turn on, I would have the vote lock, making others' votes be under my yoke. |
LINUS
Carlotta Giovanni +3; enters play
IÑAKI
Paris Opera House
Jost Werner attempts to bleed
Remilliard attempts to bleed
Roland Loussarian attempts to block
Remilliard /Delilah Monroe,Paris Opera House
Sixth Turn
CÉSAR
|
CÉSAR: I already have two KRC in my hand. I must begin to do something against Centella, but I cannot bleed him, so I make up my mind for politics. I am not allowed to gain more pool, so my hostilities begin, knowing the possible retaliation, and hoping that Millicent keeps his alliance with me (taking into account that I will be the one worst hit: without any vampire (if Centella sends his Hordes against me), on one side, and being bled, on the other. |
%
CÉSAR +3
%
Khay'tall Kine Resources Contested (CENTELLA 2, LINUS 2)
%
CÉSAR +3
LINUS -2
%
|
IÑAKI: I was not truly worried about the Ventrue vote machine, since Millicent had the vote lock, and, in the case César played an Awe, I kept a Delaying Tactics in my hand. |
CENTELLA
Andrea Giovanni attempts to hunt
Rudolfo Giovanni attempts to hunt
Shambling Hordes1 /special ability The Embrace1
x
Shambling Hordes1 hand
The Embrace1 hand; enters torpor
x
Shambling Hordes2 /special ability Roland Loussarian
x
Shambling Hordes2 hand
Roland Loussarian hand; enters torpor
x
|
CENTELLA: Two Kine Resources Contested: two vampires in torpor. It was fair ;-) IÑAKI: For the first time, the hordes acted, due to César's offensive attempt. |
MILLICENT (15)
Minion Tap François Villon (9)
Sheldon Fifth Tradition: Hospitality François Villon
François Villon Rumors of Gehenna (MILLICENT, IÑAKI,
CÉSAR, CENTELLA)
%
MILLICENT +6
LINUS -2
%
|
IÑAKI: We happily accepted, though some of us had nothing to say about it... ;-P
From left to right: Iñaki's big head, Centella, unknown guy, Carlos (behind, in blue T-shirt), Xavier Abad and Millicent calling a Rumors of Gehenna, four unknown people behind them, and Linus Garriga. |
|
MILLICENT: The hordes have begun their attack, and let others know that, despite of the little brain inside those zombies' heads, vengeance is latent and all on edge. At that moment, several doubts some players had about my decisions of not reducing my predator's pool with KRC vanished. Obviously, and knowing Centella, I think I played cleverly. |
LINUS
Watenda attempts to bleed
Remilliard Forced Awakening
x
Watenda Zip Gun, hand
Remilliard Majesty<
x
Carlotta Giovanni Dominate Kine<, Conditioning<
Jost Werner Telepathic Counter>
|
From left to right: Centella's head, Millicent, unknown guy, Damnans, Linus playing a Dominate Kine with Carlotta Giovanni, unknown guy (behind him), Nacho Garriga, Ramón, unknown guy, and Pablo's long hair. |
François Villon Second Tradition: Domain
x
Greger Andersen Zip Gun, Behind You!<
x
Lucian -2
IÑAKI
Jost Werner attempts to bleed
Delilah Monroe attempts to bleed, Freak Drive<
Seventh Turn
CÉSAR
Khay'tall Consanguineous Boon (Ventrue)
%
CÉSAR +3
LINUS -2
%
|
CÉSAR: At this moment, I find myself totally lost, because with just two ready vampires, I cannot stand against Iñaki's tireless forces. And if I keep attacking Centella, I will finally have no ready vampire. If I am still in the game is because of Millicent, who is interested in my survival so that Centella's hordes are not sent against him. |
CENTELLA
Rudolfo Giovanni attempts to bleed
Andrea Giovanni attempts to hunt
MILLICENT (17)
Sheldon Kine Resources Contested
Greger Andersen Wake with Evening's Freshness, Telepathic
Misdirection<
Sheldon Lost in Crowds> (LINUS 3, MILLICENT 1)
%
MILLICENT +6
LINUS -2
%
|
IÑAKI: Little had the Ventrue to say in this referendum, since he already had enough problems with my bleeds so as to get involved in politics, which gave Millicent the political supremacy. |
François Villon attempts to bleed
Ezmerelda +5; enters play
|
MILLICENT: With the vote lock, 11 pool, and on the verge of ousting my prey, I begin to foresee the imminent journey into torpor of some of my vampires. Who will it be...? |
LINUS
Blood Doll Watenda; -1b
Greger Andersen Far Mastery> Shambling Hordes1
Francesca Giovanni attempts to block
Greger Andersen Swallowed by the Night<
Carlotta Giovanni /special ability Far Mastery
François Villon Second Tradition: Domain
x
Carlotta Giovanni hand
François Villon hand
x
|
IÑAKI: This turn was a desperate attempt of bringing balance to the table, but it did not succed, since it only made the Hordes furious, which were cross-table. But if I did not try it, everything indicated that Centella was going to win the game. |
IÑAKI
Remilliard Art Scam
Delilah Monroe attempts to bleed
Eighth Turn
CÉSAR
Khay'tall rescues from torpor The Embrace1 (Khay'tall)
The Embrace1 attempts to hunt
Francesca Giovanni attempts to block
The Embrace1 Lost in Crowds<
|
CÉSAR: I need ready vampires in order to take more actions per turn and stand against Iñaki. Linus has begun his attack too soon. Truth be told, his situation was much like mine, lost and desperate. Millicent was gaining lots of pool and had more votes than anyone else. And Iñaki was perfectly controlling his game and bleeding me just for 1 or 2 pool. |
CENTELLA
The Path of Bone
Andrea Giovanni Far Mastery> Shambling Hordes1 (LINUS)
Shambling Hordes1 /special ability Carlotta Giovanni
Watenda attempts to block
x
Watenda /Zip Gun
x
Shambling Hordes2 /special ability Carlotta Giovanni
Greger Andersen attempts to block
x
Greger Andersen /Zip Gun
x
Rudolfo Giovanni Shambling Hordes4
|
IÑAKI: Centella's revenge has begun.
On the right: Centella, after recovering his stolen Shambling Hordes and teaching Linus his place. |
MILLICENT (11)
|
MILLICENT: Whew!!! This turn the zombies have not even looked at my pool-making "cows", blinded by hatred. Let us hope this situation to continue, and I will keep gaining pool and bringing out more vampires. I am getting closer to the vampire limit in Centella's mind, I feel a great disturbance in the Force. |
Ezmerelda attempts to bleed, Freak Drive<
François Villon attempts to bleed
Sheldon attempts to bleed
Nikolaus Vermuelen +1
|
De izquierda a derecha: Xavier Abad, Carolina Bohada (standing), Millicent, two unknown guys (standing), Damnans, dos desconocidos (standing), Linus, David Álvarez, and César's head. |
LINUS
Metro Underground
Watenda attempts to hunt
Carlotta Giovanni attempts to hunt
IÑAKI
Palla Grande
MILLICENT Sudden Reversal
|
IÑAKI: Two out of three Palla Grandes you play are countered by a Sudden Reversal. It seems an immutable rule... |
Jost Werner Patronage Remilliard
Jost Werner Enchant Kindred> Angela Preston
Delilah Monroe attempts to bleed
Ninth Turn
CÉSAR
Obfuscate Roland Loussarian
Khay'tall rescues from torpor Roland Loussarian (Khay'tall)
Roland Loussarian attempts to hunt
Francesca Giovanni attempts to block
Roland Loussarian Lost in Crowds<
|
CÉSAR: I try to keep my vampires ready, because although I am not doing anything against Centella, he is still attacking me instead of his prey, who is playing at will, since Centella only attempts to bleed him once per turn. Centella should have attacked the first Prince or Justicar that Millicent put in play, thus not letting him doing as he pleases. Even though, it is just as well Millicent played a Sudden Reversal on the Palla Grande. I can resist for longer, and worse of all, Iñaki knows my hand. |
CENTELLA
Charisma Andrea Giovanni
Powerbase: Montreal
Rudolfo Giovanni attempts to hunt
Andrea Giovanni Shambling Hordes5
Shambling Hordes3 /special ability Ezmerelda
x
Shambling Hordes3 hand
Ezmerelda hand
x
Shambling Hordes1 /special ability Ezmerelda
x
Shambling Hordes1 hand
Ezmerelda hand; enters torpor
x
|
MILLICENT: I know someone who has felt a great disturbance in the Force more than I had before. It smelt of death, and Ezmeralda went to hell. |
x
Shambling Hordes hand
Roland Loussarian hand; enters torpor
x
Shambling Hordes4 /special ability The Embrace1
x
Shambling Hordes4 hand
The Embrace1 hand; enters torpor
x
|
IÑAKI: With each passing turn, victory seemed to be within Centella's reach, though the game was at a standstill. It seemed that the hordes had everything under control. |
MILLICENT (16)
Sheldon Political Stranglehold
%
MILLICENT +6
LINUS +2
%
Sheldon Freak Drive<
François Villon Fifth Tradition: Hospitality Ezmerelda
Francesca Giovanni attempts to block
x
François Villon hand
Francesca Giovanni hand
x
Sheldon rescues from torpor Ezmerelda (Sheldon)
Ezmerelda attempts to hunt
Nikolaus Vermuelen +6; enters play
LINUS
/Blood Doll Watenda; -1b
Watenda attempts to hunt
Carlotta Giovanni /special ability Kindred Restructure
Greger Andersen Kindred Restructure (LINUS, MILLICENT,
CÉSAR, IÑAKI, CENTELLA)
%
LINUS +3
MILLICENT -7
%
|
IÑAKI: In practice, having the hordes as his prey or predator was the same for Millicent. And, adding that he had almost ousted Linus, he preferred things to stay as they were... MILLICENT: This was my second big mistake in the game. If I had thought it twice, I would have voted for the referendum, since without Centella's pressure and with the permission of my new prey, I would have developed my strategy much better, unless my predator attempted to bleed me restlessly. But against that I had Deflections. It was this fear of not being able to stand against lots of bleeds which made me vote against. WHAT A MISTAKE!! |
IÑAKI
/edge
Jost Werner Enchant Kindred> Angela Preston
Delilah Monroe attempts to bleed
Sir Walter Nash Deflection> CENTELLA
Rudolfo Giovanni Wake with Evening's Freshness
x
Delilah Monroe hand
Rudolfo Giovanni hand
x
Angela Preston enters play
Tenth Turn
CÉSAR
Obfuscate Sir Walter Nash
Hostile Takeover Greger Andersen (CÉSAR 4, LINUS 6,
MILLICENT 7, LINUS 8)
|
CÉSAR: The show begins. I need Centella to leave me alone, I need votes for my referenda, not against. So I can only play the Hostile Takeover on one of Linus' vampires. With this action I try to bring balance to the game so that Centella attacks Millicent, people let me develope my game. IÑAKI: A desperate attempt to speed up the game, but at what expense...? Linus payed 4 pool and had only 1 pool left. There was no future for him. MILLICENT: Since Linus bid 8 pool and had only 1 pool left, I decided to stop bidding, obviously. |
Shambling Hordes5 attempts to block
Khay'tall Lost in Crowds>
Sir Walter Nash Kine Resources Contested
Francesca Giovanni attempts to block
Sir Walter Nash Forgotten Labyrinth< (CENTELLA 3, LINUS 1)
%
CÉSAR +3
Jost Werner Delaying Tactics
%
|
CÉSAR: I do not understand why Centella attacks Ezmerelda, who has the "self-Gonconda" option. He should attack Sheldon or François Villon in order to undermine Millicent's political power and make it harder for him to play Fifth Traditions. Centella should move now so that Millicent does not win the game. IÑAKI: It is good that César wants to speed up the game, but so much speed is not fair, nor even ethical. Besides, though his intention of giving 1 VP to Millicent were "good" (for the rest of players), it meant no good for us. |
CENTELLA
Dreams of the Sphinx
MILLICENT Sudden Reversal
Tower of London
Rudolfo Giovanni attempts to hunt
Andrea Giovanni Shambling Hordes6; burned
Shambling Hordes3 /special ability Ezmerelda
x
Shambling Hordes3 hand
Ezmerelda Majesty<
x
Shambling Hordes4 /special ability Ezmerelda
Nikolaus Vermuelen attempts to block
x
Shambling Hordes4 hand
Nikolaus Vermuelen hand
x
Shambling Hordes5 /special ability Ezmerelda
x
Shambling Hordes5 hand
Ezmerelda hand; enters torpor
x
|
CELTELLA: Right the same. Kine Resources Contested = vampire in torpor. Quid pro quo. MILLICENT: Centella is stopping me from the opportunity of using Ezmerelda's special ability, obviously. IÑAKI: Thanks to César's acceleration of the game, Centella began to weaken Millicent, since otherwise Millicent would oust us all. CÉSAR: Well, at last a little bit of peace. The hordes are not attacking me! |
MILLICENT (16)
Sheldon attempts to bleed
Greger Andersen Deflection> IÑAKI
Sheldon Freak Drive<
Nikolaus Vermuelen attempts to bleed
Greger Andersen Deflection> IÑAKI
Nikolaus Vermuelen Freak Drive<
Sheldon Kine Resources Contested (LINUS 1, IÑAKI 3)
%
MILLICENT +8
Greger Andersen Kindred Coercion> Nikolaus Vermuelen
LINUS -4
CÉSAR -3 (Kine Resources Contested)
MILLICENT /edge
%
François Villon Kine Resources Contested (LINUS 1,
IÑAKI 3)
%
MILLICENT +8
LINUS -2
CÉSAR -2
%
LINUS is OUSTED
|
Linus, after being ousted. |
Francesca Giovanni attempts to block
x
Nikolaus Vermuelen hand
Francesca Giovanni hand
x
|
MILLICENT: Linus, with just 1 pool, is difficult to oust. Thanks to my Freak Drives, which helped me much during the game, I manage to get rid of Linus and I begin to punish Iñaki. My end is near, the Underworld sucks... ;-) IÑAKI: A hyperactive turn that gave Millicent some fuel to confront the hordes. |
IÑAKI
Palla Grande
CÉSAR Sudden Reversal
|
IÑAKI: The rule regarding Palla Grande and Sudden Reversal still applies :-P |
Remilliard Enchant Kindred<
Delilah Monroe attempts to bleed
Angela Preston /special ability Jost Werner
|
CÉSAR: Iñaki does not stop bleeding me seriously, because he sees that Millicent is weakening him. That's what I want: everybody under pressure, not just Linus (who is now ousted) and me. My first mistake: I should have brought out Heather Florent with Sir Walter Nash via Govern the Unaligned, in the hope that Millicent would give me his support for my Consanguineous Boon votes. Besides, I would have had another vampire in play to defend myself from Iñaki. And, my second mistake: Jost Wener bleeds at stealth, but I should have attempted to block Remilliard so that Iñaki used his Paris Opera House, avoiding this way the success of Delilah Monroe's bleed. I let in three bleeds, when I should have let in two How silly I am!!!. |
Eleventh Turn
CÉSAR
Khay'tall Govern the Unaligned> Heather Florent
Heather Florent -2
CENTELLA
Acquired Ventrue Assets1
/Acquired Ventrue Assets1 Francesca Giovanni
Andrea Giovanni Shambling Hordes7, /Tower of London
Rudolfo Giovanni attempts to bleed
Shambling Hordes5 /special ability Nikolaus Vermuelen
x
Shambling Hordes5 hand
Nikolaus Vermuelen hand; enters torpor
x
Shambling Hordes3 /special ability Sheldon
x
Shambling Hordes3 hand
Sheldon hand
x
Shambling Hordes4 /special ability Sheldon
x
Shambling Hordes4 hand
Sheldon hand; enters torpor
x
/Powerbase: Montreal Mario Giovanni
Mario Giovanni -1
MILLICENT (22)
François Villon rescues from torpor Sheldon
(François Villon)
Sheldon attempts to hunt
+ Stanislava
Khay'tall +2
|
MILLICENT: Seeing the current game situation, I chose to run low of pool by influencing another vampire in order to attempt a desperate attack in search of another victory point and a hypothetical second place. |
IÑAKI
Jost Werner attempts to bleed
Delilah Monroe attempts to bleed
Remilliard attempts to bleed
Sir Walter Nash Deflection> CENTELLA
Shambling Hordes1 attempts to block
x
Delilah Monroe Majesty<
x
Angela Preston /special ability Jost Werner
|
IÑAKI: At the moment, nobody bothered me, but I knew that I would be in trouble when Millicent recovered, so I had to hurry. |
Twelfth Turn
CÉSAR
Sir Walter Nash Parity Shift
Francesca Giovanni attempts to block
|
CENTELLA: The conversation between César and I was very funny. I told him: "Sir Walter Nash will enter torpor", and César replied: "If Francesca Giovanni attempts to block, both vampires will enter torpor", and my answer was: "I do not care, let them enter torpor". The 50% of a game depends on your position at the table, the other 40% depends on your ability to scare your predator, and the remaining 10% depends on luck and your deck. |
%
CÉSAR +3
MILLICENT -5
Sir Walter Nash Bewitching Oration>
IÑAKI -/edge
MILLICENT -vote
Sir Walter Nash Awe>(1)
IÑAKI Direct Intervention
%
Heather Florent -1
|
CÉSAR: I tried it and failed, but the vote almost succeeded. Besides, afterwards I drew a Voter Captivation. I was a bit stubborn in this move, because if I had chosen Iñaki (instead of Centella) as a target of the Parity Shift, Millicent would have surely allowed me to gain all the pool, and he would have put more pressure on Iñaki; or maybe I should have given some pool to Millicent, so that I could stand against Iñaki. Anyway, I did not understand why Millicent was against me because just 1 or 2 pool, when he had 15 pool or more. In the end, Iñaki took advantage from this, because if he had played a Direct Intervention on the Parity Shift, he would have shown his real motivations to us. Thus, each player's interests were revealed, which meant my death, since Iñaki did not want me to gain pool. Had the vote succeeded, I would have gained 6 pool, and in addition, I would have bled Centella for 3 with a Govern the Unaligned at stealth, leaving him with just 1 pool left, and I would have said bye bye to the hordes. IÑAKI: I could not allow César to gain more pool at such a critical moment of the game. |
CENTELLA
Acquired Ventrue Assets2
Fame Sheldon
|
IÑAKI: ¡Ouch!, the show begins... |
/Acquired Ventrue Assets2 Andrea Giovanni
Shambling Hordes5 /special ability Sir Walter Nash
x
Shambling Hordes5 hand
Sir Walter Nash hand; enters torpor
x
Andrea Giovanni Shambling Hordes8
François Villon Second Tradition: Domain
x
Andrea Giovanni hand
François Villon hand
x
Rudolfo Giovanni Shambling Hordes8, /Tower of London
Shambling Hordes7 /special ability Jost Werner
x
Shambling Hordes7 hand
Jost Werner Majesty<
x
|
IÑAKI: Centella was attacking me preventively (but I already was well prepared, since I had 5 Majesty in my hand, accumulated during the entire game in order to thwart his first attacks, and to attempt to oust him...) |
x
Shambling Hordes3 hand
Sheldon hand
x
Shambling Hordes4 /special ability Sheldon
x
Shambling Hordes4 hand
Sheldon hand; enters torpor, /Fame
x
/Powerbase: Montreal Mario Giovanni
Mario Giovanni -1
MILLICENT (15)
/Fame
François Villon Kine Resources Contested
Jost Werner Telepathic Misdirection<
François Villon Lost in Crowds<
Jost Werner My Enemy's Enemy<
François Villon Cloak the Gathering< (IÑAKI 3,
CÉSAR 1)
%
MILLICENT +3
CÉSAR -2
%
|
CÉSAR: I do not understand yet why I have been chosen as one of the targets of this Kine Resources Contested, since Millicent could have targetted Centella instead, so that Iñaki could put more pressure on him setting Millicent free from the hordes' attacks. |
Khay'tall +6; enters play (Contested Card)
|
MILLICENT: I was so desperate that I did not realize that the vampire I was influencing was already in play. THIRD BIG MISTAKE!!! Khay´tall was already controlled by César. This leaves him defenseless against Iñaki, for César must yield the "snake" if he does not want to be ousted (note that there was a vampire with a Fame in torpor). César will die next turn. Now I am preparing my last attack, in the case I survive long enough... CÉSAR: And to make matters worse, I remain without my favorite snake. I do not either understand why Millicent does not diablerize his Famous vampire in torpor to put an end to Fame's devastating effects. IÑAKI: César was history, since Khay'tall was the only ready vampire he had in play. And I was sooo happy! he, he... |
IÑAKI
/Fame
Jost Werner attempts to bleed
Remilliard attempts to bleed
Delilah Monroe attempts to bleed
Angela Preston /special ability Jost Werner
Thirdteenth Turn
CÉSAR
/Fame
Khay'tall (yielded card)
CENTELLA
/Fame
Necromancy Francesca Giovanni
Morgue Hunting Ground
CÉSAR Sudden Reversal
/Acquired Ventrue Assets1 Rudolfo Giovanni
/Acquired Ventrue Assets2 Andrea Giovanni
Francesca Giovanni rescues from torpor Sheldon (Francesca
Giovanni)
Shambling HordesX /special ability Sheldon
x
Shambling HordesX hand
Sheldon hand; enters torpor, /Fame
x
Andrea Giovanni Shambling Hordes9, /Tower of London
Shambling HordesX /special ability Remilliard
x
Shambling HordesX hand
Remilliard Majesty<
x
/Powerbase: Montreal Mario Giovanni
Mario Giovanni -1
MILLICENT (5)
/Fame
Minion Tap Khay'tall (8)
Khay'tall Govern the Unaligned<
Jost Werner attempts to block
Khay'tall Lost in Crowds>
Jost Werner Telepathic Counter>
Stanislava +6
|
MILLICENT: Good to see that Khay´tall is at full capacity. Now I decide to play a Minion Tap for 8 on him (since I need as much pool as possible to bring out Stanislava), but 8 pool is not enough, I need to oust Iñaki before). With Khay'tall's remaining 1 blood, he could play a Govern the Unaligned. Perhaps I should have taken just 7 blood from Khay'tall, because I had another Govern the Unaligned in my hand, which could have been very useful next turn, hopefully. With this doubt in my mind, I launch my last suicidal attack... Iñaki had 5 pool, so if that bleed had suceded, he would have been with just 2 pool left, and with the Fame's effect, just with 1, and... shit!, it is not enough. And to top it all, he played a Telephatic Counter. At least I tried it. My end is near. |
IÑAKI
/Fame
Remilliard Art Scam
Delilah Monroe attempts to hunt
Jost Werner attempts to hunt
Angela Preston /special ability Jost Werner
|
IÑAKI: I just have to wait for the Fame to take effect... |
Fourteenth Turn
CÉSAR
/Fame; CÉSAR is OUSTED
|
CÉSAR: I am out, but even so, I have been in the game for longer than I expected at the beginning. I do not understand why Millicent did not give me his support to gain pool and hold Iñaki, since while I was being targetted by Centella's attacks, Millicent would be playing his game undisturbed. Besides, my deck's major problem is making Embraces, gaining pool via Consanguineous Boon and having lots of votes by means of several Ventrue Directorate Assembly, but Centella could easily send all my Embraces and Third Traditions into torpor. Thereafter, I could no longer rescue them because my vampires would have no blood, and would finally be sent into torpor too due to the hordes' attacks. Millicent does not yet realize that he could have diablerized his own Famous vampire. At this moment, I think Centella will win.
From left to right: Iñaki, Alcañiz, Carlos Martínez (standing), César (after being ousted), Pablo (behind), Rubén (aka "The Infamous") and Centella. |
CENTELLA
/Fame
KRCG News Radio
MILLICENT Sudden Reversal
Anarch Troublemaker
Andrea Giovanni rescues from torpor Sheldon (Andrea Giovanni)
Shambling Hordes8 /special ability Sheldon
x
Shambling Hordes8 hand
Sheldon hand; enters torpor, /Fame
x
Shambling HordesX /special ability Jost Werner
x
Shambling HordesX hand
Jost Werner Majesty<
x
Shambling HordesX /special ability Delilah Monroe
x
Shambling HordesX hand
Delilah Monroe Majesty<
x
/Powerbase: Montreal Mario Giovanni
Mario Giovanni -1
|
IÑAKI: Now I was very thankful for the millions of Majesty I had accumuated during so long a game... |
MILLICENT (3)
/Fame
Khay'tall attempts to hunt
Stanislava -3
IÑAKI
/Fame
Delilah Monroe attempts to hunt
Remilliard attempts to hunt
Jost Werner attempts to hunt
Angela Preston /special ability Jost Werner
Fifteenth Turn
CENTELLA
/Fame
Blood Doll Rudolfo Giovanni
/Acquired Ventrue Assets2 Andrea Giovanni
/Blood Doll Andrea Giovanni, Rudolfo Giovanni; +1b
Andrea Giovanni rescues from torpor Sheldon (Andrea Giovanni)
Shambling Hordes8 /special ability Sheldon
x
Shambling HordesX hand
Sheldon hand; enters torpor, /Fame
x
Francesca Giovanni attempts to bleed
/Powerbase: Montreal Mario Giovanni
Mario Giovanni -1
MILLICENT (1)
/Fame; MILLICENT is OUSTED
|
MILLICENT: At last, my agony ends...
Millicent, after being ousted. |
IÑAKI
Fortitude Jost Werner
Remilliard attempts to bleed
Shambling Hordes9 attempts to block
x
Remilliard Majesty<
x
Jost Werner Entrancement> Shambling Hordes9
Francesca Giovanni Spectral Divination>
Delilah Monroe Siren's Lure>
Jost Werner Freak Drive<
|
IÑAKI: Siren's Lure, the card of the tournament, at least as for me. This card has given me many advantages... In this case, thanks to the Entrancement, I felt much safer, because the rest of Centella's hordes had been already weakened. |
Delilah Monroe hand
Francesca Giovanni hand
x
|
MILLICENT: Iñaki dealt a blow to Centella, from which he would never recover... |
Delilah Monroe attempts to bleed
Angela Preston /special ability Jost Werner
Sixteenth Turn
CENTELLA
/Acquired Ventrue Assets2 Rudolfo Giovanni
/Blood Doll Andrea Giovanni; +1b
Francesca Giovanni attempts to hunt
Andrea Giovanni Ambrosius, The Ferryman
|
IÑAKI: Ambrosius was going to be very useful for Centella, since he could have the Ferryman block my stolen Shambling Hordes... |
Shambling HordesX /special ability Jost Werner
Remilliard Forced Awakening
x
Rudolfo Giovanni hand
Remilliard hand
x
|
IÑAKI: Even though I had several Majesty in my hand, I chose to use hand strikes instead in order to weaken the hordes. |
x
Shambling HordesX hand
Angela Preston hand
x
/Powerbase: Montreal Mario Giovanni
Mario Giovanni -1
IÑAKI
Blood Doll Delilah Monroe; +1b
Remilliard Art Scam
Shambling HordesX attempts to block, /Masquer (Francesca
Giovanni)
Delilah Monroe Siren's Lure>
x
Delilah Monroe hand
Shambling HordesX hand
x
Jost Werner attempts to hunt
Angela Preston /special ability Jost Werner
+ Lolita
Seventeenth Turn
CENTELLA
Acquired Ventrue Assets3
/Acquired Ventrue Assets2 Andrea Giovanni
/Acquired Ventrue Assets3 Rudolfo Giovanni
Andrea Giovanni Masquer, /Tower of London
/Powerbase: Montreal Mario Giovanni
Mario Giovanni -1
IÑAKI
Remilliard attempts to hunt
Jost Werner /Powerbase: Montreal
Delilah Monroe /Acquired Ventrue Assets3
Shambling HordesX attempts to block
Delilah Monroe /Paris Opera House
/Powerbase: Montreal Lolita
Lolita +2; enters play
Eighteenth Turn
CENTELLA
Leonardo Mortician /special ability Andrea Giovanni
Jost Werner Telepathic Misdirection<
x
Leonardo Mortician hand
Jost Werner hand; Leonardo Mortician is burned
x
Francesca Giovanni attempts to hunt
Rudolfo Giovanni attempts to hunt
IÑAKI
/edge
Delilah Monroe Enchant Kindred<
Shambling HordesX attempts to block
Delilah Monroe /Paris Opera House
Shambling HordesX /Masquer(Andrea Giovanni)
x
Delilah Monroe hand
Shambling HordesX hand; is burned
x
|
IÑAKI: Anyway, I had to burn those hordes, since they were legion. |
Shambling HordesX /Masquer(Francesca Giovanni)
x
Jost Werner hand
Shambling HordesX hand; is burned
x
Angela Preston Entrancement> Ambrosius, The Ferryman
|
IÑAKI: The game was decided, because, with the Ferryman under my command, I could block Centella's hordes, and with my Shambling Hordes I would attack his minions... MILLICENT: A very unexpected Entrancement that leaves Centella at Iñaki's mercy... |
Lolita Art Scam
Nineteenth Turn
CENTELLA
Acquired Ventrue Assets4
Acquired Ventrue Assets5
/Acquired Ventrue Assets4 Rudolfo Giovanni
/Acquired Ventrue Assets5 Andrea Giovanni
Andrea Giovanni Shambling Hordes10
Rudolfo Giovanni attempts to bleed
Ambrosius, The Ferryman attempts to block
Rudolfo Giovanni Spectral Divination<
Remilliard Wake with Evening's Freshness, Telepathic
Counter>
Francesca Giovanni attempts to bleed
Ambrosius, The Ferryman attempts to block
Francesca Giovanni Call of the Hungry Dead<
Mario Giovanni +3; enters play
IÑAKI
Shambling HordesX /special ability Andrea Giovanni
Shambling HordesX attempts to block
Delilah Monroe Siren's Lure>
Mario Giovanni attempts to block
Shambling HordesX /Delilah Monroe,Paris Opera House
x
Shambling HordesX hand
Andrea Giovanni hand; enters torpor
x
Remilliard de Andrea Giovanni
Lolita attempts to bleed
Angela Preston attempts to bleed, Aire of Elation>
CENTELLA se rinde.
|
Centella, after surrendering. CENTELLA: Eeehhhh!, I had not slept at all since Thursday. I do not know. To tell you the truth, at the end, I had a terible headache, and I just wanted to finish. I did not understand what finally happened. The game became a hell for me since I should have attacked backwards all the time, letting Millicent get 2 victory points by ousting Linus and Iñaki, so that I could thereafter torporize all his vampires and tie the game with him. This way, I would have been the winner, since I had more VPs than him in the previous rounds (preliminary rounds rock!). But my mind was not in good condition alter the trip to Barcelona and so many sleepless nights. I always do the same :P. P.S.: My deck is dedicated to a guy from Barcelona (I cannot remember his name), who told me: "Your Shambling Hordes deck sucks!, it will never gain any VPs". Congratulations, man!, I did not see you in the final round, huh? =).
Iñaki's face after winning ;-P MILLICENT: A very interesting final round. Nobody expected how it finally ended, above all, my poor "cows". This proves once more that things can change in the last moment, and that Shambling Hordes must be annihilated from the beginning :-) Congratulations, Iñaki! I hope to play with you again in the final round of the EC 2002 (in Vienna)... It would not be so bad, wouldn't it?. DAMNANS: At first sight, it could seem that the game lasted for very long, according to the 19 passed turns. But it was not so, since the final round had a 2 hours time limit, and the game ended approximately half an hour before that limit. What a pity!, the finsliasts did not have mercy of the transcriber. :-( |
