European Championship 2002: Vienna (Austria)
FINAL ROUND TRANSCRIPTION
Finalists' decks
TOMAS VICK
JOSÉ VICENTE COLL
DAVE BASTIJNS
WALTER PAOLINI
ZOLT TÓTH
Choosing seating order
ZSOLT
ZSOLT ->
WALTER
DAVE ->
ZSOLT ->
WALTER
DAVE ->
ZSOLT ->
WALTER ->
JOSÉ VICENTE
DAVE ->
TOMAS ->
ZSOLT ->
WALTER ->
JOSÉ VICENTE
Seating order and starting player:
ZSOLT (Hungary) -> WALTER (Austria) -> JOSÉ VICENTE (Spain) -> DAVE (Belgium) -> TOMAS (Slovakia)
|
JOSÉ VICENTE: My approach to the final was an easy one. Knowing that three out of my four oponents had stealth and bleed decks, and that the other one left had an intercept+Immortal Grapple deck, I chose a seat far away from that combat deck so that the arrival of my War Ghouls was assured. My main weapon against the other finalists would be my speed, and trying to bring out as many War Ghouls as possible before my blood pool was considerably decreased by the bleed & Deflections storm that would threaten the table. Once I had three War Ghoules in play, the Malkavians woud mean no problem for me, because, as I guessed at the beginning of the game, they had no combat defense. TOMAS: I´ve had 3 Game Wins, so I could choose my place as I wanted. I knew that Walter was playing Malkavian Antitribu, and I thought Dave was playing a deck with Anson and many many master cards, like Minion Tap, Golgonda, etc. So I choose him as my predator. It was my biggest mistake :o) |
1st Turn
ZSOLT (30)
Vincent Day +1
WALTER (30)
Dolphin Black +2
JOSÉ VICENTE (30)
plays Jake Washington
Horatio +2; enters play
Little Tailor of Prague +1
|
JOSE VICENTE: I could not have a better uncontrolled region: Horatio, Lolita Houston, Caliban and Little Tailor of Prague. And I also had the perfect starting hand: Jake Washington, War Ghoul, Changeling, Trap, Telepathic Misdirection and two The Spirit's Touch. |
DAVE (30)
plays Dreams of the Sphinx
Uses Dreams of the Sphinx on Didi Meyers
Mariel, Lady Thunder +4
TOMAS (30)
Badr al-Budur
+4
|
TOMAS: When I saw my crypt, I chose to influence Badr al-Budur, because I didn´t know what kind of deck my prey was playing, and I didn´t know if I would need superior Obfuscate or superior Dominate. |
2nd Turn
ZSOLT (29)
Vincent Day +4; enters play
discards Graverobbing
WALTER (28)
Dolphin Black +4; enters
play
|
WALTER: I need a great one with my 3 skills at superior!, and for my The Call. |
JOSÉ VICENTE (27)
Horatio recruits War Ghoul (Jake Washington is burned)
Little Tailor of Prague +4
|
JOSÉ VICENTE: Everything was working great. Next turn Dolphin Black or whoever blocks my War Ghouls will be nothing but food for vultures. |
DAVE (25)
Mariel, Lady Thunder +3; enters play
Didi Meyers +1
Uses Dreams of the Sphinx on Ohanna
TOMAS (26)
Badr al-Budur +1; enters play
Reverend Blackwood
+3
|
TOMAS: When I realized that my predator was playing with Malkavians, I knew I wouldn´t win this game. My prey brought out Vincent Day (Auspex), so I chose to put Badr al-Budur (superior Obfuscate) in play. |
3rd Turn
ZSOLT (25)
Thaumaturgy on Vincent Day
Ian Forestal +4
WALTER (24)
Dolphin Black plays Restructure at superior on War Ghoul
|
WALTER: I have only 1 in my deck (fortunately in my starting hand, as I first wanted to discard it - huch). JOSÉ VICENTE: Whaaaaaaaaaaat????!!!!. Here the game is already over for me. What a bad luck being stolen a War Ghoul, but if the ghoul is stolen by your predator via the ONLY Restructure in his deck, the situation is the worst of nightmares, without any possible solution due to my predator's deck's speed. DAVE: Thank God for me! |
JOSÉ VICENTE (20)
Horatio employs Mr. Winthrop
Little Tailor of Prague +4; enters play
DAVE (21)
Mariel, Lady Thunder recruits Muddled Vampire Hunter
uses Dreams of the Sphinx on Ohanna
Didi Meyers +3; enters play
Ohanna enters play
discards Delaying Tactics
TOMAS (22)
Badr al-Budur attempts to bleed
Vincent Day attempts to block
Badr al-Budur plays Faceless Night at superior
Vincent Day plays Precognition at inferior
Badr al-Budur plays Lost in Crowds at superior, Conditioning at
inferior
Vincent Day plays Deflection at inferior to WALTER
Badr al-Budur plays Spying Mission at superior
Reverend Blackwood +3; enters play
Count Ormonde +1
4th Turn
ZSOLT (21)
Auspex on Vincent Day
Ian Forestal +4; enters play
WALTER (21)
Korah +4; enters
play
|
WALTER: I think of attacking my prey with my War Ghoul, but I prefer to use it for defense. Tomas asks me to attack Dave's Muddled Vampire Hunter with my War Ghoul, but, since he was my axe too, it has to be José's job, in my opinion. |
JOSÉ VICENTE (16)
Little Tailor of Prague recruits War Ghoul2 (Mr. Winthrop is
burned)
Lolita Houston +4; enters play
discards Changeling
|
JOSÉ VICENTE: Though I knew I could not win, I keep playing with a goal in mind: burning Walter's War Ghoul before smashing his vampires. And this means losing another War Ghoul... As I said above, according to the speed at which the game was running, it would take too long for me to be effective. |
DAVE (16)
Ohanna attempts to bleed (no block), Bonding at inferior
Didi Meyers attempts to bleed (no block), Conditioning at
superior
Reverend Blackwood plays Deflection at superior to ZSOLT
Ian Forestal plays Telepathic Misdirection at superior to
WALTER
Korah attempts to block
x
Korah strikes with hand
Didi Meyers strikes with hand
x
moves Reverend Blackwood from his crypt to his uncontrolled
region
TOMAS (16)
plays Dreams of the Sphinx
uses Dreams of the Sphinx to increase his hand size
Badr al-Budur plays Govern the Unaligned at inferior
Vincent Day attempts to block
Badr al-Budur plays Faceless Night at superior
Vincent Day plays Spirit's Touch at superior
Badr al-Budur plays Elder Impesonation at superior, Conditioning
at inferior
Vincent Day plays My Enemy's Enemy at superior (to DAVE)
Mariel, Lady Thunder plays Deflection at superior to ZSOLT
ZSOLT plays Archon Investigation
Reverend Blackwood plays Govern the Unaligned at inferior (no
block), Command of the Beast at superior, Conditioning at
superior
Ian Forestal plays Wake with Evening's Freshness, Deflection at
superior to WALTER
Dolphin Black attempts to block
x
Reverend Blackwood strikes with hand
Dolphin Black strikes with hand
x
Count Ormonde +4; enters
play
|
TOMAS: Since I only have 4 Deflections in my deck, I must kill my prey faster than my predator would kill me. My only defense was to gain 6 pool for ousting my prey, or using Govern the Unaligned to gain 2 pool each turn. I chose to oust my prey. I didn´t know that my prey had so good a hand. He had everything he needed to stop my deck (including Archon Ivestigation). I didn´t try to block my predator, because I hoped that he would have his hand full of stealth cards. |
5th Turn
ZSOLT (14)
Does nothing
WALTER (17)
plays Purchase Pact
Korah plays Kindred Spirits at superior
Lolita Houston attempts to block
Korah plays Lost in Crowds at superior
Lolita Houston plays Spirit's Touch at inferior, Telepathic
Misdirection at inferior
Korah plays Confusion at superior
Dolphin Black plays The Call at superior on Yorik
Ian Forestal plays Enhanced Senses at superior
Dolphin Black plays Lost in Crowds at superior
Claven +4; enters play
Yorik enters
play
|
WALTER: Now I have my starting combo ready: 4 vampires. |
JOSÉ VICENTE (8)
plays Blood Doll on Little Tailor of Prague; moves 1 blood to his
pool
discards Changeling
|
JOSÉ VICENTE: According the imminent mass attack from my predator, I chose to do nothing about it, in the hope that Walter runs out of stealth, and that my War Ghoul can block some of his vampires. After the game, Walter told me that, at this point of the game, I could have offered him a deal of no aggression (i.e., Walter would not bleed me, and I attempt to get rid of one of Dave's vampires. I was sure this pact would have only benefitted Walter. besides, after the Restructure shock, my head did not work like at the start of the game. ;-) |
DAVE (15)
Muddled Vampire Hunter attacks Reverend Blackwood
Count Ormonde attempts to block
Mariel, Lady Thunder plays Cloak the Gathering at superior
x
Muddled Vampire Hunter strikes with hand; Reverend Blackwood
enters torpor
x
Mariel, Lady Thunder plays Govern the Unaligned at superior on
Badr al-Budur
Ohanna attempts to bleed (no block), plays Conditioning at
inferior
Count Ormonde plays Deflection at inferior to ZSOLT
Vincent Day attempts to block
x
Vincent Day plays Apportation at superior (long range)
x
Badr al-Budur +2; enters play
discards Delaying Tactics
TOMAS (10)
plays Giant's Blood on Reverend Blackwood
Count Ormonde attempts to rescue Reverend Blackwood from torpor
(cost paid by Count Ormonde)
Reverend Blackwood plays Govern the Unaligned at inferior,
Seduction at superior on Ian Forestal
Vincent Day plays Forced Awakening
Reverend Blackwood plays Lost in Crowds at inferior, Conditioning
at superior
Vincent Day plays Telepathic Counter at superior
uses Dreams of the Sphinx on Zebulon
Zebulon +4; enters play
6th Turn
ZSOLT (10)
plays Haven Uncovered on Reverend Blackwood
TOMAS plays Sudden Reversal
Vincent Day attempts to bleed (no block), plays Conditioning at
inferior
Korah plays Wake with Evening's Freshness, Telepathic Misdirection
at superior to JOSÉ VICENTE
Horatio attempts to block
x
Vincent Day plays Fake Out
x
WALTER (14)
Dolphin Black attempts to bleed
Lolita Houston attempts to block
Dolphin Black plays Confusion at superior
Lolita Houston plays Eagle Sight at inferior
Dolphin Black plays Lost in Crowds at superior
Lolita Houston plays Spirit's Touch at inferior
Claven plays Derange on Horatio
|
WALTER: perhaps it would have been better not to play my first Derange on the little Horatio. |
Horatio plays Forced Awakening
Yorik plays Faceless Night at inferior, Eyes of Chaos at inferior
discards Asylum Hunting Ground
JOSÉ VICENTE (5)
Horatio does not untap (Derange)
plays Jake Washington
War Ghoul2 attacks Korah
War Ghoul1(controlled by WALTER) attempts to block
|
WALTER: I had to sacrifice my War Ghoul. DAVE: Big mistake to make! |
War Ghoul2 plays Trap; both War Ghouls are burned
x
Lolita Houston recruits Vagabond Mystic
discards Plasmic Form
DAVE (13)
Ohanna attempts to bleed
Didi Meyers attempts to bleed (no block), plays Bonding at
inferior
Badr al-Budur plays Govern the Unaligned at inferior; TOMAS is
OUSTED
Mariel, Lady Thunder plays Govern the Unaligned at superior on
Reverend Blackwood
Reverend Blackwood +3; enters play
discards Mask of a Thousand Faces
7th Turn
ZSOLT (10)
plays Blood Doll on Ian Forestal; moves 1 blood from Ian to his
pool
Vincent Day attempts to bleed (no block), plays Conditioning at
inferior
Korah plays Telepathic Misdirection at superior to JOSÉ
VICENTE
Little Tailor of Prague plays Telepathic Misdirection at superior
to WALTER
discards Apportation
WALTER (12)
plays Dreams of the Sphinx
uses Dreams of the Sphinx to increase his hand size
Dolphin Black plays Madman's Quill at inferior
Jake Washington attempts to block
Dolphin Black plays Swallowed by the Night at inferior, Eyes of
Chaos at superior; JOSÉ VICENTE is OUSTED
Korah attempts to bleed (no block), plays Confusion at
inferior
Yorik attempts to bleed (no block), plays Confusion at
inferior
moves Watenda from his crypt to his uncontrolled region
discards Derange, Delaying Tactics, Cloak the Gathering
DAVE (16)
plays Pentex Subversion on Ian Forestal
|
ZSOLT: This was what killed me. |
x
Vincent Day plays Apportation at superior (long range)
x
Ohanna attempts to bleed (no block), plays Bonding at inferior
Didi Meyers plays Govern the Unaligned at inferior (no block), Command of the Beast at superior
Ian Forestal plays Deflection at superior to WALTER
Yorik plays Wake with Evening's Freshness
Didi Meyers plays Lost in Crowds at inferior
Badr al-Budur attempts to bleed (no block), plays Spying Mission at superior
discards Asylum Hunting Ground
8th Turn
ZSOLT (9)
plays Blood Doll2 on Ian Forestal; moves 2 blood from Ian to his
pool
Vincent Day attempts to burn Pentex Subversion on Ian
Mariel, Lady Thunder attempts to block
|
DAVE: This was necessary. I had an untapped Reverend Blackwood with six blood on and three Deflection in my hands, so I had to sacrifice Mariel because I had no Wake with Evening's Freshness which turned out to be a good decision. |
Vincent Day plays Immortal Grapple at inferior, strikes with hand
Mariel, Lady Thunder strikes with hand
x
|
ZSOLT: Here was my chance to make something, but I drew the Torn Signpost in place of Immortal Graple. The disarm was in my hand from the start of play. DAVE: Here I got lucky. Later I heard that he drew a Torn Signpost and he had two Disarms in his hand. Lady Fortuna was on my side. |
WALTER (12)
plays Fragment of the Book of Nod
uses Dreams of the Sphinx to increase his hand size
taps Fragment of the Book of Nod; draws Kindred Spirits, Eyes of
Chaos, and discards Derange, Blood Doll
Dolphin Black attempts to bleed (no block), plays Eyes of Chaos at
superior
Reverend Blackwood plays Deflection at superior to ZSOLT
|
DAVE: That's one. |
Reverend Blackwood plays Deflection at superior to ZSOLT
|
DAVE: That's two. |
Reverend Blackwood plays Deflection at superior to ZSOLT
|
DAVE: That's three. |
DAVE plays Direct Intervention
Claven plays Kindred Spirits at inferior
Watenda +3; enters play
discards Delaying Tactics, Dreams of the Sphinx, Forgotten Labyrinth
|
WALTER: I should have made a deal with Zsolt and try to burn the Pentex Subversion on Ian Forestal, which was much better than bleeding, since Dave had 3 Deflections in his hand !!!! But I think Dave has too much stealth both for me and Zsolt. |
DAVE (12)
Badr al-Budur attempts to bleed (no block), plays Conditioning at
inferior, burns Spying Mission to get +2 bleed; ZSOLT is
OUSTED
Reverend Blackwood plays Govern the Unaligned at inferior
Watenda attempts to block
Reverend Blackwood plays Faceless Night at inferior, Conditioning
at superior
Muddled Vampire Hunter attacks Watenda
x
Muddled Vampire Hunter strikes with hand; Watenda enters
torpor
x
Didi Meyers attempts to bleed (no block), plays Conditioning at
superior
Mariel, Lady Thunder attempts to bleed
Korah plays Wake with Evening's Freshness
Mariel, Lady Thunder plays Bonding at superior; WALTER is
OUSTED
|
JOSÉ VICENTE: In the end, the winner was the player who played more comfortably: Dave. With no predator, things are always easier. Congratulations, Dave!, and greetings to all. I would like to make a special mention of Carl and his team, who, despite the fierce criticism some incomformist players have been launching against them. Both for me and for many others, the EC was a splendid tournament which cannot be darkened, since there was no relevant reason to do so. Good luck and thanks!. ZSOLT: This looked like I had a deck full of intercept and bouncing, but that wasn't the case. As you can see from my decklist. I should've been able to kill most of the bleeders, but luck was such, that I drew only the reaction cards from my deck. Well, anyway, I'm pleased with the finals, and with my score. Thanks. TOMAS: I think if I´ve had chosen another prey, I could have won the game, but I chose Dave instead. |
Player's decks
Deck Name: Untitled
Created By: Tomas Vick
Description: I think it is correct, but in this deck there are
only 78 cards and I think that I had 89 at Vienna. I can't
remember exact contents anymore (maybe quantities of some cards
were different?). I am only 100 percent sure about
Deflections, Perfect Clarities, Giant's Blood
and crypt.
Crypt: (12 cards, Min: 20, Max: 28, Avg: 6,00)
----------------------------------------------
2 Didi Meyers aus cel DOM obf 5, Malkavian
1 Badr al-Budur cel dom OBF qui 5, Assamite
1 Count Ormonde dom OBF pre ser 5, Followers of Set
1 Zebulon aus dom OBF pro 5, Malkavian
3 Mariel aus DOM OBF tha 7, Malkavian
2 Gilbert Duane AUS DOM OBF 7, Malkavian, Prince
2 Reverend Blackwood DOM obf THA 6, Tremere Antitribu, Bishop
Library: (78 cards)
-------------------
Master (15 cards)
4 Dreams of the Sphinx
1 Giant's Blood
5 Information Highway
5 Sudden Reversal
Action (14 cards)
14 Govern the Unaligned
Action Modifier (45 cards)
6 Command of the Beast
8 Conditioning
4 Faceless Night
6 Foreshadowing Destruction
10 Lost in Crowds
1 Mask of a Thousand Faces
3 Perfect Clarity
2 Seduction
5 Spying Mission
Reaction (4 cards)
4 Deflection
Deck Name: War Ghouls
Created By: José Vicente Coll
Crypt: (12 cards, Min: 9, Max: 30, Avg: 4,92)
---------------------------------------------
1 The Rose aus PRE VIC 5, Tzimisce
1 Devin Bisley ANI AUS vic 5, Tzimisce
3 Little Tailor of Prague ANI AUS dem VIC 8, Tzimisce
2 Caliban ANI AUS VIC 6, Tzimisce
1 Wendy Wade ani aus 3, Tzimisce
1 Lolita Houston aus VIC 4, Tzimisce
3 Horatio vic 2, Tzimisce
Library: (77 cards)
-------------------
Master (16 cards)
1 Archon Investigation
4 Blood Doll
2 Charisma
1 Creepshow Casino
1 Direct Intervention
5 Jake Washington (Hunter)
1 Library Hunting Ground
1 Powerbase: Montreal
Action Modifier (7 cards)
7 Changeling
Reaction (18 cards)
2 Eagle's Sight
2 Enhanced Senses
5 Forced Awakening
3 Spirit's Touch
6 Telepathic Misdirection
Combat (13 cards)
6 Fake Out
7 Trap
Ally (12 cards)
2 Vagabond Mystic
10 War Ghoul
Retainer (6 cards)
1 Jackie Therman
1 Mr. Winthrop
3 Revenant
1 Tasha Morgan
Combo (5 cards)
5 Plasmic Form
Deck Name: Malkavian Bleed and Stealth
Created By: Dave Bastijns
Crypt: (17 cards, Min: 10, Max: 28, Avg: 5,18)
----------------------------------------------
1 Samson dom 2, Ventrue Antitribu
1 Mustafa Rahman dom 2, Tremere
1 Ohanna dom 2, Malkavian
1 Laurent de Valois ani dom obf 4, Nosferatu
1 Roland Bishop aus dom obf 4, Malkavian
1 Badr al-Budur cel dom OBF qui 5, Assamite
2 Didi Meyers aus cel DOM obf 5, Malkavian
1 Zebulon aus dom OBF pro 5, Malkavian
2 Reverend Blackwood DOM obf THA 6, Tremere Antitribu, Bishop
3 Gilbert Duane AUS DOM OBF 7, Malkavian, Prince
3 Mariel aus DOM OBF tha 7, Malkavian
Library: (90 cards)
-------------------
Master (18 cards)
1 Archon Investigation
2 Asylum Hunting Ground
3 Blood Doll
2 Direct Intervention
5 Dreams of the Sphinx
1 Pentex Subversion
2 Secure Haven
2 Sudden Reversal
Action (13 cards)
1 Dominate Kine
1 Far Mastery
11 Govern the Unaligned
Action Modifier (40 cards)
6 Bonding
4 Cloak the Gathering
3 Command of the Beast
8 Conditioning
2 Elder Impersonation
5 Faceless Night
3 Foreshadowing Destruction
4 Lost in Crowds
3 Mask of a Thousand Faces
2 Spying Mission
Reaction (17 cards)
8 Deflection
3 Delaying Tactics
6 Wake with Evening's Freshness
Ally (1 cards)
1 Muddled Vampire Hunter
Equipment (1 cards)
1 Monocle of Clarity
Deck Name: Malkavian Derange
Created By: Walter Paolini
Crypt: (12 cards, Min: 13, Max: 26, Avg: 4,75)
----------------------------------------------
1 Watenda obf 3, Malkavian
1 Yorik dem obf 3, Malkavian Antitribu
1 Zoe AUS cel obf 3, Malkavian
1 Adelaide Davis aus dem obf 4, Malkavian
1 Claven aus dem obf 4, Malkavian Antitribu
1 Idalia AUS dem 4, Malkavian Antitribu
2 Dolphin Black AUS DEM OBF 6, Malkavian Antitribu
1 Persia aus DEM obf 5, Malkavian
2 Korah ani AUS DEM OBF 7, Malkavian Antitribu, Priscus
1 Uncle George aus DEM dom obf 5, Malkavian antitribu
Library: (90 cards)
-------------------
Master (16 cards)
1 Anarch Troublemaker
1 Asylum Hunting Ground
6 Blood Doll
4 Dreams of the Sphinx
1 Fragment of the Book of Nod
1 Giant's Blood
1 Institution Hunting Ground
1 Purchase Pact
Action (21 cards)
3 Call, The
7 Derange
7 Kindred Spirits
3 Madman's Quill
1 Restructure
Action Modifier (28 cards)
4 Cloak the Gathering
7 Confusion
6 Eyes of Chaos
4 Faceless Night
2 Forgotten Labyrinth
5 Lost in Crowds
Reaction (17 cards)
3 Delaying Tactics
2 My Enemy's Enemy
5 Telepathic Misdirection
7 Wake with Evening's Freshness
Combat (1 cards)
1 Coma
Ally (1 cards)
1 Muddled Vampire Hunter
Equipment (1 cards)
1 Enchanted Marionette
Combo (5 cards)
5 Swallowed by the Night
Deck Name: Grab'em, Kill'em
Created By: Zsolt Tóth
Crypt: (12 cards, Min: 20, Max: 33, Avg: 6,75)
----------------------------------------------
2 Vincent Day aus dom for pot tha 5, Ventrue Antitribu
2 Marianna aus DOM nec POT THA 8, Giovanni
1 Anvil dom CEL POT pre tha 6, Brujah, Primogen
2 Sabine Lafitte aus dom pot tha 5, Tremere
2 Astrid Thomas aus DOM pot THA 7, Tremere, Primogen
1 Ian Forestal AUS DOM THA 8, Tremere Antitribu
1 Ambrogino Giovanni aus DOM NEC POT THA 9, Giovanni, 1 vote
1 Rebekka AUS pot PRE THA 8, Tremere
Library: (90 cards)
-------------------
Master (15 cards)
1 Anarch Troublemaker
1 Archon Investigation
3 Auspex
3 Blood Doll
1 Dreams of the Sphinx
2 Haven Uncovered
2 Minion Tap
1 Sudden Reversal
1 Thaumaturgy
Action (5 cards)
3 Govern the Unaligned
2 Graverobbing
Action Modifier (4 cards)
3 Conditioning
1 Seduction
Reaction (27 cards)
4 Deflection
5 Enhanced Senses
3 Forced Awakening
2 My Enemy's Enemy
2 Precognition
3 Spirit's Touch
2 Telepathic Counter
3 Telepathic Misdirection
3 Wake with Evening's Freshness
Combat (39 cards)
5 Apportation
7 Blood Fury
5 Disarm
1 Fake Out
7 Immortal Grapple
2 Soul Burn
7 Taste of Vitae
5 Torn Signpost