TWD German ECQ 2017: Grapple in the Art Museum, Vol. 4

German ECQ 2017: Grapple in the Art Museum, Vol. 4
Bad Nauheim, June 17th
3 rounds + finals
10 players
www.vekn.net/event-calendar/event/8656

Deck Name: German ECQ 2017 (1st place): Matasuntha's unbound heart
Author: Rudolf Garski

0.5 VP / 1.5 VP / 1.5 VP // 3 VP + GW

This deck is a modified version of the one I played at the Grand-Prix in Budapest 2016 (www.secretlibrary.info/index.ph ... w&id=22512).
It is very hard to force a GW (or sometimes even a VP) with it.
Wait for your chance, keep people guessing what your deck is able to do (and what not).
Heart of Nizchetus will help you waiting, Enkil Cog will increase your chances.

Crypt (13 cards; Capacity min=1 max=10 avg=5.69)
================================================
3x Anarch Convert 1 Caitiff:ANY
1x Andre LeRoux 3 aus Toreador:5
1x Dr. Morrow, The Skindoctor 5 for AUS VIC Tzimisce:5
5x Matasuntha 10 ANI AUS CEL FOR PRO Gangrel:5
1x Monique Kim 3 aus cel !Toreador:4
1x Neighbor John 5 dom for AUS !Ventrue:4
1x Solomon Batanea 5 nec AUS FOR Harbinger of Skulls:4

Library (90 cards)
==================
Master (16)
1x Anarch Revolt
2x Blood Doll
2x Dreams of the Sphinx
2x Guardian Angel
2x Pentex(TM) Subversion
1x Powerbase: Los Angeles
1x Powerbase: Montreal
1x Rack, The
1x Smiling Jack, The Anarch
2x Villein
1x Wider View

Event (1)
1x Dragonbound

Action (6)
2x Constant Revolution
2x Deep Song
2x Nose of the Hound

Equipment (6)
1x .44 Magnum
1x Bowl of Convergence
2x Heart of Nizchetus
1x Ivory Bow
1x Kevlar Vest

Ally (1)
1x Carlton Van Wyk (Hunter)

Retainer (1)
1x Mr. Winthrop

Action Modifier (14)
1x Enkil Cog
5x Forced March
3x Instantaneous Transformation
5x Red Question, The

Reaction (29)
3x Eagle's Sight
2x Eluding the Arms of Morpheus
7x Eyes of Argus
7x Guardian Vigil
2x My Enemy's Enemy
3x On the Qui Vive
5x Telepathic Misdirection

Combat (16)
2x Aura Reading
1x Canine Horde
8x Diversion
2x Hidden Strength
1x Skin of Steel
2x Taste of Vitae

Created with Secret Library v0.9.4e. (Jun 18, 2017 14:12:42)

Lovely.

How does it play? Survive 'till 3-way and grind the GW?

If you don't have Constant Revolution, it could probably be changed to Smiling Jack?

I rarely get the urge to netdeck just for trying something out, but this is really interesting.

BTW, you guys are more than welcome to attend Ropecon for the Finnish ECQ!

2017.ropecon.fi

Kraus wrote:

How does it play? Survive 'till 3-way and grind the GW?

More or less, yes, but you will have to work on it already in the 4 players' game.
With this deck, you have to play a game of waiting and building up, especially you wish to get some permanent intercept on Matasuntha.
Don't toy around with the rushes (or with your Eagle Sights), you have to be sure to hit (or to block) your target.
As already stated: Almost always you will not be able to force things to happen (at least not in the first hour of the game).

If you don't have Constant Revolution, it could probably be changed to Smiling Jack?

I tried to limit the master cards, but of course the sources of "gnawing" or "accumulative" pool damage can be changed in numbers.
Even an "Army of Rats" might be interesting.
Dragonbound should stay in the deck.

There are a lot of possible variations.
To name one: Add one Anarch Convert and remove one or two Red Questions (e. g. to create space for an additional source of permanent intercept or another Deep Song).

I rarely get the urge to netdeck just for trying something out, but this is really interesting.

Thanks! Let me know about your built and your experiences if you do so.

The final standings of the German ECQ 2017:

1 Rudolf G. 0 3,5 3 138 Matasuntha Anarch Block Combat

2 Ralf W. 1 3,5 1 114 Malkavian G12 Vote & Bleed
2 Joscha D. 1 3 1 114 Followers of Set G2 and Synesios Vote & Bleed
2 Ali A. 1 6,5 0 144 Dmitri Borodin & Friends Cel Gun Wall
2 Alexander T. 0 2,5 0 126 Tremere/!Tremere Toolbox

6 Martin S. 0 2 114 Tremere G45 feat. Claudio Severino Wall
7 Bram v. S. 0 2 114 Nana & Friends Potence Rush with Ashurs & Liquidations
8 Kai K. 0 1 84 Primogen G34 Toolbox feat. Weirich Waldburg
9 Maxim D. 0 0 66 Cock Robin Block Combat
10 Robert F. 0 0 66 Protean Royalty G34 Vote & Block

If there should be a qualification for EC 2018 Day 1, Ali A., Joscha D., Ralf W. and Rudolf G. plus Ralf L. as non-playing judge would be qualified.

*

We had a nice and cosy tournament in the splendid ›Sprudelhof‹ in Bad Nauheim.
We were 11 players but since Ralf L. chose to be Head Judge instead, we could play three true preliminary rounds as planned.

The judge was rewarded with a "Meddling of Semsith".
The players "drafted" (according to the tournament ranking after three rounds) from a card pool crafted mainly out of one Anthology Set and (a best-of from) two different starters.
This concept worked out quite well, since everybody found some cards of interest for himself.
(It was decided not to hand out any of the common promos since a decent lack of need or interest for them.)

All finalists received one Lords of the Nights booster.
And the winner could choose between three different signed prints with artwork from Carmen Cornet.

A summary of the finals (in fragments) from the winner's perspective:

Alexander (Tremere/!Tremere Toolbox) > me (Matasuntha Anarch Block Combat) > Ralf (Malkavian G12 Vote & Bleed) > Ali (Dmitri Borodin & Friends Cel Gun Wall) > Joscha (Followers of Set G2 and Synesios Vote & Bleed)

I had Matasuntha in the starting crypt, no Anarch Convert, but instead a "Red Question" in my hand, luckily.
Joscha started out rather quickly (Turn 1 Sarrasine adv., Turn 3 Synesios) and voted lots of pool damage on Alexander.
This led to Alexander being down on 5 pool with two minions (Paul Cordwood und Carna) by the end of his fourth turn.
Then already the key action of the finals: I could convince Alexander not to block Matasuntha equipping the Heart of Nizchetus, in return I offered some "protection" against Joscha (well, at least I had a Pentex Subversion in my hand).
Ralf put pressure on Ali with Seduction bleeds, who only had Dmitri Borodin (Anarch) ready. Due to a lack of bounce cards, he could never afford a second minion.
Joscha lost some of his ousting steam, and Alexander could stabilise his position one 9 pool with three minions (plus Selena).
Alas, three vampires with Dominate in my back!
I decided to invest only in a second minion (Solomon Batanea), collect wakes and bounce cards, and bleed for 1 for the Edge.
Ali's defence is overrun, and Joscha finds himself in an uncomfortable situation, since he cannot bounce and block only without intercept. He has to oust Alexander soon.
Since an "All against Ralf" arrangement in not possible, I have to reduce Alexander's Dominate threat and pentex Paul Cordwood, which of course plays into Joscha's hands.
Ralf (now the top seed player) is working on his second VP, but gets to greedy and runs into an Archon Investigation with one of his top bleeders (Gilbert Duane). Plus, two of his small vampires go to torpor (rushed by Matasuntha), and his pool decreases from "collateral" damage from Joscha's votes and Anarch Revolt.
Joscha ousts Alexander and removes his Anarch Revolt since Ralf is down on one pool, but has a new Gilbert Duane unlocked for bounce.
The Heart of Nizchetus offers me my own Anarch Revolt, which I take and play after some moments of thought.
I invest into André LeRoux and am on 11 pool (because Ralf is ousted), but don't feel comfortable, since Joscha has three stealth voters (Amisa joined his ranks) plus one Anarch Convert.
But there is no storm of votes or bleeds. I can build up step by step: Enkil Cog, Smiling Jack, finally Constant Revolution.
In the meantime André changes sides corrupted, and I feel dishearted for a moment.
Nevertheless I manage not only to stand my ground, but keep the Edge and protect Smiling Jack and Constant Revolution: Joscha build his deck without Elder Impersonation, and Eyes of Argus proves once again to be incredible against D-actions.
Finally, Sarrasine and the Anarch Convert go to torpor which seals Joscha's fate and my victory.

Ralf 1 VP, Joscha 1 VP, me 3 VP + GW

In the »Player's Guide« you can find under the topic ›Postures toward your prey‹ a good decription of what happened in the finals ... B)

If your prey is staying back and has chosen to Ignore her prey, then you've got some problems. Not only is your prey conserving and building her resources, but she's not chipping away at her prey either. Know then that it's going to take some extra work to oust your prey, and still more to oust your next prey. You need to either change the situation or get to work early.