Card Idea - Ghouled Dog

CryWolf wrote:

Re-reading the card text, what do you mean by:

Minions opposing the Gangrel Antitribu with this retainer must burn 1 blood to maneuver to long range.

A. Opposing minion burns blood, then plays a maneuver (e.g. Flash)
B. Opposing minion burns a blood TO maneuver
Looking forward to your inputs on this matter.

@CryWolf: It basically adds "Burn 1 blood to" to the text of any card played/used by the opposing vampire that provides a maneuver. So if the opponent played Flash it is as if the card read " Press, or burn 1 blood to maneuver Burn 1 blood to maneuver and gain a press", ditto for the rest of them. If you were going to use IR Goggles (or Saturday Night Special) it would again require a "Burn 1 blood to" on the card.
It would be hard to stack too many of them, partly due to cost (and aren't known for their high bloat mechanics) but also because they don't multiact.

@Pullen: 1) It comes with +1 stealth. 2) It punishes others for running, rather than making you run better.

@Ohlmann: Yeah I can probably edit that in.

@Alek: Yes, but now you can run this using a lot more and and worry less about having to run two combat disciplines. It also makes a number of the common combat defences (i.e. Guns) less effective since they will lose blood to run to long, are likely to take an aggravated strike at close AND you will have a press to continue the combat and if they don't have a second maneuver, take an aggravated strike.

I'd be tempted to make it damage, rather than burn blood, so that Taste of Vitae might be a little more usable. But since damage is obviously a little more powerful than burn blood, I might reverse the operation slightly. So maybe something like:

Like Alek, I'm a little unconvinced by the press. I mean, it's usable and it's not harmful but it seems a bit unconvincing.

As I recall, physical disciplines (Cel, Pot, For) can all be passed on to the ghoul - Potence being the most common. At which point... could we perhaps go for something like:

to make it good I would do this like this:
Opposing minion takes two damage during strike resolution if the range is close.
Minion can have only one Ghouled Dog.
Like this you will make it better/ comparable to murder of crows (which requires animalism so it's easier to meet requirements) and it fits theme nicely (attacking in dark alleys, good synergy with cel/obf which gives a lot of maneuvers in case opponent tries to get to long range

alek wrote:

Opposing minion takes two damage during strike resolution if the range is close.
Minion can have only one Ghouled Dog.

Elephant Guardian is similar - 1 blood, 3 life, only works when not acting.

Admitely, I would better see a variant of the stray dog - like for one/two pool a 1-force, 2-life ally that tap for +1 intercept to an animal or !gangrel, and burn a life to restart a combat between a !gangrel and someone.

More defense for gangrel, and a on-table psyche! to make sur it is useful.

I don't see needing card that only helps combat which costs an action and especially pool. I feel those cards needs the least + there's already Shadow of the Beast. Best combat with I have seen is with sticks or guns (or both) with lots of psyches, pursuits, tastes and some melds/mists + couple claws.

There should be some pool damage card with or with power level of Loss.

I would add some defensive ability for that retainer and lose the press. Something like:

Ghouled Dog
Retainer
1 blood
Requires
Animal 2 life.
You may tap this retainer before range is determined to make minions opposing vampire with this retainer to pay 1 extra blood or life to use maneuver, dodge or strike: combat ends. You may tap this retainer and burn one life from this retainer to inflict one damage to minion after succesful d-action against you. Minion may have only one Ghouled Dog.

Dodge or maneuver part can be removed if too strong. Also tapping could require to discard celerity card or something. Also that inflict damage part should be only one Dog can use it per d-action. Also Animal is better to make it combo some animalism cards.