Kindred of the East

Hey,

It's me, back from the abyss. I hadn't logged into VEKN forums for a while and didn't notice the continued interest in this set. (Thanks to those who sent me private messages about it, also - there were quite a few stacked up!)

One question I've been asked a few times is what the Heretical Dharmas looked like. While Mike and I never did any card art for those guys, I did do some work to revise them to the 50/50 old/new discipline mix after absorbing the feedback from this forum. An example of the path I was going down is as follows;

Godlings:

Indra-gha, God of Rain and Tears
[Godling, 5]
[ prayer-eating]
Independent. Kuei-Jin. During the Determine Range step on the first round of a combat, Indra-gha may burn 1 blood to inflict 1 damage to the opposing minion and that minion’s retainers. Sterile.

Harasekhara
[Godling, 4]
[cultivation prayer-eating]
Independent. Kuei-Jin. Harasekhara has +1 bleed when bleeding a Methuselah who controls a ready Rising Phoenix. Sterile.

Kabir
[Godling, 4]
[CULTIVATION prayer-eating]
Independent. Kuei-Jin. Kabir has +1 stealth on actions that require Prayer-Eating [pra]. Sterile.

The Nameless One
[Godling, 7]
[CULTIVATION PRAYER-EATING]
Independent. Kuei-Jin. During a bleed action targeting you, you may tap the Nameless One and discard a random card from your hand to reduce the bleed by 3. +1 bleed. Sterile.

Shiva-Ohm
[Godling, 9]
[ PRAYER-EATING ]
Independent. Kuei-Jin. Red List. Godlings have +1 bleed. If Shiva-Ohm is ready, you may tap him and X mortal allies to give an acting Godling +X bleed for the remainder of the current action. Sterile.

Anointment

[Godling]
+1 stealth action.
Move up to 4 Chi from this acting Godling to a Godling in your uncontrolled region.

Book of Sevenfold Gathering

[Godling] [1 pool]
Unique Tome.
The Godling with the Book has +1 bleed, and may move 2 blood from the blood bank to a younger Kuei-Jin in your uncontrolled region as a +1 stealth action.

Divine Majesty

[Godling]
Strike: combat ends. If the opposing minion was an ally, this Godling untaps.

Loyal Congregation

[Godling] [1 pool]
Mortal with 3 life. 2 strength, 0 bleed.
Loyal Congregation cannot act, and may only block actions directed at a Godling. Tap Loyal Congregation during your master phase to move 2 blood from your pool to a ready Godling.

Willing Sacrifice

[Godling]
Mortal retainer with 2 life.
If this Godling has less than 2 blood during your untap phase, you may move all life from the Willing Sacrifice to this Godling.

As for Prayer-Eating (signature discipline of the Godlings);

Devour the Prayer

Only usable during a hunt action. Do not replace until the end of the action.
[pra]: If this action is successful, move 1 life from an ally that you control to this vampire.
[PRA]: tap an ally that you control to steal 1 pool from another Methuselah.

Fulfillment

+1 stealth action. Do not replace until the end of the current minion phase.
[pra]: Untap an ally and this Kuei-Jin, or add 3 life to an ally.
[PRA]: as above, and this Kuei-Jin has +1 bleed for the remainder of the current minion phase.

Prayer Appraisal

+1 stealth action.
[pra]: tap X allies to gain X blood from the blood bank, or burn X blood to untap X allies.
[PRA]: Take control of an ally or retainer.

Unbreakable Bond

[pra]: Only usable when an action is announced that targets a retainer or ally that you control. That action fails.
[PRA]: As above, and this Kuei-Jin gains 2 blood.

Worship

+2 stealth hunt action.
[pra]: Hunt. If this action is successful, you may tap an ally that you control to untap this Kuei-Jin.
[PRA]: as above, and move up to 2 blood from this Kuei-Jin to your pool.

I'll post up some stuff for some other Dharmas in coming days...

cheers

Disco Stu

Prayer Appraisal seems it might be very powerful (its "untap X allies" part), possibly worth building a deck around. Maybe move that ability to advanced PRA?

And do post some more Kuei-Jin cards/art, if you feel like it

Somebody pick up the phone and hire this man. He has provided well thought out ideas, carefully constructed,and delivered in a clear, articulate manner with tangible examples. Well done Sir, I like it a lot. Pitty the imbued expansion wasn't as well thought out imo.

Oops, got a little distracted by the Australian Continental Champs and forgot to come back and post some more

The Tempests of Inward Focus are a heretical sect who are split between prosletyizing mercenaries and pacifist priests. Their clan disciplines include Celerity, Mytherceria, as well as the new disciplines of Equilibrium and Inward Way. Equilibrium is a relatively common Kuei-Jin discipline, and is often possessed by the heretical Rising Phoenixes and the Centipedes of the Quincunx. Inward Way, by contrast, is effectively unique to the Tempests.

Tempest effects play up their differences - they're heretical after all, with unnatural and almost alien beliefs compared to the Kuei-Jin establishment (including their profound distaste for the spirit world). Tempests steer clear of extremes, and punish those who commit too completely to a particular strategy.

Annie Li
[TEM, 5]
[ inward way ]
Independent. Kuei-Jin. When Annie is ready, you have +1 hand size. Sterile.

Big Daddy Wa
[TEM, 4]
[EQUILBRIUM inward way]
Independent. Kuei-Jin. Big Daddy has -1 stealth on mandatory actions. Sterile.

Chuang-Tzu, the Sage
[TEM, 9]
[ INWARD WAY ]
Independent. Kuei-Jin. Chuang-Tzu’s hand strikes inflict aggravated damage against allies. +1 bleed. Sterile.

Lu Shin Lo
[TEM, 9]
[CULTIVATION INWARD WAY equilibrium ]
Independent. Kuei-Jin. If Lu Shin Lo successfully equips with a weapon, untap him. +2 hand size. Sterile.

Wilhelm Tjilatjap
[TEM, 4]
[EQUILIBRIUM inward way ]
Independent. Kuei-Jin. Wilhelm cannot block actions. Sterile.

Element of Surprise

[Tempest] [2 blood]
This Tempest has +1 stealth and +1 intercept for the remainder of the current minion phase, even if that stealth or intercept is not needed.  

Extremis Sin

[Tempest] [X blood]
Only usable by a Tempest who has successfully blocked an action, before combat occurs.
Choose a card in the controlling Methuselah’s ash heap. Remove X copies of that card in the ash heap from the game, then gain X+1 blood.

Illusion-Shattering Strike

[Tempest]
Strike: 2R damage, and put this card on the opposing minion. The minion with this card cannot play cards that require Chimerstry, Dementation or Thaumaturgy. If the minion with this card is a changeling, demon or wraith, burn that minion.
Any minion may burn Illusion-Shattering Strike as a action.

Kabalyeru

[Tempest]
+1 stealth action. Unique.
Put this card on the acting Tempest. If this Tempest successfully performs an action to enter combat with another minion, they have +1 strength and an optional maneuver in the resulting combat. Burn Kabalyeru if this Tempest leaves the ready region.

Moderation

[Tempest]
+1 stealth action.
Gain 2 pool, and choose a card in your ash heap. Search your library, hand and ash heap for copies of that card and remove them from the game. If more than 2 cards were removed from the game in this manner, this acting Kuei-Jin gains 2 blood from the blood bank.

Introspection

+1 stealth action.
[inw]: Put this card on the acting vampire. Actions directed at this vampire cost an additional pool. Burn this card if this vampire enters combat.
[INW]: as above, and untap this vampire.

Rest upon the Blade

[inw] : prevent one damage.
[INW] : Put this card on the acting vampire. This Kuei-Jin may play reaction cards as if untapped. Their capacity is increased by 2 for the purposes of action modifiers played by other minions. During your untap phase, this vampire burns 1 blood or burn this card.

Scales of Need

[inw]: Only usable when a minion attempts to block this acting vampire. Discard a card from your hand and gain 1 blood.
[INW]: +2 bleed. You cannot play any further action modifiers to increase this bleed amount.

Scarlet Typhoon Kata

Grapple. Only usable at close range.
[inw]: Strike: strength damage, with an additional strike. The opposing minion cannot play additional strikes this round of combat.
[INW]: Only usable at the end of a round of combat when both combatants are still ready. Burn 1 blood to begin another combat with the opposing minion.

Turning Inward

+1 stealth action. Unique.
[inw]: Put this card on the acting vampire. You have +1 hand size and this vampire has –1 intercept. Burn this card during your next master phase.
[INW]: as above, and gain an additional master phase action when you burn Turning Inward.

cheers

Disco Stu

Onto the Rising Phoenixes. These guys hide among the kine, and continue their mortal lives as best as possible. They tend to be lower capacity than many clans. Their disciplines include Cultivation, Equilibrium, Chimerstry and Obtenebration. Chimerstry is a stand-in for Mibasham in the Kindred of the East canon, while Obtenebration is a substitute for a little-known discipline known as Smoke Shintai. Their preference for a mortal way of living means that Disciplines and bleed mods are generally downplayed, in favour of stealth and overall resilience.

Harjinder Wickramasinghe
[Phoenix, 4]
[cultivation prayer-eating]
Independent. Kuei-Jin. Harjinder has -1 bleed when bleeding a Methuselah who controls a ready Independent vampire. Sterile.

Jiwan Shan
[Phoenix, 4]
[cultivation internalize]
Independent. Kuei-Jin. Once per combat, Jiwan may strike: dodge. Sterile.

Kataragama
[Phoenix, 8]
[ cultivation ]
Independent. Kuei-Jin. Red List. If Kataragama is in torpor, any mortal ally may move him to your ready region as a +1 stealth action. +1 stealth. Sterile.

Ki Yuen
[Phoenix, 4]
[ cultivation]
Independent. Kuei-Jin. Ki Yuen cannot block allies. Sterile.

The Beggar King
[Phoenix, 3]
[ ]
Independent. Kuei-Jin. You may tap The Beggar King during an action to give an ally you control +1 intercept. Sterile.

So, onto some Cultivation cards;

Communion

[cul]: +1 stealth. Any Methuselah may burn 2 Frenzy cards from their hand to cancel this card as it is played.
[CUL]: as above, but for +2 stealth.

Dual Soul

[cul]: Inflict 2 damage on an untapped ally or younger vampire, and tap that minion.
[CUL]: As above, and if the targeted minion is a werewolf or Kuei-Jin, this action is at +1 stealth and inflicts 1 additional damage.

Lash the Demon

Frenzy. Only usable before range is determined.
[cul]: The opposing minion has -1 strength for the remainder of combat.
[CUL]: as above, and for the remainder of the current combat the opposing minion cannot maneuver to close range or press to continue combat.

Scrutinize

[cul]: : Put Scrutinize on the acting Kuei-Jin. The Kuei-Jin with this card has +1 intercept. During your untap phase, this Kuei-Jin may burn 1 blood to add a Scrutiny counter to a minion. When a minion with a Scrutiny counter is in combat, their controller plays with an open hand.
[CUL]: as above, and this Kuei-Jin may attempt to block minions with a Scrutiny counter (ignoring normal blocking restrictions).

And, some new cards for existing Disciplines;

Conundrum

[2 blood]
Requires a ready Kuei-Jin. Only usable when an ally or younger vampire is bleeding you, after blocks are declined.
Tap this reacting Kuei-Jin to choose a Methuselah, except for the acting minion’s controller. The bleed is now targeting that Methuselah.
as above, and the acting minion has +1 bleed.

Scattered Thoughts

Requires a ready Kuei-Jin. Only usable during a bleed action.
The acting minion has –1 stealth. If the acting minion is not controlled by your predator, they also have –1 bleed.
Burn 1 pool and tap this Kuei-Jin to cancel the action and untap the acting minion.

Smoke Without Fire

Requires a Kuei-Jin.
Choose a minion. That minion has –1 intercept for the remainder of the current action.
as above, and remove a card in your ash heap that requires Obtenebration from the game to gain +1 stealth.

Words of Smoke

Requires a ready Kuei-Jin.
Only usable during a referendum. Gain 2 votes.
+2 stealth, only usable on a political action. If this action is successful and a referendum occurs, you may burn a blood to gain 2 votes.

Lastly, some Phoenix-specific effects;
Kites

[Phoenix]
Only usable during a hunt or recruit action.
This Rising Phoenix untaps and attempts to block the acting minion with +1 intercept (even if the intercept is not yet needed).

Mists of the Lotus

[Phoenix] [1 blood]
+1 stealth action.
Put this card on a minion, and/or move a Mists of the Lotus from your ash heap to your library (shuffle afterward). The minion with this card has -1 intercept when attempting to block a Rising Phoenix.

Walk Among the Living

[Phoenix] [2 blood]
Only usable as an action is announced.
+1 stealth, even if the stealth is not yet needed. Vampires, wraiths and zombies must burn 1 blood or life to attempt to block this action.

cheers

Disco Stu