Vampire: Elder Kindred Network Newsletter January 2025

Preview art by Raquel Cornejo for Hel-Blár, an upcoming crypt card.

Greetings fellow Methuselahs,

Another year of Vampire: The Eternal Struggle has begun, full of tournaments, new cards and VEKN camaraderie!

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TAMÁS GLIED IS THE 2025 CHAMPION OF HUNGARY

65 players (!) turned up in Budapest on January 26 for this event.

Read the full report: Hungary National Championship 2025

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LUCAS TEIXEIRA WINS GRAND PRIX CEARENSE!

Read the full report: Grand Prix Cearense 2024

 

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REMINDER: THE 30-DAY NEW CARD LEGALITY LIMIT FOR TOURNAMENTS IS NO MORE

Some words (again) from Vincent Ripoll, VEKN Rules Director:

Dear Methuselahs. In the past few years, the card distribution model has changed a lot. We release more new products each year, and updated cards are available as print-on-demand. As official release dates are harder to track (even for us), we have decided, with the support of the National Coordinators to remove the 30-day rule between the release date and the moment you can play the card in a tournament. This means as soon as you grab a new card, you can play it. Bear in mind that card changes on reprints are also immediately effective. So be sure to check vekn.net/card-lists for the official card list and vekn.net/card-rulings/470-bcp-card-changes for the list of changes.

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ALL DATES FOR 2025 GULF COAST ROAST GRAND PRIX NAILED!

Dallas: March 22
Lafayette: May 24
Gulfport: August 23
New Orleans: October 4
Vidor: December 6
FINALS (Vidor): December 7

Point system: Winner 25 points, Finalists 15 points, 6th 10 points, 7th 9 points, 8th 8 points, 9th 7 points, 10th 6 points, all other participants: 3 points.

More information will appear on the official Gulf Coast Roast Facebook page and other places!

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RULES Q & A: HECATA EDITION

VEKN Rules Director Vincent Ripoll clarifies some stuff:

Q: Screamer says "You can burn this ally to give a minion controlled by your predator or prey -1 stealth.". When can I burn it? How long does it last?
A: Stealth and intercept can only be added when there is an ongoing block attempt, and substracted before action resolution. You cannot burn the Screamer during combat for instance. Note that you can substract intercept from any minion, but that you can only substract stealth from the acting minion (and you can do it even though stealth or intercept is not needed). The stealth modification lasts until the end of the action. See also the "Stealth and Intercept" chapter in the rulebook.

Q: Shroud of Decay reads at superior "(D) Remove 7 cards in your prey's ash heap from the game to burn 3 of their pool." Can I play it if my prey has less than 7 cards in their ash heap?
A: No. "to" means that you must pay the cost ("Remove 7 cards in your prey's ash heap from the game") in order to apply the effect ("burn 3 of their pool"). If the cost cannot be paid, the card cannot be played.

Q: What if cards are removed from the ash heap during the action, and there are less than 7 cards when the card resolves?
A: The cost must be paid as much as possible (that is, remove all the cards left in the ash heap), then the action fizzles (it is successful, but has no effect).

Q: Spectral Servitor reads at superior "During your unlock phase, you can burn 1 pool instead of burning this ally.". Can I keep doing it each turn?
A: Yes.

Q: Gate of Acheron has 5 counters on it. Do I resolve each choice (burn 1 pool or remove a card) one after the other?
A: No. You must announce how you are going to resolve the effect (for instance, burn 2 pool and remove 3 cards), then resolve it.

Q: How do I choose random cards in my ash heap?
A: You can set aside any non-library cards in your ash heap, then shuffle the library cards and draw randomly cards from it if they are indistinguishable from each other. You can also roll dice to pick up random cards.

Do you have VTES rules questions? The easiest way to find answers, except for checking the rulebook, is probably to ask at the VEKN forum, at the VEKN Facebook page, at the VTES subreddit, or in the VTES Discord.

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BLACK CHANTRY SUMMARY: JANUARY 2025

• The previews for the Hecata preconstructed deck are over. All cards can be seen at the product page. The official release date is February 28, and please note that date is the official legality date for tournaments too (see above in this newsletter).

• Information Highway is the 2025 national championship promo card, with new cool art by Ginés Quiñonero. It will first be awarded at the Portual national championship on March 15, and then on all such events.

• Previews of the Lasombra and Hecata New Blood packs will start soon. These packs offer new options for deck construction for these clans, as well as broaden the number of different discipline cards for Oblivion, the new discipline that both clans use.

• The third round of playtest of the 2025 Sabbat cards has begun! It ends on March 30, so please, if you are a playtester, have a look and try to arrange some test games!

• Do you want to know more about upcoming VTES releases? For the general plan, read the roadmap article.

 

• Currently these Black Chantry products are available through Gamepod, Drivethrucards.com and other stores:
Lost Kindred bundle (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
Keepers of Tradition Reprint Bundle 1 (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
Keepers of Tradition Reprint Bundle 2 (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
Heirs of the Blood Reprint Bundle 1 (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
Heirs of the Blood Reprint Bundle 2 (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
Den of Fiends Preconstructed Deck (Also Spanish, French) (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
Libertine Ball Preconstructed Deck (Also Spanish, French) (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
Pact with Nephandi Preconstructed Deck (Also Spanish, French) (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
Parliament of Shadows Preconstructed Deck (Also Spanish, French) (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
Anthology I bundle
VTES Card Creator (Drivethrucards only)
25th Anniversary
First Blood: Malkavian (Also Spanish, French) (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
First Blood: Nosferatu (Also Spanish, French) (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
First Blood: Toreador (Also Spanish, French) (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
First Blood: Tremere (Also Spanish, French) (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
First Blood: Ventrue (Also Spanish, French) (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
VTES Legacy Card Singles (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
Promo Pack 1 (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
Promo Pack 2 (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
Promo Pack 3 (For promotion only)
Promo Pack 4 (For promotion only)
VTES "Parity Shift" playmat
VTES card sleeves
Vampire: The Eternal Struggle Fifth Edition (Stores only)
Vampire: The Eternal Struggle Fifth Edition Latin (Drivethrucards only)
Fifth Edition: Malkavian (Also Spanish, French, Latin)
Fifth Edition: Nosferatu (Also Spanish, French, Latin)
Fifth Edition: Toreador (Also Spanish, French, Latin)
Fifth Edition: Tremere (Also Spanish, French, Latin)
Fifth Edition: Ventrue (Also Spanish, French, Latin)
Promo Pack 3 (Event promos only)
Fifth Edition: Banu Haqim (Also Spanish, French, Latin)
Fifth Edition: Brujah (Also Spanish, French, Latin)
Fifth Edition: Gangrel (Also Spanish, French, Latin)
Fifth Edition: The Ministry (Also Spanish, French, Latin)
New Blood: Malkavian (Also Spanish, French, Latin)
New Blood: Nosferatu (Also Spanish, French, Latin)
New Blood: Toreador (Also Spanish, French, Latin)
New Blood: Tremere (Also Spanish, French, Latin)
New Blood: Ventrue (Also Spanish, French, Latin)
The Fall of London (Also Spanish, French, Latin)
Echoes of Gehenna
Shadows of Berlin (Also Spanish, French)
New Blood: Banu Haqim (Also Spanish, French)
New Blood: Brujah (Also Spanish, French)
New Blood: Gangrel (Also Spanish, French)
New Blood: The Ministry (Also Spanish, French)
Fifth Edition: Ravnos (Also Spanish, French)
Fifth Edition: Salubri (Also Spanish, French)
Fifth Edition: Tzimisce (Also Spanish, French)
30th Anniversary (Also Spanish, French)
Fifth Edition: Lasombra (Also Spanish, French)
Fifth Edition: Hecata (Also Spanish, French) UPCOMING!

Do you have opinions or questions for Black Chantry? Start a topic on the VEKN forum, or contact the company by e-mail, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

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In-game video from the intro scene

RECENT NEWS IN THE WORLD OF DARKNESS

Two Dev Diary entries for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 were posted this month:

• In Dev Diary #24, "Legend of the Nomad," we learn more about Phyre, also known as the Nomad, the player character of the game. Phyre awakens in Seattle after a long torpor, struggling to uncover what has happened during their absence and why their powers have weakened. Throughout the game, they encounters characters who have heard various rumors about their past, influencing interactions and shaping the narrative. Player choices determine how much of the Nomad’s history is revealed, affecting relationships and the overall story. The game explores deep themes of history and identity, focusing on how an ancient being copes with their extensive past and its lingering consequences.

• In Dev Diary #25, more details are revealed about advanced combat and weapons in the game. For example, each clan has unique techniques for close-quarters combat. There is a plethora of powers that enhance combat versatility, and players can combine abilities creatively to execute powerful combos. Multiple difficulty settings cater to different playstyles, ranging from narrative-focused experiences to intense, skill-based challenges.

Subscribe to the World of Darkness News show for more news!

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CALENDAR

Upcoming tournaments for the coming month (registered so far) are in:
Belgium
Brazil x22
Chile
Finland
Greece
Hungary x2
Italy x2
Lithuania
Mexico
Philippines
Poland x2
Portugal
Serbia
Slovenia
South Africa x2
Spain x11
UK
USA x7

For details about these events, see the VEKN Event Calendar.

Remember: Online tournaments are possible - just check the box "Online tournament" when you add the event to the calendar!

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CONTACT VEKN

You can contact the VEKN Inner Circle members using contact forms at VEKN.net. Also follow the official VTES Facebook page Vampire: The Eternal Struggle, the official VEKN X (Twitter) account @VEKN_VTES and the official VTES Discord server.

It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.

Tamás Glied is the 2025 champion of Hungary

This tournament was played in Budapest on January 26 with 65 players from 6 countries. Reported by Máté Vaka, VEKN National Coordinator of Hungary, with comment by the champion:

Standings after three preliminary rounds:
1. Márk Virsinger 2 GW 10,5 VP
2. Tamás Glied 2 GW 8,5 VP
3. Balázs Sebestyén 2 GW 8,5 VP
4. Gyula Erdős 2 GW 8 VP
5. Goran Damjanic 1 GW 7 VP

Report by the winner: "Vampires were revealed, and I felt like a goner. I was second seed, so had some wiggle room where to sit. With four combat decks on the table my best shot was with Goran (Warghoul) as my prey, since his combat is weakest against Strike: Combat Ends, and Warghouls costing a pretty penny, probably the easiest for me to oust. I was also happy with Gyula (Banu Haqim) as my predator, as he is probably our best player, and I assumed he didn't want to turn the whole table against himself by killing me too quickly.

I was 3rd, and didn´t draw any ramp in my opening hand, but had a Monastery of Shadows so on my second turn I found Information Highway that lead to a 2nd turn Anson. Márk (Montano) had a opening Zillah's Valley, so I was somewhat happy with my decision to let one retainer arrive in front of me, as I had 2 Second Traditions in my hand, but blocked only Anarch Convert, and my gamble somewhat paid off, as Warghouls first 3-4 attacks was forward.

Mufti (Shalmath) had a slow start, took 6 bleed from Montano before anything happened. My next 2 vampires out was Alexandra and Leandro. I was doing the usual Villein, Ashur and Liquidation that the deck does, as for actions I rescued my vampires that Banu Haqim deemed unworthy.

My game had 2 big problems (besides the fact that there were four combat decks at the table 😅), one being the fact that my deck usually deal in pool for favors, unfortunatly pools were not much under pressure with combat boys, and the second one is that Gyula's first prince was Oluwafunmilayo, who's with the extra intercept plus Second Tradition was hurting a lot. Turning point of the game came in about an hour, as in one turn my dear Alexandra was torporized and eaten by the collective efforts of Banus and Warghouls, and Montano's good friend Nahir learned the hard way that True Brujahs not only deal you 2 aggravated damage before range, but they can Decapitate you too. From that point on, Shalmath was ready to go forward, picked up Enkil Cog and Eye of Hazimel which torporized some Banus.

My game was about laying low, and letting the combat decks go for each others throat. I was able to assemble Monastery of Shadows, Creepshow Casino and Camarilla Conclave so as far as stealth I was good for one sure vote per turn, but needed either my Anneke up to have the vote lock, or my Perfect Paragons. All of my 6 Perfect Paragons were on the bottom 1/3 of my deck, and having zero shot at getting the Edge my game was about false actions, I had like 3 votes in a row that didn't pass, trying to cycle.

By the time Anneke arrived, Gyula was able to transfer out Kasim Bayar, vote lock was not mine once more, so back to waiting for the Perfect Paragons. Goran was at 6 with a Failsafe in play, so i needed to oust him in one turn. Thankfully he was in a position needing to do something as time was slowly running out on us, so he had another Warghoul come into play.

As per usual if a card is missing for a long time, they arrive in numbers, and I drew like 3 Perfect Paragons in 5 cards. I had Anarchist Uprising on 4 stealth plus the Perfect Paragon for vote, and no Delaying Tactics meant oust. By the time I was able to oust, there was only 5 or so minutes left. Mufti was able to oust Gyula, but I was higher seed and at 18 pool he and Márk offered me the hand.

I got incredibly lucky how the table turned out, and laying low with Inner Circles was a hard task, but the combat decks turned on each other in just the right time for me. Huge grats to the four other finalists, it was a pleasure playing with you guys. Shout out to the Kecskemét community who helped me with testing the deck, Martin Weinmayer for general advice, Zsolt Gonda for staying with me during the finals, Alex Krizsán and Ferenc Kósa for their incredible support, and Máté Vaka for organizing the nationals. In general thanks for everyone who showed up, it's incredible that we had a 65 people national championship and it was a very fun and challenging tourney. Really happy to be Hungarian national champion. Hope to see as many of you in other tournaments throughout the year 🥰🥰"

Final result: Balázs 1.5 VP, Tamás 1.5 VP, Márk 0.5 VP = Tamás won by higher seeding, congratulations!

The tournament winning deck: “Vége van kicsi - it's over little one” by Tamás Glied

Crypt (12)
1x Alexandra 11 ANI AUS CEL PRE dom inner circle Toreador:2
1x Arika 11 DOM FOR OBF PRE aus cel inner circle Ventrue:2
1x Leandro 11 AUS OBF PRE cel dom inner circle Malkavian:2
1x Anneke 10 AUS CEL PRE dom justicar Toreador:1
1x Democritus 10 DOM PRE aus cel for justicar Ventrue:1
1x Don Cruez, The Idealist 10 CEL POT PRE ani dom pro justicar Brujah:1
1x Queen Anne 10 DOM FOR PRE aus obf prince Ventrue:2
4x Anson 8 CEL PRE aus dom prince Toreador:1
1x Emerson Bridges 8 DOM FOR PRE pot prince Ventrue:1

Library (90)
Master (45; 5 trifle)
9x Ashur Tablets
2x Camarilla Conclave
1x Creepshow Casino
2x Direct Intervention
1x Elysium: The Palace of Versailles
1x Giant's Blood
3x Information Highway
4x Liquidation
3x Minion Tap
2x Monastery of Shadows
1x Papillon
1x Parthenon, The
3x Protected Resources
5x Villein
7x Zillah's Valley

Political Action (18)
1x Anarchist Uprising
1x Ancient Influence
4x Banishment
3x Camarilla's Iron Fist
7x Parity Shift
1x Political Stranglehold
1x Reins of Power

Action Modifier (10)
6x Perfect Paragon
4x Voter Captivation

Reaction (11)
4x Redirection
7x Second Tradition: Domain

Combat (6)
6x Majesty

Thanks to all players, organisers and sponsors!