Vampire: Elder Kindred Network Newsletter July 2026

 

Greetings fellow Methuselahs,

Welcome to this newsletter, and welcome to the reveal of the names of the two upcoming 54-card expansion sets: "Noites Brasileiras" and "Secrets of New York". Below you can see the pack fronts and two card previews, with art by the great Krzysztof Bieniawski and Uncle Frank, respectively.

Note also the set symbols. For Noites Brasileiras it is a stylised jaguar paw mixed with the map of Brazil, and for Shadows of New York the torch from the Statue of Liberty.

Both will hit the store shelves in October. Spoiler season will follow, so keep an eye on Black Chantry's social media channels and site. Exciting times!

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Reminder: Register for EC 2026 before August 31!

If you are going to the European Championship in Vilnius in September, PLEASE register before August 31. It helps the organisation a lot! Register at vtes.lt/

Also, pick your t-shirt and "swagbag" before August 10 at vtes.lt/swagbag-choices/

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Bram Van Stappen wins Grand Prix Helsinki 2026!

This tournament took place with 48 Methuselahs at the Ropecon game convention in Helsinki, Finland, on July 25.

Read the full report: Grand Prix Helsinki 2026

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Jeroen van Oort is the 2026 champion of Belgium!

25 players turned up at Spelfanaat in Mechelen for this event on July 19.

Read the full report: Belgium National Championship 2026

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Nick Miller wins Grand Prix Brisbane 2026!

This event took place on July 18 with 17 players.

Read the full report: Grand Prix Brisbane 2026

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Walbert Ibarra wins GP2 2026 in Chile!

14 participants braved the winter cold to get to the Tablecat store in Rancagua and battle this one out.

Read the full report: GP2 2026

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Tournament Rules update August 2026 preview

The section below will be added to the upcoming new version of the VEKN Tournament Rules for Vampire: The Eternal Struggle, effective when it is published on VEKN.net.

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3.2.a Expectations for Sufficient Randomisation

Players are responsible for ensuring that their decks are sufficiently randomised before presenting them to their predator or tournament official for additional shuffling or cutting. 

A deck is considered sufficiently randomised when no player can reasonably predict the position or distribution of any card or group of cards.

• Accepted Shuffling Methods: Randomisation must be achieved through genuine shuffling techniques, such as riffle shuffling, sleeve mash shuffling, or other methods that interleave cards in an unpredictable manner. Simple cuts, overhand shuffles, or similar techniques are generally insufficient on their own.

 Definitions of Shuffling Methods

• Riffle Shuffle: The deck is divided into two approximately equal halves, which are then interleaved by releasing small groups of cards from each half in an unpredictable manner. This is one of the most effective methods of randomisation.
• Sleeve Mash Shuffle: A variation of the riffle shuffle commonly used with sleeved cards. The deck is split into two halves, and the corners or edges of the sleeves are gently pushed together so that the cards interleave without bending them. When performed correctly, it provides randomisation comparable to a riffle shuffle.
• Overhand Shuffle: Small packets of cards are repeatedly transferred from one hand to the other. By itself, this method provides only limited randomisation and should not be relied on as the sole means of shuffling a deck.
• Cut: The deck is divided into two or more sections, which are then reassembled in a different order. A cut changes only the position of groups of cards and does not randomise the deck.

Unacceptable Sole Shuffling Methods

• Pile Shuffling: Cards are dealt one at a time into a fixed number of piles before the piles are reassembled. This method is useful for counting the deck but does not produce meaningful randomisation on its own and must always be followed by genuine randomised shuffling.
• Card Weaving: Intentionally arranging cards into a pattern before shuffling (for example, distributing reaction cards every few cards, alternating library card types, or spacing out multiple copies of the same card) is permitted only if subsequent randomised shuffling completely destroys that pattern. 

In any case, if the original arrangement can still influence the final card distribution, the deck has not been sufficiently randomised.

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Commentary by Henrik Klippström:

Rule reminder: Randomise your deck

We hereby start an article series in which we highlight a rule to remember each time. Maybe this first one is common sense for most of you, but not for all: Your deck needs to be sufficiently randomised. That means no player should know the order of the cards in any deck.

First, the VTES rulebook says this in the Game Setup section: “Shuffle both decks and allow your predator to cut both.”

That's simple – if only everyone could agree on what "shuffle" actually means.

The relevant section in the Tournament Rules is “3.2. Pre-Game Procedure”:

“The following steps must be performed in order before each game begins.
- Players shuffle their decks.
- Players present their decks to their predators for additional shuffling and cutting, if desired.
- Each player draws seven cards from his or her library and four cards from his or her crypt.

All shuffling must be done so that the faces of the cards cannot be seen. Regardless of the method used to shuffle, players' decks must be sufficiently randomised. Each time players shuffle their decks (before the game or during the game), they must present their decks to their predator for additional shuffling and/or cutting. At the judge's discretion, players may request to have a judge shuffle their cards rather than pass that duty to their predators. By presenting their decks to their predators, players state that their decks are sufficiently randomised.

After decks are presented and accepted, players who do not consider their opponents' decks to be sufficiently randomised must notify a judge. The head judge has final authority regarding whether a deck has been sufficiently randomised.

Once predators have the opportunity to shuffle and/or cut players' decks, the cards are returned to their original owners. If the predator has shuffled the player's deck, that player may make one final cut.”

The problem here is also the definition. What is “sufficiently randomised”? This is what the new section "3.2.a Expectations for Sufficient Randomisation" describes. 

Many players use pile shuffling – this is when you place cards into different piles one by one. Pile shuffling is NOT randomisation. Sure, you can do pile shuffling to spread out cards and card types, but that means you are in control, so pile shuffling requires other, non-reversible randomisation afterwards.

There are two common ways of shuffling that randomise a deck: riffle shuffling and mash shuffling. Riffle shuffling is hard with sleeved cards, and you risk bending the cards alarmingly. It also tends to show card fronts – in VTES players are not allowed to show or see cards, as the rules section above states: "All shuffling must be done so that the faces of the cards cannot be seen." That means that neither your opponents nor yourself should see the card fronts during the shuffling.

So mash shuffling is recommended. But how much shuffling needs to be done? An old rule of thumb is seven mashes – that’s not a rule, but a recommendation, and something many players seem to be content with as “sufficient”.

This video by MTG player Brian Fediuk is good: it shows proper mash shuffling and explains why other ways are bad. 

If you don’t sufficiently randomise your deck at a tournament, and this is brought to the attention of a judge, you will receive a warning or be penalised with a disqualification if the judge determines you cheated. This is not something anyone wants to happen, so start shuffling properly!

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New Archon app for tournament management

https://archon.vekn.net 

After an extensive development and testing period, the new Archon is now officially live and ready for all VTES tournaments. This major update brings a modern, faster, and more reliable tournament management platform, with numerous new features for players, princes, national coordinators, judges, and organizers alike.

What's new in Archon

Big new capabilities

• Works offline: run a whole event with no internet; syncs when you reconnect.
• Live multi-device: organizers and players all see updates in real time.
• Event features: several rounds in parallel, an open rounds mode, a live table timer, and a Call a Judge button.
• Discord bot: set up channels, register, check in, report scores, and call a judge from Discord.
• Community hub: resource links shared by players, curated by NCs — plus an officials directory for each country.
• Linked accounts on Discord: distinguish VEKN members, and get the Playtest/Prince/NC roles in Discord automatically.
• Promo inventory management: National Coordinators and princes can track, manage, and distribute promotional cards directly through Archon.
• 5 languages (EN, FR, ES, PT-BR, IT) and an installable phone app. Mobile-first layout.

More new features

• Hall of Fame, country filters in the player rankings page.
• Includes the new Standings Adjustment penalty.
• Decklists shown right in the app.
• Smarter seating: staggered odd counts (6, 7, 11…) and named table rooms.
• Raffle / prize draws.
• Payment tracking per player.
• Excel import from the classic Archon Excel files.
• Calendar feeds (iCal) for upcoming tournaments: geo-filtered and customizable.
• Sign in with a passkey, magic link (email), or Discord.
• Shareable results image to post after an event.
• Special flag to mark members as deceased.
• Suspended members are now removed from the rankings and Hall of Fame.

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New Judges’ Guide

Along with the new Archon comes a new Judges' Guide that is far more precise, covers cases that used to be left entirely to judge discretion, and better separates "human error" from "bad faith," with fairer mechanisms to avoid ruining entire games over minor mistakes.

Here's a summary of the most important improvements in the modern guide (2026) compared to the 2004 version:

1. New intermediate penalty: "Standings Adjustment"
Replaces the old "Game Loss." Instead of causing the loss of the entire game, it applies a surgical -1 VP, without distorting the dynamics of the multiplayer table. It includes detailed rules on how it affects Game Wins and Tournament Points depending on when it's applied.

2. More gradual penalty escalation
Before: Caution → Warning → Game Loss → DQ (4 steps).
Now: Warning → Warning → Standings Adjustment → Standings Adjustment → DQ, giving more room before reaching disqualification.

3. Full new section on "assessing intent" (1.2.7)
Recognizes that VTES is a political game where suboptimal or sacrificial plays can be legitimate. It gives clear principles for not confusing a bad play with cheating (stalling vs. slow play, collusion vs. political cooperation, etc.).

4. Much more detailed game-state correction procedures
The old version gave only three generic examples. The new one formally distinguishes between full rollback, simple rollback, and partial correction, with precise rules on when to use each and how to handle hidden/random information.

5. Much stricter handling of in-game disqualifications
New extensive section on what happens to the game state after a DQ: adjusting table positions, prohibiting awarding VP as if an "oust" had occurred, restarting the table in extreme cases, etc.

6. Regulated time extensions (1.2.4)
Detailed system with scales based on the duration of the judge's intervention (previously discretionary and vague).

7. Entirely new infractions, including:

• Outside Assistance (external coaching)
• Failure to Maintain Game State (not reporting a visible opponent's error)
• Obscuring Game State (messy table setup that hinders reading public information)
• Public Information Miscommunication
• Rage-Quitting
• Failure to Play to Win (with a clear hierarchy: win the table > maximize VP > survive for 0.5 VP)
• Health & Safety Disruption
• Theft of Tournament Material
• Bribery and Wagering (now explicitly includes betting)

8. Much more nuanced unsportsmanlike conduct
Moves from 3 generic levels (Minor/Major/Severe) to specific categories: Minor, Major (with an extensive list covering harassment, discrimination, non-consensual photos, etc.), Aggressive Behaviour (physical violence), with concrete protocols such as what to do if someone flips the table.

9. The "Proxy Player" role
New formal mechanism for when a judge must fill a vacant seat, with rules on neutrality, random deck selection, and not accumulating points.

10. "Force Majeure" section
Entirely new: protocols for fires, power outages, weather emergencies, or hostile venue staff, including how to score the tournament if it must be terminated mid-event.

11. Reporting to the VEKN Ethics Committee
Formalizes the obligation to report certain serious infractions (fraud, collusion, cheating, harassment) to a specific disciplinary committee, which didn't exist in 2004. 

You find the new guide here: VEKN Tournament Conduct & Infraction Guide, and also in the new Archon.

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Introducing: The VEKN Newsletter Contribution Award promo card

To encourage newsletter contributors to send in material on time, a special award card has been produced. This first one is a version of Malkavian Rider Clause, unique with a yellow symbol in the right side corner.

This card will be printed in very limited numbers; maybe about 50-100 per year. It will be awarded to a) tournament organisers of events at Continental, National or Grand Prix level who e-mail their tournament reports to the editor within 7 days of the event, and b) other contributors of material that is beforehand agreed with the editor. So no point in sending in random stuff! Cards will be awarded at the earliest convenient opportunity, maybe at a Continental tournament, otherwise sent to you by registered mail.

We hope this will help motivate volunteers that are already doing heroic deeds for VTES!

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Reminder: Please join the World of Darkness Community Map!

Please advertise your VTES playgroup and/or VTES events on the World of Darkness Community Map! This is important to help the game grow. But list only things that happen in public places where anyone is welcome - nothing played at someone's home, and no online events.

Check out the map here: World of Darkness Community Map

Submit here: Map submission form

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Black Chantry Summary: July 2026

• Brujah antitribu Legacy Single cards are now available on both Gamepod.es and Drivethrucards.com - check out the announcement at Blackchantry.com!

• 11 new full art 2026-2027 league promos are up on both Gamepod and Drivethrucards, available to VEKN National Coordinators.

• As mentioned at the top of this newsletter, the two Brazil- and New York-themed 54-card sets now have set symbols and names: "Noites Brasileiras" and "Secrets of New York". Final proofing is done and printing is scheduled for September. The release date is sometime in October. Product pages at Blackchantry.com will be up soon up and spoilers will follow! 

• The first round of playtesting of two preconstructed decks for a 2-player variant of VTES ends on August 9. If you are a playtester, please give your feedback! 

• Of course, the Black Chantry design team is very aware of the Vampire: The Masquerade "V6" edition open playtest. But remember that this is a test, and we do not yet know which of the proposed changes will stick for the actual new edition. It will be a while until things are clear enough to base any future VTES design on.

• A draft of the "Anthology II" reprint set is circulating internally at Black Chantry. We'll see how big this set will be: it may have to be split into more than one product.

• Design of New Blood packs for the four Sabbat paths continues.

• Want to know more about future releases? Dates are a bit off, but the product roadmap article at Blackchantry.com is still relevant.

• The following Black Chantry products are currently 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)
New Blood: Hecata (Also Spanish, French)
New Blood: Lasombra (Also Spanish, French)
Path of Caine (Also Spanish, French)
Path of Cathari (Also Spanish, French)
Path of Death and the Soul (Also Spanish, French)
Path of Power and the Inner Voice (Also Spanish, French)
New Blood: Ravnos (Also Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese)
New Blood: Salubri (Also Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese)
New Blood: Tzimisce (Also Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese)
Noites Brasileiras (Also Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese) (Upcoming)
Shadows of New York (Also Spanish, French) (Upcoming)

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

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Recent news in the World of Darkness

An open playtest of a new edition of Vampire: The Masquerade was launched at Gen Con! Get the playtest material at Demiplane or Drivethrugames. Read more at the World of Darkness site. Some of the proposed changes have surprised many (removal of the Protean discipline, no mention of Hecata, the return of the Giovanni clan, the new disciplines Corruption and Tellurgy, etc.). Naturally, the Black Chantry design team is in touch with the VTM developers and follows what happens closely. Keep in mind that a playtest is just that – a test – and there's no telling yet which of the proposed changes will make it into the finished edition. It will take some time before the picture is clear enough to build any future VTES design around it.

Related: White Wolf's VTM Dev Diary #1 is available in both text and video form.

Looking for more World of Darkness in your channel of choice? Check out the Linktree!

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Calendar

Major events coming up:
August 1: National Championship Russia, St Petersburg
August 8: Grand Prix Biloxi/Gulfport, USA
August 29: National Championship UK, Nottingham
September 5: Grand Prix Sydney, Australia
September 18: Grand Prix Vilnius 2026, Lithuania
September 19: European Championship 2026, Vilnius, Lithuania
October Date TBD: Grand Prix New Orleans, USA
November 28: National Championship Germany, Herne
December 13: Grand Prix Cearense, Brazil

Tournaments for the coming month (registered at the time of writing) are in:
Australia
Brazil x9
Denmark
Finland x3
Italy
Mexico
Online x4
Poland
Portugal
Russia
Slovakia
South Africa
Spain x3
Sweden
UK
USA x3

For details about these events, see the VEKN Event Calendar. Also, check out the World of Darkness Community Map.

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 the contact forms at VEKN.net. Also follow the official VTES Facebook page Vampire: The Eternal Struggle, the official VEKN X account @VEKN_VTES and the official VTES Discord server.

Everything is a conspiracy if you don't know how anything works.