Greetings fellow Methuselahs,
It´s newsletter time again, and again we have the pleasure to start it with another preview of Camille Défarge art from an upcoming VTES card. Cool, right?
THE 30TH YEAR OF VTES CONTINUES
Some words by Hugh Angseesing, VEKN chairman and CEO of Black Chantry Productions:
Hello! I wanted to write a little about what I have been doing recently as we move into the 30th year of Vampire: The Eternal Struggle.
In December I was lucky enough to visit Milan for the start of the GP season. It was great seeing Miro, Massimo and the rest of the team including some cos players acting as promo giver outers. It was also the first time that players received Sense the Savage Way with beautiful new artwork from Noora Hirvonen. I also got an excellent shot of me and a castle as well as enjoying much gelato.
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In January, I headed up for my birthday event (I considered it as such!) in Leeds where we had 16 players and I was able to demonstrate that cards from 2009 and before still do the job when needed.
In February I visited Vilnius for the Lithuanian nationals, this was my first time in Lithuania and I was very excited to meet some new players and do some sightseeing. The event was rather poignant as it was held in honour of Julius Stonis a Lithuanian player who died during covid, and coincided with the second year day of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It was good to see so many players gathered to celebrate a friend. Daniel and Nerijus who hosted the event treated us to an excellent lunch at a local Ukrainian restaurant. I spent a lot of time walking; the city is very walkable. I highly recommend a trip there.
In the middle of these exciting events I took delivery of all the new decks and reprints and with the team, arranged the next promo pack for the printers.
Thanks for that short report Hugh - hope this high energy of yours lasts the whole year, because it will be intense!
BARTOSZ KULINCZUK IS THE 2024 CHAMPION OF LITHUANIA
23 Methuselahas played this event in Vilnius on February 24th.
Read the full report: Lithuania National Championship 2024
VTES HAS A REVISED RULEBOOK!
A version 1.1 of the Fifth Edition rulebook is now available for download under "Utilities" at www.blackchantry.com. While no rules have actually changed, a number of clarifications have been made, as well as changes in the layout that we think will help players both old and new to more easily understand some of the trickier things in the game. Have a read through the full list of changes; maybe you find something that is new to you!
MORE GP DATES SET!
The European VTES Grand Prix tournaments of the 2023-2024 circuit are currently:
• December 9 Milan, Italy
• March 9 Lisbon, Portugal
• April 20 Paris, France
• May 19 Aarhus, Denmark
• July 20 Helsinki, Finland
... and then there will be a final of course, with the top five players, sometime during the European Championship weekend in Warsaw, Poland later this year. More information about that when we have it.
PLAYING LIKE IT´S 1994 - A ZARAGOZA SEALED DECK CHRONICLE
On February 2, a Jyhad sealed deck event was played in Zaragoza, Spain. Words by Ivan Castro.
There is something particular about yearning.
I remember very well when I started playing VTES (back when Bloodlines was the new thing and Camarilla just came out). I experienced the card frame transition without too much thought and I kept exploring the game with teenager intensity. Vampire was such a different game from others like MTG or L5R, and the social and psychological dimension of it struck me quite hard and made me delve into the game.
I got in touch with classic strategies and started to collect my favourite cards. After some time I saw the (not so old back in the day) Jyhad collection of a friend of mine and I was instantly hooked! You see, I have always gravitated towards handcrafted and distinctive things, I am quite particular about this and oh dear, how outstandingly gorey VTES was showing itself!
Would something like that pass the filter nowadays?
The art was so primitive, explicit and dark, the frame so cryptic, and so many cards had references to music that I was yet to discover and poetry that I had to read!
All of my friends were obsessed with power metal, but... What the hell was Clan of Xymox?
Ages have passed since, and for most of them I have been apart from the game for personal circumstances. Last November and after eight years without playing I attended the European Championship in Barcelona, where a friend of mine offered me the chance to participate in 2024 in a small tournament: a sealed Jyhad. I was left baffled and I said "yes, even if I have to raise from the dead". How lucky could I be? Something like this in other games would be a grand event, but for some obscure reason that I do not grasp Jyhad is totally overlooked by the majority of VTES players. I was so excited!
Have you ever seen something more tempting?
I prayed so much to open this; we would be playing with the texts as originally printed!
After the European championship I played other small events across the north of Spain, and the eagerness was in crescendo every time we spoke about the Jyhad sealed. "C'mon, we are adults, what's all that hype about?". I believe that now we savor every moment with gratitude, and perhaps we are old fogeys, but we enjoy the hobby in a different way. And a word about the community: I cannot describe with words how much the scene has changed since 2010. There is a sense of fraternity and glee that was totally absent back in the day, and every time we see each other is a small celebration.
What a lovely bunch!
So finally the 3rd of February came. The Second Succubus Club tournament was about to commence, held in a nice roleplaying club called “La Goblinera” (shout-out to those guys, very generous of them to having us!). Around the tables, sixteen Methuselahs from the city and some coming from the nearby Pamplona. We would open five boosters each player, and then pick from another three. Do you know the smell of old sealed cardboard? I had this feeling of guilt for opening all those old boosters, older than some of the participants! What would be inside? What would other players play? At my left sat my friend Iker who was showing a menacing grin: one Parity Shift! Was he mocking me? I opened my first booster in retaliation...
My luck was sealed at the first glance: I will show them pain!
Two preliminary rounds were played in the morning. I was able to experience firsthand the vast playability of a first edition card game, it is awe-inspiring. How Richard Garfield could have learned so many lessons from the feedback of a single year of M:tG releases only? Yes, if we judge the individual cards from a modern perspective there is no such thing as balance, but we have to think that Mr. Garfield intended the game to be interactive more than collectible, and although the internet existed, there was not such a thing as "I put together 15 Governs and 10 Conditionings because that is the winning list of X tournament". You played with what you had the luck to open, and that was it. We now see things like Ante as absurd mechanics, but there was an effort to create alternative atmospheres within the game:
There was no intent to create a competitive product. It was all about role-playing!
I would like to acknowledge too the fantastic direction of Sandra Everingham in the art department, and how her 80's inclinations permeated through and through the game, creating a consistent and immersive universe. Now we are accustomed to clean, almost (if not mostly) digital illustrations, but the resource was not there back in 1994. As a photographer I hold the opinion that it's the very limitations of our artistic processes what set free our imagination. And Jyhad had such an explosive expressiveness, there is no denying it.
A reference to a pulp fiction book? Such style!
There were so many anecdotes to share (like the insistence of players of drafting again and again Masika). I made a really bad assessment during the construction of my deck. I believed that between Basilia and a good bunch of Protean aggravated strikes I would have a fantastic run, but clearly the baseline of common cards is filled with manoeuvers and dodges, and in two tables I managed to somehow land only two strikes. I lost my chance to participate as a finalist!
A nice lunch all together after the second round!
The final looked like this: Luis Blasco » Jorge Cerdá » Iker Feliu » Raúl Perfecto » Nicolás (I don’t recall his surname. Sorry buddy!)
Again, four of the five finalists included Masika in their crypts, and they had to negotiate even before the first turn’s influence! After a few rounds, the table looked like this:
Luis -> Natasha Volfchek and Ignatius.
Jorge -> Masika and Dorian Strack.
Iker -> Don Cruez and Tatiana Romanov.
Raúl -> Andreas, Bard of Crete, Black Cat and Zebulon.
Nico -> Lucian and Lydia Van Cuelen.
Iker, in a display of political prowess, plays minion tap Don Cruez of eight and manages to negotiate with Nico some votes to steal the Hunting Ground just played by Jorge. He was not so satisfied when immediately Raúl decides to Arson the stolen Hunting Ground. The room started laughing our arses off.
Nico, in turn, manages to successfully play a Parity Shift against Luis, but in order to pass the action he has to give 3 pool to Raúl, under the threat of Andreas blocking with an Assault Rifle… Dreadful!
Luis is under a lot of pressure, five points of pool is not a joke, even more so when being preyed upon by Lucian, so he decides to glass-cannon his turn with a Natasha playing Govern + Conditioning. Bleed of seven, the exact amount of Jorge’s pool! First victory point! Terrible bleed, and Jorge left the table like a gentleman. Maybe a little bit pale, but who is to blame?
Iker and Nico start to play Kine Resources Contested against Raúl and Luis, and in reply Luis bleeds without mercy. As a last resort, Iker decides to contest Luis’s Ignatius. Perhaps one less action could stop the onslaught?!
And here comes the moment of the tournament: Raúl plays a Malkavian Dementia on Lucian, the only vampire Nico left to defend (equipped with a Submachine Gun). Black Cat picks up the weapon of the Malkavian Justicar and the rest of Raúl’s minions go all-in with bleed and Kine Resources. Another victory point, this one for Raúl!
Iker’s efforts were insufficient to stop Luis playing another Govern the Unaligned paired with a Seduction. Second victory point for Luis, what a terrible deck!
In the one-on-one, Luis found himself at a significant disadvantage as his vampires were practically drained of blood. Conversely, Raúl's were well-fed thanks to a Hunting Ground.
With his forces fully equipped and ready for execution, Raúl stood poised for victory! Congratulations, Raúl!
What an intense final. We left with many promises of trying again next year, if the circumstances allow and there is another chance to buy Jyhad sealed material. Now I can truly say that although I was not playing this game back in 1994, I am now part of it in the intended way. It is a different feeling than playing a well sharpened and measured deck: you get to play as an explorer of a game that was hidden right in front of your very eyes, with all its beauties and where all its faults were really part of the charm. Do yourself a favor: play sealed. Not even Jyhad, that is not really important. Draft some crappy decks with your friends and let the game speak for itself...
... And you’ll never say again that a card is bad!
Many thanks to David Villalva for hosting. You are my hero from now on. <3
Thanks to Iván for this very nice report, and we hope he returns with more stories from other events. Have you played something similar and want to share your thoughts? Please, contact the newletter editor at .
DO YOU WANT TO HOST EC 2025?
The application period is now open for the 2025 Vampire: The Eternal Struggle European Championship.
Interested organisers are encouraged to submit their proposals for consideration between today and August 31st to
The proposals should include the following information (fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.), in addition to any other information that the organisers deem relevant:
• Country:
• City:
• Approximate dates:
• Scheduled off season (Y/N):
• Organizer(s):
• Head judge:
VENUE
• All inclusive location (room, hotel, food, refreshments) (Y/N):
• Accommodations close to venue (Y/N):
• Snacks and meals on-site (or within 5 minutes) (Y/N):
• Distance to major hubs:
• Distance to major city:
• Non-smoking venue (Y/N):
• Air-conditioned venue (Y/N):
• Enough area suited for mass registration (Y/N):
• Free WiFi available (Y/N):
• Microphone/loudspeaker announcements (sound system) (Y/N):
• Video projection system (remaining time) (Y/N):
• Opening hours:
ROOM(S)
• Enough room for 200 players (Y/N):
• Separate rooms for side events (Y/N):
• Comfortable chairs (Y/N):
• Table cloths (Y/N):
• Round tables for 5 players (Y/N):
• Are toilets close to reduce game delays? (Y/N):
ORGANIZATION
• On-site registration on multiple computers (number of players/30) (Y/N):
• On time registration, breaks and events (Y/N):
• Using armbands to indicate registration type (Y/N):
• FAQ (handout at registration) (Y/N):
• Lunch breaks (Y/N):
• Two head organisers (side events/main tournament) (Y/N):
• Organizers and judges properly identified (Y/N):
• Assistants (non VTES players) (Y/N):
• Documentation/archiving person (traceability) (Y/N):
• Spouse info/events (Y/N):
• Seating print-outs on multiple spots (Y/N):
SCHEDULE
• Last Chance Qualifier:
• EC Day 1:
• EC Day 2:
• Side events:
COVERAGE
• Live webcam as weekend documentation (Y/N):
• Detailed final round(s) report (Y/N):
• Final round video recording/streaming (Y/N):
BLACK CHANTRY SUMMARY: FEBRUARY 2024
• As mentioned above, the revised edition of the Fifth Edition VTES rulebook is now available for download at www.blackchantry.com/utilities. For a list of all changes, check out the original announcement. The changes are all clarifications, no actual new rules.
• On February 15, Black Chantry top ghoul Hugh Angseesing was interviewed on the official World of Darkness News show. This is recommended viewing for all who want to know about current and future VTES products!
• Another reprint promo card was revealed, Mythic Form for the Spanish National Championship in April, and then later also for distribution to other tournaments on that level. VERY NICE brutal and terrifying new artwork by Black Chantry's own Ginés Quiñonero!
• The design team is still digesting the report of the second round of playtesting of the Hecata/Lasombra decks, the Hecata/Lasombra/Ravnos/Salubri/Tzimisce New Blood decks and the 30th Anniversary preconstructed deck. We´ll probably need another round of testing of at least one of these three sets.
• The two-player variant of VTES, that has already gone through one round of playtesting, is put on hold. It needs more work, and the sets mentioned above have priority for 2024.
Currently these Black Chantry products are available through Gamepod, Drivethrucards.com and other stores:
- Lost Kindred bundle
Keepers of Tradition Reprint Bundle 1
Keepers of Tradition Reprint Bundle 2
Heirs of the Blood Reprint Bundle 1
Heirs of the Blood Reprint Bundle 2
Den of Fiends Preconstructed Deck (Also Spanish, French)
Libertine Ball Preconstructed Deck (Also Spanish, French)
Pact with Nephandi Preconstructed Deck (Also Spanish, French)
Parliament of Shadows Preconstructed Deck (Also Spanish, French)
Anthology I bundle
VTES Card Creator (Drivethrucards only)
25th Anniversary
First Blood: Malkavian (Also Spanish, French)
First Blood: Nosferatu (Also Spanish, French)
First Blood: Toreador (Also Spanish, French)
First Blood: Tremere (Also Spanish, French)
First Blood: Ventrue (Also Spanish, French)
VTES Legacy Card Singles (Drivethrucards and Gamepod only)
Promo Pack 1 (Drivethrucards only)
Promo Pack 2 (Event promos 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)
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.
RECENT NEWS IN THE WORLD OF DARKNESS
Of course we think the World of Darkness News interview with Black Chantry mention above is the most interesting thing from the World of Darkness team over at Paradox this past month, but, of course, there are other things too:
• Dev Diary #9 for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is out, this time about clan Brujah, how they were re-invented in the current edition of the role-playing game and how that has been treated in the development of the upcoming computer game.
• The boardgame Vampire: The Masquerade - Chapters is back on Kickstarter with a Definite Edition, bigger, better and (optionally) more digital than before.
• At their virtual event Renegade Con, Renegade Game Studio revealed a lot of new stuff in their pipeline for all the World of Darkness games. We are especially hyped to hear about the Gehenna War sourcebook for Vampire: The Masquerade, preliminary out this August. If you are not up to date on what the Gehenna War is, investigate that and you will understand why we are so excited!
Subscribe to the World of Darkness News show for more news!
CALENDAR
Upcoming tournaments for the coming month (registered so far) are in:
Australia
Brazil x9
Finland
Italy x2
Online x2
Poland x2
Portugal x2
South Africa
Spain x9
Sweden
UK
USA x6
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!
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.
Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.