Greetings fellow Methuselahs
The summer is certainly no eternal struggle. Soon it´s over, and you can stop feeling ashamed for hiding from the sun in dark gambling dens, flipping cards and drinking blood. This month we have some great stuff to present: new community website from White Wolf, report from the V:EKN design team and interviews with two fantastic talents of V:TES. Enjoy!

WORLD OF DARKNESS.COM IS HERE
White Wolf has launched a beta version of the community site WorldofDarkness.com. Log in and advertise your playgroups presence, whether it is V:TES, LARP, RPG or otherwise – already over 200 groups all over the world have done so. The site will also contain RPG campaign tools, a bookstore and many other things.
   On this note, we cannot resist the urge to mention that World of Darkness creator and author of Vampire: The Masquerade First Edition Mark Rein•Hagen has returned to his creation. At GenCon is was announced that he is now a part of the Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition development team. Welcome back!

DESIGN TEAM NEWS
Design Team leader Ben Peal reports:
Round 3 of the Bloodlines playtest is underway! It will conclude at the end of September and it is the last round of playtesting. 75% of the artwork for the set is complete and the remainder is already in progress. We're expecting an October release, but we won't have a firm date until the artwork is complete and the set is reviewed by White Wolf.
   We're still very early in the discussion stage regarding what will come next after the Bloodlines set. However, with a new edition of Vampire: The Masquerade coming in 2018, having a Camarilla set to coincide with it seems like a good idea. We definitely want to fill the holes in Group 5 for Camarilla, explore more of the Camarilla themes and concepts, and find ways to make Primogen more useful. We would also like to revisit the Sabbat at some point as well as Bloodlines again to cover the clans we didn't touch upon in the current set. For the moment we'll stay focused on getting the Bloodlines set into the hands of the players, but we'll be keeping an eye on the developments for Vampire: The Masquerade.

ARTIST IN FOCUS: CARMEN CORNET
Among the very talented artists that have contributed for the V:EKN-created card sets is Carmen Cornet of Madrid, Spain. Her work is found on for example Xaviar Advanced, Legba and Guardian Vigil, and will also appear in the upcoming bloodlines set (see two previews above). We asked her some questions, and she was kind enough to answer:

What are your background as an artist? Are you educated or self-taught?
- I have learnt all I know about art by my own. As almost everyone on the job, I started drawing stuff when I was child. And from there, I really never stopped, trying to improve my understanding from comics, animation, and also from the internet. I think this is the best way to learn, and the internet is the most efficient teacher. There is a vast community of artists online willing to share their techniques and knowledge. One can find anything, from tutorials and digital resources to any kind of tips and pieces of advice. I have tried formal education in arts, but I think that was not for me.

Have we seen your work in other games, or at other places?
- So far, I have been mainly focused on my formation and improving my technique. However, since the last couple of years I have been involved in several minor projects, and some collaborations with independent studios.

What techniques do you prefer?
- I started hand-drawing with pencil and paper, but I must admit that almost all I do now is digital art, using mostly a computer and a digital tablet. You can say I have almost left traditional hand-drawing, but sometimes I cannot resist grabbing the pencil again.

How do you like working for V:EKN?
- I’m always excited to collaborate with the V:EKN and spend some free time on it, and since they’re very easy-going and flexible with deadlines, I find this as a hobby, fresh air. I really love the V:tM RPG, and when it comes to put faces to known vampires, I feel it as it as a privilege. As a V:TM fan, I enjoy drawing World of Darkness characters and devious dark stuff, it matches well my style. And I always spend big time gathering info and trying to stick to the official description, in addition to the briefing V:TES art director Ginés Quiñonero provides me. And I'm a fan of V:TES itself as well, I think it matches perfectly the original RPG spirit.

We preview two crypt illustrations of yours in this newsletter, a Harbinger of Skulls and a Salubri antitribu. How we´re your thoughts working with them?
- I don´t remember reading about them before, so I just followed the description the V:EKN gave me and improvised a bit, since there was no other information about them available. So they were almost fully made from imagination.
   This V:TES expansion has been very interesting. I found it kind of challenging drawing skulls, masks and rotten – but yet alive – stuff, so I enjoyed making both characters. However, when it comes to choose a favorite, I pick the Salubri truck driver. Saulot’s progeny has always been a very captivating clan. They are the good ones … or the worst of them all, depends on the reader. And he is a lone nomad Sabbat trucker with three eyes. It’s inevitable to find him cool!

What kind of motives do you prefer? What kind of assignments?
- Regarding V:TES, drawing crypt characters or library cards scenes is indifferent to me; I like both types of illustrations. However, I usually pick more crypt cards when a new set is coming since I tend to finish this kind of illustrations much earlier, it’s just a matter of time.

Check out Carmens portfolio at www.artstation.com/ccornet

PLAYER INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH: MARTIN WEINMAYER
In the June newsletter we could congratulate Martin Weinmayer to winning NAC 2017, and we promised to try to interview him. The V:EKN delivers!

Martin, you have played Stanislava decks for many years at tournaments, and won a lot with it. Why do you like it?
- When I started playing back in 1995, I almost immediately fell for Clan Tremere and started playing it as a wall deck. Another player from our league, Stefan Ferenci, was known for his vile bleed decks, and I “accepted the challenge”. We would usually go crazy against each other, and then further maximize the bleed and block abilities of our decks. Funnily enough, Stefan should later become European Champion with a block deck (2003).
   As the game and the players progressed throughout the years, with all the table talks and deals, it became more and more of a struggle to finish on time. Sometimes one would sit around for 2 hours doing nothing, and around 2009, I finally thought I should make a change.
   At that time, Erol Hammer won a lot with his Stanislava deck. I was impressed by his performance and started playing it myself. I like the deck because I can play it slowly like a wall deck, while still being able to do a lot of pool damage in one turn.

What is its strengths and weaknesses?
- I think it´s greatest strength lies in its versatility: Govern the Unaligned (bloat or bleed), Form of Mist (stealth, tap, s:ce), Earth Meld (tap, s:ce), Murmur of the False Will (bleed or bounce), Parity Shift (bloat and pool damage), Rapid Change (stealth or s:ce), Dreams of the Sphinx (card cycling or transfers), Jake Washington (rush block or blood gain), Forced March (stealth and untap) … Especially the combination of stealth/strike: combat end is it´s defining strength for me.
   Playing that deck, your worst nightmare are cards that deny or cancel Form of Mist at superior, like Immortal Grapple, Psyche, Rötschreck and Direct Intervention.

You won NAC 2017 with the deck "Stansilava goes for a bloody donat" (deck list here). Tell us about that tournament. How was the preliminary rounds for you?
- The first round was a smooth 1 gw 4 vp victory which allowed me to be more relaxed going on in the tournament.
   In the second round, I had two of the strongest players in the US at the table, namely Darby Keeney and Adam Hulse. Luckily for me, they sat as predator-prey, and with the table dynamics in my favor I was able to pull off another victory.
   The third round happened to be the perfect setup for the finals. I sat between two of the later finalists, both playing block decks. Despite them destroying me in this round, I got the chance to catch a glimpse of their decks and playstyle.

What was your thoughts when you sat down at the final table? Your strategy? Was there any particular threatening decks or players? How did the final play out?
- When I realized what kind of deck my predator was playing, my first thought was: “Oh shit!”. I wrote a report on Ralf “Extrala” Lammert´s V:TES blog. It is called “One Card to Change it all”.

Do you think you have a special “style” of playing? How would you describe it?
- My style is to exceed the other players expectations. If they guess I have two Wake-card in my hand, I will make sure I am holding four. And to pretend to be weak, while you are not. One of our greatest players, Hugh Angseesing, beat me on it in the EC finals 2013. With Otso Saariluoma and Vincent Ripoll at the table as well, it was the best final I ever played.

What decks do you currently like playing?
- I still enjoy playing and tweaking my Stanislava deck. For me, the fun and challenge comes with the players, not so much from the decks they are playing. That is the reason why I love participating in big international tournaments, when all the different styles and cultures clash together. I can´t wait for the next one – see you there!

CALENDAR
Upcoming events:
Sep 2 - Classificatório Sula JF-2017 - Juiz de Fora, Brazil
Sep 9 - Pulled Fang #6 - Jihlava, Czech Republic
Sep 9 - 2017 French National Team Championship - Nice, France
Sep 9 - Domain Magdeburg Player Meeting - Magdeburg, Germany
Sep 10 - 2017 French National Championship - Nice, France
Sep 10 - Sede de sangue - Campina Grande, Brazil
Sep 17 - Fortaleza Limited - BH - Fortaleza, Brazil
Sep 23 - Spanish National Tournament 2017 - Alicante, Spain
Sep 23 - Finnish Nationals 2017 - Espo, Finland
Sep 24 - Borboleta - Liga Nova Era - São Paulo, Brazil
Sep 24 - Liga Nova Era - White Nights Massacre - Macapá, Brazil
Sep 24 - Hunger Moon: Newark - Newark, United States
Sep 30 - The Final Night - Melbourne, Australia
Sep 30 - Crusade Toluca 2017 vol 2 - Toluca de Lerdo, Mexico
Oct 1 - Australasian Continental Championship 2017 - Melbourne, Australia

For more information on upcoming events see the V:EKN Event Calendar.

CONTACT V:EKN
You can contact the V:EKN Inner Circle members using contact forms at V:EKN.net. Also follow the official V:TES Facebook page Vampire: The Eternal Struggle and the official V:EKN Twitter account @VEKN_VTES

“I'm twelve. But I've been twelve for a long time.”

Greetings fellow Methuselahs
Terrible times for sun-fearing creatures, but interesting times for Vampire: The Eternal Struggle players and volunteers. While we still await any news of the future of physical products, we can present some exciting information about a big tournament and the next V:EKN printable expansion set, as well as a rules Q & A. Enjoy!

EC 2018 IS PLAYED IN WARSAW, POLAND
We are proud to announce that the European Championship once again will be played in Warsaw, Poland. The date is August 23-26 2018 and the venue will be Airport Plaza Hotel, the same as EC 2015. Exactly as EC 2017, Day 1 will be an open event - no qualification is needed. For more information, contact V:EKN chairman Ginés Quiñonero or main organizer Radoslaw "Szewski" Staszewski and watch out for an upcoming official announcement at V:EKN.net.

DESIGN TEAM NEWS
Design Team leader Ben Peal reports:
Mike and I are in the middle of reviewing the cards for the Bloodlines expansion in preparation for Round 3 of playtesting.  We expect to start the next round in early August.  We're also seeing the artwork and concept sketches for the cards coming in.  A bit more than half of the artwork for the set is either complete or in progress right now.  Additionally, we're working on the reward cards for the Berlin storyline.

Now we can also preview three pieces of art for this upcoming Bloodlines set:

RULES Q & A
Rules Director Vincent Ripoll answers a few questions that were recently asked on the VEKN.net forum, Facebook, or during tournaments:

Q: Can I burn a life from an Underbridge Stray during the turn it was recruited to get a press?
A: Yes. Allies that are recruited are "placed in your uncontrolled region, even though it is controlled, to indicate that it cannot act this turn." (rulebook). And the Stray card text doesn't prevent it from being used, even though it's not ready: "The Stray may burn 1 life to give a minion you control a press." The same is true for many allies, such as Vagabond Mystic, War Ghoul (to burn a location), Brigitte Gebauer etc., or some vampires in torpor that can still use their special abilities by default.

Q: Regarding aim, ammo and Projectile cards usage:
- I have heard that it is possible to declare strike with target vitals after opponent refuses prevention. True or false?
- Are ammo cards supposed to be used in the same window as aim cards? That is, after strike declaration during strike resolution.
- Is it possible to use an ammo card before declaring strike? For example, could I play scattershot before declaring strike and then, play projectile?
And lastly but not less important.
- If I have a magnum and I use its maneuver I have to use the magnum to strike. Can I use the maneuver and then strike with Projectile using the magnum?
A: First of all, always check what people tell you against what's written in the rulebook or on the cards :) Let's have a look to "aim" cards and ammo cards:
"Aim. Play when choosing a strike."
"Ammo. Only usable before resolution of a gun's strike."
This is clearly not the same window. Aim are played when you choose your strike, for instance "My strike is a hand strike, and I play Target Vitals", or "My strike is the gun strike I'm committed too (because I used the maneuver of the gun) and I add a Target Vitals to it". Ammo cards can be played after both strikes have been chosen (even though you could play them before your opponent has announced their strike), but before resolving the strikes. For instance "- I hit you for 1R with my gun. - Ok, I hit back for 1 with a hand strike. - Fine, since you didn't end combat, I play a Dragon Breath Round for +2R aggravated damage".

Ammo can't be played before you choose your strike because it requires a gun's strike to be resolved. And Aim can't be played once you've played an Ammo since Ammo are played after you choose your strike, not "when choosing a strike" (which is the Aim's window).

Now Projectile says "Strike: 1R damage or use a ranged weapon strike." Projectile a strike, so it's played when you choose your strike, and you can choose the ranged weapon strike you're committed too by a maneuver. So if we mix everything together, you can:
 - maneuver from the gun
 - play Projectile to strike by using that gun
 - play an Aim when announcing that strike
 - play an ammo card after your opponent has announced their strike

Q: For CrimethInc purposes, is the "enter combat action" granted by Open War actually requiring an anarch?
A: Open War states "Anarch vampires can enter combat with any minion as a (D) action." That action do require an anarch, and therefore you can play CrimethInc.

Q: When blood on vampire with Anathema and Priority Contract reduced to zero in combat, it's burned. In this case, can Priority Contract be burned too in order to gain 3 pool?
A: Yes, Priority Contract triggers when the vampire "would leave play", that is before it leaves play effectively.

Q: May a player remove a Nocturn from the game via Khobar Towers, Al-Khubar to gain pool before it burns? Both effects are dealt with in the unlock phase.
A: Yes. Since both effects occur during the unlock phase, you can order them as you want.

Q: I wonder why Anne-Marie Bourgeois, Inconnu Recruiter (only) reads: »Equipment costs Anne-Marie 1 less pool.« Usually special texts like these read »pool or blood«. Is it really intended that Anne-Marie's special does not work on equipment which costs blood?
A: Yes. Trust the card text!

Q: Somebody else plays a master card. Does the special text of Sascha Vykos, The Angel of Caine Advanced allow me to draw into a Sudden Reversal (or Wash) and use it against that master card?
A: No. Cards that cancel other cards "as they are played" must be already in hand when the card is played.

Q: When do I lock The Line to reduce the cost of the action card?
A: You can lock it when you announce the action (for instance, if your vampire couldn't pay for the card otherwise), or anytime during the action. This works the same way as Sunset Strip, Hollywood. If the action card is canceled as it is announced, The Line isn't locked (as it is reminded on the card).

CALENDAR
Upcoming events:
July 28 - Finnish ECQ 2017: Ropecon - Helsinki, Finland
July 29 - Ropecon 2017 draft - Helsinki, Finland
July 30 - Liga "NOVA ERA" Brasil AP - Hunger Moon - Macapá, Brazil
July 30 - Liga "NOVA ERA" Brasil AM - Conquer the Beast - Manaus, Brazil
July 30 - Spontaneous Power 2.0 - Palma de Mallorca, Spain
July 30 - WFT BRASIL 1ª CONTENDA-PB - Campina Grande, Brazil
August 5 - Powerbase: Berkeley - Yawp Court - Berkeley, United States
August 5 - QCF - Toulouse "Chez Blackwood" - Toulouse, France
August 5 - Powerbase: Berkeley - Unleash Hell's Fury - Berkeley, United States
August 5 - Demoafternoon Magdeburg - Magdeburg, Germany
August 6 - Dark Rift (Paraibano) - Campina Grande, Brazil
August 6 - PAZ - LIGA NOVA ERA BRASIL - São Paulo, Brazil
August 6 - Powerbase: Berkeley - Zephyr - Berkeley, United States
August 27 - Liga "NOVA ERA" Brasil AP - Fall of the Sabbat - Macapá, Brazil
August 27 - Resurrection Antonym - Auckland, New Zealand
August 27 - Dragonfire - Cape Town, South Africa

For more information on upcoming events see the V:EKN Event Calendar.

CONTACT V:EKN
You can contact the V:EKN Inner Circle members using contact forms at V:EKN.net. Also follow the official V:TES Facebook page Vampire: The Eternal Struggle and the official V:EKN Twitter account @VEKN_VTES


"Fictions, my friend. The vulgar fictions of a demented Irishman."