Finalist with champion in the middle.
This tournament was played in Vitrolles on May 30 with 24 players. Words below by Jean-Baptiste Becker, reported by Laurent Ribeyre, VEKN Prince of Vitrolles:
Early in the morning I met with my playgroup in Marseille for a quick coffee and we drove to Vitrolle. Coffee was much needed as I couldn’t sleep the night before, I never sleep before tournaments. I helped Kyle with his decklist in the car and explained him how everything works.
The tournament venue was great and there were a lot of promo cards ! Lots of familiar faces which is always great. It’s been a while since I played a tournament so I didn’t expect much.
First Game: Florian (Diana) > Patrick (Imbued) > me > Paul > Nathan Hernandez (Hecata Pulse)
This game didn’t go well for me. I got very close to kill Paul but I got stealth lock very early in the game while taking votes damage.
Result: Florian 2 VP , Patrick 1 GW 3, Paul, Nathan and me 0
After round one we go for a nice lunch together, chicken brochette, gratin dauphinois and tiramisu. My stomach is pleased. One more much needed coffee and on to the next round.
Second Game: Kyhan (Matasuntha) > Orian (Enkidu) > Tero (Nefertiti) > me > Frederic Pin (Garou)
I started this game with information highway so my crypt came out well. Frederic sent Apache Jones to torpor but I ousted him in the following turn and started to bleed Kyle. Tero did very good damage to my pool but was low aswell. Orian convinced me to back bleed and oust Tero before ousting Kyle. I wasn’t sure I could oust my second prey before my predator ousts me, so I agreed. Big mistake? As promised, I ousted Tero and found myself stuck in between Matasuntha and Enkidu, who killed me.
Result: Kyhan 0VP, Orian 1 GW4, Tero 0 VP, me 1 VP, Frédéric 0 VP
Third Game: Me > Thomas (!Gangrel path of caine)> Théo (Disease) > Danilo (Tremere Intercept) > Bertrand (Mata Hari)
Third times a charm. I play Bitter and Sweet Story and Information Higway early in the game and I draw most of my master cards in the following turns. I oust Thomas very fast and end up with 4 vampires and 10 cards in hand. In the following turn I play Last Stand and I was low on pool again, Danilo propose me to back bleed and oust Bertrand when I’m done with Théo. I agree, oust Théo, Proc last stand for an extra turn, I fail to oust Bertrand who deflects some of my bleed to Danilo. At his turn Bertrand then cast vote to try to oust me but Danilo saves my life countless time by intercepting his votes and sending his vampires to torpor. I oust Bertrand and then Danilo.
Result: me (1 GW 4), Thomas 0, Théo 0, Danilo 1 VP, Bertrand 0
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We took two hours break to watch the Champion’s League’s final, I took this opportunity to lay down and rest and in order to come back stronger. Still couldn’t sleep, I was too excited and scared.
The ranking before final was:
1. Orian Gissler (France) 2 GW, 8.5 VP
2. Jean-Erwan Gerard (France) 2 GW, 6.0 VP
3. Martin Weinmayer (Austria) 1 GW, 6.0 VP
4. Tero Aalto (Finland) 1 GW, 6.0 VP
5. Jean-Baptiste Becker (France) 1 GW, 5.0 VP
JB and Simone were separated by the Tables Points.
Final: Orian (Enkidu) > Tero (Nefertiti) > me > Martin (Gangrel Baron) > Jean-Erwan (Banu)
Orian opens with Information Highway which is a shame since it’s my starting hand. I decide to contest. My hand sucks, I have touch of clarity, kindred spirit, eyes of chaos and coma. I’m push bleed lock but I want to keep coma for Enkidu and Touch to cancel Tero’s govern. I try to bleed Martin but fail miserably as I don’t draw stealth but master cards and push bleed instead. JE back rush which is crazy, giving me the opportunity to oust him. I play dreams, draw to two cards. I finally find my stealth cards and oust Martin, Bitter and Sweet Story right after that which is perfect. JE bleeds Orian and loses a vampire in the process, he has only one left. I’ll oust him next turn for sure, so Orian decides to rush Apache Jones, I play coma and trade Enkidu for Apache. Tero diablerize Enkidu, Jean-Erwan, against all odds, votes to burn his vampire in the blood hunt. I then Pentex Jean-Erwan’s last vampire, bleed and oust. Orian is ousted next and so is Tero. GW 5 for me.
Tournament winning deck: "Blood For the Blood God" by Jean-Baptiste "JB Fuzz" Becker
Crypt (12 cards)
1x Apache Jones 5 DEM aus for obf Malkavian antitribu:4
2x Arthur Denholm 5 AUS DEM obf Malkavian:5
1x Bela 3 DEM ani obf pro Malkavian:5
1x Bloody Mary 8 AUS DEM OBF pre primogen Malkavian:5
2x Hagar Stone 6 AUS DEM obf Malkavian antitribu:5
2x Jackie 3 DEM Malkavian antitribu:4
1x Marta 3 aus dem Malkavian antitribu:4
2x Morel 6 AUS DEM OBF Malkavian:4
Library (90 cards)
Master (14; 1 trifle)
1x Barrens, The
1x Bleeding the Vine
1x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Effective Management
1x Elder Library
1x Failsafe
3x Information Highway
1x Last Stand
1x Metro Underground
1x Momentum's Edge
1x Pentex(TM) Subversion
1x Powerbase: Savannah
Action (22)
19x Kindred Spirits
3x Madman's Quill
Action Modifier (37)
2x Cloak the Gathering
3x Elder Impersonation
17x Eyes of Chaos
2x Faceless Night
2x Leverage
2x Lost in Crowds
4x Mind Tricks
2x Spying Mission
3x Veil the Legions
Action Modifier/Combat (7)
4x Deny
3x Swallowed by the Night
Action Modifier/Reaction (2)
2x Touch of Clarity
Combat (1)
1x Coma
Reaction (6)
2x On the Qui Vive
4x Telepathic Misdirection
Event (1)
1x Bitter and Sweet Story, The
The champion Jean-Baptiste Becker.
I’d like to thank the event organizers who made it possible, the players for coming, Emma for great pictures, my playgroup for teaching me through the years and all the sponsors for the prizes! See you in Vilnius Methuselahs! See you in Vilnius Methuselahs!
The event was sponsored by UltraPro and Blackchantry directly and through Gamepod. Thanks to these sponsors, and thanks to all organisers and participants!