Vampire: Elder Kindred Network Newsletter November 2025
Greetings fellow Methuselahs,
Newsletter time again, and as has become tradition, we start with an art and card preview. Righteous Blade is a new library card in the upcoming New Blood Salubri pack, planned for a late February release. The Salubri preconstructed deck has a more bleedy approach, but these new additions lean more into the clan being out to hunt down "fiendish" Kindred (their definition, of course!), and to do so wielding melee weapons, particularly swords, just like holy warriors of old. The fantastic art is by Pablo D. Hidalgo.
Randal Rudstam is the 2025 champion of Sweden!
40 players participated in this event in Stockholm on November 22.
Read the full report: Sweden National Championship 2025
Vincent Keenaghan is the 2025 UK champion!
This tournament was played in Leeds with 27 Methuselahs on November 15.
Read the full report: UK National Championship 2025
Joscha Düll is the 2025 champion of Germany!
... this was determined in Darmstadt on November 8, with 24 Methuselahs.
Read the full report: Germany National Championship 2025
Walbert Ibarra is the 2025 champion of Chile!
20 playes turned up to battle it out at the Piedra Bruja store in Santiago on November 31.
Read the full report: Chile National Championship 2025
Christian Chénard is the 2025 champion of Canada!
18 players played this event in Montreal on November 22.
Read the full report: Canada National Championship 2025

Armen Khachikyan is the 2025 champion of Russia!
10 players turned up for this tourament in Moscow on November 8.
Read the full report: Russia National Championship 2025
Change to the European Grand Prix circuit 2025-2026
A new Grand Prix tournament has been added to the European circuit: Vilnius! These means there is a total of seven GP tournaments now, plus the final.
Also: The winner of the Vilnius GP tournament will automatically qualify for the GP final in Vilnius. So four finalists are determined by the GP ratings, and one is this special Vilnius winner.
Dates and locations so far:
November 29, 2025: Lisbon, Portugal
Feb/March 2026: Florence or Bologna, Italy
April 18, 2026: Zagreb, Croatia
May/June, 2026: France
July 25, 2026: Helsinki, Finland
July 18, 2026: Vienna, Austria
September 18, 2026: Vilnius, Lithuania (at the EC)
September 19, 2026: Final Vilnius, Lithuania (at the EC)

Watchlist Update November 2025
The announcement of November 27:
This is a short announcement about two cards. A full announcement about Vampire: The Eternal Struggle cards and rules on the watchlist will be published towards the end of the year. No changes are expected for cards that are currently banned.
Life Boon
The card Life Boon joins the watchlist.
Why?
This card is very 1994 with its design as it breaks one of the fundamental rules of the game, the Predator-Prey relationship. It has similarities with Kindred Restructure and Dramatic Upheaval.
What next?
The card is under watch and the Design and Rules teams will continue listening to feedback on Life Boon. An update in this matter is expected in May 2026.
Veil of Darkness
The card Veil of Darkness joins the watchlist and is expected to be banned from organised play.
Why?
The card provides a limited effect, and it is problematic to handle at the table with a large amount of rollback issues on tables despite its limited use. It was created based on the old Gehenna End Times storyline, so it is difficult to change in the current storyline.
What next?
The card will not be banned before May 2026. The Design and Rules teams will continue listening to feedback, but it is not expected that any errata would be viable for Veil of Darkness.
Well-thought feedback about this is welcome to !
New VEKN Judges´s Guide is in the works
A draft of the new version of the Judges' Guide has been submitted to judges on Discord for their feedback.
Are you a judge, organiser or normal mortal with ideas about this? Reach out via !

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 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

Black Chantry Summary: November 2025
• The preview season for New Blood Ravnos, Salubri and Tzimisce is ongoing, as you can see on the top of this newsletter. Spoilers have been distributed, or will be, to a number of sources that have expressed interest in helping spread the word, and everything will of course be collected at the respective product pages at Blackchantry.com.
• Round 2 of the playtest of the Brazil and New York sets was recently sent out to playtesters. This round will end January 4. In the meantime, commissioned art is being delivered – exciting times at the art department! Three of these were already previewed in Ben Peal's presentation at EC 2025 – two pieces by Anastasiia Horbunova (left) and one by Krzysztof Bieniawski (right):
• BCP is playing tournaments, believe it or not! Some words from CEO Hugh Angseesing:
"On 15th November I was lucky enough to attend the UK Nationals at Patriot Games in Leeds. Leeds is quite a busy city and it was nice to see the Chrismtas decorations up already as I passed through it, making it seem even more exciting.
I did not have time to do a lot of preparation with my recent change in circumstances so cribbed a deck from Estel in Brazil and then changed a few things to try and test the new Path of Caine cards.
In round 1 I had Martin Weinmeyer and Mark Roberts as cross table buddies neither of whom saved me from Hecata/Lasombra ally swarm that Mikey Ferguson piloted to kill me before they split the table 2-2, with Mark ousting Mikey and Beth after I was killed.
Round 2 had more Martin but this time as a predator and I could not convince my prey to help stop his votes leading to my death - cannot rush everyone all of the time especially when banished!
In Round 3 the deck worked much better (or I did), but sadly I was unable to oust my prey before timeout.
I got to use the new cards and really enjoyed Abuse of Power and Márcio sent me some Brazilian-Portuguese versions to use:


Hugh ended up with 0.5 VP and a proud 22nd place in this event, so lets talk about something else ...
• Legacy Malkavian antitribu and Dementation cards for print-on-demand are in the very last stages of proofing as this is written. They will be up on both Drivethrucards and Gamepod really soon now, keep watch for that announcement.
• Ginés Quiñonero has started to work on the structure of a version of the VTES rulebook for the two-player variant of the game. Did you know that you still can help out with the playtesting? No registration is needed, just check out the playtest site, try the format and leave feedback.

• The following Black Chantry products are currently available through Gamepod, Drivethrucard
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)
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

Recent news in the World of Darkness
Two things that caught our attention from White Wolf this month:
• “Hunter: The Reckoning - A Time of Monsters” is an interactive novel by Paul Wang, set in the World of Darkness, where your choices control the story. It's entirely text-based, without graphics or sound effects, and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination. Get it at Choiceofgames.com, or check out the five part playthrough at the World of Darkness Youtube channel.
• “The Three Knives at Midnight”, a Vampire: The Masquerade New Year’s Eve story, is out now as a free PDF. This is a short Chicago-based scenario, including a coterie of six powerful, pre-generated characters, but also has advice for use in a longer chronicle. You find this at Renegade Game Studios
Also, we want to mention again the new but classic lines of t-shirts available. Good stuff!
Calendar
Major events coming up:
December 6: Grand Prix Vidor, Texas
December 14: Grand Prix Cearense
Tournaments for the coming month (registered so far) are in:
Australia
Brazil 8
Chile
Finland
France
Greece
Hungary 2
Italy
Japan
Online 6
Portugal 5
Serbia
Spain 10
USA 6
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!
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 (Twitter) account @VEKN_VTES and the official VTES Discord server.
It´s fine. I´m fine. Everything is fine.
Randal Rudstam is the 2025 champion of Sweden!

40 players turned up at Alphaspel in Stockholm for the Swedish National Championship 2025 on November 22. Great times as always - extra thanks to guests from Finland and Lithuania!


Standings before final:
1. Randal Rudstam 2 GW 9.0 VP
2. Tommi Hakomaa 2 GW 8.0 VP 174 TP
3. Sebastian Fredenberg 2 GW 8.0 VP 162 TP
4. Mårten Cederholm 2 GW 6.0 VP
5. Jakob Ladstedt 2 GW 5.5 VP


Final result: Randal 2 vp (top seed), Tommi 2 vp and Sebastian 1 vp. Congratulations Randal!
The tournament winning deck: "Bleed/Bounce Swedish Champ" by Randal "Matsdur" Rudstam
Crypt (12 cards)
2x Gwendolyn Fleming 6 AUS PRE cel pro Toreador:5
2x Maila 6 AUS PRE cel primogen Toreador:6
1x Guggenheim 6 AUS CEL PRE Toreador antitribu:5
2x Regina Blake 5 AUS PRE Toreador:6
1x Amber 5 AUS PRE cel Toreador antitribu:5
1x Anne-Marie Bourgeois, Inconnu Recruiter 5 AUS cel pre Toreador:5
1x Bethany Ray 4 PRE aus Toreador:5
1x Bret Stryker 4 CEL PRE Toreador:6
1x Tyler McGill 4 AUS pre Toreador:5
Library (84 cards)
Master (16; 6 trifle)
1x Anarch Troublemaker
1x Coven, The
2x Direct Intervention
1x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Giant's Blood
1x Jake Washington
3x Life in the City
3x Misdirection
1x Pentex(TM) Subversion
2x Wash
Action (22)
6x Enchant Kindred
2x Entrancement
8x Intimidation
4x Mind Numb
2x Revelations
Equipment (2)
2x Heart of Nizchetus
Action Modifier (13)
7x Aire of Elation
3x Change of Target
3x Loup
Combat (10)
2x Aura Reading
2x Charismatic Aura
6x Majesty
Reaction (19)
1x Delaying Tactics
5x Eyes of Argus
3x My Enemy's Enemy
3x On the Qui Vive
7x Telepathic Misdirection
Event (2)
1x Blood Trade
1x Nightmares upon Nightmares


Thanks to organiser Nina Nilsson, other that helped, venue and players!
Vincent Keenaghan is the 2025 UK champion!

This tournament was played at Patriot Games in Leeds on November 15. Report by James Freimuller, VEKN National Coordinator of UK:
We had 27 players total with a range of decks seen. Unsurprisingly for the UK, Path of Caine was the most popular but most V5 clans were represented.




In the final we had:
1. Martin Weinmayer 2 GW 10.0 VP
2. Michael Bennett 2 GW 7.5 VP
3. Mark Hammond 1 GW 7.0 VP 132 TP
4. Vincent Keenaghan 1 GW 7.0 VP 78 TP
5. Norbert Flasko 1 GW 5.5 VP


It was a well fought final from all contenders. Hardcore blocking put both Michael and Martin in a tough spot, allowing Norbert and Vinny to get quite built up. All those barons make it hard for Stani to pass votes. Norbert got the first oust, stabilising further.
With time running short, everyone else had to go on the offensive. Stani's Govern-bleed got bounced around the table to Mark. Martin made the tough decision to stealth it through on a back oust to stand a chance to still oust Norbert.
Some time after this, time ran out and Vincent Keenaghan stood victorious with 1.5 vp, the title returns to England and even a Leeds local!
Tournment winning deck: "Big Bad Barons" by Vincent Keenaghan
Crypt (12)
2x Branimira 6 ANI dom pre pro baron Tzimisce:6
1x Adrino Manauara 8 ANI DOM PRO pot baron Tzimisce:6
1x Ángel Guerrero 7 ANI DOM PRO baron Tzimisce:6
1x Casey Snyder 6 PRO ani cel for baron Gangrel:6
1x Elisha Tucker 6 PRE cel obf pro baron Ministry:6
1x Kuyén 6 ANI PRO baron Gangrel:6
1x Massimiliano 7 ANI FOR pro baron Gangrel:6
1x Saku Pihlajamäki 8 CEL POT PRE for pro baron Brujah:6
1x Sergio Bueno 8 OBF PRE PRO aus pot baron Ministry:6
1x Valeriya Zinovieva 7 POT cel pre pro baron Brujah:6
1x Vivian VI 7 PRE PRO obf tha baron Ministry:6
Library (90)
Master (26; 6 trifle)
2x Carfax Abbey
1x Club Illusion
1x Direct Intervention
1x Dreams of the Sphinx
2x Garibaldi-Meucci Museum
2x Information Highway
1x Jake Washington
1x Papillon
1x Powerbase: Los Angeles
5x Protean
1x Rötschreck
2x Twilight Camp
6x Villein
Action (8)
8x Childe of the Revolution
Political Action (1)
1x Revolutionary Council
Equipment (2)
2x Heart of Nizchetus
Retainer (1)
1x Crypt's Sons
Action Modifier (5)
3x Earth Control
2x Monkey Wrench
Action Modifier/Reaction (2)
2x Form of the Bat
Combat (15)
3x Claws of the Dead
5x Donnybrook
7x Earth Meld
Reaction (30)
6x Bait and Switch
1x Delaying Tactics
21x Organized Resistance
2x Protection Racket
Thanks to James for this report, and thanks to all organisers, sponsors and of course the lovely participants!
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