Red List/Trophy Deck Ventrue

Non-existant user wrote:

brandonsantacruz wrote:

I think that the whole Red List mechanic could be secondary to just pummeling and eating people. Good when it works out, but not required.

That is a slippery slope. First you move the focus away from trophies, then you start wondering why you should eat people when you can graverob them and you take all the trophies out

That, I suppose, is the same road that leads many an anarch deck to be just a deck, or nothing. For the purposes of this deck, I would say it is best to concentrate on Red List *or* voting, not both. Sure Trumped-up Charges makes someone red list, but now you need a freak drive and a rush after you pass it. Or you can wait until the next turn... and die before you can mark someone.

Trophies I see as the sweetener in a Red List deck. 1x Diablerie is required, plus you could add one or two other trophies. If you don't need to go dig for diablerie when/if your trick goes off, congrats, you get +2 bleed or whatever. How many times can it really go off? Sure, you can collect multiple trophies that are in play. Maybe. Or you can choke on them and just die. That's especially true when you can't cycle cards with multiple minions a turn. Table control with rushes is just more important than having your trophies go off. Titled camarilla don't have trouble getting intercept, nor do DOM minions have trouble getting +bleed.

How about Blood Hunt? True, 1/3rd of your crypt cannot play it and it has some limitations, but it is permanent, works for all the vampires and is not a political action...

That I will try. I will put Imperator too, so Hardestadt could use it too. Losing title is not making significant difference.
Island of Yiaros i do not possess.

Or you can wait until the next turn... and die before you can mark someone.

That goes for every deck. And I agree that red list combat is not best combat concept for the deck, but I am trying to make it work optimal, without losing theme - which is Red List with Trophies.

I have seen the deck in action, and i can say this
It is slow to start,and vulnerable in the beginning, But once it gets going, it is really strong.

Also, Never underestimate power of inferior potence. I have seen Lucinda empty out 8 blood on a anathema'd Gabrielle di righetti. Slam+target vitals+torn signpost with a press go a long way.

What i feel deck is lacking is definitely lilith's blessing, 2 potence masters, island of yiaros is also a good idea.
Also, depravity is definite slot-in. A built in strength and additional stealth on diablerie - yes please.

I prefer archons over alastors in deck like this. Permanent rush with an option to diablerize is really strong, and blood burning is just icing.

Carlton Van Wyk. If you play him nobody else does. My Jaroslav Pascek once was killed by a Carlton after diablerizing one red list and after he was tooled up with Trophies Domain and Hunting ground .

I would replace; 3 freak drives with forced march.
; helicopter with eye of hazimel

I would like to see one copy of monster in the deck and either monastery of shadows or kine dominance.

A couple copies of life in the city can be of benefit, but likely to corner case to bother with.

Megabaja wrote:

I am trying to make it work optimal, without losing theme - which is Red List with Trophies.

And with Haardestadt, would I say

Because I believe Anathema and diablerie too action-heavy in a deck with such fatties, I must admit I would better use claw of the dead. After all, 5 aggravated damage is often enough, and the card is both cheaper and more versatile than decapitate.

(the very easiest way would be in my opinion gargoyle. Even the most humble grotesque can use raking talon, pounce, and target vital to do 5 aggravated, without even needing blood. You would "only" need to find some titled tremere or !tremere to make people red list)