Vlad Tepes: What can he use?

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Name: Vlad Tepes
[Promo-20150215, Promo-20210701, POD:DTC]
Cardtype: Vampire
Clan: Tzimisce
Group: 3
Capacity: 10
Discipline: aus ANI DOM PRO THA VIC
Independent: Vlad uses and can play cards requiring a title or a sect as if he had that required title or were of that required sect. +1 bleed.

lip wrote:

If there is a CrimethInc. in play (), can he "use it" to unlock? (I would suppose no, because of the Purchase Pact point)

No: "you can burn".

Name: CrimethInc.
[TR:C, POD:DTC]
Cardtype: Action Modifier
Discipline: Protean/Quietus/Thaumaturgy
Requires an Anarch. Only usable after resolution of a successful action requiring an Anarch or making this vampire Anarch.
[pro] Unlock this Anarch.
[qui] Unlock another ready Anarch.
[tha] Put this card in play. During your minion phase, you can burn 1 pool to unlock a ready Anarch you control.

lip wrote:

If he has a Hiding in the Open , he gets the bleed bonus, but is he protected from non-titled cards? Not sure if that's "using" it, but there was no provision when discussing Kduva's Mask benefits.

He "uses" the card as a Laibon, so he benefits from the +1 bleed and the second clause of the card.

Name: Hiding in the Open
[EK:R]
Cardtype: Political Action
Requires a Laibon.
If this referendum succeeds, put this card on the acting Laibon. This Laibon gets +1 bleed. Cards which require a non-Laibon title cannot be played on this Laibon nor while this Laibon is acting. A minion may have only one Hiding in the Open.

lip wrote:

And if he is protected, what about Nkishi ? Does he not benefit because it's his controller using it? So items can be "used" when others play cards, but not when the controller does?

He's not using it: "you may"

Name: Nkishi
[EK:R]
Cardtype: Equipment
Unique equipment. Requires a Laibon.
You may use a master phase action to search your library or ash heap for an Aye or an Orun and put that card on this Laibon.

lip wrote:

If he enters combat with a vampire who has a Blood Turnip , can he "use" it to choose where it lands?

Yes. The card is on him, and it says "That anarch can move".

Name: Blood Turnip
[TR:R]
Cardtype: Master
Unique master. Requires a ready anarch.
Put this card on any minion. When this minion enters combat, he or she moves this card and 1 blood (or life) to the opposing minion. If the opposing minion is an anarch, that anarch can move this card onto any minion instead (but it must move).

lip wrote:

Can he gain blood from Carfax Abbey ? Papillon ?

Yes, "a ready Anarch you control can..." and "a ready titled vampire you control can..."

Name: Carfax Abbey
[AU:C/1, V5A:PB1]
Cardtype: Master
Cost: 2 pool
Requires a ready Anarch. Unique location. Hunting ground.
During your unlock phase, a ready Anarch you control can gain 1 blood, and, if you control a ready baron, another ready Anarch you control can gain 1 blood as well. A vampire can gain blood from only one hunting ground each turn.

Name: Papillon
[KoT:U/A1, SP:PoS1, V5C:PTz1]
Cardtype: Master
Cost: 3 pool
Unique location. Hunting ground. Requires a ready vampire with a city title.
During your unlock phase, a ready titled vampire you control can gain 2 blood. A vampire can gain blood from only one hunting ground each turn.

lip wrote:

What about Hospital Food ? Or is it his controller using it in that case?

No. The Methuselah is the one using the card "(You can) Lock..."

Name: Hospital Food
[Anarchs:C]
Cardtype: Master
Master: unique location. Requires a ready anarch.
Lock when an anarch announces a hunting action. If that action is successful, the anarch gains an additional blood.

lip wrote:

Can he use Piper to recruit an ally, provided he meets the ally's requirement and you control an actual Anarch to play the card in the first place? Or is it another case of the Methuselah using the card, not him?

Piper is a master card. Vlad isn't seen as an Anarch when you play Piper. => Vlad is not a valid target for Piper.

Name: Piper
[TR:R, V5C:PTz2, TR:R, V5C:PTz2, Promo:20231014]
Cardtype: Master
Requires a ready Anarch.
Lock a ready unlocked Anarch you control. That Anarch recruits or employs an ally or retainer from your hand (requirements and cost apply as normal). This is not an action and cannot be blocked.

lip wrote:

If he has a Firebrand , I guess he gets the vote and the unlock ability, but does he lose it if he goes to torpor?

Continual condition check is part of "using" the card. He does lose the Firebrand if he goes to torpor (see No Secrets from the Magaji).

Name: Firebrand
[Anarchs:C/PAB]
Cardtype: Political Action
Requires an anarch.
If this referendum is successful, put this card on the acting anarch. This anarch gets 1 additional vote during a political action. During your minion phase, this anarch can burn 1 blood to unlock a ready younger anarch. Burn this card if this anarch goes to torpor. An anarch may have only 1 Firebrand.