TWD + Report: Finnish ECQ (Ropecon 2012)

• Tournament: Finnish 2012 ECQ
• Date: Friday July 27th, 2012
• Place: Ropecon 2012 gaming convention, Dipoli, Espoo, Finland
• Players: 71
• Format: EC Qualifier (constructed), 3R+F
• Organizer/judge: Petri Wessman
• Winner: Randal Rudstam (see below for deck list)

This year's Finnish ECQ was run, once again, at the Ropecon gaming convention. While the attendance this year was somewhat lower than during previous years, it was still quite decent with 71 players participating. Most of the players were Finnish, but we did have some international guests also (Denmark, Sweden and France were represented by brave travelers).

This year the tournament was run at "Täffä" (TF), the building next to the main Dipoli conference center. This has previously been the domain of board games, but we decided to try to move card game tournaments there this year. While it wasn't totally ideal, being a bit cramped at times, I feel it was still a bit better than the main building -- if nothing else, the ventilation worked somewhat better. I got everything set up well on time, thanks to various volunteers on site (thanks, all!), and we got the tournament started more or less on time -- a concern, since TF closes for the night at some point.

I didn't see any one deck type dominate the scene. Oh, there were lots of recognizable archetypes being used, but even those often had some tweaks in them. Less Animalism than I was expecting, honestly... maybe everyone was expecting the Nana deck type to be too well known and prepared against? Not sure. The old staple of Dominate was everpresent, of course, but even that didn't seen to be as overwhelmingly represented as during some previous years. Overall, all I can really say about the decks I saw in general is: huge variety. This, in my mind, is a good thing.

The final round was an interesting affair; lots of action without things getting bogged down at any point. ıi]two[/i] Swedes made it to the finals, and the final win went to one of them (Randal). See below for deck lists and a transcript of the final round.

I would like to thank all the players for helping keep everything running smoothly, and especially the Finnish NC Janne Lönnqvist who was, once again, an immense help with everything (including providing everyone with a huge pile of promo cards).

P.S. Randal has a blog post up which also has some notes about the tournament.

P.P.S. I can't personally make it to the EC this year, our second child will be born this month assuming everything goes well, and I need to be at home to help with things (the first-born is only 1.5 years at the moment, and takes up lots of time also). Maybe next year.

-Petri “Orava” Wessman

Results


The bolded players received EC qualification for 2012.

Rank	Name	Prelim GWs	Prelim VPs	Final VPs	Deck/comment
1	Randal Rudstam	2	9	4	Gubbarna (see below)
2	Michael Holmström	2	9		Lutz and Unmada shifts the temptation (see below)
2	Otso Saariluoma	3	11		With Cannon You Can (see below)
2	Aleksi Nuora	2	9		Daughters Will Sing Satanic Messages
2	Tomi Sillanpää	2	10	1	Lasombra Dominate (see below)
6	Heikki Palomäki	2	8
7	Petrus Makkonen	2	7		"AVENGER" Time Management Co.
8	Adam Esbjörnsson	2	6
9	Tuomas Vuokko	1	6.5
10	Mikko Hyvärinen	1	6
11	Jari Mäkikyrö	1	5.5
12	Ida Olsson Bjärmark	1	5.5
12	Hannu Kokkonen	1	5.5
14	Jarkko Suvela	1	5
15	Timo Rekola	1	4
16	Mika Nurmikolu	1	4
17	Juha Nyholm	1	4
18	Toni Karjalainen	1	4
18	Niina Stenberg	1	4
20	Marko Lindroos	1	3
21	Jari Vulli	1	3
22	Tuukka Kallas	1	3
23	Raymond Mäkeläinen	1	3		Lasombra 2000
24	Pascal Bertrand	1	2.5		Shalmath Wall
25	Ari Lensu	0	4.5		Paha Arkkitehti
26	Timo Snellman	0	4
27	Otso Turunen	0	4
28	Karri Malm	0	3.5		Kindred Spirits bleed
29	Teemu Pulkkinen	0	3		Malkavian S+B
30	Kari Mäkinen	0	3
31	Sebastian Schiavone	0	3
32	Are Vaskela	0	2.5
32	Antti Horelli	0	2.5
34	Marko Saari	0	2.5
34	Simo Kuosmanen	0	2.5		Nosset Dominatella
36	Johan Wahlström	0	2
37	Tommi Hakomaa	0	2		Aabt Kindred Anarch Vote
37	Akseli Jalava	0	2
37	Lasse Pöyry	0	2
40	Aleksi Kivilahti	0	2
41	Samuel Mäenpää	0	2
42	Isak Esbjörnsson Bjärmark	0	1.5		Shambling Softfoot
43	Teemu Sainomaa	0	1.5
43	Juho Vuorikoski	0	1.5
45	Matias Frosterus	0	1.5
46	Antti Iivari	0	1
47	Sauli Samila	0	1
47	Johannes Leppä	0	1
47	Jyri Puhakka	0	1
50	Klas Swanljung	0	1
50	Olli-Kalle Kauppinen	0	1
52	Reima Tuovinen	0	1
52	Jussi Hattara	0	1		Armin Hammer
52	Juhani Puska	0	1
55	Mikko Berkovits	0	0.5
55	Kimmo Pekkola	0	0.5
57	Ville Kilpi	0	0
57	Mikko Moisander	0	0
59	Mikko Laine	0	0
60	Joonas Kirsi	0	0
60	Jesper Wøldiche Rahkonen	0	0
60	Ari-Pekka Alestalo	0	0
60	Matti Palomäki	0	0
64	Janne Lönnqvist	0	0
65	Anssi Rekola	0	0
65	Tom Lindberg	0	0
65	Tuomas Sallinen	0	0
65	Lauri Salmi	0	0
65	Pasi Karjalainen	0	0
70	Peter Kaario	0	0
DQ	Tapio Törrönen	0	0		Imbued

The DQ is from leaving the tournament after two rounds (he let me know well before 3rd round started, so no problem there).

Decklists

Tournament Winner (Randal Rudstam)

Deck Name: Gubbarna
Description:
A bleed deck that I tweaked for the RopeCon meta by using less bleed and more stealth and reaction cards.

Original Stefan Karlsson, lates update from who I tweaked the deck Alexander Båskman

Crypt (Capacity min=10 max=11 avg=10.5; 12 cards)
====================================================
3x Arika 11 aus cel DOM FOR OBF PRE Ventrue:2
1x Esau 10 AUS DEM DOM OBF PRE Malkavian:3
1x Etrius 11 pro AUS DOM OBF THA Tremere:2
4x Huitzilopochtli 10 AUS DAI DOM OBF PRE POT Baali:2
1x Leandro 11 cel dom AUS OBF PRE Malkavian:2
1x Nefertiti 10 cel pot DOM OBF PRE SER Follower of Set:2
1x Ur-Shulgi, The Shepherd 11 aus CEL DOM OBF QUI THA Assamite:2

Library (72 cards)
=====================
Master (30 cards)
6x Ashur Tablets
1x Coven, The
2x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Giant's Blood
1x Golconda: Inner Peace
2x Information Highway
1x Jake Washington (Hunter)
1x Metro Underground
1x Monastery of Shadows
1x Parthenon, The
1x Pentex(TM) Subversion
6x Villein
6x Zillah's Valley

Event (1 cards)
1x Anthelios, The Red Star

Action (7 cards)
2x Entrancement
3x Intimidation
1x Mind Rape
1x Unleash Hell's Fury

Political Action (1 cards)
1x Banishment

Action Modifier (18 cards)
1x Cloak the Gathering
2x Conditioning
3x Elder Impersonation
1x Enkil Cog
3x Faceless Night
1x Foreshadowing Destruction
1x Into Thin Air
5x Lost in Crowds
1x Spying Mission

Reaction (10 cards)
2x Deflection
2x Eyes of Argus
4x Obedience
2x On the Qui Vive

Combo (5 cards)
2x Force of Personality
1x Hide the Mind
2x Murmur of the False Will


Other Finalists


Aleksi Nuora

Deck Name : Daughters Will Sing Satanic Messages
Author : Aleksi Nuora
Description :
They say that if you play Lily Prelude backwards it sounds like "4 pool damage to my predator"



Crypt [12 vampires] Capacity min: 1 max: 6 average: 4.33333

4x	Yseult	(6)			Daughter of Cacophony	(group 3)
2x	Angela Preston	(5)			Daughter of Cacophony	(group 2)
2x	Tupdog	(1)			Gargoyle	(group 3)
1x	Gael Pilet	(6)			Daughter of Cacophony	(group 2)
1x	Delilah Monroe	(4)			Daughter of Cacophony	(group 2)
1x	Celeste, The Voice of a Secret	(3)			Daughter of Cacophony	(group 2)
1x	Muse	(3)			Daughter of Cacophony	(group 2)

Library [80 cards]

Action [2]
2x Charming Lobby

Action Modifier [36]
4x Awe
4x Bewitching Oration
4x Cryptic Rider
4x Echo of Harmonies
8x Missing Voice, The
1x Perfect Paragon
3x Virtuosa
8x Voter Captivation

Action Modifier/Combat [5]
5x Force of Personality

Action Modifier/Reaction [6]
6x Madrigal

Master [17]
1x Antediluvian Awakening
3x Bastille Opera House
1x Bleeding the Vine
3x Conductor
1x Creepshow Casino
2x Paris Opera House
1x Pentex(TM) Subversion
2x Protected Resources
2x Wash
1x Wider View

Political Action [14]
3x Kine Resources Contested
11x Lily Prelude



Michael Holmström

Deck Name : Lutz and Unmada shifts the temptation
Author : Michael Holmstrm
Description :
This is a vote deck with no big surprise in it. Bring out your big minions with votes and Parity Shift to your heart's content. There is one card that is maybe too strong to try out for your self



Crypt [12 vampires] Capacity min: 9 max: 11 average: 10

4x	Lutz von Hohenzollern	(11)		inner circle	Malkavian	(group 4)
4x	Unmada	(10)		justicar	Malkavian	(group 5)
2x	Dmitra Ilyanova	(9)		justicar	Brujah	(group 5)
2x	Undele	(9)		magaji	Ishtarri	(group 5)

Library [63 cards]

Action Modifier [12]
2x Elder Impersonation
2x Faceless Night
3x Forgotten Labyrinth
2x Into Thin Air
3x Lost in Crowds

Combat [4]
4x No Trace

Master [26]
1x Coven, The
1x Giant's Blood
1x Golconda: Inner Peace
2x Information Highway
1x Monastery of Shadows
1x Pentex(TM) Subversion
3x Protected Resources
1x Secure Haven
1x Temptation of Greater Power
6x Villein
8x Zillah's Valley

Political Action [21]
1x Anarchist Uprising
1x Ancient Influence
1x Ancilla Empowerment
3x Banishment
1x Conservative Agitation
5x Kine Resources Contested
1x Neonate Breach
6x Parity Shift
1x Political Stranglehold
1x Reins of Power



Otso Saariluoma

Deck Name : With Cannon You Can
Author : Otso Saaruiluoma
Description :
Ropecon 2012 finalist



Crypt [12 vampires] Capacity min: 3 max: 11 average: 7.33333

4x	Anson	(8)		prince	Toreador	(group 1)
2x	Volker, The Puppet Prince	(5)		prince	Brujah	(group 2)
1x	Alexandra	(11)		inner circle	Toreador	(group 2)
1x	Anneke	(10)		justicar	Toreador	(group 1)
1x	Francois Villon	(10)		prince	Toreador	(group 2)
1x	Marcellus	(8)		prince	Toreador	(group 2)
1x	Victor Tolliver	(4)			Brujah antitribu	(group 2)
1x	Sarah Brando	(3)			Brujah antitribu	(group 2)

Library [78 cards]

Action [2]
1x Big Game
1x Bum's Rush

Combat [25]
1x Blur
6x Concealed Weapon
8x Infernal Pursuit
4x Psyche!
3x Pursuit
1x Sideslip
2x Taste of Vitae

Equipment [6]
6x .44 Magnum

Event [2]
1x Anthelios, The Red Star
1x Dragonbound

Master [34]
9x Ashur Tablets
1x Direct Intervention
1x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Fame
1x Giant's Blood
4x Haven Uncovered
1x Information Highway
1x Lilith's Blessing
1x Parthenon, The
1x Pentex(TM) Subversion
1x Powerbase: Montreal
6x Villein
1x Wider View
5x Zillah's Valley

Political Action [2]
2x Parity Shift

Reaction [7]
7x Second Tradition: Domain



Tomi Sillanpää

Deck Name : Tomi's Ropecon 2012 Finalist Deck
Author : Tomi Sillanpaa
Description :
Nothing too unique here.



Crypt [12 vampires] Capacity min: 3 max: 7 average: 5.41667

3x	Banjoko	(5)			Lasombra	(group 3)
2x	Henri Lavenant	(7)			Lasombra	(group 3)
2x	Ermenegildo, The Rake	(5)			Lasombra	(group 4)
1x	Isanwayen	(6)			Kiasyd	(group 4)
1x	Onaedo	(6)			Lasombra	(group 4)
1x	Virginie, Prodigy	(6)		bishop	Lasombra	(group 4)
1x	Dame Hollerton	(5)			Kiasyd	(group 4)
1x	Lucy Markowitz	(3)			Lasombra	(group 4)

Library [80 cards]

Action [16]
14x Govern the Unaligned
2x Tattoo Signal

Action Modifier [27]
5x Art of Memory, The
3x Bonding
3x Conditioning
2x Foreshadowing Destruction
2x Seduction
4x Shadow Play
4x Shroud of Absence
2x Shroud of Night
1x Stone Travel
1x Tenebrous Form

Ally [7]
7x Nocturn

Combat [3]
1x Oubliette
2x Shadow Body

Master [16]
1x Anarch Troublemaker
3x Corporal Reservoir
2x Coven, The
1x Direct Intervention
2x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x House of Sorrow
2x Life in the City
1x Path of Night, The
1x Pentex(TM) Subversion
1x Remover
1x Watchtower: Four Ride Forth

Reaction [11]
6x Deflection
2x Delaying Tactics
3x On the Qui Vive



Final Round Transcript

This is based on my personal notes, scribbled down during the game. Some detail is missing and there may be mistakes here and there.

The final round was played in Dipoli, since TF was closing for the night at 3am latest. Play started at 1:10 am and ended at 2:21 am.

The players were (in seating order):

1. Michael Holmström
2. Randal Rudstam
3. Aleksi Nuora
4. Otso Saariluoma
5. Tomi Sillanpää

Turn 1

Michael: Zillah

Randal:

• Information Highway, gets Washed by Aleksi
• Zillah
• Anthelios

Aleksi: trade Protected Resources for a Wash (Anthelios)

Otso: Zillah

Tomi: bring out Lucy Markowitz

Turn 2

Michael:

• Zillah
• bring out Dmitra Ilyanova

Randal: Pentex on Dmitra

Aleksi: bring out Yseult

Otso:

• Zillah
• bring out Volker
• bring out Francois Villon

Tomi:

• Coven
• Lucy plays Nocturn
• Lucy bleeds w/Conditioning
• bring out Banjoko

Turn 3

Michael: Villein Dmitra for 8

Randal: bring out Arika

Aleksi:

• Yseult tries to call KRC, Villon blocks w/2nd Trad, V gets concealed Magnum after lots of presses and Infernal Pursuits, Yseult goes to torpor
• bring out Delilah Monroe
• bring out Tupdog

Otso:

• Villein Francois Villon empty, use Coven on him
• Dreams of the Sphinx
• Villon steals 2 blood from Banjoko
• bring out Sarah Brando

Tomi:

• Lucy rescues Yseult
• Banjoko bleeds with GtU

Turn 4

Michael: bring out Lutz

Randal:

• Villein Arika for 8
• Ashur
• Arika bleeds, gets Enkil Cog
• bring out Huitzilopochtli

Aleksi:

• use Coven on Yseult
• Yseult removes Pentex

Otso:

• Lilith's Blessing
• Sarah bleeds for 1
• Volker bleeds for 1
• Villon steals 2 from Yseult

Tomi:

• Banjoko bleeds with GtU
• Lucy does the same
• bring out Ermenegildo

Turn 5

Michael:

• Villein Lutz for 10
• Lutz calls Political Stranglehold, passes
• Dmitra calls Conservative Agitation 4/1, passes

Randal:

• Ashur
• Huitzilopochtli plays Unleash Hell's Fury
• Arika bleeds for 6 (Intimidation)
• Huitzilopochtli bleeds for 2

Aleksi:

• Protected Resources
• Yseult hunts

Otso:

• Parthenon
• Giant's Blood on Villon
• Villon bleeds for 2, bounced to Michael
• Volker gets a Magnum
• Sarah bleeds for 1

Tomi:

• Corporal Reservoir on Banjoko
• Lucy hunts
• Banjoko bleeds for 1 w/Art of Memory
• Ermenegildo bleeds for 1
• bring out Dame Hollerton

Turn 6

Michael:

• Villein Lutz for 3
• Protected Resources
• Lutz hunts
• Dmitra votes blood for Lutz & herself

Randal:

• Metro Underground
• Huitzilopochtli bleeds for 2
• Arika bleeds for 3

Aleksi:

• Bastille Opera House
• Yseult bleeds, Villon blocks w/2nd Trad, Yseult goes to torpor
• Delilah bleeds, Villon blocks w/2nd Trad
• (Randal's) Arika bleeds w/Enkil, Aleksi ousted (@1:47)

Otso:

• Haven Uncovered on Arika
• Ashur
• Volker rushes Arika, Arika goes to torpor
• Villon calls Parity Shift from Randal, passes

Tomi:

• Ermenegildo bleeds with GtU and Art of Memory
• Dame rescues Arika
• Lucy bleeds for 1
• Banjoko bleeds with GtU

Turn 7

Michael:

• Lutz calls KRC 3/1, passes
• Dmitra calls Banishment on Banjoko, does not pass

Randal:

• Ashur (3rd)
• Arika hunts, Villon tries to block but fails

Otso:

• Ashur x 2
• Sarah rushes Arika, Obedience
• Volker rushes Arika, runs into Hell's Fury, goes to torpor
• Villon rushes Arika, Obedience
• Arika bleeds for 6 (Enkil)

Tomi:

• Anarch Troublemaker
• Dame bleeds with GtU

Turn 8

Michael:

• Villein Dmitra for 3
• Lutz calls KRC 3/1, passes
• Dmitra votes blood for herself, passes

Randal:

• Huitzilopochtli bleeds for 4 (Mind Rape), Direct Intervention from Otso
• Huitzilopochtli bleeds for 3 (Entrancement)
• Arika bleeds for 4, Otso is ousted (@2:06)

Tomi:

• Ermenegildo gets Nocturn
• Nocturn bleeds for 1
• Dame bleeds with GtU
• Banjoko bleeds with GtU
• Arika bleeds for 9 (Enkil), gets bounced, plays Spying Mission

Turn 9

Michael:

• Protected Resources (yes, a second one)
• Dmitra calls Parity Shift from Randal, DI from Tomi
• Lutz bleeds for 3, Huitzilopochtli bounces to Tomi, bleed succeeds (both Protected Resources burn)
• Dmitra bleeds for 1

Randal:

• Coven (contest)
• Villein Huitzilopochtli for 8
• play Dreams (via Huitzilopochtli's special)

Tomi:

• give up on Coven contest
• Banjoko gets Nocturn
• Nocturn bleeds for 1
• Dame bleeds with GtU, Michael is ousted (@2:12)
• Ermenegildo bleeds for 4
• Lucy bleeds for 2

Turn 10

Randal:

• Jake Washington
• Huitzilopochtli's bleeds for 2 (Entrancement), boosted to 6
• Arika bleeds for 4, Tomi is ousted (@2:21)

Pics

Some pictures from the tournament, by Marko Saari.

The latest Cause and Effect video talks about the tournament.

Cause and Effect video

Thanks, Petri, for running the tournament and for the extensive report, once again! Especially with the progenies eating up your spare time. And congrats to Randy, it's nice to lose to a man who´s always so jolly. (Some Swedish mind tricks, I'm sure. )

Here are a few comments on the Ropecon tournament and the finals from my perspective:

First of all, I have to say my luck was phenomenal all day long. I had crypt acceleration in all four games, I played Giant's blood in at least three out of four games, and so on and so forth. Some highlights form the prelims: In the first round I was one pool short of being ousted by Marko L.´s Week of Nightmares lunge, in the second round my prey and grandpray were contesting Stanislava, and in the third round I had to get my own Anson to torpor and diablerize him afterwards to release contested Pentex on Pascal's Shalmath (thanks, Pascal, for the tip!).

In the finals I chose to sit as Aleksi's pray as I was rather confident I could trump his deck without spending too many resources. I'll comment on some details of the game:

- I'm pretty sure the first round was as follows:
Michael: Zillah' Valley
Randy: Information Highway --> gets Washed by Aleksi; Zillah's Valley; Anthelios
Aleksi: trading Rrotected Resources for Wash via Anthelios
Me: Zillah's Valley (which notably didn't get washed)
So Aleksi didn't just discard his Protected Resources, but traded it for Wash to get some measure of control over the 10- and 11-caps popping up around him. I think he didn't know what he was up against or he might have played differently. Incidentially, he ended up playing the wash on one of my two first Villeins, which was pretty much all the pood damage he did to me during that game.

- One point that really defined the game in a fundamental way was the crypt draws: Toni didn't get his Govern chain, so he was not able to build up resources and rather had to start bleeding Michael right away. Michael, on the other hand, had his own problems with Unmada's no-show. If I'm correct he was not allowed to play a single stealth or combat card during the entire game. So with all those and all the crypt acceleration, he had hard time digging up his political actions which actually consisted a thrid (21/63 !) of his deck. And I of course had no Anson, which really crippled me as I had to choose between playing my pool gain masters and trying to outrace Radal's Ashurs to set up my deck. I also had to cycle through a lot of cards to get my first concealed / magnum and decking myself was actually somewhat of a concern in the back of my mind.

- I misread Michael's strength. At the time, I didn't realise the extent of his hand management issues and I really wanted to keep him in a tight leash. I guess this point needs some more elaboration:

I was afraid Michael would be baiting his time to be able to double-oust both Randy and me in a single turn (and as he was doing only moderate amounts of pool damage to Randall, using Dmitra's special and whatnot, it really felt he was slow-playing and trying to position the table). Also, I knew that he played Temptation of Greater Power and I didn't want him to have tons of pool when he would get Randall. And finally, I was confident I could hinder Tomi in a serious way shoud need arise so I was quite happy to give him some space to go forward.

- After the finals I claimed Tomi had to make the deal to DI Michael's Parity Shift, but now I'm not so sure. Considering Michael's hand management issues, Tomi woud have had a decent chance to win the pool damage race, especially with the DI in hand, even with Protected Resources and 14 pool in front of him.

- I didn't pay for Arika's special. So that's two pool from two turns with Parthenon in play. I guess it really was 2 a.m.

All in all, it was a really tight game: four out of five players had a very real chance to get the game win. Aleksi sort of ended up between rock and a hard place, but kudos to him for getting to the finals with daughters!

So this year's Finnish ECQ win went to Swedes. Perhaps we'll have the chance to get back at them in the Swedish Nationals, this time "with a bit more dominate"...

Thanks for the tournament, people! And very good episode of C&E.

I was playing Al'Muntaquim (also mentioned in the C&E episode), and I'll have to admit that it was my first time playing against a proper Anson + Ashurs deck. I was hoping it would've been a Presence version once I got a hang of what was happening in front of me in the final game, but Celerity with guns was ultimately way worse than what I had even dreamt of. It was a very interesting game, however, as was the whole tournament.

I kinda had the same feeling as Adam about the finals - if I had gotten in, it most likely would've been a horrible rapeage, so I think it was better for me NOT to be there. Even more so because there were a couple of flaws in my deck which I figured out after the tournament, one of which was the relatively small amount of Outsides of Hourglass.

Great going, guys, and it was awesome to see so many good and interesting decks and players! Also got some great trades done.

First round corrected (thanks Otso, your clarifications explained some weird things in my notes which I wasn't sure about

Some more pics (again by Marko Saari, thanks!)

awesome pictures !
@Petri: I was playing Shalmath Wall, iirc.