TWD + report: Ropecon 2014 Finnish ECQ

• Tournament: Ropecon 2014 Finnish ECQ
• Date: Friday July 25th, 2014
• Place: Ropecon 2014 gaming convention, Dipoli, Espoo, Finland
• Players: 52
• Format: EC Continental Qualifier (constructed), 3R+F
• Organizer/judge: Petri Wessman
• Winner: Pasi Karjalainen (see below for deck list)

(yes, this report is a "bit" late. Better late than...)

If was again time for the large VTES tournament at the Ropecon gaming convention. Like the previous few years, we ran this one at the TF ("Täffä") building, which provided a nice amount of privacy but abysmal ventilation -- "tropical" doesn't even begin to describe it. Despite the heat and lack of oxygen, a total of 52 brave players showed up to compete; a distinct drop from the previous years but still quite a horde.

We played some of the games outside on the patio, since it wasn't too windy. During the later rounds this became... challenging due to the sun going down, lending a real "World of Darkness" tinge to the affair. Or, as someone said, "World of Can't See Shit Out Here".

This year, I didn't note any major deck trends, the decks people played were a very varied bunch. Some Danse Macabre cards visible, but not too many. I think "Under Siege" was the single most popular new card (though this is just based on random observation). Lutz von Hohenzollern was the single most popular vampire, saw quite a few decks featuring him (and the finals had two).

The finals proved to be a somewhat grueling affair. Four politics-heavy decks and one toolbox made for a table where nobody seemed to be able to get an edge (or The Edge, for that matter) all that easily. In the end, Pasi finally managed to oust Tuomas (and win the tournament) before the game timed out. Kudos to Niina Lindroos for playing in the tournament, and making it to the finals, while being very pregnant. Talk about stamina.

We just and just managed to finish the finals before the TF closing time of 3am; our "prize ceremony" became a very hasty "here's your prizes, now go!" thing with some impatient con staff tapping their toes next to us .

Once again, huge thanks to the Finnish NC Janne Lönnqvist who, once again, helped with organizing and provided players with large piles of promos.

Special mention: in one first-round game with Otto at the table, a total of 29 pool worth of vampires (4) was burned, and 36 pool worth was Graverobbed. That's impressive.

-Petri “Orava” Wessman

Results

The bolded 18 players received EC qualification for 2014.

Rank	Name	Prelim GW	Prelim VP	Final VP	TP	Deck/comment
1	Pasi Karjalainen	1	7.5	1.5	162	Carna Bleeds (see below)
2	Tuomas Vuokko	2	8	0	138	Louhipakka (see below)
2	Toni Karjalainen	2	8	0.5	168	Unmada & Lutz vote (see below)
2	Niina Lindroos	2	11	0.5	168	Lutz and his friends (see below)
2	Karri Malm	1	7.5	0.5	168	Sabbat Politics feat. Tyler McGill (see below)
6	Otso Saariluoma	1	5.5		132
7	Jari Mäkikyrö	1	5		144
7	Marko Saari	1	5		144
9	Jaakko Elorae	1	5		138
10	Jani Malmi	1	5		126
10	Mika Nurmikolu	1	5		126
12	Mikko Hyvärinen	1	5		102
13	Matias Frosterus	1	4.5		144	Stealth Grinder
14	Otto Kukkasniemi	1	4.5		138
15	Janne Lönnqvist	1	4		120
16	Akseli Jalava	1	4		114
17	Kimmo Pekkola	1	3.5		114
18	Juhani Puska	1	3		84
19	Aleksi Nuora	0	3.5		150
20	Matti Palomäki	0	3		138
21	Tommi Hakomaa	0	3		126
22	Ville Kaijasaari	0	2.5		138
23	Tom Lindberg	0	2.5		126
23	Noora Hirvonen	0	2.5		126
25	Otso Turunen	0	2.5		120
26	Timo Rekola	0	2		114
27	Ari-Pekka Alestalo	0	2		108	Power of the Inner Circle
28	Hannu Kokkonen	0	2		102	Assamite Wall
29	Tomi Sillanpää	0	1.5		108
30	Anssi Rekola	0	1.5		102
31	Ari Lensu	0	1.5		96	Maksimi penkki
32	Tuomas Nyberg	0	1		90
32	Samuel Mäenpää	0	1		90
34	Veijo Fiskaali	0	1		84
34	Teemu Pulkkinen	0	1		84	Caitiff horde with votes
36	Juha Nyholm	0	1		78
36	Jari Vulli	0	1		78
36	Juho Vuorikoski	0	1		78
36	Timo Snellman	0	1		78
40	Ville Ruuskanen	0	0.5		90	MtG Forest
41	Lauri Salmi	0	0.5		78
41	Tuukka Kallas	0	0.5		78
43	Raymond Mäkeläinen	0	0		84
44	Peter Kaario	0	0		78
45	Petrus Makkonen	0	0		72	Nosferatu Lost in Time
45	Jukka Pasanen	0	0		72
45	Pekka Kinnunen	0	0		72	Pretty Please
48	Marko Lindroos	0	0		66	T.A.T.U.
49	Lasse Pöyry	0	0		60
49	Pauli Kiova	0	0		60
51	Tuomas Sallinen	0	0		54
52	Ville Kilpi	0	0		36

Decklists

Tournament Winner (Pasi Karjalainen)

Deck Name : Carna bleeds
Author: Pasi Karjalainen
Description: Based on Randal Rudstams excellent build from 2013. My brother Toni helped me to tweak to this deck for the Ropecon meta.

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

1x	Bryan Van Duesen	(7)			Tremere antitribu (g2)
1x	Carna, The Princess Witch	(7)		primogen	Tremere (g3)
1x	Ladislas Toth, The Torch	(7)		archbishop	Tremere antitribu (g3)
1x	Marlene, The Infernalist	(6)			Ventrue antitribu (g2)
1x	Reverend Blackwood	(6)		bishop	Tremere antitribu (g2)
1x	Selena	(6)			Tremere antitribu (g3)
1x	Valois Sang, The Watcher	(6)			Tremere (g3)
1x	Aisling Sturbridge	(5)			Tremere (g2)
1x	Kurt Strauss	(5)			Tremere antitribu (g2)
1x	Thelonius	(4)			Tremere antitribu (g2)
1x	Brooke	(3)			Tremere antitribu (g2)
1x	Ehrich Weiss	(3)			Tremere (g3)

Library [70 cards]

Action [14]
13x Govern the Unaligned
1x Slaughtering the Herd

Action Modifier [21]
4x Bonding
5x Conditioning
8x Mirror Walk
4x Seduction

Ally [3]
1x Carlton Van Wyk (Hunter)
2x Ponticulus

Event [1]
1x Uncoiling, The

Master [13]
2x Anarch Troublemaker
1x Coven, The
2x Direct Intervention
1x Dreams of the Sphinx
2x Misdirection
2x Pentex(TM) Subversion
1x Powerbase: Los Angeles
2x Wash

Reaction [18]
4x Deflection
3x Delaying Tactics
3x Eyes of Argus
2x My Enemy's Enemy
4x On the Qui Vive
2x Telepathic Misdirection


Other Finalists

Toni Karjalainen

Deck Name : Unmada & Lutz vote
Author: Toni Karjalainen
Description: I noticed that there was an Unmada & Lutz vote deck in the Ropecon ECQ finals in 2012 and 2013. So I decided to play a slightly modified version of it and made it to the final table.

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

4x	Lutz von Hohenzollern	(11)		inner circle	Malkavian (g4)
4x	Unmada	(10)		justicar	Malkavian (g5)
2x	Dmitra Ilyanova	(9)		justicar	Brujah (g5)
2x	Undele	(9)		magaji	Ishtarri (g5)

Library [60 cards]

Action Modifier [12]
1x Approximation of Loyalty
3x Elder Impersonation
1x Faceless Night
2x Forgotten Labyrinth
1x Into Thin Air
4x Lost in Crowds

Action Modifier/Combat [1]
1x Swallowed by the Night

Combat [3]
3x No Trace

Master [27]
1x Coven, The
1x Direct Intervention
1x Giant's Blood
1x Golconda: Inner Peace
2x Information Highway
1x Jake Washington (Hunter)
1x Monastery of Shadows
1x Pentex(TM) Subversion
3x Protected Resources
1x Temptation of Greater Power
6x Villein
1x Wider View
7x Zillah's Valley

Political Action [17]
1x Anarchist Uprising
1x Ancient Influence
1x Ancilla Empowerment
3x Banishment
3x Kine Resources Contested
6x Parity Shift
1x Political Stranglehold
1x Reins of Power


Niina Lindroos

Deck Name : Lutz and his friends (Ropecon ECQ2014 version)
Author: Niina Lindroos
Description:
Crypt [12 vampires] Capacity min: 7 max: 11 average: 9.33333

4x	Lutz von Hohenzollern	(11)		inner circle	Malkavian (g4)
3x	Rafael de Corazon	(11)		inner circle	Toreador (g4)
3x	Stavros	(7)		priscus	Malkavian antitribu (g4)
2x	Drozodny	(7)		bishop	Malkavian antitribu (g5)

Library [90 cards]

Action [2]
2x Entrancement

Action Modifier [24]
1x Awe
3x Bewitching Oration
2x Cloak the Gathering
2x Elder Impersonation
3x Faceless Night
1x Into Thin Air
3x Lost in Crowds
3x Perfect Paragon
2x Spying Mission
4x Voter Captivation

Action Modifier/Combat [3]
3x Swallowed by the Night

Action Modifier/Reaction [2]
2x Touch of Clarity

Combat [5]
5x Majesty

Equipment [5]
2x Heart of Nizchetus
2x Helicopter
1x Ivory Bow

Master [25]
3x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Giant's Blood
2x Information Highway
1x Monastery of Shadows
3x Pentex(TM) Subversion
1x Secure Haven
7x Villein
2x Wider View
5x Zillah's Valley

Political Action [13]
3x Alastor
1x Anarchist Uprising
1x Ancient Influence
1x Ancilla Empowerment
2x Banishment
3x Kine Resources Contested
1x Political Stranglehold
1x Reins of Power

Reaction [11]
3x Eyes of Argus
2x My Enemy's Enemy
1x On the Qui Vive
4x Telepathic Misdirection
1x Wake with Evening's Freshness


Karri Malk

Deck Name : Sabbat Politics feat. Tyler McGill
Author: Karri Malm
Description:
Crypt [12 vampires] Capacity min: 4 max: 10 average: 7

4x	Tyler McGill	(4)			Toreador (g5)
2x	Armin Brenner	(10)		archbishop	Brujah antitribu (g4)
2x	Dark Selina	(9)		cardinal	Brujah antitribu (g5)
2x	Klaus Konrecht	(8)		cardinal	Toreador antitribu (g4)
2x	Stavros	(7)		priscus	Malkavian antitribu (g4)

Library [90 cards]

Action [5]
3x Enchant Kindred
2x Entrancement

Action Modifier [19]
1x Awe
4x Bewitching Oration
3x Forgotten Labyrinth
3x Iron Glare
3x Veil the Legions
5x Voter Captivation

Action Modifier/Reaction [2]
2x Scalpel Tongue

Ally [1]
1x Carlton Van Wyk (Hunter)

Combat [9]
7x Majesty
2x Thrown Gate

Master [21]
1x Black Forest Base
2x Blood Doll
1x Coven, The
2x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Giant's Blood
2x Information Highway
3x Minion Tap
1x Pentex(TM) Subversion
1x Powerbase: Montreal
1x Purchase Pact
1x Secure Haven
2x Vessel
1x Waste Management Operation
2x Wider View

Political Action [19]
2x Anarchist Uprising
2x Banishment
2x Conservative Agitation
2x Honor the Elders
9x Kine Resources Contested
1x Political Stranglehold
1x Reins of Power

Reaction [14]
1x My Enemy's Enemy
2x On the Qui Vive
4x Telepathic Counter
5x Telepathic Misdirection
2x Wake with Evening's Freshness


Tuomas Vuokko

Deck Name : Louhipakka
Author: Tuomas Vuokko
Description: Louhipakka (Louhideck, 1st iteration had louhi as the main star, rachel has proven way more useful but the name stayed).
Louhi and Rachel toolbox, fun to play, deceptively efficient at times. 50th iteration, needs an enkil cog and other tweaks. Tricky crypt.

Crypt [12 vampires] Capacity min: 2 max: 10 average: 7.91667

3x	Rachel Brandywine	(10)		prince	Malkavian (g3)
2x	Louhi	(10)		cardinal	Malkavian antitribu (g4)
2x	Maris Streck	(9)		justicar	Malkavian (g3)
1x	Rodolfo	(8)		bishop	Malkavian antitribu (g3)
1x	Doyle Fincher	(7)			Gangrel antitribu (g4)
1x	Dr. Allan Woodstock	(5)			Gangrel (g3)
1x	Persia, The Beautiful Statue	(5)			Malkavian (g3)
1x	Bloodfeud	(2)			Malkavian antitribu (g4)

Library [90 cards]

Action [6]
6x Kindred Spirits

Action Modifier [11]
1x Elder Impersonation
3x Eyes of Chaos
1x Faceless Night
4x Lost in Crowds
2x Veil the Legions

Action Modifier/Combat [5]
5x Swallowed by the Night

Action Modifier/Reaction [3]
3x Touch of Clarity

Ally [1]
1x Carlton Van Wyk (Hunter)

Combat [15]
3x Claws of the Dead
6x Earth Meld
5x Form of Mist
1x Wolf Claws

Equipment [2]
1x Heart of Nizchetus
1x Ivory Bow

Master [18]
1x Coven, The
3x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Giant's Blood
1x Golconda: Inner Peace
1x Monastery of Shadows
1x Pentex(TM) Subversion
2x Rotschreck
2x Vessel
4x Villein
2x Wider View

Political Action [8]
1x Anarchist Uprising
1x Ancient Influence
1x Domain Challenge
1x Kine Resources Contested
2x Parity Shift
1x Political Stranglehold
1x Reins of Power

Reaction [21]
4x Eyes of Argus
3x Guard Dogs
1x My Enemy's Enemy
2x On the Qui Vive
1x Rat's Warning
4x Telepathic Counter
6x Telepathic Misdirection


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 at TF (the same venue as the tournament proper), since we managed to get it started before 1am and the place shuts down at 3am. Turned out to be a tight squeeze, since the final round timed out and we had to rush out as soon as it finished.

Play started at 0:55am and ended at 2:55am (2h total).

The players were (in seating order):

1. Tuomas Vuokko
2. Toni Karjalainen
3. Karri Malm
4. Niina Lindroos
5. Pasi Karjalainen

Turn 1

Tuomas: Dreams of the Sphinx

Toni: Zillah's Valley

Karri: -

Niina:

• Wider View
• Monastery of Shadows

Pasi: -

Turn 2

Tuomas: -

Toni:

• Protected Resources
• bring out Unmada

Karri: bring out Stavros

Niina: Pentex on Stavros

Pasi: bring out Carna, Princess Witch

Turn 3

Tuomas:

• Dreams of the Sphinx
• bring out Rachel Brandywine

Toni:

• Villein Unmada, leaving 3
• Zillah's Valley

Karri:

• Pentex on Unmada (contest)
• Stavros bleeds w/Enchant Kindred

Niina:

• Yield Pentex context
• Zillah's Valley
• bring out Lutz von Hohenzollern

Pasi:

• Carna recruits Ponticulus, Lutz tries to block but fails
• bring out Aisling Sturbridge

Turn 4

Tuomas:

• Wider View x 2
• Rachel bleeds

Toni:

• Unmada calls Parity Shift, passes (5 from Karri, 3 to Toni & 2 to Niina)
• bring out Undele

Karri:

• Vessel on Stavros
• Minion Tap Stavros for 3
• Stavros bleeds w/Entrancement, blocked by Lutz

Niina:

• Villein Lutz for 7
• Giant's Blood on Lutz
• Lutz calls Alastor, Carna tries to block but fails. Vote passes, Lutz gets a Helicopter, untaps

Pasi:

• Carna Governs down
• Aisling bleeds for 1
• bring out Thelonius

Turn 5

Tuomas:

• Rachel bleeds
• bring out Louhi

Toni:

• Villein Undele for 7
• Temptation of Greater Power on Louhi, Toni wins bid with 13
• Louhi removes Pentex
• Unmada calls Parity Shift (5 from Karri, 3 to Toni, 2 to Niina), vote fails
• Undele calls Banishment on Stavros, vote fails

Karri:

• Info Highway
• Stavros calls KRC, 2 to Toni, 2 to Pasi, passes
• bring out Dark Selina

Niina:

• Lutz calls Banishment, Carna tries to block but fails, target is Undele. Vote passes, Lutz untaps.
• Lutz bleeds, bounced to Tuomas, Spying Mission

Pasi:

• Thelonius bleeds for 3 w/Conditioning
• Aisling bleeds for 3 w/Conditioning

Turn 6

Tuomas:

• The Coven
• Rachel bleeds w/Kindred Spirits

Toni:

• Villein Louhi for 9
• Zillah's Valley
• Unmada calls Parity Shift (5 from Karri, 3 to Niina, 2 to Toni), vote fails
• bring out Dmitra Ilyanova

Karri:

• Blood Doll on Dark Selina
• Dark Selina calls KRC (3 to Pasi, 1 to Toni), Delaying Tactics from Carna

Niina:

• Dreams of the Sphinx
• Lutz gets Ivory Bow, Carna tries to block but fails. Lutz untaps.
• Lutz rushes Carna (Alastor), Ponticulus blocks, is burned

Pasi:

• Anarch Troublemaker
• Carna bleeds w/GtU, Seducing Rachel
• Thelonius bleeds w/GtU, Tuomas is ousted
• Aisling bleeds for 1
• pay one to see one

Turn 7

Tuomas:

• Louhi hunts
• Unmada calls Banishment, Carna tries to block but fails, Carna is Banished
• Undele calls Ancient Influence, passes

Karri:

• The Coven (contest)
• Dreams of the Sphinx (contest)
• Stavros hunts

Niina:

• yield Coven
• Villein Lutz for 5
• Lutz bleeds, bounced to Toni, Lutz untaps
• Lutz rushes Aisling (Alastor), Aisling goes to torpor
• bring out Rafael de Corazon

Pasi:

• Pentex on Lutz
• Thelonius rescues Aisling
• Aisling bleeds w/GtU (2 because of Protected Resources)
• bring out Carna

Turn 8

Toni:

• Villein Dmitra for 8
• Unmada calls Banishment on Stavros, passes

Karri:

• Wider View
• Dark Selina hunts

Niina:

• Pentex on Carna (contest)
• Rafael calls Alastor, fails
• Lutz rushes Carna, Carna tries to block but fails, Carna goes to torpor, Lutz untaps
• Lutz bleeds, Aisling wakes and blocks, Aisling goes to torpor

Pasi:

• use Anarch Troublemaker (tap 2 minions)
• Thelonius rescues Carna

Turn 9

Toni:

• use Anarch Troublemaker (tas Dark Selina)

Karri:

• use Anarch Troublemaker (burn Ivory Bow)
• Dark Selina rescues Aisling
• bring out Stavros

Niina:

• Villein Rafael for 6
• Secure Haven on Lutz
• Lutz hunts, Carna tries to block but fails, Lutz untaps
• Rafael bleeds, Carna blocks, Rafael plays Majesty
• Rafael tries to get Heart of Nizchetus, DI from Toni

Pasi:

• Anarch Troublemaker (contest)
• Carna Governs down, Rafael tries to block but fails

Turn 10

Toni: -

Karri:

• Dark Selina calls Honor the Elders, passes

Niina:

• Rafael calls Reins of Power, passes (20-18)
• Lutz bleeds, Aisling tries to block but fails, bounces to Karri, reduced to 1

Pasi:

• yield Pentex and Anarch Troublemaker
• Carna Governs down
• Aisling bleeds with GtU, Louhi cancels

Game times out. Resolution of last action took an extra 8 seconds.


Pics

Some pictures from the finals (from Janne Lönnqvist).

There was defineatly worlds youngest future vtes player in the finals too

PetriWessman wrote:

Some pictures from the finals (from Janne Lönnqvist).

These were taken, IIRC, during the last turn Tube (#6) was in the game, after each player had finished their turn.


I've arranged them so they're in the correct order.
This makes it easier to understand what the heck is going on.
Kontroll!

Tube:


Toni (with his freshly nicked Louhi):


Karri:


Niina:


Pasi:

Best tournament report ever (or at least this year's). Thanks!

Yeah, Petri loves to be through!

I think that it was more of me being stubborn than having really enough stamina - or at least the stamina part was pretty much worn of during the three rounds before final.

I did do two major fuck ups on my last turn. I didn't notice that I have the coven on the start. So, I thought that I had to do the vote with Rafael (he having enough blood for awe, unlike Lutz with the helicopter...). After I had done the voting action, I suddenly noticed that "oh f---". With use of coven Lutz could have voted, and both would have been able to bleed (I'm not sure, if Pasi would have had another bounce in his hand - my guess is that he didn't as he played My enemy's enemy on the first/only bleed, but I forget to ask after the tournament if it had made the difference or not).

The other fuck up was not to vote with Lutz after the bleed - no, I didn't have the votes to get it pass on the point, but I would have not loosed anything if tried as the times was running out.. I was just too tired to think it through. After I have given the turn to Pasi, a nasty thought came in to my mind.. And after the time was out, I checked what's on the top of my deck... Yes. More vote push. If I calculated correctly, with me having the edge and two vote push cards, the vote would have probably passed with one vote. Damnd. I hope that I would have been a little less tired - or then enough more tired not to notice these things when it's already too late