Midsummer-Day Dream: Hilversum, The Netherlands (TWD)

extrala.blogspot.com/2011/08/results-midsummer-daydream-vtes.html

Midsummer-Day Dream
Hilversum, The Netherlands
August 20th, 2011
12 players
3R+F

Ralf Lammert's Tournament Winning Deck with 3 VPs in the Finals

Title: Nosferatu Anathema
Player: Ralf Lammert
Creator: Michael Bartsch

Crypt (Capacity min=2 max=9 avg=6.17; 12 cards)
============================================
2x Calebros, The Martyr 5 obf pot ANI Nosferatu:2
3x Casino Reeds 9 cel dem ANI OBF POT Nosferatu:3
1x Clarissa Steinburgen 3 ani obf Nosferatu:3
1x Ellison Humboldt 9 pro ANI OBF POT PRE Nosferatu:3
1x Jara Drory 7 aus pot ANI OBF Nosferatu:3
1x Krid 2 obf Nosferatu:3
1x Mouse 2 ani Nosferatu:3
2x Nikolaus Vermeulen 7 ani for obf POT Nosferatu:2

Library (90 cards)
=====================
Master (17 cards)
5x Animalism
1x Direct Intervention
1x Giant's Blood
3x Haven Uncovered
1x Labyrinth, The
1x Papillon
1x Slum Hunting Ground
3x Vessel
1x Warsaw Station

Action (9 cards)
4x Blood Hunt
1x Judgment: Camarilla Segregation
4x Third Tradition: Progeny

Political Action (15 cards)
5x Anathema
4x Consanguineous Boon
2x Nosferatu Justicar
2x Parity Shift
1x Praxis Seizure: Atlanta
1x Praxis Seizure: Houston

Equipment (1 cards)
1x Ivory Bow

Action Modifier (10 cards)
3x Animal Magnetism
2x Faceless Night
2x Lost in Crowds
1x Old Friends
2x Veil the Legions

Reaction (8 cards)
8x Second Tradition: Domain

Combat (27 cards)
15x Aid from Bats
2x Canine Horde
8x Carrion Crows
2x Taste of Vitae

Combo (3 cards)
3x Swallowed by the Night

I build the deck on the night before the tournament, after I have seen one of our players, Michael Bartsch playing (and winning) with it. He gave me the deck list and with only little tweaks I took it to the tournament. This is also the reason why it's still 90 cards. I didn't have the time to really trim the fat of the deck, I think 75 to 80 cards is the right size.

The deck is really slow one (as several players during the tournament remarked), it bloats first and foremost and tries to control at least 5-6 Nosferatu vampires. Besides bloating (using Casino's and Nikolaus special abilities) and bringing up new (also by using Third Progeny), the Anathema are there both for getting pool and removing opposing vampires. You don't have to resolve an Anathema more two (or at most three) times in game.

In the mid-game you take out the key vampire(s) of your prey and start swarm bleeding after/during that.

Crypt (Capacity min=2 max=9 avg=6.17; 12 cards)
==================================================
2x Calebros, The Martyr 5 obf pot ANI Nosferatu:2
3x Casino Reeds 9 cel dem ANI OBF POT Nosferatu:3
1x Clarissa Steinburgen 3 ani obf Nosferatu:3
1x Ellison Humboldt 9 pro ANI OBF POT PRE Nosferatu:3
1x Jara Drory 7 aus pot ANI OBF Nosferatu:3
1x Krid 2 obf Nosferatu:3
1x Mouse 2 ani Nosferatu:3
2x Nikolaus Vermeulen 7 ani for obf POT Nosferatu:2
// The crypt is ok'ish. The star players are Casino Reeds and Nikolaus, because of their special ability (although Nikolaus really needs superior Animalism). Jara and Ellison are obvious fillers, but especially Ellison can shine, if you're facing an opposing player having Princes. The little ones are in there to become future princes and even possible Nosferatu justicar.

Library (90 cards)
=====================
Master (17 cards)
5x Animalism
1x Direct Intervention
1x Giant's Blood
3x Haven Uncovered
1x Labyrinth, The
1x Papillon
1x Slum Hunting Ground
3x Vessel
1x Warsaw Station
// That's the section which really need some optimization. I think one Haven Uncovered can go. One Giant's Blood on 90 cards is not working, especially if you have the two Hunting Grounds. These two HG are really the key to the deck, since they allow you to bloat steadily with Casino and Nikolaus. I didn't draw the Warsaw in a single game except for finals, where I played it when I was already on the winning road. But it works greats with Casino's special ability.

Action (9 cards)
4x Blood Hunt
1x Judgment: Camarilla Segregation
4x Third Tradition: Progeny
// The Blood Hunts are key, cannot be removed, my vampires can rush with stealth. Only real drawback is that they cannot be placed on Princes, Justicars and IC. Luckily I didn't encounter many of those during the tournament.

Political Action (15 cards)
5x Anathema
4x Consanguineous Boon
2x Nosferatu Justicar
2x Parity Shift
1x Praxis Seizure: Atlanta
1x Praxis Seizure: Houston
// All of these votes are basically there to support the bloat. Parity Shift for handling aggressive predators, not so much for hurting another player (although it helps). When trying to trim the deck, one of the PS would go. The Nosferatu Justicar is just great for swinging the vote majority around if need be.

Equipment (1 cards)
1x Ivory Bow
// The Ivory Bow was one of the late night tweaks for the deck. Can't say no to 2R aggravated dmg. (when Casion is wielding the bow).

Action Modifier (10 cards)
3x Animal Magnetism
2x Faceless Night
2x Lost in Crowds
1x Old Friends
2x Veil the Legions
// just a little stealth, not enough for a dedicated wall (which I'd like to handle with combat instead), but enough for the Unmasking, Carlton and casual Media Locations you encounter. And a little vote push, because most players are not expecting that in a none-Presence deck.

Reaction (8 cards)
8x Second Tradition: Domain
// After 15 years still the best reaction in the game.

Combat (27 cards)
15x Aid from Bats
2x Canine Horde
8x Carrion Crows
2x Taste of Vitae
// The combat section is fine, except for the Taste of Vitae. I never actually used them (iirc), so either I would cut them entirely or replace them with Target: Vitals.

Combo (3 cards)
3x Swallowed by the Night

You can also find a short, but concise report of the final in the Dutch VtES Forum (in English).