Card idea: Namtaru
Cardtype: Vampire
Clan: Baali
Group: Any (or could be 6)
Capacity: 11
Disciplines: DAI DOM FOR OBF POT PRE THA
Independent:
Namtaru is immune to damage. During each other Methuselah's untap phase, he or she burns 1 pool. When Namtaru comes into play, remove from play a ready Baali of capacity 10 or more you control. +2 bleed. +2 strength. Flight. Infernal.
Here's some background about Namtaru and the Baali in general (summary taken from planet-vampire and other sources)
Their lore is deliberately hazy at best, so generally Shaitan is a tricky issue. There's Shaitan childe of Ashur, who became Huitzilopochtli and awakened in 1996 (Chaos Factor) and then there's also Shaitan who is Nergal, he who wishes to rouse Namtaru to awaken (VtDA-CB:Baali). So this would mean there is more than one Shaitan right? But Gehenna claims Nergal/Shaitan is the only Shaitan, so this problematic. What's the deal?
Revised also points to that the Baali came from a lowly Mesopotamian slave boy who was Embraced, pointing towards the Shaitan/Huitzilopochtli rather than the origin of the three progenitors (Nergal, Moloch and the Unnamed). Should one simply assume the Baali origin is truly unknown or rather they have multiple progenitors or that simply many claim the mantle of Shaitan? Although the Setites claim Saulot is the 'Father of Demons' in revised.
Also what do people think the Children are? Demon the Fallen makes an offhanded reference to a Fallen named bel-Namtaru, whose dominion is around Greece. This would make the Children Fallen if Namtaru is one of them. Then again, the non-scenario specific information in Gehenna implies that Namtaru could in fact be an Antediluvian rather than a demon. It also implies that Nergal of the Aralu may be different to Nergal/Shaitan and another Antediluvian.
Azaneali
One significant historical bloodline of the Baali are called Azaneali; the result of a pact between a Baali named Azaneal and infernalist Lasombra (angellis ater). Azaneal sought to find the lost city of Mashkan-shapir said to be built over an ancient demonic entity named Namtaru. The Azaneali may replace either Daimoinon or Presence with the Obtenebration discipline. Only twelve such Baali were sired, and they carried the additional weakness of being sterile. It is uncertain if any survived into the modern era.[5]
Namtaru could be a 11-cap vampire requiring a great sacrifice to be brung back to this world. Once awaken, such a vampire couldn't be easily beaten (thus its immunity) and is also called the Plague Bringer (thus its Contagion-like ability). The mix of disciplines comes from Hutizilopochtly and Nergal.
Once out, it can be quite powerful, but it is quite hard to reach that point.
Considering a player with 6 influence per turn (Information Highway), it requires a 21-pool investment on 4 turns. Even with a Villein on the first vampire out (Nergal for example), it is VERY expensive. It is quite a challenge to put it into play.
Another way would be to use a Summon History Trick. It requires though to play a True Brujah with Ankara + Clan Impersonation. Not sure it's a better way to do it.
Just as a reminder: if you bring out Namtaru and you don't control any other Baali, it would remove itself from play.
Strong as it appears, it may be in fact underpowered. In the end you still get a single vampire with all the weakness big single vampire have (Pentex Subversion, only 1 action etc.) Maybe its Contagion effect could be raised to 2 pool per turn.
Thoughts?
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The only big problem I got with him is the immune to damage ability. Let's say you build a multi-rush deck and he gets a Preternatural Strength + Heroic Might. You can risk to bring him down to 1 blood since he takes no damage and therefore you can attack any target and just taste of vitae like hell.
Also he can Disarm just right away. A Disarm - Decapitate multirush?
Complete immunity seems to strong to me. Taking half damage rounded up would be strong enough, so he can't auto disarm.
He seems like a funky dude though. Wouldn't mind to play something like that.
NC for Hungary
hunfragment.blogspot.com
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- Mephistopheles
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11-caps should have about 14 (11+3).
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- Amenophobis
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I don't know if it's a real issue. On paper, it's quite insane butThe only big problem I got with him is the immune to damage ability. Let's say you build a multi-rush deck and he gets a Preternatural Strength + Heroic Might. You can risk to bring him down to 1 blood since he takes no damage and therefore you can attack any target and just taste of vitae like hell.
Also he can Disarm just right away. A Disarm - Decapitate multirush?
- at 1 blood, he may be targetted by a Sleep of Reason, or any blood stealing ability that would force him to hunt
- Decapitate requires him to keep 3 blood at least.
In fact, any vampire with Preternatural strength facing anyone who hits for 1 can perform the same trick.
That's perfect, he costs 21 point of influence to get out.Well, interesting. But he is way off points-wise. I'd count it for 21 points, not considerung the disadvantage.
11-caps should have about 14 (11+3).
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But hey I just realized I love your card. I am a big fan of big cap multi rush decks, like my Hardestadt deck was. So I'd be more than happy to play with this guy.

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- Mephistopheles
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Um, no. The points formula is there to balance vampires wrt their capacity, disciplines and specials.
That's perfect, he costs 21 point of influence to get out.Well, interesting. But he is way off points-wise. I'd count it for 21 points, not considerung the disadvantage.
11-caps should have about 14 (11+3).
Each vampire has to be taken for himself, points wise. You can attach a disadvantage (e.g. the vampire-removal thing), to balance the points. However, this is not balanced.
You can bring out a 10-cap Baali, and Villein down to 1, then take a big bleed action that costs a blood, and remove him at the end of the influence phase for the Namtaru.
How do you properly rate the pool you regained and the actions the vampire took into the disadvantage?
You can't.
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- Amenophobis
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