[Submission] Ruthless Efficiency

Name: Ruthless Efficiency
Cardtype: Political Action
Cost: 0
Capacity: N/A
Discipline: N/A
Clan: N/A
Sect: Sabbat

(Card text): Requires a Sabbat vampire.
Allocate 4 points among one or more Methuselahs. Successful referendum means each Methuselah burns 1 pool for each point allocated.

Flavor text:
I'm a gravedigger
Follow me into the fire
MXMS
Gravedigger

Art notes: Source - Sabbat Black Hand Sourcebook (Bloodhound)
Alternative art: "Sabbat Black Hand Sourcebook "Leader with Shovel"

World of Darkness reference: N/A



How does this card address a compelling game need?:
With sect-based votes becoming more available, the Sabbat has yet to see a direct damage vote that can compete with Reckless Agitation, Camarilla's Iron Fist or Parity Shift.

Previous editions have included Sabbat-required votes, but those have been underpowered (e.g. Code of Milan Suspended), difficult to use (e.g. Auto-da-fé), or easy to remove (e.g.
Hand Intervention). There are a lack of direct pool damage examples because there is a lack of Sabbat-based direct damage votes, as demonstrated by the Libertine Ball & Parliment of Shadows preconstructed decks.

At present, the only viable direct pool damage vote option left to Sabbat vampires is Kine Resources Contested. Granted, it remains a useful card, but the Sabbat is a major sect (552 vampires) and hasn't seen a pool damage vote improvement since 1996.

This card is an incremental improvement over Kine Resources Contested, with a reasonable restriction. Changing the target requirement from two to one makes it playable during all phases of the game, unlike comparable direct pool damage votes that vary based on game conditions.

- Requiring the sect makes it playable by Sabbat vampires without replacing KRC.
- It shouldn't supersede KRC any more than CIF, RA or PS have.
- Capping the damage at 4 reduces the overall power, while maintaining the same card economy as KRC (CIF, RA & PS having double the effect of a KRC in one card).
- Removing the two or more targeting requirement is measured improvement over KRC.
- No title requirement makes it more playable in low-cap, non-titled or push archetype decks (!Brujah Unexpected Coalition, Libertine Ball etc.)
- No cost requirement balances out the sect requirement & card economy.

Created by: Josh Whelan