Two-player variant for Vampire: the Eternal Struggle

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Category: Help Us Test the Two-Player Variant of VTES!

1. INTRODUCTION

Some game stores have requested a two-player format for VTES, as it’s easier to organize and quicker to play. With only two players needed, it's more feasible to set up matches, enabling stores to host streamlined tournaments that fit into tighter schedules.

2. PROPOSAL

In order to keep things simple and welcoming for new players who might later join standard 4- or 5-player games, we propose avoiding new rules as much as possible. Instead, we suggest defining which cards are allowed in this format.

These cards could be marked with a special icon and only they would be legal in two-player tournaments or games—while remaining legal in regular play.

2.1. Card restrictions

  • To maintain balance in a two-player format, certain card types should be excluded, especially those offering excessively powerful or permanent effects. For the time being, these include: Library cards that grant permanent abilities (e.g., pool/blood gain, intercept, bleed, stealth) without drawbacks.
  • Action cards with +2 bleed or more.
  • Modifier cards with +3 bleed or more.
  • Unblockable action enablers.
  • Bleed redirection cards.
  • Cards dealing more than +2 combat damage or damage outside combat.
  • Cards that steal vampires (e.g., Graverobbing).
  • Easy multi-action enablers (e.g., Freak Drive, Majesty).
  • Recursion cards.
  • Cards that grant permanent actions to enter combat (e.g., Theo Bell, Haven Uncovered).
  • Crypt accelerators (e.g., Dreams of the Sphinx, Zillah’s Valley).
  • Vampires with capacity below a threshold (e.g., less than 5) to prevent instant play.
  • Vampires with permanent intercept or stealth unless their capacity is 9 or higher.
  • Cheap cards that inflict aggravated damage.
  • Cards that prevent opposing minions from playing their combat cards (such as Immortal Grapple).
  • Combat cards that end combat.

For the full list of allowed V5 cards in this format, please refer to the List of allowed cards in 2-player VTES. Note that new cards not included on this list are under development for the two-player variant.


2.2. Suggested pre-constructed decks for these clans


2.3. Two-player variant rules

All rules of the Vampire: The Eternal Struggle rulebook apply in this format, except for the following:

Number of players: 2 (instead of 4-5)

Library size: From 40 to 60 cards (instead of 60-90)

Cards allowed: Only those with the specific icon for this format.

Contested crypt cards: If more than one unique crypt card with the same name is brought into play, that means control of the card is being contested. If another unique crypt card with the same name is brought into play, it is immediately contested, and can still be used as normal.

The cost to contest a crypt card is 1 pool, which you pay during each of your unlock phases. Instead of paying the cost to contest the card, you may choose to yield the card. A yielded crypt card is burned. Any cards or counters stacked on the yielded card are also burned. If all other cards contesting your unique crypt card are yielded, then the contest ends.

(Note: This means that contested crypt cards are no longer out of play).

Starting transfers: Each Methuselah normally receives 4 transfers at the start of their influence phase. To balance the advantage of going first, however, the Methuselah who has the first turn receives only 3 transfers on their first influence phase. Thereafter, each Methuselah receives the standard 4 transfers during their influence phase.