86: The one(of many) where Maris Streck ruins the game

We got together at Andy and Eric's house to play some games yesterday, sans Andy, Gerentt, or Michael. We did have Evan, one of Eric's friends, there to learn the game. I tried to make a fairly straight-forward deck for him to play, which I think worked out.

Game 1:
Me(Ariadne Renegade Garou)> Ian(Malks with dem/dom)> Evan(FoS bleed)> Eric(Malk94)

Once I saw what Eric was playing, my plan was simple: Stomp his minions and don't spend too much pool. Having two stealth bleed decks behind me made my game plan pretty shaky from the beginning. I got out Ariadne and took bleeds for 3 from each of Eric's minions. As soon as I could, I brought out a Renegade Garou and Villein/Vessel/Abactored Ariadne. Spinkles, the Underbridge Stray, was my side-kick through the early game.

Throughout the game, Ian and I were instructing Evan on the ways of stealth-bleed in terms of responsible bleeding, tapping people out, etc. Thankfully, Eric didn't get much help from Evan this game(the tables would turn in game 2). After Eric No Traced against a Garou rushing his Mariel, Lady Thunder, things looked bleak. Thankfully, I had out two Garou, Ariadne, and Sprinkles when Ian's Maris Streck hit the table. Maris unleashed Sprinkes, who bit Laurent de Valois. Next, Sprinkles exploded, alerting one of my Garou, who sprunk to action. Two swipes of the claws later, one of Eric's vampires was in torpor.

The next turn, I dunked one of Eric's minions and crippled one of Evan's. Ian didn't see it important to lend my Garou intercept, so I took a bleed from Eric and had a Garou turned into a snake courtesy of Set's Curse. My game was over, so I rushed Carlton(killing him) and diablarized a freshly minted and torpored Ogwon(courtesy of Ian's Ivory Bow). Renenet bled me for 4, and I Archon Investigated her to drive the point home. No minions for you! We called the game due to inanity and started another one now that we had Jeff.

The player with no predator wins.

Game 2:
Me(Weenie CEL/gun)> Evan(FoS Bleed)> Ian(Fattie group 4/5 Lasombra)> Eric(Salubri bloat machine)> Jeff(Salubri bounce/reduce machine)

Early in the game, Evan was not playing nice with Ian, so I put one of his minions to sleep with a rush/bang bag psyche special. Jeff emptied my Parmenides with his Heidelberg before I could even use him, so I put a bunch of bullets into one of his guys. A torpored, Famed Renenet was enough to finish Ian with the help of some Serpentis/Presence bleeds. I had planned on letting Ian get weakened and then killing them both, but Ian just plain collapsed after spending 2 pool on a hunting ground and discarding a blood doll. I ousted Evan with Fame/Dragonbound and then got stuck between to bloat decks. Jeff bounced what must have been 4 bleeds for 2-3 into me. I couldn't kill Eric fast enough to bolster my limited supply of pool, nor could I destroy Jeff's ready region because he didn't have enough pool to survive.

In an untenable position, I rushed Jeff's AK-47 and Bowl toting Salubri(he only had to pay 6 extra for this one!). First, Volker had his .44 blown up by some goofy Salubri combat card(this is after Parm's earlier attempt to snatch Jeff's .44 that was spoiled by Anesthetic Touch). Parm rushes this dude and reduces his first AK shot with a Sideslip, taking 3 damage and dishing out 4(which is reduced to 1 by an Armor of Vitality and a Hidden Strength at the cost of 2 blood). Combat's over- Psyche! I shot Jeff's dude again and reduced his strike by one with another Sideslip. Finally, Sarah Brando eats the dude and takes his stuff.

Before time runs out, I started rushing Eric's guys and I Arson Salot's Secure Haven, but he's sitting on at least 15 pool.

Fun fact: 3/5 decks in game 2 featured Lilith's Blessing. Can you guess which ones?

More gaming in another 2 weeks!