98: Stealth + Vote/Bleed

As far as defined deck archetypes go, I think that I prefer Stealth + Vote/Bleed. Why call it a Stealth deck first and a vote/bleed deck second? There are so many sources of intercept in VTES that without stealth, you are bound to get caught next to some jerk with +1 intercept and a hatred of your KRCs/Governs and be sunk. Stealth gets the action through. At worst, you can successfully bleed for one every turn and discard your vote cards, but it damages your prey no matter what. Votes don't necessarily hurt your prey. I recently played a game where I gave pool to my predator intentionally and another where I helped oust my predator. Cards like Ancilla Empowerment can damage the whole table, setting you up for a sweep or at least earning votes that a typical 3-1 KRC wouldn't.

Stealth + vote/bleed allows for some cunning without making a deck overly complicated. OBF PRE with a touch of dominate? Play deflection, votes, vote push, Enchant Kindred, Slaughtering the Herd, Majesty, Faceless Night and Forgotten Labyrinth. Want some flavor? Show them some lesbians(True Love's Face).

One last issue I'll bring up: you aren't stuck with only one path to victory. If you are out-voted, focus on bleed. If your prey can block or bounce most/all of your bleeds, vote them out. I don't know how many times I've come go a table only to find my deck hosed by either massive table votes(24 table votes at one tournament table) or blocky/deflectiony decks(i.e. tap and bleed vs No Secrets). Not relying entirely on one strategy means not automatically losing when that strategy turns out to be impossible at a table.

Some strong examples of this type of deck:
-obf ventrue(Arika, Queen Anne, Marcus Vitel and friends)
-Malk/!Malk Vote(Lutz, Bloody Mary, Stavros, Lazarus James, Alicia Barrows, Gem Ghastly, Sean Rycek)
-Lasombra(don't even need presence with Power Structure)
-!Ventrue with obt(old or new crypt)

Here's a deck I'm thinking about making, any advice?

2 Melinda Galbraith basic 10 AUS DOM obt cardinal
1 Melinda adv 10 AUS DOM obt Regent +2 bleed, tap sabbat vampire
1 Luca Italicus 10 AUS DOM FOR OBT Archbishop
3 Bruce de Guy 10 AUS DOM FOR OBT cardinal, cancel camarilla votes special
1 Omme Enberbenight 7 OBT dom priscus
1 Onaedo 6 DOM OBT aus
1 Virginie, Prodigy 6 DOM obt bishop pay 1 blood for +1 bleed
1 Andrew Emory 5 OBT dom bishop
1 Kestrelle Hayes 5 AUS dom for obt +1 stealth vs those without sabbat vamps

Actions: 9
2x Abbott
7x Govern the Unaligned

Votes: 6
3x KRC
1x Ancient Influence
1x Political Stranglehold
1x Reins of Power

Equipment: 1
1x Agate Talisman

Allies: 5
1x Mylan Horseed, Goblin
4x Nocturn

Action Modifiers: 18
2x Foreshadowing Destruction
2x Bonding
4x Shadow Play
2x Shroud of Night
2x Shroud of Absence
2x Tenebrous Form
4x Freak Drive

Combat: 6
6x Shadow Body

Master: 17
1x Giant's Blood
1x Golconda
5x Villein
3x Wider View
1x Information Highway
1x Bleeding the Vine
1x Monastery of Shadows
1x House of Sorrow
2x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Demonstration

Reactions: 18
7x Deflection
4x Eyes of Argus
4x On the Qui Vive
3x Obedience