Update and Game Re-Cap

I got to play at Legends in the Mall again this weekend, this time with four players. Jeff arrived for games two and three. While we were waiting, we played a round of Wings of War, which was sorta fun.

Game 1:
Me(ANI rush)> Ian(obf dom BH vote/breed/bleed)> Andy(Lutz Petra Resonance)

Andy got Arthur Denholm out as his first dude. The turn after, I brought out Janey Pickman. She had bad intentions from the get-go, especially after Andy passed a KRC that went 3-1. Janey rushed Denholm who was either torpored or emptied. Ian did some bleeding, Creation Rights, and successfully called Watchtower: The Greatest Fall. Andy was Soul Scanning and screwing around, trying to get his crypt in order. Ian called a damaging vote after I rushed a Denholm with one blood with Janey, trying to burn him. Andy blocked with Sean Rycek, who I burned instead. Andy blamed me for giving Ian vote lock and I pointed out that I had rushed Arthur, not Sean. Andy died to bleeds and votes, then I started rushing Ian with a vengeance. My fame was suddened and a rush was chump blocked by a creation rights, then I started rushing dudes with votes and diablarizing. Ian conceded.

Me: 2vp GW Ian: 1vp

Wings of War:
I was playing a Japanese Zero and was blown up in short order by some lucky hits, crippling Andy's Hurricane in the process. Ian and Andy duked it out, not quite finishing before we got tired of it. The game works better with a bunch of planes because dogfights can take a really long time. I'd play it again.

Game 2:
Me(Carna and friends toolbox)> Ian(something bleedy)> Jeff (G1-2 Nos Royalty)> Andy(Lutz from above)

I can't remember if Ian was playing the same deck as game one. I do remember it had Tarbaby Jack showed up and got a Dominate skill card, plus he had Gratiano. Am I confusing the decks? I dunno. Anyway, I tooled up Carna with the Bowl and Ivory Bow early, limiting what Ian and Andy could do. I used my Governs mostly to bleed when I felt that the timing was right and I succeeded in defeating Ian's bounce(maybe there wasn't much). I brought out Bryan, Brooke and Ehrich, who made up a good team.

Andy did two Petra Resonances that gave three pool from himself to Ian, plus Suddened a lot of stuff that didn't make much sense(like Wider Views played by Ian). I think Andy didn't want anyone to empty their crypt and make his Petra Resonances unplayable. His deck was supposed to soul scan and Wider View everything but one Lutz from his Crypt so that he could steal a bunch of pool with his weenie malks. This didn't help me oust Ian, so he ousted Jeff before I could get him, then I swept the table with bleeds and Bows/Bowls of cheating. I did manage to block an ousting bleed cross table once, which felt pretty cool.

Me: GW 3vp Ian: 1vp

Game 3:
Me(Armin Brenner and friends vote and bloat w/stealth)> Ian(g1-2 Tor all Jyhad toolbox)> Andy(Bimas w/for)> Jeff(SPCA SWAT Team)

I started out with a really good crypt draw and three transfers. I put two on Armin and one on Dmitra. Karen Suadela was in there and I had an extra copy of Dmitra, which I turned into Hektor with the help of an early Wider View. Ian brought out Victoria Ash and Francois, so there was briefly some competition for votes. Dmitra hit the table, followed by Karen. I started passing KRCs, Con Ags, and other stuff somewhere along the way, but Ian was bloating a lot, too. Andy made Bimas with fortitude after a while, but often forgot that his FoS didn't start with for/FOR. He layed down an Unmasking on probably his first turn, meaning that there was a fair amount of combat.

Jeff also happened to be playing an ally deck featuring Underbridge Stray and lots of equipment. Between Andy and Jeff, they had three intercept locations in addition to Unmasking. FBI Special Affairs Division was played by Jeff and used to the utmost. Strays would block Andy and torpor his guys. Andy even blocked something Jeff did with a Bima, which torpored Jeff's vampire. It was pretty funny. Ian played Aching Beauty on Victoria early and eventually Francois. I told Andy that Ian was playing Jyhad only to give him the hint that he didn't have Aire of Elation, but he still blocked Victoria's bleeds for one. Francois came in to steal two blood when Andy was at three. Andy blocked it, costing him a pool. Francois Majestied and bled for two against Andy, who was out of wakes.

I had been hoping that I would be able to oust all three in order, but Ian was bloating a lot from Minion Tap and Francois' blood farming. Sort of as a hedge, I stole Andy's Nephren Ka while I was rescuing his guy for the third(?) time. Nephren helped me torpor Victoria, who was eaten by one of my dudes. Francois was too good at getting blood, so I couldn't quite put him down. I did diablarize Jeff's Samedi and stole his Kevlar Vest, whittling away at the table. After Ian got Andy, I managed to oust him with several turns of bleeding for about five, backed up by some votes. My having vote lock was probably key in keeping his pool level under control. Jeff didn't have much left, so the Anarchist Uprising that I saved more than put me over the top.

Me: GW 3vp Ian: 1vp

I had been concerned when I made the ANI deck that it might be a little aggro for our group, but decided that was OK once in a while. In three player VTES, the deck was significantly better at controlling the table. Ian pointed out that the vote deck was a little low on ousting power, so I'll have to consider some more bleed or votes. Permableed would require the fewest cards, so maybe Heart of the City? There are some Iron Glares in there and I don't want to get AI'd. As it is now, it's just too slow to oust somebody that bloats without good timing and/or good luck.

Legends is a great location. The food in the area isn't great, but there are a few different choices. The best deal is probably the Subway or, if you like your fast food burgers, Burger King. The burritos are often made incorrectly and the rice is bland. The polish sausage is really just a big hot dog. I haven't tried the Terayaki, but the price point is a little high. Ms. Fields? The cookies are pure sugar and not that great. Ian likes the shakes there. There is a bubble tea place that I might patron from time to time.

I'd like it if more players from the bay area would come down and try the place. There aren't any games going on other than at Legends and at Eudemonia in Berkeley that I'm aware of. Brad, Ira, Con Hon, Gerentt, etc, have you given up on VTES? Kubla Kon is coming up Memorial Day weekend. If I go to the convention, I might run into some of those people there. Finals are the week after, so I dunno. I'll leave a post-it for myself to do more research.

On a side-note, I don't know if I'm "back" at blogging, it's too early to tell. I do know that it is unlikely that I'll finish the discipline series due to pure inanity. Like Merlin said, the mood may strike to write something else. I want to be free to go with it.