Release Date Change for "Heirs to the Blood" Confirmed

Earlier today White Wolf/CCP has officially confirmed in a news article on the White Wolf website, that the release date of the next VtES expansion "Heirs to the Blood" has been moved to February 3rd, 2009.

Oscar Garza, the organized play coordinator for VtES, adds the following note to the changed release date information in the above mentioned article:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I understand the pains this particular release has put on the community as a whole. The problems we have run into were unforeseen and regrettable but solvable. This set will be released to the standards of quality we try to enforce or every set we release. You will not be disappointed.

Thank you for understanding.

- Oscar Garza, Organized Play Coordinator.

Release Date for "Heirs to the Blood" moved again

According to Johannes Walch (from Walch & Nusser game distributors) the release date for the next VtES expansion "Heirs to the Blood" needed to be moved again. The new designated release date for "Heirs to the Blood" is now February 3th, 2010.

This is consistent with the information that Oscar Garza gave during the VtES EC 2009 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, where he said that there were problems with the printing company. There seem to be mishap with exchange of pictures and card texts, which required a whole new print run for the "Heirs to the Blood" expansion.

On the bright side, Oscar also reported that the expansion after "Heirs to the Blood" is already in the pipeline.

VtES Tournament Vocabulary 101

During this year's European Championship I was able to compile the quintessential VtES tournament vocabulary, that you need to win a tournament, or at least to get to the finals. By extensive field research in Spain the essence of VtES speak can be brought down to this nine sentences:

• "Wait, wait, wait, .."
• "You really want to .. (bleed/vote/rush/block)?"
  
• "Let's talk about this!"
• "We need to talk about this!"
• "What's in it for me?"
• "What can I offer you?"
• "I'm just defending."
  
• "Just help me ousting my prey, then I transfer out."
• "I didn't break the deal, the situation just changed."

Results EC 2009: European Championship (Day 2)

Here are the results from the European Championship (Day 2) tournament that was played during the VtES European Championship 2009 on November 15th, 2009 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. 40 players participated in this EC tournament, the standings in the finals were:

1. Martin Weinmayer (AUT) -- 1 GW 7 VP -- 3 VP -- Weenie Midcap Toreador antitribu Bleed&Bounce
2. Joaquim Miquel Cuesta (ESP) -- 1 GW 6,5 VP -- 1 VP -- Beast/Theo Bell Anarch Rush Combat
2. Kamel Senni (FRA) -- 1 VP 5 GW -- 1 VP -- Toreador Grandball Anneke/Anson
2. Erol Öngün (GER) -- 2 GW 7 VP -- 0 VP -- Stanislava & Friends Vote/Bleed
2. Christophe Baltazar (FRA) -- 1 GW 5,5 VP -- 0 VP -- EuroBrujah

The seating order in the finals was Martin --> Christophe --> Joaquim --> Kamel --> Erol. Congratulations to Martin for winning the European VtES Championship 2009. Martin is the first player that one the European Championship twice. The first time was in 1999, so like ten years ago.

Results EC 2009: First Chance Qualifier

Here are the results from the First Chance Qualifier tournament that was played during the VtES European Championship 2009 on November 15th, 2009 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The tournament gives the players the first opportunity to qualify for the Continental Championship tournaments in 2010. 78 players participated in this EC tournament, the standings in the finals were:

1. Peter Ducaiv (SVK) -- 2 GW 8 VP -- 1.5 VP -- Omaya Wall
2. Denis "Richter" Gerard (FRA) -- 2 GW 7 VP -- 0.5 VP -- Theo Beast Rust Combat w/ Graverobbing
2. David Quiñonero (ESP) -- 2 GW 5,5 VP -- 0.5 VP -- Ahrimanes Wall w/ Murder of Crows
2. Erik Torstensson (SWE) -- 1 GW 7 VP -- 0.5 VP -- Akysina Dachlau/Cybele Master Card Madness
2. Albert Zorrilla Agut (ESP) -- 2 GW 6,5 VP -- 0 VP -- Ventrue antribu Bruise & Bleed

The seating order in the final was: Peter --> Albert --> Denis --> Erik --> David. Congratulations to Peter for winning the FCQ. The first 20 players qualified for next year's continental championship, the cut-off was at 1 GW 4 VP (+TPs).

Results EC 2009: European Championship (Day 1)

Here are the results from the European Championship (Day 1) tournament that was played during the VtES European Championship 2009 on November 14th, 2009 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The tournament is played as a qualifier for the actual EC tournament on the next day. The top 40 players qualify for the next day's tournament. 111 players participated in this EC tournament, the standings in the finals were:

1. Vincent Ripoll (FRA) -- 2 GW 5,5 VP -- 4 VP -- Ventrue Weenie/MidCap Bruise/Bleed w/ Zip Guns
2. Hugh Angseesing (GBR) -- 2 GW 5 VP -- 1 VP -- Ventrue antitribu Bruise/Bleed/Block w/ WWS
2. Erol Öngün (GER) -- 2 GW 9 VP -- 0 VP -- Salubri & Friends Spirit Marionette
2. Cesar Ruiperez (ESP) -- 2 GW 8 VP -- 0 VP -- Giovanni Powerbleed
2. Iñaki Jimenez (ESP) -- 2 GW 7,5 -- 0 VP -- Giovanni Powerbleed w/ Shamblers

The seating order in the finals was: Erol --> Vincent --> Iñaki --> Hugh --> Cesar. Congratulations to Vincent for winning the Day 1 tournament of the EC. So this is the 2nd french tournament win during the VtES EC 2009.

Results EC 2009: Last Chance Qualifier

Here are the results from the Last Chance Qualifier tournament that was played during the VtES European Championship 2009 on November 13th, 2009 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The tournament gives the players the last opportunity to qualify for the European Championship tournaments on the followings days. 114 players participated in this EC tournament, the standings in the finals were:

1. Pascal "Floppy" Bertrand (FRA) -- 2 GW 7 VP -- 4 VP -- Malkavian G1/2 Weenie Auspex Wall
2. Michael Holmström (SWE) -- 2 GW 8,5 VP -- 1 VP -- Lasombra Nocturn Bleed
2. Marcin Watras (POL) -- 3 GW 11 VP -- 0 VP -- Anson Cel Gun Ashur Tablets
2. Cesar Ruiperez (ESP) -- 3 GW 10 VP -- 0 VP -- Weenie Auspex (G2/3)
2. Caroline Hyll (SWE) -- 2 GW 8 VP -- 0 VP -- Toreador antitribu G2/3 Vote

Congratulations to Pascal for winning the LCQ of the EC 2009.

Memorable Quotes (Part 64)

I have never understood the CCG player's ability to not read the card, and instead replace those concrete effects with their own personal journey from birth until now. -- KevinM on #vtes.

"Friday 13th" Storyline Bounty

A most interesting thing has happened for the unique storyline tournament "Friday 13th" that will be played during the VtES European Championship 2009 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain next weekend (November 13th to 15th, 2009.

echiang has offered a bounty for the storyline tournament winner if he's helping clan Tremere and Claudio Severino, and an even greater bounty if the winner is playing a deck based on the Tremere antitribu.

Read the whole story in the VtES Usenet Newsgroup or the VtES EC 2009 blog.

Pictures "Short Term Investment" VtES Tournament in Cologne

Here are a few (in fact the only ones I took) pictures from the VtES Constructed Tournament "Short Term Investment" that took place on November 8th, 2009 in Cologne, Germany.

Left: Final Table still somewhat early in the game.


Right: Michael's Kyasid never got into the game, because of the high pressure (read: bleed) by his predator.

Left: Jörg could build up quite nicely, and had already a small minion horde in the early/mid-game.
Right: The Tzmisce Frederick played, could bleed quite heavily early on, before Jörg applied pressure with his Shamblers.

Left: Ralf sorely missed one of the Nosferatu Royalty, and got under pressure from the Tzimisce early on.
Right: Ben had quite a bunch of Ventrue/!Ventrue out, but lacked the punch to oust Michael early on.

One of the fun things of the tournament final was seeing Egothha milling away more than one Visit of the Capuchin from Frederick's library.

Results "Short Term Investment" VtES Tournament in Cologne

Here are the results of the "Short Term Investment" VtES Constructed tournament in Cologne, Germany after 2 rounds and the final. The tournament was played on November 8th, 2009 with 10 players participating. Here are the standings after the final round:

1. Jörg A. 2 GW 7 VP -- 3 VP -- Giovanni/Harbinger G2/3 Shambling Hordes
2. Frederick E. -- 0 GW 2 VP -- 1 VP-- Tzimice G2/3 Bruise&Bleed
2. Ben H. -- 0 GW 1 VP -- 1 VP -- Ventrue/!Ventrue G4/5 Bruise & Bleed
2. Michael H. -- 1 VP 4 VP -- 0 VP -- Kyasid G3/4 Nocturn & other allies
2. Ralf L. -- 1 GW 3 VP -- 0 VP -- Nosferatu G4/5 Royalty w/Dom

Congratulations to Jörg for his victory in the tournament. You can find the tournament winning deck in the VtES Usenet Newsgroup.

Memorable Quotes (Part 63)

He plays evil cards, (and) I am not retarded. -- Kathie (her answer to the question why she wasn't playing Kindred Spirits on superior when bleeding with Lutz).