Rustwurk: Vampire Etiquette

Another old strategy article originally pusblished on Rustwurk in 2002. This time LasombraKate (a.k.a. Kate Souza) gives you some tips on Vampire etiquette, but in fact these are generally beginners hints on how to better at playing VtES.

V:TES is a social game just as much as a strategic game. There are certain guidelines and tips one should follow when playing, and this goes for newer players just as much as veterans.

First, don't be discouraged. Like any card game, you will lose. In Vampire, you lose more than you win. It's inevitable. Vampire is a game of small victories. Smaller goals (e.g. ousting your prey) are far more accessible than say, sweeping the table your first game.

Play a clan you like, maybe not a clan that necessarily reflects your personality, but a clan you'd enjoy playing. I don't like to start off a game on the wrong foot (ahem, power gaming). Malkavian stealth-bleed, or weenie bleed may be wonderfully damaging, but does get boring. Obviously, make your first deck pretty simple, once you get a feeling for your playgroup and the game, make more complicated decks. I recommend not copying decks from decklists, because deck building is an important V:TES element. It's ok to look at decklists if you're confused about card ratios or cards to put in a deck, but avoid copying it card for card. It's so much more rewarding to build an original deck that wins than take it from a web page or another person.

This next point is self-explanatory: take the time to learn what cards do, and make sure you keep in mind what vampires you're matched up against. This way, you may be less surprised when you're sent to torpor or worse. It's easier to play when you know what obstacles you're facing.

Never put unnecessary pressure on your grand-predator or grand-prey. This only makes the game harder for you. If you hurt your grand-predator, your predator can put immense pressure on you. The same goes for hurting your grand-prey. If a bleed so happens to be deflected, it's never really wise to bump up the bleed when they don't block, or continue to stealth it when they try. Imagine how hard it is to bleed through your prey when they just gained six pool. Deflections should go to your prey, naturally, if a bleed has been deflected all the way around the table I usually deflect it to the person the bleed was intended for.

On the same token, it's never wise to conduct "cross table" actions. I mean that in the sense you shouldn't contest cross-table, rush cross-table, or heavily bleed at +6 stealth cross table. It's just not wise.

It's always a good idea to put some inkling of pressure on your prey. Newer players tend to act less, when forward motion is part of the game. Playing Vampire is circular, and somehow that affects you eventually. You can't be afraid to take forward action.

Listen to everyone at your table; try not to be a puppet or a tool. Other people other than your predator or prey usually have good ideas. It's usually good (although by all means not necessary) to have a cross table buddy. It's important not to take it too seriously though, as sometime soon, he/she will be your predator or prey.

Good sportsmanship is so very important as well. I try and think of it this way, many of the people I game with are friends, so I try not to say anything I'll regret the next day when I see them. So try not to be mean, yell at people, throw decks, or promise that you'll cross table them in every game they play. Bad things happen in V:TES much the same way they happen in Magic: The Gathering and other games. Your vampires will go to torpor, you will be blocked, and you will be ousted. If you don't think any of those things will happen, you have a lot to learn.

Last of all, and really it's the most important aside from good sportsmanship, don't be afraid to ask questions. It never bothers me or any one else really to clarify rules, give deck suggestions, or playing suggestions. We're here to help, especially new players. We want people to stay in the playgroup and to do well in games because it makes the game more enjoyable for everyone.

If you try and keep all this in mind when playing V:TES for the first few times, your games will go smoother, be more enjoyable and it will be more enjoyable to play with you.

Kate Souza

Kate Souza is a local Seekonk, MA V:TES player.