Asian Continental Championship Singapore Qualifiers Finals

 
Sorry for the long delay, but here's the report from the finals.

After the dust from the preliminary rounds settled, 5 Methuselahs lined up for the final table.

• Derek didn't have much of a choice, going into the final table at 5th position.
  
• Keith chose to be bled by Derek, after having seen Derek's deck, and feeling fairly confident of his ability to stop Derek's bleeds.
  
• My memory is a little vague on this one, but I believe Danz chose to bleed Derek, and Stephen inserted himself between Danz and Derek.
  
• Robin then chose to be bled by Keith, knowing full well that he had exactly what was needed to completely stop Keith.
  

Le Fei's roll of a die set the final table in the following order:
Stephen's Forest of Blood bleeding Derek's Tremere/!Tremere Bruise Bleed bleeding Keith's Khazar's Diary bleeding Robin's Madness Network bleeding Danz's Toreador Toolbox.

Round 1

• Stephen played a Dreams of the Sphinx.
  
• Keith played a Channel 10 and influenced out Cristofero Giovanni.
  
• Robin played a Zillah's Valley.
  

Round 2

• Stephen influenced out Chavi Oraczko.
• Derek got himself Selena's services.
• Keith Liquidated some assets, got Cristofero to recruit Carlton Van Wyk, influenced out Mario Giovanni, and Unmasked the Masquerade.
• Robin finished exerting his influence on Rachel Brandywine.
• Danz lured Marcellus into his employment.

Round 3

• Stephen visited a Fortune Teller Shop who told Chavi to Deprive Marcellus of his Senses, but a Direct Intervention from Danz himself saved Marcellus the embarrassment. Chavi then decided to get herself a set of Shilmulo Tarot instead. Stephen used his Sphinx's last dream to end his turn with Papa Legba in his service.
• Derek got his own Dreams of the Sphinx but decided to bide his time and ended his turn after some influencing.
• Keith paid a visit to the Parthenon and used its powers to Liquidate some more. He then used his new found fortune to call in the services of Ambrosius, the Ferryman and then promptly used a Sudario Refraction to get back a Khazar's Diary, a Spectral Divination and a Liquidation. Marciana Giovanni joined his fast growing family of necromancers.
• Robin made Rachel his Blood Doll and got her to bleed Danz for 2. Marcellus attempted to block the bleed, but Rachel Cloaked her own Gathering to sneak past Marcellus to give Robin the Edge and making herself the leader of Enkil Cog.
• Danz had Marcellus get the Ivory Bow.

Round 4

• Stephen taught Pap Legba a level of Chimestry. Chavi and Papa Legba both embraced a Tumnimos each. Stephen then influenced out Gharston Roland.
• Derek made a Vessel of Selena, severing the link between Robin and Rachel. Selena's bleed was blocked by Carlton. Carlton dodged Selena's hand strike, and when Selena pressed with an Apportation, Carlton managed to Dodge it again. Selena pressed again with Apportation and they both had a little bitch fight. Derek then got out Ladislas.
• Keith Acquired some Assets from the Ventrue, and Liquidated some more of his own. Cristofero started the Khazar's Diary engine. Mario recruited Felix Hessian and Keith got Chas Giovanni Tello.
• Robin made Rachel a Perfectionist who proceeded to perfectly employ a Homunculus. Henry Taylor joined Robin's army.
• Danz had Marcellus bleed, but was blocked by Gharston. Marcellus pulled out a Concealed Saturday Night Special and shot Gharston's Apparition a little, and then tried again with a Blur of shots, but all he got was another Apparition. Marcellus tried to press with some Telepathic Tracking, only to realise that the Apparitions stayed for the whole combat. Danz then brought Sheila Mezarin into the team.

Round 5

• Stephen started on the Path of Paradox, and led with a bleed for 1 with Gharston, gaining the Edge. Chavi recruited a Procurer. and Papa Legba got the Treasured Samadji while one of the Tumnimos hunted again.
• Derek got Ladislas to Govern Keith's Unaligned, but was blocked by Felix Hessian, resulting in some ghetto fighting. Selena tried bleeding for 1 but got slapped around by Ambrosius instead. Thelonius joined Derek's forces.
• Keith Liquidated twice and used a Sudario Refraction to get back 2 copies of Khazar's Diaries and a Suadrio Refraction. Marciana added to the Diary and Chas recruited the Repo Man. Robin activated Rachel's Enkil Cog to bleed, but Sheila Telepathically Misdirected it to Stephen, who used his untapped Tumnimos to block.
• Robin untaps and tries to have Henry Taylor Clan Impersonate a Malkavian. Rachel tries again to bleed Danz for 3. Danz Wakes Sheila Mezarin and sends the bleed to Keith with My Enemy's Enemy. Keith blocked using Repo Man, who dies. Victoria is now out.
• Danz calls a Kindred Segregation with Sheila, successfully burning Felix Hessian and Ambrosius, though Keith paid to keep Carlton. Marcellus' attempt to effect a Parity Shift was blocked.

Round 6

• Stephen teach Tumnimos Chimerstry. Papa Legba then bleeds for 2, but was Deflected to Keith instead. To keep the forward momentum going, Tumnimos bleeds with Fata Morgana. Chavi also bleeds with another Fata Morgana.
• Derek plays the Barrens, then continues on to bleed lots. Thelonius bleeds for 1, followed by Selena bleeding with Governed the Unaligned. However, Selena's bleed was blocked by Carlton van Wyk, who shot Selena for 1 and dies. Ladislas bleeds with Govern the Unaligned and Conditioning for 6. Derek gets Brooke.
• Keith Liquidates twice again, and tries to complete Kharzar's Diary with Cristofero. Rachel blocks with the right of the Second Tradition and loses Cristofero in a Mental Maze. Keith tries again with Mario and succeeds in bring Khazar's Diary to 7 counters, allowing Marciana and Chas to make some wraiths. Robin uses the Enkil Cog again to bleed with Rachel, who Impersonates Marcellus' Elder when he woke and attempted to block.
• Robin bloats a little with Victoria's ability and plays the Madness Network. Henry Taylor gets himself a Carrion Coffin, using Form of Mist to slip past Keith's wraith. Victoria Impersonates the Giovanni and Rachel bleeds again for 3.
• Danz got some pool back when Marcellus' used a Parity Shift to move pool from Robin. Sheila bleeds and effects an Aire of Elation for 3 pool loss. Robin uses the power of the Madness Network to have Henry Taylor equip with a Sport Bike and bleed Danz with Rachel.

Round 7

• Stephen plays a brand new copy of Dreams of the Sphinx and, acknowledging that the end is near, bled with everything he had. Keith lost 2 pool from a Deflected Papa Legba, but the rest managed to land on Derek. Robin used Rachel to bleed, but Danz Forcefully Awoke Sheila and used her Telepathy to Misdirect Rachel to Stephen.
• Derek used Thelonius to bleed for 1 and chose to leave the other minions untapped in preparation for Stephen's next wave of bleeds. Rachel's attempt to bleed using the Madness Network was sent to Stephen when Sheila got wind of it On the Qui Vive.
• Robin bloats some more with Victoria and sets up a Powerbase in Zurich. Rachel bleeds and Victoria, the newly minted Giovanni, made a wraith using the magic of Khazar's Diary.
• Danz ousts Stephen with a bleed from Sheila. Marcellus tried to block Rachel, but Lost her in the Crowds. Even his Enhanced Senses failed to penetrate her Cloaking.

Round 8

• Derek bleeds for 1 for a bunch, and Rachel using Form of Mist to land a bleed past Marcellus.
• Keith attempts to withdraw.
• Robin sent Rachel out to hunt for blood, while Victoria proceeds to make more wraiths. Both wraiths bleed into Danz, and Marcellus could not prevent his master from being ousted even with a desperate cycling of cards. Henry then bleeds into Derek, but was deflected to Keith, causing Keith's withdrawal attempt to fail.

Round 9

• Derek get a Visit from the Capuchin, but was unable to land a single bleed on Keith. Rachel calls on the Fifth Tradition to feed Henry, who attempts to bleed Derek. Rachel tries to Cloak Henry in an attempt to sneak the bleed past Ladislas, but a timely report from Keith's Channel 10 promptly put a stop to that.
• Keith attempts to withdraw again.
• Robin uses Victoria to make another wraith, and the three wraiths manage to oust Derek. Henry bleeds Keith for 1.

Round 10

• Keith attempts to withdraw again, and manages to convince Robin to give him the chance to experience a successful withdraw attempt.
• Robin does nothing.

Round 11

• Keith's withdraw attempt is successful, netting him 1 Victory Point.

Final Result:

1st - Robin Pong with Game Win and 3 Victory Points in the final table.

2nd - Danz Holandez with 1 Victory Point in the final table

2nd - Keith Lee with 1 Victory Point in the final table

2nd - Stephen Sing 

2nd - Derek Yang

6th - Eng Boon Khim

7th - Bann Lum

8th - Wu Yi Peng

9th - Edward Choy

10th - Fauzi Shafie

11th - Muhd Dzaki Abadi Samri
12th - Zheng Yongyan (withdrew from event)

Pictures to come when I get the time.
 

End of an Era

 
From White Wolf website:

Atlanta, GA September 10, 2010--Vampire: The Eternal Struggle™, the trading card game published since 2000 by White Wolf Publishing Inc., has survived the lifetimes of many Methuselahs, been a terrifying vehicle for their manipulative ways and a true forum for the creation of lifelong friends and bitter enemies since its launch in 1994.

White Wolf has been increasingly unable to continue serving the V:TES community in the way that the game requires. After an exhaustive search for possible alternatives to extend V:TES, one of the oldest collectible card games will be returning to torpor once more. White Wolf sought out many possible licensors to take over the franchise but an accord could not be met. V:TES will finish the year strongly with the North American Championship at The Grand Masquerade in New Orleans and the European Championship in Paris and continue to support tournaments for another year, even in the absence of new expansions or reprints of old sets. The strength of V:TES has always been in its devout following, and White Wolf trusts that while the game may retreat from the light for the forseeable future, it will never suffer a final death.

Direct Inquiries to:
Oscar Garza, Organized Play Director
White Wolf Publishing
orgplay@white-wolf.com

*sigh*
 

Ruling: Target Vitals and Unpreventable Damage

 

We interrupt your regular schedule of photos to bring you this special report.

Any damage from Target Vitals follows all characteristics of the base damage, including, but not limited to, unpreventable and aggravated damage.

Reference:
Newsgroup Message
V:tES Rulings Page
Rules Team Rulings

And now, back to your regular schedule of photos.
 

Photos from Singapore Qualifiers: Asian Continental Championships 2010 (Part 2)

 
As promised, more photos of the event.

Round #1 proved to be a slow one, maybe it is due to the rainy weather. Table 1 did not have any ousts. There were ousts on Table 2, but it was still not fast enough for anyone to get a game win.

There was a break for lunch after Round #1 timed out, and then there was Round #2, with a total of 12 Methusalahs. We had 3 tables of 4, and the games were ending much faster than Round #1. One of the tables actually had enough time to start a new just-for-fun game while the rest of the tables were fighting out!! Since it is only Round #2, do look out for more photos soon.

Table 1: Stephen's Forest of Blood
Unfortunately, he was the 1st on the table to be ousted (by Derek)

Table 1: Bann's Animalism Weenies

Table 1: Dzaki's Saulot Deck

Table 1: Yi Peng's Imbued Deck

He managed to oust Derek right after Derek ousted Stephen
Thus earning him 1VP

Table 1: Derek's G2/3 Tremere/!Tremere Bruise Bleed

Results of Round #1 Table 1: Game timed out at 2 hours with no game win. Derek got 1VP, Yi Peng got 1.5VP, Dzaki and Bann got 0.5VP each, while Stephen got 0VP.

Table 2: After the first few rounds of Keith's turn

Table 2: Keith's Khazar's Diary in full force, with many wraiths on the table

Table 2: Robin's Rachel Brandywine deck

Table 2: BK's Saulot Deck which managed to bloat successfully from a threatening pool size of 5 (Apparently no one noticed the burn clause on the Lord of Serenity card text and he got away)

Table 2: Fauzi's Assamite Deck

Table 2: Danz's Toreador Toolbox
Alexandra was his first vamp and Anneke was out quite late in the game

Results of Round #1 Table 2: Game timed out at 2 hours with no ousts. Keith, Robin, BK, Fauzi and Danz each got 0.5 VP.

We had new contenders in Round #2, namely Edward and YY. What were they playing?

Round #2: Table 1 (From Left - Stephen, Edward, Derek, Danz)

Table 1: Edward was playing a weenie DOM bleed deck
However, he was the 1st one ousted as most of the bleeds were being deflected to him from his predator

Results of Round #2 Table 1: Game ended in 55 min with Stephen sweeping the table giving him 1GW.

Round #2: Table 2 (From Left - Yi Peng, YY, BK, Bann)

Table 2: YY was playing his Cannon in D.

Results of Round #2 Table 2: Game ended 10 min after Table 1 ended. YY managed to use the power of the Daughters' singing to sweep the table and giving him 1GW as well.

Round #2: Table 3 (From Left - Fauzi, Robin, Dazki, Keith (and Elliot as spectator))

Results of Round #2 Table 3: This was the longest running table, and it was a tough fighting ground. Robin eventually managed to oust everyone and swept the table. 1GW for Robin!

 

Photos from Singapore Qualifiers: Asian Continental Championships 2010 (Part 1)

 
As promised, here are some photos taken during the event. I will be posting the photos in batches, otherwise each blog post gets too long.

It was 5 Sep 2010. A lazy Sunday.

The day started out dark, rainy and gloomy. Very apt and poetic. Some were very awake and some were still trying to get out of the slumber mode. 10 Methusalahs started off the 1st round with their game-on modes. I will let the pictures do the talking.

Round #1: Table 1 (From Left - Dzaki, Yi Peng, Derek, Stephen, Bann)

Round #1: Table 1 (From the other angle)

Dazki looking at the card intently

Yi Peng with his Imbued deck

Derek eying his prey (Stephen)

Stephen looking smug

It is only the 1st game, yet Bann looks so sleepy.
Blame it on not being able to sleep before this tournament

Round #1: Table 2 (From Left - Keith, Robin, BK, Fauzi, Danz)

Round #1: Table 2 (From the other angle)

Keith is deep in thought...

Robin and his Malkavian

BK looks happy...
With 2 vamps on the table

Sneaky look on Danz

Fauzi with his Assamite

Results from Singapore Qualifiers: Asian Continental Championships 2010

On 5th Sep 2010, after a long day of 3 rounds and a final table, Robin has emerged the victor of the final table. I would like to thank all Methusalahs that made this Singapore Qualifiers possible and successful. Photos of this event will be posted soon. Do watch out for them.

My heartiest congratulations to Robin, Stephen, Keith, Danz, Derek and BK on making it to the Finals of the inaugural Asian Continental Championships 2010!! For those who have yet to qualify, do look out for the Last Chance Qualifiers held on 20th Nov 2010. We may even hold a Mini Qualifier if there is interest (require minimum of 12 people).

Ranking of the finalists (1st 3 rounds + Final round):

1. Robin Pong (Rachel Brandywine Madness Network) - 1GW, 5.5VPs + 1GW, 3VPs

2. Derek Yang (G2/3 Tremere/!Tremere Bruise Bleed) - 0GW, 3VPs + 0VP

2. Stephen Sing (Forest of Blood) - 1GW, 4VPs + 0VP

2. Danz Holandez (AAA Toolbox with !Toreador) - 1GW, 2.5VPs + 1VP

2. Keith Lim (Khazar's Diary) - 1GW, 3.5VPs + 1VP

6. Eng Boon Khim (Saulot Toolbox) - 0GW, 2.5VPs

Robin's Winning Rachel Brandywine Madness Network Deck:

Crypt : 12 cards
3 Rachel Brandywine
1 Henry Taylor
2 Torvus Bloodbeard
2 Victoria
1 Maris Streck
2 Greger Anderson
1 Quentin King III

Library: 90 cards
Masters 24
1 Powerbase: Zurich
3 Perfectionist
1 Dream of the Sphinx
2 Zillah Valley
4 Madness Network
2 Vessel
2 Blood Doll
1 direct Intervention
1 Sudden Reversal
1 Waste Management Operation
1 Giant's Blood
4 Protean
1 KRCG News Radio

Action 11
2 Carrion Coffin
3 Clan Impersonation
3 Sheepdog
3 Fifth Tradition Hospitality

Action Modifier 13
4 Cloak the Gathering
4 Lost in Crowd
2 Faceless Night
2 Elder Impersonation
1 Enkil Cog

Combat 20
15 Earth Meld
5 Form of Mist

Equipment/Ally/Retainer 5
1 Ivory Bow
1 Sargon's Fragment
1 Sportbike
2 Homunculus

Reaction 17
8 Second Tradition: Domain
6 Mental Maze
3 Telepathic Misdirection