Tournament Report: Training Day Budapest

Hi folks!

I really never thought that I will play v:tes so soon again. My girlfriend asked me to give her a ride to Budapest when I was just hanging on facebook this Friday. I said sure why not and just a few seconds later I noticed a tournament announcement in our v:tes facebook group. Since I had nothing else to do I decided a that I join the event, since I will be in Budapest anyway. 

It was great to see all those guys again and the best part: I saw some players that were considered the "old ones" when I first started to play the game. Some disappeared for a few years, but I think now that their kids are old enough, they reappeared. I was informed that many more "old players" joined the v:tes life again. Sounds pretty damn cool. 

So all together 23 players played this event. I took my only still existing deck, namely my "Eze will slow roll you" one. So here is how it went:

1st table: Gyula Erdős (Akunanse) - Vaka Mate (upgraded to a short hair with beard version, played some Gangrel deck again) - Me - Varga Zsolt (AAA)

I had a pretty good start with a great crypt. All the key cards came in time and I could sneak through a bleed for 1 with Eze to get my Enkil Cog. Next crucial action was to equip a Signet of King Saul with believe me guys is pure gold. Meanwhile Zsolt was building up well too with Alexandra and Anson + 2 weenies in game. I did my 2 bleed / turn with Eze stuff and I think my deck caught Zsolt a little bit by surprise. Then the moment came when I could oust both my prey and predator with a Reins of Power, but I needed Gyula's votes as well. Gyula seemed cooperative since he surely preferred to have Eze behind him than Toreador Grand Balls. So he gave me his votes and we went right into heads up. Funny thing here was that both prey and predator choose their 1 caps for Reins of Power so Gyula and I got +5 pool. Funny things happen. Gyula went into the heads up with like 20+ pool and 4-5 vampires. 

Gyula's first move was to play a Pentex on Eze, but there is a reason why I play 3 Suddens and keep one in my hand for such situations. I returend the favor with a Pentex on one of his vampires (I had 2 mpa's because of Nana) and passed a Banishment. This pretty much changed the table. When Gyula was on six pool I tried to oust him with a bleed 6 by Eze, but Gyula played an Archon Investigation on him (for 4 pool because of Secure Haven). Didn't matter much because I had 2 more vampires, bleed modifier, vote card and Monastery of Shadows. The first vampire was enough with a Iron Glare + Monastery of Shadows bleed. 1GW 3 VP

2nd table: Balu (Henry twister wall) - Milan (Kyasid toolbox) - Günther (Dom - For -Aus) - Silver (Omaya wall) - Me

This is the kind of table I loathe so much. Sitting between 2 wall decks you waste your resources like hell and whenever you could oust you get an Eagle's Sight - Direct Intervention - Delaying Tactics armada into your face. Well, after a shitload of talking, dealing, wasting resources, getting pissed at mentioned cards I finally ousted Balu with Milans help. Milan made his 2 vps and we were heads up. Since I ran out of cards (90 card deck) Milan won. If I had some cards left in the deck I would have easily won the heads up. One of the many reasons I loathe card like DI and Eagle's sight. I need 20+ card to bypass 2 of these... 1 VP

3rd table: Me - Milan (Kyasid) - Pál Csabi (???) - Gego Feri (Akunanse) - Márton Csaba (Giovanni powerbleed) 

Starting with 1 transfer for an 11 cap vampire with a powerbleed as a predator is not good at all. I got ousted without having turn to act with Eze. Funny thing: when I was ousted I had a Villein + Ancient Influence + Voter Cap in my hand. Too bad I never had the chance to act with Eze... 0 VP

Summary 

After a long time not playing making 1 GW 4 VP on a tournament announced for testing EC decks is really great. Especially with an 11 cap that can not bounce bleeds. I finished tied 7th place, but missed the final by only 1 Vp. So close.

Thank for great event. It was good to play again. However this doesn't mean I will play regularly. I might show up at the one or other tournament though, depending on free time and mood.

The Deck

Deck Name:   Eze will slow roll you
Created By:  Martin Mephistopheles Major

Crypt: (12 cards, Min: 32, Max: 44, Avg: 9,58)
----------------------------------------------
  5  Eze                                aus ANI NEC POT PRE THA11 Guruhi
  3  Nana Buruku                        ANI POT PRE    8  Guruhi
  2  Sobayifa                           ANI aus pot PRE pro spi8  Guruhi
  2  Ugadja                             ABO ANI dom for POT PRE10 Guruhi

Library: (90 cards)
-------------------
Master (20 cards)
  1  Ancestor Spirit
  1  Archon Investigation
  2  Dreams of the Sphinx
  1  Giant`s Blood
  1  Monastery of Shadows
  1  Palace Hunting Ground
  1  Pentex Subversion
  1  Perfectionist
  1  Secure Haven
  3  Sudden Reversal
  6  Villein
  1  Wider View

Action (13 cards)
  2  Entrancement
  5  Founders of the Ebony Kingdom
  3  Magic of the Smith
  1  Preternatural Strength
  2  Well-Marked

Action Modifier (24 cards)
  4  Call of the Hungry Dead
  3  Enkil Cog
  4  Iron Glare
  2  Mirror Walk
  6  Perfect Paragon
  1  Strange Day
  3  Voter Captivation
  1  Approximation of Loyalty

Political Action (8 cards)
  1  Ancient Influence
  1  Ancilla Empowerment
  3  Banishment
  1  Neonate Breach
  1  Political Stranglehold
  1  Reins of Power

Reaction (10 cards)
  10 Sense the Savage Way

Combat (8 cards)
  8  Majesty

Equipment (5 cards)
  1  Gran Madre di Dio, Italy
  1  Heart of Nizchetus
  1  Ivory Bow
  1  Kduva`s Mask
  1  Signet of King Saul, The

Event (1 cards)
  1  Narrow Minds

Combo (1 cards)
  1  Guruhi Kholo