House Rules List (net.personality-generated)
L. Scott Johnson
House Rules List (net.personality-generated)
============================================
Additions and changes since the last listing (doesn't include changes to
the support/opposition lines):
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Any Methuselah may attempt to block a Political Action.
2. YAFFW - Yet another fix for Wake (with Evening's Freshness).
Description of the List
-----------------------
* This list is posted on rec.games.trading-cards.jyhad on the first of every
month.
* This is a compilation of opinions from net.users. All net.users are
invited to add to this list (through e-mail to me). The more, the merrier.
* Additions and comments should be sent to: sjoh...@math.sc.edu
Please include the text "house rule" in the subject line.
* NOTE: Some rules are mix-n-match, some are mutually exclusive. Take what
you want and ignore the rest.
* Opposition to a particular house rule is marked with -INI- (instead of
[INI], which indicates support).
* If you want more information on a rule, e-mail the first person listed on
the support line - please don't clutter the newsgroup with it. Thanks.
(Chances are high that any odd rule has been hashed over too much already.)
Scope of Official Rulings, Errata, Clarifications, and Statements
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"A blood by any other name would taste as sweet." :-)
o. Official Rules for V:tES apply equally to Jyhad. Jyhad and V:tES are the
same game, with different names and different card backs.
[LSJ] [JHJ] [ALS]
-CSA-
Fixing what's Broken
--------------------
Bringing unbalancing cards into line, making the game playable.
o. There is no per-card limit to either the library nor the crypt.
[RCG] [LSJ] [JHJ] [CSA] [ASHK] [SHWT] [JRM] [JC] [ALS] [TOM] [SPTR]
-GenCON- ("For the heck of it" at a Tourney claiming to be Sanctioned)
o. Action cards and Action Modifiers can always be played by the acting Minion,
even if it is not the controlling Methuselah's turn.
[LSJ] [JHJ] [SHWT] [ASHK] [JC]
-JRM- -ALS-
o. Reaction cards can be played by Minions controlled by a Methuselah
other than the Methuselah controlling the acting Minion, regardless of
whose turn it is.
[LSJ] [JHJ] [SHWT] [ASHK] [JC] [CSA]
-JRM- -ALS-
# o. The cost for Action Modifier / Reaction card is paid for when the card is
# played - regardless of the effect of the card or the eventual success or
# failure of the action.
# [JHJ] [LSJ] [Jyhad] [ALS]
# o. Cards which cannot be used by vampires going to torpor (Pulled Fangs,
# Amaranth) cannot be used by a vampire burned in combat, either.
# [LSJ] [CSA] [JHJ] [SHWT] [ASHK] [JRM] [TOM] [ALS]
Bonding - only modifies the base bleed of the vampire playing it. (And will
thus be cancelled if Masked)
[ASHK] [ALS]
# only one Bonding, Condition, or Threats Card may be used
# during a single action.
# [LSJ] [CSA] [JHJ] [SHWT] [JC] [JRM] [V:tES] [ALS]
Charming Lobby - use as an action to call a vote at +1 stealth. If
successful, call a vote by playing a Political Action card or by naming
a vote allowed by a card in play. If the vote succeeds, the next vote
will pass as well.
[LSJ] [JHJ] [JC] [JRM] [ALS]
use as an action to call a vote at +1 stealth. If successful, a vote is
called to determine whether the next vote will pass. A successful vote
means the next vote called will pass automatically.
[CSA] [SHWT] [ASHK]
-ALS-
Conditioning - see Bonding.
Dragon Breath Rounds - may not be used in a Zip Gun
[CSA] [JHJ]
Form of Mist - the superior version counts as an action modifier, so only
one may be used on a given action.
[LSJ] [ALS]
Madness Network - makes it the turn of the Methuselah controlling the acting
Malkavian. After the action, the original Methuselah can continue her turn.
[JC] [JF] [CSA]
-JRM- -ALS-
gives the acting Malkavian's Methuselah the remainder of the Minion Phase,
in which any other Methuselah may play Reaction Cards.
[HAR]
Threats - see Bonding.
Zip Gun - may not use Dragon Breath Rounds
[CSA] [JHJ]
-ALS-
damage modifiers applied to the Zip Gun from ammo cards also modify the
damage done to the bearer of the Zip Gun.
[ALS]
Handling Mixed Card Backs (Jyhad - V:tES)
-------------------------------------------
Rules to reduce the "marked card" effect. Only needed when mixing the types.
o. Methuselahs deal/draw from the bottom of their crypts and libraries.
[MD] [LSJ] [SHWT]
o. Methuselahs deal/draw from the bottom of their decks if requested to do so.
[ALS]
o. The uncontrolled regions are hidden from other Methuselahs.
[MD]
-JC- -ALS- -SHWT-
o. Methuselahs' crypts and libraries must have the same back _showing_.
Whether this is done by opaque card sleeve backs, double-packed card
sleeves, or the same back is unimportant.
[SPTR]
Clarifications and Design Considerations
----------------------------------------
Re_vamp_ing rules that worked satisfactorily anyhow (includes wallpaper).
o. Master Out-of-Turn cards may be played whenever appropriate in lieu
of a Master Phase Action in your next Master Phase.
[LSJ] [JHJ] [ASHK]
-SHWT- -CSA- -JRM- -ALS-
as above, but not during your own Master phase (Sudden Reversal).
[ASHK]
-SHWT-
o. Actions directly affecting another Methuselah are called directed actions.
Actions not directly affecting another Methuselah are called non-directed.
Directed actions are marked with (D) symbols. The (D) symbol is only a
reminder that the action is directed, and does not alter the legal
targets of the action. All directed actions fully describe who may be
targeted by the action. Bleeds, as stated in the rulebook, can only be
directed at your Prey unless card text says otherwise.
NOTE: This was the original concept when the cards were printed.
[CSA] [LSJ] [JHJ] [ASHK] [V:tES] [JC] [SHWT] [ALS] [SPTR]
-JRM-
o. Definition of "same action". For the purposes of cards that prohibit
the "same action", if an action defined in the rulebook (bleed, equip,
recruit ally, recruit retainer, political action, hunt, encounter
vampire in torpor, leave torpor) is accomplished more than once, it is
considered the same action even if the target changes or a different
action card is used. Likewise, any such action accomplished without a
card is considered the same as the same action accomplished with an
action card.
[CSA] [SHWT] [LSJ] [ALS] [SPTR]
o. A minion may not attempt the same action more than once per turn,
regardless of subsequent untapping.
[LX] [LSJ] [ALS] [SPTR]
o. Any card that untaps a vampire is not replaced from the library as normal
until the next methuselah's untap phase. [can be applied to only majesty,
freak drive, and the earth meld, or to other cards (cats guidance? rats
warning?) as well.]
[AE]
-ALS-
o. No more than one of any particular action modifier may be played or
used during any particular action, even if the acting minion changes.
This does not apply to minions that are not the acting minion when they
play the card.
[CSA] [ASHK] [SHWT]
-ALS-
o. No more than one of any particular action modifier may be played or
used during any particular action, period.
[ASHK]
-ALS-
o. No more than one of any particular reaction card may be played or
used by the same player during any particular action.
[ASHK]
-ALS-
o. Action Modifiers modify the acting minion who played them, not the action
itself (unless otherwise stated on the card). If the acting minion changes,
the new acting minion would not benefit from previous action modifiers.
[ALS]
o. A Bleed, as any other action, is successful if it remains unblocked. The
Edge is gained only if the bleed caused the loss of at least one pool.
Telepathic Counter and/or Spying Mission can lead to a successful action
which bleeds for zero, and thus would not gain the Edge.
[LSJ] [ALS]
o. Any Methuselah's vampires may attempt to block a vote - starting with Prey
and working around the table to Predator.
[SR]
o. Combat cannot occur with a vampire in torpor. Diablerie is possible
if the opposing minion is a ready vampire, otherwise nothing happens.
[LSJ] [CSA] [JHJ] [JC] [SHWT] [ASHK] [JRM] [ALS]
o. Each Strike Resolution phase is divided into two sub-phases: apply strike
and heal/prevent damage. All damage modifiers must be used before or during
the apply strike phase to be effective. No damage can be prevented until
it is applied. (This is the effect mutiple RTRs are trying to achieve.)
[LSJ] [ALS]
o. Damage prevention cards may be played at any time that damage is applied
(during combat, since they are combat cards). They are *not* limited to
strike resolution, since nothing indicates that they are.
[LSJ] [JHJ] [SHWT] [CSA] [ALS]
o. Strikes which say that do damage based on melee weapons can do damage, even
if the melee weapon doesn't normally do damage (Golden Rule of Card Text).
Notably, Lucky Blow, Undead Strength, etc. can be used with Rowan Ring.
[LSJ] [ALS]
# o. Only one Additional Strike card may be played by a minion per round.
# (Additional Strike card is any card that bestows additional strike(s).)
# [LSJ] [ASHK] [JHJ] [V:tES] [ALS]
# o. Strike: Combat Ends resolves during normal strike resolution (still
# cancelling first strikes). If the opposing strike is also: End Combat,
# then both have their usual effect.
# (This simply negates the exception to the normal choose-strike /
# resolve-strike order of combat bestowed upon S:CE by the DT).
# [LSJ] [CSA] [JHJ] [JC] [SHWT] [ASHK] [JRM] [V:tES] [ALS]
# o. Strike: Steal Blood: blood stolen above a vampire's capacity is discarded
# before wounds are healed.
# [ASHK] [V:tES] [CSA]
Blood stolen above a vampire's capacity (counted before healing wounds)
is not stolen at all. The excess amount is ignored.
[LSJ] [ASHK] [SHWT]
Stolen blood cannot be used to heal wounds in the same combat round.
[ASHK]
o. Only Methuselahs other than the acting Methuselah may use additional
political action cards for votes.
[CSA]
-LSJ- -SHWT- -ALS-
o. Only one Political Action card may be used to gain a vote by each
Methuselah during a vote.
[ASHK] [LSJ] [ALS] [SPTR]
o. A player's deck may not be comprised of more than 40% Political Action
cards. This should allow enough cards for a robust voting deck while
curbing the power of degenerate vote-push decks. (idea from CSA)
[EP]
-ALS-
o. Political Action cards tossed in for votes (except the action card
which called the vote) are not replaced until the end of voting.
All other cards played during a vote are replaced immediately
as normal. This house rule is recommended only if the restrictions
on playing multiple reaction cards above are also observed.
[ASHK] [CSA]
-ALS-
o. Blood transferred onto an uncontrolled vampire from the blood bank during
the influence phase comes in the form of 'influence counters' rather than
blood. An influence counter counts as blood when determining control of a
vampire, but cannot be transferred off of the vampire. (This ends the
never-empty-cup effect of Arcane Library, Art Museum, and Eco Terrorists).
[ASHK]
-ALS-
as above, but include blood gained at any time - not just the influence
phase (for Govern the Unaligned, 4th Tradition, and Enchant Kindred)
[JHJ]
-ALS-
2nd Tradition, The - may be used by an untapped Prince/Justicar for +2
intercept.
[LSJ] [CSA] [JHJ] [JC] [SHWT] [ASHK] [JRM] [ALS]
may be used by a tapped Prince/Justicar for the untap effect even if the
intercept is not (yet) required.
[LSJ] [CSA] [JHJ] [JC] [SHWT] [ASHK] [JRM] [ALS]
5th Tradition, The - may not be used to refill the acting vampire
[CSA] [JRM] [LSJ] [JHJ]
-ALS-
refills only up to 4 (or 5, if your group prefers) blood
[ASHK]
-ALS-
may only be undertaken once by a particular vampire per game, although
a particular vampire may be the recepient any number of times.
[ALS]
Army of Rats - is cumulative. This house rule is recommended only
if the increased costs of Earth Meld, Form of Mist and Freak
Drive are in force.
[ASHK] [CSA]
-ALS-
Blood Bond - if it is not a directed action, then it has no target. It's
effect will not cease even if the chosen vampire is burned.
[LSJ] [SHWT] [ALS]
# is a directed action.
# [CSA] [JHJ] [RTR]
# Blood Rage - requires (th) not (fo).
# [LSJ] [CSA] [JHJ] [JC] [SHWT] [ASHK] [JRM] [RTR] [ALS]
Brujah Frenzy - can only target "ready" acting Brujah.
[LSJ] [JHJ] [ALS] [SHWT]
can send the Brujah into combat with any Ready minion, tapped or not.
[LSJ] [JHJ] [ALS] [SHWT]
causes a block.
[ALS]
does not tap the attacked minion.
[JHJ] [LSJ] [SHWT]
-ALS-
Camille Devereux - is Raven. Name the card "Camille the Raven" if it helps.
[LSJ] [JHJ] [SHWT] [CSA] [ALS]
Chainsaw - is a melee weapon.
[CSA] [LX] [JC] [JF] [ASHK] [JRM] [ALS]
does 3 damage each strike. Only usable once per round.
[JHJ] [ASHK] [CSA] [SHWT]
-ALS-
can be used any number of times per round (and is not a melee weapon).
[ASHK]
-ALS-
Claws of the Dead - superior reads "As above, with a Maneuver."
[ASHK] [JHJ] [CSA]
Concealed Weapon - does not require (ob).
[LSJ] [CSA] [JHJ] [JC] [SHWT] [JF] [ASHK] [JRM] [ALS]
Deflection - replace the superior version with "as above, plus the reacting
vampire can pay 1 blood and not be tapped by Deflection"
[CSA] [ASHK]
-JRM- -ALS-
# Disguised Weapon - cannot be played if you have no weapons in your hand.
# [LSJ] [ALS] [SHWT] [RTR]
Earth Meld - costs 1 blood from the acting vampire.
[CSA] [ASHK] [JRM]
-ALS-
# Elder Kindred Network - has no effect if the vote is successful.
# [TOM] [LSJ] [CSA] [JHJ] [JC] [SHWT] [ASHK] [JRM] [ALS]
Elysium: Arboretum, The - may only be used if you control one of the combatants.
[LSJ] [JHJ] [ALS] [SHWT]
-CSA-
Enchant Kindred - is at +1 stealth when attempting the superior version.
[LSJ] [CSA] [JHJ] [JC] [SHWT] [ASHK] [ALS]
-JRM-
Faceless Night - taps any minion who attempts to block when the action
becomes blocked or when the action resolves, as appropriate.
(This allows the blocker to continue to play intercept cards.)
[LSJ] [CSA] [JHJ] [SHWT] [ASHK] [ALS]
only affects Minions who attempt to block *after* it is played.
[JHJ]
-ALS-
Fame - affects the controller of the card that did the damage that caused
the vampire to enter torpor. If the vampire is sent to torpor by a
special card, such as Day Operation, it affects the controller of that
card. With this rule, Fame is not a unique master.
[CSA] [JC]
-LSJ- -ALS-
Form of Mist - costs 1 blood from the vampire playing it.
[CSA] [ASHK] [JRM]
-ALS-
Superior only continues an action that was blocked.
[JHJ] [LSJ] [ASHK] [SHWT] [ALS]
Freak Drive - costs 2 blood from the acting vampire.
[CSA] [ASHK]
-ALS-
# Frenzy - may be played even if you have no Minions involved in the Combat.
# [LSJ] [CSA] [JC] [JRM] [RTR] [ALS]
Ghoul Retainer - cannot use a weapon used by the employing Minion nor by
another Retainer of that Minion.
[LSJ] [CSA] [JHJ] [SHWT] [ALS]
Hidden Lurker - is an action modifier, not an action. Text as follows:
Usable only by an untapped Vampire other than the Acting Minion after the
Acting Minion is blocked and combat is over. Tap this Vampire. This
Vampire now enters combat with the Blocking Minion. The first round of
combat, the Blocking Minion cannot use any strikes.
Superior: As above, but with an optional Press.
[LSJ] [JC] [CSA] [ASHK] [JHJ] [ALS]
Lextalionis - may be called when a Methuselah has gained a victory point
since the start (untap) of your last turn.
[LSJ] [JHJ] [CSA] [JC] [SHWT] [ASHK] [ALS]
-JRM-
Majesty - costs 1 blood from the vampire playing it.
[CSA] [ASHK] [JRM]
-ALS-
Major Boon - If the rescued Methuselah bleeds you, you can't
force him to take his own bleed but you can make his bleed
unsuccessful (and burn the boon).
[ASHK]
-ALS-
Malkavian Dementia -
# Returns the affected Malkavian at the moment the
# untap phase begins (Card text).
# [LSJ] [JHJ] [SHWT] [ASHK] [ALS]
Returns the affected Malkavian untapped.
[JF] [JHJ] [LSJ] [ASHK]
-JRM- -CSA- -SHWT- -ALS-
Misdirection - costs 2*X to tap X minions.
[CSA] [ASHK]
-ALS-
Obedience - costs 1 blood from the reacting vampire.
[CSA] [ASHK]
-JRM- -ALS-
Parity Shift - may only redistribute pool up to the difference between the
selected Methuselah's pool and your own pool.
[CSA] [ASHK] [JHJ]
-JC- -JRM- -SHWT- -ALS-
Rampage - is not directed (D) when used to burn a location that you control.
[JF] [ASHK] [CSA] [JRM] [LSJ] [JHJ] [SHWT] [ALS]
Raven - is Camille Devereux. Name the card "Camille the Raven" if it helps.
[LSJ] [JHJ] [SHWT] [CSA] [ALS]
Ritual of the Bitter Rose - can only be used when a vampire is diablerized
in combat - not simply burned.
[ASHK] [LSJ] [JHJ] [ALS]
Rotschreck - hoses the vampire about to *receive* aggravated damage.
[ASHK] [JHJ] [CSA] [JRM] [RTR (reversed)] [ALS]
-JF- -SHWT- -RTR (reversal)-
Sport Bike - is not optional.
[LSJ] [CSA] [SHWT] [ASHK] [ALS]
-JRM-
Talbot's Chainsaw - does not force it's wielder to attack with it during
the controller's minion phase; it is merely an option.
[JC] [JRM] [ALS]
-CSA- -SHWT-
Taste of Vitae - only one of these may be played per minion per round.
[LSJ] [CSA] [LX] [JHJ] [JC] [SHWT] [JF] [ASHK] [JRM] [ALS]
#only counts blood lost to damage.
#[CSA] [LSJ] [LX] [SHWT] [ASHK] [JRM] [JHJ] [ALS] [RTR]
is only usable at close range.
[CSA] [SHWT] [JF] [JRM]
Wake with Evening's Freshness - costs 1 blood from the reacting vampire.
[CSA] [ASHK]
-ALS-
requires Thaumaturgy.
[JF]
-LSJ- -CSA- -JC- -SHWT- -ASHK- -ALS-
is not replaced until the end of your following turn.
[ALS]
is a Master: Out-of-Turn card. Text: "Choose a tapped vampire you control.
For the remainder of the current action, the chosen vampire may play
reaction cards or attempt to block as if unatapped."
[LSJ]
is a Master: Out-of-Turn card. Text: "Untap a tapped vampire you control."
[LSJ]
Wolf Claws - superior reads "As above, with an optional Press."
[ASHK] [JHJ] [CSA]
Game World Considerations
--------------------------
Changes to make the card game feel like, or reflect the mechanics of, the
"real" world (where vampires exist, of course).
o. Actions by vampires in torpor can be blocked by Kindred ONLY.
[LSJ] [CSA] [JHJ] [SHWT] [JRM]
-ALS-
o. Transferring equipment from a vampire in torpor can be done by
Kindred ONLY.
[LSJ] [CSA] [JHJ] [SHWT] [JRM]
-ALS-
Brujah Frenzy - may be played only on a Ready Brujah.
[LSJ] [CSA] [JC] [SHWT] [ASHK] [JHJ] [ALS]
-JRM-
# Can only send the acting Brujah into combat with a Ready Minion.
# [LSJ] [CSA] [JC] [SHWT] [ASHK] [JHJ] [RTR] [ALS]
# -JRM-
#Camarilla Exemplary - does not require an Ally to pay life to attempt to
# block.
# [HAR] [JHJ] [RTR] [ALS]
# -JRM-
Chainsaw - begins each combat "off". Does 3 damage each strike if it
began the round of combat "on". The minion holding it may use a Strike:
start chainsaw to turn the chainsaw "on". Strike: start chainsaw is not
cancelled by Strike: dodge (or other non-attack strike).
[LSJ]
-ALS-
Chantry - may be applied during Untap, not Master phase.
[LSJ] [ASHK] [JHJ]
-JRM-
Enchant Kindred - can only influence vampires in your own uncontrolled region.
[LSJ] [SHWT] [ASHK] [JHJ]
-ALS-
Fame - is a unique Master, contested by the vampire exactly as a title
would be contested.
[JF] [ALS]
Govern the Unaligned - can only influence vampires in your own uncontrolled
region.
[LSJ] [SHWT] [ASHK] [JHJ]
-ALS-
Haven Uncovered - does not prevent its victim from being attacked in torpor.
[LSJ] [SHWT] [JHJ]
-JRM- -ALS-
Rotschreck - may only take into account aggravated damage that actually occurs.
If the cause of the damage goes unperformed (due to Combat Ends or
steal/destroy equipment with first strike, e.g.), Rotschreck may not be
used. This does not apply if the damage is merely foiled (by dodge,
fortitude, Merrill Molitor, Blood Rage/Fury, e.g.)
[LSJ] [JHJ] [JC] [SHWT]
-ALS-
is played only during damage resolution. May take into account damage
occurring by means other than strikes, such as Weather Control.
[CSA] [ALS]
may be played any time the possibility of taking aggravated damage exists.
[LX]
Zip Gun - is a Weapon, but not a Weapon: Gun. (It may not use ammunition).
[CSA] [ASHK] [SHWT] [JHJ]
-ALS-
----------
Rules indented with "# " are commented out - they have become the official
rules. They are left in this list in the event that the RT reverses the
ruling (making the rule once again just a house rule).
[AE] - Alan Eisinger (eisi...@ee.rochester.edu)
[ALS] - Adrian L. Sullivan - The Corrupter (alsu...@students.wisc.edu)
[ASHK]- Alan S. H. Kwan (kw...@cs.cornell.edu)
[CSA] - Curt Adams (curt...@aol.com)
[EP] - Eric Pettersen (pe...@cgl.ucsf.edu)
[HAR] - Harpua (rho...@itsmail1.hamilton.edu)
[JC] - Joseph Cochran (js...@vt.edu)
[JF] - Jon Ferro (fe...@chem.cmu.edu)
[JHJ] - J. Hunter Johnson (jhun...@io.com)
[JRM] - James R. McClure Jr. (jmcc...@e-mail.kdp-baptist.louisville.edu)
[LSJ] - L. Scott Johnson (sjoh...@math.sc.edu)
[LX] - Larrx (la...@acs.bu.edu)
[MD] - Marion Delgado (FS...@aurora.alaska.edu)
[SHWT]- Shane H. W. Travis (tra...@duke.usask.ca)
[SR] - Simon Richardson (si...@onechip.co.uk)
[Jyhad] - Jyhad rules.
[V:tES] - Vampire: the Eternal Struggle rules.
[SPTR] - Sensible Player's Tournament Rules (not official)
(http://cslab.uwlax.edu/~sulli_al/jyhad/SPTR.html)
Contributor to the list without consent:
[RCG] - Richard C. Garfield, designer of Jyhad, MtG, and others.
[RTR] - Rules/Design Team Ruling, Errata, Clarification, or Statement.
[TOM] - Thomas R Wylie, WotC Net.Rep (aa...@cats.ucsc.edu)