The results of Praxis Seizure: Austin 2000
The Lasombra
was once again disappointing, a good time was had by the players that
did show up.
We continued our tradition of playing with a player completely new
to the group at a tournament, and welcome TJ. We hope to bleed him
again often in the future.
We had a total of 7 Methuselahs play, and 3 players potentially
returning to the game in the near future, because they "didn't
know anyone played that anymore". They were given copies of
the promotional vampires Mariana Gilbert and Dan Murdoch, and
my VTES business card, so they know when and where we play.
They were also given some information about the new Sabbat War
release, so we hope to see them again.
We played next to Decipher's Star Wars Texas State Championship,
they had 50+ players, and the Babylon 5 tournament had 8 players.
We were very jealous.
It also made us more pumped up to get to DragonCon, where we
hope to bleed many of you.
Since we got stuck with only 6 players (plus myself), the
preliminary rounds weren't usable to adjust players ratings.
Only the final round will end up affecting their ratings.
We played three rounds with some unusual seating arrangements
to keep the games from simply being three stagnant rounds
of 6 players.
Round One
A table of four, and a table of three.
TJ, Mike, and I played at the first three player table. Mike
played an untested deck with Ventrue princes becoming Archons
and pursuing Anathemad victims with Assault Rifles. TJ played
a Nosferatu / Nosferatu Antitribu combat deck relying heavily
on potence and animalism (Torn Signposts & Carrion Crows).
I played my Lasombra Voting deck documented on the decks page.
I had a very strong opening by going first and getting playing
an Information Highway. I ended up sweeping that table with
46 pool and 10 minions when the game was finished.
Kelly, Brian, Greg and Ethan made up the four player table.
Kelly was the only one with no Ventrue vampires in his crypt.
Greg brought out a very strong voting deck, and killed Ethan
by playing a Hostile Takeover on Arika, which Ethan felt
compelled to win (he payed 13 pool for her), and then Greg
was able to bleed him out. With the extra pool, Greg was
soon able to oust Kelly and Brian.
Round Two
Another table of four, and a table of three.
Brian, Ethan and I played at the second three player table.
Ethan was playing with presence weenie / vote / swarm / bleed,
and I had a horrible crypt draw, so he ousted me the turn after
I brought out Angelica, the Canonicus (my first and only vampire
that game). Brian was able to bleed Ethan for 14 in one round
quite a few turns later, and he took the last two victory points
at that table.
Greg, TJ, Kelly and Mike made up the second four player table.
Greg was again able to avoid contesting, even though he and Mike
both were using Ventrue. Eventually Greg's votes lock swung the
votes his way and he ended up with another sweep.
Round Three
One table of six.
As you cannot allow all players to play against all others with
some repetition of predator prey relationships with only seven
players, I stepped out of the third round. Because this was
an oversized table, this round went to time. Ethan's weenie
voters were able to get oust TJ and Brian, and Kelly was able
to oust Greg, as we was unable to avoid contesting this game.
Mike was also able to last to the time limit, so we ended up
with three people with victory points.
Going into the finals we had the following people with victory points:
Greg Faulkner (former Gangrel newsletter editor) 8
Ethan Burrow (Toreador-Antitribu newsletter editor) 3.5
Jeff Thompson (The Lasombra) 3
R. Brian Smith 2
Kelly Nine 1.5
Mike Ooi 0.5
TJ Fullington 0
Since I was officially the judge, I sat out of the finals as well.
TJ had stayed up to the start of the finals, but then left with a
promise to bleed use on Thursday when we will start another draft
league in Austin.
Final Round
Mike had to sit first, and Kelly chose to be his predator. Brian
chose to sit between them, again as Mike's predator. Ethan chose
to sit as Brian's predator, and Greg chose to sit as Ethan's
predator. After all the seating choices, Kelly ends up as Mike's
prey, when all he wanted was to be Mike's predator.
Ethan ousted Brian and Mike, with considerable help from Queen Anne,
whom Ethan had purchased after the second Hostile Takeover attempt
on her from Brian. Mike paid 5 pool to keep her by bidding 9 on
the first attempt. Ethan paid 13 pool for her on the second.
Kelly was able to stymie Greg's development by getting out a KRCG
Radio Station and the Rumor Mill Tabloid Newspaper fairly early
and blocking Greg's votes.
Ethan had called and passed so many Autarkis Persecutions, that
Kelly had 25 pool when Ethan finally became his predator. Greg
was not in great shape at that point though. Ethan figured out
that if Greg ousted him, and Kelly took the remaining 2 victory
points, he and Kelly would tie, and Ethan would win based on
previous rounds standings.
Kelly started blocking the Kine Resources Contested that Ethan
was calling, because Ethan was doing three damage to himself,
and one to Kelly.
Eventually, Ethan and Greg were able to get Ethan ousted, and
Kelly was able to overcome Greg when they were the only two
left, and Ethan won the tournament.
For gaining the most victory points in the preliminary rounds,
Greg won a copy of the Vampire: The Masquerade 3rd Edition Rules,
and Clanbook: Tzimisce. For most creative play, Ethan won a Jyhad
Skin of Rock signed by the author, Christopher Rush.
The winning deck will be posted as soon as I receive
the card list.
We also distributed the Wizards of the Coast provided prize support,
2 Sabbat boosters, 4 VTES boosters, and 4 Dark Sovereigns boosters.
We hope for a much better turn out next month, when I will be
judging Praxis Seizure: Dallas at Project A-Kon 2000, as all
of the players that played today (minus TJ), plan on attending.
Carpe Noctem.
Lasombra
http://members.tripod.com/~Lasombra
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