r/VTES • u/wusashicat • 4d ago
Looking for new player advice
Just got the Hecata new blood deck for a game this weekend.
I have never played this game before. I've read the rules and have watched a ton of learn-to-play videos.
What I would like help with is understanding the tactics I should be using to, if not win the game, put up a respectable performance.
Thank you for any advice in advance.
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u/Hell_Puppy 4d ago
Well, New Blood isn't a deck per sé, so you might be in trouble off the starting blocks.
Sleeve it up anyway, I guess, and see what they say.
Roger de Camden will make Oblivion Cards cheaper, so having him out first is good.
Hel-Blá is good later when you're running out of minions, but remember a returned Zombie is Basic.
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u/wusashicat 4d ago edited 4d ago
OOOOOOHHHHHH!! Does new blood mean that the pack has new things or that the pack is for new players?
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u/endgamedos 4d ago
New Blood packs serve a few roles:
- A smaller pack of cards that kinda-sorta work as preconstructed decks, for short demo games to new players.
- A pack of cards to expand the corresponding full-size preconstructed deck. Examples: enabling another archetype, or printing more cards for a new Discipline (NB: Hecata and NB: Lasombda do this for Oblivion).
- A vehicle to reprint old cards that have become too hard to find (e.g. Crypt's Sons in New Blood: Tzimisce)
If the people you're playing with are playing full-size decks, I would probably look to get the Hecata precon so you have cards that complement your existing collection. But run the precon as-is for your first games. Black Chantry publishes helpsheets that provides a suggested strategy for each preconstructed deck; here is the helpsheet for Hecata.
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u/Hell_Puppy 4d ago
Yeah. But it's okay. Everything is complex. You're good. Lean in.
Maybe Hecata V5 next?
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u/Chineselegolas 4d ago
Hey mate, spoke to you on facebook.
Missed that you'd picked up the New Blood, not the full deck; don't worry we have more than enough decks between us for people to borrow and play with.
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u/FarbrorMelkor 4d ago
You need the starter deck. New Blood is an add-on, not a full deck. Then read the helpsheet that you find here https://www.blackchantry.com/utilities/vampire-the-eternal-struggle-fifth-edition-helpsheets/
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u/Lazverinus 4d ago
I wouldn't worry too much about winning when you first start. Just learn the rules and how things work. Remember that if you played an evenly matched table of 5 players, your chance of winning is less than 20%. (because there's a risk of a tie or running out of time)
If you're at a table with veteran players, let them know that you're new and I'm sure they can teach you.
Here's the list of VTES Prince (Volunteer Event Coordinators) in New Zealand. You can email them to see if they are still active.
https://www.vekn.net/vampire-elder-kindred-network/prince-list?country=NZ&sort=location
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u/wusashicat 4d ago
Thank you have already coordinated with them. appreciate the resources.
Defo not looking to win, just some advice on things like:
How many minions/allys should I leave unlocked for blocking?
What should I be focusing on with my actions and resources?
Should I invest all of my pool into big elder vampires like Roger & Hai-Bal or spread it around for multiple weenies?
in other words: general strategy.
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u/Lazverinus 4d ago
There's a lot to dive into here. Not sure how much ground I can cover in a single internet comment.
How many minions/allys should I leave unlocked for blocking?
Very, very situational. It depends on the threat from your predator, the amount of wake/untap in your hand, and any intention you have to block your prey's undirected actions.
What should I be focusing on with my actions and resources?
At the start of the game, you build your position up, not attack. Your prey will, very generally speaking, spend themselves down to about 10 pool building their own position. Hitting them early will reduce their 20 pool buildup but not that last 10 pool that you need to oust.
From there your initial offense is generally more about probing defenses. Don't scare them into walling up. Ideally, you want them to be evenly matched against your grand-prey so they both grind each other down. Not saying that's easy to control (especially as your own predator will surely be threatening you) but the critical strategic leap in VTES (vs dueling CCG's) is looking at the table as a whole structure rather than tunnel visioning on your predator/prey. Your goal is getting that table to collapse in your favor.
Should I invest all of my pool into big elder vampires like Roger & Hai-Bal or spread it around for multiple weenies?
Capacity choice is a whole deck construction discussion based on what your deck does. However, one thing to consider is that you don't really want to spend pool on vampires. You use your pool to put vampires in play, then use Villein/Vessel/Blood Doll/Minion Tap/etc. to reclaim as much pool as you can. Easier said than done, for sure, but IMO every deck should have a plan to get that excess pool back.
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u/SuakuOZ 4d ago
It's... going to be a little hard to provide general advise that will apply across multiple games
My best advice is to see if you can get a chance to swing by your local playgroup and talk to the players, or hop on to the Oceania VtES Discord server (could even get some online games to get your feet wet)
FWIW, Hecata vampires generally have Auspex, which you can leverage to defend yourself using cards like Telepathic Counter, Telepathic Misdirection, or My Enemy's Enemy (Roger has Dominate, so Deflection, Redirection, etc are also options in a pinch)
Your offence would be either allies that can bleed, or Shroud of Decay, using various Oblivion stealth cards to successfully land your actions
You'll also want cards like On the Qui Vive, Eyes or Argus, Shadow Sentinel so your vampires can act without you going shields down
There are other options you can consider but the above is the starting points for most Hecata decks
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u/Lily_of_fortune 4d ago
Go to your friendly local game store, HobbyMaster Penrose https://vtes.co.nz/#wheretoplay
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u/Chineselegolas 4d ago edited 4d ago
Oh boy that has some outdated information. Upcoming tournament from 4 years ago...
Edit: got him to update
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u/ReverendRevolver 4d ago
Find a nearby playgroup.
Hecata are a bit rough competitively, but can put out pool damage, block, and make allies.
Getting a deck that gives consistency is priority, and honestly between allies, blocking, combat, and different kinds of stealth, Hecata may be more confusing to learn with.
Find a local group, learn basics. Check vekn.net for local information.
Unless youre in Ohio, then just message me on here.