At Your Disposal : Approximation of Loyalty

Approximation of Loyalty is an interesting and often under-rated card for PRESENCE decks. Quite a few fellow Methuselahs in my community does not yet recognise it's potential both as an offensive and defensive card for their PRESENCE vote / bleed decks, and therefore one do not see this card in use around here very often. I agree that in actual fact, this card is far from being a staple for most PRESENCE decks, but it is good to have 1-2, or even a couple, given it's versatile options, and the rare inclusion of "canceling" defenses for most "helpless" "stealthless" PRESENCE Vampires.

PRESENCE is not known for being sneaky. It excels in voting especially, and have some of the most prolific and well-known defensive combat end cards. It is also one of the second-tier bleeding disicpline, slightly behind the incredible utility and damage capacity available to DOMINATE and perhaps DEMENTATION. It does not, however, have many means of adding stealth or prevention capability to their actions.

For example, Enchant Kindred is a lesser Govern the Unaligned, but it is still a good card. At basic PRESENCE, it provides a +1 Bleed, among the myriad options of all the other PRESENCE bleed cards such as the expensive Legal Manipulations, to the deadly Dream World, whom all provide sometimes exotic bleed options for PRESENCE bleeders. But unlike the DOMINATE or DEMENTATION players, PRESENCE has absolutely no cards to add in any capability to prevent their actions of being blocked. The DOMINATE players throw down Bonding all the time, DEMENTATION has Confusion. But the worst issue for PRESENCE Vampire is that, their in-clan discipline are rarely very well known for stealth. The Brujahs, the Ishtarris, Ahrimanes, Daughters of Cacophony, Toreadors, Ventrues and even the exotic True Brujah and all their Sabbat counterparts have very little options for additional stealth or preventive cards at their disposal. Only the Settites are immune from this effect. As such, any card with any remote preventive or stealth capability for PRESENCE should be explored. And here we are, looking at a gem which in my area, seems to be quite under-appreciated.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present you, Approximation of Loyalty.

What's the big deal of this card? Let's make it clear. If you're playing with PRESENCE weenie, immediately remove this card from your deck and paste them all over your wall. Any Vampire with capacity below 5 (4 or less) cannot use this card, so you might as well use it as wallpaper (it does have a reasonable art piece) and continue to attempt to convince yourself that playing weenie is better than playing MTG.

If you have Vampires bigger than that, you should start reading the card and consider having a couple in your deck.

Its basic PRESENCE function is an expensive preventive card, similar to Seduction, but of course much weaker, and it costs 1 blood. Given the fact that there are no "Path of Looking Good" to reduce blood cost of PRESENCE cards, you're pretty much stuck with a card that is both expensive, and restrictive. It attempts to emulate Seduction, but is so much weaker. But hey, you're a PRESENCE Vampire, so unless you happen to also have DOMINATE, or you worship snakes, you really can't be a chooser. Also, if you're familiar with Seduction and how to use it, you'll see that this effect is actually quite handy.

It is not that bad if you think about it. First, if you use it once, and caught your prey unawares (and believe me you will), and he only has 1 Vampire of that capacity untapped and ready (or able) to block you, this card, given your PRESENCE potential, can really make him pay. A PRESENCE bleeder has an awesome capability to suddenly unleash a tremendous wave of bleed - Legal Manipulations for +2 Bleed, modified with Aire of Elation to +4 (+5 if you're Toreador, don't you just loved to look pretty?), that's a 5 (or if you have other random modifiers like the Heart of the City...) bleed with a single action. (Ok, it costs you 3 blood, but still...). An action like this has the power to change the table balance, or even kill your prey outright. Even if it doesn't, it will play a big part in influencing how your prey play from now on. And don't forget that this is the only card you have that can remove those problematic allies from blocking you. A Carlton Van Wyk can shut you down completely as there are few precious way for you to increase your stealth beyond 1, this card will allow you to get through him once in a while. (A good chance to call that Permanent Vacation.

But it is the superior ability of Approximation of Loyalty that truly makes it stand out.Canceling a reaction card you say, what's the big deal? Well, for one, the simplest use is to remove bounce cards for your bleed actions. But the more common (and more strategic) use of this card is to cancel defensive cards targeting vote cards - ie. Delaying Tactics or Poison Pill and stuff like that. Especially Delaying Tactics, which can shut down your votes for a round, and Approximation of Loyalty seems to be the only way you can deal with it effectively. Also, for voters, it is generally easy to Voter Cap the blood expenditure back anyway.

Of course, after using the card you'll no longer have the option to use any action modifiers. For bleeding, it can be easily circumvented, by using the modifiers first. Such is not an option for votes, since you are not yet at the podium, and cards like Bewitching Oration and Awe is not ready for use. Well, a minor irritation if you ask me.

This card can also be used for less troublesome cards such as Intercepts or even wake cards if you really can afford the blood. This is an added advantage for the card and I'm sure you'll get to know this card quite intimately after a while. It really is a good card to include in a PRESENCE heavy deck, not too many of course, since it does have quite a problematic restriction, but still good.

(o.o)y

ps. With Extrala's comments it seems that I've not done my research properly! This card requires a Vampire of Capacity 7 or more! SEVEN!!! I'm gonna throw out quite a few copies now~