Vampire : the Evaluated Situation : 27-04-2010

The night of 27th April, in the year 2010, Paradigm Infinitum.

Thus begins the final table for the Battlelines Tournament Singapore. Since Danz couldn't make it and Bann didn't bring his deck, G1 became the 5th player in the final table without the need to roll any dice to compete for it.

After all have settled down, the Methuselahs soon chose their individual seating, and the final table's seating position was-

Jef's Baali Vote, bleeding

LeFei's Samedi bleed/bloat, bleeding

Ben Chia's Baali Cybele, bleeding

YY's Daughters vote, bleeding

G1's Baali Nergal.

And of course, ALL of us Singaporeans supported Bahari.

It wasn't really a surprise - all Methuselahs supported Bahari, not least due to the pretty Bahari counters created by Shermin for the use of this tournament (and definitely for all the future Bahari goodies that will eventually turn up)

And thus the battle begins

The early game of this battle seem pretty subdued. Jef started the ball rolling on turn 3 with his Horde calling the first of many damaging vote in this game. The KRC hit LeFei and Ben (the standard 3-1) and quickly turn Ben into a hostile ally and put everyone's focus on him, especially after he brought out Arishat this turn. Meanwhile, on the table every Methuselah prepared themselves for the battle by influencing minions onto the table, many of whom only had their first this round. LeFei engaged Tangine, Ben got his Cybele, YY had Hilanvale last turn and G1 got his Nergal. Pretty much all the star vampires were on the table by now.

Turn 3 was also one of the most important turn in the game. It started when YY tried to call a Lily Prelude targetting G1, but would require Jef's help in securing the vote, even with the help of a Madrigal. It all seemed like a definite happening until G1 offered an irresistible deal to Jef - G1 offered not to attack Jef until there be 2 players left in the game if Jef vote down YY's damaging votes against him. This deal was too good to let go and Jef went for it and voted down the Lily Prelude. In response, YY brought out his own Arishat and started contesting her with Jef, much to Jef's detriment.

Jef managed to call another KRC with the aid of Betwitching Oration, but without Arishat and none of the Hordes being enhanced, he couldn't play any Tend the Flock - which by then every other Baali on the table was busy tending to the Hordes with their elder Baali. A testament to the threat that Jef had presented himself was made clear when a bleed towards Ben for 2 by Tangine was bounced to Jef instead of YY! Ben then threw out a Unleashed Hell's Fury, which will stay on the table until the end of the game.

Despite the early damage done, LeFei's bloating engine was supported by Ben's cooperation, and was able to maintain quite a good pool with constant Off Kilter and Little Mountain Cemetery. Ben was also doing very well with all the Tend the Flocks and the extra pool given by the Greater Curses and Social Charms that the Bahari Hordes were doing to YY - in fact, he was to have a very impressive amount of pool soon. The Methuselahs all had good bloating functions and soon many more minions were called to engage into the struggle. Jef had another Horde, but was kept from bringing out anymore due to the contest cost and the lack of Tend the Flocks, but since he had no pressure whatsoever his pool was quite alright. The Samedi brought out Baroque, and by turn 11 Jorge Frederick, and her bloating function kept her pool always above 8. Ben had a ridiculous number of Hordes. YY brought out Dmitra to gain vote superiority and bloated very well with Voter Caps. Nergal only had the help of another single Horde.

At turn 6 YY decided to contest G1's Carlton Van Wyk, making him the most contesting player on the table. Meanwhile, due to the special benefits that Bahari gave to the infernals in this game, we saw a lot of fat Baali hunting for 1 blood all the time...

At turn 9 YY decided to bring out Lucinde, bringing his pool down to 2, no doubt expecting to be able to Villein or bloat back to health next round. Jef responded by putting a Condemnation : Mute on Dmitra, removing her votes as a Justicar. But it turned out unnecessary as Ben quickly took the chance and bled YY to death.

At this point Ben had over 30 pool...

Jef, now with Arishat back in action, started to have his deck working fine. A Consanguinous Boon for Baali net a 10 pool on the whole table, with LeFei miserably left out. (Ben got the most out of it since he had 5 Baali on table then) This excercise put Ben's pool at a ridiculous number of 36.

This is the ridiculous amount of pool Ben had

Even though Ben slapped a Haven Uncovered on Arishat, Jef managed to use her to call forth KRCs and eventually bled LeFei dry by turn 12, the final bleed was actually enhanced by G1's Horde... at this point the whole table was full of Baali, with 9 Hordes showing off their hairstyle to the world.

Ben went on an alpha strike, with the first Horde bleed Veiled by Cybele spending 5 blood to give the rest of the Hordes 1 extra stealth. The bleeds proved too much for Nergal and G1 was ousted.

Left with the final 2

Though Jef brought out Xeper to aid in his attack, the outcome was quite clear. Eventually the large number of Hordes on Cybele's side managed to bleed out Jef's remaining pool, giving Ben the table victory.

Final VP Count

Ben Chia - 4 VPs plus GW

Jef - 1 VP

Victory goes to Ben Chia! Baali supporting Bahari wins for Singapore, with the key vampire being THE HORDE.

End Game, Bahari wins!

(From left to right - Ben, YY, LeFei, Jef "the Great" (he insist), G1)

Many thanks to the players for participating in this messily organized tournament. Till next time!

(o.o)