Ropecon 2007: tournament report

For the Nth time, players in Finland congregated to the Ropecon gaming convention to play VTES (among lots of other things). This year we had 88 players in total, which didn't break last year's record of 95, but is still quite a respectable number. As usual, the tournament was played with three 2-hour preliminary rounds and an untimed final round. Deck lists were not required, but were requested from the finalists afterwards (for archiving purposes). Things started off a bit after 6pm, and ended around 3am.

A few pictures from the event (by Marko Saari) can be found here.

First off: things went well generally, and despite some small problems I was left feeling pretty happy with the thing. A big “thank you” to everyone who helped with the organizing; moving tables, helping with the printing, whatever. It really was a big help.

I'll get the small problems out of the way first. The main one was the venue, this year we played in a different hall than during previous years. It seemed fine on paper, but proved to be really bad in practice; the low ceiling height, lack of ventilation and crowded conditions (due to a Magic tournament in the same space) resulted in a hot, stuffy and uncomfortable gaming area. Apologies to everyone for that, I said “ok” when the space was suggested to me by the Ropecon folks, but didn't really think things through. Next year, things will improve. Promise.

To be clear: the Ropecon folks didn't realize either how problematic that space would be, it came as an unwelcome suprise to everybody. It's not like we were intentionally placed in an unoptimal space.

Perhaps related to the above, a total of 8 people left before the final round. Now, I understand some people leaving… you're at zero VPs, the gaming space is far from ideal, and you'd really like to go to the pub and drink beer instead. It happens, every year. However, every person leaving like this makes problems for table seating, and this large number of drop-outs actually forced me to redo the seating for the last round 3 times. This was aggravating, and compounded by the fact that the printer was connected to a desktop computer instead of my laptop – so in order to print the seatings, I had to print them as PDF, transfer them via USB stick, and ask the Magic organizer to print them. Not fun, especially after you do it the third time in a short period. Extra negative marks to the “hero” who simply disappeared without telling me about it – one game table had to twirl their thumbs for quite a while before I decided he wasn't coming back. Don't do that, kids. In general, I'd really, really prefer it if people played all 3 rounds.

A third negative point was the shipping company fucking up (once again), so the tournament support from White Wolf, promos etc, did not arrive in time. Fantasiapelit, out friendly local game store, came through for us and provided boosters to use as prizes (thanks!), but it would have been nice to give out promos, too. Oh well, those will be used as prizes in upcoming smaller local tournaments, I guess.

So… some stuff I intend to organize differently next year, but nothing totally catastrophic. Next year, I'll insist on getting the tournament placed in either the same main hall it's been in previously, or some other place that actually has room and ventilation. I'll also ask players to not sign up unless they intend to play all three rounds. As an added carrot, I'll only give out promos etc after the third round starts, so people skipping out will also skip out on the promos. If someone really has to go, sure, go. But less of this “I don't feel like playing and want to go to the pub” behavior, please.

With that grumbling out of the way, I can concentrate on the good stuff. The turnout was great, with people all over Finland coming over to play. Lots of people I don't remember seeing before, with (I think) 10 new VEKN accounts created. The theme this year seemed to be Lasombra Power, with a grand total of 10(!) Lasombra decks by my quick count. I'm not sure quite why that is, but it's not hard to guess: the clan has always been popular and has strong disciplines, and they have also gotten lots of nice goodies in the latest expansions. Not too many Imbued decks, 2 or 3… I had expected more. One of them made it to the finals, though. A very wide spread of deck types and clans in general, and I'm glad to say that this year's tournament points towards the game being quite balanced currently; no totally broken archetypes like the Anarch Revolt “all Masters all the time” monstrosities that used to rule some years back. Good job, design team.

Dominate is still king, of course, and sadly enough the final round had no combat decks in it and was a bit bland as far as deck variance goes. However, I saw quite a bit of combat and some very fun-looking deck ideas when I walked around, so things seem fine in the “deck variance” department in general.

It was somewhat surprising to see few of the “usual suspects” in the final rankings; most people who traditionally scored really well in these tournaments didn't do so hot this year. I have no idea why this is. Tournament fatigue after the EC trip? Hangover after same? Increased competition from other cities? Orbital mind control lasers? Who knows. In any case, the final round had quite a few “new faces”, at least as far as Ropecon tournaments are concerned. Good job, guys.

The game win finally went to Kalle Cederström, playing a Lasombra Nocturn deck. Grats!

The top 10 scores from the preliminary 3 rounds were:

1. Kalle Cederström, 2 GW & 9.5 VP
2. Juha Nyholm, 2 GW & 8,5 VP
3. Jarkko Suvela, 2 GW & 8 VP
4. Arsi Järvinen, 2 GW & 8 VP
5. Tommi Hakomaa, 2 GW & 7.5 VP
6. Aleksi Nuora, 2 GW & 7 VP
7. Timo Rekola, 2 GW & 7 VP
8. Otso Turunen, 2 GW & 6.5 VP
9. Antti Iivari, 1 GW & 6.5 VP
10. Lauri Keinänen, 1 GW & 6 VP

The final round got started way into the wee early hours, as traditional, at 1:18am. There was no time limit for the final round, and it ended after about two hours at approximately 3:15am (did not mark down exact time).

The players were (in seating order):

1. Arsi Järvinen (Presence tap & bleed)
2. Juha Nyholm (Lasombra stealthbleed & vote)
3. Tommi Hakomaa (Imbued)
4. Jarkko Suvela (“Nocturnal Supremacy”, Lasombra stealthbleed & vote)
5. Kalle Cederström (“Nocturne”, Lasombra Nocturns)

The game wasn't the most eventful final round I've ever seen, due to the large amount of Lasombra-powered Dominate stealth-bleed action. However, it was fun enough and watching the bleeds bounce around was amusing. Accident or no, the two non-Lasombra decks were the first to be osted, leaving the 'masters of the shadows' (self-titled) fighting some sort of in-clan civil war between themselves. Kalle's Nocturn deck was fun to watch, he used the things to great effect, so much so that the other players started burning his Paths even though they also got benefit from them.

As noted before, this tournament had a huge number of Lasombra decks, with the finals having three of them(!). Juha and Jarkko seemed to be playing very similar decks, by what I could see.

After two hours of hot vamp-on-vamp Dominate-Obtenebration action, Jarkko finally managed to oust Kalle and be the last meth standing. However, that left the game at a tie (2-2-1), so Kalle got the tournament win due to the preliminary round scoring.

The final standings were:

1. Kalle Cederström, 2 GW & 11.5 VP
2. Jarkko Suvela, 2 GW & 10 VP
3. Juha Nyholm, 2 GW & 9.5 VP
4. Arsi Järvinen, 2 GW & 8 VP
5. Tommi Hakumaa, 2 GW & 7.5 VP

This is based on my quickly scribbled notes, so there is some amount of abbreviation and things left out. There may also well be mistakes here and there.

turn 1

• Jarkko: Break the Code

turn 2

• Tommi: bring out Travis Miller

• Jarkko: bring out Royce

• Kalle: bring out Virginie, Prodigy

turn 3

• Arsi: bring out Greta Kircher

• Juha: bring out Gratiano

• Tommi: Church of Vindicated Faith, Travis does his thing, bring out Paul Moreton & Jennie Orne

• Jarkko: Blood Doll on Royce, bring out Francisco Domingo de Polonia

• Kalle: Perfectionist on Virginie, V. Computer Hacks with stealth, bleed for 3

turn 4

• Arsi: Fetish Club HG, Greta Enchant Kindred down, bring out Jost Werner

• Juha: Danse Macabre on Gratiano, G. Governs down, untaps, plays Creation Rites Seducing Jost. Tommi plays Angel of Berlin + Flash

Grenade on Jennie, but does not block. CR gets Dominate. Bring out Dr. Julius Sutphen (adv)

• Tommi: Vigilance on Jennie, Champion on Paul, Travis does his thing.

• Jarkko: Royce hunts

• Kalle: Blood Doll on Virginie, Virginie Computer Hacks, Jost blocks and plays Majesty. Bring out Appius Claudius Corvus

turn 5

• Arsi: Jost Mind Numbs Dr. Julius

• Juha: Power Structure

• Tommi: Parthenon, use it to play Unity

• Jarkko: Disputed Territory, Tommi cancels with Determine, Polonia bleeds and plays Iron Glare, Kalle bounces the bleed, Change of Target on Polonia. Royce bleeds for 1. Bring out Tobias Smith.

• Kalle: Path of Night, Appius recruits Nocturn and untaps, Virginie recruits Nocturn and untaps. Nocturn bleeds, Greta reduces. Appius bleeds, plays Conditioning (inf), Greta bounces, Juha bounces, Tommi gets bled for 3. Nocturne bleeds for 1. Bring out Lucy Markowitz

turn 6

• Arsi: Blood Doll on Jost, Jost bleeds with Social Charm, Gratiano bounces, Tommi bled for 2. Greta hunts. Bring out Ramiel DuPre.

• Juha: Blood Doll on Dr. Julius, Gratiano Banishes Jost, Dr. J bleeds with Govern Seducing Royce, Tommi is bled for 3. Bring out Ambrosio Luis Moncada, Plenipotentiary

• Tommi: Rose Foundation, Travis does his thing

• Jarkko: Dreams, Royce hunts, Polonia bleeds, Nocturn blocks but P stealths past, bleed for 2. Bring out Tupdog

• Kalle: Perfectionist on Appius, Virginie recruits Nocturn and untaps, Appius recruits Nocturn and untaps. Nocturn bleeds, Greta reduces. Other Nocturn bleeds, G reduces again. Appius bleeds with Conditioning (inf), bleed of 3. Lucy Comp Hacks, Remiel tries to block but L stealths past, bleed of 2

turn 7

• Arsi: Greta plays superior Enchant Kindred. Ramiel bleeds, CR blocks, R plays Majesty. R tries to burn Path of Night, Virginie blocks, R plays Majesty. Jost comes back into play.

• Juha: Minion Tap Ambrosio for 7, Gratiano bleeds for 2.

• Tommi: Fortschritt Library, fetch Unmasking. Travis does his thing, Unmasking into play

• Jarkko: Polonia bleeds with Iron Glare, Kalle bounces, Arsi is bled for 3. Tobias bleeds for 1, Royce bleeds for 1.

• Kalle: Blood Doll on Appius. Lucy bleeds with stealth and Conditioning, Arsi is ousted. Virginie recruits Nocturn and untaps, Appius recruits Nocturn and untaps. Both Nocturns bleed for 1.

turn 8

• Juha: Elysian Fields, Gratiano bleeds with stealth for 2.

• Tommi: Travis does his thing, bring out Xian Quan

• Jarkko: Polonia bleeds, Nocturn blocks, P plays stealth and Iron Glare, bleed gets bounced to Juha, bounced again to Tommi who

uses Champion (on Paul, who gets a Concealed Flash Grenade and hits hands for 1). Tobias burns Path of Night, using stealth.

• Kalle: Path of Night, Lucy Comp Hacks for 2

turn 9

• Juha: Dreams, Gratiano bleeds for 2 with stealth, gets reduced by one (Rose Foundation). Dr. J Govern bleeds with stealth (for 3).

• Tommi: Travis does his thing (Travis is da man)

• Jarkko: Polonia hunts, Tobias burns Path with stealth, bring out Alvaro, The Scion of Angelica

• Kalle: Corporeal Reservoir on Appius, contest Elysian Fields, Lucy bleeds for 1 with stealth, Virginie recruits Nocturn and untaps. Nocturn Comp Hacks, blocked by CR, hands for 1. Appius recruits Nocturn and untaps, Nocturn bleeds for 1. Virginie bleeds for 2, gets bounced to Tommi and blocked, V dodges.

turn 10

• Juha: yield Elysian Fields, Blood Doll on CR, CR Govern bleeds, Xian blocks, CR goes to torpor. Dr. J calls KRC 3-1, pass. Gratiano calls KRC, gets cancelled with Determine. G calls Domain Challenge, gets cancelled with Determine. G bleeds with Conditioning, Seducing Royce, gets reduced by 1, bleed for 4. Ambrosio bleeds, Tommi is ousted

• Jarkko: Alvaro bleeds for 2, gets bounced, Dr J blocks, hands for 1. Francisco bleeds at +2 with stealth, gets bounced, Juha is bled for 3. Royce bleeds for 1.

• Kalle: Corporeal Reservoir on Virginie, Giant's Blood on Lucy. Lucy Comp Hacks for 2. Virginie Comp Hacks for 2.

turn 11

• Juha: Dr. J hunts, Gratiano does Creation Rites, Ambrosio calls Consanguinous Boon (Lasombra), pass (everyone gets pool), Voter Cap

• Jarkko: Dreams, Royce hunts, Tobias employs Tasha Morgan, Polonia hunts

• Kalle: Corporeal Reservoir on Appius, Path of Night. Virginie Comp Hacks for 3. Appius recruits Nocturn and untaps, Nocturn bleeds for 1, Lucy bleeds for 1

turn 12

• Juha: CR hunts, Gratiano hunts, Dr J hunts, Ambrosio calls KRC 3-1, pass.

• Jarkko: Royce hunts, Tobias bleeds with stealth, gets bounced, Juha gets bled for 2. Polonia calls Sabbat Inquisitor, pass, Voter Cap. Alvaro calls KRC 3-1, +2 votes, pass.

• Kalle: Corporeal Reservoir on Appius, Blood Doll on Lucy. Virginie recruits Nocturn and untaps, Appius recruits Nocturn and untaps. Lucy recruits Nocturn and untaps. All 3 Nocturns bleed for 1. Lucy bleeds with Conditioning, gets bounced to Jarkko, bounced back to Juha, stealth, Juha is ousted. Virginie bleeds for 2, Appius bleeds for 1. Bring out Saul Meira.

turn 13

• Jarkko: Minion Tap gets Suddened. Polonia calls Banishment, Virginie is banished, Voter Cap. Tobias calls KRC 3-1, pass, Voter Cap. Alvaro calls KRC 3-1, pass.

• Kalle: Appius recruits Nocturn and untaps. Saul recruits Nocturn and untaps. Nocturn bleeds, Royce blocks, hands for 1. Nocturn bleeds for 1. Saul bleeds for 1. Appius bleeds for 1. Lucy bleeds for 1.

turn 14

• Jarkko: Minion Tap Alvaro for 5. Polonia Banishes Saul. Royce calls KRC 3-1, pass. Alvaro bleeds for 3. Tobias calls KRC, Kalle is ousted. Much rejoicing.

Below are the deck lists for Kalle's, Jarkko's and Arsi's decks. Juha and Tommi, if you send me your deck lists at some point I'll add them here.

Deck Name : Nocturne
Author : Kalle Cederström
Description :
Lasombra plays with shadows to reign control of night.
This is the deck I played at and win Ropecon in 2007.

Crypt [12 vampires] Capacity min: 3 max: 10 average: 6.84
------------------------------------------------------------

4x Saul Meira             8  CHI DOM OBT POT             Lasombra:5
3x Appius Claudius Co     10 DOM OBT POT cel nec         Lasombra:5
2x Leila Monroe           4  dom obt pre                 Lasombra:4
2x Lucy Markowitz         3  dom obt                     Lasombra:4
1x Virginie, Prodigy      6  DOM POT obt          bishop Lasombra:4

Library [90 cards]
------------------------------------------------------------

Action [11]
  10x Computer Hacking
  1x Tattoo Signal

Action Modifier [15]
  5x Conditioning
  1x Seraph's Second
  9x Shadow Play

Ally [19]
  19x Nocturn

Combat [7]
  5x Arms of the Abyss
  2x Oubliette

Master [22]
  4x Blood Doll
  4x Corporal Reservoir
  2x Elysian Fields
  1x Giant's Blood
  5x Path of Night, The
  2x Perfectionist
  2x Political Hunting Ground
  1x Rack, The
  1x Sudden Reversal

Reaction [16]
  8x On the Qui Vive
  8x Redirection

"Nocturnal Supremacy"
Jarkko Suvela
Bleed-vote

Prelim. 2 GW 8 VP
Final 2 VP

Crypt, 13
2x Ambrosio Luis Monqada, Plenipotentiary
2x Francisco Domingo de Polonia
2x Tupdog
Bronwen
Alvaro, Scion of Angelica
Gratiano
Tobias Smith
Sela ADV
Sela
Royce

Library, 90

Master, 17
Minion Tap x4
Blood Doll x3
Information Highway x3
Dreams of the Sphinx x3
Political Hunting Ground
Black Forest Base
Fear of Mekhet
Obtenebration

Event, 1
Break the Code

Retainer, 2
J.S. Simmons, Esq.
Tasha Morgan

Political Action, 14
Kine Resources Contested x6
Banishment x3
Disputed Territory x2
Sabbat Inquisitor
Ancient Inlfuence
Reins of Power

Reaction, 16
Wake with Evening's Freshness x4
On the Qui Vive x3
Deflection x6
Redirection x2
Obedience

Combat, 7
Majesty x3
Staredown x2
Entombment x2

Modifier, 33
Iron Glare x6
Voter Captivation x6
Shadow Play x5
Shroud of Night x5
Tenebrous Form x4
Night Shades x3
Bewitching Oration x2
Change of Target x2

-Comments,
I really didn't need those retainers in any game.
I meant to change Staredowns into Oubliettes, but forgot to do that before tournament
Just enough deflection for Ropecon enviroment
Should've used some of the political action slots for Govern the Unaligneds (and those Retainers)

Crypt (12):
Angela Decker
Delilah Easton
Gideon Fontaine
Greta Kircher
Jessica
Jost Werner x3
Ramiel Dupre
Remilliard, Devout Crusader
Sheila Mezarin
Victoria Ash


Library (90):

Master (17)
Blood Doll x6
Channel 10
Dreams of the Sphinx
Giant's Blood
Fetish Club Hunting Ground x4
KRCG News Radio
Palla Grande
Perfectionist
WMRH Talk Radio

Action (30)
Art Scam x2
Enchant Kindred x9
Entrancement x3
Mind Numb x6
Propaganda x2
Social Charm x8

Action Modifier (12)
Aire of Elations x7
Change of Target x5

Reaction (31)
Forced Awakening x4
Majesty x13
Telepathic Misdirection x8
Wake with Evening's Fresshness x6