Sydney By Night

17/7/2009

AP League - Round 3 (Penrith - Constructed)

2R+F

13 players

Runner Up: Tim Hansford (Tzimisce)

Runner Up: Shane Clements (Presence Powerbleed)

22/5/2009

Penrith Qualifier 2009 (Penrith - Constructed)

2R+F

10 players

Winner: Claudio Gomes (Anarch Bruise-Bleed)

Runner Up: Tim Hansford (Weenie Vote)

Runner Up: Shane Clements (Presence Powerbleed)

Runner Up: Jared Heine (Tzimisce Toolbox)

25/4/2009

AP League 2009 - Round 2 (Penrith - Constructed)

2R+F

10 players

Winner: Shane "Griff" Lamont (Tzimisce Toolbox)

Runner Up: Tim Hansford (Ventrue)

Runner Up: Brendan Healy (Toreador Grand Ball)

Runner Up: Craig "C.K." Kordiak (Malk Anti Toolbox)

Runner Up:  Chen Zhong (Fortitude-Dominate Power Bleed)

2/3/2009

City Tournament (Sydney - Constructed)

2R+F

7 players

Winner: Claudio Gomes (Celerity Toolbox)

Runner Up: Justin (Malk IC Vote)

Runner Up: Nick Miller (Ravnos Red Herring Bleed)

Runner Up: Leon Tranter (Anarch Tzimisce Block)

Runner Up:  Eugene Chan (Pot/Ani/Obf Blood drain combat)

6/2/2009

AP League 2009 - Round 1 (Penrith - Constructed)

2R+F

15 players

Winner: Shane Clements (Presence Swarm Bleed)

Runner Up: Tim Hansford (Tzimisce)

Runner Up: Shane "Griff" Lamont (Brujah Anti Vote/ Punch)

Runner Up: Craig "C.K." Kordiak (Toreador Anti)

Runner Up:  Chen Zhong

27/7/2008

Sydney Qualifier 2008 - (Blacktown - Constructed)

3R+F

27 players

Winner:  Ivor Blockey (Sempiternal Settites)

Runner Up: Steve Harris (Tremere Toolbox) 

Runner Up: Claudio Gomes (!Brujah Rush)

Runner Up: Michael Bailey (Toreador)

Runner Up:  Tim Watson (Giovanni Bleed)

Excerpt of report posted by Claudio Gomes on the Sydney Newsgroup 30/7/2008

The first few rounds saw the Giovanni doing some power bleeds, the FoS breeding a couple of Bima's and Waters of Duat, and the Tremere's unsuccessful block attempts.

On the other side of the table the Toreador didn't stand a chance to the !Brujah. Anneke didnt have a chance to act and was sent to torpor the round she came out.

With no pressure the Giovanni kept bleeding for 2-4 each minion every round. Soon enough both FoS and Tremere were out of deflection and started going forward as hard as they could to oust their prey and gain 6 pool. The clock was also ticking for the !Brujah, heavily bled by being at the end of the deflection conga-line.

At the 6th round the Tremere lunged and left the !Brujah on 2 pool. At the sounds of distant curses from the Tremere methuselah who had just drawn the Foreshadowing destruction after discarding, the !Brujah ousted the Toreador.

At this stage the Giovanni was cycling into anything and everything but bleed mods. The FoS took the opportunity and swarm bled Tremere, !Brujah and Giovanni.

IMHO a very good final, quick, swift, no table talk no sheenanigans. Players had very well focused decks and knew what they were doing.

20/6/2008

AP League 2008 - Round 2 (Penrith - Constructed)

2R+F

8 players

Winner:  Peter Rophail (Lasombra Royalty)

Runner Up: David Vega (Ventrue Anti) 

Runner Up: Claudio Gomes (Weenie's with Garou Backup)

Runner Up: Michael Kilgannon (Osebo Toolbox)

Runner Up:  Tim Hansford (Tzimisce)

Non finalists:

Adam Sesperez (Malk Anti Stealth - Bleed)

Shane Clements (Presence Power Bleed) * Qualified for final but withdrew *

Rene Dasco (Lasombra)

Following the preliminary rounds, the standings were Claudio, Shane, Tim, David, Peter, Michael. Shane was unable to contest the final and Michael was subsequently elevated to 5th

Seating for the final was David bleeding Peter bleeding Tim bleeding Claudio bleeding Michael. 

The early minutes of the final saw both Claudio & David get off to strong starts. Claudio started off with the Info Highway and had 4 minions out by the end of the second turn. Meanwhile David used the Dreams to quickly bring out Lazvernius. Tim, Peter & Michael were slower to get going with a bad crypt draw making things difficult for Tim and Michael suffering from crippling hand jam that would plague him all game.

The first turning point was David's cross tabling suddening of Claudio's Tribute in the 3rd turn. This unexpected move put Claudio in a tenuous position early, and he was never really able to recover & commit enough minions forward as a result. 

Tim soon had a trio of minions and a Bowl of Convergence out, while David managed to equip two minions with pulses. Peter's big caps were trapped between vote blocking intercept & the threat of power bleed, causing him to freeze up and allowing Tim to start to make inroads into Claudio's scant pool supply.

The game was tipped on it's head when Claudio was forced to spend a round going backwards on Tim. Unfortunately the majority of his minions were binned for the trouble, but it also had the effect of Tim in a perilous position. Peter took advantage with a 5 bleed bringing Tim to within ousting range.

Tim manged to hang on grimly for a few rounds, but eventually a flicked pulse bleed from David brought him undone and Peter finished him off. With little hope of survival, Claudio hammered Michael for a round before being ousted. With the clock ticking down, David managed to get Peter down to 6 pool (from 15) but was too late. The game timed out with Peter taking the tournament with 2.5 vp's in the final.  

18/5/2008

Sydney Tournament (Sydney - Constructed)

2R+F

15 players

Winner:  Leon Tranter

Runner Up: Eugene Chan

Runner Up: Ben Szymkow

Runner Up: Justin W 

Runner Up: Shane Schneider

Tournament Report by Nick Miller as posted on the Sydney Newsgroup 19/5/2008 ...

Here's some notes from the final table:

Leon - !Nos combat
Eugene - Gargoyle toolbox
Ben - Weenie Giovanni bleed
Justin W- Salubri

Ben starts with a bleed of 6 with Isabel who is then torpored by Shane in his turn with Ismitta care of a sewer lid.

Leon's Ox torpors Eugene's Luma with crows/grapple+press.

Ben tries to rescue Isabel but loses another minion. Justin restores her blood with renewed vigor and rescues her. Isabel then graverobs Eugene's Luma

Eugene's famous Cohn Rose is flicked to Shane who decides he wants Eugene out so Ben will have pressure from Justin. Cohn Rose is torpored and Eugene loses 3 pool.

Leon's Teresita bleeds Eugene with Guarded Rubrics a couple of times for the oust.

Leon tries to convince Justin that Ox should be black hand, saying "Black hand doesn't mean anything". Justin is not convinced.

Shane and Justin's minions end up in combat a couple of times, while Leon bins any minions Ben has.

Ben's last minion, Isabel, keeps him alive for a couple of turns by flicking bleeds to Shane.

Famous Maldavis blocks Ismitta's rescue of Homa and ends up in torpor and Justin is then bled out. Leon bleeds Ben out.

Leon and Shane's minions start torporing each other. Leon has the larger amount of pool but has few cards remaining.

The game times out giving Leon the win.

Final VPs:

Leon: 2.5 GW
Shane 1.5

15/2/2008

AP League 2008 - Round 1 (Penrith - Constructed)

2R+F

12 players

Winner:  Adam Sesperez (Malk Anti S/B)

Runner Up: Martin Hall (Toreador Anti Vote/ Bleed) 

Runner Up: David Vega (Ahrimanes Vultures Buffet Deck)

Runner Up: Rene Dasco (Nakh Cag Corruption)

Runner Up:  Tim Hansford (Tzimisce)

Non finalists:

Michael Kilgannon (Malk Anti Stealth-Bleed)

Shane Clements (Presence Bleed)

Jason Simes (Assamite Toolbox)

Claudio Gomes (Brujah Anti Bruise/ Bleed)

Brendan Healy (Muaziz/ Gargoyle Wall)

Peter Rophail (Akunanse Toolbox)

Josh Krensell (Ventrue Vote/ Bleed)

Following the preliminary rounds, the standings were David, Adam, Martin, Tim & Rene. Shane was tied for 5th but lost on a coin toss.

Seating for the final was Martin Bleeding David bleeding Adam bleeding Rene bleeding Tim. 

The final began very aggressively with Adam, Rene & Tim all making early statements.

Within 20 minutes Rene had successfully corrupted Terrence into his possession, Donatein had been binned by Meshenka and Adam had his prey on 5 pool.

Rene lasted just under 30 minutes succumbing to relentless pressure from the Adam's Malk Anti's. Tim's Tzimisce followed 15 minutes later, unable to wake and block enough to hold off Adam's quartet of midcaps. David continued to put bleed pressure on Adam but voted down to 2 pool by the Toreador Antis.  

At this point a deal was made between Adam & Martin, which Adam promptly broke, moving in for the kill (and the tournament) by going all out on Martin. David chose his own fate, DI'ing a vote and ousting himself in the process. It would prove a king making role, strengthening Adam and weakening Martin. A race for the last VP ensued, with both players forgoing defence for all out attack which saw  Adam reduced to two pool by the time he ousted Martin.

To view the current standings of the 2008 AP League, click here

13/1/2008

Sydney Tournament (Sydney - Constructed)

2R+F

4 players

Winner:  Ben Szymkow

Runner Up: Michael Pruscino

3rd Place: Duncan Kemp

4th Place:  Eugene Chan

Tournament Report by Nick Miller as posted on the Sydney Newsgroup 15/1/2008 ...

We had 4 players for the tournament in sydney on sunday:

Euge - Combat with Hektor (quietus/celerity/potence/fortitude)
Duncan - Combat with Nizzam (quietus/celerity/animalism)
Ben - Tzimisce combat/wall
Mike - Kiasyd bleed

Lots of combat. Some brief notes follow:

Round 1
Little Tailor's first action (bleed for 3) was blocked by Nizzam resulting in her being burnt and Nizzam in torpor(carrion crows and taste of death versus Breath of the Dragon)

Hektor Rumble'd and burnt Bartholomew (blood sweat with target vitals for 5 unpreventable/psyche, decaptitate)

Eugene bled out Mike with Loss+Iron Glare

Nizzam burns Rodrigo with a Khabar:Honor. Joe 'Boot' Hill torpors Sajid in response

Nizzam rushes famous Joe and both end up in torpor.

Hektor Rumble's Stravinsky and ends up in torpor from a rotshreck.

Stravinsky diablerizes Hektor. Euge self ousts giving Duncan a VP

Ben bleeds Duncan out.

Ben 2 VP, 1 GW
Euge 1 VP
Duncan 1 VP
Mike 0 VP
Vampires burned in combat: 3
Round Time: 43 mins

Round 2
Duncan plays a Tension early

Sajid is blocked by Devin and put in torpor.

Ben puts a smiling Jack in play.

Hektor tools up with flak jacket,preternatural strength,helicpoter

Ben recruits 2 War Ghouls.

Julia attempts to bleed and is blocked by Hektor who burns her.

Eugene bleeds Duncan out.

Ben bleeds Mike out.

Hektor blocks Lambach hunting. Lambach is burnt.Hektor then rushes and burns Lolita.

Euge bleeds Ben out.

Euge 3 VP, 1 GW
Ben 1 VP
Duncan 0 VP
Mike 0 VP
Round Time: 61 mins

Final

Eugene->Mike->Duncan->Ben

Early bleeds from Mike (govern+conditioning) and Ben bleeds with small tzim for 4.

Ben bleeds with 2 changelings and Little Tailor to oust Euge.

Mike bleeds Duncan out.

Mike Far Mastery's a War Ghoul. A new War Ghoul is recruited and killed after attacking the other and a following earth swords.

Bart is torpored from a breath of the dragon. Quincy is rotshrecked trying to rescue.

Ben bleeds out mike for the win.

Ben 3 VP, 1 GW
Mike 1 VP
Duncan 0 VP
Euge 0 VP
Round Time: 59 mins

Nick

23/12/2007

The Bruce Cup 2007 (Blacktown - Constructed)

3R+F

6 players

Winner:  David Vega (Astrid's Garden Party with Gnomes)

Runner Up: Marty "The Man" Collins (Burst of Sunlight/Fortitude !Tremere/Tremere) 

3rd Place: Joshua Lemon (Nu & Ian Forrestal Temporis)

4th Place:  Andrew Chirgwin (Tremere Auspex/ Blood Fury)

5th Place: Eugene Chan (Hektor Quietus)

Non finalists:

Rene Dasco (Settites)

Tournament Report by David V Vega as posted on the Sydney Newsgroup 23/12/2007 ...

A total of 6 players went through the Bruce Cup. One player had to leave after round 1 and the 6th player turned up then. So that worked out okay.

Rene Dasco was playing a venentation/change of target/Nahktureb deck with the Grand Copht as a buddy. Nasty work indeed.

Eugene played Hecktor with Depravity or Preternatural strength abusing his out of clan Quietus to no end.

Josh Lemon played Nu/Temporis with Ian Forestal buddy.

Martin Collins played Burst of Sunlight/Fortitude !Tremere/Tremere

David Vega played Astrid's Garden Party with Gnomes (Tremere with potence and gardening implements - weapons)

Andrew Chirgwin played Tremere auspex/blood fury.

A lot of blood mages on the day which was quite a surprise for most of us. Even Josh's Ian Forestal! The only outsider was Eugene.

The first 3 rounds had Marty pretty much in complete control, Eugene kill gnomes (<4 cap Tremere) with impunity and pretty much going crazy. The only problems he had were with Rene's corruption deck.

Hecktor kills ... everything. He's a nasty man without the Quietus.

Josh was having a bad day until the finals. He didn't draw Nu in rounds 1 and 2, drawing in the 3rd but wasn't cycling as expected.

My day was typified by bad crypt draw (although people swore it was a weenie deck). I was drawing all my low caps early (only 5 in the deck) and so my potence was limited.

The finals changed this dramatically. First Eugene had to leave and so it was a 4 player event. Mary went in first, with me second, Eugene third, Josh fourth and Andrew fifth.

With Eugene missing, the final seating was Josh->David->Andrew->Marty

I would have thought Marty would have picked on me since I was playing a 4CL toolbox deck based on an idea my wife and I came up with in the car (I added +2 Governs for bloat), however Josh has shown a real lack of tenacity all day so he was an obvious choice.

And then the bad luck hit. Josh started drawing perfectly. Nu, 2 vessels, Ian Forestal, Palatial Estate, Hunting Ground, Tabriz late
game. Josh was bloating fast. Marty wasn't drawing any of his bleed modifiers or actions like Govern or Scouting Mission, while Andrew was blocking any Govern's down that did come his way. And I just plodded along with the Chantry as my only location all game. Little did I know that this with Humanitas was going to keep me up most of the game.

Everyone was doing their thing. I had Rebekkah out and bleeding for 1@ 1 stealth getting flicked to Mary most of the time so I wasn't going to even try a govern at stealth without proving Andrew wasn't going to Wake (he had 24 anti-bleed cards in his deck).

In the end my slow plodding, and Josh's great setup had me on 2 pool, Andrew on 5, Marty of 15 and Josh on 8. It look like Marty could now pounce and take us all. But as stated he drew none of his modifiers.
he was plodding along as well, trying to Burst people. However he was doing a lot of backward Bursting as well and Andrew was doing not-preventable by Fortitude damage.

Then the turning point came (well from my POV). Marty convinced Josh to rescue one of Andrew's vampires to give him a blocker against me. If he had bled with both minions I was ousted but they were not to know that. That one distracted action gave me a turn to cycle, bleed for 1 on a probe bleed, and essentially look like I was out of Wake. In fact I had set up my hand with bounce so that I could try and drain Andrews wakes. It wasn't until about 5 turns later that I finally got the VP with 3 minutes to spare.

The game timed out with me winning ... which is great ... I won't say no to it, but time outs don't feel as good as outright victories. If
Eugene had been there I think it would have gone to him as long as Marty didn't draw his cards.

To view previous winners of the Bruce Cup click here.

7/12/2007

AP League 2007 - Round 6 (Penrith - Constructed)

2R+F

8 players

Winner:  Peter Rophail (Toreador Anti Toolbox)

Runner Up: Jason Simes (Assamite Toolbox) 

3rd Place: Brendan Healy (Euro Brujah)

4th Place:  Tim Hansford (Gangrel Anti Rush)

5th Place: Michael Kilgannon (Malk Anti Stealth-Bleed)

Non finalists:

Martin Hall (Gangrel Anti Toolbox)

Shane Clements (Tsimisce)

Antony Solis (Protean Dominate Stealth Bleed)

Following the preliminary rounds, the standings were Brendan, Tim, Jason, Peter & Michael and bizarrely, that is how the finalists chose to sit.

The final started evenly with Michael's Malk Anti's making the most noise while everyone else set up. Tim rushed backwards with Enkidu, putting Donal in torpor and leaving Brendan very vulnerable. The game was put on it's head when Tim convinced Michael to diablarise Donal and Michael subsequently lost a fully tanked Korah in the resulting blood hunt. Some bleed and flick and Michael looked to have the table set up with his prey & grand prey both on 1 pool. Peter took the opportunity shortly after and made his move, ousting Michael & Brendan in one turn, then Tim shortly after. The final two traded blows but eventually, Jason's combination of bleed, aggravated damage and the merciless recycling of a famed Carter saw him oust Peter.    

To view the final standings of the 2007 AP League, click here

26/10/2007

AP League 2007 - Round 5 (Penrith - Constructed)

2R+F

10 players

Winner:  Peter Rophail (Nephandi Swarm)

Runner Up:  Shane Clements (Tzimisce Wall)

3rd Place: Martin Hall (Undue Influence Toreador Antitribu)

4th Place:  Claudio Gomes (Ventrue Anti Toolbox)

5th Place: Michael Kilgannon (Akunanse Toolbox)

To view the AP League standings after Round 5 click here

10 players attended the penultimate round of the AP League. An 11th player, Antony Solis, selflessly sat out to avoid an awkward 11 player situation which was much appreciated by all in attendance! Claudio entered the tournament needing a win to keep his slim title hopes alive. Any other result would see Shane wrap up the title with a round in hand.

The Decks played:

Martin Hall - Toreador Antitribu Anarch/ Undue Influence Bleed

Jason Simes - Saulot with Thaumaturgy support

Tim Hansford - Celerity/ Protean poke agg

Peter Rophail - Nephandus Swarm

Shane Clements - Tzimisce Wall

Michael Kilgannon - Akunanse Toolbox

Claudio Gomes - Ventrue Antitribu Toolbox

Josh Krensel - Tzimisce Vote

Rene Roy Dasco - Toreador Antitribu Vote

Jared Heine - Tzimisce Toolbox

The preliminary rounds saw two games time out and two games resolved in fairly short time. Peter & Martin both playing highly aggressive decks sat on the same table in both rounds and steamrolled the opposition. Peter took the table in the first round while Martin got the points in the second. Tim Hansford was probably the unluckiest player in the preliminary rounds, his agg poke utterly ineffectual against the Nephandi which he sat next to in both games. The other two tables were a completely different story, with only the one VP resolved in the two games. The prevelance of toolbox type decks saw both games go to time.   

Coming into the final - 1. Martin Hall 2. Peter Rophail 3. Shane Clements 4. Claudio Gomes 5. Michael Kilgannon

Seating for the final was Claudio bleeding Shane bleeding Martin bleeding Michael bleeding Peter

Final Table

Martin & Peter came out aggressively, quickly getting out a string of minions and putting early pressure on Michael & Claudio. Shane had a solid start, nicely setting up his Tzimisce & bloating while the table's attention was focussed on the race for a VP between Martin & Peter. Michael looked to be in the weakest position but with Claudio's advice, he made a concerted effort on Peter who subsequently found himself on 5 pool. Shane also quietly went about reducing Martin's pool with consistent bleeds of 2 or 3.

 Martin made a lunge at Michael but in typical Kilgannon style, he proved extraordinarily resilient, fending the Toredaor Anti's off & doing considerable damage in the process. Shane took the opportunity to oust Martin. 

Peter lunged at Claudio but came up short, reducing him to 1 pool. Michael survived another round from Shane but couldn't get through Peter, who ousted Claudio on the next turn. Michael continued to hold on while the Nephandi started to make inroads into Shane's pool. Eventually however, the Tzimisce's combination of combat and bleed saw Shane get through Michael for his second VP.

It now became a race against the clock with the wave after wave of Nephandi launched against the Tzimisce. With 22 seconds remaining and Shane on 1 pool, the last Tzimisce minion - a famed Horatio was sent to torpor, giving Peter the tournament win. 

The result sees Shane Clements crowned the AP League Champion for 2007. Congratulations! 

30/9/2007

2007 Australian Championship (Sydney - Constructed)

3R+F

35 players

Winner:  Peter Rophail (Imbued Toolbox)

Runner Up:  Keith (Malk Anti S/B)

3rd Place: Ben O'Neil (Gangrel )

4th Place: Kevin Cameron (Malkavian Vote/ Bleed)

5th Place: Leon Tranter (Hexaped Deck)

Organiser David V Vega has written a report on the Championship weekend. To read it click here.

29/9/2007

Last Chance Qualifier (Sydney - Constructed)

3R+F

38 players

Winner:  Duncan Kemp (Settite/ Presence Bleed)

Runner Up:  Steve Van Nus (Nosferatu Princes)

3rd Place: Jason Ryan (Ventrue Anti Toolbox)

4th Place:  Craig Johnson (Thaumaturgy/ Dementation Bleed)

5th Place: Chris Arthur (Celerity Guns)

31/8/2007

AP League 2007 - Round 4 (Penrith - Constructed)

2R+F

13 players

Winner:  Claudio Gomes (Lasombra Bruise/Bleed)

Runner Up:  James "Chunka" Butler (42 Night Moves Deck)

3rd Place: Tim Hansford (Weenie Vote)

4th Place:  Peter Rophail (Kiasyd Toolbox)

5th Place: Michael Kilgannon (Toreador Anti Toolbox)

To view the AP League standings after Round 4 click here

13 players attended the 4th round of the AP League for a very interesting night's VTES. The lure of a qualifying spot saw some really dedicated decks make an appearance but it was Claudio's combination of bruise, bleed & stealth that ultimately prevailed. James Butler took the qualifying spot, finishing second in the final. 

The decks played:

Martin Hall - Protean Dominate Stealth Bleed

Tim Hansford - Weenie Presence/ Auspex Vote

Jason Simes - Henry Taylor wall 

James Butler (Chunka) - Weenie Obfuscate Night Moves

Peter Rophail - Kiaysd Toolbox

Shane Clements - Pulse Stealth-Bleed

Justin Fackler - Rush Celerity-Potence-Protean combat

Michael Kilgannon - Toreador Anti Toolbox

Paul Azzopardi - Celerity Rush Combat

Claudio Gomes - Lasombra Bruise, Bleed & Stealth

Josh Krensel - Toreador Anti Undue Influence Deck

Adam Sesperez - Malkavian Anti Stealth Bleed

Ben Laurie - Nosferatu Anti Rush Combat

Comining into the final - 1. James "Chunka" Butler 2. Tim Hansford 3. Claudio Gomes 4. Peter Rophail 5. Michael Kilgannon

Seating for the final was Claudio bleeding Michael bleeding Chunka bleeding Tim bleeding Peter

Final Table

The final proved to be an extremely interesting affair, with no one really able to assert any authority early.

Tim & Chunka started strongest bringing out their weenie hordes and starting to put immediate pressure on their preys. Tim's game was greatly curtailed by Claudio having vote control from very early on, while Chunka was having trouble getting through Tim's combination of voter caps and reduce. Michael made inroads into Chunka's pool with Palla Grande Bleeds, while Peter & Michael were being hammered by a combination of votes (cross table in Michael's case) & bleeds. Claudio's game was being kept in check by the threat of being power bled by the Kiasyd. By half way, everyone found themselves in a in a position to iminently oust or be ousted.

Chunka saved Peter with a couple of Delaying Tactics and a DI and finally managed to bleed Tim out. A deal was then made between Claudio & Chunka which saw Chunka Night Move Michael backwards. Eventually Claudio took his opportunity to oust Michael, then Chunka & finally (with just under 3 minutes on the clock) Peter.  

Report by Claudio Gomes (As posted on the Sydney News Group 3/9/2007)

Final Table:
Claudio (Lasombra dom/pot) bleeding
Michael Kilgannon (!Tor toolbox) bleeding
James "Chunka" Butler (weenie Nightmoves) bleeding
Tim Hansford (weenie PRE vote) bleeding
Peter Rophail (Kyasid toolbox) bleeding Claudio

This is the development of the game according to my personal perspective:

On the first 4-5 rounds Tim started pounding hard on Peter who decided to influence out an early Archbishop to stop the damaging votes.
To keep Peter at bay I agreed with a few KRCs Tim was pulling out, negotiating to have either 3 on Peter and 1 on my prey or 2 & 2. This left Peter uncomforatbly staying between 4-6 pool for the first hour of the game.

Michael's !Toreador were walling up against me as he knew I had no predator and was feeling the side effects of Tim KRCs, but I couldn't seem to be cycling my deck properly so I stayed put most of the time.

Without much happening on our side of the table, the battle race of weenies began: Chunka Nighmoving Tim, and Tim voting Peter out. With skillfull and well measured vote intercepts, Peter was managing to hang himself alive, so the balance was now pending towards Chunka.

I knew that as soon as Tim was out, Peter was going to start deflecting the Nightmoves at me, so a couple of rounds before the
inevitable fall of Tim I decided to use my Anarch troublemaker to tap the !Tor and oust Michael. Michael had more wakes, majesties and Intercepts I could poke my finger at so my attack was a complete failure. To make matters worse, Peter brought his own Anarch troublemaker out and contested it with Michael who willfully yielded his own.

At that stage Michael was at 3 pool, me and Peter were around 8 pool each and Chunka was on 14+ If left unchecked, Chunka's Nightmove horde would sweep the table. I saw it happening on the first game table when I was ousted.

So although Michael seemed like an easy VP, his low pool was more a consequence of Tim's Vote damaging deal, than actually my own bleeds. Michael had time to pack several flicks in his hand and the only way for me to oust him was to rush his bouncers before bleeding him.
With 3 minions on low blood and a famed 4 cap this would take time and I knew Peter was waiting for a single opportunity to use the Anarch Troublemaker and powerbleed me out.

I then came up with a statement: I clearly stated I was frozen on that situation and could do nothing until someone ousted Peter.

Michael started dolling out until he had a comfortable pool reserve and asked me if I agreed on not bleeding him until Peter was out.
This was really the only thing I could do at that moment so I agreed.

Michael then brought out a Palla Grande and started bleeding Chunka for 5/turn with Greta and Sheila.
Chunka realized he wouldnt be able to take Peter before he himself got ousted so he started to nightmoves back at Michael and asked if I would hold back from him if he ousted my prey for me.

At this stage the game could have gone any direction. Anyone could have won.

I repeated my statement again: I didn't care who ousted who. I was frozen on that situation and could do nothing until someone ousted Peter.

My only hope was to draw into a wake so I could flick Peter's powerS&B attack. But that wasnt happening.

Eventually Chunka and Michael lowered themselves into less than 5 pool each and I took the opportunity to take Michael, gain 6 pool and see what Peter was going to do.

As expected my pool gain from Michael didn't last 1 round. Peter stonetravelled me with 2 conditionings for 7 pool.

1 VP later there was I again, frozen with 7 pool left and Peter skillfully holding the Anarch to oust me if I moved.
I then assessed the situation:

Peter would be able to bloat himself enough to have Chunka run out of cards.

Chunka was bloating quick enough with the Edge and and Momentum's Edge that in a couple of turns, even if I drew a wake and flicked Peter's bleeds, Chunka would be safe.

I could have stayed there, trying to time-out the game and stay with my 1.5VP, but I thought, what the hell, I had 1 bleed mod in my hand, if I was lucky I could draw another one or perhaps a wake. So I gave it a go and the second bleed mod came.

I ousted a not-so-happy Chunky who insisted in saying I broke my deal, when there was none. I clearly stated 3 times that I was
frozen, I never said wasnt going to go for my vp.

Peter bled me for something like 10+ in 2 turns and at 2 minutes and 36 seconds from timeout I was able to bleed him out.

According to all expectators this was a good game to watch and I must say was one of the most difficult ones I ever played.

Claudio->Duncan->David->Chris->Michael
 
The motions started quite early already from the 3rd round with Michael bleed/enticing Claudio for 4 on the 3rd round and 7 on the 4th round, and thereafter on an average 4/round, forcing Claudio on defense/bloat mode and unable to bring out a 3rd minion.
 
On the other side of the table, Duncan was drawing out early rushes and pounding David's Ahrimanes to the bin region one by one while the puppet Brujah prince turned his face away ignoring the blood hunt calls.
 
With his predator and grandprey in defense/bloat mode Chris was on the best of all worlds. Slowly and skillfully he built up his guns. Never falling below 10 pool at any stage in the game, Chris let Michael do the dirty work of wearing Claudio's pool down. But before Michael could seize the VP, Chris himself took Michael.

As a desperate resort, Claudio influenced out Titus, with the sole aim of stealing the brujah guns. But when Titus tried to rescue another !Ventrue in torpor, the puppet prince claimed his tradition domains and sent Titus to the bin, and soon enough Chris took Claudio.
 
Apart from an early Eagle Sight interference from Claudio, Duncan was free to keep on bleeding David the whole game, but was unable to outpace David's bloat machine. The few rushes the Gangrel drew on later game saw the Ahrimanes leapfroging their way out.

Extracts of reports posted by David Vega & Claudio Gomes on Sydney Newsgroup 10th & 11th July 2007

22/6/2007

AP League 2007 - Round 3 (Penrith - Constructed)

2R+F

10 players

Winner:  Shane Clements (Tzimisce Bleed/ Block)

Runner Up:  Tim Hansford (Tzimisce Combat)

3rd Place: James Butler (42 Night Moves Deck)

4th Place:  Peter Rophail (Weenie Animalism)

5th Place: Brendan Healy (The Lawyer Deck - Settite Legal Manipulations)

The 3rd round of the AP League drew 10 players to Penrith. A return to Stealth Bleed saw many tables collapsing in quick time, but once again it was the Tzimisce which eventually prevailed, finishing first and second in the final.

The decks played:

Martin Hall - Obfuscate Ventrue Vote

Tim Hansford - Tzimisce Combat

Jason Simes - Saulot Multi-action

James Butler (Chunka) - Weenie Obfuscate Night Moves

Peter Rophail - Weenie Animalism

Shane Clements - Tzimisce Toolbox

Brendan Healy - Settite Legal Manipulation/ Enticement

Justin Fackler - Malk Anti Stealth Bleed

Brendan Basto - Toreador Bloat

Michael Kilgannon - Toreador Anti Toolbox

20/5/2007

Sydney Continental Qualifier (Blacktown - Constructed)

3R+F

17 players

Winner:  Chris Arthur (Gangrel Wall)

Runner Up:  Shane Clements (Tzimisce Wall)

3rd Place: Julian Gatt (Gangrel Wall)

4th Place:  Tony Wedd (Tzimisce Wall)

5th Place: Leon Tranter (Hexaped Stealth-Bleed)

Chris Arthur's report on the tournament (as posted on the Sydney Newsgroup on 24/5/2007) can be read here

Julian Gatt's report on the final (as posted on the Sydney Newsgroup on 22/5/07) can be read here

29/4/2007

Invoking the Beast (Blacktown - Constructed)

2R+F

9 players

Winner:  Nick Miller (Mid cap animalism wall w/ draba)

Runner Up:  Stephen Spalding (Brujah combat feat. Theo/Menele)

3rd Place: Julian Gatt (presence bleed w/ marijava ghouls/capitalist)

4th Place:  Martin Tobin (!Malk bleed)

5th Place: Joshua Lemon (!Ventrue black hand feat. Elimelech)

Nick Miller's report on the final (as posted on the Sydney Newsgroup on 1/5/07)...

Here is a brief report of the final:

Nick (Mid cap animalism wall w/ draba)
Julian (presence bleed w/ marijava ghouls/capitalist)
Joe (!Ventrue black hand feat. Elimelech)
Stephen (Brujah combat feat. Theo/Menele)
Martin (!Malk bleed)

I took a while to setup, giving Julian space to setup and go forward.
Joe took a few bleeds and went forward, having to deal with some Brujah combat. Martin bled steadily only occasionally getting blocked by me.

Eventually Julian bled Joe out. Martin was getting some big bleeds through and I thought I was dead at one point until the Eyes of Chaos + Confusion mistake was realised. I then managed to block and bin the bleeders. Allowing Stephen to freely bled out Martin.

At this point Julian was gaining pool from Legal Manipulation to soak the army of rats. Stephen had rack/Menele to soak some bleeds. And I had a couple of powerbases to soak some bleeds (and mostly enough maneuvers to survive rushes)
Eventually I managed to secure the rack and by weight of minions managed to bleed through Julian and eventually Stephen.

27/4/2007

AP League 2007 - Round 2 (Penrith - Constructed)

2R+F

10 players

Winner:  Shane Clements (Tzimisce Bleed/ Block)

Runner Up:  Brendan Healy (1994 Malks)

3rd Place: Tim Hansford (Tzimisce Wall)

4th Place:  Jason Simes (Giovanni Bruise & Bleed)

5th Place: Martin Hall (Aching Toreador)

Jason Simes' report on the final...

Shane won a bizare final which was Shane (Tzim) bleeding Jas (Giovani Bleed/Briuse) bleeding Brendan (1994 Malks) bleeding Tim (Tzim combat) bleeding Martin (Toreador sit around and do nothing or as I like to call it, Get guns and then hide)

Here's my take on the final (I'm sure you'll get different points of view from the others...)

Quiet start, everyone brings out a mid sized Vamp (Shane and Tim negotiate over who gets which Tzim). Jas trys to Govern down, Shane musters 2 intercept but fails to block, then from across the table Tim gives Shane another intercept via Rumour Mill! Shane beats on my vamp, Jas get the shits with Tim.

It's all true (except the eBay bit)

16/2/2007

AP League 2007 - Round 1 (Penrith - Constructed)

2R+F

10 players

Winner:  Shane Clements (Tzimisce Bleed/ Block)

Runner Up:  Peter Rophail (Toreador Anti Breeders)

3rd Place: Brendan Healy (Gargoyle Wall)

4th Place:  James Butler (Ravnos Breed)

5th Place: Michael Kilgannon (Toreador Anti Toolbox)

The 1st Sydney tournament for 2007 drew 10 players to Penrith. The evening was characterised by the prevalence of small vampires which was unusual, as it did not reflect the usual Penrith metagame. In fact,  few vampires with a capacity above 7 made an appearance all night. Two players made their tournament debuts, and both acquitted themselves admirably by making the final.

The decks played:

Martin Hall - 1 cap vote

Tim Hansford - City Gangrel combat

Jason Simes - 2 cap Sabbat Weenie Computer Hack

James Butler (Chunka) - Ravnos Breed

Peter Rophail - Toreodor Anti Breed

Shane Clements - Tzimisce Toolbox

Brendan Healy - Gargoyle Wall

Paul Azzopardi - Theo/ Beast rush

Rene Dasco - Gangrel Dominate

Michael Kilgannon - Toreador Anti Toolbox

The preliminary rounds saw both Tim & Paul's combat machines shut down by weenie swarms, a fate that Brendan's gargoyles managed to avoid by ousting backwards. Michael & Chunka both managed to grab VP's & deservedly made the final in their first tournament. Rene had the misfortune of being denied a VP by a cross table Tzimisce Eagle's Sight while Martin's 1 caps were cripled by early votes. Peter's Breeders thrived in the low intercept environment going into the final in first place. Shane finished the Preliminary rounds in second, followed by Brendan, Chunka & Michael.

The seating on the final table saw Shane's Tzimisce bleeding Chunka's Ravnos bleeding Peter's Toreador Anti's bleeding Michael's Toreador Anti's bleeding Brendan's Gargoyles. Peter started very fast, getting 10 minions out within a couple of turns and putting immediate pressure on Michael. Chunka was crippled by Shane's Tzimisce intercept while Brendan began to set up for the impending Toreador Anti wave. Shane managed to stealth bleed past Chunka while Peter sent wave after wave of Palla Grande weenies at Michael. Somehow Michael managed to flick, block, counter & Greta for two full rounds, falling in the third. But only just. The Gargoyles and Tsimisce joined together to shut down, then oust Peter's Toreador Anti's with 45 minutes of play remaining. Brendan now had Ublo-Satha with a Stone Dog & Razor Bat, but could not make significant inroads into Shane's pool (or minions). The game timed out with both sides looking comfortable.

The standings in the AP League after Round 1

Shane Clements        1 TW     2GW    7.5VP

Peter Rophail                           2GW     9VP

Brendan Healy                          1GW    4.5VP

James Butler                                          1VP

Michael Kilgannon                                 1VP   

Jason Simes                                          1VP           

18/12/2006

Scrye the Hearthstone (Blacktown - Constructed)

2R+F

12 players

Winner: Marty "The Man" Collins (Blackhand Powerbleed)

Runner Up: Claudio Gomes (Grab 'n Smash)

3rd Place: Brendan Basto (Anson, Anneke & Their Pretty Pals)

4th Place: Eugene Chan (Assamite)

5th Place: Joshua Lemon (Salubri)

10/12/2006

Millenium Cultist (Blacktown - Storyline Event)

3R + F

15 players

Winner: Chris Arthur (Akunanse Block)

Runner Up: Nick Miller (Ravnos Laibon Vote)

3rd Place: Paul Azzopardi (Malk Anti Pulse Bleed)

4th Place: Martin Hall (Toreador Vote)

5th Place: Julian Gatt (Ventrue Anti)

The following tournament report was posted by Chris Arthur on 15/12/2006 on the Sydney V:TES Yahoo group...

15 players turned up for Sunday's Storyline at Blacktown. Here is the Storyline tournament from my perspective:

Round 1

Me (Akunanse block)

Jason Simes (Malk/Muddles/Malkavian Prank)

David Vega (Mata Hari vote)

Eugene Chan (!Brujah grp 4 rush)

Nick Miller (Ravnos Laibon breed vote w/Eldest are Kholo)

I was on the defensive right from the beginning as i knew the amount of pool damage Nick's deck could do. I tried to block enough of his actions to keep him under control but not so much that he would be ousted. Eugene had to play defensively early on as Vega built a huge pool reserve and Euge had spent a fair amount on his vamps and had no intercept to block votes. The titles were spread across the table though so no one had vote lock. The Ravnos bickered and everyone was concerned about who had the Reverend. The Pranks were shifting the dynamics. Euge lost four pool early on to a Prank but mostly they were used to prop people up so no one really looked liked getting ousted. The game timed out as did the other two tables which meant finals spots were still wide open.

Everyone 0.5vp

Notable plays:

- Vega stealing Muddles unblockably with the Cultist's Entrancement

Round 2

Me

Steven (Brujah rush)

Michael Pruscino (Nergal bleed)

Julian Gatt (!Ventrue block/bleed)

Peter Rophail (Cailean block/Aid from Bats/Carrion Crows)

Julian jumped out of the gate against Peter which put Peter on the defensive for most of the game. Michael then pounced on Julian bleeding hard and dropping Blackhorse with a Psychomachia. I rescued Blackhorse twice cross-table during the game. Steven and I were delicately dancing around each other as we both knew combat would hurt. I lay off him for a while and he went to work on Michael but Nergal stood up to the challenge. Eventually i started going forward hard and immediately Steven concentrated all his effort in going backward. We pounded each other and then backed off to lick our wounds. Most people were low on pool but no one could quite break through their prey's defences. Another time out.

Everyone 0.5vp

Notable plays:

- Laz bleeding for five unblockably with a Flaming Candle

- Peter Rophail not playing a single deflection all game

- Me playing a reflex card to cancel Peter's Drawing out the Beast. Yay reflex cards!

- Nergal Psychomachiaing Blackhorse into torpor. Evil!

Round 3

Me

Eugene

Justin Evans (Osebo combat)

Duncan Kemp (Gangrel rush)

Steven

Me 4 vps

Duncan 1vp

Notable plays:

- Euge diablerising cross-table with his famed vamp and then asking for it to be burned. Good for me but bad too.

- Very scary start by Duncan, rush-bin, rush-bin, rush-bin

- Two flashes in two combats neutering Euge's combat gods (Hektor and Miguel)

Top five before final

Paul Azzopardi

Nick Miller

Me

Martin ?

Julian Gatt

Final

Me

Paul Azzopardi (!Malk stealth/bleed)

Julian

Nick

Martin (Toreador vote)

Nick and Paul were the early bolters. Paul tooled up with Pulses and Nick went hard on Martin. I slowly built up with intercept retainers and a Guardian Angel because i knew i would have to defend heavily against Nick. I pretty much let Paul go to town as i couldn't really afford to waste the transient intercept in my hand to try to block him. Julian had to hunker down in the face of the !Malks. Nick took Martin. Luckily for me I had drawn the only No Secrets in my deck the previous turn and for the first time in the tourney i had a Magaji in play. I played it, it wasn't blocked and then the game changed. Uchenna with a Raven Spy, Guardian Angel and No Secrets was a strong wall that would be difficult for Nick to breach. We immediately started talking table split deals but neither of us wanted to be on the losing end so we couldn't agree. Paul got Julian low on pool but the !Ventrue held out with the help of the Reverend which Nick and I allowed him to take as long as he only used him defensively. Nick made a valiant attempt to get past the No Secrets by generating +4 stealth on a vote but i had a Cats and Predators Communion in my hand so i blocked the action. On my turn Uchenna equipped with a Phased Motion Detector and Nick then offered a table split with me as the winner. I accepted and he quickly voted Paul and Julian off the table. Nick then withdrew.

Me 3 vps

Nick 2 vps

Notable plays:

- Uchenna getting a No Secrets which went a long way to winning me the final

- The !Ventrue holding out against the !Malks

20/11/2006

Falcon's Eye (Blacktown - Constructed)

2R + F

10 Players

Winner: Nick Miller (Gangrel Vote/ Bleed)

Runner-Up: Martin Tobin (Dementation Stealth-Bleed)

3rd Place: Peter Rophail (Weenie Animalism)

4th Place: David V Vega (Ventrue Vote)

5th Place: Marty "The Man" Collins (Animalism Toolbox)

16/ 10/ 2006

Gestalt (Blacktown - Constructed)

2R + F

14 Players

Winner: Marty "The Man" Collins (Weenie Celerity with guns)

Runner-Up: David V Vega (Vulture's Buffet Ahrimanes)

3rd Place: Peter Rophail (Tzimisce Toolbox)

4th Place: Claudio Gomes (Potence-Necromancy-Fortitude)

5th Place: Martin Tobin (Malkavian Madness!)

18/ 9/ 2006

Sonar (Blacktown - Constructed)

2R + F

12 Players

Head Judge: David V Vega

Winner: Peter Rophail (Protean-Dominate Stealth-Bleed)

Runner-Up: Chris Arthur (Gangrel with Potence)

3rd Place: Paul Azzopardi (Malk Anti Pulse Bleed)

4th Place: Marty "The Man" Collins (Weenie Potence-Dominate)

5th Place: Stephen Cowie (Eye of Hazimel/ Muaziz)

The final local opportunity for Sydney players to test their decks before the National Championships saw a healthy turnout of 12 players at our monthly Blacktown event. Interestingly, combat was alot more prevalent than in recent months and after the preliminary rounds, 4 of the top 6 finishers had combat type decks, with just the two stealth-bleeders. The imbued did not make an appearance on the night.

In a rare occurance, all 5 final positions had to be determined by a toss of the coin. Claudio Gomes and Chris Arthur tied for 5th, Marty Collins and Stephen Cowie tied for 3rd and Peter Rophail and Paul Azzopardi tied for 1st. The top six players all secured table wins in the preliminary rounds - another unusual occurance. 

Claudio Gomes was the unlucky loser of his coin toss and was thus eliminated from the final. Two more coin tosses ensued and once the placings and the seating had been determined, the final table saw Peter bleeding Paul bleeding Cowie bleeding Chris bleeding Marty.

Cowie had a very bad start, managing to get Muaziz out but unable to secure the Eye of Hazimel which severely hampered his ability to defend against Paul. Paul had managed to get a few mid cap !Malk's out & a pulse and quickly began piling the pressure on the near helpless Cowie. Peter put steady bleed pressure on Paul but had to fend off Marty's potence minions, while Chris took the opportunity to bring out Zack, Badger & Bear Paw and a couple of Raven Spy. 

Marty was making headway on Peter, binning Iliana and doing considerable damage each time he pulled a grapple. This caused Peter to increase his bleeds on Paul, reducing him to one pool before he managed to oust Cowie. With Chris potentially two rounds from being ousted by the !Malks and reluctant to gift Peter a VP, the deal-making began. After much negotiation Marty & Chris agreed to cripple Paul by rushing backwards while ousting Peter. The plan came unstuck and Peter managed to oust Paul the next turn. A new deal was struck with Peter & Chris agreeing to oust Marty and then withdraw. Chris punched Marty's minions to torpor while Peter walled up and the deal was successfully completed.  Peter & Chris finished with 2vp's each (Peter came first due to finishing higher in the preliminary rounds) with Paul Azzopardi securing one VP and third place.

27/ 8/ 2006

Sydney Qualifier 2006 (Sydney - Continental Qualifier)

3R+F

18 Players

Head Judge: David V Vega

Winner: Peter Rophail (Outback's Imbued)

Runner-Up: Paul Azzopardi (Malk! Stealth/ Bleed)

3rd Place: Justin Evans (Dominate/ Obfuscate Stealth Bleed)

4th Place: Marty "The Man" Collins (Malkavian Sniper Rifle Wall)

5th Place: Joshua Lemon (Samedi Imbued)

David has posted a full report on this event on his website. To view, click here

21/ 8/ 2006

Darksight (Blacktown - Constructed)

2R+F

14 Players

Head Judge: David V Vega

Winner: Chris Arthur (Nightmoves/ Enticement)

Runner-Up: Marty "The Man" Collins (Ravnos Tunimos/ Edged Illusion)

3rd Place: Leon Tranter (Ventrue! Bleed/ Kiss of Ra/ Crocodile's Tongue )

4th Place: Peter Rophail (Tzimisce Toolbox)

5th Place: Adam Brown (Lasombra Powerbleed)

David has posted a full report on this event on his website. To view, click here