Second Tradition: Domain

Lord Henry Woolcott stood with his progeny atop the balcony of his ancestral estate, the city sprawling beneath them like a carefully arranged chessboard. His posture was rigid, his presence suffocating in its authority. "This is your domain", he said, not as a boast, but as an inevitability carved into the young Ventrue's future. Below, mortal lives flickered aimlessly, unaware that their fates lay in the hands of creatures who ruled from the shadows. To the clan of kings, the Second Tradition was more than territory, it was the essence of survival.

Woolcott explained that to hold a domain was to shoulder a burden no lesser blood could comprehend. Every movement within it - mortal, kindred, or otherwise - had to be accounted for. A single unknown variable could unravel centuries of influence. The elder's eyes swept across the rooftops with predatory precision. "None may challenge thy word while in thy domain", he reminded, not as reassurance but as warning. Authority meant nothing if the ruler did not know every inch of what he ruled. Power unused or unguarded was power surrendered.

He pressed the point with ruthless clarity: a domain was a citadel only as strong as its keeper's vigilance. A Ventrue who failed to monitor their territory invited betrayal, Masquerade breaches, and the slow erosion of status, sins far more unforgivable than simple weakness. The young Ventrue felt the gravity of it settle over him like armor and chains at once. Responsibility was not optional; it was the price of legacy.

As the night waned, Woolcott turned away from the city lights, leaving his progeny to contemplate the silent kingdom below. Domain was not a privilege, he had learned, but the battleground on which one's worth was tested every night. And if he wished to stand among the Ventrue - the rulers, the organizers, the architects of order - he would guard his domain with the same relentlessness that his sire had shown: absolute, unchallenged and eternal.

I have a particular fondness for Second Tradition: Domain. It's a card that radiates authority, the kind of authority that doesn't need disciplines to back it up, just a title. Any Prince or Justicar can wield it, no fancy powers required. It's the ultimate "because I said so" card.

Mechanically, it's a lifesaver for decks that don't swim in Auspex, the undisputed king of intercept. A quick dive into tournament-winning lists shows how popular it is (as long as you've got titled vampires on the payroll). What I love most, though, is the menace it brings to the table. The moment you see a Prince sitting across from you, you can almost feel them waiting for you to act, ready to spring the old Domain trap. It's like catching a burglar mid-sentence with, "Excuse me, do you have a permit to bleed in my city?"

The card does exactly what you'd expect from the Second Tradition: it enforces order with impeccable flavor. Catching trespassers red-handed in your own territory? Yupp! The artwork captures that sense perfectly: that split-second when arrogance meets authority.

Sure, the meta might not be too kind to Camarilla decks right now, but that's never stopped me from playing what I love. My Ventrue and Toreador princes will continue to uphold their laws, defend their domains, and politely ruin your evening in the process. 

The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.

Custodian Hargrave

First Tradition: The Masquerade

I’ve decided to start a little mini-series on the Six Traditions. One post for each, exploring both their lore and their VTES versions. Each entry will include a short story inspired by my old Vampire: The Masquerade TTRPG chronicles, followed by my thoughts on the corresponding card. Think of it as part nostalgia, part card commentary, and mostly an excuse to talk about vampires doing ridiculous things.

 

Let's start with First Tradition: The Masquerade.

In the heart of an ancient manor veiled by mist and centuries of secrets, Lord Henry Woolcott stood before his progeny. His presence alone bent the air,  an aura of iron discipline, sharpened by centuries of rule. The young Ventrue, pale and uncertain, dared not meet his sire's cold sapphire gaze. Around them, portraits of long-dead aristocrats seemed to watch, silent witnesses to the continuity of blood and power. Henry's voice was low, resonant, and precise, each word measured like a blade drawn across glass. He spoke not merely of survival, but of dominion and the Masquerade, he explained, was the shield that preserved that dominion from the grasping hands of the mortal herd.

He moved through the chamber as he lectured, his movements deliberate, like a monarch pacing his throne room. To Henry, the First Tradition was not a rule, but a doctrine carved into the marrow of their existence. Without it, the proud Ventrue lineage would be reduced to ash and myth, hunted like beasts by those they once ruled. "The Masquerade", he said, tracing a gloved finger over the edge of a silver goblet, “is not restraint. It is sovereignty.” Every gesture, every glance, every whisper in the mortal world was to be calculated, cultivated. The young one was to learn not only to hide the beast, but to wear the mask of nobility so flawlessly that none would ever suspect what fangs lay beneath.

When the fledgling dared to ask why such secrecy mattered, Henry turned upon him with the stillness of a predator before the strike. His face became something statuesque and dreadful. "Because we are kings in shadow", he said, his tone barely above a whisper, yet more dangerous than any shout. "And kings who reveal their thrones to the mob are torn down by their own subjects". It was not a lesson in morality, but in rule: a warning that power unmasked was power lost.

As the night waned, the young Ventrue finally understood the weight of the First Tradition. It was not fear of discovery that bound them, but pride, the unbroken lineage of rulers who commanded even the night itself. Henry stood before the great window, the city lights flickering below like offerings to a forgotten god. "Discipline is our gift", he murmured, almost to himself, "and order our curse". Behind him, his progeny bowed low, the lesson carved deep into his immortal soul. From that night forward, he would carry the Masquerade not as a shackle, but as a crown.

This card is just awesome. The idea that you can force other players into a brutal choice (either skip their turn or swallow two pool damage three times) is deliciously cruel. I can't imagine anyone willingly passing a turn in VTES, which makes this card pure chaos in the right hands.

It's a shame, though, that I've only seen a handful of decks that actually use it. I get it,  it’s tricky to play politically, and you need allies at the table to make it land properly. Without the right support, it risks turning into that awkward moment when you call for a vote and everyone just stares at you. (I've been there. Multiple times. Sybren still hasn’t recovered.)

If I were to design my own First Tradition: The Masquerade, I'd probably tie it to hunting.  Maybe granting extra stealth for hunt actions or punishing careless feeding attempts that risk exposing the Kindred. Something that captures the eternal struggle of keeping the beast hidden while trying not to starve to death.

Still, even if this version doesn't see a ton of play, I love what it represents. It's flavourful, thematic, and perfectly embodies the tension between secrecy and survival. It's a card that says, “You can keep your secrets… but it's going to cost you.”

The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.

Custodian Hargrave

Dream big, bleed hard: prepping for my first tournament

I've been officially a VTES neonate for about four months now. My journey started with the V5 box set and its five decks, the perfect starter kit for someone who enjoys the lore and the Camarilla. I'm fairly confident with the rules at this point, though I'm sure I still mess up a timing window or two. Thankfully, the official VTES Discord has a neonate channel, a safe haven where fledglings like me can ask what might objectively be ridiculous questions without being immediately staked. The community there has been wonderful: patient, funny, and endlessly helpful.

If there's one thing I've noticed, though, it’s that I'm miles behind when it comes to custom deckbuilding. It turns out you need more than enthusiasm and an Excel sheet to make something brilliant. You need dozens of games, bruises, and a little healthy trauma first.

And now, the big news: I've registered for my first VTES tournament, happening in Cambridge, UK in January. My kids are excited for Santa in December; I'm equally excited for my own personal Christmas in January.

Here's the problem: I really, really don't want to embarrass myself. Up until now, all my games have been with friends, you know,  low-stakes, high-chaos affairs where the only real rule was "have fun and always blame bad luck". Not once have I actually won a game, but apparently that's part of the neonate experience.

I've built a few decks I might bring to the tournament, and I'm hoping to secure a few more test games before the big day. I haven't decided which one I'll play yet, though I'm already leaning toward two potential candidates. I'll share my final choice after the tournament, not because I think my deck will terrify the competition, but because it's less awkward to post your list once the losing is out of the way. Still, who knows? Maybe I'll even score a VP or two. (Who am I kidding? But hey, dream big, right?)

As any good Tremere/Ventrue hybrid would, I have a plan.
Step one: Study. I've been reading tournament reports, watching videos, and listening to experienced players discuss the new Sabbat meta. I didn't understand half of what they said, but they sounded very confident and that's enough for me.

Step two: Tweak my decks. I want to make sure I can respond to common threats, though that's easier said than done when you've only played a handful of matchups and don't even own an Anarch deck. I'll keep the adjustments modest. After all, part of the fun is sitting down across from a deck you don't understand and pretending you do.

Step three: Organization. I've started my own card database, cataloging what I have and what I desperately want. I'm also making a wishlist of cards to hunt down at the event, ideally through trading, although that might be challenging, since my current collection mostly consists of "commons and optimism". Still, the thought of card trading in person thrills me.

I don't really know what to expect on the big day. I don't have a mentor or a friend guiding me into the scene, so this feels less like "joining a tournament" and more like being a Tremere neonate transferred to a new chantry, nervously trying to figure out who's in charge and where the fire exits are. My main goals? Have fun, make friends, and not accidentally call a Prince "Baron".

The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.

Custodian Hargrave

Confessions of a Camarilla traitor

So… confession time.

I preordered the Sabbat decks.

It started innocently enough. A few hours on the Black Chantry website, reading card spoilers, pretending to be objective. I even made a poll on the VTES Discord, asking which deck excited people the most. The winner? Path of Caine. The one I wasn't planning to buy. Naturally.

I, on the other hand, had been eyeing the Path of Power and the Inner Voice deck from the very beginning. So, like any reasonable adult, I bought two copies of it. And one of the Path of Caine deck too. You know. For research.

Now, here's the thing: I feel a little dirty. I've always been a proud Camarilla loyalist. The idea of buying a Sabbat deck felt like wearing your rival's colors in public. But the artwork… those cards look so good. Every time I saw one, my Camarilla devotion flickered like a faulty neon sign in a storm.

My brain, ever helpful, began rationalizing: "The Path of Power and the Inner Voice deck  (or POPATIV, because everything sounds cooler as an acronym) has Lasombra (now Camarilla), Brujah (used to be Camarilla, until they rage-quit the organization), and Ventrue (eternal Camarilla icons). So technically, this is a Camarilla deck… just with, you know, Sabbat branding".

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Anyway, I chose POPATIV for several reasons. First, it's a political deck, and I love table politics. The glorious art of convincing someone to do something catastrophically stupid for "the greater good". Second, I liked the crypt. Aaradhya caught my attention immediately, unlocking after political actions is just chef's kiss for a schemer like me.

Then there's Antonio, immortalized as Damian in the game, which is incredibly cool. Imagine working for the VTES community for years and then literally becoming a vampire in it. Honestly, that's better than any elder's boon or childe allowance. I am jealous. Üresség also looks interesting, and while my inner Ventrue/Tremere instinctively sneers at Brujah (we've had our disagreements throughout history), I can't deny that the card opens up delicious possibilities.

Last but not least, Concordia, the poster girl for the deck. There's something deeply intriguing about her. Maria Loren's artwork captures a mix of allure and danger that feels exactly right for the Sabbat. She looks like someone who could charm you into a deal and then make you regret signing it. I love it.

 

The library is equally fascinating. Dominant Personality, Día de los Muertos, and Relentless make political actions easier to pass, but my personal favorite is Unthinkable Humiliation. The name alone perfectly captures my entire experience playing Ventrue politicians so far.

I'm not diving into deckbuilding just yet. I'll wait and watch what the elders (and the actual good players) do first. Once I see how POPATIV performs, I'll start experimenting, probably fusing my two decks into something terrible and wonderful that will either dominate the table or crash spectacularly trying. Antonio already shared some deck ideas, I might build one of those.

Either way, I'll make sure to document it for posterity, or for the archives of Unthinkable Humiliation, whichever fits best.

The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.

Custodian Hargrave

Blood, betrayal, and one very smug Tremere

On Friday evening, I performed a minor miracle: I convinced three of my friends to play VTES instead of going to the pub. Only one of them had played before, the other two had never touched a blood pool in their lives. The pressure was real as these people sacrificed beer for vampires, and I didn't want to be responsible for their regret.

I gave the usual crash course: crypt, library, goal of the game, card types, and how betrayal is basically a core mechanic. The moment I explained that you win by ousting your prey, the two new players' eyes lit up. They immediately understood the spirit of the game: backstab your friends, but make it funny.

My objectives for the evening were simple:

1. Everyone has fun.

2. Spread the gospel of VTES to new mortals.

3. Test my freshly "upgraded" decks (read: probably ruined).

I laid out five decks and gave each a two-sentence sales pitch. Player A chose the Nosferatu Animalism deck. Player B went for the Lasombra combat deck. The player with some experience took the Tremere and I picked the Ventrue, because if you can't win, at least look important while losing. My poor, neglected Toreador deck stayed in the bag, waiting for an audience that appreciates fine art and mild narcissism.

The Amaranth app decided our seating: Tremere > Ventrue > Nosferatu > Lasombra. Perfect. I felt good. The Tremere would take time to set up, the Nosferatu would gnaw on their prey, and the Lasombra would keep my predator busy. A flawless plan.

I started strong, influenced out Mary Anne and Sybren, ready to make Ventrue politics great again. Being the only political deck at the table should've made voting easy. It didn't. My grand prey, the Lasombra, turned out to be my campaign manager. Every vote required negotiations, promises, and minor acts of self-sabotage. Still, it worked… for a while.

Then the Lasombra deck started doing Lasombra things. At one point, one of his vampires tore a signpost out of the ground and followed it up with a roundhouse kick. Six damage in one strike. The Tremere minion went straight to torpor. It was brutal, cinematic, and beautiful like an action movie directed by a goth. Fortunately, the Tremere's Chantry saved the night, because apparently, magic fixes everything.

The Nosferatu were the real surprise. Their player, despite being new, managed to flood the table with minions faster than I could say "corporate hierarchy". Every time I tried to act, I got intercepted by a small zoo. My Ventrue aristocrats were swarmed by bats, crows, and dogs like some kind of undead Disney princess nightmare. Where was Majesty when I needed it most?

Two hours later, everyone was low on pool: me at 5, Nosferatu at 3, Tremere and Lasombra at 4. Then I saw it: the perfect opportunity. The move that would define the evening. I played Kine Resources Contested. The Lasombra agreed to allocate 3 damage to the Nosferatu and 1 to his prey, the Tremere. Victory point secured! Easy!

Except… I remembered I hadn't explained one tiny rule: when you oust your prey, you gain six pool. Trying to be fair, I paused and clarified this before the vote. Big mistake. With his newfound understanding, my Lasombra ally immediately renegotiated. Two damage to Nosferatu, two to Tremere. My grand political maneuver imploded faster than a Toreador's attention span.

That missing 6 pool cost me dearly. Locked minions, open board, and a Tremere smelling weakness. In the next round, I was ousted. The Nosferatu followed shortly after.

The finale was glorious. The Lasombra and Tremere went toe-to-toe, blood and shadows flying. But with an extra 12 pool, the Tremere simply outlasted everyone, calmly summoning more minions like a smug necromantic accountant. 4VP went to Tremere. Well done!

Did my Ventrue lose again? Absolutely. Did I still love it? 100%. My Tremere deck proved quite decent, my friends had a good time, and no one wished they'd gone to the pub instead. That's what I call a successful evening in the Eternal Struggle. We laughed, we bled and I only lost a tiny bit of dignity. 

The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.

Custodian Hargrave 

The Night I Took Career Advice from a Lasombra

I've always preferred Camarilla characters in the TTRPG. Structured, superior, and slightly unbearable. My Tremere in one campaign embodied all three: the kind of vampire who would correct your Latin mid-combat. My coterie was an odd pairing: a Gangrel whose entire strategy was "growl louder", and a Toreador who believed subtlety meant switching from red velvet to burgundy.

Our mission? Investigate some Sabbat activity. Easy. I had wards, chants, and more smugness than sense. Then the Lasombra showed up. He didn't walk into the room, he deleted the light. One second we were in an old church, the next we were in what felt like the inside of my own poor decisions.

The Gangrel charged. The Lasombra caught him mid-air and tossed him into a wall with Potence; the supernatural equivalent of "I am the boss, boy". The Toreador tried to flirt; he used Dominate, and she froze mid-wink, like a particularly fashionable mannequin.

I began an offensive chanting.  Full incantation, flawless hand gestures, ten out of ten on the presentation,  but Obtenebration had other ideas. His shadows moved like they had opinions. One of them patted my shoulder in disappointment.

Then the Lasombra turned to me, smiling that perfect "I own this cathedral and your dignity" smile. He said, "Sit. And listen".
And I did. Oh, I sat. Because when a man who can punch the moon out of orbit gives you life advice, you listen.

Technically, we survived. Spiritually, I'm still recovering. The Lasombra left, the light returned, and I discovered my Gangrel friend had embedded himself in a confessional booth. I congratulated him on rediscovering religion. Then we went home and never talked about it again.

That encounter taught me two things: one, shadows have better PR than the Tremere; and two, sometimes raw power is the most elegant answer.

Funnily enough, a few months later, that same Lasombra defected to the Camarilla. Then half the clan followed in the V5 timeline. I pretended to be skeptical (you know, for political consistency) but secretly, I was thrilled. Finally, I could stay loyal to the Cam and play these edge lords without guilt. Nothing says character growth like embracing the darkness under official supervision.

I wanted my first Lasombra deck focus on punching and punishing. No political niceties or careful rituals. Just raw, elegant brutality.

I started with the combat module, because we all know that Lasombra diplomacy begins and ends with Potence. I built the deck around Immortal Grapple, Torn Signpost, Roundhouse, and Arms of Ahriman, the kind of card combination that politely removes the concept of  "survivors".

To make sure no one gets too comfortable, I added Umbrous Clutch, perfect for dragging unsuspecting minions into combat and teaching them the value of better life insurance. For defense? Well… there's Deflection. Just Deflection. A single thread of hope and denial holding the whole strategy together. I will almost certainly regret that.

My card pool is still pretty limited, so I'm not posting the full deck list yet. I'd rather test it first and make sure it can actually function outside the safety of theorycraft. If it performs as terrifyingly as I hope, I'll be bold enough to share the full list later, possibly along with a triumphant battle report or a detailed account of my spectacular failure. Either way, it'll be entertaining.

The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.

Custodian Hargrave

Smells Like Progress: Tinkering with the Nosferatu Deck

I may be a newcomer in VTES, but I've already heard the whispers: apparently, Nosferatu don't have the best tournament track record. That intrigued me. On paper, they seem perfectly capable: Obfuscate to vanish into the shadows, Potence to smash your face, and Animalism to summon half the local wildlife for backup. It's the full sewer-to-table package. So why aren't these sneaky sewer monsters dominating the tournament scene?

You won't find the answer here, dear reader. I'm far too inexperienced (and wise enough not to say anything bad about the Nosferatu) to pretend I know. But if Vampire: The Masquerade has taught me anything, it's this: make friends with at least one Nosferatu, or you'll eventually find yourself explaining a crime you didn't commit to your Prince… while your Nosferatu "buddy" is the only witness.

Since one of my friends loves the Nosferatu and always grabs their deck when we play, I decided to upgrade it. My Tremere have had their ritual tune-up, the Ventrue their noble refinements, it only felt fair to crawl into the dumpster and see if I could polish up the clan of dirt and secrets.

The Crypt

I wanted to prioritize Animalism and Obfuscate, so I picked multiple copies of Oskar, Lenny, Larissa, and the Dowager, then topped it off with Horace (wearing that lovely top hat that any Ventrue would covet, if it hadn't come from a landfill) and Baixinho. What a charmingly unsettling family portrait!

The Library

I cleared out the Potence-heavy cards. While punching things is fun, I wanted to lean into the Nosferatu's feral elegance. In came the Animalism classics: Carrion Crows and Aid from Bats. My main action card is Deep Song, because nothing says "healthy communication" like a song that starts a brawl anywhere on the table.

The plan is simple: bully my prey into regrettable fights or sneak past their defenses entirely. My defense plan is even simpler: hit my predator before they hit me. After all, if all of your minions are in torpor, you're not bleeding anyone, are you? To round things out, I added Guard Dogs and Underbridge Strays, because the Nosferatu love animals… in the same way the Malkavians love mental stability: theoretically.

Here's what the deck looks like at the moment:

Deck: From the Gutter, with love
Crypt (12, G6):
3x Larissa Moreira
3x Lenny Burkhead
2x Oskar Anasov
2x The Dowager
1x Horace Radcliffe
1x Baixinho

Library:
1x Slum Hunting Ground
4x Vessel
1x Rebel
1x Warsaw Station
1x Fame
1x Smiling Jack, The Anarch
1x The Labirynth
1x Haven Uncovered
1x Guardian Angel

2x Underbridge Stray
9x Deep Song
2x Army of Rats
1x Creeping Sabotage

2x Swallowed by the Night
1x Spying Mission
7x Lost in Crowds

6x On the Qui Vive
4x Protected District
4x Guard Dogs
4x Cat's Guidance

8x Carrion Crows
6x Aid from Bats
4x Taste of Vitae

I'm probably missing a few extra copies of key cards, but I'll test it anyway. As any good Nosferatu would say, perfection is overrated, function is what matters. Next week I'll put this deck through the wringer and share the results. If it goes well, fantastic. If it doesn't… well, the Nosferatu are used to hiding in shame.

The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.

Custodian Hargrave