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