{% extends "archetypes/_layout.html" %} {% import "archetypes/_layout-erratum.html" as erratum with context %} {% import "archetypes/runner-ups/helena-guns.json" as deck_json %} {% block meta %} {% endblock %} {% block archetype_name %}
This is a classic guns {{ wall }} on a Toreador {{ toreador }} {{ AUS }}{{ CEL }} crypt, starring {{ helena }}. The plan is straightforward: block everything that moves, shoot the blocked minion into torpor at long range, and let {{ fame }} and {{ smiling_jack_the_anarch }} convert those blocks into pool damage.
Every vampire in the crypt has both Auspex {{ AUS }} and Celerity {{ CEL }}, all at superior except the smallest, {{ yvette }}. {{ helena }} anchors the wall: even locked, a blood lets her block and play her Auspex {{ AUS }} reactions, so she is never really out of the game. {{ ira_rivers }} cycles the reaction pack at high speed, and {{ joaquin_murietta }} is the designated gunman.
More than a third of the library is reactions: {{ eagles_sight }}, {{ enhanced_senses }}, {{ eyes_of_argus }} and {{ quicken_sight }} pile up intercept, with {{ krcg_news_radio }} and {{ bowl_of_convergence }} as permanent support. What cannot be blocked gets {{ bounce }} by {{ telepathic_misdirection }} and {{ my_enemys_enemy }}.
Combat is guns and Celerity {{ CEL }}: {{ magnum }} and {{ sniper_rifle }}, often flashed mid-combat with {{ concealed_weapon }}, with {{ pursuit }} and {{ quicken_sight }} maneuvers to keep the fight at long range. {{ blur }} provides additional strikes and {{ psyche }} starts it all over again, while {{ sideslip }} dodges or prevents and {{ taste_of_vitae }} refills the blood spent along the way.
The pool engine is a spread of master cards: {{ vessel }}, {{ the_rack }} and {{ society_hunting_ground }} sustain the vampires, while {{ powerbase_montreal }} speeds up the influence of the star. The deck wins slowly — hold the table, torpor the troublemakers, and let {{ fame }} and {{ smiling_jack_the_anarch }} grind the pools down.
{{ sniper_rifle }} shines on defense: as the blocker one can force long range, where most acting minions cannot shoot back, and {{ blur }} at superior adds two more shots for up to 6 ranged damage. Keep {{ psyche }} in hand against {{ sce }} cards: it counters them and queues a fresh combat, which is what makes this wall genuinely dangerous rather than merely annoying.
{{ millicent_smith }} is a wall's dream gift: pass her to the predator, and any of their minions one blocks burns outright, Millicent with it. Given {{ helena }}'s ability and the number of {{ eagles_sight }}, all opponents must ask permission when they have her on board. {{ wash }} plays a defensive role too, canceling a {{ pentex_subversion }} that would otherwise shut the star down, and {{ direct_intervention }} stops the one minion card the deck cannot afford to see resolve.
{{ the_erciyes_fragments }} can lift a bounce or a wake from the prey's ash heap. Do not block everything: the library is finite, and the deck applies little forward pressure of its own, so pick the actions that matter.
The main line is remarkably stable: {{ ricardo_nelson_s_deck }}, which won a 38-player event, is virtually the same list card for card. The Mariachi build of {{ yuri_prange_s_deck }} only tweaks the crypt and adds {{ giants_blood }} and a pair of {{ villein }} to the same skeleton.
The Downward Spiral variant of {{ eduardo_mateus_deck }} is built around {{ helena_adv }}, who pays no blood cost for her Auspex {{ AUS }} and Dominate {{ DOM }} reactions. It drops the guns entirely for a pure reaction game: 13 {{ obedience }} and 10 {{ deflection }} on her superior {{ DOM }}, plus {{ diabolic_lure }} enabled by her infernal Daimoinon {{ dai }}, with {{ antediluvian_awakening }} and {{ smiling_jack_the_anarch }} doing the ousting.
The Massassi variant of {{ andrew_stott_s_deck }} transplants the same guns and Celerity {{ CEL }} combat package onto an Osebo {{ osebo }} {{ AUS }}{{ CEL }}{{ POT }} crypt. {{ massassi }} can enter combat on her own, tilting the archetype from wall towards {{ rush }}, with {{ ashur_tablets }} recycling the combat cards and {{ dragonbound }} plus {{ fame }} turning each torpored vampire into pool damage.
The Themistocles variant of {{ josé_barbosa_s_deck }} leads with the Brujah {{ brujah }} {{ themistocles }} over a mixed Toreador {{ toreador }} and Osebo {{ osebo }} support crypt. It keeps the guns and the reaction wall but adds {{ nose_of_the_hound }} and {{ haven_uncovered }} to go pick fights with locked minions instead of waiting for something to block.
{% endtrans %} {% endblock %}