The card Puppet Master appears in the upcoming Vampire: The Eternal StruggleFifth Edition Lasombra preconstructed deck. This is to be considered as the same card as the previously printed card Mind Rape. The old card is still legal for tournament play.
Hi! We have been collecting player feedback on the Fifth Edition rulebook Vampire: The Eternal Struggle for several years now, and with the new print run we felt it was time for a little update. No rules have been changed in this 1.1 version, but things have been adjusted, so hopefully the already clarified rules will be even clearer now. Big thanks to all that provided feedback!
English and Spanish versions are available for download as PDF at the links below or on Blackchantry.com/Utilities, and French will follow soon.
In addition to correcting some typos and rearranging the order of the minion card types, we have introduced the following changes in version 1.1 of the Vampire: The Eternal Struggle rulebook.
ADVANCED RULES (clarification) – Page 2 The new rules acknowledge the importance of “Advanced Rules” but suggest new players skip them for a simpler learning experience, deviating from the prior advice.
CARDS (addition) – Page 3 Added text summary: The new addition specifies that the crypt and library constitute independent stacks. During the game, library cards drawn go to the owner’s hand, while crypt cards are moved to the owner’s uncontrolled region, as detailed in Game Setup, Drawing Cards, and Influence Phase sections.
PLAYING A CARD (clarification) – Page 7 The new version specifies that when playing a card, it is placed in the ash heap “upon resolution.” It also clarifies that for certain cards, like action cards, which are not resolved immediately, they are temporarily out of play until reaching resolution.
REQUIREMENTS FOR PLAYING CARDS (addition) – Page 8 The added rule stipulates that costs must be paid using the Methuselah’s or the minion’s own resources. Alternative costs, like burning the Edge or discarding a card, require control of the Edge or using the Methuselah’s resources. Minions can access their controller’s resources to pay costs, such as discarding a card. Optional cost reducers can be applied during card play or upon resolution, providing flexibility. If the card is canceled, the effect is not utilized.
SEQUENCING (clarification) – Page 8 The concept of “impulse” is introduced. After the acting Methuselah plays a card or effect, they now have the “impulse” to play the next one. The impulse then passes to the next Methuselah in a specific order depending on the context: defending Methuselah first during combat or directed actions, followed by clockwise order in group actions, and a defined order in undirected actions. If any Methuselah uses a card or effect, the acting Methuselah regains the impulse.
BURN OPTION (clarification) – Page 17 The new rules clarify that for cards with a burn option icon, a Methuselah can discard it during any unlock phase if they do not control a minion meeting the card’s requirements or if the minion is not a legal target for it.
SELF-CONTESTING (clarification) – Page 17 The updated rules clarify that a player cannot voluntarily contest cards with themselves, emphasizing that if forced, the incoming copy of a unique card is burned.
CONTESTED TITLES (clarification) – Page 18 The new rules specify that contested titles refer to unique titles, and the term “unique title” is explicitly mentioned.
MINION PHASE (clarification) – Page 19 The updated rules broaden the conditions for a minion to be “stuck,” now specifying that if a minion has two or more different mandatory actions or one mandatory action they cannot take, they are unable to perform any actions.
TYPES OF ACTIONS (clarification) – Page 20 The updated rules modify the wording to specify that a minion cannot play the same named action card more than once each turn, even if the minion unlocks.
BLEED (clarification) – Page 20 The new rules clarify that during a bleed action, an action modifier card cannot be played to increase the bleed if another action modifier card is already increasing the bleed amount, unless either of them doesn’t count against the limit.
RESCUE A VAMPIRE FROM TORPOR (clarification) – Page 23 Default cost: The cost of this action being payable by the rescued vampire or splittable between the acting vampire and the rescued one is clarified as an exception to the general rule that states costs must be paid with the vampire’s own resources.
SUMMARY OF THE COURSE OF AN ACTION (clarification) – Page 24 1 . Action is announced: The new rules specify that some cards are played “as the action is announced,” and these cards must be played before regular action modifier cards and reaction cards.
ANNOUNCE THE ACTION (clarification) – Page 25 The updated rules specify that any card required for the action is played face up when the action is announced, but it is temporarily set aside (out of play) until the action resolves.
RESOLVE ANY BLOCK ATTEMPTS (clarification) – Page 26 Who may attempt to block: The new rules clarify that if the target of the action is changed (e.g. a bleed action is redirected), this will reopen block attempts, following the normal rules.
STEALTH AND INTERCEPT 1 (clarification) – Page 26 The updated rules now mention that some cards and other effects can be used to both increase or decrease (even below 0) a minion’s stealth or intercept, as noted on card text.
STEALTH AND INTERCEPT 2 (clarification) – Page 26 The updated rules clarify that if a block attempt fails and all Methuselahs decline to block, the impulse goes back to the acting Methuselah (followed by others) to play more cards and effects before resolving the action.
DETAILED COURSE OF AN ACTION (addition) – Page 27 New section added to the rulebook.
GAINING VOTES (addition) – Page 28 The new rules clarify that a minion may have a special ability granting additional votes or ballots without having a title themselves.
COMBAT (additions and clarification) – Page 29 Addition: The new rules now define the terms “combatant” and “opposing minion”. Clarification: the only minion cards that can be played in combat are combat cards. “Minion” was missing in the old rulebook. Addition: ADVANCED RULES: Some combat cards are played by minions “not involved in the current combat”. Minions controlled by ANY Methuselah can play those cards.
DAMAGE RESOLUTION (clarification) – Page 31 The new rules use the term “successfully inflicted” to clarify that only successful damage requires blood to mend.
ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE (clarification) – Page 31 The new rules specify that damage not inflicted by a strike (such as environmental damage from Carrion Crows or Murder of Crows) cannot be dodged, reinforcing that dodging only protects from the opponent’s strike.
IMMUNE TO DAMAGE (addition) – Page 32 The definition of “immune to damage” has been added to the rules.
DISCARD PHASE (addition) – Page 37 This rule was absent from the previous version of the rulebook: ‘Each event card may only be played once per game.’
INDEPENDENT (addition) – Page 39 The new rules add the clarification that the titles of Independent vampires, which may include starting votes as listed on card text, are not tied to a specific sect.
GLOSSARY (additions) – Page 41 to 44 Additions: Assamite, combatant, draw, Follower of Set, immune to damage, impulse, opposing minion, performing an action, sect, target, Thaumaturgy. Clarifications: Limited, steal (a card).
Hi! We have now added the changed cards Ashur Tablets and Emerald Legionnaire for Vampire: The Eternal Struggle as print-on-demand at Drivethrucards.com with a special discount ($0.15 per card). Direct links:
When you make an order, please have a look at our other offers – currently 34 decks/bundles, hundreds of Legacy Single cards (pick and mix freely) and of course the highly entertaining Card Creator!
This is a Vampire: The Eternal Struggle update on: 1. Errata for Ashur Tablets and Emerald Legionnaire 2. Multi deck change for the tournaments rules 3. Ravnos, Salubri and Tzimisce legality date
1. Errata announcements
Since August 2021, some cards have been under scrutiny due to power or rule issues. Ashur Tablets and Emerald Legionnaire were among them. We had a few rounds of playtest over 2 years, interrupted by the Covid pandemic, during which multiple variations were tested on these as well as other cards. Based on this feedback, we decided to make the following changes:
Ashur Tablets Errata: Only one Ashur Tablets may be played each turn.
Reason: This change has a greater impact on heavy MMPA deck as it doesn’t allow a player to play as many recursion cycles, which in turn limits the gain pool from other cards such as Liquidation, making decks including 50+ master cards and large pool gain less viable.
This card will be available for print-on-demand at Drivethrucards.com with a special discount.
This change has tournament legality 1st February 2024.
Emerald Legionnaire Errata: You cannot use the Emerald Legionnaire’s ability during your unlock phase if you control as many or more copies of them as ready unique Harbinger of Skulls.
Reason: The intent is to suppress use outside of the clan, and to reduce the explosiveness of turns during which multiple Emerald Legionnaire return from the ash heap. This is closer to the designer’s intent.
This card will be available for print-on-demand at Drivethrucards.com with a special discount.
This change has tournament legality 1st February 2024.
Tournament rules change
The multi-deck system can now be used for any tournament except national championships, grand prix, and continental championships.
3.1.5 Multi-Deck System Players are prohibited from making modifications to their decks between rounds unless the tournament uses the following multi-deck rules. The multi-deck system can be used at any tournament that is neither a national championship, a grand prix, or a continental championship. Organizers choosing to use this system must announce its use in advance of the tournament date. Players may choose to bring any number of tournament-legal decks to the tournament and/or extra cards to exchange with cards in their decks (also known as a sideboard in some games). Between rounds, players may freely switch decks (or cards in their decks).
This change has tournament legality 1st February 2024.
Ravnos, Salubri and Tzimisce Fifth Edition preconstructed decks
These have now been shipped. The main pallets to the UK still need to arrive but Denmark, Finland, Italy, Poland and Spain should have received theirs so far.
These decks are covered in an eco paper covering with no outer cellophane as a test run. The new print run of Fifth Edition Vampire: The Eternal Struggle boxes shipped later in January will contain 5 decks without cellophane but still with an outer box covered in cellophane.
The new cards in the Ravnos, Salubri and Tzimisce decks have an official release date 2nd January 2024 and tournament legality 1st February 2024.
Today is the official release day for The Fall of London, the new expansion for Vampire: The Eternal Struggle. If you play an event with the official storyline rules, please report the results to us!
This event can be as long as you like; a single game, a full tournament-style event or maybe some kind of leauge – you chose!
Your event report should include: 1. The names and VEKN IDs of all players. 2. A short description of each deck (and clan) played by each player. 3. A list of the most prominent vampires used in the game. 4. A list of the most important locations, equipment and allies used in the game 5. A description of the most unusual or unexpected actions during the game – for example, table-swinging votes, minions being stolen, successful burning or diablerie of vampires, the use of unusual action cards or combat cards. 6. The victory point and table win scores of each player per game.
Eligible game results should be submitted to the set designer and storyline coordinator Mike Nudd at storyline@vekn.org.uk no later than December 15th 2022.
A winning vampire clan will be determined based on the total event results, and this clan may receive special treatment in future events or product releases.
Note that cards from The Fall of London is not legal for normal VEKN tournaments until November 15th – the storyline events are not normal VEKN tournaments!
