 }})
+ + {% trans trimmed %} + X has been playing V:tES for 15 years, playing primarily combat decks + and exploring all the angles and possibilities they offer. + {% endtrans %} +
+ +
img {
width: 100%;
display: flex;
+ margin: 0.5em 0em;
}
.column-2,
@@ -403,7 +404,7 @@ article.columns h6 {
width: calc(var(--article-width) / 2 - 1.5em - 2px);
box-sizing: border-box;
vertical-align: top;
- margin: 2em 0.5em;
+ margin: 1em 0.5em;
}
table {
diff --git a/codex_of_the_damned/templates/strategy/articles/basic/combat-primer.html b/codex_of_the_damned/templates/strategy/articles/basic/combat-primer.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..caba929f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codex_of_the_damned/templates/strategy/articles/basic/combat-primer.html
@@ -0,0 +1,309 @@
+{% extends "strategy/articles/_layout.html" %}
+
+{% block content %}
+
+ + {% trans trimmed %} + X has been playing V:tES for 15 years, playing primarily combat decks + and exploring all the angles and possibilities they offer. + {% endtrans %} +
+ ++ {% trans trimmed %} + As soon as I started writing this article I realized that the topic is so broad and complex + that it would take forever to explore all its facets. + Thus, in this primer, I will focus on the basics and cover only the most common combat doctrines you can encounter, + so no bloodline or niche discipline. + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed %} + The common misconception about combat among newer players is that combat is a goal in itself, + focusing on eliminating minions and little else. + This is a wrong approach, even though it can be fun to tear off limbs and see everything burn, + at least for the one doing the tearing and burning, it does not bring you any closer to victory in and of itself. + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed + rush=link("/strategy/combat", _("rush")) + %} + When thinking about combat in VTES you must first and foremost think of it as a tool of control. + No other type of deck can reach all across the table and control the distribution of resources. + If someone (primarily your prey and predator) gets too strong at the table you can always visit them + and take some of their blood for yourself, or reduce their headcount to slow them down. + Most commonly, combat decks will make their predator the target of their first {{ rush }}, + to reduce pressure on their back and be able to focus all of their attention on their prey. + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed %} + It is of utmost importance to remember that combat is just a tool to help you win, not a win condition. + When building a combat deck, you must think of how your deck will oust the prey first and foremost. + Quite often fledgling combat aspirants forget about this + and focus all of their efforts on sending vampires to torpor only to discover too late that + then they have no way of reducing their pool fast enough: they get left behind in the race for victory points. + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed + deep_song=card("Deep Song"), + line_brawl=card("Line Brawl") + %} + Any dual-purpose cards that let you take pool or enter combat like {{ deep_song }} or {{ line_brawl }} + are also very good additions since you will most likely need all the deck space you can get for efficient combat. + Once you have solved the question of ousting power, you will also have to think about the challenges you might face. + For combat decks, those typically boil down to: + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed %} + Being on the receiving end of a combat deck is rarely fun, some even find it the worst experience in VTES that + saps their will to play. Do not despair though as all is not lost even if you are being hurt badly, there are + ways of dealing with combat that most decks can do. In general, you will want to make yourself an undesirable + prey for the combat deck to discourage rushes. Combat decks have limited resources and spending them can be a + tough decision. Here are some simple ways to stimmy the predations of a rush-happy deck: + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed %} + In the beginning, if you know that your prey or predator is a combat deck, you can delay your start a bit to + bring out 2 vampires at the same time. There is little direct threat to your pool early on from the combat deck, + so delaying your start should not be a problem, whereas having more than one target now means they need to + expend more actions to take you offline completely. + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed %} + Talk to people. This is often the simplest but most forgotten way of dealing with combat. If you are being + slaughtered just ask around the table for others to help rescue your vampires from torpor or — in case you are + the predator of a combat deck and have been rushed to oblivion — slow down their advances toward you so you can + rebuild and pose a threat to combat again. Most people should be happy to do so because this brings you back as + the primary target and takes this burden off of them. At some point, a combat deck will run out of resources or + decide to focus them elsewhere and let you play your game. Patience is a virtue. + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed %} + Rescue, rescue, rescue. Rescue your vampires, rescue other people vampires. + It is a war of attrition after all and if you just do nothing you have already lost. + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed + villein=card("Villein") + %} + Remove blood from your vampires. If you are facing combat and you know you cannot get away then make yourself a + less desirable target. {{ Villein }} down your vampires as much as you can, this helps build your pool and also + reduces the effectiveness of combat. If you do not have blood they cannot take it from you and they may + overspend resources without need. + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed + embrace=card("The Embrace", "Embrace"), + jake_washington=card("Jake Washington") + %} + Have some chump blockers. Small minions are typically undesirable targets for combat decks. Having to waste an + action and potentially some combat cards to send an {{ embrace }} with no blood to torpor or fight + {{ jake_washington }} is not something a combat deck wants to do. Smaller vampires can protect your more + important ones. + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed + nephandus=card("Nephandus"), + war_ghoul=card("War Ghoul"), + trap=card("Trap"), + molotov_cocktail=card("Molotov Cocktail"), + target_vitals=card("Target Vitals"), + pulled_fangs=card("Pulled Fangs"), + the_unmasking=card("The Unmasking") + %} + those decks typically bring allies to fight for them. The most common examples here would be {{ nephandus }}, + who can both bleed and fight as well as scary {{ war_ghoul }}. Those decks do not pack a very large combat package, + but they are extremely efficient with it. {{ nephandus }} playing {{ trap }} does 5 damage while taking none itself + (assuming fighting a vampire that does nothing in combat), {{ war_ghoul }} with {{ trap }} can do a whopping + 16 damage in one combat. They will sometimes also add low quantities of other combat cards that might help them + dish out damage a bit faster or provide extra effects. + {{ molotov_cocktail }}, {{ target_vitals }}, and {{ pulled_fangs }} are such cards. + They will also use {{ the_unmasking }} to help protect their pool. + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed + concealed_weapon=card("Concealed Weapon"), + magnum=card(".44 Magnum"), + saturday_night_special=card("Saturday Night Special"), + dragon_s_breath_rounds=card("Dragon’s Breath Rounds") + %} + Guns are used quite often because of the high efficiency they provide. + Having a built-in maneuver and strike is extremely useful throughout the game. + Everyone can use them and with the help of {{ concealed_weapon }}, you can equip them in combat + and not risk getting your equip action blocked. The most common gun you will see is the {{ magnum }}, + but there are a few decks that run the cheaper {{ saturday_night_special }} in combination with + {{ dragon_s_breath_rounds }}, sacrificing the long-term efficiency of guns for short-term bursts + of aggravated damage at long range. + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed + weighted_walking_stick=card("Weighted Walking Stick"), + target_vitals=card("Target Vitals"), + target_head=card("Target Head") + %} + Some decks do not use disciplines but like to fight anyway. If they are not using guns, + they might be using {{ weighted_walking_stick }} for some extra damage and an assortment of aim cards to boost it. + {{ target_vitals }}, {{ target_head }}, etc. + {% endtrans %} +
+ ++ {% trans trimmed + aid_from_bats=card("Aid From Bats"), + carrion_crows=card("Carrion Crows"), + canine_horde=card("Canine Horde"), + voracious_vermin=card("Voracious Vermin"), + terror_frenzy=card("Terror Frenzy"), + drawing_out_the_beast=card("Drawing Out the Beast") + %} + Animalism {{ ani }} has long been one of the premier combat disciplines due to its efficiency. + Deep Song provides both extra bleeding and a rush, {{ aid_from_bats }} provides damage coupled with + maneuver and a press while {{ carrion_crows }} provides extra environmental damage. + This is a very neat and easy-to-use combat package that also has access to some bonus effects + like weapon destruction ({{ canine_horde }}, {{ voracious_vermin }}) or denying your opponent’s presses + and maneuvers with {{ terror_frenzy }} or {{ drawing_out_the_beast }}. Its only downside is the lack of an answer to + Combat Ends effects, making it unreliable when fighting against decks that have a lot of them. + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed + psyche=card("Psyche!"), + magnum=card(".44 Magnum") + %} + Most commonly paired with guns but can also be used as a supplementary discipline for other types of combat. + Best known for providing plenty of maneuvers, dodges, and additional strikes, + letting you deal a lot of damage in a single round of combat. + Also provides one of the best ways of dealing with Combat Ends in the form of {{ psyche }}, + which is also wonderful with {{ magnum }} as it resets the fight and thus allows you to use the maneuver + from the gun again. + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed + freak_drive=card("Freak Drive") + %} + Not much to say here. Having access to damage prevention is always good in combat. + Additionally, it provides decks with {{ freak_drive }} for multi-acting so you can either rush multiple times + in a single turn or do a combination of rushing and bleeding. + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed + torn_signpost=card("Torn Signpost"), + roundhouse=card("Roundhouse"), + immortal_grapple=card("Immortal Grapple"), + disarm=card("Disarm"), + decapitate=card("Decapitate") + %} + This is the combat discipline, seeing how there are very few cards for it outside of combat cards. + Being able to do high damage thanks to cards like {{ torn_signpost }} and {{ roundhouse }}, + dealing with dodges and combat ends thanks to {{ immortal_grapple }} as well as sending people straight to torpor + with {{ disarm }} or burning them outright with {{ decapitate }}. It does not come without its downsides though. + Most of it only works at close range with very few options for maneuvering, + and it also puts your vampire at risk of getting hit back. + {% endtrans %} +
++ {% trans trimmed + theft_of_vitae=card("Theft of Vitae"), + apportation=card("Apportation"), + rego_motum=card("Rego Motum"), + walk_of_flame=card("Walk of Flame") + %} + Pretty light combat but worth mentioning. Famously used for life-stealing effects which bypass damage prevention + and help you come out on top with resources thanks to cards like {{ theft_of_vitae }}, + as well as access to maneuvers thanks to {{ apportation }}, limited damage prevention with {{ rego_motum }}, + and aggravated damage like {{ walk_of_flame }}. Thaumaturgy is not known for being a scary combat, + but it definitely can pose trouble for some decks and help ensure you are pulling ahead. + {% endtrans %} +
+{% endblock %} \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/codex_of_the_damned/templates/strategy/index.html b/codex_of_the_damned/templates/strategy/index.html index 14217da3..30a7a453 100644 --- a/codex_of_the_damned/templates/strategy/index.html +++ b/codex_of_the_damned/templates/strategy/index.html @@ -23,6 +23,7 @@