Tzimisce Newsletter: March 2001
Interview with a Rulemonger
This month we had a chance to sit down with the lead designer of White Wolf’s latest expansion and pick his brain about the Sabbat War expansion, the Tzimisce, and the future of the clan. When asked about his role with White Wolf L. Scott Johnson claims only these, "Lead Designer" on Sabbat War and the "Net.Rep" for V:TES, the duties for each are independent of the other.
Now on with the interview:
JC Now that Sabbat War has been out since Halloween 2000 and you’ve had time to reflect how do you think you did on first expansion? Is there anything you wish you had or hadn’t done?
LSJ The first part could probably be better answered by people more removed from the process, like the players, but since you've asked... I think the expansion was well done, given the parameters. But my opinion is naturally biased for such a purely subjective topic. From a design standpoint, it would've been nice to include more cards - both reprints and new cards. But since both White Wolf and I were new to the creation process, I think it was a good decision to test the waters. There's nothing really badly missing or badly done enough for me to wish I had done it differently, no. I had a lot of fun doing it, as well, and the White Wolf staff is easy to work with, so that probably has something to do with my impressions of the set.
JC How much creative freedom do you enjoy during the initial design of a card before the "Rulemonger" in you kicks in and says, "What the hell was I thinking?"
LSJ Not much. The rulemonger filter is almost always on.
JC Do find this frustrating at times?
LSJ Not as much as the people I interact with, I'd say.
JC What was your favorite part of designing the first expansion to V:TES in some years? What was the worst part?
LSJ My favorite part was making new vampires - adapting the main characters like Sascha and Lucita. The worst is deciding what Sabbat cards to cut to fit the set onto the given sheets in a balanced fashion.
JC So what vampire in Sabbat War do you really consider your baby? Also, which one is your favorite to play?
LSJ The Little Tailor was the most fun to develop. Greta Kircher is always fun to bring out.
JC What was/is the hardest part in designing new cards for the Tzimisce? What was/is easiest part?
LSJ I don't break it down like that, sorry. I did some research in the White Wolf source material for Tzimisce characters, traits, and Vicissitude powers that weren't yet represented, and adapted the ones that seemed useful to the card game. The hard part is designing non-specific cards, like Blood Siege and Storage Annex - the ideas for which aren't neatly packaged in some clanbook somewhere.
JC What’s the one card the avg. Tzimisce vampire can play that causes you the most headaches when designing new cards?
LSJ None, really. The stock Tzimisce cards don't really push any limits when it comes to corner cases, so standard (good) designs for new cards don't have to examine any of them specifically looking for troublesome corner cases. Reform Body is the most unusual, so some card texts dealing with burning or torpor or diablerie are checked for interaction with that card, so I guess Reform Body would be the one card that matches your description, with the note above that the headache level is low in general.
JC What are your thoughts on the roles the Tzimisce play in V:TES now and in the future?
LSJ The same: unmatched intercept-combat ability. Both ani and vic are wide-ranging enough to give them the toolbox they need to be effective at such a difficult main strategy.
JC Are there any future enhancements in the works for the Tzimisce? Clan specific and/or Vicissitude related?
LSJ They might get some help, but probably not in the form of clan-specific cards or vicissitude-specific cards, given the nature of the next expansion. Beyond that, there's always "maybe". :-)
JC What do you feel are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of playing the Tzimisce?
LSJ Their intercept capability, with the means to follow through once they block, is clearly their best characteristic. Their lack of influence (2 prisci, a bishop, and an archbishop)[editor’s Note: +1 10 Cap Cardinal] and dearth of stealth and bleed enhancements are all vying for the "biggest Tzimisce obstacle" title.
Combo of the Month*
It was either Justin Lacey (charlotte) or Derrick Ray (atlanta) that brought up this little beauty during a post tourney chat session.
Objective get into combat start laying down Weather Control after Weather Control to the opposing vamps capacity + 1, and then play a Bloodform when you’re done playing all those Weather Controls. Now watch as your prey goes scrambling for a ruling, as I did before publication.
This combo requires Thaumaturgy and superior Vicissitude and unfortunately for us there’s only one vampire in the game that pull off this combo w/o the aid of skill cards, Sascha Vykos.
Weather Control Combat, Thaumaturgy Only usable at beginning of combat. Both combatants and each of their retainers take 1 damage before range is determined each round. This damage cannot be prevented. (S) As above, but the amount of damage inflicted increases by 1 each round.
Bloodform
Combat, Vicissitude
(S) Play before range is chosen. This vampire is immune to non-aggravated damage for the current round. This vampire cannot strike this round. This vampire gets an optional press, usable only to end combat.
*Note: This combo is no longer as powerful after the re-printing of Weather Control
