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Divine Sign: the Giovanni Newsletter |
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CONTENUTO
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0. What the f***?
I. Edition's quote
II. The Brand New Stereotypical Italian Dictionary
III. Cousins of the Month
IV. Asset of the Month
V. Tried Tactics
VI. Bitch's Last Words
0. CHE CAZZO?
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What? Yes, finally one more edition of the Giovanni Newsletter!
>From now on and for quite some time, each edition will focus on *one or two* new aspects available to the clan and their Necromancy-sharing parent bloodlines via Legacies of Blood. I will not do the same error as I did after KMW: to write a big and somewhat superficial set-based newsletter and then suffer a typical writer's block... As big as the new set is, hopefully I'll have plenty of material for monthly editions up to April at least.
Since this newsletter has been in a limbo (Oblivion?) for quite some time - actually, since the release of Kindred Most Wanted - let's go straight ahead with no more small talk.
Just one more note: don't forget your main source of information on the Giovanni and Necromancy in general... http://necrobones.free.fr
I. CITAZIONE DELL'EDIZIONE
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"One with the courage to laugh is master of the world almost as much as the person ready to die." (Italian Proverb)
II. IL NUOVO DIZIONARIO D'ITALIANO STEREOTIPATO
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Ignazio rushing your empty Famous weenie? Can't block with another vampire? Call him these:
"Pauroso" - adj. Coward.
"Finocchio" - adj. Gay, homosexual, pansy, fag.
Of course, that won't help you. But maybe you'll feel better - and he'll waste efforts grappling your vampire when he wouldn't need to.
III. CUGINOS DEL MESE
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Legacies of Blood brought up two much expected new Giovanni to get along with all the new luminaries of the clan. Of course, these two strange *cuginos* not only seem suited to interact with Carmine and friends, but are ready to undertake the clan's directions by themselves since those paranoic Camarilla leaders included the name of Ambrogino in its much dreaded Red List 9 months ago. Their main feature, though, is that they're both superior Necromancers, as any Ghiberti should be.
Ghiberti? Yeah, haven't you heard of them? There's this other family, you know, one more of those we brought into the clan to spread our influence. There's only so much Giovanni girls available for inbreeding, and they just can't travel around that much... Anyway, these Ghiberti spread into the dark continent, where we just couldn't guess how things work exactly - even the *spiritos* of previously sent scouts seem to be missing - and they master some sort of necromantic arts that we can't quite grasp completely. Creepy guys, these Ghiberti. Most of them are ghouls, and they avoid contact with the local strange society the africans built (I hear a Nosferatu offspring rules there - who could've thought of that? Take that you sissy Ventrue!), but somehow a few Cainites have survived whatever hunts us so thoroughly there.
But that's enough introduction already. Let's get to know them:
Thomasso Ghiberti
Clan: Giovanni (group 4)
Capacity: 4
Disciplines: NEC pot
Independent: During your untap phase, you may move 1 blood from any Laibon you control to Thomasso.
Now this is one impressive fellow. Not only he managed to survive inbetween the locals, but some even pay homage to him! I've heard that he used to be a ghoul for quite some time, and then was Proxy Kissed - so don't be fooled by his seemingly poor raw strength and lack of endurance. I've heard he's good friends with that monster they call Lorrie Dunsirn... But if he's bent on punching opponents, his best friend is Mina Grotius, who can gain extra blood for each burned vampire and then donate some back to Thomasso. Call that a bloody partnership, heh? But he really excels as a Necromancer. *Dio mio*, have all our *cuginos* forgot the art of compelling the dead these days? This guy can work wonders even as young as he is. I don't know any younger vampire of our clan that can do what he does across the Shroud besides retired uncle Rudolpho. Maybe that's how Thomasso survived such a hostile environment: even the monsters have their secrets, and these africaners rely too much on *spiritos*. But to be fully aware of what he can accomplish, we should have a look at his closest partner:
Gualtiero Ghiberti
Clan: Giovanni (group 4)
Capacity: 7
Disciplines: DOM NEC cel pot tha
Independent: Once each turn when another Giovanni announces an action or strike that requires Necromancy, Gualtiero may burn a blood to incrase the stealth of that action or the damage done or blood burned by that action or strike by 1 (even if stealth not yet needed).
Someone had to rule the Ghiberti in there, and Gualtiero seems so suited to it. Thomasso really shines when under Gualtiero's command: most can't intercept the little necromancer's effort to Jar the Soul of others, and even the few who can must have a flesh of marble to endure his Dead Hand for 3. That can be pretty effective a tactic when you need to target the right enemy; keep his/her defenders out of the way, and either punch them to torpor with Ignazio or Baldesar or Condition the distracted at leisure. Note how Gualtiero's necromantic prowess can enhance some forgotten or previously overlooked tactics during combat; thanks to him, Tormenting the Soul or the Breath of Thanatos gain some potential to burn opponents outright and Mercy for Seth deals a decent amount of damage - which makes the tactic more viable even if you can't count on its "side" effects. Also note how versatile Gualtiero's powers are: if you feel so inclined, you could forfeit the extra stealth to increase the *effect* of a necromantic action - provided it burns blood or deals damage. Again, that just screams Jar the Soul as the keystone to a blood denial strategy that would undoubtely include Baleful Dolls (which won't benefit from Gualtiero's efforts, but what the hell). Don't forget you'll need to provide some sustenance if he's put to too much work - but long gone are the nights lost to hunting, when you can even hire some Procurers around to bring blood to our havens' doors. Talk about the age of comfort, y'know. Some say Gualtiero has been a close acquaintance to Benedict, since both share the gift of quickness to enforce their will. But I'd say celerity won't do you any good in Africa; go for his thaumaturgical expertise since Gualtiero is the only new *cugino* able to perform the Name Forgotten ritual, per example. But if you feel so inclined to make him use that quickness, better to convince him to turn anarch. Diversion is always a sure-shot tactic when you can master it at two angles.
IV. BENEFIZIO DEL MESE
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Powerbase: Cape Verde
Type: Master
Requires: Giovanni
Master: Unique location. During any Metuselah`s master phase, you may tap this location to move a blood from a ready Giovanni or Laibon you control to your pool or from your pool to a ready vampire you control. Any Giovanni or Laibon may steal this location for his or her controler as a +1 stealth (D) action.
Rarity - LoB:R
Who needs that many readily available Blood Dolls? Just go to Cape Verde and find a safe niche there, and you'll be sated. Sometimes you'll have to give something in return, but those things happen. It seems that Cape Verde is way too friendly, indeed - once Thomasso told me that story about a "Gururer" or whatever those african Nosferatu are called who couldn't use his own Hunting Grounds and came to Cape Verde for some help. Even outsiders can be kept out of frenzy there. I've been told that our clan has been facing trouble while managing the area, though - given that much recent "Laibone" activity around. What the hell - just lay low for some time, and these weirdos will either leave us alone or take it for a few days, and most of them will not be able to avoid us taking it again. The Nosferatu rulers are too concerned with their own political schemes most of the time, and the local Toreadors too engaged in debauchery to notice. The Gangrel sub-Sahara wanderers - man, gotta respect these guys' ability to survive the jungle - can prove troublesome, but if they find you in Cape Verde, just run away while they're entering frenzy and calling the entities they know or whatever. They'll be unable to really engage in combat once they face a massive Spiritual Intervention. Watch out those Brujah bodyguards, though; these are way more perceptive than the usual hot-tempered sort of vampire we westerns are used to, and they can Track you Telepathically and then throw a lot of weight when they're pissed.
V. TATTICHE PROVATE
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I must admit - this isn't as much a "tried tactic" as a sketch of a deck, but since it is built around Gualtiero and Legacies of Blood took some time to get down here, I had no chance to test it before. But it shows promise. The idea is to have Gualtiero out and start calling Jar the Souls at superior for two blood burnt in tandem with Baleful Dolls, while Sennadurek the Nagaraja untaps to look the opponents' hands (and be ready again to bounce, or so I expect) and Mina Grotius profit from any empty minion burned via Society of Leopold. I'm not sure about the crypt ratio or if the "intruders" are welcome here since they don't benefit from Gualtiero's text... But in theory, even if Gualtiero is the only Giovanni in the opening crypt, the deck can go by slapping Baleful Dolls while I fish for smaller Gios.
Deck Name: Blood Denial by Gualtiero
Created By: Fabio Sooner
Crypt: (12 cards, Min: 15, Max: 27, Avg: 5,5)
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1 Cristobal Ghiberti nec 2 Giovanni 2 Thomasso Ghiberti pot NEC 4 Giovanni 2 Mina Grotius cel FOR NEC 6 Harbingers of Skulls 2 Raphaela Giovanni pot pre DOM NEC 6 Giovanni 2 Sennadurek dom AUS NEC 6 Nagaraja 3 Gualtiero Ghiberti cel pot tha DOM NEC 7 Giovanni Library: (90 cards) ------------------- Master (18 cards) 6 Society of Leopold 2 Acquired Ventrue Assets 1 Morgue Hunting Ground 1 Effective Management 1 Powerbase: Cape Verde 1 Strained Vitae Supply 1 Threestar Cab Company 1 Perfectionist 4 Blood Doll Action (16 cards) 4 Daemonic Possession 10 Jar the Soul 1 Haunt 1 Whispers from the Dead Action Modifier (13 cards) 7 Call of the Hungry Dead 6 Conditioning Reaction (11 cards) 8 Deflection 3 Wake with Evening`s Freshness Combat (10 cards) 8 Spiritual Intervention 2 Mercy for Seth Ally (3 cards) 1 Procurer 1 Leonardo, Mortician 1 Felix `Fix` Hessian (Wraith) Equipment (11 cards) 10 Baleful Doll 1 Sargon Fragment, The Event (1 cards) 1 Anthelios, the Red Star Combo (7 cards) 7 Spectral Divination
This deck was last saved at 22:29:12 on 25/12/05
Note that card retrieval is key here - I doubt 6x Society, 10x Jar the Soul and 10x Baleful Dolls will be enough to pave the way for the table win, so Anthelios, Whispers from the Dead and the Sargon Fragment can provide the extra push in the end game - and that Felix and the lone Haunt copy are necessary to get rid of those pesly Hunting Grounds around. I think I should make room for even more of them, in fact. Mercy for Seth seems sketchy, but it can get rid of troublesome blocking mortal allies and inflict two damage under Gualtiero's special - not to mention it forces the opponent vampire to take an action or lose even more blood. I won't rely on it, not on this deck, but it seems like a good surprise card.
VI. ULTIME PAROLE DELLA PUTTANA
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"And I thought I would be the only superior Necromancer in here who's not an old fart... Well, time to learn to work along that african guy." - Raphaela, Dethroned Midcap Necromancer Queen
That's all, folks. Hope you like it. If you do so, feel free to ask for more! Now I have no extra excuses to abandon the Newsletter for so long a time. Next edition, I plan to take a look at some Harbingers and how they can help the Giovanni, and maybe provide a new blood denial-type deck that focuses more on Divine Sign and Mercy for Seth.
Fabio "Sooner" Macedo
Giovanni Newsletter Editor Back in Full Effect
Overseen by Orpheus, Giovanni *Consiliere*
http://necrobones.free.fr