| Then read Basic Deck-Building Concepts to get a handle on the basic considerations in designing a deck. At this point you should grasp the fundamentals of the game. For more information on rules, errata, tournaments, card sets, and news about Jyhad, see the White Wolf website. Note that some cards have been errata�d, so the official card text may not be the same as that written on the card. You can find the correct text of every card under the �Card Sets� heading. You can also download The Elder Library Deck Builder, a free and very useful software utility for building decks and cataloging your cards, and you can look up cards online with the Monger Utility. You can search for players in your area, or you can play Jyhad By E-Mail if you like. To deepen your understanding of strategy and deck-building techniques, read Jyhad Deck-Building Basics and The Gentle Art of Deal-Breaking, then browse through the articles at the V:TES Atlanta and Rustwurk sites. The slightly out-of-date Introductory Deck-Building is also worthwhile reading. There is a V:TES Forum at the White Wolf site, as well as a Yahoo Club and a Usnet Group (rec.games.trading-cards.jyhad) on Jyhad. You can post questions or discuss the game at any of these. For ideas on new decks to build, check out The Austin Deck Archive, The Vampire: Elder Kindred Network Clan Pages, The RGTCJ Deck Archive, and The Tournament Winners' Deck Archive. If your supply of cards is limited, then you may want to use Deck Modules. You can find more info on everything Jyhad-related at The Lasombra's excellent site. This is the Jyhad site. It�s best to buy cards from a local retailer, since that encourages them to keep the cards in stock and furthers the game. But if you can�t get what you want locally, there are plenty of mail-order options. See The Lasombra's site for a list of online retailers and trading sites. |
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| An Introduction to the Vampire: The Eternal Struggle/Jyhad Collectible Card Game By Charles Rose, with help from the bunch at rec.games.trading-cards.jyhad |
| The Vampire: TES CCG, also known as Jyhad, is a very entertaining and challenging game. It works best with 4 to 6 players. The strategy involves elements of deck design and skillful card play like that seen in Magic and other games, but the social aspect is what makes the game truly fascinating. Your ability to interact with the other players and understand the political dynamics at the table can mean the difference between victory and defeat. What follows is a list of resources that may be helpful in learning and mastering the game, with a little commentary to guide you along. There is also information on finding players and buying or trading cards by mail. The first step in mastering the game is of course to learn the rules. Use a Sabbat War or Final Nights rulebook, or print out a rulebook from the White Wolf website if you want one that�s easier to read. The �Quick Reference� on the back of the rulebook will be useful while you are learning. You may find the Online Demo and Frequently Asked Questions helpful. If you've bought one of my Jyhad kits on eBay or I've given you one of my homemade decks, click here for information about playing and improving the decks. Then read the rest of this guide for more information. Once you get the rules down, you'll need to learn the basic strategies. For a quick introduction read Basic Strategies in Post-Sabbat Jyhad. The article is slightly out of date, but still very useful. Here are a few additional tips that may be helpful: |
| Pool Management: As a rule of thumb, stop spending pool on vampires and such when your pool drops to 10. If you go too low you will be easy pickings for your predator. Beginners often get ousted easily because they spend too much. If your predator is using very little bleed or politics, or you are playing with a lot of intercept, then you can probably afford to go a bit lower. You won�t be in as much danger of rapid pool loss due to bleeds or political actions. On the other hand, you may want to keep some extra pool in reserve if your predator is focusing on bleed or politics and you are not playing with much intercept. You�ll get a feel for this with experience. Cycling Cards: Don't be afraid to make use of the optional discard phase to improve your hand. Beginners are often reluctant to discard since they fear they may ditch a card they will need later. My advice is when in doubt, discard. Experimentation will help you acquire a feel for when to pitch cards, and which ones. Making Deals: Deal-making is an important part of the game; don�t be afraid to make deals (or perhaps threats!) to further your position. In a four-player game the person across the table will have no immediate desire to oppose you. The two of you may be able to cooperate to oust the other two players; then you can have it out with each other afterward. Political decks of course have the most bargaining potential, but a rush deck has a fair amount as well. You can be a hit man and beat up vampires in exchange for favors, or if you are desperate you can just threaten to pound on a player's minions if your demands aren't met. A good intercept deck will have some potential as well, mainly due to the card Eagles Sight played at superior. |
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