Next City for Vampire Rivals

Changing the count of Mortals would have a signficant impact on Toreador Retainer builds; changing the count of SAD would impact different clans to different levels (some clans are not as equipped to deal with them). This balance aspect is the basis for my comments. You would almost have to produce a whole new set of the game (i.e., new clan starter decks with new faction and library cards) to create a balanced product with those kind of changes to the City Deck balance.

And while doing this is certainly possible, it would likely wreak havoc on customized deck balance (i.e., having to balance not only the new clan starter decks, but the possiblity of decks that combine San Fran and the new City Library/Faction cards). Far easier just to add a bit of flavor to a new City Deck constructed in a similar manner to San Fran.

Strategies aren't created equally. Speaking about 1v1 constructed, strategies focusing on retainers or conspiracies seem to be considerably worse than strategies around titels, schemes or outright agression.

Every expansion will shift the power of strategies in relation to the meta. Strategies that are viable now may or may not be viable after 3 sets.

I don't see how a different city deck is different in this regard. And from what I gathered on the Discord server, (some) people want different city decks to have meta implications so that going to different tournaments feel fresh even without new releases between them. 

Agreed Ignithas

I completely agree with that if the new City Deck is a full exansion that includes not only a new City Deck, but also new Agenda, Haven, Faction, and Library cards. Then, existing strategies in the meta can remain viable while introducing new ones.

Nothing is worse, IMO, than having an expansion kill the viability of an existing deck build strategy. Experienced this in LOTR TCG and it sucked.

- I think if your expactation is that strategies that are viable now will be viable in the future, you will be inevitably disapointed in the future. I have never seen a card game with an ever growing card pool achieve something like that, especially if they try to introduce new strategies with expansions.

- I don't understand the need of having new agendas, havens and library cards released with a city deck when we get them already every 3 months.

Ignithas. I'm not speaking at the micro level, but at the macro level. For example, a Retainer-focused build or Scheme-focused build for Toreador. i expect decks to have to be modified as the game expands, but that the core themes would still be viable, as otherwise, you are obsolelting a bunch of cards, and creating a bigger barrier for entry for new players. LOTR TCG did a pretty good job with this as the expansions came out, with the notable exception of making the 3-Hunters builds non-viable (which cost them a lot of players).

I hadn't heard of new cards coming out each quarter. 1. That's great news and 2. It would be easy to align the release of a new City Deck with one of those quarterly releases and accomplish what I suggested.

I am not sure what you mean. Getting retainers as a mechanic will probably always be a viable option. Building a deck around it not. I am infact of the opinion that in 1v1 it isn't right now.

IMO, a lot of aspects in the game break in 1v1 - I am still amazed that they are pushing a tournament setting focused on 1v1. Conspiracies are also far far weaker in 1v1 than 4-player. 1v1 is almost a different game.

I care about build strategies still being viable in 3-4 player. To me, that is where the game is richest, where the game really shines.

(not to mention the 1v1 "strat" of being lucky enough to pull Prince of the City after your opponent has exhausted all their vamps and therefore has no way to stop you from claiming.)

Hi. We aren't pushing 1v1 tournaments. The Gen Con 2021 main event will be 4 player. However, there will be 1v1 side events.

Thank you for Joining this chat and thank you for a great game. I was about to point that out as well. The game shines at more players 3-4 but some of us at home or in more Rural areas may have to play 1v1 more than we like and I feel it works but yes. Focusing on 4 player is exciting.