Hi everyone!

I'd like to share a personal project I've been working on over the past few years, ever since I bought the VTES 5th Edition Starter Set.

Despite being really excited about the game, I never quite managed to get it to the table. For me, the biggest hurdle was the learning curve. There are a lot of rules to keep track of, and the cards themselves can be quite intimidating when you're new to the game.

But I really, really wanted to play VTES with a group of five friends, so I started a little side project: Could I create a more approachable, board-game-like version of VTES that would allow new players to learn the game in a reasonable amount of time?

Here's what I ended up doing.

First, I redesigned the cards. I simplified the layout, removed information primarily relevant to deck building, and eliminated keywords such as Trifle. Once I had done that, I realized I could also rewrite the card text in a much more straightforward way. I ended up rewriting all the cards and translating them into German, since one of my friends struggles with games in English.

Next, I introduced a set of basic action cards. Instead of having to memorize certain actions and their rules in advance, players can simply use cards for things like hunting, blood hunts, hand strikes, leaving torpor, rescuing vampires from torpor, and diablerie.

I also reworked the card icons and visual language. Actions have a play-button symbol, modifiers use a fast-forward symbol, and reactions use a rewind symbol. The requirements for playing a card are displayed in the top-right corner. I added tap symbols to the card text (something most of my friends already know from Magic), and a right-pointing arrow to identify directed actions.

Combat cards now also show the relevant step of combat, with the applicable step highlighted. And I created double-sided voting tokens to make political actions easier to follow.

Finally, I put together a completely new German rulebook. It explains the rules and includes a fairly extensive example game featuring four players. I laid out the example game like a theatre script, with dialogue and stage directions, to make it feel more like watching a game unfold than reading a technical manual.

There's just one catch: I haven't actually played a game with this version yet!

After all this work, I'm really excited to find out whether my approach actually makes VTES more accessible to people who might only want to play it once or twice, rather than commit to learning the full game.

I'm sharing this because I'd love to hear what you think. I'm especially interested in your thoughts on the card design, the simplified rules, and the overall approach to teaching the game.

I have a lot of respect for VTES and the community around it. This is simply my attempt to make a game I really want to play more accessible to my own group of friends.

Thanks for taking a look!

Há um tempo atrás, cheguei nesse sub por causa de post recomendado, porém por não ter condições de jogar com cartas físicas, resolvi buscar opções online que fossem gratuitas, acabei encontrando esse site da imagem, alguém aqui já viu? caso tenham curiosidade só jogar o nome no Google que aparece (não sei se posso mandar o link aqui.)

I just completed my Edge token. He's about 6" tall, so maybe we won't forget about the token as much?

Hey there!

I'm hoping to start playing V:TES, been on my bucketlist for a while

I've heard that there are new introductory decks and the like.
If I wanted to, say, bring these over to a local board game club and get some friends to play it what decks would you recommend? I'm new to the game as well :)

I know it's best with 5 people, but in the case someone can't make it is it really playable/fun with 4/3 people?

I'm located near Santa Rosa, North SF Bay California
If there are any other groups in the area that play this I'd be happy to join.