THE PEAL SESSIONS
  >An ongoing series of interviews with some of the more interesting and creative players in the world of VTES.

Age: 26
From: Neulussheim, Germany

For how long have you been playing V:TES?

10 years

Why did you choose to come to GenCon?

Meet a lot of people, have a lot of fun. Also, enjoy the
White Wolf people.

What's your favorite Clan?

Settites

Your favorite Deck?

What other games do you play?

Exalted roleplaying game, heaps of board games.

How do other games help you play V:TES?

Actually, V:TES helps me play the other games!

What are you favotite bands?

Red Hot Chili Peppers and Metallica

What are your favorite movies?

Army of Darkness...I guess that's it

What'd you think of the NAC?

It was well-organized. I felt sorry that there weren't that many
players at the NAC. There should have been more, like last year. But
everything else was just fine.

What would you like to see in V:TES?

I'd like to see a new game technique, like Gehenna event cards.

How often do you travel to play V:TES?

A lot...I don't know how often, but it's really a lot. At least 10
times I go to foreign countries each year.

How does your local metagame affect your deck design?

Not at all. I build my decks just like I like them to play. That's
basically, toolboxy, or more toolboxy than usual

What decks do you have currently built?

I have built around 20 decks. Most of them are independent.

How does it feel to be the 1st ever European player to win a US
tournament? (Andreas won the last chance qualifier at GenCon 2005)

It was good! Actually, I enjoyed it. What else is there to say when
you win a V:TES game!

If I remember correctly, you won a European Championship back in 2000
or so, before White Wolf started the Continental Championship system. Is
this correct?

I have won the Limited EC draft back in 99.

Back in 99 the EC was split into two events:
saturday: draft tournament with the just released Sabbat War set
sunday: constructed

The first placed players could decide which final they played.

I had 14 VPs on day one with Brujah Antitribu/Tori Antitribu bleed vote
deck and a lousy VP with Brujah Pince long range deck one day two. So I
went for the draft finals since I was sure I would not win the
constructed final.

What was the experience of winning like?

The experience of winning was great. Especially since this was my
first tournament in a foreign country. I guess due to the fact that I won
the finals I became involved with the V:EKN and became a prince.

What was the state of the tournament scene in Europe like back then?

The tournament scene as far as I remember (at least for Germany) was
like:
- Vienna did its second European Championship. Carl Philhatsch organised
the event. In order to particpate at the EC you did not have to qualify.
- Germany held its first German Championship in a kindergarten
- Many tournaments did not play according to the V:EKN rules. After the
release of the Sabbat War expansion major V:EKN rules were created (the
no repeat action rule).

This year (1999) the following deck concepts were strong:
- the Euro Brujah deck concept was being published and it was very
popular to play (well the close combat variant).
- Malkavian Stealth Bleed (with Dom/Obf ;). At this point no one took
!Malks with Dem. Isn`t that funny.
- Ventrue Law Firm
- Bloat decks with Fifth tradition / Minion tap were outstanding

Do you have any words for your fans?

Play V:TES and...that's it, play V:TES!

End of Interview