Concealed Weapon

Article written by John Whelan (jbwhelan@dorsai.org).

In the recent "Clan Hosers" thread I argued that clan hosers were not different in principle than many other cards in the Jyhad set, including "weapon hosers" like Illegal Search and Siezure, Fast Hands, and Peace Treaty.

My opponents retorted, accurately, that these weapon hosers are wallpaper. Weapons have never become a sufficient part of the game environment to justify the use of cards specifically to counter them. Similar things have been said about allies, and the ally hosers.

This reminds me that weapons, as a combat strategy, have accidentally lost one of their important support cards: Concealed Weapon, due to a misprint. This card was obviously misprinted, though errata was never issued, and the card was dropped in the V:tES set as a redundant and inferior version of "Disguised Weapon".

Misprint Evidence

• All disciplines in the original set were supposed to have 10 cards each. The exceptions were Obfuscate (11), Fortitude (11) and Thaumaturgy (9). The imbalance with Fortitude and Thaumaturgy came from the fact that one Thaumaturgy card (Blood Rage) was misprinted as a Fortitude Card. The extra Obfuscate card was of course Concealed Weapon, for whom the obfuscate symbol is a misprint.
• Concealed Weapon does not have a superior version, and is an inferior and redundant version of another obfuscate card, Disguised Weapon. It's relationship to the latter card is similar to that of Lucky Blow to Undead Strength.
• The title and artwork indicate that no mystical discipline is involved. One does not need mystical powers to hide a gun under one's jacket. The restriction on weapon type ("The weapon cannot cost more than 2 pool or do more than 4 damage") is inspired by the idea that one cannot hide under one's jacket weapons that are too large.
• Wording: Concealed Weapon says "Equip this minion..." Disguised Weapon says "Equip this vampire..." Otherwise the wording is identical. Concealed Weapon was obviously intended for use by allies.

I'm not sure why errata was never issued. Perhaps someone realized that Hell Hound could use it to get equipment. Or perhaps they did not want to deprive the underpowered Nossies of one of their exclusive combat privileges.

Still, I feel that both allies and weapons, each intended to be an important and significant aspect of the game, lost an important card.

Brujah in particular are supposed to be famous for their reliance on weapons. In practice, the Malks and Nossies use weapons more often, because they do not have to waste an action getting them out. The ideal Brujah weapon deck would involve Black Cat, alot of Concealed Weapons (without the OBF symbol), and a fair number of Saturday Night Specials, .44 Magnums, etc. Black cat could Bum's Rush opponents, whip out Saturday Night Specials for free with Concealed Weapon, maneuver to long range, blast opponents with Manstopper rounds and additional strikes. Arms Dealers would be very useful for making sure you had Weapon Cards and Concealed Weapon in one's hand at the same time. With such a card, Weapons would be a far more viable part of the game.

Toreador would also benefit greatly from such a card. Celerity is their only combat discipline, and they need weapons to make it effective (multiple strikes with a .44 magnum is nothing to laugh at).

Allies need this card as well, and its lack is a main reason why so many allies are underused and underpowered. If "The Knights" could actually whip out .44 Magnums from under those silly robes they wear, then maybe people wouldn't laugh at them so. Same goes for Loyal Street Gang and The Slashers. Imagine if Muddled Vampire Hunter could whip out a Stake, a Sengir Dagger, or an Ivory Bow, without having to waste valuable actions to do it. Maybe Arms Dealers could defend themselves and Gypsies might actually be worth 3 pool.

If Weapons and Allies had valuable support cards like this one, then perhaps cards like Kindred Segregation and Peace Treaty would not be total wallpaper. Perhaps people would put Shattering Blows and Fast Hands in there combat decks.

I imagine that it is too late to errata this card, especially since it has been discontinued. But in the unlikely event that a new expansion is issued, I think a card designed to a similar purpose would be an excellent move.

In general, I think that Allies, Retainers, and Equipment all need more effective support cards. There are innumerable cards that help one bleed or vote more effectively, but few that assist one with the actions of equiping, retaining, and employing (or even hunting). How about:

• A card that helps one recruit allies or retainers for less pool.
• A card that helps one equip for less pool.
• An action modifier that helps you gain extra equipment in a single equip action.
• A card that untaps you after successfully equipping, retaining or employing (or hunting).
• A card that gains you extra blood while hunting "Feeding Frenzy" or some such. (There are so many cards that hose you for hunting that it seems unfair that there are so few inhancers).

Each of the above ideas might have inferior disciplineless versions, and superior versions that require specific disciplines or clans. Presence or Dominate might help with Employing or Retaining, whereas the Brujah might have an advantage in Equiping.

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