Van Helsing will first release a pack of DOGS: he must have hired them from the dock worker who told him about the waiting Szygany. I strongly suspect it was his wife the Count fed on.
"Reveal this card before you search.
If you reveal "Rats:’ “Saboteur”, “Spy”, or “Wolves,” discard that card.
If you are ambushed by “Rats”, “Saboteur;’ “Spy”, or “Wolves”, you may discard both this card and that
card”
And then he will Search.
Sigh. You guys and your luck…
Van Helsing, with a pack of dogs on the leash, prowls the streets of Cagliari in search of any agents the foul Count left behind. Suddenly the dogs begin to whine and cower as a shadowy form appears before the hunter. A Reckless Vampire lunges forward!
We will be starting combat momentarily, once I give Dracula his hand of cards.
Van Helsing: please, for the love of God, whatever you do: try not to get defeated!
A cunning plan! I had not thought of avoiding defeat but now you mention it it seems like a good idea.
Takes notes.
Okay, Night Combat - Round 1.
Dracula plays Strength
Van Helsing plays Garlic
Garlic cancels Strength, but causes no damage to the Count.
Choose cards for round 2.
I wasnt being flippant. Godalming has the time to get there and fight it too if you are deefated, but it puts Dracula on the verge of winning if you lose this fight. I believe escaping is a valid tactic if things are looking bleak, and if used at the right moment.
Combat - Round 2
Dracula plays Strength
Van Helsing plays Rifle
Rifle does not cancel Strength
Van Helsing takes 2 damage.
Because it is night, the vampire breaks the Rifle, discarding it before it can fire.
Van Helsing gets Garlic back in hand.
Choose cards for round 3.
Combat - Round 3
Dracula plays Plotting
Van Helsing plays Dodge
Dodge does not cancel Plotting.
Search your combat deck for 1 card of your choice. Then, place the chosen card in your hand and shuffle the combat deck.
Keep this card face up until the end of the combat.
You may flip this card facedown to cancel the engaged hunter’s “Punch”, “Dodge”, or “Escape”.
No damage dealt. Dracula will choose a card from the deck to add to his hand.
Choose cards for round 4.
Combat - Round 4
Dracula plays Claws
Van Helsing plays Garlic
Garlic does not cancel Claws
Claws deals a total of 4 damage to Van Helsing because it is night, leaving him with 2 HP.
Garlic deals 2 damage to the Reckless Vampire, leaving it with 2 HP.
Van Helsing gets Dodge back in hand.
Choose cards for round 5.
Combat - Round 5
Dracula plays Fangs
Van Helsing plays Punch
Punch does not cancel Fangs.
The Reckless Vampire recovers 2 damage, bringing it back to full health.
Van Helsing takes 2 damage and is defeated.
Combat immediately ends if all hunters are defeated, so Punch does not go off.
Dracula gains 4 Influence for the defeat of Van Helsing, two short of victory. Van Helsing is removed from the board and will return at Dawn in the hospital at Rome.
Mina (@RogerBW), your night action please?
I think I had best go to bed.
Sorry fellas (and Mina): That may have doomed us. And all of Europe too, of course.
It was well fought.
Don’t dwell on it too much. These combats are like rock-paper-scissors, and sometimes they just don’t go your way.
The loss of the Rifle was especially devastating, as when Plotting came out, Dracula could cancel everything but Garlic, which was on the table for the last round.
Miss Harker, you may as well supply as giving Dracula an event card won’t really affect the outcome if you draw it.
Godalming - up to you then to see if you can or wish to get to Cagliari to try and defeat that vampire before it matures.
We can talk about combats when we have our post-match discussion. Tactics, approach, small boys in the park, jumpers for goalposts, etc.
Mina supplies – I don’t feel I can do much with what I have now.