VTES

VTES, short for Vampire: The Eternal Struggle, is a collectible card game set in White Wolf’s World of Darkness. First published in 1994, it focuses on vampire politics, power struggles, and survival as players recruit allies, deploy actions, and vie for influence at the table. The game has undergone several editions and publisher changes, with Black Chantry Productions later reviving and continuing the line.

The core idea of VTES is multiplayer competition. A typical game involves two or more players who control vampires from different clans and use a deck of supporting cards to advance their position. Each player manages a blood economy, pays for actions, and uses cards to influence the table, engage in battles, or obstruct opponents. Victory paths often hinge on political influence, strategic resource management, and timely social or combat actions, rather than pure direct combat alone.

Card types and mechanics revolve around vampires, actions, events, equipment, and other support cards. Vampires possess capacities and clan-specific disciplines that grant powers and special abilities. Players recruit minions and allies to assist their lead vampire, while utilizing action modifiers, vote cards, and combat cards to advance goals, defend their position, or disrupt rivals. Agenda cards provide thematic and strategic objectives that can shape the course of a game and offer alternate routes to victory.

VTES is noted for its deep strategic and multiplayer-focused design within the World of Darkness setting. It has a dedicated community, organized play, and ongoing fan and publisher support. The game’s legacy lies in its emphasis on political maneuvering, creature psychology, and long-form table dynamics that distinguish it from other collectible card games.