Neutral Ground, NYC 8/9/98
I made the decision to attend the regional for two reasons: (1) to play some high level SWCCG (2) because it was free. Note the lack of reason (3) to win. I do not own many cards, and I was barely able to construct decent decks with which to play. In fact, I obtained the LS Hoth System I wanted only 10 minutes before the start of the Regional. Keeping in mind the level of my decks, I decided a 3-3 record would be satisfactory.
My decks are simple, listed below:
LS Space Deck Locations(9) Dagobah: Yoda's Hut (starting) Raithal Corulag 2x Yavin 4 Hoth Bespin Tatooine Kessel Starships(15) Mon Calamari Star Cruiser Tantive IV Redemption 2x Corellian Corvette Millenium Falcon Red 5 Red Leader In Red 1 2x Red Squadron X-wing X-wing Gold Leader In Gold 1 2x Gold Squadron Y-wing Y-wing Characters(11) Luke Skywalker Captain Han Solo BoShek Arleil Schous Biggs Darklighter Jek Porkins Tiree Pops Toryn Farr Figrin D'an R2-X2 Effects(4) Do, Or Do Not (starting) Haven Order To Engage Uncontrollable Fury Interrupts(19) The Signal (starting) The Bith Shuffle Out Of Commission Shocking Information I Have A Bad Feeling About This 3x A Few Maneuvers 3x Out Of Nowhere 4x It's A Hit 4x It Could Be Worse Creatures(2) Worrt Mynock DS Mini Hoth Clouds Deck Locations(7) Hoth (starting) Yavin 4 Tatooine Kessel Kashyyyk Clouds Hoth:Defensive Perimeter Starships/Vehicles(15) 2x Executor 4x Dreadnaught-Class Heavy Cruiser Obsidian 7 Obsidian 8 3x Obsidian Squadron TIE Black 3 TIE Avenger Blizzard 1 Blizzard 2 Characters(15) Grand Moff Tarkin Officer Evax Lieutenant Cabbel Chief Bast Lieutenant Tanbris DS-61-3 General Veers Danz Borin Bane Malar Chief Retwin Reegesk WED15-I7 "Septoid" Droid 3x R1-G4 Effects(5) There Is No Try (starting) 2x Imperial Decree 2x Lateral Damage Interrupts(18) Twi'lek Advisor (starting) Point Man Voyeur Shocking Revelation Ommni Box Trinto Duaba Takeel Evader 2x Tarkin's Orders 4x Tallon Roll 4x Dark Maneuvers
Neutral Ground is filled with SWCCG players (a total of 54 participated in the Regional). A few faces are familiar to me, from OSD and Pre-release tournaments I attended in the past. Besides Star Wars, there seem to be no other card games present. The excitement fills the air as Jason Robinette(Red 3) starts settling rules questions. At this time many players learn that creatures cannot attack characters on open transport vehicles. Even though it is too late to change decks, I know that many deck ideas around the sarlacc are suddenly formed.
We settle all rules questions, and are paired off for the first round. Clutching my good luck charm (A Mint WB X-wing card) I am off.
1st game - My LS Space(Yoda's Hut/Do, Or Do Not) vs Livio D'Alessio's DS Space Domination(Yavin 4/There Is No Try)
I was very happy to face a DS space deck right off the bat, as this was one of the decks I was prepared for. I had lucky draws, and was able to convert most systems my opponent deployed. This, along with Yoda's Hut, gave me the valuable force activation advantage. Haven and Order To Engage came out early, with OTE eventually sealing the game, due to good destiny draws for Out Of Nowhere. It Could Be Worse also went to work, and I suffered no losses from DS drains for the whole game. Luke on Red 5 at Hoth with Haven and Presence Of The Force was the pivot around which the two navies maneuvered. Result: LS by 30.
High point of the game: Falcon and Red 5 deploying onto a MC Cruiser as "forfeit fodder".
My total so far: 2(+30)
I learn someone won their first game by 51. Impressive, most impressive.
2nd game - My DS Mini Hoth Clouds(Hoth/There Is No Try) vs Brian Terwilliger's LS Dagobah Baragwins(Dagobah/Do, Or Do Not)
Before the game we count each other's decks, and I count an extra card in my opponent's deck. In a few moments Brian locates the intruder, but we start the game a little later than everyone else. I quickly realize what deck I am up against, and a big smile comes to my face, as that is the one deck I was preparing for the most. My luck holds, as a Surprise Assault in the Clouds (where my TIEs are most vulnerable) ends in a tie. With this play however, Brian manages to slow my drains as I cannot risk losses to other Surprise Assaults. Baragwins are a pain, as I cannot inflict visible damage until late in the game. Fortunately, I Tallon Roll GLIG1 and Falcon, and manage to move enough TIEs to Dagobah to chase Brian's Z-95s around. In the end I finally set up drains at four systems, and bring into play my secret weapon - Reegesk. With him stealing LS devices, it is soon obvious baragwins are running out of retrievable cards. Near the end of the game time was called, however knowing I was in a winning position, I requested an extension on the grounds of delay due to the count of 61 cards in Brian's deck. The extension granted, Brian picked up his life force and congratulated me on the win. Result: DS by 22.
High point of the game: Reegesk. The Rat Dude granted me a win over the deck I feared most: Dagobah Baragwins.
My total so far: 4(+52)
At this point I add reason (3) (to win) to the other two causes of coming to the tournament. Blame it on the adrenaline.
3rd game - My LS Space(Yoda's Hut/Do, Or Do Not) vs TJ Holman's DS JP/Tatooine drain(Jabba's Palace/Expand The Empire)
This turns out to be the quickest game I played. With TJ setting up the drain on Tatooine, I look for the Tatooine system to make It's A Hit earn its keep. Meanwhile, I deploy Luke, Arleil and Tiree to the Cantina to slow the DS down. TJ responds with J'Quille, Jabba and Bubo (and some other characters I do not remember). Bubo chomps at Luke, who draws Tatooine as his destiny and is promptly eaten, leaving Tiree and Arleil to their doom. Needless to say I get outdrained by one turn. Result: DS by 5.
High point of the game: Presence Of The Force gets moved twice
My total so far: 4(+47)
4th game - My DS Mini Hoth Clouds(Hoth/Imperial Decree) vs Jared Greenberg's LS Mains and Toys(Yoda's Hut)
Playing this game was a lot of fun for both Jared and me. We started odd, since realizing we both had TINT/DODN as a starting effect, we decided not to play it. Thus I started with Imperial Decree, and Jared was without a Starting Interrupt. During the game Mains made many appearances, and I groaned anytime Jared would lose one to a drain from hand (he was playing with at least 3 Obi-Wans, much to my envy). Soon Jared was losing HIS mains with an evil chuckle, only to increase my frustration at not owning a single Obi. But I digress. My drains in space for 1 force each were chomping away at the LS lifeforce, and I calmed my frustration by Tallon Rolling the Falcon. Slowing down Narbun with Tarkin's Orders, I was able to delay the showdown at Marker 3 between Obi-Wan, Son Of Skywalker and Princess Leia and my Blizzards. Finally a Narbun went through, I lost Blizzard 2 and had to temporarily evacuate the Defensive Perimeter. I was later able to deploy more pilots and create an impasse. Bane Malar and a redeployed Princess Leia (hehe - groan) went at it in the Carbonite Chamber, with Bane emerging victorious. Result: DS by 19.
High point of the game: Jared losing yet another Obi from hand.
My total so far: 6(+66)
My worst fears are confirmed as I learn we will not have a meal break. Neutral Ground sells snacks, but they cannot even compare to a reasonable meal. I catch myself wishing SWCCG cards were edible.
5th game - my DS Mini Hoth Clouds(Hoth/There Is No Try) vs Ray Bordier's LS Mains And Toys(Obi-Wan's Hut)
Fortunately for me, I get Imperial Decree off quickly. There Is No Try earns its keep, as two Senses and an Alter cost Ray 6 Force. I learn a cool strategy: During his control phase, Ray detached a Landing Claw-equipped GLIG1, nullifying Decree, did the Cantina shuffle, deployed a high forfeit pilot onto GLIG1 and battled my ship. The pilot was lost, but GLIG1 remaind to attach next turn. This continued until I deployed enough TIEs to comfortably occupy Hoth without a Dreadnaught. I barely won. Result: DS by 7
High point of the game: the Landing Claw shuffle.
My total so far: 8(+73)
6th game - my LS Space(Yoda's Hut/Do, Or Do Not) vs anonymous DS JP Manipulation(Jabba's Palace/Expand The Empire)
I hold my opponent in highest regard. This game reinforced my belif that Fair Play is alive and well in the SWCCG community. I had a winning position when the TD called time on our game, and my opponent stood by his earlier resolve to draw all his cards, granting me a two point win. This allowed me to take 4th place in the tournament.
The game itself was straightforward. My opponent's Scanning Crews and M'iiyoom Onith deployed through Audience Chamber gametext kept my characters at bay. After a few turns I deployed some systems and started draining with my starships, which resulted in a visit from Zuckuss in Mist Hunter. A well timed Out Of Nowhere and total destiny of 10 took care of him, and the situation settled on LS control in space, and DS presence in Jabba's Palace. Unfortunatelly DS was gaining a slight advantage with Gailid, and I could not battle my opponent's lone characters because of the damage M'iiyoom inflicted. At this point one of my gambles during deck construction paid off, as I drew a Mynock (!!!). I survived the next drain, and on my turn the Mynock ate Gailid and headed for M'iiyoom. Soon time was called and my opponent acted most commendably. Result: LS by 7
High point of the game: Mynock. I will never doubt in LS creatures again.
My final total: 10(+80)
I can finally take a deep breath and calm down my emotions. To my amazement I went 5-1 in the Regional, which for me was a great achievement considering the decks I had. Could this be the proof that you do not need Vader/Obi/Yoda to do well in a tourney? I am already planning a LS deck that will have a potential to go 3-0, and there is that Shawn Valdez tournament coming up...
The top final results after 6 games: 1) Matt Sokol 12(+105) 2) Dennis Shea 10(+85) 3) Manuel Rodriguez 10(+80) 4) Jan Siwanowicz 10(+80) 5) Scott Lingrell 10(+73) 6) Larry Epstein 10(+36) 7) Joseph Young 10(+21) 8) Ray Bordier 8(+98)
Before the finals Jason holds the prize draft. My take is Gailid, who caused me a lot of trouble today. I am happy to finally get one.
In the final match Matt Sokol meets Dennis Shea. After shaking hands they begin.
1st game - Dennis DS Tatooine Drain(Jabba's Palace/Broken Concentration) vs Matt LS Cloud City Eloms (Bespin/Yarna d'al' Gargan)
This was the first time I had seen Eloms in action, and I am very impressed. Due to their gametext, Dennis did not deploy at Cloud City, and instead concentrated on using Mosep and drain bonuses to build up a sizable Force drain on Tatooine. Unfortunatelly, Matt's Bargaining Table was effective in lessening the concentrated DS drains, while RLIR1 on Kessel and Never Tell Me The Odds did considerable damage. Result: LS by 6
High point of the game: Your Eyes Can Deceive You deployed on LS lost pile.
2nd game - Matt DS JP Drain(Jabba's Palace/Expand The Empire) vs Dennis LS Dagobah Force Retrieval(Dagobah/Projection Of A Skywalker on Jabba's Palace)
Due to a large number of Scanning Crews, Matt was able to safely set up a substantial force drain with Gailid. Both players played with Senses and Alters, and it was Matt who came out on top in the first confrontation, cancelling two LS Alters. Soon it became obvious that despite a second Projection Of A Skywalker, the DS had the drain advantage, and two Alters at the Projections sealed the game. Dennis was unable to keep a character in hand long enough to deploy, especially since the Scanning Crews kept Princess Leia and Son Of Skywalker at bay, making it impossible to complete Great Warrior or to play On The Edge. Result: DS wins the game and Matt Sokol goes to the World Finals!!!
At this point few players remained at Neutral Ground, but those that were left treated Matt to a hearty applause.
Throughout the tournament, shaking oh hands before and after matches was common. Most players agreed to treat their games informally, and I witnessed many occasions where players allowed their opponents to take back moves, even in the finals. This common attitude, along with the excitement of the Star Wars Customizable Card Game, caused the regional to be enjoyable to all.
I was excited to meet Ziemek Skwara, a SWCCG player from Poland, who was visiting NYC. While he could not participate in the tournament due to its Regional classification, meeting him was a good experience, as I am Polish myself, and it is always pleasing to find proof of Star Wars' international presence.
A word about the cards used: A few players had some Second Anthology cards in their decks, with Mon Calamai Star Cruiser and Thunderflare being most popular. Also, a lot of Official Sealed Deck starships were present. Being a fan of space decks, I was excited to see the new ships playing vital roles in many decks. Senses and Alters were a big factor, with most players choosing to protect themselves with Do, Or Do Not/There Is No Try, but a few players did use Senses and Alters to impede their opponents' actions. In my opinion, the most important card was Scanning Crew, as few LS decks contained enough Shocking Informations to effectively combat repeated Scanning.
Finally, I would like to thank all my opponents, especially Jared and Ray, for most enjoyable games. I send the biggest thanks to Jason Robinette, Red 3, who devoted much effort to organizing the Regional, and whose support facilitated greatly the writing of this report.
Jan Siwanowicz