I'll be honest. Bespin and Beyond wasn't exactly how I had hoped Decipher would handle "Expanded" Sanctioned events. I wanted Decipher to step out on a limb and create a new tournament entity consisting of only scenario play, a theme tournament, if you will. Such an environment could provide an occasional breather from "constructed" tournaments that (on occasion) grow stale with the lack of creativity.
While Decipher wouldn't have to make such a tournament type part of "Worlds," there are a few things Decipher could do to popularize such a tourney event. Who doesn't want a Dark Lord of the Sith Tee? I know I do. I would love to sport the "Dark Knight" at the next tourney. Besides the fact that I think Bespin and Beyond will expand our creativity because it lacks such important cards as traffic control, sense, and alter, or the fact that I think it will be loads of fun, I would love to have a crack at winning that shirt. If a scenario environment were its own entity, Decipher could make a series of shirts only available in scenario play. This would probably be enough to encourage TDs to run an occasional scenario tournament.
Decipher has also proven its know-how for promotioning such events. Decipher's hype for Bespin and Beyond is a trip to Denver for the George Lucas sponsored Prequel I screening. I understand that such a monumentous event doesn't happen every year, but something like it, say a trip to Deciphers Headquarters in Virginia, would be nice. This could be a trip for two to four players for a weekend of scenario events. Players only need to bring their decks (since the scenarios will already be named), a high spirit, and their CCG skills. Or they could be asked to attend Worlds where such a scenario event could be held as well. Just some thoughts that probably wouldn't cost Decipher a fat wad of cash to pull off.
Not only that, but Decipher also encourged scenario play by offering premiere cards in Japanese. I think these cards are pretty cool to check out. I wouldn't mind recieving them for prize support. It makes getting those crappy Priemere cards like Juri Juice just a bit easier to swallow (pardon the pun).
So we have a season to enjoy Bespin and Beyond. Perhaps we will soon see a sanctioned environment for scenario play. I know a few TDs running non-Bespin and Beyond scenario events, and they look to be loads of fun. I hope that your local squadron members and TDs run several of these event as well. I would also love to hear some feedback on these tournaments. Do you support a new tournament type for strictly scenario play? I would like to know.
Beakman