These interviews are meant to take an interesting look at those in
the SW:CCG community that we know a little about. Hopefully these will
reveal some new things about the people we talk to on the internet.
What is your favorite SW:CCG rule or ruling?
Hmm... I kinda like the way they defined the whole timing structure.
It's such an elegant solution; there's no opportunity for undefined
situations, or fights over who said what first.
What is your favorite board game?
Axis & Allies. Very strategic, yet not too confusing.
How did you become the web master of Colonel Mustachio's site?
Back before September 97, everyone would bug the Colonel saying that
they wanted to see past reviews on the web. So I volunteered to make a
website for him. It worked out great for both of us, he had a place to
put his reviews, and I, as a webmaster, finally had content!
How did you first find the Decipher Discussion BBS?
Hmm... I've been visiting Decipher's site since before it had a BBS
(yes, even Decipher at one point had a starry background). I'd use it
as a resource for finding rarities and what-not. Some time later, I
found the BBS, where up-to-the-minute Decipher rulings were often made.
I would go through the BBS, searching for the word "Sandy" (Sandy Wible
was the first RBL) and collect rulings, but not post anything. Around
when Hoth came out (I think, it may have been later) I started to post
on occasion, but didn't have an incredible amount of web access. When I
went to college, I had 24-hour really fast web access, and thus became
more of a regular.
What is your favorite kind of cheese (as in dairy product not deck of ill-repute).
Hmm... I'm partial to Camembert, m'self. But on normal occasions, I'll
go for cheddar. :-)
What card are you hoping to see the most in Special Edition?
I've always said, the best cards in an expansion are very rarely the
characters. I'm personally looking forward to any effects, etc., that
will let us play the game in new ways.
What is your favorite line from the SW Trilogy?
"I am a Jedi, like my father before me." --Luke Skywalker. Luke knows
that there is good in his father, and that at the core of his feelings,
a Jedi Knight he still is.
What card do you consider to be the "Spawn of Satan?"
The Hoth "Blank" Card. Really, if you hold it under polarized light
with a ~1000nm wavelength, you'll see something so hideous...
Seriously, though, I typically don't complain about cards. Being a
director, I can't criticize decks for having certain cards; I can't make
players feel bad for playing a deck that's perfectly legal. When I do
complain about a card, it means that the card is 99% unbeatable, and
instead of going to other players (who will just complain back to me),
I'll e-mail Decipher about it. To date, I've only done this once, with
the pre-errata Asteroid Sanctuary (had some nice discussion with Chuck
about this one).
What card do you consider to be a "Gift from God?"
That depends... Is Jerry God? :-)
Who is your favorite Muppet?
Kermit. He's just a down-to-earth, honest guy. Gotta love him.
How do you like your steak cooked?
Actually, I usually don't eat steak. It's not that I have anything against cows, I just don't think they taste all that good. I'm more of a seafood-lover myself.
What do you like most about being a tournament director?
I like the appreciation I get. All the players love being able to
participate in tournaments and win prizes. I love being able to provide
that opportunity for them.
What do you like the least about being a tournament director?
Well, I certainly wish there were more players in the area. (I'm hoping
to eek out 8 for my tourney on Friday.)
How many hours a week do you spend studying?
I don't really time myself. Very often, I'm doing about 5 things at
once, including studying, checking the BBS, reading e-mail, doing
homework, eating, updating web sites, ICQ'ing my high school friends,
playing computer games, etc. Very rarely would you find me
concentrating on one thing.
How many hours a week do you spend on the BBS.
See above. Now that I'm at college, I don't turn my computer off (saves
on boot time), and I have a steady connection to the Internet. I
usually have an instance of Netscape running on my computer, so I can
really just press ALT-TAB and post whenever I want.
Where is your regular place to play SW:CCG?
At school, I play at the Cornell Strategic Simulations Society (we call
it the Games Club). At home, I play at Eldorado Comics in Cherry Hill,
NJ, and often play at home with friends, as well.
What is your favorite kind of pasta?
I like the angel-hair pasta (sorry, don't know the Italian). It has
more surface area than other types of pasta, and therefore picks up more
of the flavor of the sauce.
What are your hobbies other than SW:CCG?
Computer gaming, philosophizing about various things in life...
What is your greatest SW:CCG moment?
Oh, I dunno. Once I was playing against a pre-CC drain on Dagobah deck, and using cards like Evader, Lightsaber Deficiency, Dark Waters, and Your Powers Are Weak, Old Man, I was able to reduce its drain to zero. :-)
What is your worst SW:CCG moment?
Getting my Abyssin Ornament targeting my 15 CC Troopers retargeted with
IHABFAT to my 1 Aqualish. :-)
If Decipher would let you create one card that they were guaranteed to make without any changes, what would it be?
How about this:
Atmospheric Maneuvering Flaps - Special Edition - Uncommon
Destiny: 3
Lore: Victory-Class Star Destroyers were equipped with special
atmospheric maneuvering flaps that let them navigate the upper
atmosphere of a planet.
DEVICE
Deploy on a Victory-Class Star Destroyer. That starship may now move
like a starfighter (may not land).
Just so everyone stops complaining... :-)
Who is your toughest opponent and why?
Hmm... I'd have to say Anthony Vitarelli. I can always count on him to
have a competitive deck; I like to test my decks on his, and he gives me
good feedback on them.
What card(s) is a "staple" in the decks that you make?
Control. Useful against every deck that I can think of...
How old were you when you first learned to ride a bike?
I dunno. Still have some scars, though. :-)
If a train leaves San Francisco at 5pm going 70 mph and another train leaves Chicago at.......oh, nevermind.
Well, Train A is moving at 1.043E-5 times the speed of light, and Train
B...