Here's an interview with Ray Bordier, the winner of the Coruscant Regional and the most electrifying player in CCG entertainment ;o)
Jon: Let's start off by getting to know you a bit, tell the people a little bit about yourself.
Ray: My name's Ray Bordier, I'm 20 years old. I work for a steel company in the accoutning department and recently started a second job with Suncoast Video. I'm engaged to an incredible woman and hope to have a family some day. I like long walks on the beach and purple sunsets and dancing in the rain. Wait this isn't a dating game. Next question.
Jon: Now, when did you start playing SWCCG?
Ray: I started playing SWCCG in january of 96. I played magic for 2 years before I got into SW with some friends. My brother actually got me into Star Wars when he decided to get into a ccg after making fun of me and my magic playing friends.
Jon: What's you favorite set and why? I dont really have a favorite set, but I feel Special Edition was the best set for the game. I'll explain for all those that are thinking "operatives, broken HB" and the sort. Well granted, SE was released early to change the environment for worlds and there were some screw ups because of it, BUT besides ops and actually including them, SE has brought battling into this game more so then it ever was. There is alot more beatdown potential now but all in all the game has made a change for the better because of it.
Jon: What are your favorite cards?
Ray: Well, I would have to say Braniac and Salacious Crumb. Although I would never use either in constructed tourny play, I love salty crumb from the se versions of the films and the braniac card is just a fav of mine cause he's easy to figure out for me and not (for) alot of other people.
Jon: What's your best SWCCG memory? I'm gonna brag here. I would like to say winning a tourny is but it isn't cause I've won so many of them im used to it. For the people that know me I play this game very competitively and that has taken alot of fun out of the game for me. I play to win and am not happy if I dont win. I get all depressed and angry when I lose and it's one of my character flaws as far as this game goes. My happiest moment I would say is a game I lost and am frequently reminded of. My fiance beat me in a tournament game and I doubt she'll ever let me live it down. It's ok though cause I love her.
Jon:Have you ever had a game that you lost, and knew you should of won that has haunted you? If so, who was it against? What happened?
Ray: Recently actually but it doesnt haunt me. It made me realize something and I'll give credit where credits due. I lost to Bob Caton. I should have won the game and I didnt because I made one mistake and said screw and drew up, when technically I couldnt. It was battle phase after drawing destiny and I realized i forgot to drain for a total of 6. I still could have won the game I think and that was the part that bothered me. I realized that I take the game to serioulsy and I have a good feeling that will help this year in the world chamionships.
Jon: What deck(s) that you've had has been your favorite?
Ray: Well I would have to say that my JP:expand trooper deck was my favorite dark, I used it for months and it had an incredible track record. For light I had a death star plans insert deck that would be considered ultra cheese but it was alot of fun to cycle through my deck the way I had. Never used that one in a tourny though.
Jon: If Decipher asked you to come up with a scenario for SWCCG tournies, what would it be? (ie: all JP cards, all space etc.)
Ray: I would say that it would be a system scenario tournament where you had to only use locations that deploy to your designated system. There are some rules that would have to be made but I had always thought it would be alot of fun.
Jon: What kinds of decks are popular where you play?
Ray: Geez, ya know I can't really speicfy that one. In my area everyone makes their own decks, with the exception of andy talaga, and they always vary. No one deck type is really all that popular.
Jon: Well, thanks for your time, is there anything else you'd like to share? Any words of wisdom or such?
Ray: To everyone out there, this game has brought together alot of people that would never have known each other otherwise so take a mintue and get to know one another for who you really are. There is a whole world of strangers out there and the best thing to have is friends. Sniff sniff ;o)
Jon: Thanx again Ray.
Note: ( )= Authors ad-libs.
Jon: Let's start off with the basics... Now, when did you start playing SWCCG?
TJ: Since Premiere, a lil' before ANH.
Jon: What's you favorite set and why?
TJ: Tie between Anh and Dagobah. Anh cause it fixed the game and has so many key cards like what I call the new hope three-grabbers,grimtaash,ghhk. And dagobah cause it revolutioned the game and opened up so many possible decks.
Jon: What are your favorite cards?
TJ: path of least resistance and limited resources
Jon: What's your best SWCCG memory?
TJ: Beating woj (Wojtek Jankowski) in a final duel to qualify for worlds.
Jon: Have you ever had a game that you lost, and knew you should of won that has haunted you? If so, who was it against? What happened?
TJ: At this years reigonal I lost to Terwilliger and I should have won. He was using a black and blue deck and I was playin my cc cele(bration) deck. I messed up by going outside which is something I never do. I usually just plop down projections but I decided to fight vader with obi then obi got stomped for like 12 cause I had no houjix. After that I knew I made a mistake and didnt deserve to win so I just finished the game.
Jon: What deck(s) that you've had has been your favorite?
TJ: Before cc I never lost a game. My ds deck was a deck with 20 scanning crews and about 5 characters. All red pretty much. Plus it was before kiss a wookie got errata so I could still play it on grabbers. There was no way to deal with the deck at all. Then for light before cc I had a death star plans hdwgitm(How Did We Get In To This Mess) deck that never lost. Drained on the death star ( this was the first deck ever to use all and only 2-0 sites, I was the first to ever use that startegy that I saw.) Both decks died after cc because of imperial decree and shock(ing Info).
Jon: If Decipher asked you to come up with a scenario for SWCCG tournies, what would it be? (ie: all JP cards, all space etc…)
TJ: I always thought attack run vs. commence primary ignition would be kool.
Jon: What kinds of decks are popular where you play?
TJ: The same as everywhere. Y4 revo and hdadtj. Space too, but i dont play the 'popular' decks...my decks become the popular decks.
Jon: Special Tj question: I've heard you say there are cards that you put in every deck, yet few people use them, would you share with us what cards these are?
TJ: Limited resources and effective repairs, but these are the only two that go in 99% of my decks. others i just use like 90% of the time.
Jon: Well, thanks for your time, is there anything else you'd like to share? Any words of wisdom or such?
TJ: Play a card if you want to, dont just assume it sucks cause youve never seen it played. Decide for yourself whats good dont just listen to other people...and never play a net deck.
Jon: Amen ;o) Thanx again TJ.