Setting up the starting cards walk through.

Getting the game started takes a while for new players, here is a step by step guide to help you out!

One key thing is you have to load the decks separately. So at the start of the game ask your opponent, "What side do you want to play? (and) go ahead and load up." I also open the Key Reference menu (Help -> Key Reference)

Since I still am no expert… I take the entire deck into hand. (Ctrl + Drag cards from pile into hand) Once there, Flip the whole stack at once (Ctrl + Right Click) and fan them out (“h”).

From here I deploy my Starting Effect, Fear is My Ally for example by dragging that to the table. Then I look at my Defensive Shields, put them in a messy pile so they are all touching each other and NOT touching any other cards… then I stack all the shields together and flip them (“c” to neatly stack a group of cards, and “Ctrl + Right Click” to flip back over) and drag that stack to the “starting cards” square face down and drag your starting effect on top of it (probably still on the table face up).

Now you have probably 59 or so cards in your hand. The next step is to deploy your objective (if you do not have an objective, skip this paragraph… and put one in your deck!). This card of course is purple so is easy to find, drag it to the table and then fish out any cards that may be associated with it. And you do not get a starting location.

If you don’t have an objective, well God help you! I’ll be honest… most players on Holotable are mutant creations from an underground science facility in Russia. They were grown by scientist and genetically engineered to remember every single card in the deck. Umm…. Never mind, at this point deploy your starting location if you do not have an objective.

Then the Starting Interrupt. There are a few of these, for the light an example would be Heading for the Medical Frigate and for the Dark Side, Prepared Defenses. Typically these let you deploy 3 other effects that deploy for free. Those mutants will have 20 cards in front of them, and know what every single one of them does!

So, now you have your stuff on the table… Starting Effect, Objective, Starting Location, Starting Interrupt and any cards that may be involved with those.

It’s at this time I generally ask my opponent, “Mind if I take a second to read your cards?” In the earlier days you will see new cards every time you play… learn them! You are already at a disadvantage because your brain was created by the way Mother Nature intended, good ol’ humpin’ and pumpin’ … not some Russian science lab.

Ask your opponent if they are ready and start the game!

Wow... Jarnotp is...

amazing.

How do I install Holotable!? Instructions here!

Guess what! There is a way to play the Star Wars Customized Card Game ONLINE! Yes thats right! But here is the warning... the software is built more by 'card-players' rather than hardcore coders. So there is a bit of a learning curve... not to mention the install is enough to stop vets from coming back by itself.

Please do not give up on it! Here is my write up to get you at least into the a game with someone! Maybe later I'll post on playing. But for now, this should get you started.

First, big thanks to MasterJediAdam for helping and checking, and actually... well, teaching me how to install ;)

NOTE: This is as of June 06, 2008 and for Windows!

If you are not a member of the Holotable forums, you will need to be to have a username/password that works to log on Holotable. Go ahead and do that, I’ll wait for you…

Here is the direct link: http://www.holotable.com/phpBB2/

…welcome back.

The order that you install things matters so be careful.

First you need the GTK

GTK: http://www.holotable.com/downloads.php I have had problems with this first step before, so I like to click the option that reads, “download a GTK installer directly from our server here.” and just click ‘run’. This is a quick download.

Then the Holotable (current 0.8.2 as of 6/6/08) http://www.holotable.com/download/?dlid=89

Next, the Virtual Set 14 update here: http://holotable.com/download/index.php?dlid=81 Click Download and Run.

Then, Large images through v14 http://www.holotable.com/download/index.php?dlid=88 This one is a large file (238MB so save to hard drive first). Then run that file.

Then the Enhanced Packs Update here: http://www.holotable.com/download/index.php?dlid=90 another decent size file (26MB)

Then the V15+ Update here: http://holotable.com/download/index.php?dlid=91 same as before, just click download and run it.

Personally, I like to install a couple of the default decks. The Deck Pack is a great starter. http://www.holotable.com/download/downloads/deckpack.zip

Fire up Holotable and the first thing you want to do is go to Table -> Options -> Connectivity (tab) and set your username: and if you would like, country area. I like to check for latest program version on start up also. Click apply and ok.

Now you are ready, click, Server and Connect. Plug in your password and you will find yourself looking at the lobby! From here young Jedi, you are on your own. I'll try to type up a couple more posts on game play, and maybe deck building later.

Hound

One and One... we are havin' some fun.

Got to play a couple games last night. Forgot how good Darth Bobinko was. After a quick scare at the beginning of game one, my light side came through strong in the end.

And then I played with my (*cough* weeeeeeeeeeak *cough*) Dark Side deck and got stompted. The surprise was that the Light Side deck Bobinko was playing with... looked A LOT like my LS Profit deck. HmmmmmMmmm maybe it's a good build :)

1-1 for the night. Big night Wednesday... should be The King, King Jr., Bobinko, and myself.

SWCCG and all those rules.

Sometimes I wonder if my friends and I have EVER played a game with the correct rules.

Played Darth Bobinko twice (he was Dark Side both times). Even though there was a couple GOOD upgrades to his deck and some virtual card add-ons (my FIRST encounter with these in real life games) I still came out on top.

I REALLY have got to add some higher draw cards!

Holotable.

Trying out this for the first time, and wow, what a learning curve for someone who retired right before Jabba's Palace.

Big ups to Jedi Adam and Thew for helping around that curve.

The Ultimate Power in the Universe.

Modified my deck RIGHT before playing by taking out a couple corvettes and a couple locations. Added 4 Jedi Tests and training grounds.... never completed one. Wow. Thats a bit tougher than I thought.

However, the deck did GREAT as my objective card was hit right on the mark. HOWEVER, I think we are doing it wrong. Currently researching the 'frozen han' thing.

Not sure it would have made a difference though. My deck is 10 years strong and "the King" made the deck 30minutes before the game. He did get his flagship out, but a little too late.

I'm pretty sure I'll be pulling those tests back out and sticking with the corvettes :)

Additional note about last night's game.

I didn't force drain more than twice!

Having an Objective ins SWCCG really changes things.

So I changed out about 6 cards in my deck. Given that this deck really hasnt changed in the last 5-6 years, 10% is a big swing. Cards added: Exchanged a few corvettes for 2 unique crusiers and a unique B-frigate (higher deploy cost but oh well, higher power). Put in the 'you will either profit from this...' objective. Added the Princess leia and the Tatooine Qui-gon Jinn Jedi Master. w00t!

Very happy to say all cards got out! AND the objective got flipped! Really a pleasant shock. Figured it would be a few games before I got to test everything out.

Oh and it worked AMAZINGLY. (also we learned some rules that made the Dark Side deck not quite as strong). I think that a couple very small tweaks, mainly locations and this deck will work against space and ground alike. I would prefer that some of my warriors also be able to pilot but that's ok.

This deck is now the ultimate power in the universe.

Happy Birthday Georg Lucas.

Happy 64th George. Good luck getting that TV series out before you croak! Just kidding bud. A big THANK YOU from all your fans for creating the Star Wars universe!

You are beatin.

It was bound to happen. The winning streak has come to an end.

As expected 'the King' had put together a great force draining deck. And on the 4th try I was destroyed.

The set up was great. We had an additional table by the dining room table so that I could play against 'the King' and King Jr at the same time. We knocked out 8 games!

My friend Darth Bobinko came into town last night. He forgot his cards so I was forced to play against my Dark Side deck. I drew nearly a perfect 8 cards to start then got very lucky after that. Son of Skywalker was 1-on-1 with Vader drew attrition and actually got Artoo! So Vader had to go bye-bye.

Overall for the day 8-1.

12,000 Cards Organized

Another two games last night... I played Dark Side both times, but the second time was against my light side deck! 2-0.

But the winning streak may soon come to an end. I helped 'the King' and King Jr. open and a TON of booster packs, including TWO full boxes of Jabbas Palace, half a box of Dagobah and a couple dozen A New Hopes. So, I'm heading over to their house today to see what they came up with.

BIG thanks to the both of them for helping me plow through organizing all of my Star Wars Customized Card Game cards... total count is 12,000. All logged into a spreadsheet ready to be put onto eBay. Here is a link to the list of cards (not easy to read but hey, oh well). http://www.nickschale.com/CCG.htm

Strong with the Dark Side.

My Light side had two victories tonight. Corvettes are still some of my fav cards! But I really should consider putting in a Mon Cal system to actually get my Calamari's out. The game play was MUCH improved as these games took under an hour... (knocking them down about 20-30 more minutes I think is the target).

Then (cue the Imperial March) I got to bring out the Dark Side deck for the first time since ...geez... 1999? It's a bit rusty, but I think I can polish it up pretty well in a short while. It was a victory. But considering 'the King' created a Light Side deck JUST moments before(Didnt want to break up King Jr.'s deck of decent cards) it wasn't a true test for the power of the Dark Side.

(Two Vaders never got deployed, had a crummy draw of the first 8, and my locations were rather slow to get out)

Leia saves the day! Yoda decapitates Vader!

Last night's (2hr) game was close to say the least. My friend 'the King' created a deck that looked to be heavy with warriors & Tatooine sites. Probably planned to force drain the crap out of me. Within 3 or 4 turns there were three Tatooine sites out & he occupied each with A TON of power... like min 17 power at each one.

Not to mention a starting effect 'the King' played that forced me to deploy something with ability. THANKFULLY I drew the Tatooine system into my hand right off the bat. This allowed me to throw down a corvette every turn, nullifying 'the King's' starting effect & adding +1 to power (for each ship) to my ground fights, should I ever face the challenge.

I should point out that I have a very heavy attack force in ships. And only ONE 'control' card that can cancel Force Drains.

For about the first 2/3 of the game 'the King' was clearly ahead & gaining momentum.... & then... LEIA! And I can't remember the Effect card that you deploy when Leia on the table that allows you to use 3 force to retrieve a card from the lost pile... but I had it too.

Now the formula was, stay the hell away from Tatooine sites. Cancel 'the King's' Force Drains with my only Control card. DON'T LOSE ANOTHER CARD. Then retrieve that Control card & Force drain for the Tatooine site.

...the slow toxic drip had started.

It wasn't till the last 20minutes that I had taken the lead & the momentum. The King had traveled to Bespin where my very few warriors were deployed in a last attempt to use their power. I used my move turn to spread the forces thinner & ended up getting Yoda (equipped with a Lightsaber), Luke, Han, Leia & even Wedge onto a Tatooine site to face off against some Tatooine native warriors accompanied by Vader (w/ Lightsaber).

One of the last couple turns a battle had begun... the war was clearly going to be over, but this battle had to be fought. With 5 targets to choose from, Yoda ignited his lightsaber & charged for Vader. Dodging blaster fire he sprung into the air to attack the towering dark figure & in one powerful swing it was over. Yoda landed from his leaping attack at the same time as Vader's decapitated head. The war was over.

Welcome! Star Wars Customized Card Game (CCG) Players!

Welcome to the rebirth of the famous Decipher game, Star Wars Customized Card Game. Otherwise known as SW:CCG.

It's a quarter into the year 2008 and I started cleaning out my basement. I found my collection of CCG cards and thought, 'it's time to sell these.'

Called up a friend to see if he wanted to buy them and we ended up playing a few games. He had a few cards, but this was his first time actually playing. Yeah... we spent 5 hrs playing and did another round the next day.

I still want to sell a bulk of my cards off. Probably to people who need to make 5, 6, or 200 decks (literally, I have like 13,000 cards). But at the moment I am going to keep my 2 main decks and see if there is any action in the Kansas City area.

Post if you are a current, ex, or aspiring SW:CCG player :)