Gary Carman

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Gary Carman, 1999 World Champion. Photo: Decipher.

Gary Carman is the 1999 SWCCG World Champion, the first British winner of that title. Trandosite interviewed him on 29 September 2000.[1]

1999 World Championship

Kathy Lischke named Carman and Steven Lewis as the two finalists of the 1999 Decipher World Championship on Decipher's event board.[2] She reported that on the morning of the final he found his planned decks missing. He built two new decks with help from another qualifier.[3]

Interviews

Radio Free Decipher, 16 June 2000

On Radio Free Decipher Broadcast 38, Evan Lorentz and Kyle Heuer phoned Carman in Bristol and introduced him as the 1999 Star Wars CCG World Champion. They said the DecipherCon 1999 final had been shown on closed-circuit television and that the playing room was "quiet as death". Carman called it "definitely a pressure factor". The hosts noted that he had also won the UK national championship, and Carman said he came third at the regional.[4][5]

Trandosite, 29 September 2000

Interview conducted by Rod Latham on Trandosite.[1]

Site player profile:

Since 1998, Gary Carman has been the dominant force in British SWCCG. He has won an impressive number of tournaments, numbering well over a dozen. It is, however, his performance in major championships that has been most impressive - 2nd in the 1998 Regional (beaten by John Shields), 1st in the 1999 Regional (ironically beating John Shields) and 3rd in the 2000 Regional. He gained international recognition in 1999, when he became the first British World Champion of SWCCG. The final confrontation with Steven Lewis has been heralded as one of the greatest matches of the game ever played. Since that victory, Gary has played across the world and continues to improve his skills through regular tournament action.

1. How did you get involved in SWCCG, and what attracted you to the game?

I started playing the game not long after it was released in premiere. I have always been interested in strategy and loved the Star Wars films, so when I saw a few of my friends playing I got started. I then left the game before the first expansion as it became boring, as the game was won and lost on who owned more Darth Vaders or Obi-Wan's. I played Magic for a year or so, but that got too expensive, so when I finished I was looking for another game to play and met Mike Riboulet in Bristol. We played a few Star Wars games and I was back.

2. If you could change one thing in SWCCG, what would it be?

Same answer as John Shields. I would remove rarity from basic cards, so all cards would effectively become common allowing access to all and significantly reducing the cost of deck building. I understand that Decipher and collectors like rare cards, so keep the foil cards and change their rarity, so when you buy a pack you could get 14 commons plus one random foil.

3. What were your expectations going into the World Finals of 1999? How do you prepare for such a big tournament?

I had no idea what to expect, but I set myself a goal on qualifying for day 2, which I was pleased to achieve. As for preparation, I did surprisingly little. I play tested with Mike Riboulet, John Shields and Bruce Savin a bit, but not much more than normal, which was maybe once or twice a week in the month before worlds.

4. What were your initial reactions following the final confrontation with Steven Lewis? How would you have felt if you had not have won?

After the final confrontation, I was obviously very pleased and relieved, as all I could think of when I had made the final was of Mike's two attempts in 1997 and 1998 when he had failed to win, so I was wondering is the UK destined to always finish second. If I had lost it would have depended on how I played. If I had made a mistake that cost me the game I would have been disappointed, however if Steven had outplayed me then second in my first world championship would not have been too bad.

5. Since your victory, you have played against hundreds of people across several regions. Which area produced the best competition, and how do you rate the United Kingdom in comparison?

I cannot answer which area produced the best competition, as the players I have played were mainly at the Cons and they had came from all over. As for rating the UK I would say the record speaks for itself, Mike has finished 2nd in worlds 1997 and 1998, John Shields was 13th in worlds 1998, Nick Rice was 2nd in Europe Open 1999 and Peter Di Biasio was 3rd in the European Continental this year. On these results it is clear to see British players are capable of competing with the best in the world.

6. You begin the defence of your title in October at DecipherCon 2000. Do you feel pressure as the defending champion? Are you still the best player in the world?

I do not really feel under any pressure this year, as I now feel I have nothing to prove. I am going back with the aim of enjoying myself and meeting up with the many friends I've made over the last year. As to being the best in the world, winning the world championships dosn't make you the best player in the world, and I have never claimed that. I would like to think I am one of the best players in the world, but the best judge of that is my fellow players.

7. Decipher have recently unveiled a new product, the "Jabba's Palace >Sealed Deck". What do you think of the new premium cards, and what impact do you think they will they have on the game outside of Sealed Deck play?

I have had a brief look at the new cards, it might be too early to comment but there seems a few good cards, the new lando and jabba look good, there are fixes for Honour of a Jedi and Ralltiir as non-unique sites are looking a bit poor now. The two new objectives look interesting, however I personally don't like the move to encourage playing large multiples of one card as it reduces deck design and diversity of play. As for impact, Hunt Down will be back and Ralltiir is dead, Profit looks stronger and I only ever met one player who played Dantooine Ops, but that is dead now too. Oh and Operatives on both sides is now even worse and its pretty bad now.

8. What do you enjoy doing outside of SWCCG?

Drinking, socialising with women and playing squash.

9. If you could play any player in the world, who would you most want to play and why?

Difficult question, as I have played a lot of great players now, I would have to say Joe Alread though - and this time not straight after he has played 10 games and won an open!!!

10. What is the greatest misconception in SWCCG?

That any one deck has an auto win over any other deck. I would agree that there are match ups where one deck type has an advantage, but to say you have an auto win without considering who you are playing, card draws, exact deck design etc, is both arrogant and stupid.

Many thanks!

Tournament Results

Date Event Format Finish Dark Light
5–7 October 2000 2000 Decipher World Championship (Day 3) Premiere - Death Star II 10th Set Your Course For Alderaan[6] Hidden Base[7]
5–7 October 2000 2000 Decipher World Championship (Day 2) Premiere - Death Star II 11th Set Your Course For Alderaan Hidden Base
14 July 2000 2000 Origins Team Event Premiere - Endor 1st (undefeated; team Anglo-Americans, about 12 (+100))[8]
4 June 2000 2000 Naboo Regionals Premiere - Endor [9] YOP deck (Bothan Ops/Yarna)
4 June 2000 2000 Naboo Regionals Premiere - Endor [10] Bothawui operatives and Y-Wings
2000 2000 UK National Championship 1st[11] Efficient Dealing Carman HB Tech
13 November 1999 1999 Decipher World Championship (Day 2) Premiere - Endor 2nd[12]
12 November 1999 1999 Decipher World Championship (Day 1) Premiere - Endor 3rd[13]
12–13 November 1999 1999 Decipher World Championship Premiere - Endor 1st ISB Operations Hidden Base
12 September 1999 1999 Naboo Regionals Premiere - Endor Final[14]

Decklists

Decks published on Trandosite (see Trandosite decks):

Appearances

Date Publication Title
April 2000 Star Wars Insider #48 All Decked Out[15]
February 2001 Star Wars Insider #52 Deal With It![16]

Photographs

  • Gary Carman, 1999 Worlds finalist. Photo: Decipher.
    Gary Carman, 1999 Worlds finalist. Photo: Decipher.
  • Gary Carman, 1999 World Champion. Photo: Decipher.
    Gary Carman, 1999 World Champion. Photo: Decipher.
  • Gary Carman at DecipherCon 2000. Photo: Decipher.
    Gary Carman at DecipherCon 2000. Photo: Decipher.
  • Player card in Star Wars Insider #48. Photo: Rich Handley.
    Player card in Star Wars Insider #48. Photo: Rich Handley.

See also


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gary Carman interview, Trandosite (29 September 2000)
  2. ↑ "Star Wars: CCG Final Confrontation", Kathy Lischke, DecipherCon: Event Report Board, Decipher (13 November 1999). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  3. ↑ "Necessity is the mother of invention", Kathy Lischke, DecipherCon: Event Report Board, Decipher (13 November 1999). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  4. ↑ Radio Free Decipher, Broadcast 38 (16 June 2000), Evan Lorentz and Kyle Heuer, Decipher, 0:23–0:36 and 7:19–8:20. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  5. ↑ RFD Archives 2000, Decipher. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  6. ↑ the-bad-player-goes-to-deciphercon, DeckTech (Charlie "Bad Player" Herren, 11 October 2000). Preserved copy: Internet Archive.
  7. ↑ world-day-2-by-the-loser-himself, DeckTech (Yannick "Crusher" Lapointe, 10 October 2000). Preserved copy: Internet Archive.
  8. ↑ origins-team-tournament-7-15-2000, DeckTech (Geoff "gsiva" Snider, 17 July 2000). Preserved copy: Internet Archive.
  9. ↑ hatfield-uk-naboo-regional-part-2, DeckTech (Mike "Kessling" Kessling, 5 June 2000). Preserved copy: Internet Archive.
  10. ↑ naboo-regional-2000-into-the-fire, DeckTech (Alex "Greedo" Tennet, 9 June 2000). Preserved copy: Internet Archive.
  11. ↑ Gary Carman's decks: ls119.htm, Trandosite; ds116.htm, Trandosite
  12. ↑ DecipherCon 1999 – Event Scores: 1999 SW World Championships Day 2, Decipher. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  13. ↑ DecipherCon 1999 – Event Scores: 1999 SW World Championships, Decipher. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  14. ↑ naboo-reigonal-england-9-12-99, DeckTech (Mike "Kessling" Kessling, 13 September 1999). Preserved copy: Internet Archive.
  15. ↑ Rich Handley, "All Decked Out", Star Wars Insider #48 (April 2000), pp. 78–79. Scan: Star Wars Insider 48, Internet Archive.
  16. ↑ Rich Handley, "Deal With It!", Star Wars Insider #52, pp. 68–69. Scan: Star Wars Insider 52, Internet Archive.
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