Mark Schaffer
Mark Schaffer was a Decipher-era Squadron Member, Gold 41 in the Tatooine region, from Hampton, Va.[1] The slot was marked Retired after Decipher's SWCCG run.[2] From 1998 to 2001 he volunteered for Decipher as Gold 41 and playtested SWCCG expansions from Jabba's Palace through Death Star II.[3]
In their own words
Well, let's see... I'm an engineer in real life, I play at being a photographer, and I don't want to grow up.
Decipher was there showing off some of the soon to be released Star Wars CCG cards - wow! I was hooked!
Now I run a league at my demos, have 2 - 3 tournaments a month and travel around to other SM's events to play and support them.[1]
Service
| Dates | Service |
|---|---|
| 1998–2001 | Squadron Member, Gold 41 (Hampton, Va)[3][2] |
| August 1999 – January 2001 | Squadron Member Gold 41, Tatooine region; Hampton, VA[1][4] |
| Decipher era | Helped run Sci-Con in Virginia Beach; got Decipher to hold a Regional qualifier there[1] |
| Decipher era | Ran weekly demos, a league and two to three tournaments a month in Hampton Roads[1] |
| 1998–2001 | Playtester, Star Wars CCG expansions from Jabba's Palace through Death Star II[3] |
Decipher recruited volunteer Squadron Members in the 1990s to promote SWCCG locally (tournaments, demos, player support).
Decipher
His own career summary gives the role as "Gold 41 - Volunteer and Playtesting for Star Wars CCG" at Decipher Inc., 1998–2001.[3] In it he taught the game to new players, hosted regular tournaments in his local community, assisted Decipher at trade shows, and playtested SWCCG expansions from Jabba's Palace through Death Star II, a run that includes Special Edition and Endor.[3] Outside the game he worked as an engineer.[1]
Anagrams
Tournament Results
| Date | Event | Format | Finish | Dark | Light |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 November 1999 | DecipherCon 1999 Iron Man (Sunday) | Iron Man | 3rd[6] | ||
| 12 November 1999 | DecipherCon 1999 Japanese Sealed Deck | Japanese Sealed Deck | 81st[7] | ||
| 12 November 1999 | DecipherCon 1999 Progressive Sealed Deck | Progressive Sealed Deck | 6th[8] | ||
| 11 November 1999 | 1999 Decipher World Championship (Wild Card) | Premiere - Endor | 31st[9] |
Photographs
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Mark Schaffer.
See also
- Squadron Members · Anagrams · Creators of SWCCG · Radio Free Decipher
- Corellian Engineering Corporation (fan site)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Star Wars CCG Squadrons: Gold 41 profile, decipher.com. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Squadron Members, Corellian Engineering Corporation fan site (geocities.ws/plarathas). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Mark Schaffer: Experience, LinkedIn, read 27 October 2026 (Experience: "Gold 41 - Volunteer and Playtesting for Star Wars CCG", Decipher Inc., "1998 – 2001"; "Playtested Star Wars CCG expansions Jabba's Palace through Death Star 2"). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
- ↑ Star Wars CCG Squadrons: Tatooine, decipher.com (listings August 1999 – January 2001). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
- ↑ Anagramed Decipherians at oocities.org (GeoCities mirror). Preserved copy: Internet Archive, 8 October 2026.
- ↑ DecipherCon 1999 – Event Scores: SW Iron Man, Decipher. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
- ↑ DecipherCon 1999 – Event Scores: Japanese Sealed Deck, Decipher. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
- ↑ DecipherCon 1999 – Event Scores: Progressive Sealed Deck, Decipher. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
- ↑ DecipherCon 1999 – Event Scores: 1999 SW Wildcard, Decipher. Preserved copy: Internet Archive