SWCCG Memorabilia

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Grand Moff Tarkin card T-shirt, for tournament directors only.[1]

SWCCG memorabilia is the apparel, prizes and promotional material made around the Star Wars Customizable Card Game, apart from the cards and their packaging. From 1996 to 2001 Decipher gave tournament players and directors card T-shirts, pins, patches, medals, bags, binders and trophies. It also sent posters and sales sheets to stores and mailed holiday cards to staff and close associates. It issued tournament-organizer kits and made about 250 Executive Gift Sets for Lucasfilm and Decipher executives.[1][2][3][4] Since 2002 the Players Committee has awarded its own trophies, pins, uncut sheets and other prizes. After the license ended, leftover Decipher stock reached the Players Committee, retailers and third-party repacks.[5][4]

Apparel

Card T-shirts

Decipher card T-shirts were tournament prizes from 1996. Each showed a card on the front and the SWCCG logo on the sleeve; the back read "Never Underestimate the Power of the Force". Most were white cotton in XL.[1][6] At sanctioned events, the first prize was one of these shirts. Tournament directors received a Grand Moff Tarkin shirt as a thank-you for running events.[6]

Shirt Given to
Darth Vader (Premiere) Tournament prize; two versions (border blended with the art, and a reprint with a black border)
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Premiere) Tournament prize; two versions (silver border, and a reprint with a black border)
Leia Organa (Premiere) Tournament prize
Grand Moff Tarkin (Premiere) Tournament directors only
R2-D2 (A New Hope) Tournament prize
General Veers (Hoth) Tournament prize
Yoda (Dagobah) Tournament prize
C-3PO (Premiere) 1996 Worlds only; reprinted for tournaments with a 1998 copyright
Millennium Falcon (Premiere) 1996 Worlds and web contest winners; reprinted for tournaments with a 1998 copyright
Jabba The Hutt (Jabba's Palace) Tournament prize
Shawn Valdez (Hoth) Shawn Valdez Memorial Tournaments only
Luke Skywalker (Premiere) Mentor Tournament Series winners; 80 made
Gift Of The Mentor (Premiere) Mentor Tournament Series mentors; 80 made
Boba Fett (Cloud City) Cloud City Tournament Series; 200 made
Darth Vader, Dark Lord Of The Sith (Special Edition) Bespin & Beyond Tournament; 200 made
Emperor Palpatine (Death Star II) Death Star II and Endor tournament directors and DecipherCon 2000; 100 made
Lord Vader (Death Star II) DecipherCon 2000 and 2002 tournament winners; 100 made
Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight (Death Star II) DecipherCon 2000 and 2002 tournament winners; 100 made

Event and staff shirts

Marcus Certa in the DecipherCon '99 shirt. Photo: Decipher.
Year Shirt Given to
1997 World Championship Finalist 1997 Decipher World Championship finalists
1998 SWCCG Finalist, white Two to each of the 55 World Championship qualifiers[1]
1998 Decipher Customizable Card Group, black Volunteers running SWCCG, Young Jedi, Jedi Knights and Star Trek demos[1]
1998 Official Tournament Sealed Deck "1998 Pre-Release Tournament Winner", white Pre-release winners[1]
1999 SWCCG Finalist, black World Championship qualifiers (about 120 made)[1]
1999 Decipher Demo Crew 1999, black Convention demo volunteers[1]
1999 Shawn Valdez '99, black long-sleeved Tournament directors, buyers and donors at the Shawn Valdez fundraisers[1]
1999 Decipher Tournament Director, white Every new 1999 and 2000 SWCCG tournament director[1]
1999 DecipherCon '99, black Attendees; a separate staff shirt went to all staff and volunteers[1]
2000 DecipherCon2K Attendees; a tan staff shirt went to all staff and volunteers[1]
2008 Mara Jade (Light Side) Two to the Sealed Deck team tournament winners at the 2008 Match Play Championship[7]
2013 Grievous, Hunter Of Jedi 2013 U.S. Nationals[7]

Squadron and team shirts

Jim Colson Gold 5 Squadron Member shirt. Still: BoardMatt.[8]

About 90 elite tournament directors in Decipher's Rebel Squadron received black golf shirts embroidered with their squadron (Gold or Red) and Squadron number. After the 1996 season Decipher sent them "Tour of Duty" patches to add to the shirts.[6] Jim Colson's Gold 5 shirt is a black polo embroidered GOLD 5, with a Rebel Alliance roundel and STAR WARS CCG GOLD SQUAD.[8]

Players also made their own team shirts. Martin Terwilliger printed red shirts with "Team Albany" on the front for Team Albany at DecipherCon 2000.[9] Alan Rimmel made Team OK-UK shirts whose back read "DecipherCon 2k - Came to drink."[10]

Caps

A Decipher Customizable Card Group cap is embroidered "DECIPHER CUSTOMIZABLE CARD GROUP" on the front and "THE ART OF GREAT GAMES®" on the back.[11]

Holiday cards

1997 Decipher Christmas card fold-out.[12][4]

Decipher mailed Christmas cards to staff and close associates. The 1997 card folds out as a tree of cards. Its printed line reads "On the twelfth day of Christmas Decipher sent to me," and its verses include "Ten Banthas marching."[12][4] A later card (1998 or 1999) is a staff group photograph with a name legend on the back; signed copies exist. People on that photograph include Warren Holland, Chuck Kallenbach, Jerry Darcy, Rob Burns and Rick Edelman.[4]

Lucasfilm and executive items

Executive Gift Set box.[3]

The Executive Gift Set (2001) was made as a gift for Lucasfilm and Decipher executives. Decipher produced about 250. Each white box with a black top carries the SWCCG logo and "Decipher – The Art of Great Games" embossed in gold. It holds a cut set of Premiere Limited in reverse sheet order (almost two complete sets) and an Unlimited starter rulebook, with no unique cards. Most were never given out, and they reached the secondary market after Decipher lost the license.[3] According to Andy Talaga, the first copies went out unsealed at a Christmas party in 1997 or 1998. He says the sets were never factory-sealed, and Wild Things Games of Salem, Oregon, resealed leftover stock. He describes a production-ratio cut (1× R1, 2× R2, U1/U2, C1/C2/C3 Stormtrooper and Rebel Trooper) plus a rulebook and filler.[4]

Decipher made a special promotional card to show Lucasfilm, the Location •Skywalker Ranch. It is not a playtest card.[13] Its game text reads "If you occupy, Decipher gets the CCG license here."[14] Decipher's July 2000 presentation to Lucasfilm proposed World Championship prizes and George Lucas signature cards.[15]

Tournament prizes

Decipher era

At the 1996 Decipher World Championship, regional champions received large glass trophies, the 12 finalists received trophies bearing the Rebel logo, and the World Champion received a large silver platter.[6] The grand prize was a trip to the Tunisian filming locations of Tatooine. Raphael Asselin and his tournament director Francis Lalumiere left on 1 May 1997, led by David West Reynolds.[16] Philipp Jacobs, the 1997 champion, won a 10-day trip to Washington, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.[17] His fellow 1997 finalists received embroidered World Championship Finalist prizes.[18]

Early tournaments gave away free tin tab pins, one Rebel and one Imperial. Other prizes included a "Tournament Player" keychain reading "A Force to Be Reckoned With", Pre-Release Player badges, binders, bags, plates, glass trophies, medals and patches. One bag was made to hold an Anthology box.[2] A 2×3 in. "Ask Me About Star Wars CCG" badge (1995) was worn by Decipher or retail representatives.[19] Rebel Squadron directors received black backpacks embroidered with their squadron, two boxes of each expansion on release, and a pewter medal with the Rebel logo.[6] A glass 1999 Decipher World Championship trophy is etched "1999 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP".[20] A tournament poker chip carries a gold emblem.[2] Level 1 events used an "A Moment of Triumph" first-place certificate.[21]

The 1998 Decipher World Championship was held on 20–22 November 1998 at the Cavalier Hotel, Virginia Beach. Its grand prize was an all-expense-paid trip and VIP pass to Star Wars Celebration at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver, 30 April–2 May. Each of the 56 players received a complete set of Special Edition. Matt Potter won; a trophy case stood in the hotel, and the champion received a medal from Carol Wisely, Decipher's vice-president of marketing, and a handshake from Warren Holland.[22]

For 2000, Decipher replaced its state, provincial and national trophies with more than 500 trophy binders: custom four-pocket binders, each foil-stamped with the event and "Champion" or "Runner-up".[23] State Champions received their promotional foils in the binder.[24] Decipher also awarded plaques. Paul Todd Feldman kept a 1999 Decipher Champ plaque from the DecipherCon 1999 Team Event.[25] The 2000 Decipher World Championship winner received a World Champion plaque.

Players Committee era

In April 2002 Decipher donated more than $1 million in product and promotional material to the Players Committee for prize support. It included over 100 variations of uncut sheets and sets of nearly every promotional foil.[5] Angelo Consoli won $5,000 and a trophy at the 2002 World Championship.[26]

The 2023 Retro League awarded a Premiere Dark Side rare uncut sheet and snap pins.[27][28] The 2023 Beezer Bowl gave original paintings.[29] The reigning Ohio State Champion holds the "King of Ohio" title belt.[30]

Tournament kits and store stickers

Decipher issued a tournament organizer kit (April 1996 Release). It held an Organizer's Guide, a Tournament Rule Systems booklet, a tournament binder, a "Decipher tournament organizer V.01" CD-ROM, a Command Card scoresheet and a Tournament Sheet.[31][32] Some kits included a xerox of the 1 May 1996 FAQ.[33] The kit was also issued as a sealed packet.[34] The Command Card is the event scoresheet; see Tournaments. Stores received a reversed window sticker reading "Sold Here!" for the shop glass, and a gold "STAR WARS CUSTOMIZABLE CARD GAME TOURNAMENT" sticker.[31][35][4]

Deck boxes

In 1996 Decipher made empty character deck boxes, 4×4×3 in., with Luke Skywalker, Boba Fett, C-3PO, Leia Organa and Jabba the Hutt. These are smaller than the 300-card Official Tournament Sealed Deck boxes of 1998.[36] The Star Wars Collectors Archive also lists a Premiere Darth Vader tournament deck box and Jabba's Palace tournament deck boxes, including Salacious Crumb.[37][38]

Posters and retail material

Premiere store poster.[39]

Decipher made a four-panel poster (about 32″ × 10.5″) for every expansion from Premiere through Death Star II. The Premiere poster's back is blank; the others carry the expansion's card list, and Death Star II's adds a pre-constructed deck.[40] Each set hub shows its poster. Folded copies were mailed to stores; rolled copies were given at conventions. Special Edition exists only folded.[4]

Larger store posters followed:[39]

Science Fiction Age (September 1996) included a smaller A New Hope poster.[41]

Retailers received a sales sheet previewing each new expansion.[42] From Dagobah onward every expansion, revised set, Enhanced Premiere, Enhanced Cloud City, anthology and Official Tournament Sealed Deck used this sell-sheet format, with MSRP, product number, UPC, ISBN and pack contents. According to Andy Talaga, the Dagobah Limited and Cloud City Limited sheets were printed mainly for staff at trade shows, and fewer than five of each are known. From Jabba's Palace on, he says, the sheets were compiled into distributor binders.[4]

Premiere clip-art ad illustrations sheet.[12]

Decipher also issued a Premiere "CLIP ART AD ILLUSTRATIONS" sheet of black-and-white starter, booster and logo art for retailer ads.[12] A 1998 catalog kit held SWCCG material, a CD-ROM demo and flyers in a folder.[43]

Decipher's ads ran in Scrye, InQuest and Star Wars Insider, in comics and in mailings to distributors and customers. In 1996 an ad for the Premiere Introductory Two-Player Game was packed with Kenner/Hasbro Star Wars toys.[44]

Pre-release pamphlet

Experience the Force pamphlet, 1995. Still: BoardMatt.[4]

Experience the Force is a pre-launch pamphlet from summer 1995. The back names a first release of December 1995 and shows Luke's Speeder and a Stormtrooper. The interior describes a 324-card Premiere set, printed by Cartamundi of Belgium on heavy card stock with black-foil gold logos.[4]

Magazine inserts

InQuest 38 Force Playmat.[41]

InQuest 38 (June 1998) came with a paper "Force Playmat" that cut in half into a Dark Side mat (Darth Vader's Meditation Chamber) and a Light Side mat (Yoda's Hut). Scrye included a 40-page players guide with game text for Premiere through Dagobah (August 1997). In January 1998 it added a booklet of the A New Hope through Cloud City rules supplements.[41] Oversized card inserts are on Oversized cards.

Convention items

Besides the DecipherCon shirts, DecipherCon 2000 pre-registrants received a foil Corellian Corvette or Imperial-Class Star Destroyer.[24] At conventions, customers who spent more than $20 at the Decipher Store received a 5″ × 7″ oversized card.[45] Guests such as Shannon Baksa and Michonne Bourriague signed cards at DecipherCon (see Oversized cards).

Decipher hung oversized card images with velcro tabs on booth walls at Gen Con, Origins and the GAMA trade show. Surviving pieces include a roughly 2 ft × 2 ft Collision and an oversized Chewbacca that came from Jim Colson.[4] Colson kept vinyl velcro copies of a Death Star system card and Chewbacca from those walls.[46] He also kept a Special Edition vinyl booth card of a Dark Side capital starship.[47] A Rebel Leader tournament business card for Kendrick Summers has an order of battle on the back.[48]

Production proofs

Cartamundi printed proof sheets on thin vinyl-like stock (half a card, front only) and mailed them to Decipher in Norfolk for mark-up. An A New Hope locations proof sheet reached collectors with the giant Collision, from a former Decipher vice president of marketing.[4] See Playtest cards.

Leftover stock

After the license ended on 31 December 2001, leftover Decipher inventory left Norfolk besides the April 2002 Players Committee donation. Wild Things Games of Salem, Oregon, acquired Decipher's replacement-card backstock: trays of every card, including Alternate Images, foils and ultra rares, plus uncut sheets.[4] Uncut sheets are on Aftermarket and collecting. Hills Wholesale sold leftover sealed product.[4] It still lists leftover factory trays of commons.[50] Third parties bundled leftover packs into mass-market window boxes; see Unofficial repackaged products. Jim Colson visited Norfolk as a Players Committee representative while the offices were cleared. He found a pile of playtest cards, miscuts and rejects, and took a few boxes for the committee.[51]

Delaminated card metal layer. Still: BoardMatt.[52]

Colson showed a delaminated card whose metal layer had separated from the stock.[52]

Unreleased relics

Before the license ended, Decipher consulted Colson about relic cards containing cut film cells, and it had discussed selling factory-graded cards. Neither shipped.[53] See Unreleased cards.


Collector sealed packs


Players Committee logos

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 SWCCG Collecting Encyclopedia 3.2, pp. 188–189 (T-Shirts). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 SWCCG Collecting Encyclopedia 3.2, p. 190 (Tournament Items – Prizes and Promotional Giveaways). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 SWCCG Collecting Encyclopedia 3.2, p. 109 (Executive Gift Set). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 Star Wars CCG - Most Interesting and Strangest Things in Our Collections with Special Guest Andy, BoardMatt with Andy Talaga (29 May 2022). Preserved copy: Internet Archive; Internet Archive item.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Star Wars PC Gets Generous Decipher Donation, TheForce.Net (7 May 2002). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 CCG Tournament Backpack, Gregg Keefer, Star Wars Collectors Archive. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Star Wars CCG Collecting Encyclopedia 2.0, Players Committee (July 2015), p. 33. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Star Wars CCG INSIDER Stories, History & Collector Tips from the legend Jim Colson, BoardMatt, YouTube (24 April 2022), at 2:34. Preserved copy: Internet Archive; Internet Archive item.
  9. ↑ sokols-dcon-2000-report, Matt Sokol, Decktech (11 October 2000). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  10. ↑ deciphercon-2000-juz-beer-and-cards, Alex "Greedo" Tennet, Decktech (13 October 2000). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Decipher Customizable Card Group cap, Ivan Kanner, Star Wars CCG Facebook group. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 SWCCG Collecting Encyclopedia 3.2, p. 169 (Print Campaigns; 1997 Christmas fold-out and Premiere clip-art ad sheet). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  13. ↑ Bill Bisco, personal communication, 21 October 2026.
  14. ↑ SWCCG Collecting Encyclopedia 3.2, Players Committee (4 May 2026), p. 3. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  15. ↑ Excerpts from Decipher's July 2000 Presentation to Lucasfilm, decipher.com (Wayback, 2 June 2002)
  16. ↑ Journey to Tatooine, starwarslocations.com (17 April 1997). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  17. ↑ Philipp Jacobs interview, Trandosite (24 August 2000)
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 That one time I played in the Star Wars card game world championship, Eric Berger, Ars Technica (5 December 2015). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Ask Me About Star Wars CCG, Pete Vilmur, Star Wars Collectors Archive (2×3 in., 1995). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 1999 World Championship glass trophy, Ray Bordier, Star Wars CCG Facebook group. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  21. ↑ SW: CCG Level 1 Tournament 'A Moment of Triumph' 1st Place Finish Certificate, Duncan Jenkins, Star Wars Collectors Archive (1996). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Ryan Morris, "The Thrill of Victory", Star Wars Insider #43, pp. 64–65 (1998 World Championship, 20–22 November 1998, Virginia Beach). Scan: Star Wars Insider Magazines (1 to 153 + Specials), Internet Archive. Facebook photographs, Preserved copy: Internet Archive (p. 64); Internet Archive (p. 65)
  23. ↑ Decipher State/National/Provincial Prize Information, Kyle Heuer, TheForce.Net (8 December 2000). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 SWCCG Collecting Encyclopedia 3.2, Players Committee (4 May 2026), p. 34. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  25. ↑ SWCCG PDS2: DRTORCH Worlds Finalist 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000 Interview (BillBisco2, 29 May 2025; auto-captions). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  26. ↑ World Championship Results announced, TheForce.Net (3 November 2002). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  27. ↑ Retro League Set to Return for Second Installment, starwarsccg.org. Preserved copy: Internet Archive.
  28. ↑ PRIZE SUPPORT: 2023 Retro League, forum.starwarsccg.org. Preserved copy: Internet Archive.
  29. ↑ East Hampton, Connecticut: First Annual Beezer Bowl, Players Committee forum (frodolight, 24 November 2023). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  30. ↑ rsersen's Ohio Mega Worlds 2024 TR, Players Committee forum (rsersen, 7 November 2024). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 31.6 Star Wars CCG Misc., Pirate Pete CCG. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Decipher Star Wars CCG Tournament Kit Contents, Pirate Pete CCG. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Decipher Star Wars CCG Tournament Kit Contents and FAQ, Pirate Pete CCG (FAQ published 1 May 1996). Preserved copy: Internet Archive. Image snapshot: Internet Archive
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Decipher Star Wars CCG Tournament Kit Packet Sealed, Pirate Pete CCG. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Decipher Star Wars CCG Store Window Sticker, Pirate Pete CCG. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  36. ↑ Deck Tournament Box - Jabba the Hutt (Empty), Noble Knight Games (1996, 4×4×3 in.). Preserved copy: Internet Archive. Star Wars CCG - Booster Packs & Boxes lists empty Luke Skywalker, Boba Fett, C-3PO, Leia Organa and Jabba the Hutt boxes.
  37. ↑ Premiere Edition, Tournament Deck Box, Darth Vader, Star Wars Collectors Archive. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  38. ↑ Jabba's Palace, Tournament Deck Box, Salacious Crumb, Duncan Jenkins, Star Wars Collectors Archive (empty box for the sealed deck, 2000). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 SWCCG Collecting Encyclopedia 3.2, pp. 143–151 (Other Posters). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  40. ↑ SWCCG Collecting Encyclopedia 3.2, pp. 134–142 (Four-Panel Posters). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 SWCCG Collecting Encyclopedia 3.2, pp. 183–187 (Magazine Coverage). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  42. ↑ SWCCG Collecting Encyclopedia 3.2, pp. 110–133 (Sales Sheets). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  43. ↑ Decipher 1998 Catalog Kit, Duncan Jenkins, Star Wars Collectors Archive (SW CCG, CD-ROM demo, flyers in folder). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  44. ↑ SWCCG Collecting Encyclopedia 3.2, pp. 165–182 (Print Campaigns; Kenner/Hasbro insert p. 168). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  45. ↑ SWCCG Collecting Encyclopedia 3.2, p. 108. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 Star Wars CCG INSIDER Stories, History & Collector Tips from the legend Jim Colson, BoardMatt, YouTube (24 April 2022), at 19:42. Preserved copy: Internet Archive; Internet Archive item
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 Star Trek CCG INSIDER Stories, History & Collector Tips from the legend Jim Colson, BoardMatt, YouTube (9 April 2023), at 39:32. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  48. ↑ Business Card, Duncan Jenkins, Star Wars Collectors Archive (Kendrick Summers Rebel Leader, SW CCG Tournament, order of battle on back). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  49. ↑ Star Wars CCG INSIDER Stories, History & Collector Tips from the legend Jim Colson, BoardMatt, YouTube (24 April 2022), at 1:00:09. Preserved copy: Internet Archive; Internet Archive item
  50. ↑ Star Wars Card Games Products, Hill's Wholesale Gaming (Cloud City Light Side Commons Factory Tray). Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  51. ↑ Star Wars CCG INSIDER Stories, History & Collector Tips from the legend Jim Colson, BoardMatt, YouTube (24 April 2022), at 23:56. Preserved copy: Internet Archive
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 Star Wars CCG INSIDER Stories, History & Collector Tips from the legend Jim Colson, BoardMatt, YouTube (24 April 2022), at 22:53. Preserved copy: Internet Archive; Internet Archive item
  53. ↑ Star Wars CCG INSIDER Stories, History & Collector Tips from the legend Jim Colson, BoardMatt, YouTube (24 April 2022), at 39:27. Preserved copy: Internet Archive