"HAVING AN EFFECT ON PLAYERS WORLDWIDE"

Patrick Sullivan
2000-12-05

Q. Since the first set of (SW or YJ : Whichever apply) all the way too today have you been a great deck builder? What keeps you coming up with ideas, and what are some?

I'm not the best "inspirational" deck builder but once I have a design I'm very good at editing it and focusing it and constantly playtesting it until it's ready for top play.
Young Jedi is not as intense as Wars when it comes to deck building -- moreso than people would give it credit for -- but while Wars can sometimes come down to the one card you didn't put in, YJ generally is a toss up for what do you put in. Combinations are very important and having just the right mixture is key.

Q. Who so far would you consider your toughest opponant and why?

Jonathan Dunn. Not only is he a friend but a great player as well. It's always been tough playing him because we're both competitive with the rest of the playing field, but we never like to play tough with one another and so it's hard to find a balance.

Q. What would you consider how to build a strong deck, and is it the same style for each deck you build?

YJ comes down to power and the availability of that power. Quick deploy is awesome but quick deploy and average to high power is better. Whenever I go to build a deck, I always check combinations...does this character have a personal weapon that can be used by all characters, does this character have a battle card which can be played in any order of the battle plan, can this character fight together with anyone...questions such as these, which are important in eliminating neat but otherwise extraneous strategies.

Q. Why did you decide to start playing (SW or YJ : Whichever apply) ?

I started playing YJ because Wars was getting too intense for me. I wasn't having fun playing because everyone worried about rating and winning all the time. I wanted a game where the players were more important than the game and YJ has turned out to be that game.
Back in the day, I had a choice of either becoming a Squadron Member or a Jedi Council Member and were it not for some other directors in my area getting named as SMs, I might have gone that route, but YJ has been very good to me. A rewarding community and pleasant playing atmosphere is proof enough that I made the right choice.

Q. What are your thoughts of The Forth Coming sets and games from Decipher.

Well, we've just seen the release of Duel of the Fates and scheduled next is Enhanced Battle of Naboo to be followed at some point by Boonta Eve Podrace. I really like Duel and the direction the game is going. I've always been a big supporter of YJ's growing complexity and while there are still those who say it's not for the best, hopefully more people are coming around to the idea. The game is growing and the increased mechanics and combinations are making for some interesting game play, which is for the best. Enhanced Naboo will see some more 6 destiny characters, I'm sure, and from them I'd expect some deck shifts. The new Shmi card will also give everyone something to think about -- do I still go with the Thanks, Artoo! combo or do I switch to Anakin - Shmi? Of course, the big expansion will be Boonta Eve and podracing and I'm very excited about that.
All in all, I like the way the game is heading and the work Decipher is doing.

Q. Can you tell us how what decks are your favorite?

My traditional LS deck is an Anakin-R2, Thanks, Artoo! combo. I've been playing that since BoN came out and it's done very well over the past year.
DS has switched around. I've played Tanks (who hasn't?), Senators, Sebulba, and Maul. Each of these has done me good but I think my favorite of those is Sebulba. A very elegant and efficient deck.

Q. Do you think they are the best decks for the Tournament Scene right now?

Nope. Duel has changed things quite a bit. Anakin is still playable but there's much more pressure up front for him to work. I've had too many close games with him lately and all of them have come down to Anakin drawing himself out. I believe Shmi could help this, so I am intrigued to see Anakin make a come-back.
Sebulba is sort of floating right now. Too many LS non-unique decks with speed for him to get an advantage. Panaka is especially brutal, but only because of hte battle card. I think Sebulba still has a chance, but with heavy refinements.
Maul is DOA unless you have five UR Maul's...not quite there yet. :) Any other Maul just gets dueled to death and it's never fun losing a planet because your main man just got sliced and diced.
Senators just get hosed by LS non-uniques. Not even a fair fight.

Q. Will you be using something similar for the Events coming up and next years events?

I'm assuming the question is about Regionals and Opens? If that's the case, I doubt very much I'll be using the same decks as they are now. I'm quite certain that Anakin will still be very tough come next summer, especially with Boonta Eve released. Maul will always be tough for the DS. As for Sebulba, I expect him to get bumped up along with Anakin. Senators are fading and will continue to do so unless they get some sort of boost...enhanced JC perhaps?


Q. Who's your toughest opponant in your area and why?

Jonathan Dunn is certainly tough, as is Jeremy Baker (two-time YJ Finalist) and Jeff Kahan (Finalist this year). Jeremy's a great player who doesn't get much attention despite his ability to build amazingly complex and strategic decks. He's a top rate player who knows how to compete under pressure and give himself the chance for victory.
Jeff, likewise, has the raw ability to perform at the highest levels. His game is very focused and intense and his demeanor can get unnerving sometimes.

Finishing up! Thanks for the interview and I hope other players can learn something off what you told me today.

Thanks for the questions, Avery. Talk later.

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