Babylon 5 CCG:
Basic Training article was included covering basic strategies, ideas for deck building, and an example deck, "Intriguing Possibilities":
Starting Hand:
1 Londo Mollari
1 Catherine Sakai
1 Defense in Depth
1 Picket Fleet
Aftermath:
1 Exploit Opportunities
1 Personal Involvement
1 Successful Manipulation
Agendas:
1 Infiltrate and Exploit
1 Knowledge is Power
Locations:
1 Centauri Beta I
1 Centauri Prime
1 Immolan V
1 Ragesh III
1 Tolonius VII
Characters:
1 Adira Tyree
1 Ambitious Captain
3 Centauri Agent
2 Centauri Telepath
1 Drigo
1 Emperor Turhan
2 Human Agent
1 Imperial Telepaths
1 Lady Morella
1 Lord Kiro
1 Lord Refa
1 Lyndisty
1 Mary Ann Cramer
2 Minbari Agent
1 Minister Malachi
2 Narn Agent
1 Urza Jaddo
1 Viz Cotto
1 Zath'ras
Group:
1 ISN
1 Ranger Operations
Conflict:
1 Attacking Pawns
1 Forced Impairment
1 Kidnapping
1 Prey On the Weak
Fleets:
1 Picket Fleet
2 Utility Fleet
Enhancements:
1 PPG Rifle
1 The Eye
Events:
3 Accident
3 Level the Playing Field
1 Political Realignment
1 Subliminal Influence
Legend of the Burning Sands:
"War By Attrition"
Stronghold:
The Hidden Keep Of The Assassins
City Sections:
1 Shadows Within the Walls
1 The Lands of the Senpet
1 The Merchant Quarter
1 The River Quarter
Holdings:
3 Belly Dancer
1 Blacksmith
3 Den of Inquiry
1 Doctor
1 Library
1 Spices
3 Wheat Fields
Followers:
1 Bodyguard
Story Card:
1 The Tale of the Last Raid
Actions:
3 Contest of Wills
3 Desert Spring
2 Faith
1 Jackal Ambush
3 Knife Fight
1 Let Him Bleed
3 Lost To The Sands
2 Poison
1 Qolat Master
2 Wisdom of the Stars
Items:
1 Black Steel Sword
2 Dhul Fiqar Knife
Heroes:
2 Adnan
3 Chandra
1 Eyeslicer
2 Faida
2 Fatima
2 Haroun
2 Old Man of the Mountain
2 Sabina
1 The Eye of Night
A theme deck was also included! This is called "Ever-Ready Heroes", where you basically are as aggressive as possible, without worrying, as your heroes will be available.
Stronghold:
The Empire of the Senpet
Heroes:
2 Caliph
2 Ghiyath
2 Indira
3 Nepherus
2 San'a
3 Tasir
City Sections:
1 Duqaq's School of Astronomy
1 Jewel of the Desert
1 Merchant Quarter
1 River Quarter
Holdings:
3 Belly Dancer
3 Copper Mine
3 Den of Inquity
3 Library
3 Spices
3 Wheat Fields
Actions:
3 Contest of Wills
3 Desert Spring
3 Knife Fight
3 One Dinari
3 Strange Bedfellows
2 The Sahir And the Goddess
3 Voice of the Ten Thousand Gods
Items:
2 Book of the Dead
Spells:
3 Curse of the Rot Within
3 Jinn of Desire
Magic the Gathering:
Killer Deck: Counter Phoenix
4 Bottle Gnomes
4 Nevinyrral's Disk
1 Capsize
4 Counterspell
4 Forbid
1 Force Spike
3 Intuition
2 Mana Leak
1 Recall
4 Shard Phoenix
2 Incinerate
4 Shock
13 Island
11 Mountain
3 Reflecting Pool
Sideboard:
2 Arcane Laboratory
1 Earthquake
2 Energy Field
3 Fylamarid
2 Hydroblast
3 Pyroblast
2 Shattering Pulse
Might be kind of fun, but feels realllllly slow. How's it going to handle surviving long enough to get those Shard Phoenixes dominating.
Non-Killer Theme Deck: Greek Mythology
Gods:
1 Autumn Willow (Artemis)
1 Errand of Duty (Hermes)
1 Hyperion Blacksmith (Hephaestus)
1 Ihsan's Shade (Hades)
1 Keeper Of The Light (Apollo)
1 Lady Caleria (Athena)
1 Lady Evangela (Aphrodite)
1 Lade Of The Mountain (Hera)
1 Lord of Atlantis (Poseidon)
1 Lord Of Tresserhorn (Zeus)
1 Renegade Warlord (Ares)
Monsters:
1 Beasts of Bogardan (Cerberus)
1 Brass-Talon Chimera
1 Centaur Archer
1 Hulking Cyclops
1 Hurloon Minotaur
1 Infernal Medusa
1 Mesa Pegasus
1 Mountain Titan
1 Petra Sphinx
1 Polar Kraken
1 Seasinger (Siren)
1 Rock Hydra
1 Screeching Harpy
1 Shanodin Dryads (Nymphs)
1 Thundering Giant
1 Willow Satyr
Events:
1 Armageddon
1 Coils of Medusa
1 Flood
1 Pegasus Stampede
1 Prophecy
1 Righteousness (Homer flavor text)
1 Siren's Call
1 Wrath of God (any one of them)
Lands:
3 Forest
3 Island
7 Mountain
1 Mountain Stronghold (Mount Olympus)
7 Plains
1 Reflecting Pool (Oracle)
3 Swamp
I always liked these theme decks. A fun change of pace from the standard 'win at all costs' style of deck.
Instructions on how to build a deck, in five steps. Theme, Colors, Creatures, Spells, Lands. They demonstrate by building a Life Gain deck (called "Alive and Kicking"):
1 Bottle Gnomes
1 Phyrexian Processor
1 Wall of Junk
1 Souldrinker
2 Hatred
2 Necropotence
1 Keeper Of the Light
1 Knight of Dawn
1 Order of the White Shield
1 Paladin en-Vec
1 Pegasus Charger
1 Sanctum Custodian
1 Sanctum Guardian
1 Serra Avatar
2 Soltari Priest
4 Soul Warden
2 Staunch Defenders
1 Wall of Essence
1 Angelic Chorus
2 Congregate
2 Disenchant
1 Healing Salve
2 Peace of Mind
1 Worthy Cause
2 Wrath of God
4 City of Brass
4 Drifting Meadow
11 Plains
5 Swamp
Top 10 Magic cards at the time:
- Stroke of Genius
- Cursed Scroll
- Time Spiral
- Dual Lands
- Armageddon
- Wrath of God
- Mox Diamond
- Serra Avatar
- Living Death
- Oath of Druids
Star Trek 1E:
Bill Chien's World Champion Star Trek Deck:
Seed Deck:
Facilities:
1 Chamber of Minister
Doorways:
1 Q's Tent
2 Space-Time Portal
1 HQ: Defensive Measures
Dilemmas:
2 Armus - Sticky Situation
1 Borg Ship Dilemma
2 Cardassian Trap
3 Common Thief
2 Dead End
6 Hippocratic Oath
1 Hologram Ruse
3 Make Us Go
1 Ooby Dooby
3 Q
1 Strict Dress Code
Q's Tent:
1 Assault Vessel
1 Dr. Soong
1 Genetronic Replicator
1 HQ: Secure Homeworld
1 Hugh
1 Intermix Ratio
1 Oof!
1 Regenerate
1 Revolving Door
1 Scorched Hand
1 The Devil
1 The Traveler: Transcendance
1 Treaty: Federation/Bajorn
Draw Deck:
1 Altovar
2 Amanda Rogers
1 Bareil Antos
1 Bajoran Interceptor
1 Dr. Soong
1 Kai Opaka
2 Kevin Uxbridge
5 Kivas Fajo
1 Mora Pol
4 Q's Tent
2 Q2
1 Regenerate
2 Revolving Door
5 Soong-Type Android
1 Shakaar Edon
1 Surmak Ren
1 The Emissary
1 The Traveler
5 Wormhole
2 Wrong Door
Missions:
1 Aid Fugitives
1 Alter Records
1 Orb Negotiations
1 Paxan Wormhole
1 Relocate Settlers
1 Wormhole Negotiations
My Thoughts: Well, this deck definitely wouldn't be legal anymore (the Dilemma amounts aren't allowed).
Star Wars CCG:
Matt Potter's World Champion Dark Side Deck:
Locations:
1 Eriadu
1 Desert
1 Forest
1 Jungle
1 Spaceport Docking Bay
1 Spaceport Prefect's Office
1 Spaceport City
1 Spaceport Street
1 Swamp
Objectives:
Imperial Occupation
Characters:
4 2X-7KPK
20 Eriadu Operatives
1 Ree-Yees
Creatures:
2 Bubo
Interrupts:
6 Abyssin Ornament
1 Control
3 Ghhhk
1 Lone Warrior
1 Moment Of Triumph
2 Monnok
1 Twi'lek Advistor
Effects:
1 3,720 to 1
1 Den of Thieves
4 Sunsdown
1 Well Guarded
My Thoughts: Using Eriadu Operatives seems like a pretty effective way to go about things- but I'm not sure how this would work in the current environment.
A series of articles outlining four basic strategies to make good decks for Star Wars was included. I'll include these decks:
"Land-Locked"
Locations:
1 Cloud City: Lower Corridor
1 Jabba's Palace: Entrance Cavern
2 Tatooine: Cantina
1 Tatooine: Jundland Wastes
1 Tatooine: Lars' Moisture Farm
2 Tatooine: Mos Eisley
1 Tatooine: Obi-Wan's Hutt (starting)
1 Tatooine: Tosche Station
Characters:
1 Chewbacca
1 Han Persona
1 Leia Persona
1 Luke Persona
1 Obi-Wan Persona
1 Tawss Khaa
Weapons/Devices:
1 Anakin's Lightsaber
1 Bionic Hand
1 Obi-Wan's Lightsaber
Interrupts:
3 Alter
4 Control
1 Don't Tread on Me
1 Gift of the Mentor
1 Han's Back
1 Leia's Back
1 Life Debt
2 Luke's Back
3 Nabrun Leids
2 Return of A Jedi
1 Rug Hug
3 Sense
1 Skywalkers
1 Smoke Screen
2 Sorry About The Mess
1 The Force Is Strong With This One
3 The Signal
3 Tunnel Vision
1 Warrior's Courage
2 Weapon Levitation
Effects:
1 Disarmed
1 Lightsaber Proficiency
1 Mantellian Savrip
1 Traffic Control
"Spaced-Out"
Locations:
3 Clouds
1 Corulag
1 Hoth
1 Kashyyyk
1 Kessel
1 Kiffex
1 Tatooine
1 Yavin IV (starting)
Characters:
1 Admiral Ozzel
1 Danz Borin
1 Darth Vader
1 DS-61-2
1 DS-61-3
1 DS-61-4
1 Grand Moff Tarkin
1 Lieutenant Cabbel
1 Officer Evax
1 OS-72-10
Startships:
1 Avenger
1 Bossk in Hound's Tooth
1 Devastator
2 Dreadnaught-Class Heavy Cruiser
1 Obsidian 7
1 Obsidian 8
2 Obsidian Squadron TIE
1 OS-72-1 in Obsidian 1
1 OS-72-2 in Obsidian 2
2 TIE Avenger
Interrupts:
4 Control
4 Dark Maneuvers
2 Gravity Shadow
4 Tallon Roll
3 Twi'lek Advisor
Effects:
1 Imperial Decree
2 Lateral Damage
2 Presence Of The Force
1 Reactor Terminal
1 There is No Try (starting)
2 There'll Be Hell To Pay
"Swamp Drain"
Locations:
4 Clouds
1 Dagobah (starting)
1 Dagobah: Bog Clearing
1 Dagobah: Jungle
1 Dagobah: Swamp
1 Dagobah: Training Area
1 Dagobah: Yoda's Hutt
Characters:
1 Figrin D'an
3 Ithorians
1 Obi-Wan Kenobi
1 Princess Leia
1 Son Of Skywalker
2 Tibana Gas Miners
1 Yoda
Starships:
2 Rebel Leaders
5 Z-95 Headhunter
Weapons/Devices:
1 Anakin's Lightsaber
2 Landing Claw
1 Obi-Wan's Lightsaber
Interrupts:
5 Control
2 Corellian Slip
3 It Could Be Worse
1 Luke's Back
3 The Signal
4 Tunnel Vision
1 Yoda, You Seek Yoda
Effects:
1 Do, Or Do Not (starting)
3 Encampment
1 Lightsaber Proficiency
1 Reflection
2 Revolution
Jedi Test:
1 A Jedi's Strength
1 Great Warrior
"Force of Nature"
Locations:
1 Dagobah: Cave
1 Death Star
1 Jabba's Palace: Audience Chamber
1 Jabba's Palace: Droid Workshop
1 Jabba's Palace: Dungeon
1 Jabba's Palace: Entrance Cavern
1 Jabba's Palace: Rancor Pit
1 Tatooine: Jabba's Palace (starting)
Characters:
1 Bane Malar
1 Boba Fett
1 Djas Phur
5 Eg-6
2 EV-9D9
2 Gailid
3 Gamorrean Guard
1 Jabba the Hutt
2 M'iiyoom Onith
1 Prophetess
1 Zuckuss
Interrupts:
5 A Dangerous Time
3 Monnok
6 Scanning Crew
2 Surprise
4 Twi'lek Advisor
5 Voyeur
Effects:
1 Broken Concentration
1 Expand the Empire (starting)
2 Presence Of The Force
1 Reactor Terminal
1 Resistance
1 Scum and Villainy
Ten Best CCGs of All Time:
I love top ten lists! This one is is about the top ten by quality
- Magic: The Gathering
- Deadlands: Doomtown
- Legend of the Five Rings
- Star Wars CCG
- Middle-Earth
- Mythos
- Babylon 5
- Netrunner
- Vampire: The Eternal Struggle
- Kult
Top Ten CCGs:
- Magic: The Gathering
- Star Wars CCG
- Legend of the Five Rings
- Star Trek CCG
- Battletech
- Babylon 5 CCG
- Doomtown
- Aliens/Predator
- Rage
- Highlander
Final Thoughts:
Lots of good stuff in this issue. A great mix of CCGs, decks for a variety of games. Just a good all-around read