15 Years of ST:CCG - Looking Forward to European Organized Play Season 2009

by Thorsten Wanek, European Organized Play Coordinator

24th May 2009

In 1994, the game with the tongue-breaking name -- Star Trek: The Next Generation Customizable Card Game -- was introduced, and since could uphold its popularity with a faithful community of players. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, but certainly most will agree that 2009 was not one of the lesser years!

With a flourish, ST:CCG started into the new year; Raise the Stakes brought us 90 new virtual cards and changed the meta game considerably. For the first time since First Edition's Warp Speed League, there has been league play in Germany: The German State League brought a total of 34 contestants and proved to be a tough race for the league victory this year.

Also almost done is the Regional season, where participants were delighted with the first ever virtual promo card exclusively available at Regionals. Regional pins and the original Decipher promo Earth (Lush and Beautiful Home) also enlightened the Regional season. Whoever couldn’t make it so far should register for the tournaments in Limerick and Hamburg!

And finally this year, three big events are on the schedule which no player in Germany will want to miss: The German Championship in Kassel, the European Championship in Potsdam and the Grand Prix Convention in Celle. All three events already have dates fixed and rooms have been reserved for those who would like a good night’s sleep (or the chance of last minute deck building and test games) in addition to gaming 'round the clock.

On 20th and 21st of June, the eighth German ST:CCG Championship will take place in Kassel. Players of all "couleur" are welcome to this important community happening. Old friendships renewed, new strategies explored and those last few cards missing in your collection may finally be traded! Two fine days of alternative vacation - a gaming experience only interrupted by a quick trip to the Italian next door or the Coffee Shop around the corner where they make a mean ice coffee to celebrate the sunny temperatures.

And while special prizes are already the norm, this year there will be a special rule: proxy cards of all expansions will be allowed! Now every player has the same cards available and only the skill will decide who will earn the most prestigious of all German titles. Who will become the German champion?!

Then, from 7th to 9th of August, the European Championship (EC) in Potsdam. The suspense is high: will the Czechs dominate again? Will the Biermeister again be someone from Ireland or England? The EC is worldwide, the tournament with participants from the most countries (by far!) and something so mesmerizing you may think you're in Quark's bar during happy hour. Strategy, skill and suspense of the highest degree. Book your flight today!

And the final event of the season will again be the Grand Prix Convention in Celle, from 9th to 11th of October. Here, the fun factor has higher priority than at the other big events, but apart from the various side-events, you may meet (and play against) some of the top players of the world. Until you have played the legendary After Midnight sealed deck 'til the bitter end, you can't call yourself a real ST:CCG maniac. Or the team play tournament, where the game seems a completely new invention! No other event fascinates as the Grand Prix and demands such creative, mental and physical performance. Become part of the legend!

ST:CCG celebrates its 15th birthday. We can cure the hangover in 2010.

-djl-