Being a look back at cards from the Star Trek CCG, and what I thought of them back when they were fresh and new... in EPISODE order. And finally, the big gun from the episode...
PICTURE: While the "J'accuse"-type pose is perfect, the Victorian mists have sadly made this pic dark and gray. Data looks too shiny in his high-contrast state. Disappointing stuff, I must say, but due to technical issues. Drops to a 2.7.
LORE: Shortened lore caused by too much game text, it's just okay. Arthur Conan Doyle at least gets a credit. An ordinary 3.
TREK SENSE: Same old problem with holo-personae - are we to believe that Data would ever take on this role over the course of a mission (I'm not sure the one time with the pipe and Agatha Christie speeches counts)? That he would work with any affiliation as a result (since the "real" Holmes belonged to no affiliation)? That some of his skills would disappear (as well as his staffing icon) so immersed he would be in the role? (At least Data can theoretically compartmentalize his mind to create this effect.) It's not like he's statted out as Sherlock Holmes only, who I doubt had Computer Skill. On the same note, all attributes are at Data's level, since 1) he's not that good an actor, and 2) his android mind and body are irrepressible. Apparently. He and Holmes share a talent for the violin, i.e., Music. Holmes showed some knowledge of plants and general Biology, and though Physics is less appropriate, it's nonetheless credible (just not the kind of warp engine Physics we're used to). The real Holmes might have had Anthropology, but Data has trouble with understanding humanity, so no go. So as far as attributes and skills go, the card borrows from one persona and another. The special skill? A mechanical affair that could simply be summed up as Data being the equal of any opponent he might come across. He's immensely resourceful, and the same can be said of Sherlock Holmes in the stories. Bah, kinda dull, really. With other problems, that gets us to a merely okay 2.5.
STOCKABILITY: A Non-Aligned android with very high attributes that you can download to any ship or facility with a Holodeck thanks to 221B Baker Street? That should be enough to attract attention. But there's more, of course. He triggers John Watson's special skill, allowing you to discard your hand at the start of your turn, and then redrawing it with Holmes's special skill. For more card manipulation, he counts as "any Data" for All Threes. In the absence of any combo, the special skill simply gets you some card draws as you "even up" with your opponent. Sometimes useful, but no game breaker. He has three useful skills, and the less stellar Music and CIVILIAN, but being an android is probably the better feature when dealing with dilemmas and other cards. As a version of Data, he can be swapped with other Datas when you don't need the even-up ability (perhaps after the easy first turn reporting noted above). The Federation and Romulans each have their versions (the Romulan one also requires a Picard, while the Feds have access to 4 in all with early 2E in the mix), which are pumped up on skills and may command the Sutherland. For other affiliations, there's always Carlos, though he's got little to do unless you own the ultra-rare Dixon Hill. Even if you're not into card manipulation, an easy android of his caliber that plays in any deck is certainly useful. A 4.2.
TOTAL: 12.4 (62%) Certainly no Moriarty.
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