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. The actual Dauphin from "The Dauphin"...
PICTURE: One of the great things about being a shape-shifter, apparently, is the ability to perfectly match one's clothes to one's lipstick color. But seriously folks... Though I've often bashed beige TNG backgrounds, this one has interesting linework (more liquid and thus more appropriate) and is much darker, lending itself well to other earth tones present. I don't like the plunging neckline here (you won't hear me say that often) because it oversaturates the image with the bright pink of her skin. Just too much contrast there. In all, I give a 3.5.
LORE: Lots of information given in telegraphic style. Nothing really captures the imagination, though, of course, I appreciate the fact she's a shape-shifter, I like how she hasn't yet united her people (we never do find out what happens to these guest stars), and I see "romantically involved" has here been supplanted by the more adolescent "likes". That's all good enough for a 3.6.
TREK SENSE: Being the leader of a world certainly warrants the VIP, Diplomacy and Leadership. I think the Anthropology and Exobiology should be quite useful to a shape-shifter, especially one that could move about so easily aboard a human ship and one who was probably trained in such matters from birth. You need Youth to fall for Wesley Crusher, but she also admitted to her young age (it's not just appearances). And the attributes? They all look fine, even the high Strength given that her girlish form is a bit deceptive. (Though if she was so strong as a young woman, why turn into a Guardian-like beast when she wanted to fight? Even stronger there, I imagine.) There's really nothing wrong with Salia, and I can't even whine about the lack of a special download since she didn't do anything card-worthy with her powers for the entire episode. Still, no real sparks, so a conservative 4.2 for her.
STOCKABILITY: Five skills, high enough attributes AND a Non-Aligned shape-shifter everyone can use? She'd be pretty good if it was only that, but she's more. At first glance, she can fit in many affiliations' decks thanks to her common and highly redundant skills (Diplomacy, Leadership) and rarer dilemma-passing ones (Exobiology, Anthropology). Though demur, she can lead your forces into battle and won't be defenseless herself. Throw in some shape-shifting cards for further abilities. She can expose infiltrators with Caught Red-Handed, escape death with Flight of the Intruder, morph from an Equipment card with In the Bag, stun opposing personnel with Strike Three, boost her STRENGTH with The Guardian, and avoid personnel battles with You Dirty Rat. She's also immune to Assassin's Blade and Organ Theft. Now add her nursemaid Anya. If Anya is reported first (and with Defend Homeworld, she can be reported VERY first), she can download Salia. From then on, she can take Salia's place in random selections, protecting those skills from harm (especially from such things as Angry Mob and Misguided Activist). Since the two can play together so easily, Strike Three will do much more damage when both are present, too. As for Howard Heirloom Candle's ability to shut down Salia's morphing... ARE YOU KIDDING??? Who stocks that thing? Despite her bad taste in boys, a useful 4.
TOTAL: 15.3 (76.5%) A long time coming, but worth it.
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