What a Card: Carol Marcus

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. In the next scene, Carol and Kirk talk about David, so she makes her card appearance...

EXPANSION: The Motion Pictures

PICTURE: The different rock textures behind her play with the artificial/natural paradigms integral to the character, and the color highlights are well chosen (the blue from jacket and eyes, for example, and the color of her jacket and hair). Plus, this is taken from an important scene, related in the lore. A strong 3.7.

LORE:
Though I am kinda disappointed they didn't make her a cook, the subtext in the last sentence is pretty good. This is from the film, but the reference to "her world" when she is a creator of worlds, has a double meaning. A likeable 3.5.

TREK SENSE: For conceiving of the Genesis Device, she must be a pretty good scientist, even if she didn't do it all alone, and I'm not going to argue with the double Science or the double Biology. She IS a biologist, and Physics seems to be part of the equation, since matter is essentially re-written in the matrix. Leadership is there because she headed a research team, but it implies that she can initiate battles. Now, THAT I object to. I'm also not sure she couldn't Staff a ship, given that she works in space anyway. Her Integrity is high because she was a good person, but not that high because her project had dangerous consequences she apparently didn't give a lot of thought to. Cunning's a shade off the genius mark, but very high anyway. Again, it's believable given her behavior and accomplishments. And the Strength works fine too - just a scientist, but definitely one with vitality. No special skill? Aw. What's here deserves a 3.6.

STOCKABILITY: There aren't a lot of double SCIENCE personnel compared to some of the other classifications, especially in the Alpha Quadrant when you remove the Think Tank from the equation. In the Federation, then, Carol's main competition is Mr. Spock and T'Pan. Well, she's not as good as Mr. Spock, but certainly better than T'Pan. She's more focused than either of them in any case, with most of her skills being in the SCIENCE vein. That doubled Biology is certainly useful in dilemma and mission situations, and Physics, while less so, is still good. Carol adds Leadership, which is excellent, and not often found on SCIENCE personnel. But really, it's the double-SCIENCE that is really attractive here, as classifications are generally more useful than skills. In a CF deck, she's a must. In a regular Fed deck, she may have a place too. Enough skill-power for a 3.5, but I'd have liked a little more meat.

TOTAL: 14.3 (71.5%) This review is respectfully dedicated to Bibi Besch.

Comments