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. That final sequence happens somewhere, and here in the last full expansion, we finally get a card for Vulcan...
PICTURE: We've waited a long time for Vulcan to arrive, but visually, it's just an orange desert planet. Well realized, but uninteresting. A 2.5.
LORE: Though pulled from Star Trek III, it's phrased in such a way as to include TOS and Enterprise episodes ("Amok Time", for example) as well. A subtle thing perhaps, but much appreciated. The title can be seen as other people "observing" their Vulcan friend's ritual, or that Vulcan "observing" the ritual as we might observe Christmas, etc. A cool 3.5.
TREK SENSE: There are Vulcans in other affiliations, but the planet is part of the Federation, and only Federation personnel might be invited to observe a sacred Vulcan ritual. You have to provide the Vulcan, first of all, but I then wish the other skills were specifically required from OTHER personnel. See, Anthropology creates an interest in the Ritual (and perhaps enough familiarity with the culture than you'd finagle an invitation). Diplomacy gets you in the door. If these skills come from the Vulcan (or even other Vulcans), it doesn't work as well. Why would you need these skills to observe your own traditions? I also think the points are a bit high for this kind of thing. It's a pretty passive mission after all. It's a rare occasion for outsiders to witness a Vulcan ritual, sure, but the consequences here are too personal for 35 points. Now that we know Vulcan's close to Earth, I don't think there's a real call for such a high Span either. It was a major detour in "Amok Time", I guess. Finally, we have a very sensible reporting ability allowing Vulcans to report directly here. They're the natives after all. Amanda Rogers also lives here as a native, so she can too. Good catch. That doesn't save it from a below average 2.5.
SEEDABILITY: Vulcan offers an easy mission and an outpost-like effect. All you need to complete it is a Vulcan with Diplomacy and Anthropology. Sound like anyone you know? How about the universal Lojal? Amanda Grayson can also supply the skills (and a way to report Sareks and Spocks for free), but not the species directly. There are plenty of Vulcans to choose from in the Federation, and even some Non-Aligned support, and the best thing is, it doesn't matter what quadrant they're from. First Officer Spock and Tuvok, for example, can also report here. Watch out, so can your opponent's Vulcans (but that's no worse than an HQ). This makes a Vulcan deck much more viable, and encourages the inclusion of Vulcan support cards like the Lander, Mindmeld, Death Grip, Nerve Pinch, Live Long and Prosper, and Fal-tor-pan (which allows Vulcans to go from the top of the draw deck directly to the mission). Even if you don't, it's still an incredibly easy 35 points (45 with mission specialists). A strong 4.
TOTAL: 12.5 (62.5%) Not as hot as the location sounds like.
Comments
--Oxmyx