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. Let's stick with the first TNG Romulans...
PICTURE: A good match with Tebok - put these two cards next to one another for a complete picture - but he's more aggressive, almost ready to pounce. A better look at the uniforms as they were originally envisioned, and I like the throwback to the TOS costumes with the shoulder sash element. I wish they'd kept it, perhaps as a note of rank, but we mostly remember this era for their silver-checkered suits. That's neither here nor there, Thei gets 3.6, like his commander.
LORE: When I looked at Tebok, I was disappointed by the bare bones lore. With Thei, even though he's universal (acknowledged), the invent a specific story for him! It's cool and all, but it'll get him into trouble with the Trek Sense. Still, I've got to give him 3.3 here.
TREK SENSE: I like him as a kind of Spock to Tebok's Kirk. First OFFICER, yes, but obviously came up through the Science division. Seeing as their warbird investigated the Borg scoop of colonies along the Neutral Zone, Geology and Physics seem related enough. Of course, I do wonder if that's a background "representative" of Romulan officers. It seems highly specific. I've always felt that Tebok and Thei should have been switched in terms of unique/universal in the Basic Set. The lore points to some Treachery, I think, but we don't get it here, just a point off the Integrity compared to Tebok. In fact, they "universalized" him basically by taking a point off each attribute. So your resident Sciencey guy has only 6 Cunning? Meh. I can only see my way to giving him a 2.7.
STOCKABILITY: He seems to have been built for Relief Mission (which requires Geology OR Physics, it's amazingly easy, if low-value), and little else, at least in the Basic Set. With Assign Mission Specialists, he can report directly to ships and even be downloaded if necessary. But even as the game expanded, Thei got very few mission opportunities (unless the Romulans are using a Treaty or Espionage card) or key dilemmas. If you're after those easy 20 points, by all means, swing by and report him (or as many of him as you foolishly put in your deck) to get them, but you're better off using a Mission Specialist strategy (the Romulans have plenty) and Thenalak to score bonus points on Relief Mission's 20. Not that I would recommend using Relief Mission at all, except as a smug flex. I'm afraid this is a 2.
TOTAL: 11.6 (58%) Just inches ahead of his commander, but it's not for lack of trying to fail.
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