Wesley's STCCG card of the day #239


Hi, folks,

back and better than ever? Well, I can at least confirm the first part ;-)

ANCIENT COMPUTER

Dilemma, space, rare.
Cannot get past unless 2 Computer Skill or 3 SCIENCE or 3 ENGINEER present.
"Vital information can be retrieved from old or damaged computer systems like this one found aboard a derelict Promellian cruiser."
There are two things I really do like about this Dilemma.

1) It stops the affected crew quite effectively with a "cannot get past" clause. I always try to have at least one Dilemma of this kind under each mission (most often as the last one) in order to assure that my opponent won't even get to check the mission requirements because he'll never get there.

2) Its requirements include multiples of a certain skill. Yes, most players wait until they have one of every important skill (SCIENCE, MEDICAL, SECURITY,ENGINEER, Computer Skill, Diplomacy), but you just can't afford waiting until you have two of everything (maybe 2 MEDICAL, but that's it), much less three of them. But then, really that good?

a) Feds have ENGINEERS. Lots of them, especially in a Bridge crew deck where 3 of the best characters are ENGINEERS, plus Roga Danar, plus Dr. Reyga, etc. That's the trouble: Nearly all the good dual-classification personnel (i.e. the ones that see play) are part ENGINEER.

b) It's a Space only Dilemma. This is a strength and a weakness. A strength, because there are very few space Dilemmas of this more permanent nature. But a Weakness, because most decks have more planet missions than space missions. And whilst I have seen a lot of all-planet decks, all-space decks are rare (but nasty surprises if you run against them in tournaments - if I play in a tourney where you can change decks between games, I usually swap the other missions in for the semifinal or final when running up against an opponent who really checked my deck before. A 15-card sideboard is good enough to swap missions plus supporting personnel...)

I often have this in decks when playing high Dilemma rates (i.e. half seed card decks). Of 21 Dilemmas, keep 3 Space, 6 Either, 12 Planet. Prepares me well for any deck that has a P/S ratio between 6/0 and 3/3 and still somewhat works for a 2/4 and 1/5 deck. And every 3rd Dilemma a stopper like this.

Preparatory measures? Anything that lets me choose who dies or some of the bigger killers. Nagilum works well, and for people who play ENGINEERING or SCIENCE equipment, a well-placed Disruptor Overload is often an effective countermeasure.

(Oh, another free Wesley hint: If you really get Dilemma-screwed, do not do what I see done everywhere - seed the three matching Dilemmas and discard the rest. Instead, put up your best pokerface (or a mean grin) and misseed! Unless your opponent scans the locations, he'll not attempt the missions before he has a fair crew and if you are even playing the same affiliation, you can sneak in yourself and snatch the game so fast they won't know what hit them...)


Favorite combo(s):

- Nagilum + Ancient Computer. In any order. (though the reverse will need some extra work in between...)


Ratings for : ANCIENT COMPUTER

Wesley's rating:                7.0
Cole's rating:                  6.8
Data's rating:                  7.6257189759 (Androids...)
Jack's rating:                  6.0
John's rating:                  5.5
Q's rating:                     8.0
Ray's rating:                   6.5
Richard's rating:               4.0
Tony's rating:                  3.0
Tania's rating:                 4.0
Hal's rating:                   6.8
----------------------          
AVERAGE RATING:                 5.9296108159901 (Ha!)

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LLAP,

Wesley Crusher, the new STCCG Lord

"A couple of lightyears can't keep good friends apart"