Wesley's STCCG card of the day #303

Hi, folks,

we had so much QC hype that we almost forgot there remain a few cards to be done on this sector:

KEVIN UXBRIDGE

Event, uncommon.
Destroys any one Event card in play (except for Treaty cards) OR any one artifact in play as an Event card.
"Immortal omnipotent being called a Douwd. Lived secretly as a human. Took a human wife who was killed by the Husnocks at Delta Rana IV."

Some rater called it "The God Card". And yes, it is one of those cards that no deck seems to be without. (Well, at least no decks that don't exclusively rely on Parallax Arguers ;-) )

There are so many powerful events in STCCG that countering some of them has become a necessity to most players. And as with many counter-cards, estimating their power means taking a look at what it can counter (this time in order of priority, most urgent ones first)

1: Red Alert! This is the instant Kevin-sucker. However before you nullify this one, ask yourself a question? Did your opponent already use the potential or is there something to come?
If you can get rid of it before any personnel cards have been played you have half won. If you are less lucky, only kill it when your opponent does have some extra card drawing power. Otherwise she won't play those cards because she can't draw them... Also hold back if you have already used your Red Alert and hold a Yellow Alert card - kill both Red Alerts and have fun!
2: The Traveler: Transcendence. An extra card each turn is great. Too great to let your opponent have it. And besides, don't you want to play your Static Warp Bubble? (Don't forget you can kill your own Traveler if you need that one extra turn before exhausting your deck)
3: Kivas Fajo - Collector. Another of these extra card draw possibilities. Three for one is a good trade... And preventing three for one is nearly as good.
4: Supernova. Just too powerful to go through. But never try to counter the Tox Uthat. Why let her waste one card play if you can make her waste two?
5: Genetronic Replicator. Hey, what do you think those Killer Dilemmas are for? Mission decoration?
6: Klim Dokachim. Unless you have a Red Alert out in which case you can most probably stand the loss of your draw every 3 or 4 turns.
7: Anti-Time Anomaly. Your opponent will have had a reason to play it, so you most probably have a reason to stop it. But don't forget there are several other evasion possibilities that don't waste your Kevin.
8: Yellow Alert. Only if you hold a Red Alert and several crew though...
9: Captain's Log and other Shield / Weapon enhancers. Best combined with Manheim's Dimensional Door to gain a surprise advantage in battle...
10: Revolving Door. After all, you probably need your Doorways...
11: Immortal again. After all, your opponent probably needs that Q-Continuum...
12: Espionage cards. Right after they pass that last Dilemma and before checking mission requirements. Incredibly easy points for you...

Some less great ideas for nullifying:

99: Static Warp Bubble. Come on, you have a Traveler. And you have an extra one in your Q's tent. You do, don't you?
98: Q-Nets. What deck goes without 2 Diplomacy?
97: Plasma Fire and Warp Core Breach: You should be able to get rid of these without wasting a card...
96: Tox Uthat. Already said why.
95: Barber Pole
94: Mot's Advice

Now how about the number of Kevins in a deck? I usually have two or three, sometimes even only one. But I make liberal use of Palor Toffs to get them back just in case I need more. (And those Palors can mimic something else if I need that more urgently). So don't overload your deck with Kevins. I've seen early counterdecks relying on 6 Kevins and 4 Amandas. They were incredibly effective at that time, when most people really relied on events. But in modern STCCG, a good deck is one that can win if it never draws its Red Alert, its Traveler or Genetronic Replicator. So you don't need that many Event killers anymore. (And if you really do, see above Palor comment...)

Favorite combo(s):

a few Kevin Uxbridges + several Palor Toffs. Get them back if you need them. And if not, get something better.

Ratings for : KEVIN UXBRIDGE

Wesley's rating:               10.0
Cole's rating:                  8.0
Drew's rating:                  9.7
Gregory's rating:               8.5
Hal's rating:                  10.0 
Jack's rating:                  9.0
Locutus' rating:                9.5
Mot's rating:                   9.75
Nanite's rating:                9.0
Nouwa's rating:                 9.975
Picarde's rating:               9.5
Q's rating:                     8.5
Ranger's rating:                8.5
Rothspar's rating:              8.9
Tebok's rating:                 9.5
Tony's rating:                 10.0
----------------------          
AVERAGE RATING:                 9.3

The new raters are here on a somewhat probational basis... They're waitlist occupants who got a guest stint because of some older ones not having replied yet - maybe they're here to stay, maybe not yet...

Please direct all email concerning card of the day to: crusher@kiss.de

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LLAP,

Wesley Crusher, the new STCCG Lord

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