Wesley's STCCG card of the day #351

Hi, folks,

okay, here's your favorite COTD author again in command (a little astonished that Sean's guest issue didn't generate any comments - was it so good that you didn't even notice ? ;-) )

IRA GRAVES

Personnel, non-aligned, rare QC.
Integrity 4
Cunning 12
Strength 2
CIVILIAN, Cybernetics, Computer Skill, SCIENCE. Treachery and Biology if Kareen Brianon in play. Staff Star (+).
"A mentor of Dr. Soong and thus Lt. Commander Data's 'grandfather'. Arguably one of the greatest minds of the age. Has Darnay's disease."

The essential cyberneticist. I love him because he's really great for one of the most surprising deck designs you can play.

First there's his "living Red Alert" function. And while it's limited to androids, you can build great crews out of mostly androids and you still get to play an Event during the turn you want to report androids. (I just love playing Kivas, drawing 2 or 3 androids and deploying during the same turn). Talk card advantage.

Besides Cybernetics, you get a dual classification (always a Good Thing(TM)), and in this case, SCIENCE and CIVILIAN comes in handy for at least one deck type - Android Colony. As soon as you have enough androids to overcome the Dilemmas on a planet mission (use Q's planet if you want to have an easy time), you can report all future STAs as CIVILIANs and start scoring. And the extra point per turn from Ira is not the worst thing to have either.

Only big weakness: The Integrity of 4. Can't he have 5 to be Firestorm-proof ?

The remainder of the card is solid. A three-skill person, who will become a five-skill guy if Kareen Brianon is anywhere on the table (and she's not too crappy either - three skills and a special ability). One more INTEGRITY and we might have one of the best personnel cards in the game. With this risk remaining, just a good one.

Favorite combo(s):

Ira Graves + multiple Kivas + many STAs

Ratings for : IRA GRAVES

Wesley's rating:                8.9
Allen's rating:                 8.0
Cole's rating:                  8.0
Cpt. Stasis' rating:            8.5
Data's rating:                  7.0 
Drew's rating:                  8.1
Gowron's rating:                7.6
Hal's rating:                   5.6
Jack's rating:                  6.2
Locutus' rating:                7.7
Mot's rating:                   7.5
Nanite's rating:                8.5964
Nog's rating:                   5.0
Nouwa's rating:                 7.0
Picarde's rating:               8.5
Q's rating:                     7.0
Rothspar's rating:              6.0
Tania's rating:                 6.5
Tebok's rating:                 8.0
Tony's rating:                  8.0
----------------------          
AVERAGE RATING:                 7.4

PS: I'll be away Friday night to next Thursday morning. Don't know whether I'll have time for a COTD tomorrow, but you'll at least get one pre-prepared article on Monday to help you over the time ;-)

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

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With all back issues from #1 up to today !

LLAP,

Wesley Crusher
Temporarily immortal STCCG Lord

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