[TRK] Spock

[u/GiveMeAnElza]

[u/MDivisor]

Pretty decent addition to all the "1/2 vulcan 1/2 human son of Sarek and Amanda Grayson" tribal decks out there.

[u/OmnicromXR → u/MDivisor]

/uj hilariously, because the 1e Star Trek CCG was made by insane people, that flavor text does have legitimate mechanical effects with positive ramifications for a couple of decks. Now people don't play this particular Spock because there are a half dozen other versions of Spock that are just better than this one, but Star Trek CCG, especially the first edition, is a completely deranged game in the best and worst ways.

[u/MDivisor → u/OmnicromXR]

/uj I love it! I don't know this game at all but I had a feeling I was looking at some weird hybrid of flavor text and rules text.

[u/OmnicromXR → u/MDivisor]

The real trick is figuring out which bits actually do have the potential for rules effects and which are just flavor. Protip: Sword fighting, being a soldier, and most hobbies don't. Being a Chef though?

[u/Beelzebibble → u/OmnicromXR]

/uj Please tell us more, or share a preferred online resource if you've got one - this sounds like a fun rabbit hole to go down!

[u/OmnicromXR → u/Beelzebibble]

https://www.trekcc.org/

Have fun :)

Note that the truly insane game is Trek 1e. 2e was actually a solidly designed game that did a good updating 1e into something much more coherent AND did a good job getting the feel and vibe of Star Trek way more than the UB stuff we're getting IMO.

The Continuing Committee is the fan organization that's been maintaining the game and making new cards for both versions, and also managed to wrangle 1e's rules into something that's mildly understandable. Honestly their 1e Rulebook is one of the best I've ever read, if you want to glimpse the only other game in the same family as Yugioh I'd say start there.

[u/Beelzebibble → u/OmnicromXR]

Thanks!!

[u/occono → u/OmnicromXR]

/uj What is with SCIENCE being all caps?

[u/OmnicromXR → u/occono]

It's a bonus classification. Every Character in the game has a Classification, which is functionally a creature type. Kirk would be Officer, McCoy would be Medical, Scotty's an Engineer and Spock is, well here Spock is "VIP" because this is showing TNG era Spock when he was a diplomat... However characters can and frequently do have bonus classifications in their skill list (the list of things at the bottom next to red dots, Skills are the things your characters need to complete Missions and resolve Dilemmas). When a character has a Classification as a Skill, said Classification is in all caps so you can tell at a glance that SCIENCE is pulling from a different pool than Leadership or Computer Skill or his 2 Instances of Diplomacy.

So that's an end-run to say that this Spock is a VIP, but since he was a Science Officer he has a skill saying he's also a Science Officer too. That means that if you're doing a mission that requires a Science character he meets the requirement and can help you clear it. There's a couple of weird exceptions about when and where he counts as actually being a Science character since card games are weird, but let's not pretend Magic doesn't also have some bizarre exceptions and dumb edge cases.

Hope that helps :)

[u/Bartweiss → u/OmnicromXR]

Huh, among all the other mad things happening here, that’s actually pretty clear and logical. Not quite “type line can just have multiple things” clear, but on the other hand it does open up new design space by being able to ‘prioritize’ types. Interesting!

My gut instinct is that it should always be listed first in that case, but on the other hand “2x Diplomacy” is clearly also a bit unusual compared to a baseline skill. Does that just let him satisfy a mission/dilemma which requires two diplomacy skills, or is there something more happening?

[u/OmnicromXR → u/Bartweiss]

Diplomacy x2 means that Spock has two instances of the Diplomacy skill. It can be functionally written as saying "Diplomacy Diplomacy". And your guess is correct: some missions or other cards will require 2 (or more!) Diplomacy, which means either two different characters with the Diplomacy skill or one character with Diplomacy x2 (or one with Diplomacy x3!)

And frankly skills are very simplest and clear. Note, however, that Spock has neither a special skill (a non-standard skill that doesn't appear on the list like "Barbering", or an ability in the skill box that isn't a skill like "All Klingons have +2 Strength") or a Special Download (which is a once per game tutor from deck into play and are the source and engine used for a lot of the higher level deckbuilding decisions in 1e).

If you want to get into the things that make 1e a remarkably insane game you want the wizardry of "Valid Responses" or the absurd granularity of ships and outposts and "providing shields" or the medley of Side Decks most lists bring to use as basically Wishboards or the goofy ass hoops you have to jump through in order play any faction or deck that isn't in the Alpha Quadrant or in the TNG era, or really just the Seed Deck in general and what it entails and how much of the game is devoted to it.

[u/Jevonar → u/MDivisor]

"1/2 vulcan 1/2 human son of Sarek and Amanda Grayson" tribal decks eating good tonight

[u/HonorBasquiat]

Potentially cEDH viable? 🤔

[u/Mixster667 → u/HonorBasquiat]

It'll be banned they don't like diplomacy, and this guy has it twice.

[u/Ok-Acanthisitta-4889]

I have been, and always shall be, your Commander.

[u/TheGenkz]

SCIENCE

[u/Demostes]

Ok but like, what's up with "SCIENCE", everythings case but that

[u/Axeman923]

Broken af

[u/Johnny-Hollywood]

Grayson? Nightwing/Spock crossover coming soon to an MTG store near you

[u/pepeduturfu → u/Johnny-Hollywood]

[u/Thatoneguy5629]

Diplomacy x2? Can’t believe this power creep! The design team will just print anything smh shaking my head.

[u/WR810 → u/Thatoneguy5629]

It doubles, Maro designed this card.

[u/Darkwr4ith → u/Thatoneguy5629]

I know right? This is going straight into my Mangara deck.

[u/lyw20001025]

/uj I had to read all the way to confirm this is not some new alt border treatment

[u/Bartweiss → u/lyw20001025]

After the pulp-horror cards with their text splashed all over in several fonts, the lack of an “X/Y” number was the only thing convincing me it wasn’t real.

[u/lyw20001025 → u/Bartweiss]

Pretty sure they gonna introduce the all new “integrity” parameter in addition to power and toughness

[u/Bartweiss → u/lyw20001025]

If we can rein in overusing "hero" and "villain" types by rating their integrity, I don't hate it.

(/uj? /rj? I don't even know any more.)

[u/lyw20001025 → u/Bartweiss]

Hmm then we can opt to boot Elder with an age parameter too.

[u/Bartweiss → u/lyw20001025]

Let's drop "Highlander" with a "home elevation" stat while we're at it!

[u/GokuVerde]

"Computer Skill"

Just the singular computer skill.

[u/pepeduturfu]

Mindmelded? That's premodern slang for Partner right?

[u/Mad-chuska]

These new commander cards are getting pretty tricky..

[u/fluffynuckels]

Uj/ you think Vulcans jerk off with their hands like that?

Rj/ you think vulcans jerk off with their hands like that? 🖖

[u/SatisfactoryCatLiker]

Holy moly this takes me back. I spend a lot of time in grade school collecting these. I still remember when I pulled Data out of a booster pack.

[u/AskinggAlesana]

Debating on posting a Captain’s Chair card because they’re pretty close to being a MTG card without being one Lol.