(5) • Gav, DiplomatNon-aligned Personnel of Tellarite species. "Do you vote to admit Coridan to the Federation?" Characteristics: score points, "affiliation", enhance your skills (this card), Past related, personnel who has a cost of 3 or more, personnel who has a cost of 4 or more, personnel who has a cost of 5 or more, Tellarite species. Card logging info: Logged by openCards team at Jan 1st, 2008. | |
This Card-Review article was written by Scott Baughman and was published first on "Decipher's Website (decipher.com)" at Feb 27th, 2007.
Many Star Trek fans over the years have postulated theories as to why Tellarites look so much like pigs. Personally, I think they just followed a different evolutionary path than humans. But, when I take a look at Gav, Diplomat, I don't see a pig, I see a workhorse. This guy is another game-changing personnel.
In the past, you've mainly had to rely on cheater interrupts, like Comfort Women, to give you needed skills when facing a dilemma. There are a few other personnel with special abilities allowing them to gain skills from others present, like William T. Riker, Exchange Officer. But, to gain a skill of your choice, that would require Silik, Chameleon or a very specific interrupt like Natural Instincts for your Bajoran Resistance personnel.
Now, Gav shows up and we have a whole new world of gaining skills of our choice while facing dilemmas. Did you just hit Where No One Has Gone Before and you know it's going to cost you? If you just had Physics you'd be okay. Well, with Gav, you can have it – for a price. It may seem Ferengi-like, but really, Gav is about the art of compromise – like any good diplomat.
Is it worth it to give your opponent five points? At certain times in the game, surely it would be worth it. If you knew you were going to win if you passed that last, key dilemma, and completed the mission for the rest of your points, no problem. If your opponent is ahead, however, it might not be wise. Cards like Gav (and Silik, too) just add even more punch to the word dilemma, don't they?
There are some arcane interactions one can pull-off with this personnel as well. I think he'll find his way into a lot of Bajoran decks that key off of gaining skills of your choice. If you and your opponent are tied in score, you might want to give Gav a skill of your choice while facing a dilemma even if you know you can't go on to complete the mission you're attempting this turn. Then, on your next turn, play Kira Taban, Husband and Father. You know your opponent will be in the lead because you just gave him or her five points. Now, you've got five points extra of your own – to either help you win the game, or for use on things like Amanda Rogers.
Maybe they should have named this guy Monty Hall – Let's Make a Deal!