Lure Lore

"While this personnel is facing a dilemma, he cannot be stopped."

Since the existence of Lore, The One, this one sentence has caused many frustrations - not only because it is unconditional, but also (and mainly) because it is found on a personnel with six skills and very high attributes (not counting Integrity). Although an annoyance to all players, very often novice- or intermediate-level players feel demoralized by their perceived inability to handle this blockbuster. However, with some preparation, your worst nightmare could become your biggest joke.

Let's take a look at some methods to get rid of Lore, bearing in mind that nothing is ever guaranteed as there is always a possibility that a card effect may be prevented.

Methodology 1: "If you can't stop him, kill him."

The Demands of Duty. Choose Lore. Since his text prevents your opponent from selecting the "choose to have all your personnel be stopped" option, his death is imminent if he doesn't Escape or transport away.

Final Adventure. Name six. 'Nuff said.

Center of Attention. If you paid some attention, or simply combined this dilemma with others targeting Security and/or Equipment, you will be able to choose the Treachery personnel to be killed. Guess which One?

Trazko, Hired Muscle , Toran, Ambitious Brute and Tal'Aura, Impatient Senator are all Assassins that can target a skill Lore has, so you can choose him to be the victim.

Methodology 2: "If you can't kill him, cuff him."

In many ways, capturing is more effective than killing because it prevents your opponent from playing another copy (presuming the captive is unique like Lore).

Impressive Trophies. Lore will often be a part of minimal-personnel mission attempts due to his high attributes and many skills, so reducing Cunning to 32 or below may not be that difficult. His high cost will do the rest.

Apprehended. When you have the spare points, win a combat or an engagement, and take a captive of your choice.

Political Leverage. Discarding four cards one time to save Lore is a possibility; doing it three times may drain one's resources so much that he will be sacrificed.

Retaliation. Put a personnel of your choice in the brig. It doesn't get much simpler than that. And, everyone but the Borg (who have their own way of getting Lore) can get in on the capturing fun thanks to personnel like this or this.

Odo, Impartial Investigator. If you have the points, Lore doesn't have the Honor.

Methodology 3: "If all else fails..."

Secret Identity. Unless in an Android deck or as a key card in the draw deck, expect only one or two copies of Lore due to his high cost and uniqueness. It may be that your opponent won't be able to replace him with another copy, especially in the late game when he or she may have drawn Lore into hand.

Far-Seeing Eyes and Organized Terrorist Activities can take Lore out of the game even before he is played. Not quite as good as killing him, since your opponent hasn't expended a turn's-worth of resources playing him, it is nonetheless a great way to keep him far away. Of course, these methods are only available to the Romulan affiliation and Federation Maquis (respectively). The former has the advantage of eliminating two copies at once; the latter can affect cards in an opponent's hand as they enter the draw deck.

Methodology 4: "Jean-Luc, blow up the damned ship!"

The funny thing about Lore's game text is the way he responds to dilemmas that read, "all your personnel are stopped..." When that text triggers on a damage dilemma like Gomtuu Shock Wave, and Lore experiences Tin Man's jolt, he'll continue by himself to face another dilemma in the stack. And if that dilemma eludes Lore's skills/attributes and places yet another damage marker on his ship... well, you see where this is going. Even if you can only put two damage markers on a ship, your draw deck can certainly handle placing a third.

Methodology 5: "Go after the skills..."

With six skills, Lore is a great target for Sluggo. Indeed, it will not stop him from contributing his attributes, but as there are several missions he has all (or almost all) of the skills for, being not able to use them can put your opponent into some trouble.

The Wrap-Up

These are some of the easier ways to prevent you from getting frustrated over Data's evil twin. Other possibilities and combinations are available, of course. For instance, take a look at Parting Shot; used with the right combination of dilemmas, its target can be predicted. So, if you have other great ideas and/or methods please share them with us on the boards.