Design Log: Stardate 03.18.2003

Energize Tidbits

So, what's the scoop on this Energize expansion? I asked. We know you've been working on it since before the Second Edition base set released in December. How about a few tidbits for a design log?

"We're at the approval stage now," said designer Evan Lorentz. "So we can't show any cards yet, but we can talk a little about some of the things you'll be seeing."

OK, we already know there are 180 cards in this set – 60 each common, uncommon, and rare – and 11-card booster packs. Any starter decks?

"Not this time. But the Energize boosters are designed to work just fine as a supplement to a Second Edition starter deck for sealed deck play."

I've had a chance to look over the card list and most of the card texts. Two things stand out. First, unlike most of the First Edition expansions, which had an underlying theme like tribbles or the Mirror Universe, Energize doesn't appear to have an overall theme.

"This expansion is focused on developing the five affiliations introduced in the base set and expanding their gameplay possibilities with new affiliation-specific themes. For example, the base set developed a Resistance theme for the Bajorans, while Energize concentrates more on religious-themed cards. And we'll see more separation between the different Federation 'subsets,' with a teamwork/cooperation motif for the next Generation and more of the darker side of Deep Space Nine."

Hmm, the Bajoran religious theme would account for a couple of the new keywords I saw. We've already heard that there'll be a new faction, the Maquis, that crosses affiliation boundaries. I suppose it's too early to expect an Enterprise group similar to the Deep Space Nine 'subset'?

"There are some images taken from the Enterprise series – mostly dilemmas – but no character cards yet."

And the second thing that I noticed about the cards? This one will be welcome to First Edition players – approximately half of the set will be First Edition-compatible.

In the weeks to come we'll be bringing you more intelligence about Energize, including spoilers and card images as soon as everything is approved and finalized.

Kathy McCracken
Major Rakal
Star Trek Intelligence Officer

March 18, 2003

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