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The History of Star Trek CCG: Call to Arms

March 16, 2004 The most aggressive and dangerous adversaries of the STAR TREK universe have arrived – the Borg and the Dominion.In this expansion of over 200 cards for the STAR TREK CCG Second Edition, these fan favorites meet with new strategies for the existing affiliations. Take charge of the invasion of the Alpha Quadrant, or rally its defense – it is time to answer the CALL TO ARMS. Released September 10, 2003 Design Team Brad DeFruiter, Evan Lorentz Developers Geoff Snider, Mike Girard Product Configuration 208 cards (60 R - 60 U - 60 C - 28 S) S = found only in starter decks 63-card Borg and Dominion starter decks (3 random CTA rares + 60 fixed cards (mix of Second Edition, Energize, and Call to Arms) + rulebook) 11-card expansion packs (1 R - 3 U - 7 C, all CTA) 30 expansion packs per booster display 4 Borg starter decks, 4 Dominion starter decks, 24 booster packs per combo display No starter-only displays New Mechanics Interlink (first "call-out keyword"), modal missions New Features Borg and Dominion affiliations; Delta Quadrant missions; 8 new keywords (Infiltrator, Infiltration, Morph, Q, Founder, Interlink, Drone, Waiter) Highlights First Ferengi-affiliation cards; first 0-cost personnel; first Second Edition retail incentive preview card; 89 First Edition-compatible cards

Factoids

• Despite the introduction of the two affiliations which were most rules-intensive in First Edition (with assimilation, skill-sharing, scouting, objectives, infiltration, white deprivation...), Call to Arms introduced no new rules to Second Edition, while retaining most of the "flavor" of the Borg and Dominion.
• A major element of Borg "flavor" is the Borg card template itself. Designed by Decipher Graphic Designer Joe Boulden, it depicts metal claws stretching a layer of skin over a Borg Cube's surface, hoses wrapping around the image, and a Borg impant attached to the species box.

Notable First Edition/Second Edition Card "Counterparts"

The First Edition representation of the mysterious "crystalline entity" that wiped out entire planets and killed ships' crews was a rare Premiere S/P dilemma that killed an entire crew or Away Team unless its quirky conditions were met (SCIENCE and MEDICAL on a planet, Music or SHIELDS>6 in space), but awarded 5 points if overcome, making it a frequent self-seed (especially in the days when one could attempt a space mission from an outpost). With mass-kill dilemmas being generally avoided in Second Edition, its new incarnation, with a dramatic planetary view of the Entity as opposed to the 1E space image, is an event that allows you to destroy another event, at the price of passing command of The Crystalline Entity to your opponent.

The only First Edition Borg drone "identification" to carry over to Second Edition was the Transwarp Drone, Two of Nineteen. The erstwhile [Nav] drone with Navigation, Stellar Cartography, and the special skill of downloading a Transwarp doorway or interrupt has, in Second Edition, retained its skills (with Astrometrics replacing Stellar Cartography), added Physics, and the ability of returning to hand to boost its ship's Range by 2 for the rest of the turn.

Links

Call to Arms Expansion Page
Call to Arms Rulebook (PDF)
Card list
Starter deck card lists
Spoiler list (PDF)
Release Event Card – Dukat, Liberator and Protector (0 P 3, AI)
Retail Incentive Preview Card – Elim Garak, Plain, Simple Tailor (0 P 2, AI)