(3) • Quark, Practical ApologistFerengi Personnel of Ferengi species. "Do you hear the cries of starving children? I don't." Characteristics: affiliation, using Cunning instead, download, download - personnel, Terok Nor related, personnel who has a cost of 3 or more, Quark, Ferengi species. Card logging info: First edited by Telak at Jul 28th, 2018. Please support openCards and validate game text of this card! | |
This Card-Review article was written by Michael Shea and was published first on "The Continuing Committee (trekcc.org)" at May 22nd, 2018.
“You know, I never expected to say this, but as occupations go, this one’s not so bad.”
– Quark, A Time to Stand
What would a set celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Deep Space Nine be without Quark? Perhaps more than any other supporting character, Quark personifies the practical, calculating amorality of a man concerned almost wholly with profit. It’s not that Quark is unprincipled – he has his own form of morality – and, as Jadzia Dax, Tongo Player observed, once you understand it you understand Quark. If Milton Friedman and Ayn Rand got together and wrote a science fiction series, Quark might well be the star. In a Creative meeting regarding this character, it was remarked, “Quark is nothing if not practical.” Truer words were never spoken, and with that, I give you Quark, Practical Apologist.
“Look around. Do you see any ghetto fences dividing the Promenade? Or exhausted Bajoran slave laborers sprawled on the ground after a grueling day in the Ore Processing Centre? Do you hear the cries of starving children? I don’t. Now don’t get me wrong, I miss the Federation too. All I’m saying is, things could be a lot worse.”
– Quark, A Time to Stand
Just like the Quark of the early Season 6 arc, from the beginning of the Cardassian liberation of Terok Nor through his fateful decision to join the Dissident movement in Behind the Lines, this Quark does his best to survive under the Cardassian-Dominion Alliance. And, for a time, he prospers, even winning over the confidence of high-ranking Cardassian officers, which of course puts him in a perfect position to gather intelligence on the Cardassian-Dominion war effort. So, when it was decided that this set needed a Quark, we hit upon the idea of capturing that dynamic in a non-Dissident version of Quark.
This Quark, unlike his previous incarnation, downloads of a Jem’Hadar, reminiscent of another personae who found himself vastly outnumbered during a siege of Deep Space Nine. This could come in really handy for grabbing a needed copy of Remata'Klan, Steadfast Sentinel after you’ve used Keevan, Pragmatic Captor to take a captive or three, or for getting a Jem’Hadar you need to complete a vital mission. Non-unique Jem’Hadar are often the backbone of a Terok Nor deck, so the utility of this ability is clear. But, this Quark also works well with other personnel by allowing those present with him to use Strength to meet Cunning requirements. Need a help securing your territorial expansion? Bring Quark along. Worried about facing Fesarius Bluff or Programmed Compulsion? This collaborator is your man. Finally, this Quark is the first Ferengi with the skill of Intelligence, and while we realize that this is a departure from traditional design, we felt the risk was minimal given that he's unlikely to see any play in a traditional Ferengi deck; and since this Quark was in such a unique position, having gained Damar's confidence and thus become able to gather vital military intelligence, we doubt we'll see many more Ferengi Intelligence personnel. So, be sure and take this guy along if you're worried about those pesky Rogue Borg!
“…we would have reached an accommodation. We would have sat across the negotiation table and hammered out a peace treaty. One that both sides could live with.”
– Quark, The Siece of AR-558
As you can see, this Quark is more comfortable working with the Ruling Council. The included deck is a variation on the Terok Nor engagement theme I’ve already covered in a previous article, but this time with some notable upgrades and taking advantage of Quark’s download ability and Cunning-Strength substitution to help out at Delta Pavonis.
Enjoy, and stay tuned for more from Far Beyond the Stars!
See corresponding deck "War is Good for Business, But Only From a Distance" here!
by Michael Shea, Chief Ambassador