Mot's Useless Card Review #23: Receptacle Stones

Many are quick to discount this seldom-played artifact. Most players elect not to board their ships until they've amassed a crew at their outpost capable of overcoming most dilemmas anyway - forcing them to hit a few more with the Receptacle Stones isn't such a big deal.

But there are a few cases where this IS a big deal. Opponents that play all-planet decks are highly vulnerable to the Receptacle Stones. I can't think of the last time I've seen an all-planet deck with the skills to overcome Birth of "Junior" - and certain dilemmas, like Borg Ship and Cytherians, are rough on ANYONE. Even a Coalescent Organism will hit an unprepared crew hard. Just wait for that planet-oriented crew to board their ship and leave the outpost, and then slap the Receptacle Stones on 'em and attempt one of your missions with your space-oriented crew. Sit back, watch the destruction ensue.

Of course, Receptacle Stones is also useful against those Cons... er, opponents who build decks designed to overcome one dilemma and one dilemma only: Q. You know, the strategy where they build the INTEGRITY and Leadership up to overcome their own Qs and discard all of your dilemmas? With the Receptacle Stones, you can force them to face some dilemmas - dilemmas that, in all likelihood, they are NOT prepared to deal with. A well timed Barclay’s Protomorphosis Disease or Borg Ship can put a damper on the whole affair!

And when they watch their ship/crew go up in flames before the might of your Receptacle Stones, you can gaze into their eyes and tell them, "I feel your pain." ;-)