Tom Patterson
United States
San Diego
California
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Just wondering what people thought were the weakest cards to find "on your side" in the game.
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Nate Cannon
United States
Garland
Texas
I came. I saw.
I lost miserably.
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We tracked this is a serries of 2 player games. The weakest roles were fairly close between the generalist, dispatcher, epidemiologist, and researcher. I chose the epidemiologist because their power is so useless.
As for the Special Event Cards: part of every turn is setting up to do well on the next turn. This is esentially abandoned if a player uses the Special Orders, the idiot step-cousin (no offense to idiots or step-cousins. compared to the Dispatcher since it does not provide the ability to move players to each other. It was almost never played when it came up and provided an audible groan when drawn.
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♫ Eric Herman ♫
United States
West Richland
Washington
I like elephants. I like how they swing through trees.
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Yeah, I'd be surprised if Special Orders doesn't take this 100%. I always groan when that's drawn, too. Once in a great while, it is very useful, but often not. And Epidemiologist for the weakest role.
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Tom Patterson
United States
San Diego
California
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I'm surprised to find Dispatcher and Researcher amongst your suggestions for "weakest." I think the Dispatcher is really helpful with exchanging information and becomes very powerful when paired with the Medic or the Researcher. In the prior, diseases become wiped out pretty easily and in the later cures become more efficiently discovered.
Epidemiologist is weak. The "one card per turn" makes her weaker, but I have to give the edge to the Generalist just because that fifth action, while sometimes helpful, is rarely ever a life-saver.
As far as card, yeah, Special Orders is maddeningly useless because it removes the Dispatcher's really powerful "move to the same city" and makes you spend your points on them. It's only even remotely useful if the Medic is present.
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Dave J McWeasely
United States
Louisville
Kentucky
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I agree that epidemiologist is weak in 2p, which is what I play most often, but on the feeling that it's stronger in 3-5p, I voted for Containment Specialist.
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Chris Berger
United States
Volo
Illinois
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TommyP wrote: I'm surprised to find Dispatcher and Researcher amongst your suggestions for "weakest." I think the Dispatcher is really helpful with exchanging information and becomes very powerful when paired with the Medic or the Researcher. In the prior, diseases become wiped out pretty easily and in the later cures become more efficiently discovered.
Well, he mentioned 2 player games. I don't think the Dispatcher is particularly good in 2 player games, but is awesome with 4 or 5. I'm still surprised to see the Researcher even with 2, but I think he also is better with more players.
Quote: Epidemiologist is weak. The "one card per turn" makes her weaker, but I have to give the edge to the Generalist just because that fifth action, while sometimes helpful, is rarely ever a life-saver.
To me, it's not just that the Epidemiologist is weak, it's that he's also uninteresting. I almost refuse to play with him (that is, I prefer to just take him out of the deck, but if I played with someone who had an objection to that, no big deal). I think the Generalist is better because there are times you can get to and treat cubes (or build a station or something) when you couldn't with another character. It's not a spectacular ability, but it's good every turn (who doesn't want one more action), and can be great every once in a long while.
Quote: As far as card, yeah, Special Orders is maddeningly useless because it removes the Dispatcher's really powerful "move to the same city" and makes you spend your points on them. It's only even remotely useful if the Medic is present.
I think it can be good with the Containment Specialist too (unless I remember the way the ability works wrong). And I played one game where it was a lifesaver. I mean, it's not good. I probably agree with everyone that it's the worst special event and I'd rather just have a city card. But sometimes useful.
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Jonathan Warren
United Kingdom
Wisbech
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
"Elves are very good at board games, and I'm NOT an elf!"
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arkayn wrote: I almost refuse to play with him (that is, I prefer to just take him out of the deck, but if I played with someone who had an objection to that, no big deal).
We don't bother including the Epidemiologist in any of our games - such a poor role.
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Remember folks, a Containment Specialist who never uses his ability more than once per turn is just a weak Generalist.
That being said a Containment Specialist who cures 3/4 triple cities in one turn early game (or after a massive outbreak) probably will save the game.
I voted for Epidemiologist since I often find that though the role can work very well in 4 player games it still is pretty weak by comparison to other roles.
I've had issues with Special orders for a long time. I've always viewed it as a very weak airlift unless it was possibly useable with the Containment Specialist or Medic. Other than that I view it's best quality is that if you happen to have both it and Airlift you might be able to use it instead of Airlift in certain situations.
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Bryan Jensen
United States
Layton
Utah
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Has anyone played with the Epidemiologist from the End Day Artscow expansion (below)? I think it's better though certainly not the best role. At least it's worth getting to replace that scary official Epidemiologist artwork.
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Jonathan Warren
United Kingdom
Wisbech
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
"Elves are very good at board games, and I'm NOT an elf!"
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The artwork on this card certainly does need changing (as well as the role itself). Perhaps the new Pandemic expansion that is supposedly in the works might address the issues.
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Dave J McWeasely
United States
Louisville
Kentucky
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I love generalist and view her as being in the top 50% of roles.
Perhaps the another poll question would be: Most Overrated Role, to which my answer would be "medic".
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Alex Eaton-Salners
United States
San Diego
California
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JoffW wrote: The artwork on this card certainly does need changing (as well as the role itself). Perhaps the new Pandemic expansion that is supposedly in the works might address the issues.
I playtested the expansion earlier this year and can confirm that both the art and the power of the Epidemiologist will be changing.
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Dave J McWeasely
United States
Louisville
Kentucky
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 There's a new Pandemic expansion in the works? Why wasn't _I_ notified?
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Matt 'Red Hat' Posey
United States
Houston
Texas
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The problem with the "weakest role" question is that the answer is very dependent on the number of players. I would much rather have the Epidemiologist than Researcher in a 4-5 player game, but I would take the Researcher over the Epidemiologist in a 2 player game.
I personally don't like the Field Operative, and refuse to play with that role. I can see how the role could be helpful, but the limitation of only 1 cube a turn just makes the curing process too slow. Many of my friends also feel this way, and I don't know why no one mentions it on the geek. I've always felt that a slight rule change of "1 cube of each color" would have improved it just enough without making it too powerful.
I agree that "Special Orders" is probably the weakest special event card, but one thing that no one has mentioned yet is that it can be effective if played by the Epidemiologist on their turn.
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