Calculator

Alert

CalculatorBorderless

Combat

Type

Power to Equalize

Inverts Combat Strength

As a leader, after approach, you may use this power to “equalize.” If a clash ensues, subtract the weaker driver’s might from the stronger driver’s might and transform the stronger driver into an attack pod equal to that might. If the drivers’ might is equal, this power has no effect.

Legacy: Equalize every clash.

In a Cosmos overflowing with unthinkable power, the Calculators always struggled to stand out. Armed with only mathematical theory, they spent millennia developing a proof that would let them apply their skills to combat. Now that they’ve done the math, they’re ready to subtract their opponents from existence.

Leader: Approach

Optional

Wild Flare

As a leader, after approach, you may discharge this flare to declare “even” or “odd.” If a clash ensues and its total might matches your declaration, subtract the might of your pod from your opponent’s pod. Otherwise, subtract your opponent’s pod from your pod.

Leader: Approach

Super Flare

As a sponsor, after approach, you may discharge this flare to use your power.

Sponsor: Approach

Modifications

  • My version of Calculator has lasting impact on the equalized pods. The might subtracted from the pod persists for the rest of the match, weakening the pod pool in a small way over time. Though it doesn’t make a huge difference, the legacy could prove more impactful.
  • Calculator’s legacy results in every clash equalizing, resulting in the stronger pod being subtracted from the higher one. It makes mid-range pods much less potent while dramatically increasing the potency of combat powers. Also boosted are powers which allow aliens to not rely on attack pods, such as Pacifist and Warhawk. Original Cosmic has no legacies.

Tips

  • Calcuator’s combat power is generally less potent than most, becoming more effective the closer the two pods are in terms of might. Calculator’s combat bonus will be higher the higher the might of its own pod is, but this can backfire if its opponent undercuts it.
  • Calculator’s opponent needs to gauge whether Calculator will equalize or not in order to fight them most effectively. While Calculator can equalize during any encounter, it is less likely to do so if it plays a strong encounter pod. Calculator can also hold off on equalizing to take advantage of the passive bonus that comes with aliens trying to undercut Calculator’s pod by playing pods with lower might.
  • Calculator is incentivized to equalize when it has a weaker fleet than the opponent, as it will likely need to play a stronger pod to make the difference. Be wary of Calculator’s power when it’s at a disadvantage. It may want to equalize, and it may be looking to bait you into playing low.
  • The 04, 06, 08, and 10 attack pods are the most common, so playing the 04 of these can be the safest bet to avoid the power backfiring. However, if the opponent plays a 10 in response, they will still maintain the might advantage. Playing a strong pod like a 30 or 40 is usually much safer, as it’s extremely unlikely that Calculator will choose to equalize while playing a strong encounter pod.

Development Notes

  • Playing negative pods during an equalize will actually add might to the stronger side, which can be especially beneficial for Spiff.
  • One of Calculator’s best possible plays is to equalize with a 30 vs. a 40. This is a highly unlikely scenario, as it needs to have a 30 and assume its opponent will play a 40. The result brings Calculator from a -10 differential to a +20, a major reward for a massive risk, as Calculator only gets one shot to pull it off. The best possible play would be the 39 intimidate pod vs. a 40, turning a -1 into a +38, but this is even more unlikely since the 39 intimidate pod is a dark pod, making it rarer. It also permanently gets the 40 pod out of the pool, turning it into a measly 10. It makes the 30 pod much more valuable once the forge resets.
  • I’ve often thought that Calculator could easily be reframed to be an alien called “Nerd”, reflecting both its use of math and its limited combat potential that requires mind games. I think the Calculator moniker is a better fit for the power itself, to work with the “equalize” concept and highlight the mathematical element more succinctly.
  • One aspect I like about Calculator transforming cards is that it is uniquely capable of making attack pods that don’t otherwise exist. Equalizing a 23 and an 06 could make an attack 17.  Equalizing a 40 and a -03 could make an attack 43.
  • Calculator got me thinking about the nature of transforming pods. I want to explicitly declare that cards “transform” to indicate that they permanently change after the encounter ends.  Calculator is a good case for it since its effect is reasonably noteworthy but not enough to make a huge impact if certain key cards get equalized. Worst case, it would be like Mouth, which can already remove several key pods like the 40 and Cosmic Zaps from play. That said, it is important an alien like Mirror only lasts for the current encounter, since injecting 90s and 70s into the deck would cause too much disruption.
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