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What's that inside joke?

Last update : 8/08/08

The author's sense of humor being what it is, and the Doctor Who series' tongue-in-cheek style factored in, the card game WOULD have its share of inside jokes and puns. The following is a guide to explain these to the less obsessive audience.

Legend

EE - Easter Egg, a graphic joke in the picture or template.

PQ - Ironic or funny picture or quote, chosen specifically to make a comment on the show or game.

Pun - Word play, usually in a title or subtitle.

Ref - Reference to some behind the scenes aspect of the show, such as actor names, Doctor Who clichés, or to some other source that relates to the series in some way.

Rel - Joke regarding the release or revelation of the card.

 

Card	Exp.	Type	In-joke
All cards from The Shakespeare Code	PD	EE	Shakespeare quotations have been inserted into the picture (some are indeed from Love's Labour's Lost). Where the quote is further an inside joke, this list will mention it.
A Foot in the Door	Basic	PQ	The pic relates ironically with the title.
A Hero (reprint)	10D	PQ	Quote taken out of context.
Adric - Clay Aching	Reject	Pun     Pun   Ref     Ref	This is an awful one befitting the Rejects, but the subtitle is a pun on Clay Aiken of American Idol "fame". This plays into Adric being made of clay here. Among the Adric abuse present on this card, he has a dual-species Alzarian/Dirt (clay is a kind of dirt). Victim (3): In Episode 5, Adric is shown to have survived the events of “Earthshock”, but is immediately killed again. The special ability also pays homage to this. Adric’s low Qualities are another element of Adric abuse.
Against All Odds	7 Docs	Ref	Though there are no 9th Doctor cards in The 7 Doctors expansion, this one featuring Rose made it in “against all odds”.
Algy - Barracks Buddy	9D	PQ	The subtitle pokes fun at his relationship with Jack, though the Screamer Trait should not be associated with this in any way. Except for the fact we just mentioned it. And we shouldn't have. Move along. Nothing to see here.
All Your Base Are Belong To Us	Key	Ref	Refers to the terrible translated dialogue from the Zero Wing video game, which became quite a phenomenon on the web and elsewhere. It has a connection to the Daleks beyond their limited vocabulary on the show: Desktops available on Big Finish’s website (the company that produces Doctor Who audios) to promote their Dalek Empire II series use this very phrase.
Alpha Centauri - Ambassador	TL	Ref	There is a good chance that the author gave Centauri Aware for no other reason than because its head is a big eyeball.
An Ultraviolent Death	Reject	Ref	The card refers to Mary Whitehouse who was the founder of the National Viewers' and Listneners' Association who campaigned for morality and decency on public television, and so was a big opponent of Doctor Who, which was too violent for her tastes. A Fix With Sontarans has a death scene that is, of course, way too violent for a Jim'll Fix It feature starring an 8-year-old boy.
Anita - Pragmatic Flower	7 Docs	PQ	The quote is actually about moths, so is used out of context.
Anne Travers - Charming Scientist	Inv	PQ	A character from The Web of Fear, the background was purposefully chosen because it resembles a web.
Appropriate Garb	AW	Ref	The 6th Doctor can't use it because his clothes were always outrageous and inappropriate. Because the 5th Doctor and companions almost never wore anything other than their costume for the season, they also can't use (destroy) this Artifact.
Artifact of Rassilon	Key	Ref	The generic title and quoted list refer to their being a LOT of these (not all are included in the list).
Avitron - Death Parrot	Key	Ref	The subtitle wants to refer to Monty Python’s “Dead Parrot” sketch.
Aztec Warrior - Loyal to Yetaxa	Basic	Ref	The special ability refers to history, allowing a player to decimate the Aztecs and replace them with Europeans from that same era. Ironically, to date, only Ali fits the bill, and he is Middle Eastern.
Babel Masters	RD1	EE	In the upper left-hand corner, the word "Cavendish" appears. This is a reference to a region in the Canadian Maritimes, where the author hails from (the Maritimes, not Cavendish).
Bathroom Break	Reject	PQ	Silly use of a still image and actual line from the show. Then, rather sassy game text.
Ben - Old-Fashioned Hipster	7 Docs	PQ	The "Old-Fashioned" tag is also found on The Doctor (1) - Old-Fashioned Timelord. Both cards play on the sexism of their eras.
Benoit - On a marché sur la lune	7 Docs	Ref	A lot of French here (and some bad fashions), but the subtitle (translating as "We've walked on the moon") is pulled from the title of the Tintin classic, in which the comic character indeed goes to the moon.
Benton - Maverick Driver	Inv	PQ	The quote is taken out of context.
Benton - UNIT Sergeant	Basic	PQ	Though the author does not share the opinion that Benton is sort of dense, the big “SLOWLY” sign in his background may be taken by those who wish it as an indictment of the character.
Bernice Summerfield - The Professor	RD2	Ref	The subtitle is her actual title, but also what Ace calls the Doctor.
Betts - UNIT Soldier	Basic	Ref	Named after Doctor Who producer Barry Letts, there is nonetheless a soldier in the source episode (“The Green Death”) with that very name. The pictured soldier isn’t it, however.
Birostris Prime (4007)	10D	Ref	The planet is named after the scientific nomenclature for the manta ray Manta birostris seeing as manta rays are flying in the sky. Thanks to pal Radagast for naming it.
Black Robot - Gettin' Jiggy Wit It	Reject	Ref   Ref Pun   Pun Pun Pun/Ref   Ref PQ	The subtitle refers to a Will Smith tune, because, well, those robots in the picture sure seem to be dancing! Land o' Fiction: Alternate spelling to fit the subtitle's "accent". Dancing Machine: Plays on the Machine trait. Thes guys dance all night long! Laser Show: Another dance club staple, by way of the Laser Trait. Troupe: Plays on the Troop Trait and a dance troupe. You Can't Change One Conga Line!: Plays on Hartnell's famous line in "The Aztecs" about not changing a single line of history. The special ability refers to white people apparently not being able to dance better than black people (I tend to prove it). The quote is taken out of conext.
Blade	7 Docs	PQ	The quote is taken out of context.
Bonfire	TL	PQ	The quote is taken out of context.
Boom!	9D	PQ EE	The title is an onomatopeia like the card type (Bang!). The "quote" is pulled from a tv screen in the episode, and even mirrors those graphics and spelling error (it should be Henrick's).
Borg - Arrogant Mover	Basic	Ref	All Borg Drones in the Star Trek CCG 2nd Ed. Have attributes set at 5. The same has happened to this character’s Qualities.
Breaking the Fourth Wall	TL	EE	To pay hommage to this silly scene, the image has been placed inside a 60s-style television set with a small Christmas tree on top of it.
Bride of the Auton - Divorce Case	9D	Ref   PQ	The title refers to Bride of Frankenstein (or Ed Wood's Bride of the Monster), and the subtitle is an obvious joke. The quote is taken out of context.
Brought to Book	AW	Pun	The obvious pun with book in it. "Brought to book" essentially means "brought to account" [for one's crimes].
Calufrax (1978)	Key	PQ	There’s a play between the picture and the quote’s contention that this is a little planet.
Can You Face the Truth?	10D	Pun	The title plays on the word "face".
Captain Cogan - Welsh Officer	9D	Ref	Our main play-tester is from Cardiff and so had the opportunity to play a background extra on the show. His surname and nationality are acknowledged in the title. He is Aware because he spots mistakes on cards. Since he oftens argues about the numbers (Cost and Qualities), I've also given him Bureaucrat. The special ability is part inspired by the quote, but is also hints at opposition to certain cards. And finally, the last sentence of the quote could be the head designer speaking instead of The Doctor. ;-)
Cardboard Hero	AW	Ref	Cardboard Heroes is a cheap (but professional) gaming miniatures product by Steve Jackson Games (I think this is all accurate anyway).
Carnosaur	TL	Ref	Even the script can't agree on whether this is a T Rex or an Allosaurus and the Doctor can't really identify it. The more generic name Carnosaur has been selected then, since it is also a tip of the hat to the Roger Corman B-film which uses similarly realistic effects.
Cassandra - Back in Business	10D	Pun	Her subtitle refers to her being a piece of skin taken from her back.
Cassandra - The Last Human	9D	Ref	The author couldn't quite give her Charisma, but let her have History despite the many distortions she uttered on the show, which is where her special ability came from.
Chief Judoon - Dread Judge	10D	Pun/Ref	The subtitle is a reference to Judge Dread, a character with similar ethics and function.
Claire Daly - Far From Unflappable	7 Docs	Pun	A number of things are going on in the subtitle, including her being very far from home (as hinted in the quote) and her being a "flapper" (from that era and upbringing, at least).
Clay Mission	Reject	Pun Ref   PQ	The title is a pun on Clay-mation, the technique used to make Episode 5. Adric and Mel are singled out here because of the general fan-hate for these two companions. The quote makes it plain we don’t care for these characters.
Core Values	Inv	Pun	The title is an unfortunate pun on the value of the Earth's core for the Daleks.
Corpse - Possessed by the Gelth	9D	PQ	The quote is as ironic here as it was on the show.
Corridors	Basic	Ref	The very existence of this card refers to much of Doctor Who taking place in various corridor sets (with a knowing quote included).
Crash Landing	Inv	PQ	The quote is taken out of context.
Creet - The Last Boy	10D	Ref	The subtitle is a reference to another boy with blond locks, Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth (DC Comics).
Cruising Bard	PD	Pun	The title is a play on Shakespeare's nickname and the phrase "cruising bar".
Cut Down to Size	TL	PQ	The quote and picture are taken out of context to refer to points in Cost.
Cyber Lieutenant - Yes Man	Basic	PQ	The subtitle and quote have a definite relationship.
Cyber Medic - Virus Designer	7 Docs	PQ	The pic was chosen to showcase some rather rough bedside manner.
Cyberman Advance - Home Invader	10D	Pun	Home invasion is a euphemism for breaking and entering, but the use of the Whoish word "Invasion" was too good to pass up.
Cyrano - Poet and Swordsman	AW	Ref	Cyrano is based much more on Rostand's character than on the one seen in "The Mind Robber". The special ability might mystify: It refers to the night when Cyrano took on 100 men and won.
Dalek Emperor - Grand Deluder	9D	Pun	The subtitle refers both to the fact he has delusions of grandeur, and to the fact the Daleks have been controling Earth history from behind the scenes.
Dalek Killer	9D	Ref	The title is an oblique reference to the comic strip "Abslom Daak, Dalek Killer".
Daleks Want to Have Your Babies	Reject	Ref   PQ   Ref	The title refers to many B-movies where aliens want to impregnate human women, but in this case, the Daleks are more literal. The picture is taken from a publicity stunt, but the quote is actually from the show, taken out of context. The card would have you turn a Character into a baby, thus it gets the Qualities of a baby and Screamer. At age 13, it rebels like any teenager would. Since your own kids become your worst enemies, the Goal will indeed Oppose itself.
Dashing	TM	Pun	The title admittedly plays on David Tennant's screen persona.
Dating the Monsters	Reject	Pun	The card allows you to have a blind (no Aware) date which includes dinner (Celery or Banana) and a movie (a Doctor Who movie).
Deadication	AW	Pun	The title is a play on "dedication", as the D.J. was talking to dead people.
Desert Rose	RD1	Pun	The title and some of the game text likens the unnamed flower in "The Monsters Inside" with Rose Tyler, whose first name is that of a flower.
Deus ex Satsuma	Inv	Ref	The title is a play on Deus ex Machina, and used by fans in response to the ending of The Christmas Invasion. (A satsuma is a kind of orange.) The quote refers to this ending.
Divine Proxy	TL	PQ	The quote in hierogrlyphics says "Sutekh rulz".
Divorced and Lonely	Reject	PQ	The joke is seeing how long a quote could actually be.
Doctors Only	TL	PQ	That sign was not doctored in any way.
Domesticating the Doctor	Inv	Ref	The 9th Doctor can destroy this Condition because he "doesn't do domestic".
Donna Noble - The Doctor's Partner in Crime	10D	Ref	Her subtitle is taken from the title of her first episode as actual companion, Partners in Crime.
Double Cross	7 Docs	PQ	The picture actually shows a triple cross.
Down the Drain	TL	PQ	The title refers as much to its discarding effect as to the way the game may be going.
Ducting for Cover	AW	Pun	Plays on "ducking for cover" and "ducts".
Duggan - Blunt Instrument	TM	Ref	On the subtitle: Yeah, he's not the sharpest tool in the shed...
Earth (1902)	Inv	Ref	Quote chosen as a wink to a playtester who lives in the Worthing area.
Earth (1985)	7 Docs	Ref	The card is a Holiday not because the Doctor holidayed there, but because the cast and crew somewhat did in their off-hours shooting The 2 Doctors.
Earth (September 2006)	9D	PQ	The quote is, of course, ironic.
Earth (December 2006)	Inv	Ref	The game text creates a gift-giving situation, relevant to a Christmas card.
Earth (2090)	Basic	PQ	The quote is taken out of context.
Easy as Pi	Key	Pun	Plays on the expression “easy as pie”.
Edmund Trevithick - Nightshade	RD1	Ref	Picture is of Professor Quatermass (specifically from "Quatermass and the Pit") on which the Professor Nightshade tv character is at least partially based.
Evan Laurie - UNIT Agent	AF	Ref/Pun	Title a combination of actor's name (Murray Evans) and his onscreen credit (Lorry driver).
Everyone's an Online Critic	Reject	Pun Ref       PQ	The title is a play on the card Everyone's a Critic. Outpost Gallifrey: An internet forum of which your faithful designer is a member. Everyone has an opinion on the internet, though rarely an informed one. Patrons get a few perks in exchange for a small monetary contribution. Moderators make sure posters follow the rules and don't start flame wars. The quote is taken out of context (from City of Death).
Evilution	TM	Pun	Then title is an obvious pun on evolution.
Face Off	AW	Pun	The title is an obvious pun, mentioned here for completeness' sake.
Family Affair	9D	Ref	The title means to refer to the Sopranos' title song.
Fan Devotion	Reject	Pun Ref   Ref   EE	Puzzling: Used instead of Puzzle to highlight how weird the sketch is. Kissing the card: In the sketch, one fan asks the other permission to kiss Peter Davison (see the quote) and gets it. Autographed cards: If indeed you've had cards autographed, this card ranks the worth of any such autograph. The autograph reproduced on the card is Peter Davison's, used without permission.
Fans	9D	-	The author would like to appologize at this point for the lack of any kind of joke about fandom on this card.
Fear Factor	Basic	Pun	The title refers to the reality tv series of the same name. Many cards from Vengeance on Varos suggest, as the story does, a reality tv theme.
Fire Sale	9D	Pun	The title is a play on a type of sale, and the kind of destruction the Slitheen were aiming to cause.
Foamasi Agent - Policething	AW	Pun	The subtitle is a play on "policeman", of course.
Fred - Disused Yeti	Inv	Ref	The subtitle refers to a line from The Enemy of the World, where the Doctor mishears "disused yeti" for "disused jetty".
Friend to the Animals	TL	Ref	The card pokes fun at Vicki's knack for giving creatures pet names.
Functionary - Oppressed Labourer	7 Docs	PQ	The quote is taken out of context.
Game Show Roast	9D	Pun	The title is a play on "game show host".
Generic Baddie - Wannabe Villain	Reject	Ref Ref   Ref   Ref Ref	Title and subtitle point out that the character had no name. His species: Looks like a Thal and the sketch is included on the same release as The Daleks. But the Thals aren't usually Enemies. Nativity: Makes the same joke as in the sketch on the look of most planets in Who. Gloating (½): He's not very good at it. Special ability: In the sketch, the Doctor comments on how his every plan has been done already.
Genetic Transfer	10D	Ref	The game knows a kiss when it sees one, no matter what the Doctor says.
Giant Bird	Basic	PQ	The quote is taken out of context.
Gold Dalek - Invasion Leader	Movie	PQ	The quote makes use of the word "annihilate", linking it to another Unbound Dalek, the Thalek.
Guardian Jim	Reject	Ref	Jim'll Fix It is the BBC show that produced A Fix With Sontarans. Gareth Jenkins also scored a medal after his wish to co-star with Colin Baker was realized. The quote is not taken out of context.
Gulliver - Swift Traveller	AW	Pun	Gulliver's Travels were written by Jonathan Swift, thus "swift traveller".
Gwendoline - Travel Agent	TM	Pun	The subtitle refers to her wanting to "send people to Java."
Hal - The Archer	PD	Ref	This actor also played Bobba Fett in the Star Wars series, which accounts here for his Tracking Trait (if Han Solo makes a run for it).
Hand In	7 Docs	Pun	The title refers to a player’s hand more than the one seen here.
Hands Off	Basic	Pun	The title refers to a player’s hand more than a Character’s.
Hands Up	Basic	Pun	A play on the gun-hand of the Autons and the classic policeman’s call.
Handy Attachment	9D	PQ Pun	The quote is taken out of context. The title plays on "hand" and "useful".
Happy Farewell	TL	Ref	If you want to read a condemnation of Mel as a companion in this card's title, that's up to you.
Harriet Jones - MP for Flydale North	9D	Ref	The first part of her special ability refers to her status as a backbencher.
Heels	Key	Ref	The existence of this card pokes fun at all the high heels worn by female companions over the years, and the amount of running they always had to do in them.
Hoix - Big Mouth	TL	Ref	The game text is based on the scene where we find out (puzzlingly) that a blue liquid makes Hoix angrier, while a red liquid might destroy him. TARDIS Characters have a blue template design, while Allies have a red one.
How I Learned to Love the Bomb	9D	Ref	The title is a reference to Dr. Strangelove, just as the image is.
i-Pod	9D	EE	The quote contains the words DISC CHANGE in a font that recalls a cd player's LCD screen.
Ian Chesterton - Barbara's Boyfriend	Movie	PQ	The quote is taken out of context. (There is also some fun in a subtitle for those who dare to dream.)
Ian Chesterton - Down Memory Lane	RD2	Pun	Very subtle: His story starts at Totter's Lane. Lane is mentioned in his subtitle.
Incantation	PD	Ref	The Shakespearean quote is from MacBeth's witches, which the Carrionites clearly refer to.
Infernal Bickering	AW	Pun	The title is at once a pun on "internal bickering" and the story's name, "Inferno".
Initiate Test	TM	Ref	The story uses the term Initiative Test most of the time, but it sometimes sounds like this. Chosen for a title based on what Ace was being groomed for - a Time Academy initiate - if the show had gone on.
Iris Wildthyme - Doctor's Old Friend	RD2	PQ       Ref	The generation does not match the picture, as the accepted view is that Beryl Reid would have played Verdigris' Iris, while Katy Manning would have played the 7th incarnation. I've gone ahead with the substitution to highlight the fact that Paul Magrs has always done his best to write in contradictions in Iris' story and identities, helped by a line about her finding Jo Grant (also played by Manning) less than endearing. Magrs writes Iris as an alternate Doctor who seems to have had the same adventures, but different. This is the root of the special ability.
It's a Fake!	TL	Ref	The author sometimes shows his STCCG roots with titles repeating from the Star Trek CCG to this one. These are not usually on purpose, using common enough expressions (like Necessary Evil), but in this case, it happens to be one of his favorite lines/deliveries from Deep Space 9.
ITV Strike	Reject	Ref   Ref	The engineered strike implements a sit-in mentality and a communications blackout (unless Doctor Who is on, since it's the only thing that would be while the competing channel is off). Coronation Street is a very popular soap opera on ITV.
Jack Harkness - No Coward	9D	Ref	Though the subtitle comes from a line in "The Parting of the Ways", it can also be taken as one to his nude scene.
Jackie Tyler - Caretaker and Provider	Inv	Rel	This card was revealed on Mother's Day. (Unfortunately, Queen Victoria from Tooth and Claw couldn't be revealed on Victoria Day.)
Jamie McCrimmon - Fresh-Faced Lad	AW	Pun	The subtitle refers to Jamie being played by another actor (Hamish Wilson).
Jammed	AW	Pun	The title plays on Zoe being trapped inside a jam jar.
John Andrews - Gallant Navy Man	7 Docs	Ref	"Navy" in his subtitle is expressly there to link