Don't you draw as many cards as it takes to get to 4, though? Wouldn't that make swapping identical to using it for no effect?
Kinda... except swapping has the limitation of only allowing you to swap cards you already have, so if you used two in a turn, you could only swap two at the end(if you are a captain of course). It was mostly a gameplay mechanic intended to reduce situations where a player is stuck with cards he doesn't want. And for the captain it is enhanced into a overall 'bag of tricks' ability, making captains more capable of reacting to events.
Anyway, if it's still my turn I use the card I got.
Yeah, I'll throw that in there. (it's a redshirt for all you peeps wondering)
☼ ☼ ☼ ☼
▲ ▲ ▲ ▲
╧ σ▓ ╧ ╧ σ▓ ╧ ╧ σ▓ ╧ ╧ σ▓ ╧
█═▓▓▓═█ █═▓▓▓═█ █═▓▓▓═█ █═▓▓▓═█
╔█╗ ╔█╗ ╔█╗ ╔█╗
Roll over the ship sections and you'll see exactly what they are.(acronym tags)
Turn: U.S.S. Palad'inEvasive Maneuvers!
Captain:Askot Bokbondeler
Health:3
Redshirts:3
Location: Bridge
Crewmember 1:Oglokoog
Health:3
Redshirts:2
Location:Right hull
Crewmember 2:dwarfguy2
Health:3
Redshirts:2
Location:Right Pod
Evasive Maneuvers!
Captain:Squeegy
Health:3
Redshirts:3
Location: Bridge
Crewmember 1:IronyOwl
Health:3
Redshirts:3
Location:Engineering
Crewmember 2:Spartan 117
Health:3
Redshirts:3
Location:Right hull
Captain:Canalan
Health:3
Redshirts:3
Location: Bridge
Crewmember 1:Barbarossa the Seal God
Health:3
Redshirts:2
Location:Left hull
Crewmember 2:ExKirby
Health:3
Redshirts:2
Location:Right hull
Captain:Red (RedWarrior0)
Health:3
Redshirts:3
Location: Bridge
Crewmember 1:Nirur Torir
Health:3
Redshirts:2
Location:Left hull
Crewmember 2:Volatar
Health:3
Redshirts:2
Location:Right hull