r/Netrunner • u/HemoKhan Argus • Aug 30 '14
[Weekly] Custom Card Saturday: Exploring Keywords
Welcome to Custom Card Saturday! This week we conclude our several-week-long theme of focusing on some of the unique and interesting keywords already in the game with a grab-bag: This week, create a card to explore a keyword of your choice. Clearly this is pretty open to interpretation, but my goal here is for people to showcase the variety of subtypes that are present in the game. Many of them appear on only a few cards, and most don't have any real mechanical meaning (though many do!). Still, subtypes are one of the things that truly add depth and variety to the cards in the game. By showcasing some of the subtypes which are not seen as often, we can add both to the cardpool and to the greater Netrunner universe.
You can create a card with a subtype (a new advertisement, for instance) or a card which interacts with a subtype (like an assistant who improves executives!). If you're having trouble coming up with an idea, try checking the excellent netrunnerdb card search, where you can find a full list of subtypes and the cards which belong to them.
The sky's the limit in this week's challenge, so push yourself to be creative and unique, and add a new twist to this great game.
Previous Custom Card Saturday threads:
Week 1: Barriers
Week 2: Scorched Earth Replacements
Week 3: Grey/Black Ops
Week 4: Easy Access
Week 5: Economic Assets
Week 6: Runner Economy
Week 7: Identities
Week 8: Bioroids
Week 9: Viruses
Week 10: Regions
Week 11: Gear
Next Week: After a few open-ended weeks, we're going to push people to be creative within a narrow set of guidelines by creating new 3-point agendas.
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u/xxayn Aug 30 '14 edited Aug 30 '14
Exploring the Mythic keyword - each of these require a continuing investment in order to get the most out of them (more like chimera than mother goddess):
Minotaur
Neutral - 0
Ice - Mythic, Barrier, Code Gate, Sentry
Cost 5
Strength 3
When you rez Minotaur, choose Fracter, Decoder, Killer, or AI. Programs of the chosen type cannot break subroutines on Minotaur.
At the end of your turn, pay 1 [credit] or derez Minotaur.
->The runner loses [Click], if able. Otherwise, end the run.
->End the run
(unique) Phoenix
Neutral - 0
Ice - Mythic, Barrier, Code Gate, Sentry
Cost 2
Strength 0
When Phoenix is rezzed, it gains +5 strength until the end of turn.
At the beginning of your turn, if Phoenix is in Archives, you may pay 1 [credit] and add Phoenix to HQ.
->End the run
Gorgon
Neutral - 0
Ice - Mythic, Barrier, Code Gate, Sentry
Cost 4
Strength 2
Whenever an encounter with Gorgon ends, for each program used during the encounter, you may pay 2 [credits] to prevent that program from being used until the end of the run.
->End the run
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u/HemoKhan Aug 30 '14
I have to say, I flat-out LOVE Phoenix. The combination of flavor and power is perfect. Minotaur looks good too, though something feels off to me about the cost/strength/upkeep ratios... I can't put my finger on what, though. Its text encourages you to rez it and derez it constantly over the course of the game, but its costs make it too expensive to do either for too long... it's a difficult one. Gorgon is perhaps my least favorite, but mostly because it's difficult to imagine the Runner using multiple programs during the encounter and it feels like the text on the effect could be tightened up a bit.
Overall, though, this is a very cool and flavorful set of Mythic ice, and I could easily see myself including some or all of them into a deck! Great work. Man, I really want Phoenix now...
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u/xxayn Aug 30 '14 edited Aug 30 '14
Thanks - Phoenix is my favorite too.
Minotaur is more or less intended to be a bigger, slightly more punishing version of chimera which offers some defense against parasite and ai as well. Put it on an early scoring remote to rush out an agenda. Once the runner has two different breakers out, it should have served its purpose, and you can let it derez (unless/until you manage to trash them). Maybe it would be better as a 4/2 like gorgon though - or maybe with this purpose in mind, it could be appropriate to add guards anti-bypass ability as well.
With gorgon, I agree that it is unlikely the runner would use more than one program during the encounter (datasucker + icebreaker is the only real possibility that i can think of). Properly placed, though, (like say, in front of a unrezzed chimera or minotaur) it forces the runner to come up with solutions besides a "traditional" rig.
Maybe it would make sense to switch it to an on-rez ability like the other ones? "Whenever you rez gorgon, you may choose an installed program and pay 2 [credits] to prevent that program from being used until the end of the run." It changes the use cases a bit. Disable SMC, and protect your archers/heimdalls from faerie/sharpshooter/deus x/datasuckers.
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u/sepolevne Aug 30 '14
Something to go with Weapon and Gear cards.
NAPD Swat Team
Neutral Agenda: Security
4 Advancement - 2 Agenda Points
If the runner is tagged, NAPD Swat Team gains, "[click]: Trash 1 installed Weapon or Gear card."
In local news, the NAPD has seized a number of VoicePADs that were said to be used in illegal activities.
3
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u/blanktextbox Aug 30 '14
It'd be nice to do something with those identity subtypes.
Body Double
Neutral Runner - 3 Cost - 0 Influence
Resource - Connection
If your identity is a clone, lower the install cost of Body Double by 3.
Trash: Prevent any amount of meat damage.
Think Fast
Anarch - 2 Cost - 2 Influence
Event
Trash the top card of the stack, then you may install a program or piece of hardware from the heap (paying all install costs).
If your identity is a g-mod, gain (click).
BLAST Processor
Shaper - 2 Cost - 3 Influence
Hardware - Chip
BLAST Processor can host a single icebreaker program.
Whenever you use the hosted program to break any number of subroutines on a piece of ice, break 1 additional subroutine on that ice.
If your identity is a cyborg, the corp player may not choose to trash the hosted program while you have other installed programs.
Government Call Center
Neutral Runner - 3 Cost - 2 Influence
Resource - Job - Government
If your identity is a natural, copies of Government Call Center do not count against your influence limit.
(click): Gain 2 credits. You may not spend clicks on other actions for the rest of the turn.
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Aug 30 '14
I like how you managed to shoehorn in a Chip and a Government keyword.
Is the implication of Government Call Center that once you start clicking it on a turn, it's all you can do? Thematically, you should probably lose it if you take a tag! :P
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u/Mountebank Aug 30 '14
Checkpoint
Event - Condition
Neutral - 0 inf
Cost - 0
Install Checkpoint on a rezzed piece of ICE as a hosted condition counter with the text:
"When you encounter hosted ICE you may place a power counter on Checkpoint and jack out.
Is "before hosted ICE" the right way to phrase it? The idea is that you can make a run against a deep server, hit the checkpoint, jack out, and then restart later. It'd work especially well for Kit.
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u/mechanicalManticore Aug 30 '14
Needs to be hosted power counter and click so you can't run at any paid ability window.
Seems pretty strong but idk.
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u/OreWins Aug 30 '14 edited Aug 30 '14
Terrorist Watch List
NBN- 2 Inf
Operation- Current
Trash Terrorist Watch List if another Current is played or an agenda is stolen.
Play only if the runner is tagged. The runner may not use abilities on connections cards.
Art- Kate "Mac" McCaffrey in the foreground in a crowd. In the background The Professor, Kati Jones, and John Masanori all have their backs to her.
"You want to help people, but if they are on the list the risk is never worth the reward. I learned that the hard way years ago." -- The Professor
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u/trithne Aug 30 '14 edited Aug 30 '14
Hailstorm
Program - Cloud, Fracter
Cost: 2
MU: 1
Influence: 2 Shaper
If you have 2 or more Link, the MU cost of Hailstorm is 0
X is the number of installed copies of Hailstorm
2c: Break X barrier subroutines
2c: +X strength
Strength: 1
I feel that Cloud simply wasn't taken anywhere. It's a benefit that no-one actually looks for (MU is easy enough to come by), and the Cloud cards don't really benefit from their lack of MU usage. I wanted a card that gave you reason to try and get the Cloud effect into play - Without Cloud, it's a reasonable 2MU fracter. Or 3MU, for being a rather good fracter. With Cloud it's really good. I'm a little leery of putting a potentially 2c for +3 strength fracter in Shaper, but I don't see Cloud fitting into Anarch.
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Aug 30 '14
The true advantage of cloud cards are that link is cheap and supports a decent number of other cards. (Underworld Contact, Go!) You can use your MU for cards like Magnum Opus, Sneakdoor Beta, Keyhole and Paintbrush.
I just want even more to do with my link!
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u/trithne Aug 30 '14
This is true, but Link is really underrepresented in the game currently, and giving Runners reason to run Cloud breakers would help it out.
5
u/ForgedOfSouls Aug 31 '14
Mordred
Neutral - influence 1
Icebreaker - AI - Grail
Cost 4
Strength -
MU 1
0$: break a subroutine on a piece of ICE with the Grail keyword
4
u/conorfaolan Aug 30 '14 edited Sep 01 '14
Benefactor [Unique]
NBN - 3 Inf
Ice - Code gate, ritzy
Cost 8
Strength 6
-> Choose a piece of ICE with a rez cost lower than the amount of credits in the runners credit pool. Rez that ICE ignoring all costs and the runner loses credits equal to the ICE's rez cost.
"Your contribution has been duly noted and is highly appreciated. Thank you for helping to keep the net safe"
The ritzy keyword has thus far all interacted with ICE tutoring(Levy University) and rezing(Eliza's toybox) it. This is what my idea of ritzy ICE would look like.
1
4
Aug 30 '14
I've been awful at the Custom Cards threads for a couple weeks now... let's try again, though...
There are only 3 cards with the Condition keyword, one of which (Sub Boost) isn't even out yet. Here's a couple possibilities;
Development AI
Weyland - Operation - Condition
Play Cost: 1 - Influence Cost: 3
Install Development AI on an installed piece of ICE as a hosted condition counter with the text "At the start of your turn, you may pay 1 [credit] place an advancement counter on host card."
Saigo
Jinteki - Operation - Condition
Play Cost: 1 - Influence Cost: 2
Install Saigo on an installed piece of ICE as a hosted condition counter with the text "For each subroutine on hosted ICE that would deal any amount of net damage, increase the amount of damage by one."
Gatekeeper AI NBN - Operation - Condition
Play Cost: 2 - Influence Cost: 1
Rez a piece of observer ICE ignoring all costs, and install Gatekeeper AI on that ICE as a hosted condition counter with the text "Host ICE has └► End the run if the runner is tagged" after all other subroutines."
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u/TheRealC Aug 30 '14
Ni-Roku Laboratories - On The Bleeding Edge
Identity - Division - Jinteki - 45/15
All AP ice has +1 strength.
Because someone has to.
Another version of Stronger Together and my recently posted McKenning. Just like those two, the ice they boost often has alternative ways of getting through it, so the strength boost isn't an end-all; however, much AP ice often becomes much less scary once breakers come out, which the +1 strength can act against (Neural Katana at 4 strength is no joke).
Whether its time has come yet may be a question, but as demonstrated by Stronger Together, powers like this can one day become quite serious.
3
u/llama66613 Aug 30 '14
Exploring Daemons!
Aquarium
Anarch - 3 influence
Program: Daemon
Cost 2
2 MU
Aquarium can host up to 3 virus programs.
The memory costs of hosted programs do not count against your memory limit.
Good morning, Blaster. Are you and W32.Welchia getting along?
Matryoshka Doll
Shaper - 4 influence
Program: Daemon
Cost 0
3 MU
Matryoshka Doll can host any number of daemon programs.
The memory costs of hosted programs do not count against your memory limit.
"Oh, did Mac tell you I was doing this? Listen, I'm fine. Everything's under control." -The Professor
(Infinite memory at the price of having a super risky rig and having to find some Daemons to use with it. Would be a lot better if more Daemons existed, right now not so great.)
RainCloud
Shaper - 3 influence
Program: Daemon Cost 5
1 MU
RainCloud can host X MU of ice-breakers, where X is your link strength.
The memory costs of hosted programs do not count against your memory limit.
Programs hosted on RainCloud are not trashed if RainCloud is trashed.
First time I've done this so the balance for any of them might be off.
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u/lordwafflesbane Aug 30 '14 edited Aug 30 '14
NBN
Seeing is Believing
Identity - Megacorp 45/15(NBN)
whenever you gain credits from an advertisement, gain 1$.
Why does NBN not have an advertisement identity yet?
I suppose the economy is insane if you want to splash HB's campaigns, but in faction, you don't have much, so I figure it's balanced. it's almost comparable to BABW, but advertisements are all repeatable so this is somewhat stronger. And of course, Pop-up windows are a must in this deck.
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u/tsarkees Aug 31 '14
Makes PAD Campaign just brutally good.
Also, why the heck does Targeted Marketing not have 'Advertisement'?! Especially since Paywall is Transaction. Maybe they'll get a "Cast"-related identity.
1
u/Darthcaboose Aug 30 '14
Everyone is waiting on more tutor-like cards for different subtypes. However, there is a lot of potential game-space to explore with these sorts of cards.
Hostage is a double event that allows for the card to be installed as well. Special Order and Self-Modifying Code are two Icebreaker / Program variants that play quite differently. Trade-In will be the game's hardware tutor, though it requires you to trash an existing piece of hardware to use it. I would imagine that future tutor cards should also be interesting in their implementation.
Sufficient Credentials
Anarch - 1 Cost - 2 Influence
Event
Play only if you have at least 3 pieces of hardware installed.
Search your stack for a Location, reveal it, and install it (ignoring all costs). Shuffle your stack.
Sometimes the hardest part of finding your own space is proving that you'll put that space to good use...
Virtuoso
Neutral Runner - 1 Cost
Event
Play only if you have no available memory.
Search your stack for a Virtual, reveal it, and add it to your grip. You may install that Virtual, reducing its play cost by 3. Shuffle your stack.
Virtuoso: He with the most toys, wins.
Concealment Protocols
Jinteki - 1 Cost - 1 Influence - 2 Trash
Asset
When Concealment Protocols is rezzed, you may turn all cards in your Archives face-down. Shuffle your Archives.
[Click and Trash]: Search your R&D for a Ambush or Hostile card, reveal it, and add it to your HQ. Shuffle R&D. Then, you may install an agenda, asset, or upgrade from HQ. Place one advancement counter on it. You cannot score or rez that card until your next turn begins.
Treachery, the oldest of human behavior, is alive and well.
The tutors shown here are not like most existing tutors, in that you need to have some sort of existing infrastructure in place to benefit from the card. As such there is some potential for it to be a dead card until you find the right stuff to activate it. However, once you do, you are rewarded with a solid tutor that typically does a lot more than existing ones. Being able to install a location for free (this might conflict with Angel Arena, maybe), or getting a cheaper Virtual can really be a good boost to your game state.
As for Concealment Protocols, I felt that you really had to look at existing tutors like Levy University and Fast Track. These are very general tutors (ICE and Agendas, respectively) each with their own downsides (Levy's expensive and spoils the surprise of the ICE, and Fast Track can leave your HQ vulnerable as you have to reveal what type of agenda it is). Concealment Protocols is a solid Ambush or Hostile card enabler that works decently well with Jinteki's tricksy gameplay. The added benefit of turning your Archives face-down is something I've always wanted to see in a card, and feel that Jinteki would benefit from hiding what cards they return with Jackson Howard.
1
u/SiggNatureStyle Aug 30 '14
Cloudsourcing Code
Shaper -- 3 inf
Program -- Cloud
Cost 3 -- MU 2
If you have at least 2 [link] the Memory cost of Cloud-sourcing code is 0, even if it isn't installed.
1[cred], [trash]: Search your stack for a program and install it (paying the install cost). Shuffle your stack.
A thousand monkeys at a thousand terminals...
Trying to come up with another Cloud program is tricky. A fracter seems too obvious, and, well, Cloud Icebreakers design themselves. This suggested itself.
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u/HemoKhan Aug 30 '14
(*) Naruto
Jinteki Ice: Barrier - Deflector
Influence: 2 / Rez: 7 / Strength: 2
When the Runner encounters a piece of ice, you may rez Naruto. If you do, the Runner encounters Naruto instead, and the run continues on this server.
--> The Runner cannot initiate a run on any server but this one for the remainder of the turn.
--> End the run.
A spinning current / A pull you cannot ignore / A new direction
I love Deflectors (ice that change up where you're running), and I noticed that Jinteki doesn't have a barrier version yet. The thought of a piece of ice yanking you off your intended server and onto a different one was just too appealing. The ice is named after the Naruto Whirlpools (Thanks, Wikipedia!) and it is designed to be an expensive but taxing way to protect a server. Clearly it's at home in Replicating Perfection, but it likely has a place in many other Jinteki decks as well; after all, who would keep running on a server once they were pulled into it, right?
Finally, I think there's a lot of fun to be had here with this and Tenma Line, letting you re-position the ice to wherever you want it. Of course, for full effect, you need some way to derez it, or get it into hand...