Community Data Pack Review-Kala Ghoda

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The reviewers found that this was a poor pack, with only three cards achieving the mark of Strong, and the majority falling into the 2 zone. Yet specific Deckbuilds can find a card or two here, but the cards are not widely applicable. While the alliance cards got off to a decent start, the Consumer Grade Hardware did not.




We used the following rating scale to rate each card in the pack:
1- Very poor - Very bad for the foreseeable future, but may become a usable card one day in the meta.
2- Bad - Not a good card to play generally, but may have its role in some very specific deck builds. Not likely to be seen in a tourney winning deck.
3- Average - Will make some tourney winning decks, but not in every deck it is eligible for. Think hard before including.
4- Strong - Almost certainly a strong include for almost every deck that is eligible to include it.
5- Excellent - A definite auto-include of exceptional strength.


Synopsis:
Vikram 1.0 4.3
Mongoose 4.3
Run Amok 4
Mumba Temple 3.7
Advanced Concept Hopper 3.7
Dedication Ceremony 3.3
Kala Ghoda Real TV 3.3
Maya 3
High-Stakes Job 3
Jesminder Sareen 2.9
Artist Colony 2.7
Chatterejee University 2.7
Heritage Committee 2.7
Interrupt 0 2.7
Museum of History 2.7
Mumbad City Grid 2.2
Street Magic 2
Ramujan Reliant 550 BMI 2
Panchatantra 1.7


Advanced Concept Hopper

MightyToenail-3/5
It has its uses, but as a 4/2, it can be difficult to score, which worries me. Still, once you get it going, you have a way to benefit from the RnD lock that can sometimes be achieved against Haas. Imagine two of these in play...

Sithborg-4/5
Such an amazing 4/2 if you can score it out early. And if you can get 2, craziness. I do believe it is a solid option if you want to forgoe NAPD. The extra money and cards can be brutal with HB.

AdorablePython-4/5
Very solid card. The earlier you score this, the better. And the more you score, the better. Couple it with Subliminal Messaging to punish the runner for not running.

Artist Colony

MightyToenail- 2/5
While this does have synergy with Fan Site, the ability isn't worth losing the agenda otherwise. If you got it for a reduced cost, now that would be a different story. However, as it doesn't cost a click, it can be used mid run, but I think that I would prefer SMC to this in Shaper. And it can't tutor for rebirth, because it doesn't have an install cost.

Sithborg-3/5
It is a nice universal tutor, though the cost could be high unless you have picked up a News Team or Shi.kyu. You could go crazy and start to use Fan Site. If you are in a pinch, it is handy for getting your rig or whatever resource combos going.

AdorablePython-3/5
Coupled with Fan Sites, it needs a bit build-up, but is then very versatile and makes up for the time you spent to install the Fan Sites, by not only tutoring the cards, but also installing them - click free. As with Data Dealer and Frame Job, it gets rid of Shi.Kyu and News Team, too.

Chatterjee University

MightyToenail- 3/5
Takes a lot of work, but this card can enable those high-cost program decks that run things like Torch or Morning Star. Still, it is so limited that it probably will see little play.

Sithborg-3/5
The exponential growth of Chatterjee is interesting, though highly dependent on when you get it out and how many programs you plan on playing. Once you have your rig all set, there is may not be a reason to be playing programs anymore. If you get it early game, I can see it being great in getting your rig out cheap, though at the cost of more faster options.

AdorablePython- 2/5
It's not bad, but it takes too much time and only gets really effective if stacked to high amounts of power counters and combined with many expensive programs - like Torch, Morning Star, Garrote, Alpha, Omega, etc.

Dedication Ceremony

MightyToenail- 4/5
Finally! A card that works with Weyland's early game advantage. Install, advance, dedicate. Advance two more times next turn and a vanity project is scored. Think of the combos with Government Takeover as well. Absolutely mind blowing.

Sithborg-2/5
I can see the uses for this card. Unfortunately, a lot of the uses are a bit gimmicky. So, definitely a fun card for some uses, but it won't be seen a whole lot.

AdorablePython-4/5
Very, very good in combination with GRNDL Refinery or Reversed Accounts. Also, as Valdemart mentioned, it can do some strange things with Government Takeover. And maybe, just maybe, Amazon Industrial Grid+Tyrant/Woodcutter becomes viable by fast-advancing it with Dedication Ceremony.

Heritage Committee

MightyToenail- 2/5
Meh, not great. Putting the card on top of the deck is kind of pointless, because any mind games you could cause are ruined because you draw the card anyway. A worse Anonymous Tip that costs more.

Sithborg-3/5
I like it. It is some nice card draw for Jinteki, while giving your R&D some protection. The influence or alliance cost will make it difficult to splash it outside of Jinteki, though.

AdorablePython-3/5
Draw up, then put the Snare! on top of R&D. Or an expensive piece of ICE, so you can mutate it. Both Mutate and Snare! cost (assuming 3 copies each) 15 influence, so they fit in most decks - while Heritage Committee comes for free.

High-Stakes Job

MightyToenail- 2/5
It's pretty good, but after spending those six credits, would you really have enough money to make the successful run? And if you did, did you really need this card? It feels like a win-more card to me.

Sithborg-4/5
This is pretty crazy. Super Dirty Laundry will see plenty play. With the recent hit to Desperado, Criminals will love having this as econ. An Account Siphon into this will be a drastic money swing. It can be such a drastic boost to the Runner, the Corp will have to be as aware of this as Account Siphon.

AdorablePython-3/5
An upgraded Dirty Laundry. Even dirtier laundry, if you will. With spills and stains... uhm, whatever. I think this is a nice addition to Express decks, but outside of those I find it a bit too risky.

Interrupt 0

MightyToenail- 3/5
It's got a cute ability, and maybe it can work in a Spark deck with Popup and Tollbooth to drain the runner. But outside of Spark, there's not much use for this.

Sithborg-2/5
It is kind of a nice piece of ice that is heavily dependant on position. Making it more expensive for the Runner to get past ice is nice, even if only one piece of ice is behind it. Being heavily dependant on position will definitely limit how many you want to include, however.

AdorablePython-3/5
Comparable to TL;DR. While TL;DR makes multiple unbroken subs more severe (Komainu, Tsurugi, Ichi 1.0), Interrupt 0 is better in taxing the runner. For example, take Hive with 5 subs. Assuming the runner has an installed Corroder, with TL;DR it takes 11 credits to break (1 to pump up the strength, 10 to break the subs), while Interrupt 0 costs the runner 16 credits (1 to pump up the strength, 3 to break each subroutine).

Jesminder Sareen

MightyToenail- 2/5
Subpar really. Avoiding a few tags and having a good matchup against Data Raven isn't good enough when up against Hayley, Chaos, and Kate.

Sithborg-3/5
In my area, at least, Sync has been fairly popular. So, laughing at Data Raven is nice. Of course, there is some obvious synergy with her console, Maya, but I like some of the Run events that give you tags. Granted, there isn't many. But I can see a deck around Code Siphon, Vamp, and Account Siphon with her. Though I could see the arguement that simply going Tag Me with other Runners would be more effective.

AdorablePython-3.5/5
Hoses many tag-reliant NBN decks and has a synergy with Maya, Code Siphon and Vamp. Pretty solid if you're tag-o-phobic.

Kala Ghoda Real TV

MightyToenail-2/5
It is nice to be able to see what the runner is drawing, but the ability is so lackluster outside of that that I wonder if it is worth the deckspace at all.

Sithborg-4/5
It is a nice way to mess with the Runner outside of a run. Slowing down the Runner for a turn or two when you prevent them from drawing a key card can give the Corp some nice breathing room. Also a nice little sneaky way to draw a run.

AdorablePython-4/5
Another card for those control-freak NBN decks. Not only do you know what comes next, but you may prevent the runner from drawing a crucial card. There's also a synergy with Sherlock 1.0 and Hellion Alpha Test. Only 1 influence, too.

Maya

MightyToenail-3/5
Not bad. Two memory is always good, and with Sareen it becomes actually quite playable. Outside of Sareen, not so much.

Sithborg-3/5
Well, the cheap MU is a great start. The ability to really lock down R&D is also amazing if you have R&D locked down. Sending back News Team or Shi.Kyu after choosing the -1 is an added benefit. It is a very good console. Add in some amazing art, and I see myself using it in a few other decks.

AdorablePython-3/5
While it has an obvious synergy with Jesminder Sareen, it's generally nice in any deck that locks on R&D. Access a piece of ICE on your first run? Add it to the bottom of R&D and do another run! It's also a nice alternative to Toolbox, as those two are the only Shaper consoles with 2 MU.

Mongoose

MightyToenail-5/5
This is the best card in the pack, hands down. When you combine it with any AI breaker (Omega comes to mind) in order to break the second sentry ice, if there is one, then this becomes a great little killer program.

Sithborg-4/5
A cheaper, more easily splashable Killer is very welcome. Doubling up of Sentries is a danger, but there are plenty of backups for emergencies. It is not going to be THE Killer, sure. But I like having the cheaper option available.

AdorablePython-4/5
A nice, cheap killer. Though it needs some supporting cards to counter Sentry stacking. In criminal: Faeries or Shivs. If you splash it in Anarch, you have Forked, Parasite and Run Amok. Also a fine tool for the upcoming Nero Severn, as you can simply bounce off of the second Sentry.

Mumba Temple

MightyToenail-4/5
This is designed for those 40-card decks (TWIY and SYNC). I'll definitely slot a few in my World Is Yours deck. Even outside of those, I can see myself playing this.

Sithborg-4/5
I like it, even if you are paying the influence cost. The Alliance cost isn't too bad, though. It will probably in some Asset heavy decks. It can pay for itself right after you rez it, so that is nice. It will definitely draw some Runner attention, as letting it stick around is a bad idea.

AdorablePython-3/5
Comes in handy in those very horizontal decks with just a few ICE. Gagarin, NEH, Personal Evolution, or any 44 card deck.

Mumbad City Grid

MightyToenail-3/5
Let the jank flow through you. Yep, this is a pretty janky card. But it does have some applications. If you can get, say a Tollbooth in this server, I can imagine it being quite expensive to hit a tollbooth potentially three times.

Sithborg-1/5
Repositioning of ice is really difficult to justify. Especially since it is in only one server. It is really a niche of a niche use.

AdorablePython-2.5/5
Personally, I think this relies on too much other cards. But with the right pieces (namely an extremely taxing ICE, coupled with two very cheap ones) it might do its job.

Museum of History

MightyToenail-2/5
This is way less good than the Mumba Temple, and so I don't feel like building a 50 card deck is worth it. That is, until they release a strong 50 card Corp identity. It still could have some application as an alternative to Jackson in low influence decks, but it probably won't see any play.

Sithborg-3/5
This is one that I see going in many different directions. I don't foresee 54 card Corp decks popping up to satisfy the Alliance cost. Getting a card back, along with a reshuffle is very nice. Especially if you are using a lot of Operations. Or to sneak an Agenda back into R&D. It will also have a big target on it by the Runner.

AdorablePython-3/5
If you ever plan to build a giant deck, here's your card. Perhaps in a 54 card Industrial Genomics deck. You may trash as many cards as you like with Reuse or Power Shutdown, then recover up to 3 of them each turn. It's basically a more reliant Hades Fragment that can't be stolen and may even replace Jackson Howard in those decks.

Panchatantra

MightyToenail-1/5
The fact that it needs other cards to work means that it can't be anything more than a 2/5. I would consider it if it were a zero memory, but as it is, it doesn't get much worse than this.

Sithborg-1/5
Let's just ignore some of the sillier suggestions for now, as I don't think they will really work. I think it's usefulness will increase as we get more subtype breakers like Gingerbread or Dues Ex. So, for now, I would chalk this up to a more fun card.

AdorablePython-3/5
Sadyojata aside, you may give a piece of ICE the AP/Destroyer/Tracer subtype to break it very cheaply with Deus X/Sharpshooter/Gingerbread. You could also give a Wraparound the Fracter subtype to reduce its strength to zero.

Ramujan-Reliant 550 BMI

MightyToenail-1/5
This card's issue lies in its timing. It is only strong in the midgame or later, as it takes time to get them into play, when the time that you need net damage prevention is early game when you don't have the breakers and get hit by a Neural Katana. Really the only use for it is brain damage prevention, and since you never take more than one at a time, I really can't see the application. Creepy art too.

Sithborg-2/5
The new Consumer-grade hardware isn't off to a great start. The only benefit is for the brain damage protection. While there is a bit more brain damage out there now, there is not enough to warrant including 6 of these in a deck. 1 or 2 should be enough, to offset your Stimhacks.

AdorablePython-3/5
Against meat damage, there are better alternatives. Like I've Had Worse or Plascrete Carapace. But against Cerebral Overwriter or large packages of net damage (Snare!, Ronin, Philotic Entanglement) it's a good way to prevent being flatlined. Takes some time, though.

Run Amok

MightyToenail-4/5
I'm going to use my privilege as editor to say that I have no clue on this card. I can't decide if it is an amazing version of Running Interference, or a crappy binder card. Only time will tell I guess.

Sithborg-4/5
It is always nice to make the Corp player to have to make tough choices. It is doubtful a Corp will rez an expensive piece of ice just to have you trash it. Though, if it is a piece of ice that will kill you, it might be as big of a deterrant as you thought. It is also nicer against a more protected server than DDOS or Inside Job.

AdorablePython-4/5
If the corp rezzes the piece of ICE, it is trashed - but you suffer some potentially nasty subroutines. If the corp does not rez the piece of ICE, you gain free/cheap access. So the corp is forced to make bad decisions. Coupled with DDoS, it's kind of a Blackmail that doesn't require a bad publicity. All in all this is a card that rewards facechecking - that's what Anarchs do.

Street Magic

MightyToenail-2/5
You have to admit, this is pretty limited in application. Being a zero cost resource means that it isn't complete junk, but I can't see myself getting any benefit from this.

Sithborg-1/5
Yeah, there is some utility there for facechecking some ice. It is cheaper to splash than Grappling Hook or Fairie I guess. I guess my issue with it is that it is effective against a fairly narrow subset of ice. And even then, there is scarier ice you would want to protect yourself from if you are facechecking.

AdorablePython-3/5
Another "facecheck all day long" card. It disarms some otherwise annoying or outright nasty pieces of ICE. Which are: Archer, Caduceus, Datapike, Enigma, Grail ICE, Fenris, Heimdall 1.0/2.0, Little Engine, ICE that are enhanced by Sub Boost/Marker/Sensei, Markus 1.0, Muckraker, News Hound (with an active Current), Orion, Rototurret, Shadow, Shinobi, Shiro, Uroboros, Viktor 1.0/2.0, Viper and Wall of Thorns.

Vikram 1.0

MightyToenail-5/5
This is a great card. The threat of brain damage combined with the high strength and sentry make this an excellent mid game sentry, allowing you to leverage the economic advantage of Haas while keeping the runner out with the first subroutine.

Sithborg-3/5
Disclaimer: I am a bit of a bioroid fanboy. I have used Stronger Together to make some fun decks. So, merely being a Bioroid pretty much assures I would like the card. The biggest issue with Vikram is that it falls inbetween the two Ichis. It is easier to click through than Ichi 2.0, but more expensive than 1.0, while also being in D4v1d range. Vikram also needs a bit of proper placement to really get full use out of its subroutines. But, facechecking a Vikram is far more dangerous than an Ichi. Brain damage is pretty much always going to be dangerous compared to trashing a program. And with a higher trace.

AdorablePython-5/5
It's a bit costly, but generally nastier than Ichi 1.0. It might even outright replace Ichi 1.0 in most Bioroid decks and is, unlike Ichi 1.0, a threat in every stage of the game. Trashed programs can be ignored if no programs are installed. Brain damage, on the other hand, is something you want to avoid even in the early game. The first subroutine might sometimes get ignored, but affects all programs - even Medium, Nerve Agent, Datasucker, Imp or Self-modifying Code.

Top 3 cards
T1. Vikram 1.0: 4.3
T1. Mongoose: 4.3
3. Run Amok: 4

Bottom 3 cards
19. Panchatantra: 1.7
T17. Ramujan Reliant 550 BMI: 2.0
T17. Street Magic: 2.0

It looks like the Anarchs have the position of having all three of their cards in the top or bottom, while it looks like Haas and Criminal got the best cards out of this pack. The Mumbad Cycle is off to a shaky start, but maybe it can make up for that in the next months.