Opening Moves Review

Opening Moves Review

60% 239 out of 400

Our staff has put together a first blush analysis of the newly released Opening Moves. We've used a one through five scale; five being the best. The cards are listed in numeric order. Our reviewers are listed in alphabetical order. Let us know in the comments how you feel about the cards in this pack!

I'm looking for some more volunteers that would be interested in writing Android: Netrunner articles for CardGameDB. If this sounds like something you think you would enjoy and have a good grasp of the game area you would like to write about send me (Darksbane) a PM and let me know what ideas you have.

[CRB='forums/uploads/an/frame-job-opening-moves.jpg'] Frame Job 5 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 1 out of 5
As things stand, Frame Job seems a little under powered for an economy card. Spending a credit, an additional click and goodness knows how many credits you paid to get the forfeited agenda under your belt… man. The future may hold a place for this little guy, but it's nothing to write home about now

Hraklea - 2 out of 5
This is another “I don't know, so I'll give it a 2 out of 5” case. With 1 point agenda cards becoming more popular, and considering it is not a resource and doesn't cost influence, I like this card better than Data Dealer. We also don't know the potential of bad publicity yet, so I don't think it is fair to give it a 1 out of 5.

Scud - 1 out of 5
Right now, this card is pretty bad. However, later in the cycle, when there are more ways to punish the Corp for Bad Publicity (like, say, Raymond Flint, who lets you access 1 card from HQ every time the Corp takes a Bad Publicity, allowing you to access more cards with HQ Interface or a charged up Nerve Agent without running), this might get a bit better.

Hats & Suits - 1 out of 5
Rarely will you want to take 1 recurring credit over one point towards winning. Until we have more play styles other than score or mill or cards that combo well with bad publicity I doubt we will be seeing this card get much use.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/pawn-opening-moves.jpg'] Pawn 9 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 2 out of 5
Pawn helps you bring that Rook into play from your heap if you have to while saving you 2 credits. Not too much else to say at this time.

Hraklea - 3 out of 5
While this won't see the board soon, we already know a few caissa programs that are coming in the next packs, and Pawn seems a very solid card for that archetype. It doesn't costs you credits or memory, just time. I can't say for sure that caissa based decks will be good, but I don't see how they would be bad.

Scud - 2 out of 5
Rook is a good card. As of this pack, Pawn can help you install Rook, even from your Heap, for free. That's worth a 2. As more Caissa Programs are released, this little guy will get better and better.

Hats & Suits - 2 out of 5
Great way to save money once all those Caissa cards are able to be used. Not a bad way to hit a badly protected remote and get paid for it with a better program. But after late game comes in this guy will hardly help and will often get in the way of other Caissas. I would try out 2 rather than 3 in a Caissa themed deck when they all come out. As far as right now, I would play without this. (Pawn can also be hosted with other Caissas on outer most pieces of ICE, but will count for later programs being hosted as it moves.)
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/rook-opening-moves.jpg'] Rook 13 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
Making the corporation front a larger amount to rez up their servers has the real potential to toss the wrench in their well-planned works. Rook will gum up its fair share of games in the foreseeable future. Looking forward to this line of themed cards.

Hraklea – 3 out of 5
This is a very nice credit denial card. It either forces the Corp to trash a piece of ice or to spending more credit than they have planned. With Xanadu and Reina Roja, this will be very powerful if we find a way to build an Anarch deck using Emergency Shutdown + Crescentus.

Scud - 3 out of 5
I love me some resource denial, and Rook is a delicious piece of that particularly tasty pie. Yes, it requires two clicks to actually do anything, but you can stack them on a single server, it tastes great with Xanadu (which is very underrated) and Cortez Chip, and you can move it around as you need it. Even if the Corp just uninstalls the ICE hosting Rook, you've gained a bit of momentum (and, if they had to pay to install the ICE, a few credits) on them.

Hats & Suits - 4 out of 5
I will note that this can have multiple versions of it on single ICE after its initial hosting. (Placement is everything in chess, so it acts in kind with Caissas.) Moves like a rook from Chess either up and down servers or left and right along them so long as there is a place to move. Using this in combination or along a single server can really hinder or kill a Corp's defense. Now that Jinteki is finally getting out of some of their money issues this is a great way to put them back into place. Using Caissas and Escher is kind of already well known, but Rook has decent moment possibilities and is a decent way to build up costs for Corps who build with Expensive ICE or cheap advanceable ICE.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/hostage-opening-moves.jpg'] Hostage 16 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
A tutor for your deck boosters! (Lee, Jones, Contacts and Pawnshop mainly) An excellent support card to help ensure that you get your running rig up and, well… running in a timely manner. Should see some common use before too long.

Hraklea – 4 out of 5
I have been waiting for this since I started playing Android: Netrunner. Being able to search your resources solves a lot of problems about unique cards and how many copies you should use. I don't think it is that powerful now, but it will become more dangerous as the card pool becomes bigger.

Scud - 4 out of 5
Now that we all agree on how awesome Professional Contacts is, here's a way to help get it into play earlier. And Aesop's, Kati, Joshua B. (for all you wacky Whizzard-players out there), and Mr. Li, too. Oh, we forgot Inside Man and Underworld Contacts, which both just got more playable.

Hats & Suits - 5 out of 5
Yup, a special order for all those nice Connection Resources. Get out some of your rig early and build it up sooner without having to draw. And at cost 1, Influence 1 you will see this in many decks for many games to come. Considering that many runners need their connections these days more than programs I think this has a place in a few of my decks (Mainly criminals so extra love for that.) So long as I can keep the tags off.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/gorman-drip-v1-opening-moves.jpg'] Gorman Drip v1 16 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 4 out of 5
Sweet deal here folks. You play it and simply wait. Either you'll make a ton of credits, or the corporation will waste their turn purging out of fear. This is provided they aren't holding a Cyberdex Trial…

Hraklea - 4 out of 5
I loved the fact that this is 1 influence point. This is a very good card to include on any deck that doesn't have any other virus programs (or only including Datasucker, like most competitive decks currently), because either the Corp won't purge and you get credits for a low cost, or they'll purge to counter a single program. Win-win for me.

Scud - 4 out of 5
This is a pretty sweet little deal right here. Very low buy-in that puts the Corp in a "damned-if-they-do, damned-if-they-don't" situation. If they are clicking for credits or to draw, they probably NEED the money/cards. If the need the money/cards, wasting an entire turn to purge counters (depending on what other Viruses you're packing, of course) is going to hit them where it hurts, right in their bottom line. If you get 6+ credits out of it, it's awesome.

Hats & Suits - 4 out of 5
No longer will the Corp be able to simply sit back and gain credits while you build your rig. So now they have the pressure of momentum on the other foot. Simply put this is going to slow down the Corp one way or another, and since it is a virus works well with Noise or really any deck for 1 influence. Not to mention when stacked with Deja Vu, Levy, and Same old thing you are going to be seeing a lot of this very useful card. Only problem I have is the cost of 1 MU is going to really hinder some play styles so you need to change your deck accordingly by either using less programs or adding a chip.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/lockpick-opening-moves.jpg'] Lockpick 7 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 2 out of 5
If paired with Kit, this card will pay for itself and then some. Paired with any other shaper or Runner for that matter, its effectiveness drops considerably. In any other case, Cloak seems to be the better option.

Hraklea – 1 out of 5
Geez... 3 influence? How dangerous a stealth decoder can be? I hope it has an ability like “1c: gain 1 agenda point”, because I can't see another reason for this to cost 3 influence points while Yog.0 costs only 1. I want a spoiler right now!

Scud - 2 out of 5
This is getting a 2 because I already gave Frame Job a 1. Ok, that's not completely true - Lockpick has some uses, although until there is a Stealth Decoder, I don't know why you'd spend deck space on it.

Hats & Suits - 2 out of 5
Hmm going to be good later on I bet, until then it is a recurring credit for a breaker. Best used in faction of course, Kate and Kit are the best since the use it the most effectively (Free install, Free Code Gate on First run.) I bet later on Kate will pick up some other tools like this to make some Epic rigs, till then hold on tight and wait.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/false-echo-opening-moves.jpg'] False Echo 8 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 2 out of 5
Excellent if you are concerned with the corporation springing a late turn tag giving ICE (Data Raven) but otherwise, this card will be fighting for much needed space in your deck.

Hraklea – 1 out of 5
Honestly, I don't know why this card exists. I keep reading it to see if I misunderstood it. Forced Activation Orders has the same influence cost and trashes the piece of ice, or am I crazy? It seems to me that Shaper is paying a high price for receiving a deluxe expansion.

Scud - 3 out of 5
More resource denial goodness. HB dropped that Heimdall 2.0 early? Make 'em rez it or put it back in HQ. You have a Rook targeting a server with a few pieces of ICE and now the Corp can't afford to rez everything? Make her uninstall something, preferably something she paid a couple credits to put out. Not great, but definitely has a place.

Hats & Suits - 2 out of 5
If it didn't trash and put the card into the HQ I may consider this a lot better. But at cost 1 it isn't so bad for what it is ment for early game or possibly mid game. This is going to go into some speciality decks and as Scud and I have the same idea for using it with Rook you can guess that it is a Resource denial deck. Make note this does not work with Inside Job as that is a bypass and this card says pass in its text. I really wish I could trash the ICE instead, but for the price it is nice and could help save you from accessing too many Snares in the HQ. At cost 2 Influence though I doubt I would see this around too often.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/motivation-opening-moves.jpg'] Motivation 10 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
Sneak a peek at the top card of your deck. If you really need to know, Motivation is your guy. If you want a little more bang for your buck, a card that peeks and cycles might make a bit more sense.

Hraklea – 3 out of 5
This is far from broken, but I think that any card that helps you to find the card you want for 1 influence point has its value. Would I use on a Shaper deck? Of course not. Would I use it as an out of faction card? Sure. I think I like this card more than I like Quality Time.

Scud - 2 out of 5
Personally, Motivation will help me NOT Test Run a Program that happens to be sitting on the top of my Stack, so that'll be nice. That is, it would help if I bothered to run it. I'm giving it a two because, if you build an Aesop's-fueled deck, this installs for nothing and gets you three later. I really, really, really can't think of a single in-game advantage knowing the top card of your stack gives you.

Hats & Suits - 2 out of 5
Honestly I don't think I need to see the top of my deck every turn. Yes it can be a benefit, and yes it is free. But in a day and age where you already trying to pull certain cards out of your deck with other cards so you can quickly build your rig...I just don't know. I can't be fair with this card because I don't often care for that type of mechanism in a game like this. I am going to play around with this just to see if it has a place in my decks or not till I can give a better answer. But on first glance, it is ok, and it is able to be used for out of faction for cheap.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/john-masanori-opening-moves.jpg'] John Masanori 16 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 4 out of 5
The rewards definitely outweigh the risks here. For people who use decks that always make one successful run each turn, Johnny Masanori is a boon. For those who are fast and frantic, this card could spell the end of all your resources as a best case scenario. Flat-line in the worst case scenario. Be very careful not to tag punish yourself here.

Hraklea – 5 out of 5
Drawing cards without spending clicks? Costing no influence to everyone? A weakness that can be used as a strength in the right deck? Ok, one last question: How am I supposed to stop Andromeda: Dispossessed Ristie now?! Somebody help me!one!!eleven!

Scud - 4 out of 5
This Masanori fella is interesting. The "free" draw is nice. Sometimes, the ability to bounce off an Ice Wall and tag yourself so you can Data Leak Reversal the Corp (provided, of course, you already have DLR installed) a couple times is handy. I feel like you want to build a deck that can take advantage of (or at least handle) both outcomes, though, so you need to count on seeing him (which Hostage helps with, incidentally).

Hats & Suits - 3 out of 5
I like free stuff, and tags aren't so bad if you have NA-City Hall to help out or any other tag avoidance. Works great in any faction, but really doesn't help with certain types of runners. Mainly those who like to cause loads of resource denial but forcing Crops to rez ICE by face planting onto them. For a Rigbuilder this is a great card and helps you get through your deck, but always run prepared to take at least one tag each turn with this. Not bad as a filler, and free card is nice, but I don't need any incentive to run very carefully and not on the last click. This is will go into about half of my quick build decks, otherwise I am going to stick with Wyldside when I really need cards.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/project-ares-opening-moves.jpg'] Project Ares 8 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 2 out of 5
If you have a nice glacier built up, this has the potential to clear the runner's rig after a heavy investment. There are quite a few 4 for 2 agendas we would take before adding this to our decks.

Hraklea – 2 out of 5
Again, without knowing how dangerous a Bad Publicity token is going to be, it is hard to evaluate cards like this. I don't think that overadvancing this is that difficult, but it is not an easy task either. It is an ok card, I guess.

Scud - 2 out of 5
Why hello there, Custom Biotics Midseason-Psychographics deck. Please to pile a bunch of counters on this bad boy and curbstomp the Runner's rig. Outside of that narrow band use, though, I think Project Ares is waiting for its time to shine.

Hats & Suits - 2 out of 5
Requires a certain play style and amount of risk to play with a card like this. Now you want to at least use this with 3+ advancements to really make it worthwhile. This takes more time than money when it comes to HB, but with Haas and other ways to get money and clicks this isn't all that bad for HB. I want to say this is better, but for the time it takes to build it may not pay off against most runners. I would give it a 3 just because it slow the runner down very much, but with stuff like Exile and Levy Access this isn't so great anymore.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/next-bronze-opening-moves.jpg'] NEXT Bronze 10 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 2 out of 5
The pack is called Opening Moves. This ICE is hinting at a new stand-alone set of HB goodness. The low splash is also rather promising. The rating reflects that as of right now this is not giving you much other than a cheap end run.

Hraklea – 3 out of 5
This seems to be the “standard” NEXT piece of ice, like Ice Wall is a standard advanceable piece of ice. If the others NEXT cards are going be like Shadow and Hadrian's Wall, great. If they are going to be like Salvage, this is crap.

Scud - 2 out of 5
I think we're going to like this whole NEXT ICE thing by the end of the data cycle. With just this pack available, Bronze is still an okay card If you get all three copies out and rezzed.

Hats & Suits - 3 out of 5
New type of card, low costs all around, potential of becoming very strong. Reading this with three of these out you have 3 strength right out the door. This is just as good as Wall of Static but is a Code gate. Assuming you get all three in your opening hand that would be amazing (So long as Yog.0 is not around). Later on, these will only get stronger and I can't wait to see how they work together.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/celebrity-gift-opening-moves.jpg'] Celebrity Gift 15 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 4 out of 5
An extremely good income card that Jinteki players have been looking for. Celebrity Gift can net you a possible 5 credits. This card will be utilized to play some serious mind games against the runners, but we just don't see many other the other corps loving it as a trap heavy Jinteki.

Hraklea – 3 out of 5
Finally, an economy card for Jinteki! I guess we all were waiting for this. I really liked the card design, but I'm not sure if 3 influence points are worth it. I definitely won't use this in my decks, but I'm happy for Jinteki players.

Scud - 4 out of 5
This is a great card for Jinteki. Show 'em a hand filled with Snare! and Fetal AIs and one Braintrust, take your credits, and install a naked remote. Booyah. It also works well with any Corp that plays a lot of ICE and/or Operations. For instance, my Cerebral Imaging deck is going to love this little giraffe.

Hats & Suits - 4 out of 5
Look what I got in my hand, then I gain 2 credits for each. The bluff game keeping going deeper here as you can use this to show off only cards you want the runner to see. Show off 2 agendas and 2 snares. Or hold onto just one card just to give them hope. Look it is becoming a game about showing what you have just to make the runner angry, so do it and utilize this card effectively.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/himitsu-bako-opening-moves.jpg'] Himitsu-Bako 14 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 4 out of 5
This card is a breath of fresh air for the forgotten Jinteki ICE pool. If you need to go barrier in faction you are no longer limited to just Wall Of Thorns and Snowflake. A sleek, efficient bounce wall that can switch servers for a mere 3 credits. What a no-brainer. Neural Katana now has a partner in crime.

Hraklea - 3 out of 5
I'm not really excited about taking it from the board back to my hand, but a “cost 2 strenght 2” piece of ice is a very welcome card for Jinteki. I'm glad to see that Fantasy Flight Games is finally giving Jinteki the cards it needs. Keep it up, guys!

Scud - 3 out of 5
A nice, low-cost Barrier that you can bounce around as needed fits Jinteki well. Other Corps MAY want to try Himitsu-Bako out, especially for early game stopping power where you need it now AND because it can mess with Atman-math, being one of the few 2-Strength ICE.

Hats & Suits - 4 out of 5
Jinteki's bluff game just keeps getting better. Not only can you use this to bolster your hand after a runner breaks through it, but you can switch this out with another ICE or install it normally to keep the runner guessing what has been placed on the field. When going against someone with Escher this still helps you out due to its maneuverability. Really a great early game ICE and will always cost the runner 3 credits to break through it no matter how late game it gets.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/character-assassination-opening-moves.jpg'] Character Assassination 10 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
This card is quite good. Destroying a resource can mean the game in some situations and that merits Character Assassination a better than average score. However, as it basically has the same effect as a well-timed Breaking News, we feel that only two copies of this card will be used at maximum. NBN usually has no trouble trashing resources though…

Hraklea – 2 out of 5
Killing resources is good, really good, but NBN definitely doesn't need a “4 advancements 2 points” agenda. I don't think there's room for this in the current archetypes, and none of the spoilers from Spin Cycle suggested that NBN is getting a new archetype. It won't see the board by now.

Scud - 2 out of 5
4|2 Agendas need to be really good to be worth running. When you score Character Assassination, you get the equivalent of one Tag, one click, and two Credits. Eh. The fact that the trashing can't be prevented is, for now, sort of a moot point because there isn't any way to prevent your Resources from being trashed. Once the Runner gets that tech, this card will bump up to a 3.

Hats & Suits - 3 out of 5
A stable agenda which works well against most runners. Killing Kati is never a bad option in a deck who heavily relies on her, and you don't need to worry about using a tag, click, and two credits to trash it. You could even leave this sitting just to score it in a later turn and really attempt to kill a runner with a tower of punishments. Though weak on its own, this agenda could still be more useful than most, and is a nice balance card for NBN to use to avoid those 1 point agendas.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/jackson-howard-opening-moves.jpg'] Jackson Howard 19 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 5 out of 5
What to say here… There is literally no downside to playing this card.
1. Prevents Noise mill
2. Lots of repeated use of staple cards (Snare!, Celebrity Gifts, agendas, Scorched Earth…)
3. Drawing two cards off one click
4. No way for the Runner to trash it on you before you rock the ability
5. ONLY ONE INFLUENCE POINT

Hraklea – 5 out of 5
As a Noise: Hacker Extraordinaire player since Android: Netrunner was released, I should be sad about this, but I'm not. Guess why: because now my Weyland Tag'n Bag deck has 12 copies of Scorched Earth. Will it be enough to beat Plascrete Carapace? I don't know, but at least it is enough to make me hyped about the possibility.

Scud - 5 out of 5
Buh. Every Corp ID now has three fewer Influence to spend because there is almost no reason to NOT pack three copies of J-How. Just to make sure everyone realizes this: his ability to shuffle cards from Archives into R&D is a paid ability, so you can fire it off after the Runner successfully runs on his server but before she accesses cards. You can tank Bank Jobs and Dirty Laundries by making the server no longer exist, and that's just a corner-case, hilarious thing you can do. You can have up to 12 Snare!s in your deck, if things work out right. And his aggressive drawing ability works well with his resetting from Archives ability – just toss any Agendas you draw into the trash and pull them out right before the Runner accesses them. I repeat: buh.

Hats & Suits - 4 out of 5
Yes there are a lot of upsides to this card. But a lot of them may be considered mid and late game benefits. It is really going to depend on play style and how people build their decks to maximize the potential of this card. On one hand you get to draw more and then put three cards back into your deck. On the down side you are going to draw agendas and reduce your deck size each use. If you can keep your income up, and utilize each drawn card effectively (and mainly play with three point agendas) this card is going to be awesome. But having three of these is only going to allow you to put 9 cards back into your deck, and you better hope in late game that those 9 cards could win you the game. As per Scud's review I like the idea of putting agendas back in the deck, but then the runner will hit that R&D hard with Maker's Eye and may pull out enough to win with just one run. So you better make sure to keep that runner guessing. Jinteki better put some agendas and Snares back in to keep up the trick and get that runner to try and hit all three Snares at once.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/invasion-of-privacy-opening-moves.jpg'] Invasion of Privacy 14 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
So. Here we are. A bold, new way to prep for a hot off the press Scorched Earth. Finally, one is enough! This card is the one in the one, two punch. Out of your opening hand, this could be a crippling blow to the runner if you are using the original NBN identity. The only thing that hurts this is a double click to play.

Hraklea – 4 out of 5
Loved it. Being able to counter all those Inside Job and Stimhack cards is priceless, and the bad publicity doesn't trigger if it hits. Sadly, 3 influence points are too much to use this as out of faction in most decks, but maybe this is a good option for Custom Biotics: Engineered for Success?

Scud - 3 out of 5
It's targeted damage that doesn't need a Tag to work. Yeah, it also can get rid of nasty Events and Resources, but it's the damage aspect that most thrills me. Right now, while Bad Publicity really isn't terribad, popping off an Invasion of Privacy can scare the Runner into spending a lot of credits to beat the Trace, depending on her hand, and that's not a bad thing. It can also soften her up for a SEA Source + Scorched Earth combo, thinning her hand to allow for the killshot.

Hats & Suits - 4 out of 5
Normally as a runner I sit on events and resources when I get tagged, and this is just more of the same for NBN. Which I may add is slowing becoming a bit more deadly when dealing with them. Mixed with Private Security force alone this card allow you to control the runner's hand and slowly pick away at their sanity. I think that tags have always been the way NBN slows down the runner, and as long as you can keep your money up you will win the traces. Out of faction this is rough, but with Weyland it is only going to enhance the tricky nature of the Corp. I hope to see this around more, and as traces are always a threat it takes a certain type of runner to counter a card like this easily.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/geothermal-fracking-opening-moves.jpg'] Geothermal Fracking 15 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
We teetered on a 4 with Geothermal Fracking. The ability to sit on instant Mining Corp. funds for a rainy day is pretty appealing. Toting the power of two Hostile Takeover cards, this agenda might be the one to prompt your Weyland deck's rejiggering!

Hraklea – 4 out of 5
What is better than one Hostile Takeover? Two Hostile Takeover! This card is a great alternative for players that were using Corporate War (assuming they want an alternative, I personally hate Corporate War), and as Weyland is getting a bad publicity remover soon, it is not that dangerous as Hostile Takeover used to be.

Scud - 4 out of 5
I've been playing Geothermal Fracking pretty heavily recently and I'm going to say that it is second only to Niesi MKII as far as 4|2 Agendas go. There is nothing like going from 0 to 14 credits with two clicks, leaving you a click to install a new piece of ICE while cackling menacingly. Yeah, the Runner gets Bad Publicity credits to spend but, so what? This card lets you outpace her economy when used at the right time.

Hats & Suits - 4 out of 5
Assuming you are using some heavy ICE and some stuff that cost the runner a lot of credits throughout the entire game, this Agenda is great for wasting runner time while bolstering up your own money reserves. Honestly we may also be looking at ways to remove bad publicity in the future, so I wouldn't worry about it too much for that. I like 2 points that advance in 4, they keep the runner guessing if it a Junebug or Cerebral Overwriter. So play on with this one Weyland, and keep being rich and Tricky.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/swarm-opening-moves.jpg'] Swarm 11 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
If you can bluff, here you go! If you can't, best to steer clear of this potential gem. This ICE is best sprung as a trap, but that will take some doing. The auto BP token holds this card in the realm of fairness for the potential pay-off of destroying the runner's game hands down.

Hraklea – 2 out of 5
For a bad publicity token, I was expecting a little more than this. Even thematically, why a software that erases a hacker program would be illegal and a Janus 1.0 is not? Maybe I'm the only one, but once Fantasy Flight Games announced the “illicit” pieces of ice, I was expecting them to be game breaker, not… a big Rototurret.

Scud - 3 out of 5
Decent advancable ICE for a change. You have to advance it quickly after installing it, but if you do, the Runner will sometimes hit it thinking it's an Ice Wall. A 5-Strength Sentry is nothing to sneeze at, especially one with 6+ subroutines.

Hats & Suits - 3 out of 5
Weyland is getting a bit more trick and trappy with each set. This is fairly high cost but like the other Illicit ICE in the set this is fairly good at slowing down or hindering the runner. And at least the runner can not click through this. Overall going to cost 6 credits for the runner with even one subroutine on it, unless the runner can pay up of course. In any case it is going to cost them. But like Grim this isn't going to hinder a runner who is not running programs, so I would be careful playing this. At least you can use this well since you can advance it before rez, unlike some other noted cards that really give up your element of surprise.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/cyberdex-trial-opening-moves.jpg'] Cyberdex Trial 13 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
This card is a meta balance for those playgroups that need it. Anarch players shuddered the moment this card started rolling off the presses and there is no doubt that their fear is warranted. Could see a wider audience now that other runners are getting Virus cards.

Hraklea – 2 out of 5
As a virus based deck player, I'm not worried about this. Yes, purge hurts, but spending a card slot to purge? Be my guest. I already have a hard time including Plascrete Carapace on my decks, I can't imagine myself finding room to include a few copies of this card.

Scud - 4 out of 5
Hey, look – everyone is playing Datasuckers. Guess I need to make room in all my Corp decks for one or two of these little beauties. Click efficiency is nowhere near as prevalent on the Corp side of the game, and this card is a huge savings, especially right now, when Runners have more Viruses than the Tech Talk warm mud tub after the annual Arbor Day Extravaganza.

Hats & Suits - 4 out of 5
Cost no money, and does an action that would normally take 3 clicks and in most cases effectively end your turn. Not to mention as an operation will pad your hand and offer a bluff when discarding. With viruses becoming even more frequent in each faction I wouldn't hesitate to stuff at least 1 of these in a deck if you are looking for a filler. Otherwise if you can survive without it then feel free to spend a turn and waste some much needed momentum.
[/CRB]


[CRB='forums/uploads/an/grim-opening-moves.jpg'] Grim 10 out of 20

Bad Publicity - 3 out of 5
A good, solid ICE that trashes programs. Now anyone outside of HB and Weyland can have a way to rig bust. The closest rival to Grim is Roto Turret and that's a 4 credit for strength 0 card. If this is the only BP token dealing ICE in your deck, you could use Grim to your advantage.

Hraklea – 2 out of 5
Again, why would this be against the law? I'm afraid “illicit” doesn't mean in english what it means in portuguese… whatever. This card is cool, because now any Corp can trash programs without spending influence, but the bad publicity really hurts it. I don't see myself using this.

Scud - 3 out of 5
Do you want Ichi 1.0 but don't want to pay the Influence. Howzabout something in a smokey, red-eyed hellhound, instead? Strength 5 is a sweet spot for Sentries, so this pup is going to be frolicking in many a deck.

Hats & Suits - 2 out of 5
Definitely an interesting card for what it is worth. Though without the stopping power of what we would expect from a neutral ICE. Still a solid surprise, and likely to harm many shapers or anarchs. But for most criminal players I know this card is hardly a deterrent. With the new Metas that are going to be coming where a single lost program isn't going to hurt much, and at least cost 6 (less with Cloak and Dagger Mix) with most runners it would slow them down for a decent time but not stop them. I really like the theme but unless programs are just as sacred as they were when Netrunner just came out I may have issues using it in most decks.
[/CRB]