Community Data Pack Review- Salsette Island

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The reviewers found this to be a surprisingly good pack, with the majority of cards being quite playable in the right deck.


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:
Sports Hopper- 4.7
Indian Union Stock Exchange- 4.7
Jeeves Model Bioroids- 4.0
Making an Entrance- 3.3
Exclusive Party- 3.3
Raman Rai- 3.3
Salem's Hospitality- 3.3
Mumbad Virtual Tour- 3.3
Cobra- 3.0
Salsette Slums- 3.0
Vamadeva- 3.0
Upagoya- 3.0
Pack Average- 2.9
Aryabhata Tech- 2.7
Patron- 2.3
Brahman- 2.0
Bazaar- 2.0
Executive Search Firm- 2.0
Personality Profiles- 1.5
Localized Product Line- 0.7





MightyToenail- 2/5
This card, while the effect is nice, just doesn't really serve enough purpose to warrant inclusion in a deck. Though it could be very nice in a MaxX double deck.

AdorablePython-4/5
Arrange the cards in the order of your choice and trash cards that aren't needed (anymore). This makes further drawing more efficient. Plus, you may install a trashed Garrote/Torch/Femme with Retrieval Run right after. So this card works as an alternative to Inject in some decks. Oracle May and Eureka! like it, too.

Valdemart-4/5
Quick, slick and in Anarch who doesn't care too much if they trash a card or two, no matter the side. When applied throughout the game it will allow you to see and arrange 18 cards. That is some Shaper search efficiency colored in orange



MightyToenail- 2/5
While this appears to be a nice counter to the now-ubiquitous asset spam decks, it is severely limited by not being able to be used with Imp, and is useless in most match ups, and so doesn't warrant inclusion.

AdorablePython-3/5
It's definitely a nice card in Whizzard or Adam decks when playing against corp decks that rely on recursion. It's useless though if they have none.

Valdemart-4/5
Well, IG got its' share of game breaking and flawless setups. Long ago, when Netrunner was still young, when an asset or upgrade was trashed, it stayed that way in 95% of the times, so such an effect wouldn't even be considered. Releasing this shortly after Museum of history was given as an attempt to control the Archives feels wrong.



MightyToenail- 4/5
This card really only works in MaxX, Apex, and maybe Silhouette. However, in those decks this card can become completely bonkers. All it takes is two copies in the heap to become better than Easy Mark. This is the first "consumer-grade" card to actually need six copies. The one influence is helpful as well.

AdorablePython-4/5
A nice economy card for criminals. At first it's a bit slow, but it ramps up and nets you up to 30 credits when combining it with Same Old Thing. Gets hard-countered by Student Loans, though.

Valdemart-2/5
Criminals won't have that much to party for - Exclusive Party is a cantrip with a minor income bonus for which to be decent you have to discard the first three copies and play only the last three. If only deckslots weren't so tight this card would have been a decent option to go through your deck faster. Playing with Comet might help, but Criminals already have some pretty damn strong consoles



MightyToenail- 3/5
The Deva suite seems to be quite strong, and Vamadeva is no exception. Not to mention that it is the first crim AI. Only time will tell the strength of the Devas.

AdorablePython-3/5
Useless against bioroids, but a good breaker against the following ICE: Archangel, all space ICE (except Orion), Bandwidth, Bastion, Bullfrog, Burke Bugs, Cell Portal, Changeling, Checkpoint, all trap ICE, Chimera, Chum, Clairvoyant Monitor, Cortex Lock, Crick, Data Hound, Data Raven, Draco, Excalibur, Fire Wall, Flare, Gemini, Grim, Guard, Gutenberg, Gyri Labyrinth, Himitsu-Bako, Hunter, IQ, Ice Wall, Lockdown, Lotus Field, Lycan, Marker, Matrix Analyzer, Meru Mati, Minelayer, Mother Goddess, NEXT Bronze, Neural Katana, News Hound (without an active Current), Paper Wall, Pop-up Window, Quandary, Quicksand, RSVP, Rainbow, Resistor, Sagittarius, Sensei, Snoop, Snowflake, Susanoo-no-Mikoto, TL;DR, TMI, Taurus, Tollbooth, Turnpike, Virgo, Wall of Static, Wendigo, Wraparound.

Valdemart-3/5
The first Criminal AI breaker ever, it is also a deva program that targets some early game gearchecks rather well. The swap option is more of a fancy addition that will rarely see any practical use. Alas some of the most popular ice have more than one subroutine - Enigma, Eli 1.0 and Architect all make this AI rather sad.



MightyToenail-2/5
Other than enabling janky London Library decks and proving once and for all that Faust is overpowered, Brahman probably will hit the binder, because of that 2 cost to pump.

AdorablePython-2/5
Might be playable when combining it with London Library and Eureka! Also useful to reload Cerberus heads, without using Clone Chips or other recursion. Though Scavenge might be better for that. Maybe in Oracle May/Autoscripter/Chameleon combo decks? I don't know... strange card.

Valdemart-2/5
Unless you intend to cycle Inti with Oracle May and Autoscritper every other turn, Brahman will keep Crypsis company in the binder. Those conditional self removals can really put a break on your plans. And even if you manage to find an optimal way of keeping Brahman on the board, any ice above 3 strength will make you want to revise your deck in the middle of the game.



MightyToenail-2/5
Just like Security Testing, this will only fit into a certain handful of decks. However, the primary issue remains that Patron and Testing don't stack, as they both replace the access.


AdorablePython-3/5
Combined with John Masanori, DaVinci and Datasucker, you have a solid basis for a run-heavy Shaper deck there. Just like Security Testing, it punishes naked remotes and Archives. Might also be splashable in Ken 'Express' Tenma decks: Criminals like draw and Ken likes to run like a madman.

Valdemart-2/5
The main problem here is again the credit to card draw value comparison - while Security Testing combined with Desperado nets decent profit that can be used for almost everything all game long, Patron gives one additional card per turn, costs more to install and comes in the faction with better draw options for the same price. Also notice that at best this card is just a Wyldside without the Genetics potential. Maybe if the price was lower...



MightyToenail-4/5
The replacement to Plascrete has arrived! Despite not working well against Traffic Accident (How fitting), this card is a lot more versatile card than Plascrete, especially in this Faust meta.


AdorablePython-5/5
Auto-include (no pun intended) in Armand 'Geist' Walker decks and a solid alternative to Plascrete in any other deck. When not playing against NBN/Weyland, you don't have a dead draw here. Plus, it works against Net damage, too.

Valdemart-5/5
I suppose everybody still remembers that sweet feeling of silent horror when there was only the Core box and your fellow Corporation was preparing to Scorch you and you could do... well, nothing. Then came Plascrete and forever on at least 2 deckslots were dedicated to that meat damage protection destined to be dead draw in 70%+ of the games. Things are about to change and will do so with style! This card acts basically the same as the Carapace but first, it looks cool, second, it gives link for any Underworld Contacts you may have and third, has an infinitely useful trash effect no matter what and against who you are playing with. Enjoy your new ride!


MightyToenail-1/5
Other than some sort of Replicator Pawnshop deck, I don't see this getting played at all.

AdorablePython-3/5
If you work with Consumer-grade hardware, consider visiting the bazaar first!

Valdemart-2/5
The local supermarket for low-cost hardware. Coupled with Tyson Observatory and Replicator you can install on demand all copies of a certain hardware in a turn. While this might sound useful, the setup is brutal and there will hardly be any hardware in such quantities that deserves that much attention (besides RDI and HQI, but good luck with paying them all at once and having good options afterward).



MightyToenail-1/5
The silver bullet that doesn't actually shut down the strategy of tutoring and it will rarely ever get to fire. Why would you ever play this over Chronos Project or Pet Project?

AdorablePython-2.5/5
It definitely has a cool effect against many Shaper and Geist decks. Unfortunately though it's an Agenda. Hopefully you can sneak out one or two early.

Valdemart-1/5
The effect here sounds nice on paper (tasteless pun, I know) but on a 1/3 agenda it is a waste of that same paper/cardboard. Given how hard it is to make space for single-point agendas in your deck which is not already taken by Chronos Protocol or Self-Destruct Chips, this agenda is too conditional to be worth the space. Another missed opportunity.

http://vignette3.wik...=20140711220944

MightyToenail-3/5
The Collective has returned! For those of you out of the loop, The Collective was a shaper identity that shared the same ability as Jeeves. Winners of tournaments in the Plugged In Tour could vote on whether they wanted The Collective or Laramy Fisk to be added. Despite Laramy Fisk not being the greatest card, the Netrunner community agreed that too many rules problems and potential broken interactions would come from the Collective. So the Collective never was released. But apparently FFG hates simple rules, and so now we are stuck wondering if triggering Private Contracts twice and Shell Corporation once would trigger the ability or not. Huh. Great. I love FFG.

AdorablePython-4/5
This allows you to play 2/4 Agendas in a never-advance deck. You may also use Melange Mining Corp/Eliza's Toybox and do something else. Might also accelerate the scoring of Mandatory Upgrades/Vanity Fair.

Valdemart-5/5
It might be a personal preference, but Jeeves just looks awesome - decent rez cost, excellent trash cost, extra credit on those turns you are just clicking for money and of course, scoring agendas with a 4-advancement requirement without hinting about them the previous turn. Makes 2/4s much more playable, also allows for a 2-turn scoring of Mandatory Upgrades. That alone is worth it.



MightyToenail-2/55
He is utter garbage. If only the "same type" wasn't in there, he could be useful. But other than for recurring Museums, he is useless. But maybe Snare! recycling isn't so bad. Hmm...

AdorablePython-4/5
Draw an early game ICE in the mid or late game? Trade it with a Hedge Fund or Snare! from Archives. Or recurr an Agenda that was milled, by sacrificing any other card. This guy is certainly powerful.

(Editors Note: Yeah, that doesn't work. It has to be the same type.)

Valdemart-4/5
The brand new Executive in this pack allows us to cycle Snares all day long. Enough said. More seriously though, Raman Rai will allow Jinteki players to take that one card the Runner just trashed for a single click and put it into action. Turns every Asset into a Pad Campaign if needed while throwing away the Shock you just drew. Try it, it is more fun than it sounds.



MightyToenail-4/5
The psi deck is getting closer to becoming competitive, and this is a big step in the right direction. Being able to fire the best psi abilities, including Bullfrog shenanigans, will be very useful as Nisei Division becomes more and more playable.

AdorablePython-3/5
In Nisei Division decks, it's a potentially powerful taxer for your central servers. Note that the second subroutine does not specifically refer to another piece of Psi ICE. So it can trigger itself to make the runner pay potentially high amounts of credits and annoy him to the point of not running without a Decoder anymore. With Chetana coming next data pack, the second subroutine can also be used to threaten a flatline.

Valdemart-2/5
A Psi game for the sake of playing a Psi game? That is fitting, but not from a game perspective. The first routine basically says "The Runner loses 2 credits" and the second triggers another Psi routine, meaning you can effectively double the credit punishment. However, Upayoga still needs more Psi ice to be released but the coming Psi alternative to Komainu may make it more playable. Until then it is a porous Tollbooth for Jinteki



MightyToenail-2/5
I suppose some janky Making News deck may like this, but with the rise of Sunny that may very well happen if Faust is nuked, this card probably won't see much play.

AdorablePython-3/5
2 rez / 3 trash is a bit underwhelming. If you manage to protect it though (perhaps with a News Hound or something of that sort), it could be quite nice combined with "safe" traces; like Archangel, Gutenberg, Turnpike or Bernice Mai.

Valdemart-3/5
Another attempt to make traces more meaningful and this time they are on the right track. If you manage to combine at least two, firing a trace will be a scary thought for the Runner and allow you to play some unorthodox ice in your deck. Worth the try in a specialized deck.



MightyToenail-2/5
A stronger, but more expensive form of Targeted Marketing. But at the same time, with all of the recursion, and including the fact that Targeted marketing has a lasting effect, I think that this is only worth it in Harishchandra Ent.

AdorablePython-4/5
It's getting even better with the upcoming NBN identity or an installed Snoop. Aside from that, you might go for a lucky shot and potentially destroy a silver bullet. For example, name I've Had Worse before scorching the runner.

Valdemart-4/5
Definitely a card printed for the coming NBN identity, Salem is capable of crippling the Runner early on or removing the kill protection before hitting him hard with the actual kill. Still playable for regular butchershop to remove copies of I've Had Worse before scorching. Something tells me we are yet to see other interesting possibilities of that design



MightyToenail-1/5
I have yet to see a deck running very many unique named characters, so why not include another copy of the executive instead of using this?

AdorablePython-3/5
I like that it isn't restricted to sysops (unlike Recruiting Trip). Tutor your one-offs; like Elizabeth Mills, Mark Yale, Simone Diego, The Twins, ...

Valdemart-2/5
Tutor is always nice, but here the possible targets are not all that spectacular. Still allows you to find your Jackson/caprice/Elizabeth Mills when you need them and this is nothing to sneeze at. If this card actually installed the card like Mumbad City Hall, we would be talking for much better effect but for now it will hardly see play outside Wayland.



MightyToenail-5/5
It's funny that even the designers realize that Weyland uses mostly out of faction cards, because they are so bad. Now you get a reward every time you play a neutral card! (yes neutrals work this has been confirmed).

AdorablePython-?/5
I withhold judgement until it is clarified if it works with neutral cards.

(Editors Note: Yes, it has been confirmed. I have counted your rating as a 5)

Valdemart-4/5
Found early, the Stock Exchange has the potential to become really ugly for your opponent if left on the board. Works extra well for the Core Wayland ID combined with some neutral/HB operation economy. No real downsides here besides the fact that it needs protection, but this can be exploited to create some scoring windows.



MightyToenail-2/5
In such a Parasite heavy meta, you need to do more than this. You just need to.

AdorablePython-4/5
A nice early game ICE that punishes facechecks. Not that good in HB, as they have access to Architect, Rototurret and Successful Demonstration. Jinteki also won't like it, as they already have so many painful sentries. Which leaves Weyland and NBN. I think they will certainly like it.

Valdemart-3/5
Some neat art going on in this cycle, Cobra is no exception - the image promises no mercy, and if no Killer was installed, it would actually give none. Hitting this is a major tempo hit and it costs no influence. However, Cobra is 1 strength Sentry - dies pretty much to every single Killer in the game besides Ninja, for which to break it the price becomes scandalous.



MightyToenail-0/5
I'm sure someone can figure out how to incorporate this into the CI Power Shutdown deck, but that is all that it will ever be good for.
(Edit: What the heck!? Three influence! This card is garbage!).

AdorablePython-1/5
What the heck? I mean, the effect is powerful, but look at the costs! 4 credits and 3 (neutral) influence. No, thanks.

Valdemart-1/5
As I already said, tutoring is awesome, but the price and alternative cost of the card (3 neutral influence!) is the deal breaker - most of the time you will have find one or two of the cards you are looking for while you come across LPL. And those games when the stars align the cost will make you want to quit Netrunner and start playing Monopoly. It is that bad.


MightyToenail-4/5
The alliance condition is easy to satisfy, and the effect is not minimal. Too bad Imp works against it.

AdorablePython-3/5
The alliance condition is easily met. Though I'm not quite sure what to do with it. Taxing rich runners which besiege your central servers? For now I will rate it a 3. I have to try it out to measure its full potential power.

Valdemart-3/5
Going around the city in full VR looks costly and the Corporation knows exactly how to exploit it. This is a nice little trap if you have a slot or two in your horizontal deck and wonder how to punish the Runner or need some additional protection for your Eve Campaigns. Paying 10 to trash one of those will make me stop and contemplate life. Again. I feel obliged to mention that currently the economic balance of the game is shifted due to cards being treated as credits so this card's value might be lower until the meta shifts