Community Data Pack Review- The Liberated Mind

This has proved to be quite the excellent pack we got here. While the runners only got three

strong cards, the corps got many (except Weyland, but duh.) This was the pack of records. We

broke our top average score with a whopping 3.1, shattering the previous record of 2.9 (mostly cause of overrating in my opinion, read for yourself and

see), and we also got our first unanimous 5.0 card!



I'm going to just advertise a little here. Remember to submit your tournament decklists to Acoo.net,
I am happy to announce the Netrunner game database!
Go to http://forum.stimhac...ames-here/7436to learn more about this exciting new feature of our community!


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:

Exchange of Information- 5.0

Ravana 1.0- 4.3

Vanilla- 4.2

Rebirth- 4.0

Waiver- 3.7

Information Sifting- 3.7

The Turning Wheel- 3.7

Consulting Visit- 3.7

Chetana- 3.3

Red Tape- 3.2

Pack Average- 3.1

Brainstorm- 3.0

The Noble Path- 2.7

Temple of the Liberated Mind- 2.7

Dedicated Neural Net- 2.7

Puppet Master-2.2

Emptied Mind-2.0

Out of the Ashes- 2.0

Guru Davinder- 1.9

Liberated Chela- 1.7









MightyToenail-3/5

This could find its way into some neat decks. And as a last ditch card, this can safe you against

Mushin. It also has a nice synergy with Emptied Mind and Guru Davinder.

AdorablePython-3/5

A strange, but nonetheless cool card design. It should be helpful in Emptied Mind decks,

especially against Jinteki or HB, perhaps even Weyland (Dedicated Response Team,

Checkpoint, Argus). On many bioroids, you may save clicks by ignoring those brain damage

subroutines. Jintek's ICE are, most of the time, completely negated. And what is this? A

Mushin'd card? Runner: "Leerooooooy Jenkiiiins" Corp: "OMG he just ran in!"

Valdemart-2/5

The best last-ditch effort card, even a single copy of this card in your deck might snatch you the

victory when pursuing those last points in a Snared RnD. Otherwise, trashing your grip is almost

always a bad idea.




MightyToenail-2/5

I suppose this card is fine in Reg-Ass Anarch decks, as it has an obvious anergy with

Faust/Pancakes, since rarely will the two pancake cards be enough to last the turn. But all it

takes is one Neural EMP, so in this meta of Jinteki, it is probably not worth it.

AdorablePython-3/5

You need damage prevention effects, or you're screwed. Might fit into some Wyldcakes/Faust

decks, where you start your turn with 0 cards, gain a click, and then trigger Wyldside for 2 cards,

which you discard by using Faust. Or simply play The Noble Path. Don't know if this card is

good enough to justify the deck space for damage prevention (or running the risk of being

flatlined), but I will give it 3 stars regardless because it's an interesting design space that's

explored here.

Valdemart-1/5

I just can't bend my mind around how they design Anarch cards. Some of them are borderline

broken, others - like this one - are so bad that you are compelled to throw them out of the

window. There are loads of better ways of gaining a click, and no - even the Guru Davinder is

not a good idea in such case.




MightyToenail-4/5

Besides the fact that it is good in Ken and all that, this is a deceptively strong card. By forcing

the Corp to make the decisions with splitting the piles, some mind games can be played. Not to

mention that unlike Legwork, the cards that you access will all be different, so a hand with one

agenda has a 50% chance to always pull it. Great card that doesn't appear good first thing.

AdorablePython-4/5

Play Laramy Fisk, flood the HQ by using Fisk Investment Seminar, and then force the corp to

divide the 9 cards in HQ. Though it might not always be as good as Legwork, it is designed in a

very appealing way: it creates decision-making on the Corp side, which is something more

cards should do. It makes the game more fun in my opinion.

Valdemart-3/5

Now this is an effect I like - it might not be the best run event, but playing those mind games is

one of the best things Netrunner can offer. There is no direct way of playing this card, but prior

information over HQ via Enhanced Vision or Reflection will help you gain even more details. Still

require some building around to be effective.




MightyToenail-1/5

Why this is a limit 6 per deck is questionable at best. I suppose the designers hoped that some

combo would be created with it, but I'm not seeing it. And it doesn't even trigger Ken's ability!

Still, it is okay as maybe a 2x in some decks, particularly Apocolypse decks, but it is still horribly

difficult to justify putting this card in.

AdorablePython-3/5

Don't ever play this. Draw up and discard it. Now I don't know if it justifies the 6 deck slots, as

you need some way to make use of those extra runs (economy, successful run& stuff), but

making up to 10 runs in a single turn surely sounds nice. I wonder if Three Steps Ahead counts

the runs you made before playing it.

Valdemart-2/5

There is no reason to play this card for the main effect. Gaining extra runs can be awesome, if

you manage to slap Medium and go nuts on an open RnD. That is quite a lot of deck space

though, and more often than not you will just hate to see this card in your hand. In the proper

deck it will do some work, though




MightyToenail-1/5

It';s good for getting rid of News Teams, but Artist Colony does that already, and for a greater

effect. Add in the five clicks, and you've got a problem. There is a far better card in the form of

Artist Colony for this purpose, and it doesn't requires a combo.

AdorablePython-2/5

First, it needs to much build around - like extra clicks and Fan Sites. Second, it's too slow. Third,

it encourages a play style which I despise: You only need to steal 1 Agenda point, then you

don't ever have to run again. It's like Noise in green. Also, "forcing"; the Corp to forfeit Agendas

is not a fun interaction. It';s a frustrating one.

Valdemart-2/5

Make no mistake - no fancy Runner/Corp role switching involved here. This resource is intended

to turn the midgame around by dumping a zero-point agenda (Fan Site) or a negative point trap

and forcing the Corp to basically sacrifice 2 points or give you 2 - still the same net result. The

timing issues, the 5 click cost and the fact it is a card intended to bring you back makes it really

tough to work. However, there is the possibility of playing the Chela, the Temple of the Liberated

Mind and the Black File and when the Corp is ready to win, use those 3 turns to either catch up

or bring the Corp back from winning points. The jank dream




MightyToenail-3/5

You know those turns when you have nothing to do? Like when you take three clicks and then

have that one left over that seems useless? This card can store that click for a later date. It still

isn't great, but it has uses for some power plays.

AdorablePython-3/5

It's an alternative to All-nighter when splashing Wanton Destruction or running a Notoriety deck.

It costs some credits, but can be used more than once. It also dies to Elizabeth Mills. Heck, you

can even use it in addition to All-nighter!

Valdemart-1/5

Lose a click to gain a click later - this is supposed to go together with the Chela, otherwise the

tempo loss seems too great, unlike the Hyperdriver combo.




MightyToenail-5/5

Now don't get me wrong, this isn't a card for every deck. But when run out of The Professor,

Andromeda, or Valencia, this card is absolutely bonkers. Just bonkers.

AdorablePython-3/5

In IDs without an ongoing effect (Andromeda/The Professor/Valencia Estevez) this is a must-

have. Might also work as an occasional splash to adapt to some Corp decks in the middle of a

game. Better don't rely on it too much, as it can only be included once in your deck and

therefore might be one of the final cards you draw

Valdemart-4/5

This provocative effect misses the 5 just because it is limited to one per deck, but even though

the thematic side rises some weird questions, the effect is awesome - Andromeda, The

Professor, Chaos Theory, Valencia and MaxX will all have nice possibilities to begin a second

life depending on the match up. Such cards bring back my hope for some interesting effects.




MightyToenail-2/5

This IG meta focuses so much on poke damage that Guru is pretty useless.

AdorablePython-2.5/5

Might work in Emptied Mind decks, though his effect sure is costly. Either you go bankrupt by

triggering him too often, or you include multiple copies in order to trash him instead of paying.

Valdemart-1/5

A meta-based score, the Guru seems nice on paper, but net damage usually comes in really

small portions, for which the taxx becomes astronomical, so the only real application becomes

meat damage, and we just got the infinitely more useful Sports Hopper, which is also influence-

free. There might be some decks that will utilize the Guru, but I just don't see it.




MightyToenail-4/5

Even though it is slow compared to the interfaces, and can't do a true lock, it is cheaper and can

trigger off of unsuccessful runs as well as successful ones, and so is definitely worth a look in

your deck, especially for Anarch if you aren't running Medium or in Snitch/Au Revoir decks.

AdorablePython-4/5

Adam and Apex will like it for sure. I will include it in many of my other Runner decks, too. As I'm

quite unlucky when it comes to central accesses. So this will TURN the tide.

Valdemart-3/5

This is the pack of uniques/influence-costing/single copy neutral resources/events. If it didn't

cost influence I would say that this is a safe splash almost everywhere, but as it is currently, it is

a cheaper way for Shapers/Criminals for multi-access on their off-server. It can't be purged, so

bonus points there, but nothing too fancy.



MightyToenail-3/5

With low strength, high cost, and conditional subs, it doesn';t look good for Brainstorm. But this

card can flat out win you games. Even if the runner doesn't have a full hand, the sheer amount

of brain damage dealt means that this card can punish face checks like nobodies business.

AdorablePython-3/5

Extremely expensive and anti-synergetic in brain damage-oriented decks, as the runner already

hasn't that big of a hand, so the number of subroutines potentially shrinks. If you have the

money and the runner has no Killer... sure, go ahead. But outside of those early early game

edge cases, it';s not worth its money. I will rate it 3 stars nonetheless, because when it hits at the

right time, it hits like a truck.

Valdemart-3/5

First turn remote Ice, Hedge Fund, Agenda has never been better - unless you have a quick

Mimic and Sure Gambles ready blind face-checking might be fatal. Going into the mid- and late-

game, Brainstorm will easily get Parasited, but it is not as simple ordeal as Komainu would be if

you hit it breaker-less. That damage will stick. The price and influence hinder the score though,

making this ice quite nice for decks that pack plenty of money and are not afraid to go faster.




MightyToenail-5/5

An amazing cost-to- strength ratio combined with two scary subs make this the best card of the

pack. Sure it needs other bioroids to work, but once Ichi is rezzed, this is going to be very

expensive to break.

AdorablePython-4/5

3 rez, 5 strength is very nice. Plus, its subroutines are as versatile as you want them to be: It

can be a Destroyer (Ichi), a brain fryer (Viktor/Vikram) or a simple runstopper (Eli/Markus). The

only downside is that you need other rezzed bioroids, which isn't a very complicated task,

though.

Valdemart-4/5

This is the Bioroid ice that was so needed - a rezzed Viktor 1.0 will be all you need to make

Ravana as taxing as needed. The cheap rez and high strength make this one a natural fit for

any decks that pack ice different from ETR. Oh, and those Ichis just love Ravana.




MightyToenail-3/5

This card, while seemingly unimpressive, actually fits right in with Jinteki's whole strategy. Out of

PE, it is a solid 1 pointer. Out of RP, it means that runs on HQ in order to get into remotes aren't

going to yield most of the time. In Nisei Division, it means more income. In IG, it makes it even

easier to stall in order to have bio ethics pull off the win.

AdorablePython-3/5

Don';t get me wrong, it's a good effect - with or without Snares. The problem is that it won't affect

Legwork on an Agenda-flooded HQ, nor Account Siphon, nor Vamp, nor Gang Sign.

Valdemart-2/5

Really nice defensive effect slapped on a 1-pointer which will force you into building a deck that

is hard to protect. It would have been worlds better on a 2/4, but as it is this agenda seems like

a god send for Personal Evolution - feed those 1-pointers and Snares to the Runner. Pair with

Raman Rai to recycle them and you have pretty much locked HQ. Kind of niche, though.




MightyToenail-3/5

While this card is seemingly unimpressive, as even though the sub is dangerous, it is unlike

Komainu in that it is not very taxing late game. However, this card is downright deadly alongside

its partner ICE, Upagoya. Hence, this card deserves a 3 just for that combo, even if it is a bit

hard to trigger.

AdorablePython-4/5

Another card that boosts Nisei Division's strength. It makes Upayoga threatening and can be

potentially deadly in conjunction with House of Knives/Lockdown/Neural EMP.

Valdemart-3/5

Nice tax, but really can't give it more given how easily this folds against Mimic. The same can be

said for many sentries though, so to be completely honest, the credit/card drain makes this a

better yet more risky version of Komainu. If Psi games are your thing though, you can freely add

1 to the score. Also, this card will give best results when played out of faction, for the influence

cost is rather low compared to Komainu and it sets the kill really nice for both NBN and

Weyland.





MightyToenail-1/5

If only, if only, this card was in Weyland. Advanceble ice would be so amazing with this scored.

But alas, NBN has no use for it, as they tend to fast advance. It is a shame really to waste such

a fun card.

AdorablePython-3.5/5

When including this Agenda, make sure you have advanceable ICE, too. Or Ambushes like

Project Junebug. Maybe Subliminal Messaging, too - in order to punish the Runner for not

donating you advancement tokens.

Valdemart-2/5

The 3/5 yellow agenda makes this a weird beast - the effect is absolutely good for any shell

game, but if you can relaibly score 5-advancements, why not go for the Fragments? Anyway,

this card allows you to put down any advancable trap masked as an ordinary asset/upgrade and

load it before the Runner accesses - more mind games, more fun.



MightyToenail-4/5

At first glance, this appears to be yet another one of those Snoop or Data Hound type ice that

never does anything. Yet this has the potential, if unbroken, to be a Chetana or Komainu.

Combine that with a high strength and needing three cards to break with Faust, and you';ve got

a decent ice.

AdorablePython-4/5

Making News and Rutherford Grid make this a nightmare to face-check. Plus, its strength 5 and

trace 5 ensure that it will stay relevant for the remainder of the match. It also doesn't trigger I've

Had Worse's draw effect, as Waiver deals no damage.

Valdemart-3/5

Now this is a really good attempt and design to try and make traces significant - if you have

ways to bump the trace in your favour, the Runner is against a tough choise - the money or the

cards. Five strength is really decent, influence is ok to splash where kills might be possible.

Really wish I could give this card more points (I totally dig it), but it is quite expensive affair to

land the trace.




MightyToenail-5/5

Besides the hilarious interactions with Government Takeover, this card is the best card we've

seen in awhile. So naturally it should be NBN! :shake:

AdorablePython-5/5

Sure, you have to have a deck that somehow builds around it. But in those decks this card is a

monster. Let the runner steal your Puppet Masters or Vanity Projects. In exchange for 15

Minutes, Breaking News or Schrödinger';s Cat, he will hand you those 3/4 pointers back. It

liberates you from any major worries about the runner stealing your stuff, so you can focus on

the important things. Funny, considering this pack is named "The Liberated Mind";.

Valdemart-5/5

This is the effect that will make floating tags dangerous on a whole new level - if you manage to

score something small in advance you have an amazing tool to leverage your position. It will

also cause the Film Critic to stay loaded for extended periods of time, allowing your "when

stolen" abilities to trigger. I am glad there is an excellent card in this pack, even though it is for

NBN, again. This is life I guess.




MightyToenail-2/5

So this will, at the most, make your opponent spend two extra Faust cards (but sometimes only

one, depending on the ice.) Hard to justify considering how positional it is. But it could be fun if

you had multiple ice behind it to completely shut down a server. Weyland's version of Chum.

Except it is of course infinitely worse.

AdorablePython-3.5/5

The obvious downside is that, in order for this to become good, you have to have servers that

are at least 2 layers deep already. It's definitely a late-game glacier ICE. 2 rez, 5 strength is

good, though. It makes your other ICE possibly very expensive to break. Some examples:

Spiderweb 3 -> 6 (Corroder), Cobra 1 -> 5 (Mongoose) or 2 -> impossible (Mimic), Datapike 2 ->

5 (Gordian Blade) or 0 -> impossible (Yog.0)

Valdemart-4/5

Weyland's Chum! This is your late game ice upgrade - when the Runner starts to pass regularly

just throw this bad boy on top of that server - the added cost is more than nice. Suffers from

timing issues, but anyway it is not an ice you would be running 3-ofs. A single slot dedicated to it

may/will save your Spiderwebs from calculated Parasite action or will Boost Sentries outside of

Mimic range. Just be careful with D4v1d and you will do just fine. Also, 1 influence - a bargain!





MightyToenail-4/5

You know, I've always said that the things I love most about Netrunner are tutoring and

recursion... Why do they print these things?! I get it, Weyland is the combo faction, but it's an

alliance card for crying out loud! Why must you torture me so?!

AdorablePython-3/5

I'm quite indecisive on this. The ability to tutor and play any operation is generally a very nice

thing, which becomes better as the pool of operation cards grows. Personally, I can't think of

any operations I'd like to play for 2 credits and an extra click. Economy like Hedge Fund or

Beanstalk Royalties? Nope. Scorched Earth? Nope, not enough clicks to play SEA Source AND

Double-Scorch. A single one is, most of the time, not sufficient.

Valdemart-4/5

This card is really hard to value, given how it affects deckbuilding. I would say that it is a really

nice tool for Weyland, who can go with single copies of other cards like currents or meta-hate

and fetch them in an instant. Even if those single copies are already in the trash, you can

always Jackson them back and fire them again. The opportunity cost is hard to consider, but

NBN-slaughterhouses might be happy with it. Time will tell. For now, tutoring = very good. Oh,

and the artwork here is kind of... revealing, not only for your deck.





MightyToenail-5/5

The strongest early game ice ever released. Remember when Paper Wall was big? This is

paper wall on steroids. It gear checks for free in the early game, and still taxes a Faust card late

game. Not too shabby.

AdorablePython-4.5/5

Call me a noob, but I can't agree on the notion that this would be the best ICE. It';s certainly very

good and deserves at least 4 stars, but saying that Quandary is the second-best ICE in the

game - which would be the logical implication - seems a bit off. To me, the best ICE in the game

must have more to it than being a (nearly) free runstopper. Having said all that, I'd like to see

Vanilla in my starting hand.

Editors Note: Noob.

Valdemart-3/5

The ultimate binary ice has arrived - if you need a free gear-check, this is where you stop. No

more influence wasting for Ice wall, Vanilla gives cheap protection to more important assets or

at least forces a breaker/Parasite install, both of which will affect the Runner's tempo while this

card costed you nothing more than a click. Apart from that, it is nothing special. Waiting for the

next ice - Chocolate.