Android Netrunner

[EmJayBee83]

Anyone know if there's a way to play this game online? It seems like we have quite a few people that play the game so it might be fun to be able to play it with each other.

Does Lackey, or similar programs, have an A:NR plugin at all, or something like that?

Right now if you have a PC you can play A:NR online using Octagon (which is like Lackey on steroids). A complete guide to getting started can be found at http://www.tuism.com/octgn-netrunner-fool-proof-guide/. If you only have a Mac or a Linux box you are out of luck.

To be competitive, you have to have 2.

This is something to be aware of.  If you want to play at the Tier-1/Win Big Tournament level for any of the Fantasy Flight LCGs (Star Wars, A:NR, Conquest, etc.) you probably need to have 2 (possibly 3) copies of the core sets. That being said, the core set of A:NR comes with 7 starter decks (one for each of the 4 corporation and the 3 runner factions) and has a ton of play right out of the gate. You can play for a long time and get a great feel for whether the game is for you or not before you need to buy any additional cards.

[LukeChips]

You can play for a long time and get a great feel for whether the game is for you or not before you need to buy any additional cards.

Yea, I still don't have 2 core sets in SW lcg, but it's still really fun!

[TheKarazyvicePresidentRR]

It depends on what you are looking for...

The holistic approach is to purchase expansions in the order that they originally shipped. This would let you experience how the meta shifted over time. It also makes it easier to discuss your collection with other players (e.g., "I have everything up through A Study in Static.")

A second approach would be to preferentially select packs that give you the most interesting options for building across the board. This will introduce you to a number of the archetypes and some moderately powerful decks.

The last approach would be to start with a couple of factions (one corp, one runner) that you are interested in a purchase packs to expand on those. You can pretty quickly become competitive this way at minimal cost.

I believe both reddit (specifically the Net Runner subreddit) and Shut Up and Sit Down have buying guides. Or you could post which approach you are interested in, and I could make some suggestions.

The second one is more my style, I enjoy shifting things up often to find my own style.

[LukeChips]

They made a 2nd edition!?!

[browarod]

I think he meant the second approach from MJB's post, lol. He prefers to preferentially select packs that give the most interesting options.

[LukeChips]

Oh, thanks. I must have go NR confused with game of thrones LCG, which is getting a 2nd edition...

[EmJayBee83]

Hey Josh...The packs you are going to want to pick up will be the ones with each corp's 3/2 agendas, some new ids, and some good utility cards. That said, I would probably go with (top three):

1) What Lies Ahead  3/2 for Jinteki and for Weyland.  New Anarch and HB ids. Ash (oh so awesome) and Plascrete Carapace (to keep you from getting Scorched).

2) Future Proof  3/2 for NBN. New NBN id, Eli (maybe the best ICE in the game), Indexing--super powerful runner event. New Angeles City Hall.  Mr. Li.

3) Cyber Exodus.  3/2 for HB. Chaos Theory (most excellent Shaper id). Pop-up window, Test Run, Personal Workshop.

Also worthy of consideration is Opening Moves, based almost solely on one card--Jackson Howard. There are some other good cards in that pack (e.g., Next Bronze), but J. How is the rock star. Without a doubt the best corp card printed to date.

Lastly, if you find you like playing Shaper, Creation & Control--the first big box--has a number of faction defining cards.

[ChristianSoldier]

Also worthy of consideration is Opening Moves, based almost solely on one card--Jackson Howard. There are some other good cards in that pack (e.g., Next Bronze), but J. How is the rock star. Without a doubt the best corp card printed to date.
[/quote

I prefer Director Haas, especially because I don't even use Jackson Howard (and if I'm remembering who he is, don't really want to either)

[EmJayBee83]

Also worthy of consideration is Opening Moves, based almost solely on one card--Jackson Howard. There are some other good cards in that pack (e.g., Next Bronze), but J. How is the rock star. Without a doubt the best corp card printed to date.

I prefer Director Haas, especially because I don't even use Jackson Howard (and if I'm remembering who he is, don't really want to either)

I think you might not be remembering who he is.  At the recent Worlds, only one Corp deck in the Top 16 did not run three copies (the maximum) of Jackson Howard, and that deck ran two copies. The card really is *that* good.

[ChristianSoldier]

Also worthy of consideration is Opening Moves, based almost solely on one card--Jackson Howard. There are some other good cards in that pack (e.g., Next Bronze), but J. How is the rock star. Without a doubt the best corp card printed to date.

I prefer Director Haas, especially because I don't even use Jackson Howard (and if I'm remembering who he is, don't really want to either)

I think you might not be remembering who he is.  At the recent Worlds, only one Corp deck in the Top 16 did not run three copies (the maximum) of Jackson Howard, and that deck ran two copies. The card really is *that* good.

I never said I play top decks. I never said how good he was, all I said was what I preferred. I essentially play this game with three other people and I doubt any of us are top level good. I don't really check up top decks or anything like that. I suppose I should have made that a little more clear.

[EmJayBee83]

I never said I play top decks. I never said how good he was, all I said was what I preferred. I essentially play this game with three other people and I doubt any of us are top level good. I don't really check up top decks or anything like that. I suppose I should have made that a little more clear.

Sorry, I thought you were responding directly to my claim that Jackson Howard was the best corp card to date.

[LukeChips]

Do expansions come out every month?

[Lampy 2.0]

Do expansions come out every month?

When FFG doesn't take their sweet time releasing expansions... *cough* STAR WARS: BETWEEN THE SHADOWS*cough* ...yes. Generally, since Netrunner is FFG's most popular LCG, they would put more effort into releasing cards.

[LukeChips]

I know, Between the shadows was supposed to come out MONTHS AGO!!!

[ChristianSoldier]

I never said I play top decks. I never said how good he was, all I said was what I preferred. I essentially play this game with three other people and I doubt any of us are top level good. I don't really check up top decks or anything like that. I suppose I should have made that a little more clear.

Sorry, I thought you were responding directly to my claim that Jackson Howard was the best corp card to date.

Also my knowledge of the game is far from complete, and I was mostly basing it on my particular deck rather than corp decks in general. I probably also underestimated his power. Of course I may have to try Jackson Howard out now that I know he is really strong, maybe I can even more consistently beat my friends.

[LukeChips]

Now I wish I got NR instead of Star wars LCG, more people play NR

[EmJayBee83]

Of course I may have to try Jackson Howard out now that I know he is really strong, maybe I can even more consistently beat my friends.

Need some cards? Jackson Howard will let you draw 2 for a click.

Have a Noise problem?  JH is the silencer.

Have you ever gotten agenda flooded? Install J. How and then pitch two or three agendas in your archives.

Has that nasty runner locked your R&D down tight?  Maybe a bit of Mr. Howard's shuffle magic is on order.

Seriously, in the original data cycle runners won 60-70% of all tournament-level games. After Opening Moves came out that dropped to around 50-55% due to one card.

[browarod]

So in a tournament structure for this game does each player bring a corp and a runner deck (or multiples of each faction) and then they get randomly assigned a role each match? Or do you pick a side and play that the whole time?

[EmJayBee83]

So in a tournament structure for this game does each player bring a corp and a runner deck (or multiples of each faction) and then they get randomly assigned a role each match? Or do you pick a side and play that the whole time?

Each player brings a corp and a runner deck. For the qualification rounds you play 65-minute Swiss rounds. Each round you play two games, one each as corp and runner. After the qualifiers you have a double elimination top-cut. Each player plays a single games against an opponent. The higher ranked player gets his choice of corp or runner, and after that you play the side you have played the fewest times.

[LukeChips]

That's just like star wars lcg!

[browarod]

That's just like star wars lcg!

Given they're made by the same company it makes sense that the tournament schemes would be similar.

[LukeChips]

Yea, but NR is cool because it has two different kinds of cards, corps an netrunners, with different functions.

[EmJayBee83]

Yea, but NR is cool because it has two different kinds of cards, corps an netrunners, with different functions.

The asymmetric play is indeed one of the best parts of the game. Even small things like having different names for items depending on whether you are corping or running (e.g., your deck is called your R&D when you corp and your stack when you are playing as runner) adds a ton of flavor to the game.