Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 16:52:49 -0600 Reply-To: Netrunner Discussion List Sender: Netrunner Discussion List From: Ben Matthews Subject: Re: Newsgroup Taunting Prototype Warning: kinda long rambling post from a Corporate Stooge that hasn't had nearly enough sleep lately... Leonard offers up: > Alright, as per conversations on the FAQ, it came to mind that > we need 'prototypical' decks so that we can discuss them. As an > example, I borrowed a friend's Newsgroup Taunting deck, stripped out > all of the 'nifty' stuff that personalizes it, and reduced it to > the following 'prototype': > > 9 Fetal AI > 10 Newsgroup Taunting > 6 Edgerunner Inc., Temps > 10 Virus Test Site > 10 Day Shift > > While obviously this deck has a few major flaws to it, the > core of it is what I generally think of as 'Newsgroup Taunting Deck'. > Comments please. Ok, I realize we're not trying to create the "perfect" NTD here, but I think it's worthwhile to try to figure out how the deck is supposed to win, and move toward that end. Obviously, the way this deck wins is by getting out so many Tauntings that the runner can't afford to get rid of them all, or spends so long doing so that the Corp can openly advance agenda, winning the game. So, how much is "so many"? That often depends on the Runner's bit engine, and how far the game has progressed. At the beginning of the game, if the corp were to draw, then install and rez 3 tauntings, the runner could (if he so desired) gain a bit, then spend 3 actions and 6 bits to get rid of the Tauntings. The Runner would be outta bits, but the Corp would probably be outta Tauntings. So even three tauntings at the beginning of the game (when the runner has 5 bits and no bit engine in place) isn't quite enough. What can swing the balance is being able to drop 4 or more Tauntings in one turn when the Runner is still relatively poor. That's where the Edgerunners come in. Right now, you've got 10 Tauntings and 6 Edgrunners out of 45 cards, which is a decent ratio, imo. As it is, after the Corp's first draw, there's approximately a 22% chance that you'll get an Taunting, and about a 15% chance for Edgerunner. What this deck needs is an increased chance of having/drawing multiple Tauntings at one time, combined with an Edgerunner. One way to accomplish this is to include Planning Consultants and Annual Reviews. Ideally, the Planning Consultant would setup an Annual Review or Day Shift as the top card, with the next 2-3 cards as Tauntings. Then you can use the drawing card to get the Tauntings (or whatever) into your hand to use with an Edgerunner to get multiple tauntings out quickly. One last point before I go. Why include all the virus test sites? Just to deter people from running R&D? Why not use Setups, then? Maybe there's a hidden secret I've yet to fathom... Anyway, here's the Corporate Stooge Modified Taunting Deck: 9 Fetal AI 2 Virus Test Sites (just ta fool 'em once in a while) 3 Setup (R&D and HQ protectors, and can act as fake Tauntings) 10 Newsgroup Taunting 6 Edgerunner Inc., Temps 6 Day Shift ( 4 Annual Reviews ( --> Setup the Edgerunner/Taunting Combo 5 Planning Consultants ( Any other comments? -ben -vladd -corporate stooge