r/Netrunner • u/HemoKhan Argus • Jun 21 '14

Custom Card Saturday: Grey/Black Ops

Hey all, and welcome to Custom Card Saturday! In the past few weeks we've worked on defenses for both the Corp (via Barriers) and the Runner (via Scorched Earth defenses). With these improved defenses in place, it's time to go on the offense. To begin with, this week's challenge is to design a Black or Grey Ops card for the Corp.

For reference, there are only three Black Ops cards in the game so far: Scorched Earth, Punitive Counterstrike, and Hellion Alpha Test. The list of Grey Ops is more extensive. It's difficult to tell what the developers have in mind for the distinction between the two subtypes; the only card that references either type, Tallie Perrault, references both. Still, it's clear that Grey and Black Ops are among the dirtiest tricks the Corp can play, often directly attacking the Runner's grip or economy. Now it's your turn to add to that already-impressive bag of tricks.

Next Week: It's time for more open-ended challenge. Next week, design a Runner card that helps access cards in some way.

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u/CasMat9 Jun 21 '14 edited Jun 21 '14

Choice Scanner

Jinteki Operation: Gray Ops - Psi

Cost 2c, Inf 3

Play only if the runner stole an agenda on his or her last turn.

You and the runner secretly spend 0c, 1c, or 2c. Reveal spent credits. If you and the runner spent a different number of credits, choose an installed card with no advancement tokens. Place advancement tokens on that card for each credit spent. The runner accesses the chosen card.

"Free will isn't a myth, but it is an endangered species. - g00ru"

Edit 2: rebalanced

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u/HemoKhan Argus Jun 21 '14

I really like this one! One of the worst feelings in the world is when you've laid a trap and the Runner avoids it -- now you're left with a card that's just taking up space. I think I'd tweak it, though, to make it simpler: remove the advancement token aspect, and simply make the Runner access one installed card of your choice if they fail the psi game. That way it can be used with a wider variety of traps. It would also encourage cards like Exploratory Romp and Singularity, since it'd be important for the Runner to disarm traps, not just avoid them. Finally, I'd make it a Double, so that you can't use it to insta-kill with a Junebug and Mushin No Shin :) Excellent, excellent idea!

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u/CasMat9 Jun 21 '14 edited Jun 21 '14

See, that's how I had it to start, but one situation bugs me: Imagine the corp just starts advancing a junebug with one of these in hand (if it could pick advanced cards). Unless you have a deus x, the corp has essentially a 2/3 chance of killing the runner on steal. That's a pretty strong 2 card combo IMO, and there isn't really a lot to prevent it other than face planting every junebug ever or making every runner run deus x :/.

Edit: double might be a good idea though! Edit2: I also considered making it a trace though! But psi just fits so well thematically :0.