Introduction to Netrunner

Netrunner is a living card game (LCG) that pits two asymmetrical players against each other: the Runner and the Corporation. Originally designed by Richard Garfield in 1996 as a customizable collectible card game, Netrunner experienced a significant revival when Fantasy Flight Games released Android: Netrunner in 2012. This article delves into what Netrunner is, how it works, its orientation, and various curiosities that make it a unique experience.

What Is Netrunner?

Netrunner is a two-player competitive card game set in a dystopian cyberpunk future. One player takes on the role of a mega-corporation (Corp), seeking to advance their agendas and defend sensitive servers. The other player is a resourceful hacker (Runner), aiming to break into those servers, steal valuable data, and expose corporate secrets.

Key Concepts

• Asymmetry: The Corp and Runner have entirely different card pools, strategies, and win conditions.
• Living Card Game: Unlike collectible card games that rely on random booster packs, LCGs provide fixed expansion packs, ensuring that all players have access to the same cards.
• Cyberpunk Setting: The game is set in the Android universe, combining high-tech futurism with noir aesthetics.

History and Evolution

Original Netrunner (1996)

Richard Garfield, the creator of Magic: The Gathering, introduced Netrunner in 1996 as a collectible card game. Despite its innovative mechanics, it faced distribution challenges and was eventually discontinued by Wizards of the Coast.

Android: Netrunner (2012–2018)

Fantasy Flight Games (FFG) reimagined Netrunner as an LCG in 2012, expanding the setting to the Android universe and improving balance and accessibility. FFG released a Series of Data Packs and Deluxe Expansions until 2018, when they lost the license.

Current Organized Play and Community Support

After FFG’s departure, the Netrunner community organized itself under the https://netrunnerdb.com and https://stimhack.com networks, continuing card development through the Genesis and Spin Cycle Reloaded projects.

How Netrunner Works

The mechanics of Netrunner revolve around alternating turns where two distinct sides work toward different objectives. Here’s an overview of the core gameplay flow:

Setup

• Each player builds a deck from a chosen identity and associated cards.
• The Corp places five cards in their deck the Runner does the same.
• Corp draws five cards Runner draws up to five.
• The Corp places a piece of ICE (defensive program) protecting their servers as they see fit.

Turn Structure

1. Corp’s Turn:
   • Draw Phase: Draw one card.
   • Action Phase: Spend up to three clicks to:
     • Play an operation, asset, or upgrade.
     • Advance an agenda.
     • Rez (activate) ICE or assets.
     • Gain credits.
   • Discard Phase: Optional discards to max hand size.
2. Runner’s Turn:
   • Draw and gain one credit automatically.
   • Use clicks to:
     • Play cards like programs, hardware, or events.
     • Run on a server to attack the Corp’s data.
     • Gain credits or draw additional cards.
   • Discard Phase: Optional discards to max hand size.

Win Conditions

• Corp Victory: Score seven agenda points by advancing agenda cards in remote or central servers.
• Runner Victory: Steal seven agenda points by successfully hacking agendas out of Corp servers.

Orientation and Audience

Netrunner is oriented toward players who enjoy deep strategy, bluffing, and deck customization. Key audience segments include:

Competitive Players

• Participate in tournaments such as regional championships and world championships.
• Focus on optimizing decks, predicting meta shifts, and executing precise plays.

Casual Players

• Enjoy relaxed games with friends, exploring new card synergies and narrative elements.
• Experiment with themed decks or fan-created card sets from community projects.

Collectors and Deck Builders

• Seek out rare promo cards and foil printings.
• Combine cards from different cycles to create unique strategies.

Core Components of the Game

Detailed Faction Overview

Both sides are divided into multiple factions, each bringing unique mechanics and playstyles.

Runner Factions

• Anarch: Disruption, virus counters, resource destruction.
• Criminal: Resource gain, breaking ice cheaply, fast runs.
• Shaper: Card draw, tooling up with programs and hardware.
• Adam: Unique identity focusing on extreme risk-and-reward combos.

Corp Factions

• Jinteki: Traps, net damage, tag focus, surprise tactics.
• Haas-Bioroid: Advanced ICE, click-efficient economy, biotic labor combos.
• Weyland: Big ICE, meat damage, fast advance agendas.
• NBN: Tag-and-bag strategies, remote server milling, trace-heavy control.

Gameplay Mechanics

ICE and Server Structure

• Each server may host agendas, assets, or upgrades.
• ICE protects servers Runners must pay credits or use special abilities to break subroutines.
• Types of ICE: Barrier, Code Gate, Sentry, each with distinct subroutines.

Runner Programs

• Breakers: Specialized viruses to defeat ICE subroutines.
• Utility Programs: Tools like D4v1d (scales with tags) or Hivemind (boosts viruses).
• Virus Cards: Spread counters, disrupt Corp economy or damage resources.

Economy and Resource Management

• Corp: Generates credits via operations, assets, or rezzing ICE built with inherent credit gain abilities.
• Runner: Gains credits through special events, hardware, or card abilities.
• Balancing spending on offense (breaking ICE) versus defense (card draw, credit generation) is crucial.

Strategies and Tactics

Common Runner Strategies

• Rush: Aggressively run early and often to steal low-cost agendas.
• Combo: Build up resources and programs to execute a game-winning sequence.
• Tagstorm: Intentionally take tags and use cards like Scorched Earth to punish a tagged Corp.

Common Corp Strategies

• Fast Advance: Advance agendas quickly behind cheap ICE.
• Big ICE: Build a wall of expensive ICE to deter runs.
• Mill: Force the Runner to trash cards from hand or heap to deplete their deck.

Curiosities and Unique Features

Asymmetrical Depth

No two games of Netrunner feel alike. The asymmetry ensures that players must master two fundamentally different play experiences. While the Corp focuses on card advantage and defense, the Runner prioritizes infiltration and adaptability.

Rich Lore

• The Android universe is also home to board games like Android, Netrunner, and Rialto.
• Card flavor text and art provide a compelling narrative about corporate intrigue, cybernetic enhancements, and neon-lit cityscapes.

Community-Driven Expansions

After the official end of FFG’s product line in 2018, the community developed unofficial card sets under projects like PRERELEASE, Spin Cycle Reloaded, and Genesis Redux. These expansions aim to preserve balance while introducing new factions, identities, and mechanics.

Digital Version

The Android: Netrunner digital adaptation was released by Fantasy Flight Interactive but shut down in 2018. Community-made platforms such as https://jinteki.net and https://nisei.net now host online play, complete with deck builders and ranking systems.

Major Expansions and Cycles

Learning and Resources

• Card database and deckbuilder
• Strategy articles and tournament reports
• Online play platform
• Organized play and community events

Conclusion

Android: Netrunner stands out as a masterclass in asymmetrical card game design. It combines deep strategic layers, a rich narrative setting, and continuous community-driven support. Whether you’re aiming for a tournament win, exploring balanced casual matches, or simply soaking in the cyberpunk lore, Netrunner offers a unique and rewarding experience for all types of players.