Android: Netrunner - Fan Fiction - Mr Smith Goes To Weyland

Smith surveyed the Security Operations Room. It was as he expected it. Rows of technicians hunched over their workstations, centered around a large screen at the front. All of them human and in no way similar to each other. Sometimes you could tell who you were working for just by looking at the staff. Everything looked state of the art. To be expected when working for Weyland Consortium. They had the money and were not afraid to spend it to protect their interests. A very young and inexperienced looking man approached him. He looked like the picture you might see next to the definition of Easy Mark in the Anarch hacking bible.

Dale: Good evening. You must be Mr Smith. My name is Dale. I am the junior Security Officer assigned to assist you.

Smith: Is this your first time, Dale?

Dale: I have observed a number of operations, but this is my first time acting as the junior security officer.

Smith: Is one of your family members someone I should know? You're not related to the Chief Security Officer here at Weyland?

Dale: I graduated at the top of my class and I can assure you I am fully trained and ready to provide advice on what tools we have available.

Smith: I hope you are. Without someone to watch over you, you are going to have to be very good if you want a long career at Weyland.

Dale: Yes, sir. We have all the usual tools at our disposal...

Smith: Skip that. I read the briefing. Tell me about the hacker.

Battlefield 4 Announced (with trailer)

Battlefield 4 has been announced for fall 2013.

Here is the 17 minute gameplay trailer:

Android: Netrunner - A Study in Static Card Spoilers

The next Netrunner Data Pack, A Study in Static,  is due out this week, but the cards have been leaked on Board Game Geek. This appear to be legit.

Check out this post for the pictures of all the cards (scroll down a bit).

A easier way to view the Study in Static cards at CardGameDB.

First Deluxe Expansion for Android: Netrunner

Update: More Card Spoilers in this thread.

The first expansion for Android: Netrunner was just announced in this Press Release from the Fantasy Flight website.

Called Creation and Control, this expansion adds three new Shaper and HB identities, such as this one for  HB:

Custom Biotics and the Effects of Influence

Would your business plan benefit from extra influence with outside corporations? Haas-Bioroid’s Custom Biotics division believes that influence is the key to success. More open to the exchange of corporate data than other Haas-Bioroid divisions, Custom Biotics leverages its influence within the industry to gain access to the most powerful and efficient ice, upgrades, assets, and operations developed or implemented by NBN or The Weyland Corporation. However, the division’s work in fields that approach Jinteki’s areas of expertise have led to a tense rivalry, and the two are not currently exchanging data or ideas.

And "Kit", a new Shaper identity:

Rielle “Kit” Peddler, the Puzzle-Solver

Each piece of ice is built differently, but most fall into one of three archetypes: sentry, barrier, or code gate. Accordingly, runners learn how each of these strings of code tend to function and develop proper counter measures. Sentries are the most aggressive of ice, and runners typically develop icebreakers that permit them to slip past the sentries or “kill” them. Barriers stand between runners and their goals and must be broken or “jumped.” Finally, code gates work like miniature puzzles. They modify a runner’s approach toward a server, and unless a runner can “solve” the puzzle, the run is wrested away from the runner’s control. But what if you could see the underlying puzzle in any piece of code? Then, like Rielle “Kit” Peddler, you might be able to use fewer tools to successfully navigate corporate servers, thus limiting the amount of time spent building your rig and increasing the amount of time you spend running.

The expansion is to contain 55 new cards with three copies of each for a total of 165 cards.

In addition to the identities, that leaves 49 other new cards, twenty-seven of which will be neutral. Interesting additions to an excellent game.

Release date: Q2 2013

New Upgrade for HB from Creation and Control

New Shaper Program from Creation and Control

Noobs and Noob Play - Session Report - Android: Netrunner

This session report is for two games played on 26 Feb 2013. Both players were new to the game and these are the first games using our own built decks and with a proper understanding of the rules. Each player has only one Core set and we each took a turn playing the Corp and the Runner.

First game: Kate vs NBN (Me)
Second game: Noise (Me) vs Weyland

I will describe the second game first as it was a bit of a blowout, while the first game was very close and could have gone either way a few times. At the end of this session report, I will also put out some lesson I learned so that you, gentle reader, will not make the same mistakes.

Session Report - BSG Exodus - Aborted 7 Player Game

This 7 player game was played on 16 February 2013. From the Pegasus Expansion we used Pegasus but did not use New Caprica. From the Exodus Expansion, we used the Conflicted Loyalties and the Cylon Pursuit board, but not the Ionian Nebula. We played without a Cylon Sympathizer.

The players, in turn order:

Baltar (President)- Nate
Anders (CAG) - Kyle
Helo - Cody
Cally - Dimetrios
Leoben (Cylon) - Tim
Dee - Mike
Tigh (Admiral) - Me

Just as in the show, I am one of the Final Five. Finding this out will result in the other player being executed. 

Blog Post by Jon Shafer Designer of Civ 5

Follow this link to a post by Jon Shafer from his blog about the design of Civ 5. This is a very open and self critical reflection of the good, the bad and the choices made in the development of Civ 5. Public honesty like this is a rarity.

Of course, this is serving to promote his Kickstarter for a new game in development, At The Gates, but is still a good read.

Android: Netrunner

I recently decided to get into the card game Android: Netrunner. Card games are popular at my FLGS, with Magic: The Gathering being the obvious choice. Anyone familiar with the collectible card game scene will know that M:TG is so popular that it has laid waste to all the other collectible card games, some with very popular IP's, that have tried to compete with it. For those not in the know, if you want to play some type of collectible or limited card game, if it is not Magic, it might be difficult to find other players. 

While I do play some Magic, (I have to, it is so popular) I don't like the way collectible card games are designed to milk the customer. Constant releases of cards, new decks every 3-4 months and the random nature of what cards you get make it more of a pay to win type of game.

Hegemonic Kickstarter Update #14

With 5 days to go, the Hegemonic Kickstarter has reached its $55k stretch goal.

If you enjoy 4x Space Board Games and want to be one of the first to play this game, head over to their Kickstarter page and make a pledge.

Hegemonic Kickstarter Update #12

With nine days to go, Hegemonic Kickstarter has hit the $50k+ mark. This means that the Arbiter button will now be included. This is the first of the exclusive goals.

For me, the most important stretch goal was the $45k one, which is the layered board that prevents the movement of tokens on the player board. This is a big pain in Eclipse, so that goal is appreciated.

The next goal I am eager to see met is the Fringe Houses goal. this should add additional character to the game. This goal is met at $55k, and should be met quite easily.

The next goal I want to see is the locking hexes (you can tell, I don't like pieces to move). This is the $100k and the final goal. I don't think this is likely to be met in 9 days.

If you like 4x space board games, go give the Hegemonic Kickstarter a look. Except if you are in my game group. I am hoping for this to be another one of my "great finds".