A Look Back at the Netrunner Core Set - Criminal

In this video, I take a look back at the Core Set and evaluate the Criminal cards in light of our modern understanding of the game.

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[MaNU]

These videos are gold. 2020 and still revisiting them every now and then. RIP Netrunner

[KrystianMajewski]

I really like the hypothetical cards you come up with. Especially some good thoughts on Gabe!

- Gabe: One thing that I like about Gabe is that because his ability is so narrow, he is a really great runner for new players. He basically has a built-in tutorial. Sadly, I've never seen a lot of demo decks with him.

- Ninja: I laughed out how you basically dropped it. One thing perhaps to add here is that it would be a good breaker for high-strength Sentries. But we never really got any of those.

- Crash Space: I've been successfully using Crash Space instead of Plascrete. Generally, a lot of top-tier decks will often drop Plascrete because it's a deckspace hog. You can play around tag and bag by making enough money. So putting in economy instead of Plascrete is often more useful. Especially since Butcher Shop has so much meat damage, Plascrete often won't help anyway.

In this context, I really like Crash Space as a good middle-ground. One Crash Space is almost as good at protecting against "SEA Source, 2x Scorch" as a Plascrete is. It's cheaper and if you play Account Siphon you can always get the economy out of it. The only downside is that you can't go tag-me, which was a popular style during the first two cycles.

Looking forward to the next video!

[paulryanclark]

Removing the click requirement to Data Dealer could have made it similar to Stimhack for Anarch. It would allow the player to potentially have access to 9 credits if they have an agenda to sacrifice. Potentially cool ramifications.

[DefiasBrotherhood]

Also wanted to comment on what you mentioned about the design of the core set.  As someone who has tried out most of FFG’s LCG’s, I think this is hands down the best experience you will get out of a single core set for a LCG.  I haven’t tried Warhammer Conquest or Cthulhu, but with games like LOTR you HAVE to invest in more.  It’s definitely not a complete game with just a single core set.  In spite of the undercosted Anarch influence cards, it doesn’t break the game.  This is a rewarding experience straight out of the box.  Just my two cents for whatever that’s worth!

[stephenmills]

Hi, first as a new player I find your videos really helpful and I'm slowly making my way through them. I'm watching your review of the core box at the moment and one thing where I get a little lost is when you are referencing other cards from outside the core box. This is because you suggest there are now better cards available but if I wanted to get them I don't know which packs to buy. I guess this might have added too much information to include in your videos but would have been very helpful to new players.

[KoenigNord]

Pre-Thanks Willingdone! Your videos mean a lot to me :)

[DefiasBrotherhood]

Excellent video.  As usual!  I agree that people went overboard in condemning Account Siphon.  Yes it’s strong.  But not broken.  The only card I think the corp really had in the core set to combat it was Beanstalk Royalties.  One click for three credits is pretty helpful in recovery from the Siphon.
Not to wax poetic on Account Siphon, but to me it actually feels like more of an Anarch card.  Yes flavor wise it fits Criminal’s stealing credits.  But the two tags?  Seems more risk/reward/Anarch to me.  Oh well, like I said, great video!

[Quincy_Morris]

New player here. Real helpful vid. Sounds like I should run a criminal deck and import the anarch rig. Though that will be tricky with the Most Wanted List.

[Marinealver]

I don't think you can forfeit an asset or card in place of an agenda in score area. However with cards like HB domestic sleepers It allows you to make use of a 0 point agenda,

[CRAZY]

You get everything (almost) if you get 2 core sets

[dizasterdoes]

I can't believe how much you can talk about one card. You obviously know a lot about this game. It makes me very intimidated to get into it. If I go to the game store and end up playing against someone like you there is no hope.

[funkzentrale]

Honestly, I think the numbers on aurora are just wrong, same with ninja. I would like to see these as meta options, but there is just no situation where these breakers are better.