Hermes

♦ Hermes 2[credit]

Hardware: Console
Influence: 3

+1[memory unit]

Whenever an agenda is scored or stolen, add 1 unrezzed card to HQ.

Limit 1 console per player.

This world is not beautiful, and yet that is why it is.
Illustrated by Martin de Diego Sádaba
Decklists with this card

The Automata Initiative (tai)

#14 • English
Startup Card Pool
Standard Card Pool
Standard Ban List (show history)
Rulings
  • Updated 2023-10-04

    If the Corp scores Hybrid Release while the Runner has Hermes installed, what order do those abilities resolve in? Can the Corp rez the card they install before Hermes has a chance to add it to HQ?

    Both Hybrid Release and Hermes become pending in the same reaction window, but the active player resolves their abilities first. Since agendas can only be scored on the Corp’s turn, this means the Corp is the active player and must resolve Hybrid Release’s ability first. Then the Runner resolves Hermes’s ability, adding an unrezzed card to HQ, which could be the card that the Corp just installed. The Corp does not have a chance to rez any cards in between the two abilities.

  • Updated 2023-10-04

    If the Runner has Hermes installed and breaches HQ with additional accesses, what happens if they steal an agenda during this breach?

    The Runner resolves Hermes’ ability and adds a card to HQ before accessing any more cards. The Corp should randomize that card with the other cards in HQ that have not yet been accessed during this breach. The Runner does not get information about whether their remaining accesses include the card that was just added to HQ.

  • Updated 2023-10-04

    Can the Runner decline to use the Hermes ability?

    No, Hermes’ ability is mandatory.

Reviews

This console change the game. If you are a 40 cards deck, take 3 of those, install it early (56% chance of getting it in your starting hand), and make the corp lose tempo for free. At 2, it is really cheap for that effect. Because, let's face it, corp clicks are more valuable than runners click. Using 2 (an possibly 2, if it is the second ice) to install an ice is really bothersome.

Worse yet, if the corp score while their hand it full (and on their last click), it bounce back a card in hand, forcing the corp to trash something from hand because they are over the limit. Making this kind of like a Sabotage 1.

But it get better. If you are not a glacier and only single iced your servers (centrals or others), scoring an agenda or getting an agenda stolen on a first click means a server is now unprotected! Against shell games corps (looking at you, Mitosis), you bounce back a card that has advancements, making the board less threatening.

This combo well with Capybara, which let you derez a bypassed ice, which can then be bounced back in the hand of the corp. Fun skateboard flip.

3 influences is cheap for such a powerful effect. Back when Leela Patel: Trained Pragmatist was a playable identity, it was considered one of the most powerful ability in the game. Of course, this takes up your console slot. And contrary to a great console like Paragon or Pennyshaver, it does not pay for itself. But at 2, it is cheap enough that you should not feel it much.

The real downside is this, you want this console installed as early as possible. While other console can be slotted as 1x, Hermes should always be slotted as 3x. Getting this at the late game is quite useless. So, not only does this take your console slot, but it takes more card slots also.

This is a powerhouse of a card, it cannot be overstated how good this is. I expect this to become the prefered console for regular criminals. And it will be splashed (for a whopping total of 9 influences) outside of criminals sometime, for great effects.

The art and quote are good and fitting for a console that is aimed at Mercury: Chrome Libertador. The name of the greek god of travelers is somewhat fitting with the theme of Mercury: Chrome Libertador (which has the roman name of nearly the same god of travelers). In a metaphorical manner, it can be seen as fitting for what the console does (make cards travel back). It fit neatly together, well done!

(The Automata Initiative era)
4224

Hermes is Mercury: Chrome Libertador's console: it synergizes both because the identity is multiaccess (more agendas to steal), and because the console can bounce ice (easier no-break breaches).

Compare: Leela Patel: Trained Pragmatist, which has the same text, but an identity is (obviously) qualitatively different to build around than a card is; they don't cost any clicks or credits, they can't really be permanently destroyed, and they don't need to be drawn or tutored for.

(The Automata Initiative era)