The Titan Ice Lockdown

SubTric 432

The aim here is to treat our agendas as utility cards, ensuring that no matter which agenda is scored, we get a real bonus out of it and make a scoring server that is a total pain to get into!

We are using lots of advance-able ice, and lots of cards to get stuff advanced! Shipment from Kaguya, Shipment from Tennin and Priority Construction mean some pretty nasty ice down pretty fast. It's very tempting to hold onto the shipments for your agendas, but don't think twice about making that ice brutal and fast. Ideally we want to start with a Priority Construction and an Asteroid Belt for a free rez brick wall early. You are looking to combo that with Hortum and either Bloodletter or Colossus for a server that is punishing. Architect is here to try and let us fish for more ice. Special mention goes to Builder which in testing has been enough of a deterrent for the runner to start runs, knowing that whatever is unreeled is just going to get tougher off the back of hitting it.

We polish the scoring server off with an Ash 2X3ZB9CY and used Satellite Grid + Lag Time to enhance all our ice even further.

Titan Transnational: Investing In Your Future has a killer ID ability, so our agenda suite is picked to ensure we get to use it for every single agenda we score. Armored Servers is going to pretty much lock the runner out for a run while we score - and we get to use it twice! Firmware Updates is incredible in this deck, giving us 4 free advancement counters for our ice and High-Risk Investment and Project Atlas keep us in cash and recursion when we need it. Regardless of the agenda you pull, scoring it will have useful abilities outside of it's points score.

The aim here is to get a solid scoring server going early enough that the runner can't mess with it, score an agenda, abuse the agenda tokens we get, then repeats. It's been fun to play and tough to crack. It does lack a little card draw, which I'd have liked to have slotted, but I couldn't really get it to work in a way that I liked, which is how Architect came to be in the deck, which has actually served me better than using cards like Anonymous Tip or Violet Level Clearance.

This is never going to be a tier 1 deck, but it is totally fun to play and impressively competitive.

19 comments
10 Oct 2017 The Real C

I'd definitely grab +2 Atlas (probably at the cost of -2 Armored Servers, although I'd have suggested -1 Armored Servers -2 Firmware Updates if you weren't praising the latter so highly). This also partially helps your card draw issues, and the loss of server defense is more than offset by the fact that choo, choo, you're now on the Atlas train. Atlas is also a lot easier to fast advance than Armored Servers.

Using Shipment from Tennin on ice seems like a strange move, since you're only saving a single click by doing so as opposed to just advancing your ice twice, kind of weak after paying 3 inf and expending a fast advance tool. Shipment from Kaguya is obviously ideal for this sort of thing, though.

Lag Time is definitely your weakest current, and now that Employee Strike is restricted you're not that worried about countering Runner currents. I'd either skip it altogether (and get some mix of Audacity and Cyberdex Virus Suite in), or replace it with some other current... not sure if any really suits you, though, only Paywall Implementation comes to mind, since Housekeeping is kinda expensive.

10 Oct 2017 SubTric

@The Real CThanks for the feedback. I've ben playing the deck a bit more tonight, and I agree about Atlas. I'd had a few games where Armoured Servers had totally shut the runner down while I scored out everything else... I was loving it so much that I went a bit OTT on the one!

I'm not usually a big fan of 1 point agendas but I love the Firmware in this deck. They have to stay :)

Shipment from Tennin does usually get used on Agenda's to be honest, but it has been useful in making those 'advance to reduce rez cost' ice come out super fast, and that shouldn't be scoffed at. I'm wondering if a better use of the slots would be to slot some Archived Memories in place of Tennin to re-use the Kaguya's at free will.

Lag Time has actually had some great use, but is easily the least essential part of the deck. I'd be tempted to drop them for a 3rd Satellite Grid and possibly a Priority Requisition (actually maybe a this makes more sense than Archived Memories). I am tempted by Audacity, but every time I use it, it's in decks like this, where there is rarely something I want to throw away, let alone throwing 3 cards from HQ.

I've going to give a few of these a whirl over the next few days!

10 Oct 2017 SubTric

@The Real CThanks for the feedback. I've ben playing the deck a bit more tonight, and I agree about Atlas. I'd had a few games where Armoured Servers had totally shut the runner down while I scored out everything else... I was loving it so much that I went a bit OTT on the one!

I'm not usually a big fan of 1 point agendas but I love the Firmware in this deck. They have to stay :)

Shipment from Tennin does usually get used on Agenda's to be honest, but it has been useful in making those 'advance to reduce rez cost' ice come out super fast, and that shouldn't be scoffed at. I'm wondering if a better use of the slots would be to slot some Archived Memories in place of Tennin to re-use the Kaguya's at free will.

Lag Time has actually had some great use, but is easily the least essential part of the deck. I'd be tempted to drop them for a 3rd Satellite Grid and possibly a Preemptive Action (actually maybe a this makes more sense than Archived Memories). I am tempted by Audacity, but every time I use it, it's in decks like this, where there is rarely something I want to throw away, let alone throwing 3 cards from HQ, especially with pretty much no archive retrieval.

10 Oct 2017 SubTric

@The Real C Thanks for the feedback. I've ben playing the deck a bit more tonight, and I agree about Atlas. I'd had a few games where Armoured Servers had totally shut the runner down while I scored out everything else... I was loving it so much that I went a bit OTT on the one!

I'm not usually a big fan of 1 point agendas but I love the Firmware in this deck. They have to stay :)

Shipment from Tennin does usually get used on Agenda's to be honest, but it has been useful in making those 'advance to reduce rez cost' ice come out super fast, and that shouldn't be scoffed at. I'm wondering if a better use of the slots would be to slot some Archived Memories in place of Tennin to re-use the Kaguya's at free will.

Lag Time has actually had some great use, but is easily the least essential part of the deck. I'd be tempted to drop them for a 3rd Satellite Grid and possibly a Preemptive Action (actually maybe a this makes more sense than Archived Memories). I am tempted by Audacity, but every time I use it, it's in decks like this, where there is rarely something I want to throw away, let alone throwing 3 cards from HQ, especially with pretty much no archive retrieval.

10 Oct 2017 PyWiz

Shipment from Tennin => Trick of Light. FA Atlas train ftw?

11 Oct 2017 RvdH83

I find Audacity a late game card. It's great for your last agenda. Including one is fine, but two is pushing it.

11 Oct 2017 SubTric

@The Real C After a few more games and swapping stuff around, I went with your suggestion - down to 1 Firmware and 2 Armoured Servers to get the 3 Atlas in. Firmware is so damn good, but as you can only spend 1 then per turn, thats 4 turns between getting additional use form other tokens... It also gives me an extra card to play with by trading 3 agendas for 2.

@PyWiz I played 2 games with Trick of Light instead of Tennin last night and things were so much smoother, using tokens from razzed Asteroid Belt and Wormhole to score agendas turn after turn.

@RvdH83 I have snook one in for emergency, though I am still tempted to swap it for a 3rd Satellite Grid (that card is doing lots of work) or a 3rd Preemptive Action (I've added 2, see below - and I have no idea how I lived without it).

So after suggestions and a few more games, the edits are... -1 Armoured Servers, -2 Firmware Updates, -3 Shipment From Tennin, -2 Lag Time, +2 Project Atlas, +3 Trick of Light, +2 Preemptive Action, +1 Audacity.

11 Oct 2017 SubTric

@The Real C After a few more games and swapping stuff around, I went with your suggestion - down to 1 Firmware and 2 Armoured Servers to get the 3 Atlas in. Firmware is so damn good in this deck, but as you can only spend 1 token per turn, thats 4 turns between getting additional use from other scored copies... It also gives me an extra card to play with by trading 3 agendas for 2.

@PyWiz I played 2 games with Trick of Light instead of Tennin last night and things were so much smoother (I couldn't fit both cards in and maintain consistency), using tokens from rezzed Asteroid Belts and Wormhole to score agendas turn after turn. So much fun.

@RvdH83 I have snook one in for emergency, though I am still tempted to swap it for a 3rd Satellite Grid (that card is doing lots of work) or a 3rd Preemptive Action (I've added 2, see below - and I have no idea how I lived without it). I didn't managed to use it in either game I had it in the deck, but I can see how it can be a game winner to hold in my hand.

So after suggestions and a few more games, the edits are:

-1 Armoured Servers, -2 Firmware Updates, -3 Shipment From Tennin, -2 Lag Time, +2 Project Atlas, +3 Trick of Light, +2 Preemptive Action, +1 Audacity.

11 Oct 2017 SubTric

@The Real C After a few more games and swapping stuff around, I went with your suggestion - down to 1 Firmware and 2 Armoured Servers to get the 3 Atlas in. Firmware is so damn good in this deck, but as you can only spend 1 token per turn, thats 4 turns between getting additional use from other scored copies... It also gives me an extra card to play with by trading 3 agendas for 2.

@PyWiz I played 2 games with Trick of Light instead of Tennin last night and things were so much smoother (I couldn't fit both cards in and maintain consistency), using tokens from rezzed Asteroid Belts and Wormhole to score agendas turn after turn. So much fun.

@RvdH83 I have snook one in for emergency, though I am still tempted to swap it for a 3rd Satellite Grid (that card is doing lots of work) or a 3rd Preemptive Action (I've added 2, see below - and I have no idea how I lived without it). I didn't managed to use it in either game I had it in the deck, but I can see how it can be a game winner to hold in my hand.

So after suggestions and a few more games, the edits are:

-1 Armoured Servers, -2 Firmware Updates, -3 Shipment From Tennin, -2 Lag Time, +2 Project Atlas, +3 Trick of Light, +2 Preemptive Action, +1 Audacity.

11 Oct 2017 The Real C

Sounds like a significant improvement. If I were to offer any further suggestions, it would be -1 Bloodletter -1 Shadow for +2 Colossus. Bloodletter is... just not doing anything for you, you're playing fast enough that the stack trashing is more likely to help the Runner (they find Paperclip or something to Clone Chip up) rather than harm them, and you're not Skorpios. Shadow is just not very high-impact, doubly so as you have no real tag synergy. Meanwhile, Colossus is probably the strongest ice available to Weyland right now. It's a real monster.

Might also ponder whether Mass Commercialization could find its way in here. I don't know how your games look, but keep in mind you need no more than two ice total that have any advancement counters on them at all (and Satellite Grid counts - even on unrezzed ice!) before it's a "free Hedge Fund", and it's pure value after that. Could potentially replace IPO, or something else if you need more econ.

I'll also briefly mention that I tend to prefer Fire Wall over Asteroid Belt (strictly superior with only one counter, two creds for a strength upgrade at two counters, it's debatable whether the third counter is even worthwhile when you have Colossus to prioritize), but I do see that Asteroid Belt is neat with Trick of Light. In terms of Code Gates, Hortum is strong vs. Aumakua, which is nice, but it's quite weak to Black Orchestra (3 creds to break!). Mausolus remains a strong alternative, and with multiple Colossi, Wormhole is also quite terrifying. Generally streamlining your ice suite sounds wise; the aim is to have just enough variation to avoid being beaten by one/two strong breakers and to be able to simultaneously defend centrals and remotes, having more variation than you require for these purposes just makes your ice draw inconsistent. This means Builder is also something to take a long hard look at.

11 Oct 2017 SubTric

@The Real C The ice streamline is probably a good call. I've found the spread of ice to be good and it's been far from he weak point in the deck, but as with adding preemptive action and trick of light, I can see how constancy is probably my best friend here.

I'll test out the 3x Colossus, that is certainly a good looking way to go. Mausolus is awesome, but as with Shadow, the tag synergy isn't here and so it felt like a wasted sub, but I guess 3 crds and 3 net damage isn't to be scoffed at!

Builder has been incredible in the early game to pump up other ice, the moment you rez one and it fires is so satisfying... but it becomes unneeded in the later game. I think Asteroid Belt syncs too damn well with Trick of Light (and the chance to be able to rez it in turn one for free by using Priority Construction for 1 cred) and just helps me be so fast. I 'could' upgrade some Ice Wall to Fire Wall though, maybe 2, 2, 2 of Asteroid, Ice and Fire, though maybe that takes away from the consistency. Squeezing in more Wormhole can only be a good thing - Maybe bite my tongue and swap the Builders out for another Hortum and a Wormhole, or maybe 2 wormhole if I'm feeling cocky.

Finally, given the amount of advanced items... Mass Commercialization over IPO is probably the smartest choice of all. It makes me want to sneak the 3rd Satellite Grid in too!

11 Oct 2017 SubTric

@The Real C There is always Orion too - With a Priority Construction it becomes 6 to rez, which given its not unrealistic and its a beast to break.

11 Oct 2017 SubTric

@The Real C There is always Orion too - With a Priority Construction it becomes 6 to rez, which is not unrealistic for an early hit and its a beast to break.

11 Oct 2017 The Real C

Orion is so-so right now since it's "only" 7 to break with Paperclip; good, but not amazing given the rez cost. I think the rest of your changes make sense, though.

11 Oct 2017 SubTric

@The Real C Makes sense, though 7 is not really an 'only', especially if you can get it down early enough. I'm really torn on the 3/3 Astroid/Ice or 2/2/2 Astroid/Ice/Fire combos for barriers. Flexibility or versatility. I'll need to test those combos out much more. I may test 3/3 Asteroid/Fire Wall as well. I know this will make things financially tough, but constancy wise means the chances of a tough barrier fast look good.

Thanks for all the feedback.

12 Oct 2017 SubTric

@The Real C More games down and this is starting to feel quite refined. Architect has gone after never firing once in 5 games. I've used the influence to import 2 copies of Localized Product Line which has made things waaaaaaaay more consistent. Both copies of Ash have gone... it was nice, but rarely played a part - I either locked the server done so hard they never got that far, or they had so much cash that it really didn't matter. In it's place is 2 copies of Bryan Stinson which against some opponents is super powerful. I've also snuck in the 3rd Satellite Grid and rearranged the ice.

Too many changes to list, so until V2 is perfected, here is the deck - netrunnerdb.com

My only uncertainties at the moment are Bryan Stinson (as he's not always usable) and maybe Hortum (I considered slotting Rototurret or a pair of other very cheap to rez ice for emergency instead). I am considering dropping Bryan Stinson for a pair of Beanstalk Royalties or Green Level Clearance and cash can get short and they really can't hurt (and keep consistency up!), even typing this out makes me think that could be a good move.

Really enjoying this deck!

12 Oct 2017 SubTric

@The Real C More games down and this is starting to feel quite refined. Architect has gone after never firing once in 5 games. I've used the influence to import 2 copies of Localized Product Line which has made things waaaaaaaay more consistent. Both copies of Ash have gone... it was nice, but rarely played a part - I either locked the server done so hard they never got that far, or they had so much cash that it really didn't matter. In it's place is 2 copies of Bryan Stinson which against some opponents is super powerful. I've also snuck in the 3rd Satellite Grid and rearranged the ice.

Too many changes to list, so until V2 is perfected, here is the deck - netrunnerdb.com

My only uncertainties at the moment are Bryan Stinson (as he's not always usable) and maybe Hortum (I considered slotting Rototurret or a pair of other very cheap to rez ice for emergency instead) as I typically only set up one remote server and can possibly drop the hortum entirely, not consistency is up... I don't need as much ice, I just need to get half a dozen bits quick. I am considering dropping Bryan Stinson for a pair of Beanstalk Royalties or Green Level Clearance and cash can get short and they really can't hurt (and keep consistency up!), even typing this out makes me think that could be a good move.

Really enjoying this deck!

26 Oct 2017 StaticSky

@SubTric How's the development of the deck going? I'm really interested in an updated list--this deck looks really fun!

30 Oct 2017 SubTric

@StaticSky Sorry for the slow reply - I've been at Essen all week! This deck has had LOTS of play. It's currently my favourite corp deck to play, though I'm still tweaking small aspects - mainly the ice suite... it's mainly the same stuff, with a few tweaks and changes to the quantities. Changeling ended up being the surprise winner - With lots of paperclips floating around, it's been nice to have a strength 4 sentry ETR.

This is the current line up for the deck - netrunnerdb.com

I dropped the Shipment from Tennin as it ended up doing much less work after I understood the flow of the deck. Priority Construction and Trick of Light continues to be a killer combo. I also slotted a copy of Anson Rose. He's not essential here, but can help in the early game to get things moving.

I'm sure I'll continue to tweak this, but right now, I'm pretty happy with it. I intend to take this to a store championship in December... so we shall see!