See original Derived From for original notes, but note this is a major overhaul.
Major changes here include:
- More kill combos. So many more kill combos. The only issue is that unlike butchershop or similar, the runner has to mess up and fall into your trap to get killed by the Scorched Earths. But if they don't, well they might be dead anyway...by Chairman Hiro / Ronin / Neural EMP / Not having a hand size / etc.
- More cards means another agenda. I went for Philotic Entanglement. Also another way to set up kill combos - however is also a non-defensive agenda! Just make it look like a Junebug or Cerebral and you're hunky dory.
- Server Diagnostics! It's a deck that has barely any ICE - so you're barely going to be installing. Just naked install, hold off rezzing until relevant, then enjoy the runner squirm. The idea with this deck is to get to 'critical mass' money really fast. This is where the runner looks at your Sundews / Server Diagnostics and all that and says 'nah bugger that'. If your opponent ever just says 'How many Sundews is that' - you've hit critical mass. At this point, money is irrelevant...and the runner has already fallen into the first trap - since one of your win conditions is based on a trace. (Snatch and Grab)
- It's also an important note that Cerebral Cast is a significantly more effective win condition than Snatch and Grab - simply due to the reason that with Cerebral Cast - you can either insta win (into Scorch) or they take some dain bramage - and then you have an easier time winning anyway. This is the reason for the 3/1 of Casts and Grabs.
- The removal of Space Camp was regretful, but necessary, unless I wanted to toss a bunch of things which I desperately did not want to toss. The only consideration I made influence wise was whether to grab a third Eli or the Blacklist. I opted for the Blacklist simply because it's a silver bullet against any Deus X shenanigans when they try to prevent you from winning. It's also really hard for them to clear - because you know...Archives and all that
- Caprice Nisei is back! I really desperately needed to fit some copies in now that I'm going lighter on ICE. This means that I can pop one of them on Archives along with a Crick and just watch the squirming commence. Also works well in conjunction with a Valley Grid. Almost deliberately prevents multiple attempts at accessing - which is code for the runner just ignoring it.
The basic idea of running this deck has now shifted from maintaining a board presence, then executing a kill, usually by an ambush force-checked by double Ronin pressure or scoring points, to moving as quickly as possible to setting up a kill.
This becomes easy when you consider the amount of possibilities you now have. If the runner ends their turn on 4 cards - Cerebral Cast into Scorch into Scorch or Neural. Don't even need a Hiro! Runners will also rarely take the option to NOT prevent the connection trash with Snatch and Grab...unless they already know you have the kill in hand. So always make sure you make the hard choices hard for them. Lose Kati with all that money on it...or maybe get dead.
Also note that this deck now works best as a surprise. The amount of traps you have in deck is now mega limited - and no really punishing ones. So what I've done in my own meta is conditioned them towards one deck (the original version) - then pulled this deck out. Results yet to be confirmed. But we'll see. Might get lucky.
Main consideration is whether a couple of PAD Campaigns would be better than Server Diagnostics. Probably, but testing is required. And Server Diagnostics is just so much cash...2 at the start of turn is a big deal.
Currently working on IG I tried your decklist with the following changes: - 1 Crick (2 are still enough), +1 Eli, -2 Server Diagnostic, - 1 Blacklist, +3 PAD Campaign. I have to say it really worked well! Formerly playing a variant more on eco control, your build allows solid kill changes. Celebrial Cast plus Chairman Hiro and Ronin is ugly!
Often the runner is in fear of running, so you can make a lot of money. I easily found a scoring window with a caprice even behind a single ICE. I just a bit struggling with your joice of upgrades.
Why Cyberdex Virus Suite? I didn't had promblems with viruses. A Medium is dangerous. IMO only the Lampreys and Imps are problematic. But the CVS doesn't really help against Imp. Another upgrade I couldn't use once is the Valley Grid. How worked it out in your test matches?