The Right Tool for the Job v1.3

paddosan 3413

I always liked Deus Ex, and usually have a couple copies in my Shaper decks. Sharpshooter is possibly even better, so I just had to build a deck around those two.

With 3 copies of Self-modifying Code and Clone Chip, you should always be able to install one of them, on-the-fly or preparing for a Run. A couple Levy AR Lab Access allow you to simply never run out of options.

Since there's plenty of memory use with all these programs, I had to pick ZU.13 and Creeper. It's a good thing Sharpshooter can break many of those Sentry anyway, cause Creeper is quite expensive to use anyway. I also added a couple Dyson Mem Chip, just in case.

To protect from traces and tag n bag decks, since I didn't wanna have Plascrete Carapace in this deck too, I added 3 copies of Borrowed Satellite as well, bringing the maximum Link up to 6. It was only natural, then, to add Underworld Contact.

Lastly, Diesel and Freelance Coding Contract for an extra boost that might surprise your opponent. Same story goes for IMP, which can be quite handy to trash all those expensive upgrades or assets... a recurring SanSan, for example (gotta hate Interns!).

11 comments
17 Feb 2014 x3r0h0ur

Definitely an interesting build. I think just 1 imp or maybe 2 would be enough, since you can recur it. Scavenge is interesting with imp too in that you can use it 2x per turn :P

This would allow you to run a mimic to help keep sentry costs down (creeper is pricey for cad and viper and other common 2 routine ice that are not sharpshootable. Also this would free up 2 more influence to maybe swap in a corroder or other fun trick.

Just some thoughts...also UWC will take forever to get online I think, I usually need massive draw and tutoring. Though, this much link will walk all over the current NBN builds lol. I'll try this build out later when I get home and we'll see whats up.

Oh and its vulnerable to foxfire, so its already a bad deck :P

17 Feb 2014 paddosan

I remembered you suggesting the Scavenge + IMP trick previously, and I love it... but I think it would be a waste to have that event just for IMP, here. And removing one IMP... I don't know, there have been moments where it was almost useless, but also games in which it totally demolished my opponent (removing Scorched or Punitive Counterstrike from their hands is such a pleasure...).

I honestly dislike Creeper, but I think that a full rig gives a bad feeling to the Corp, making them feel insecure. So I kinda like having the certainty that I'll be able to break their ICE one way or another. There's no Sentry which doesn't belong to one of these three subtypes, anyway: AP, Destroyer, Tracer. Deus Ex and Sharpshooter for the first two, a high Link will make the third nearly useless (as you said, it kinda breaks NBN decks).

Gotta say I don't even remember when I used Creeper the last time, playing with this deck...

You spotted the vulnerability though, thus revealing the weak point of the deck! Let's hope my opponents won't read this... Foxfire hurts! :D

18 Feb 2014 paddosan

Now that I've seen the Fear and Loathing spoilers I'm wondering... Alpha and Omega could really be something in this deck! With maybe a single Creeper, just in case I meet Swordsman?

18 Feb 2014 PeekaySK

creeper is pricey for cad and viper and other common 2 routine ice that are not sharpshootable

This would be mainly because Viper is a code gate :P

18 Feb 2014 PeekaySK

But, so that I just don't troll, here's something to ponder:

If you look at sentries globally, all of them belong into at least one of the following groups:

  • They're AP (all of Jinteki stuff, Janus)
  • They're Destroyers (Archer, Rototurret, Ichis)
  • They're tracers (Draco, Hunter, Snoop, Raven, Flare, Shadow...)

So, if you're running Sharpshooter AND Deus X AND high link, you can get through everything just fine. The only tricky one is Swordsman - but you can still get through it, because if you notice, Deus X is an AI icebreaker (and thus can't be used)... but Sharpshooter isn't! And since Swordsman has a trash routine, it is a destroyer, so you're set then :)

This is the main reason why I wouldn't be worried about Caduceus and Draco - just trace their asses right out of here.

Alpha and Omega could really be something in this deck! With maybe a single Creeper, just in case I meet Swordsman?

Swordsman is covered by Sharpshooter... but if you want to make Alpha and Omega work, I'd definitely fit in at least two Eschers. Otherwise you can get maneuvered into a position where you just won't be able to get in, period.

(it's either that, or run ICE destruction... personally, I'd rather go for the Eschers)

18 Feb 2014 paddosan

So, if you're running Sharpshooter AND Deus X AND high link, you can get through everything just fine. The only tricky one is Swordsman - but you can still get through it, because if you notice, Deus X is an AI icebreaker (and thus can't be used)... but Sharpshooter isn't! And since Swordsman has a trash routine, it is a destroyer, so you're set then :)

Right, I forgot that Swordsman is a Destroyer! All the better, then. Deus Ex is not an AI Icebreaker either, though, so I could actually use either.

Swordsman is covered by Sharpshooter... but if you want to make Alpha and Omega work, I'd definitely fit in at least two Eschers. Otherwise you can get maneuvered into a position where you just won't be able to get in, period.

(it's either that, or run ICE destruction... personally, I'd rather go for the Eschers)

The only real issue with the Alpha / Omega combo, to me, is the speed of setup... it takes obviously advantage of a Corp that is building up its defenses, but once they start adding extra layers it might get really hard to break through.

So yeah, Escher is definitely a must!

Maybe I could add one/two copies of Crypsis or Atman as well, just in case. Then I might also have a real use for Scavenge which was suggested by x3r0h0ur for IMP.

From Fear and Loathing there's also the new Cybersolutions Mem Chip which coul be interesting... I could replace the 2 Dyson with the new stuff, and remove Borrowed Satellite for the good old Rabbit Hole (it'd make it cheaper to raise my Link).

18 Feb 2014 x3r0h0ur

Ill be honest I think the rabbit hole route is better, I hate dyson memchips, or at least I did last time I used them. I shifted the influence in my take on this deck to include nerve agent and sneakdoor beta, because if you can rack up the counters in the front, then later when you get a free minute, go in through the sneakdoor and grab the agendas that are pooling up :P

I don't use Imp though, so that sucks..instead I use medium! That way I have constant pressure on both servers, anarch style :P

19 Feb 2014 Alsciende

With Honor&Profit is coming the first plain Sentry. Luckily Creeper breaks it for just 2 credits.

19 Feb 2014 paddosan

You mean Guard, right? Yeah, Sentries are the worst kind of ICE to face, I always feel safer running with a Killer installed.

That's why I don't think this deck would translate into an Alpha / Omega thing so easily. Or that it should... I'll probably make an entirely different deck for that, already got an interesting idea in mind.

24 Feb 2014 ttsgosadow

Played this deck, and worked very well. With Deus and Sharpshooter its very comfortable to run blind. Ended up being tagged, so half of the deck didnt work as intended. But that's only because we almost exclusively play multiplayer (big sellout variant) and there it can be quite easy to tag a runner. I love the inclusion of Desperado. It fits the playstyle of the deck well.

Thanks for sharing!

24 Feb 2014 paddosan

You're welcome, and thanks for the feedback. ;)