GRNDL: Quick as a Corpse

bubo 351

I wanted to try something different with GRNDL and see how fast we can complete a game with the credit advantage.

GRNDL Quick as a Corpse is a Plan B Rush deck with a Project Junebug backup plan. This deck is designed to exploit the 5 click advantage that GRNDL starts with to outrace the Runner's use of Bad Publicity credits. Phase 1 should be constructing defenses for HQ and R&D, coupled with an attempt to Plan B an Agenda out of hand. Phase 2 should focus on shell gaming the Runner with Plan B and Agendas while layering a second set of ICE on the servers. If Phase 3 is reached before GRNDL QaaC can threaten match point, then Project Junebug should be installed via Mushin for an attempted flatline.

ECONOMY:

GRNDL QaaC is utilizing the GRNDL starting advantage with traditional GRNDL economy cards of Geothermal Fracking, Profiteering, Restructure, and Hedge Fund. Unfortunately, there is not enough influence to bring in stronger economy and the goal of QaaC is to be fast enough that GRNDL Refineries will hinder rather than help.

AGENDA:

GRNDL QaaC wants to drop and score Agendas faster than the Runner anticipates, and as such wants to draw Agendas quickly. The Agenda density is high with low point Agendas. Geothermal Fracking, Hostile Takeover, and Profiteering boost economy with their points. Vulcan Coverup will disrupt Runner tempo and set them back a couple of clicks. Project Atlas is included strictly as a 3/2 high efficiency Agenda. In addition, every Agenda except Geothermal Fracking is within reach of a Mushin No Shin installed Plan B without an additional advancement token, and even Geothermal Fracking is in reach if the third click is spent putting a fourth advancement token on Plan B. With the speed that QaaC is intended to operate at, the Runner should not be able to afford to guess if a Mushin drop is a Plan B or not.

ASSET:

Plan B is included as both Runner tempo disruption and as extra protection for your Agendas. Jackson Howard is present primarily for card draws. Project Junebug is the backup plan for a Runner that manages to assemble a fast rig. Installing Project Junebug with Mushin No Shin against a Runner that is not expecting a damage trap during Phase 2/3 should result in a flatline.

OPERATIONS:

GRNDL QaaC is concerned with completing Agendas as Rushed as possible. The only operations carried out by QaaC are Hedge Fund and Restructure to fuel the Economy, and Mushin No Shin to help rush agendas or setup Plan B/Project Junebug traps.

ICE:

GRNDL QaaC doesn't have time to play with anything except End the Run ICE. Chimera, Hadrian's Wall and Draco (with at minimum 9 strength) should be the Go-To ICE for most situations, presenting GRNDL rez capable ICE in Phase 1 and 2 that the Runner cannot break. Guard is present to trip up Inside Jobs, and Archer to present teeth against an aggressive Runner.

FUTURE:

Depending on performance, Jackson Howard and Project Junebug will be evaluated against protective Upgrades such as Caprice or Ash.

7 comments
26 Mar 2014 AkAnderson

If the deck runs as efficient as your breakdown of the deck then this is a build to be feared. I just worry that the runner catches on early and simply starts hitting HQ and leaving your Plan Bs useless in the remotes.

26 Mar 2014 bubo

This deck was inspired from when I realized what could be done with a Draco with 10-20 credits behind it at rez during my design of GRNDL Wet Works. The first task in this deck is to properly defend HQ and R&D (and archives if Sneakdoor is in play), preferably with a Guard leading into either Hadrian's Wall or Draco to force the Runner into running Remotes.

Plan B does rely on the Corp player knowing how to properly play the shell game, and sometimes the shell game means abandoning the plan. My anticipation is that the average sequence will be a Plan B score first, then 2-3 straight agendas out of the remote, followed by a second Plan B score or Project Junebug flatline at match point.

27 Mar 2014 bubo

After a few test plays, I'm finding myself with an over-abundance of credits from my Agendas, even with an account siphon or two getting through my early defense. I'm still putting together statistics over the weekend, but I'm seriously considering dropping Hedge Fund in favor of additional ICE. Caprice is looking more appealing to me as a HQ install, but I still want to evaluate Jackson and Junebug more before switching my influence around.

I did have an amusing play where my friend ran Inside Job into a Plan B - Vulcan Coverup on turn 1, then flatlined against a Mushin installed Project Junebug on his following turn.

30 Mar 2014 Jannic

This looks amazingly mean - I've been salivating over those Mushin/Plan B combos, good to hear they work in (some) practice. Are you adding more ICE because it's been a problem, or as insurance? 14/45 is still less reliable a draw than 18/49, but I'd rather add some way to alleviate Bad Publicity - seeing as you'll have 4 or 5 after a few Agendas, Corroder and Faeries start breaking you for very cheap. ...I guess that's when you Mushin a Junebug and ruin their day. :)

On another note, how are you playtesting these: proxies on octgn/IRL, or is there some platform that lets you mess around with spoiled H&P cards?

30 Mar 2014 bubo

Jannic, I'm adding the ICE mainly because that's where I see the most value added to this deck at this time. I would prefer to add an Ash or Caprice for Phase 3 completion, but at the moment there is not enough influence available to make that happen. I've considered dropping Junebug, but my personal preference is to have an alternate win condition over added insurance. However, in my ICE mix I see room for another code gate, probably Ireress since I don't have the influence to add anything significant.

Honestly, I'm not concerned about my Bad Publicity at all. QaaC wants to finish the game in Phase 2, and Project Junebug is the Phase 3 solution. Between Hadrian's Wall and oversized Draco, that Bad Publicity get's eaten pretty quickly.

At the moment I'm playtesting using printed proxies for the unreleased cards (print a proxy, and slip it into a card sleeve with another card behind it to maintain stiffness). I've got OCTGN installed, but there's never any games available whenever I take a look. At some point I'd like to look into a group to regularly play and playtest on OCTGN, but I'm currently involved in doing a full conversion of the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game to a cyberpunk setting.

23 Apr 2014 Fjord

Are you reading draco right? I think protecting centrals early with this ICE would be a nightmare. Hadrians wont leave you with money to defend both, archer not online, chimera gets poked to drain your cash, draco's trace is small outside nbn even smaller here against bad pub. Giving draco power counters just ensures you get to try the weak trace. Guard is ok but it tells them to get a sentry breaker.

25 Apr 2014 bubo

@Fjord Draco's oversized strength just gives a high probability that the trace can't be broken. While the base trace strength is low, this deck actually generates too many credits at the moment (as funny as that sounds). With it's speed, I typically pay for a Draco trace around 2-3 times a game.

My latest variants have replaced one each of Hedge Fund and Restructure for Ireress and/or Hive due to the over production of credits (I was ending games with almost 20 unspent). I'm still going back and forth over which one I like better.