Setting Runner Priorities, One Central Run at a Time

The goal is to use a combination of RP's ability, taxing ICE, and blocking ICE to "guide" runner behavior. You can never fully predict what they might do, of course. But you can push them towards doing what you want, when you want, by setting up certain options to be--or at least look--more enticing than others.

This deck is not designed to seek a flatline--no Punitive, no EMP--but it is designed to threaten the careless runner with one: Chum + Katana/Tsurugi, of course; Katana + Fetal; Shinobi face-checked at the wrong time; multiple Shock! in the archives; double Ronin if they let it sit thinking it an ambush. Just another way of slowing them down and guiding them toward the path you want.

Try to get the taxing ICE on centrals/Sundews (places you know they want/have to go) and the hard-stop ICE on agendas. Swarm early game is super effective, but of course it peters out as your points trickle in. Sending an over-advanced Brain Trust out behind one early on can really help.

Try to let Unorthodox Predictions sit with 3 counters on it looking like a failed trap bluff. If you can fire it off at the right time, it can (nearly) guarantee another score from hand by making your hard-stops (nearly) impassable. On your turn score the UP and choose something that would make a remote with "end the run" somewhere unbreakable, then install whatever you want and advance it 0-2 times. They can't beat it on their next turn, and on your next turn you score it out. Obviously after that it can be fed to the Archer if necessary. ;)

If you have to hold agendas in your hand, try to make them Fetal or NAPDC. Combine that with a Toolbooth in front of HQ and you're looking strong. Caprice can also become double effective when protecting those agendas; if they will only have enough creds to steal the agenda, you can make the psi-game a 100% success for you (though they will probably get to trash Caprice that run).

Let Private Contracts sit unrezzed until you need it. Marked Accounts and Sundew are your trickle. (Sundew can actually be more like a firehose if left unaddressed, mwahah.) Save PC for when you need a surge in money.

Sought feedback: -Aside from the 1x Archer there's no program trashing here: should I include it? I've gone through various versions that have included some number of Rototurrets and/or Aggressive Secretaries. Unsure though, felt like the influence was needed elsewhere.

-There's a high ICE density relative to what I see others doing with this kind of deck. A lot of it plays so well together that I think it's OK, but I want to hear dissenting opinions on this.

-Also re ICE, Tollbooth and Shinobi are the only late-game powerhouses. Is that enough?

-Do I need a shower? I feel like I smell something... is it... is it me?