Play Dumb - Dutch Nationals

manicmoleman 497

This is a deck that I've been working on since Psych Mike was released. The basic plan is to get an Algo Trading, Dummy Box, and God Of War installed as soon as possible, while being as aggressive as you can. On your NVRAM you're looking for any of your combo pieces (Obelus, God of War, Psych Mike, Counter Surveillance, Dean Lister, Dummy Box, Algo Trading), ways to challenge early remotes (Self-Modifying Code, Stimhack, Laamb, Engolo), or match up specific tech like Paparazzi. If you suspect you're playing a Weyland kill deck, or an NBN tagging deck, don't even install God of War, just be aggressive and try and make the Corp pay as much as possible for the Hard-Hitting News.

Because Psych Mike repays you whatever you spend on Counter Surveillance (at least on R&D) you can do mini digs with 4 or 5 tags to just draw up. If it's a big dig and you're getting low on cards, Levy first and then Counter Surveillance to ensure you've got cards in hand to protect your resources. You can also do plays like Counter Surveillance click one, draw up with Obelus, install another Dean Lister, then challenge the remote. This forks the Corp, and if you're playing against Mti, they need to decide when to trigger their ID ability.

You're reasonably resilient to tag punishment. Closed Accounts or Market Forces don't matter, as you've got money on Algo Trading. Against The All Seeing-I, just protect Dummy Box and the most important resources. Against Exchange, forfeit agendas to Shadow Net or Artist Colony. Against kill, you've got Paparazzi. The tag punishment you can't really play around is Psychographics; in that case you just have to sweep HQ with a Counter Surveillance run, then try and keep R&D locked.

In testing this deck has been doing pretty well, but on the day it was a bit disappointing.

Game 1 - NEH Asset Spam - Loss

I'd played against this deck in Belgian Nationals, so kind of knew what was up. I think I tried to trash too many of the assets; if I'd have held back and built up I might have been able to do a mini dig, but the NEH deck goes quickly.

Game 2 - Argus Kill - Loss

I got cocky and was killed. I'd just challenged a remote, getting tagged with Data Raven and Surveyor. I installed Dummy Box and Paparazzi, then ran R&D to draw up with Obelus. Unfortunately, I drew a Program, and couldn't protect Paparazzi. This was a misplay, as I had Resources I could have taken off NVRAM instead of the luck of the draw. I was quite disappointed with this game, because I'd built the deck as a response to those kind of decks becoming popular in the meta then just misplayed it. Oh well!

Game 3 - Mti Glacier - Loss

This was a slog of a game! I'd been trying to build up to the combo turn all game, while also challenging the remote, stealing an Obokata. My opponent purged, then a couple of turns later installed and advanced in the remote. I figured that I would just try and see the rest of R&D, but a surprise DNA Tracker install with the Mti screwed up my maths, and the Counter Surveillance didn't trigger. However, the DNA Tracker rez had made my opponent poor, so I still had a chance on HQ. I ran, stealing a Nisei, then again to see an Obokata, but because of the DNA Tracker rez the turn before I only had three cards in hand. In retrospect, I tunnelled on R&D, I should have gone for HQ, as I suspected there were a couple in there.

Game 4 - Mti - Win

I got the impression my opponent couldn't find Agendas to score, giving me time to set up. I used Counter Surveillance and saw a Nisei, SSO and another Agenda practically one after the other for the game.

Game 5 - Mti - Win

Another game where the stars aligned and I found what I needed to challenge the remote when I needed to, then did a Counter Surveillance run for the game.

1 comments
22 Oct 2018 Cluster Fox

I give this deck my 100% seal of approval. I also give it my condolances that it had to play "Fun Police" decks ;) Well done my friend!