Then I realize that I could have make a case of Deep Thought in my fresh R&D Interface review.

So Deep Though takes 1MU and 3 runs on R&D before being effective. And then you see the top card of R&D at the beginning of your turn.

Then what’s the point ? Come on, it is in a faction that have waaaay better tools for R&D pressure.

It sometimes happen, but a popular card remains without review. So here I come.

But what to say ? Such an obvious use.

So let’s go for a comparison.

Vs The Maker's Eye — RDI is more expansive but stay on your rig. Also, every copy of them stack together. RDI is a better option if you want to hit R&D over and over again, while Maker's Eyes is better to check it once in a while. But they goes well together, and if you plan to take 3 slots for R&D pressure, a mix of the two is really nice.

Vs Medium — Obvious choice for Anarchs. Less expansive and allow deep R&D dig, but takes 1 . Also vulnerable to virus purge. I tend to prefer Medium, but 3 influence points outside of Anarch deck can be scarce.

Vs Globalsec Security Clearance — The new comer for R&D pressure. Apart the link restriction to install and the it asks to be used, it hardly makes a true R&D lock, since you don’t see what the Corp will draw if they spend click for.

Vs Indexing — More a support than a contender, methinks, at least in faction. Out of faction, it can be a powerful one-shot R&D threat (or more with Same Old Thing), but the ever-popular Jackson Howard can make it hard to play.

In the end, thank you dear reader for having wasted your times with this review that didn’t learn you much. Here, have this heart-shaped smiley <3

Another card which lack of review reflects the lack of play. But reviewing such card is my job, and as Simone says…

So what’s the problem with Simone ? Expansive and must used twice to just break even. And that if she stays on the table long enough. Space ices should have give her a chance, but seeing the deck she appears on this very site, she seems to have failed — well, based on the popularity of those deck rather than play-test ; maybe some are some hidden gems releasing all Simone’s power.

Poor Simone. Yet a pretty lady, if you ask me.

I’ve seen Bernice Mai more often than ChiLo City Grid, which I reviewed a few days ago.

Why ? Certainly because it’s cheaper and less conditional. It offers a nice surprise tax to the Runner, as they have to reach the quite powerful trace to avoid the tag and get rid of her as soon. If they can't, they will hardly be able to trash her and remove the tag in the same turn, since for a link-less Runner, both of this options costs the same price (bare the click).

By the way, she doesn’t see much more play than ChiLo, certainly for the same reasons :

• few slot for upgrades, with serious contenders in-faction.
• doesn’t protect agenda in remote, except if it’s Kitty. And then, some ices do as much.
• could protect centrals, but there is another serious contender for R&D, so her role is shrunken.

On a side note unrelated the game, she reminds me a pretty IT-girl working in the office next of mine. Not that they resemble so much, but I like to think of my co-worker as "the Bernice Mai of my company". She never gives me tag, tough.

I've never give this one a try, neither seen it on any table (as far as I remember). So the reasons I expose here are just an educated guess for why it doesn't see play, but it doesn't seem hard to find.

Low strength, low trace, dubious effect.

Why would the Corp spend money to dig through the stack only to choose one card to trash ? Ok, they can order the drawn cards as they want, but still.

Why would the Runner prefer to pay any instead of trashing one not-yet-drawn card ? Not confident enough in their deck ? And then, a not-very-frightening sentry stand on the table, that can be passed through with few threats.

And also, why, why, oh god WHY, does this dog appear on Emergency Shutdown ? Has Data Hound ever been the chosen ice for this ability ? If you have witnessed such a madness, or even made it, just tell us. We want to know.