Best Code Gate in the game, hands down. It even beats Tollboth and DNA Tracker, in my opinion. The cost-str is too efficient, and 3 subroutines you cannot ignore too. Yes its triple clickable, but the tax it gives in centrals for just 6 is just crazy.
(Escalation era)
You are right that Fairchild 3.0 does have a more favorable Cost->Str/Subs ratio than DNA Tracker and Tollbooth, but I'm fairly certain none of the three cards are strictly better than the others. FFG did a great job giving us two new code gates in this pack that both feature highly effective in-faction capabilities for their colors using Tollbooth as a blueprint. They each have a different strength:
—
umbralAeronaut
Tollbooth - the template around which these other cards were designed, it appears. For nearly all of the most common Code Gate breakers, this will still represent the highest total credit tax to get through, assuming a trigger of it's On Encounter ability (Bypass effects and Hunting Grounds exist as counterplay). It also represents a Hard ETR subroutine that has no alternative means of payment, which can be VERY important especially if it's the only ICE on a server. The face-check is just about the least punishing of all the alternatives however, and it's on the upper tier of cost (8 to rez). Still solid, and dependable.
—
umbralAeronaut
DNA Tracker - Tollbooth falls on the extreme of Binary Hard ETR in this 'cycle', while DNA Tracker falls on the extreme of Heavy Face-Check Punishment. As shown by the analysis of @quailman2101 in his review, Tollbooth and DNA Tracker are both nearly equally taxing to break. Unlike any of the other ICE in this cycle DNA Tracker will NEVER end the run, it's strengths are singular to Jinteki which uses the threat of death to dissuade access. Where Tollbooth is dependable blocker for your servers, DNA Tracker is a wild caged animal of ICE aggression.
—
umbralAeronaut
Fairchild 3.0 falls somewhere on the Binary-Taxing scale nearer to DNA Tracker, but it offers the Runner a lot of choice in how to be attacked by it's subroutines. It's the only ICE of the cycle that grants multiple alternative methods of payment, the Runner has a wide spectrum of options between spending 3 Clicks, trashing some unnecessary cards like Fall Guys, paying some credits, etc. The final subroutine places a choice in the hands of the Corporation however, and the bite of Brain Damage OR End the Run is substantial and flexible for the Corp. In exchange for all the flex this card offers the Runner and Corp, it's cheaper by 2 credits and 1 less Strength. Ultimately Fairchild is a powerful tax, but it has drawbacks because it lets the Runner choose the least punishing option out of several unlike DNA Tracker which is utterly uncompromising in it's direct harm to a clueless face-check.
—
umbralAeronaut
Finally, I should mention Mausolus for Weyland (coming in Martial Law). Mausolus will be the cheapest to rez of this Code Gate cycle, but it has the same Str/Sub ratio as Fairchild WITHOUT a Bioroid clause! Mausolus falls in a strange space in the middle of the Binary-Taxing continuum due to it's ability to be 'upgraded' via advancement counters. Without 3 advancement counters it is merely a grab-bag of irritating face-check effects. WITH 3 advancement counters, it gains a Hard ETR subroutine tied to a Tag, a Net damage subroutine that adds up to the same card loss as DNA Tracker, and a powerful Corporate income subroutine. This one will be hard to truly evaluate until we have our hands on it and see what Weyland can do to work around the Advancement requirement, but the potential is really there especially in Builder of Nations which can add a meat damage to encounter. This is one to look out for.
—
umbralAeronaut
Great review-as-comment, umbralAeronaut :D
—
Krams
Great review indeed! I know there is not such thing as "the best" because it is situational. But for me this guy is like the Eli 1.0 of code gates (before mwl)
—
Windave
I have to agree with Windave's original sentiment that it is "the best" codegate in the game. Here's what umbralAeronaut misses: with a Rez cost of 6 all HB ice is now a turn 1 centrals deterrent with a single click for credit. First turn account siphon used to be a thing against HB. Not anymore.
—
analogBrad