Measured Response is the “new Punitive Counterstrike”.

Design:

• The Play only if the threat level is 4 or greater check is implicitly satisfied by the Runner stealing a 5/3 last turn (after having stolen a second agenda earlier in the game), but also by the Corp scoring out a pair of 4/2’s. However, unlike Punitive, you cannot randomly flatline them in the early-game. (Like by a single Punitive after two 5/3's got stolen from Archives, or two Punitives drawn by a single Bacterial Programming.)

• The fixed … unless the Runner pays 8[$]. “pseudo-trace-attempt” simplifies Punitive's Trace⁵. The Runner asks themselves “Will I have eight credits left?” (EG. after a Sure Gamble), and not *"Will I have a few more credits than the Corp?**. CF. how NSG “modernized” SEA Source into Public Trail.

• The symmetric threat level is 4 or greater (unlike the asymmetric sum of the printed agenda points on all agendas the Runner stole during their last turn, or a hypothetical “the Runner's threat level`” templating) incentivizes the Corp to score out agendas, including smaller ones (and not just wait for the Runner to steal a big agenda).

• The operation having a trash-cost (MR’s is -3[$]) means you can breach HQ to trash it directly.

Notes:

• In particular, if the Corp rushed out a pair of X/2’s, and if the Runner passed with only 3 cards in grip and 7[$] in pool, then an MR flatlines them.

• Within Weyland, MR can synergize with some incidental damage: like them tanking Syailendra, or you expending an Angelique Garza Correa).

• This Eight-Credit Passing-Threshold of Measured Response and Public Trail is also shared by Oppo Research. To prevent/remove any damage/tags (from different operations across multiple factions), the Runner needs to pass the turn with ≥8[$] (or with Stoneship Chart Room/No Free Lunch/etc pre-installed). A static Pay N[$] is more internalizable than a dynamic Traceⁿ, because it's a credit-total that's constant and that's independent of the Corp's credit-total (or facedown econ in hand/play). Besides the also-constant play-costs: “They need 7[$] to play Oppo”; “They need 10[$] or 7[$] to play double–MR or PT–EotL” .

• While Trace-Attempts can be interacted with by econ-denying the Corp (zapping credits via the ~~“new Diversion of Funds”~~ [EDIT: Transfer of Wealth], forcing the Corp to rez ice, etc); but any expensive operation (like the 5[$]-cost MR) still has this interaction.

See the official Measured Response: A Tale from Elevation Development for its earlier versions / playtest iterations, such as:

Vendetta (Sep 12, ‘24)
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Weyland: Operation: Black Ops
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Cost: 2, Influence: 3
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Play only if the Runner stole an advanced agenda during their last turn.

The Runner loses 4{c}.

Do 4 meat damage unless Runner pays 4{c}.

and for the final intent:

As the threat level increases, both players start planning and anticipating when the threshold will be passed. Then, when the threat level hits 4, the dynamic of the game changes. The Runner is forced to reevaluate their resources each time they interact with the Corp’s board. And the Corp’s resources also take on new importance—securing a kill with Measured Response can be expensive both because of the hefty play cost and the need to defend the card while it waits in HQ for the runner to overstep.

This combination of play conditions entirely avoid the issues of dying early game to an inopportune access off of a central server. It can turn on very quickly with a couple of ‘lucky’ accesses, but if that happens before the Runner has invested time into their own gameplan… That sounds like a perfect representation of overstepping to me.

Requiring both the threat level to be at 4 and a successful run changes how Measured Response wants to be used in comparison to Punitive Counterstrike. Instead of sitting back and feeding agendas, Measured Response works best when the Corp is accelerating the pace of the game. If the Runner is up 4 agenda points to the Corp’s 0, they have control over when they put themselves at risk. But when the Corp is at 4 points, they’re in the driver’s seat, forcing interaction by threatening to score out.

In short Measured Response = Public Trail + End of the Line

The true strength from this card is the fact it exists, at only 4 influence and a single card slot any corp player could be running it. The threat that If at any moment you slip up at threat 4 you could get flat-lined is incredibly strong. It functions a universal runner speed limit sure you could run my unguarded server but you better have 4 cards or 8.

So how do play against Measured Response?
Simple the AGGA method

• Always assume the corp is running it until you trash it
• Get card draw like Ritual, VRcation, Dr. Nuka Vrolyck, VRcation, and Verbal Plasticity all are good choices
• Get a load of and make sure you always keep at least 8 at all times
• Avoid agendas like the plague, if you have 2 point and less than 4 cards in hand just let the corp have it

Theirs also anti flat-line cards like Stoneship Chart Room and The Class Act. I guess you could also increase you hand size and stock up on cards with Marrow or T400 Memory Diamond.