If it ain't broken... (21 player tournament winner)

Foreword:

This is the deck I bring to store tournaments when I want an oversized mouse pad.

It is the updated version of the deck I brought to Canadian nationals which went 8-2 (got me to 2nd seed @ top 16)

Why publish yet another katman deck? All the Kates I see these days run Prepaid voice pad, the community seems to take for granted it is the superior variant. I am not convinced. PPVP is great when thigs go as planned, but sometimes they don't (too often for my taste... anyone else rages when the PPVP just refuses to show-up?)

This is a pure atman-sucker deck that doesn't run PPVP. I know, sooo 2013, right? You know the old saying, if it ain't broken...

Economy:

• I have tried the pure Katman with PPVP. It puts too much pressure on deck space and influence. You either sacrify some useful programs, or HQ access, or run over 45 cards. No go for me.

• The economy in the current build is sufficient against any match-up. Kati-Proco is a well established long term engine. There are plenty of economy events (Modded is never wasted with all the 3-4 cost programs and hardware). With my efficient breakers, it is enough economy.

Programs:

• With Atman, you need datasuckers and parasite. Check!

• David is really the ace is the sleeve of this deck, and it is worth all the 4 influence points. With David, no need for Deus-Ex or Archer, and it can break other stuff too. Heck, it can break wraparound, so no need for a barrier breaker really! This card saves me deck space and money. I run 2 scavenge for David (actually they are very useful to re-purpose Atman too... If I had the deck space I would run 3 scavenges)

• Cerberus Lady: a matter of taste. Used to run Inti for the wraparound. Lady is more versatile, breaks Eli for 1 credit and all. I know, Atman at 4 does that just as well. But sometimes, I don't want an atman at 4. VS NEH I prefer an atman at 2-3 (Architect). This one is a matter of taste. Like I said earlier, you can chose to switch for your favorite barrier breaker, or even drop it completely since you have David and get another scavenge instead.

• No Femme Fatale: I think with shaper if you run the FF then you must have the Test run/Scavenge combo ready. I can't afford the deck slots. FF is great, but I find I have enough tricks here to get through any situation.

• No test run: with SMC and 3 copies of Atman/sucker, I find there is no need for additional tutoring. Since I don't run FF, Test Run is no longer required in the deck.

• Net Shield: I think this is a better choice than Deus Ex in my deck: current PE decks play the attrition game, and saving 1 damage each turn is more valuable in the long run than 3-5 bursts with recurring Deus Ex. Also it frees-up my clone chips for parasite, or it turns them into more Hit Points, that's a big plus!

Multiaccess:

• Interfaces: I really like a reliable deck that lets me do what I want when I want it. I want multi-access all the time. And with Modded I can do this very efficiently. I aim to install 1 HQI and 2 RDI during a game.

• Maker's eye vs. Indexing: Maker is great vs. NEH, and accessing 5 cards with a couple of RDI is always fun. Been disappointed with Indexing lately: RnD runs are usually taxing and getting there twice per turn can be impossible. There is the surprise Jackson risk (meaning you must waste time running all facedown remotes to flush JH before Indexing) and the Foundry is immune to Indexing (just keep a facedown ice on RnD)

Alternatives:

• +3 Daily casts -3 Dirty Laundry: save a click vs 2 extra credits. Daily Casts was my previous version. I think both are viable. The dirty Laundry synergizes well with datasucker and is optimally used to run HQ/RnD when an interface has been installed.

• +1 Parasite -1 Lucky find: More reliable parasites at the expense of economy? Did not try yet. If you try it out let me know how it feels.

• +1 Mem chip -1 Astrolabe: more efficient use of deck space and nice 6-mem potential, I use 3 Astrolabes so I can get it early vs. NEH. Maybe 2-of is better. Have to try.

• -1/2 plascrete + 1/2 whatever: meta call. Plenty of Blue Sun where I come from.

Strategy:

VS NEH FA: You can play flawlessly and still lose. I have at least 50% winrate, comparable to Andy I guess? The plan is to get Astrolabe early to offset their advantage, and hope for multiaccess to show-up (I lost a game to NEH recently where none of my 8 multiaccess came out and 2/3 of the deck was used). Pressure centrals and ignore economy assets. Check facedown remotes if you suspect they are trying to sneak that first Astro. ProCon: I do not always play it vs NEH, I worry about the tempo hit, and Breaking news with a click to spare to trash is a thing. It is much more difficult economically of course. I play ProCo if it shows-up early with credits to spare. Ideal rig: 2-3 Atman (0 and 2, 4 vs Lotus), 1 sucker, 1 parasite, 0-1 barrier breaker

VS Killer Jinteki PE: Experience is required to do well with any runner deck. If you have trouble vs this archetype, play PE and master it... know your enemy ya? Some tips: Priority is to get Netshield up. RnD is the best place to run. Have one RDI installed, not more, and never use Maker's eye (unless they are under 4 cred). Play the mind game, pretend you don't run remotes, let them make assumptions, then change your pattern! Be unpredictable! For economy: You need procon and kati. Everything else is a hit point. Do not play your economy cards unless you need them! DO NOT play Astrolabe, you want to control your draw rate Ideal rig: 1-2 Atman (0 and 4 str), 1 sucker, 1 Netshield, occasional parasite.

VS RP: Another difficult match-up for anyone, but don't panic. Keep dirty laundry/maker's eye ready for when they play Enhanced Login Protocol and hope for a good multiaccess. Early game they are vulnerable, so hammer the central servers, and kill sundew whenever you can, or force them to overprotect it. I tend to ignore their scoring server when Caprice is in there (unless it is their winning agenda, but then you have probably already lost). Parasite Komainus/Tsurugis. When all is said and done, victory hinges on the psy game for that last TFP. Ideal rig: 1-2 Atman, 1-2 sucker, 1 parasite, 1 David (if they run Tollbooth/wall of thorns) or 1 Netshield (if they run traps)

VS Blue Sun: Be patient, with Procon and Kati you can match their economy. It may be woth it to deny their first Oversighted Curtain Wall by running with David (you spend 3-5 credits to deny them 13). Once the first plascrete is installed you can be more agressive. always assume archer is installed and be prepared for it. David is MVP. Sometimes I set my atman at 5-6 vs Weyland. I have yet to lose to a Blue Sun. Ideal rig: 2 Atman (str 1 and 4-5), 1-2 sucker, David/Lady. Parasite only for instakill.

Whew sorry that was long (first time posting a deck)