Project Avalon - You Shall Not (Always) Pass![P.A.Y.S.N.A.P]

As one of my first builds (since I started playing Netrunner a few weeks ago), this deck is made to exploit Jinteki: Replicating Perfection in conjunction with Excalibur, locking the runner away from the remotes in order to build up a huge trickle economy and rushing agendas. On the other hand, it can also be quite punishing and flat-line forceful runners :)

When playing this deck, you're in for a war of attrition.

Having to pay 2 clicks (with Enhanced Login Protocol) to run only once and potentially end that run in a Psi Game will deter many runners from even trying to access your many remotes. Although some cards, like Sundew and Bio-Ethics Association, or even a double advanced Project Junebug (behind Ashigaru and/or Caprice Nisei), will still magically attract them through your Merlins :)

When the runner doesn't want to waste his time and resources for that single run, don't forget your Subliminal Messagings!

There are also quite some tricks to use with Midori (to exchange the ice to one the runner doesn't have a breaker for, still keeping the sub-routines thanks to Grail synergy), Marcus Batty (who can copy the added subroutines) and Crick in your centrals. Having the second Excalibur (you should almost always keep the first one in hand) in front of a Crick on Archives will also often shut that server down completely.

The most annoying thing that could happen to this deck is having Whizzard: Master Gamer with Employee Strike trashing your economy early on and munching through your weak ICE with Faust. But that's another reason we run Enhanced Login Protocol, and there's always the possibility of setting up ice in front of a remote in order to score the old-fashioned way. Also, Crick and Jackson can help recycle the ICE that fell to parasites and cutlery.

Card choices:

Why Medical Breakthrough instead of Nisei MK II ?

Because I wanted to play rush with as little pre-advance as possible, and having one of these scored or stolen helps a lot with this game plan, allowing you to drop agendas face down in unprotected servers to score the next turn, while the runner suspects it is yet another asset. I know Nisei is very strong, but other agendas deserve some love too :)

Why no Snare! ?

While it is a good card, the primary goal of the deck is not to flat-line the runner. I also prefer to trap the runner with an advanced Project Junebug or attract them through my Merlin subroutines with a visible Bio-Ethics Association, which can be recycled at a later point with Crick.

Why no Mumbad City Grid ?

Because I think it would take too much time, effort and resources to set up 2+ pieces of Grail ICE in front of a server to make the city grid efficient;, and I haven't figured out what I could potentially drop to test it yet. However, if pulled off, it would probably keep any runner out of the server (unless they want to break through 8+ Merlin subroutines) - which would totally fit the theme of the deck :)

Why PAD Campaign instead of Mental Health Clinic ?

Because I don't want to help Faust decks to break through my weak ICE by giving them extra hand size. Also, PAD cost the runner more to trash.

If you tend to lose Psi Games, maybe you could consider exchanging 1x The Future Perfect for a third Braintrust.

Thanks for reading this deck list. Feel free to leave your comments below!