Simulchip

Simulchip 1[credit]

Hardware: Chip
Influence: 2

As an additional cost to use this hardware, trash 1 installed program. Ignore this cost if an installed program has already been trashed this turn.

[trash]: Install 1 program from your heap, paying 3[credit] less.

“I could let my code evolve something new, but sometimes I just want to remember yesterday’s solution.”
—Lane
Illustrated by Elizaveta Sokolova
Decklists with this card

Uprising (ur)

#85 • English
Startup Card Pool
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Printings
Uprising
Rulings
  • Updated 2023-05-10

    NISEI Uprising Release Notes [NISEI Rules Team]

    If the Runner uses Aesop's Pawnshop to trash Harbinger, turning it facedown, do they have to pay the additional cost to use Simulchip that turn?

    No. Harbinger still counts as having been trashed, even though its ability replaces moving it to the heap with turning it facedown.

    If the Runner uses Aesop's Pawnshop to trash a Harbinger that is already facedown, do they have to pay the additional cost to use Simulchip that turn?

    Yes. Runner cards installed facedown do not have card types, and trashing one does not turn it faceup until after it enters the heap.

    Can the Runner use Simulchip if there are no programs in the heap? What if they need to pay the additional cost?

    No. The game determines whether Simulchip has the potential to change the game state without considering the consequences of paying the costs of triggering its ability. Even if the Runner will pay the additional cost, there must already be a program in the heap to act as a potential target that could be installed with Simulchip.

    Can the Runner trash a program to pay Simulchip's additional cost, then install the same card when its ability resolves?

    Yes. A different program is only needed to pass the check for Simulchip's potential to change the game state. The actual target for its instruction is chosen after the cost is paid. Note that for both potential targets and the actual target, the Runner must be able to pay the (reduced) install cost for the chosen program.

    Suppose Engolo (which costs 5[c]) is the only program in the heap. Engolo would cost 2[c] with Simulchip alone, but it could cost 0[c] if the Runner can also use Patchwork. If the Runner has fewer than 2[c] available, can they still trigger Simulchip?

    Yes. When checking if an ability has the potential to change the game state, only ignore the consequences of paying the ability's costs and potential chain reactions due to paying that cost or resolving the ability. Do consider cost modifiers like Patchwork's ability when determining if potential targets exists.

Reviews

The easiest thing to compare this to is Clone Chip. Both are 1 install hardware that allow a program install from your heap. If he wasn't rotated, I bet the Exile would have fun with it. Anyways, with Clone Chip now gone, we have this to take its place. The first notable difference is the additional cost. Whereas Clone Chip is a flat to install for cost, this costs 3 less, but in order to use it, a program has to have been trashed this turn in order to fire off; otherwise, you have to trash a program. If you have a disposable program, such as a Kyuban on a piece of ice you can no longer feasibly get to or an SMC when you have your full suite out, then Simulchip is the chip for you. Otherwise, the best time to use it is after dealing with or recovering from a trash subroutine or operation, such as Enforcer 1.0 or Trojan Horse. In addition, if you're running bounce programs, like Lady, Gauss or Euler, this could be useful for a reinstall.

My thoughts on this hardware? Personally, I like Clone Chip better, simply because of its flat "install for cost". You could see this as a better version of Clone Chip if you have a lot of disposable programs, but I tend not to do that. However, Simulchip does give the option to save a program after having to trash it from a Corp card. However, if I need to recur something like SMC, I'd prefer to not waste the 3 less on it. 0 or 1 programs are probably better as fodder for this if you can spare it. Otherwise, this is a more reactive hardware to be used after the Corp tries to shut you down.

(Uprising era)
72