Rook

Rook 2[credit]

Program: Caïssa - Trojan
Memory: 1 • Strength: -
Influence: 2

While this program is hosted on ice, the rez cost of each piece of ice protecting this server is increased by 2.

[click]: Host this program on a piece of ice that is not hosting a Caïssa program.

If this program is hosted on ice, its [click] ability can only be used to host it on ice protecting the same server or in the same position as its current host ice. (Count positions from the innermost ice.)

Illustrated by Gong Studios
Decklists with this card

Opening Moves (om)

#3 • English
Startup Card Pool
Standard Card Pool
Standard Ban List (show history)
Printings
Rulings
  • Updated 2017-04-09

    Rook can only move to another server if there is another piece of ice in the same “row” as the ice Rook is hosted on, counting up from the innermost piece of ice protecting each server. [Official FAQ]

  • Updated 2017-04-09

    Rook can be hosted on any piece of ice if it is already hosted on another non-ice card. [Official FAQ]

Reviews

Note Regarding Caïssa programs

Rook is the 2nd in a series of Caïssa programs. Hat tip to Fantasy Flight Games for the cool name as Caïssa is the name of a fictional Thracian dryad portrayed as the goddess of chess. Thematically all Caïssa programs once installed onto ice may move around the servers with unique movement restriction rules similar to chess pieces moving on a chessboard. Currently only four Caïssa programs have been released, Pawn, Rook, Knight & Bishop.

Combos

Deep Red is the console specifically tailored to complement Caïssa programs by providing dedicated memory as well as allowing the unlimited positioning for only one . This ensures you can get Rook onto the specific ice you need it on frustrating the corp with slightly higher rez cost.

Pawn can save the runner some credit and click savings when used to run on a preferably lightly guarded server where in addition to accessing whatever is in that server the runner may then install a Caïssa program like Rook for free. Additionally sometimes a corp being harassed by Rook may choose to trash the ice hosting it, Pawn can then be used to bring Rook right back onto another piece of ice.

Pros

Can make some cheap ice such as Pop-up Window or Data Mine much less desirable to rez.

Easiest of all Caïssa programs to position onto a specific piece of ice

2 Additional rez cost slightly taxing to Corp

Can be continually re-positioned to unrezzed ice harassing the corp with potentially 6$ + tax on a single run (potentially even more in cases like Cell Portal which de-rez themselves and therefore could be rezzed multiple times in a single run)

Unlike Parasite, Caïssa programs are not trashed once they've done their work

Cons

Costs 1-2 s to re-position

Costs 2 to install. Even if it was 0 like Pawn, it seems doubtful this card would seem much usage.

Payload for Rook results only increasing the rez cost of ice by 2 , costs the same as Knight where you actually get an AI ice breaker.

Seems steep given the limited payload

Summary

Until King or Queen are released, probably the only main Caïssa program that will see any usage will be Knight. Both Bishop & Rook seem to weak in their payloads given their costs. Perhaps future Caïssa program, hardware resources or even perhaps events will change things, until then probably not much appeal here.

--It just saddens me when I see cards with no reviews. If you appreciated this review, please give a heart and I'll be encouraged to write more.

(Data and Destiny era)
731
I think you miss my favorite part of this card - stacking multiple ones on the same server! With two of these on each piece of ICE in a 2-ICE server, you push the cost to the Corp to a whopping 4 credits more to rez! This can be devastaing to a Corp, obviously. When they do rez something, it will drain them heavily, and the ICE will probably not be all that great, usually costing 4 or less credits originally. More than likely, they'll trash the ICE just to get the Rook out of play, at which point, your Pawn can bring it right back! —
Thanks Obelisk, taxing corp strategy has been added to Pros section of review and Pawn recursion have been added to review. —
The click and 2 creds to cost the corp 2 creds is pretty steep, like @chris_walker said. I think the timing of cards like Rook is most important: run HQ with unrezzed ice, prompting the corp to spend creds; move Rook to R&D; play Maker's Eye. I like combining Rook with Xanadu and Reina to get more powerful taxes. Because Rook specifically increases Rez Cost, its tax is doubled by Running Interference. —
I think I once read that FF didn't intend on releasing a "Queen" program; Reina Roja is supposed to be the queen (and is Spanish for "Red Queen"). —