Note Regarding Caïssa programs

Knight is the 3rd in the 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 Knight onto the specific ice you need it on to break it's subroutines.

Pawn can provide the runner some savings and compression 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 Knight for free.

Pros

As an AI ice breaker, Knight can break ice of all sub-types.

It's awesome 7 strength put it in range of the vast majority of ice

2 cost to break subroutines is reasonably good

Can be re-positioned to help the runner get through other-wise difficult to break ice as the runner learns where it's needed most.

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

Costs 2 which is cheap compared to some other AI ice breakersl.

Cons

Costs 1-2 s to re-position

Unlike other icebreakers, Knight can only target subroutines on the ice it is installed on. For servers with more than one ice program the runner will need other icebreakers installed

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, to make an overall Caïssa program strategy more viable. Still with 3 Knight cards in a deck the runner will have some very flexible ice-breakers at low cost to target some of the most scary ice out there.

--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.

It shocks me how little this card is played. Sure, Blue Sun: Powering the Future is a problem, but how many people are playing Blue Sun these days? I think it could work quite well slotted in a Faust deck, as a way to get through those troublesome high strength ice. That way you don't burn your entire hand on just one run. And if Blue Sun is played, it won't ruin your deck when you can't use this. It's going to rotate out soon, so we might as well take advantage of the (second) best AI in the game!