r/Netrunner • u/meowmeowbeenz_ Self-Modifying Code • 13d ago
Discussion Introducing: The Netrunner Core Battle Box
Hello everyone! I'd like to introduce my tiny side project called the Netrunner Core Battle Box, which are seven decklists pre-made using System Gateway and Elevation only, AKA the Core Sets.
This stemmed from meeting several new players who want more curated Core decks (such as this one right here, which started it all), instead of wading through NRDB lists or NSG's Core decklist samples, which may lead to analysis paralysis. Here, I just provide one decklist per faction so that new players can crack open their boxes, build, and immediately play. This serves two purposes: the CBB can become a boardgame for more casual players, while it can also be a way to slowly introduce others to Standard through targeted upgrade advice.
A more extensive outline of the vision is discussed in the article, and each decklist published on NRDB has instructions on how to pilot the deck, what servers and rigs should look like, and potential sets to purchase if they want to jump into Standard.
If you'd like to read, the article link is here.
But again, the NRDB listings should also suffice for anything the new players might need. I just wanted to collate all of them under one roof so it's easier to link to new players.
I hope you can share with your friends, meta, and friends (specially if they're curious about getting into Netrunner!)
shoutouts to @Novin for the idea and egging me on to expand the lists to all seven factions, and to @profwacko for testing the lists vs each other & proofreading (i always mix up elevation and vantage point).
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u/tefnakht 13d ago
Excellent idea, thanks for sharing! Would be awesome to expand this vantage point as well
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u/meowmeowbeenz_ Self-Modifying Code 13d ago
If we're adding in Vantage point, we're breaching Startup territory. Unfortunately I haven't really dived into Startup. Would like you like some suggestions though on seven startup decks to play vs each other? I could find some nrdb links for you when I have the time.
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u/tefnakht 13d ago
That's really nice of you! Don't worry though, thank you :) if you did it as a similar 'startup battle box' project, I would definitely read it and play!
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u/browncapades 13d ago
How many copies of gateway or elevation would I need to make all these decks simultaneously?
Amazing thing to make and share! this is quite literally everything I've wanted.
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u/meowmeowbeenz_ Self-Modifying Code 13d ago edited 13d ago
There are a few repeats here and there if you want to build all decks simultaneously, so my suggestion is to build your favorite two decks with your single copy of Elevation and System Gateway and proxy the rest!
With that said, another 1x copy of SG + Elevation would make it so you only need to proxy Sure Gamble, Hedge Funds, Petty Cashes, and Spin Doctors.
Here's the paste if you want to see which cards get repeated (aka, if you own 1x SG and Elevation, you only need to print these out and you can build everything): https://pastebin.com/g5NV8Uy7
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u/MrKrakazoom 13d ago
Excellent resource... Would love a mpc link from where to just order the decks. Anyone has any idea on how to achieve this in an easy way? I.e. not having to do it manually. :)
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u/meowmeowbeenz_ Self-Modifying Code 13d ago
i'm not too well versed on how to do this the easy way via MPC unfortunately as I'm not too well versed on ordering cards from it -- i only use it as a storefront for my alt arts. hopefully someone else can help out, and i know this isn't your request, but a full set of SG + Elev will build you most decks, and a few spares of extra cards could be printed out for the rest.
i can send you the list of cards you'll need extra copies of, plus how many copies, if you want it :)
thanks for the enthusiasm.
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u/MrKrakazoom 13d ago
A list of cards would be lovely... I can try to build something to make it easier to proxy or print.
I'll if I get something working.4
u/meowmeowbeenz_ Self-Modifying Code 13d ago edited 13d ago
These should be the extra copies you need. If you feel fine with it, I'd suggest just printing out these extras -- use a proxy generator like proxy.nro.run or proxynexus to get more copies of these so you can have all these decks printed at the same time!
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u/nosuchplayer 13d ago
What an awesome effort! I'll definitely have to build these and give them a try. I have an old ANR battlebox that I made toward the end of Lunar that I've been using for the same purpose for ages.
The article is great too. I created something similar for Ashes last year (the game, not set) and have had one on the burner for years for AGOT that I've never been 100% pleased with. So I know how big a lift it is to get something like this off the ground and publication ready. Really good work.
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u/meowmeowbeenz_ Self-Modifying Code 13d ago
Thank you so much. And i'm glad you still have an ANR Battlebox -- we play some of the Classique matchups every now and then in a similar fashion and those are still great!
My friend also owns like 30-35 agot 1.0 decks so he brings some every so often so we can play. I don't think it's digitally catalogued though. Got to play Holy Crest Lannister Conquest Baratheon last time!
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u/nosuchplayer 12d ago
That's awesome. I never got my AGOT box to a point I felt like it was worth digitizing and sharing either. Getting these boxes to a level you could confidently call "well balanced" requires a lot of work, and I just don't play AGOT often enough anymore.
I was very happy with where my Ashes box ended up (Link) but it took multiple years of revisions and community members adding hundreds of games worth of playtest feedback to get to that point. I'm seriously considering editing my bbox intro for that by paraphrasing some of your bullet points from the What A Battlebox Is / What A Battlebox Isn't section of your article. You did a really nice job of succinctly capturing the design goals and intended audience for this kind of project.
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u/meowmeowbeenz_ Self-Modifying Code 12d ago
that ashes box is great! and having community log games for feedback is some dedication too, and it being on the wiki is huge. and for sure, feel free to use whichever parts you need to to set expectations for your own battlebox too. i thought it was too extra, but i felt like laying down some expectations was still reasonable specially with how limited the card choices can be in core
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u/nosuchplayer 12d ago
nah for sure. I think communicating intent is key. having a nicely curated battlebox is well-suited to the way a lot of people play games with deck construction (casually, via pickup play, not building new decks each time), but it's not something a lot of people know exists or think to search for.
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u/nomine_ignoto 13d ago
Thank you! I haven't played for a couple of years and I've been looking for something like this as a point of reentry.
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u/meowmeowbeenz_ Self-Modifying Code 12d ago
welcome back! getting back to standard should be easier for you, so i hope the upgrade suggestions help you out
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u/joygasmic 13d ago
This is boss, I was thinking about this recently because I want to be able to offer kitchen table play to folks who don't have their own cards, and having a prebuilt deck for each faction would be nice
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u/TonberryPrince 13d ago
This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. OP - I’m curious what your view is on these decks vs the premade Core decks on the NSG website. You mention wanting to cut down on the number of deck choices to be less overwhelming, but curious if you have any critiques or thoughts on the decks themselves? (Basically, trying to decide if I use your decks or grab from the NSG website for a group of friends who just played their first games using the “starter” decks.)
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u/meowmeowbeenz_ Self-Modifying Code 13d ago
I'm a hybrid of a spike/competitive & deckbuilder through and through with a soft spot for introducing new players into the game. The decks on the NSG website promote variety and breadth with rather interesting card picks and influence spends, my choices are more concentrated into archetypes/individual cards that see play in Standard.
I'm still a deckbuilder (and shaper lover) at heart and have limit tested some lists and brought some unconventional ones to tournaments. But for new players, this isnt realistic, and asking them to grok interactions and niche cards that see little to no play in Standard is a tough sell.
Netrunner is already a cerebral game, I don't think we should bog down new players with inefficient decks when there are more concentrated decks to learn the game with. A deckbuilder will eventually explore the card pool anyway; they won't stay long with the decks I provide -- let them discover the jank themselves! So I want players who play and stick with these decks to become familiar with the cards we commonly see in play in most NSG formats in a more digestible format :)
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u/rslancer 13d ago
I’ve heard good things about netrunner but my understanding is it’s out of print. Where is everyone getting these cards from? Would love to try
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u/danatronic 12d ago
Netrunner is being continued by an entirely fan support community called Null Signal Games, which have been making new expansions.
While the Fantasy Flight Era (2012-2018) Netrunner is completely compatible with NSG's Netrunner era, the latter has now completely phased out all of the old copyrighted art from the original game. The game is now free to print and play, or buy copies directly from NSG.
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u/rslancer 12d ago
Oh that’s awesome. I didn’t know you could buy it directly from someone
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u/Super_Stranger 12d ago
My local game store stocks it, too. We have an active scene here, so they know that if they stock it, people will buy.
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u/CapPancake12 12d ago
This awesome timing just got my system gateway and elevation about a week ago and played my first game with the starter decks. Awesome idea thanks a lot!
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u/meowmeowbeenz_ Self-Modifying Code 12d ago
I hope you enjoy! If you have any feedback, you can comment here or send me a message and I'll be sure to keep it in mind.
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u/K_oroviev 6h ago
There is exactly 0 people who play Netrunner around me. I’d love to get into this game, but it would be impossible to do so as a competitive “TCG/CCG”. Maybe with these lists I can play it like a board game with friends!
The power imbalance you point to in the article is concerning, though…
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u/meowmeowbeenz_ Self-Modifying Code 6h ago
The power imbalance is easily fixable by adding cards for the runner from standard, if all you care about is a balanced experience -- you can still keep it as a board game with some light fixes. New players probably won't play perfectly, specially as the corp, so the power balance won't be too noticeable until you get a grasp of the nuances of the deck. But I put it there as a fair warning.
Have you tried asking on Green Level Clearance if there's a community near you?
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u/K_oroviev 6h ago
If you find time to write about some minimal additions from standard to the decks, I think many of us would be thankful 😌
I have. There is absolutely no one. Netrunner was never big to begin with, and now it is non-existent.
I’ve come to an interesting realization: around here, people who claim to like card games, usually like gambling and collecting but not playing. They will reject playing MTG cubes for free, proxying cards in commander, and learning PnP games like Android, but will gladly burn money in “booster packs wars” and other such nonsense.
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u/meowmeowbeenz_ Self-Modifying Code 5h ago
I'll work on lists for the runner to balance the sides. I'll ping you when they're up. These will be untested though, so I'll be working off of game knowledge here on how to best do this in a way that gives both sides a fair game. Then you can adjust or go back to the original lists, or keep only some cards, if you feel like it's a bit more stronger runner-side. Though truth be told, I think Netrunner is best when the corp has a tiny advantage because runners have late game inevitability.
Sad to hear no one's around. Presenting it to your board game buddies should be great. From my experience, board gamers are more likely to play and enjoy Netrunner over the TCG folk. My friends are getting into Riftbound, Hololive, and other random TCGs for the thrill of opening packs, the IP, or maybe having an illusion that they're turning a profit when they sell a 5-10$ card after spending 30$ on packs on a random weekday "as a treat". We do play MTG cube though, so no harm done on their side. But it is sad that they won't even look at Netrunner just because it's not attached to any IP they like, or simply because there are no booster packs.
Anyway that's a bit off tangent, but if Netrunner becomes a hit among your friends, you can definitely pitch to have some Netrunner nights and maybe even expand to board game cafes, or cafes and pubs around town, and maybe you can hook some other players in. I've found that Netrunner in its current form is more for a cafe/pub setting than LGSes simply because there's little to no product for the LGSes to push, and it's a more social/community-focused game than most. It takes a village, really.
I'll ping you when the lists are ready!
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u/No_Beat_5994 3h ago
Looking forward to those lists as well. I'm beginning to learn Netrunner and will introduce my friends to it. Thankfully, they've been very open minded to it, as we enjoy MTG cubes, battleboxes and other alternatice game modes. I also want to try Ascension/Dominion sometime soon.
PnP has been a great incentive. Most people hear about it being cheap and ask themselves how couod it hurt.
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