2014 Netrunner Regional Tournament in Louisville

If you want a report about an awesome regional winning session, you probably should look elsewhere. Well, not probably, you should absolutely look elsewhere. This will document as best as I can remember my middle-of-the-pack experience. I kept notes, but lost them, so if I forget your name or how things went, then well you can fill us in. Thanks for playing everyone. I had a good time and appreciate it.

A crazy start to the day, as I had a funeral to go to, which can always be tough and emotional draining. Then I drove from Indy to Louisville, just as fast as I possibly could, walking in to the store right at 1pm when the tournament was to start. Eating only some trail mix and a banana from 8am until 8pm. Not a good idea. This meant I played my first 2 rounds in dress clothes, before I had a chance to change at the Chinese restaurant. 

The bathroom at BlueGrass was just too busy all the time to get in. I played with Gabe & Replicating Perfection.

Round 1 – Jacob (Andy/TWIY) Current Prestige: 1

He chose to run first and we slogged out a 60 minute game. He siphoned me several times, keeping my money low by trashing my Sundews and Health Clinics. Eventually I stabilized though and scored a Future Perfect to bring the score to 5 to 3 his lead. I was now starting to sit in the money, with hardly any time left, he started running hard at R&D, a little recklessly, but it made sense to do so, and was able to see 3 cards at a time, avoided all my Shocks & Snares & Fetals to steal a Brain Trust for the win. We then switched sides, with 5 minutes left. I quickly scored a Beale, he quickly scored an Astro, I then snagged an NAPD from his hand for all my money with Sneakdoor, after seeing it earlier and not being able to get it. Then time was called and that was it. Jacob was real cool, we talked quite a bit throughout the day, and he bought a playmat from me.

Round 2 – Stephen (Noise/RP) Current Prestige: 3

I played RP again this time first, but this time it was much quicker, and with Noise’s money problems, and lots of agendas in my hands, I was able to win rather quickly. I don’t think Stephen expected that last double advanced agenda to be a 3 pointer. We switched and went for another marathon against his RP. I trashed things left and right as much as possible, got a 4-0 lead, but eventually started losing the attrition rate. Then I should’ve attempted to steal what I thought was a NAPD advanced once. Didn’t have the money, so I didn’t try. Turns out it was a Nisea II, which essentially ensured he’d score the next turn for the win. Stephen is from Carmel, near me, so I hope to play him some more locally.

Round 3 – Isaac (CT/TWIY) Current Prestige: 7

Early Sundew behind RSVP, 2 agendas in hand, and just a Yagura protecting HQ. The bluff worked well, he didn’t stop my economy, but rather played some PrePaid, and built his rig as quickly as he could. I was able to win handily, since by the time he got the rig really up and ready, I had all the agendas I needed and lots of money to protect them. We switched then, saying this ought to be a fast game. Took us nearly 40 minutes and I don’t think we were playing slow. Gabe just wasn’t finding the agendas and either was TWIY. Lots of back and forth, keeping me out of HQ, then using Sneakdoor, then switching to attacking R&D. Finally was able to get the win something like 7 to 5.

Round 4 – Ross (Kate/ETF) Current Prestige: 7

I’d met Ross before, but we’ve never played. He beat me 7-2 after just absolutely creating a 5 ice server on R&D. I was able to get in quite a lot early with an R&D Interface out, but only stole a single 2 pointer. He then kept me out of both HQ and R&D with a couple Quandrys, no breakers to be found for me. My RP game just hurt against his Magnum. Both Magnum and Whizzard really kill RP and that was the case with this one. I did score a Future Perfect and started getting a lot of money late, so I felt like this was a close game, but in reality I needed a few more turns to gain complete control and those turns didn’t come to me. Godo job Ross with the win.

Round 5 – Martin (Andy/GRNDL) Current Prestige: 9

Martin had just built his runner deck that day. I don’t remember much more, but I didn’t get Account Siphoned, I won relatively easy with this one. Despite Security Testing giving him a lot of money and making my 3 Shocks in archives just worthless. That is something I’m going to need to deal with in the future. The second game was ridiculous. I didn’t start with my Plascretes, but I did have a lot of money cards and Hostage. Got Pro Contracts going, drew threw over half my deck, and didn’t get a Plascrete. I’d saw a Sea Source early, couldn’t Siphon him, he had over 50 credits. I was screwed. He went to 4 points, then advanced advanced something in a 4 ice server. I ran R&D score 1 point. Ran it again scored another 2 pointer. Ran it again, nothing. Ran the remote, went through all the ice. Realizing I’m dead anyways, hit a double advanced Junebug. Talk about slow playing me. I still lost on the double Scorch next turn anyways over the single Plascrete I had finally found.

Round 6 – Charles (Kate/BABW) Final Prestige: 13

Charles was fun to play and talk with. We both knew we were out of it. I won the first game with only installing a single Knight. He was playing a vegan Weyland, but I was dancing around Scorch anyways. He scored a Hostile. Then he scored a Government contracts. I had already scored a 3 pointer from R&D top deck earlier. He installed advanced advanced something behind a rezzed Wall of Thorns and an unrezzed inner ice. I installed a Knight, moved it to the unrezzed ice, took 18 off Kati, and Inside Jobbed leaving me with 3 cards, but a Plascrete out. Stealing another 3 pointer. He Power Shutdown my Knight. I ran Archives, forcing him to use Jackson and put some agendas back into R&D, then used Same Old Thing to get back into R&D with Inside Job, saw 3 cards thanks to R&D Interfaces, and got the last agenda for the win.

Summary

I had a good time, the day was extremely long, and I don’t ever want to show up right at start of tourney having not eaten and in dress clothes again. I really missed Femme Fatale in my Gabe deck and though I know people really like the Knights, I’m not completely sold on them. RP did about what I expected it to do, losing to heavy Siphoning and Parasite recursion with Magnum. Overall I was happy with it, though long playtime really hurt me round 1. Thanks to BlueGrass Magic Shop and those running the tournament. See you all at GenCon…maybe…if I get in on Friday.

P.S. I sold some promos I had for like $45, so that made for the trip, which is nice.