Humanity has spread itself across the solar system. The Moon and Mars are colonized. A plan to terraform the Red Planet is well underway, hindered only by a bloody civil war. On Earth, a massive space elevator has been built near the equater in the sprawling megapolis of New Angeles, stretching up into low orbit. This elevator is the hub of trade in the solar system, and most people refer to it as the "Beanstalk."
Enormous megaCorps, called corps by most, influence every facet of daily life: food, threedee, music, career choice. Androids - robotic or organic synthetic life forms - have entered the workforce, threatening to upend the social structure and replace cheap human labor.
Everyone relies on the Network, the all-seeing, all-hearing grid that surrounds Earth and reaches out into the solar system beyond. The Network connects everyone to more information than they could ever need - it is the backbone of modern civilization, and it has become a battlefield of corporate and criminal interests struggling to control the flow of that information.
Computers have continued to advance along with discoveries in the field of neurobiology. The physical mouse and keyboard are archaic relics; gestural interfaces and virt displays are commonplace. Elite users "jack in," plugging the computer directly into their brains.
Rogue operators - computer specialists with the hardware, software, and raw talent to challenge the system - use the sprawl of the net to their advantage. They are runners. This is their story.
Revised and Ready to Run
Android: Netrunner is an asymmetrical living card game for two players in which one person plays as the Runner, an elite computer specialist and hacker attempting to strike back at the megaCorps and win one for the little guy, and the other plays as a Corporation, the powerful organizations that run the world.
Runners will use their turns to set up hardware and programs they can use to make runs and steal agendas from the Corp's servers. Meanwhile, the Corporation must defend their servers from attack by setting up ice while still trying to advance their agendas to completion before they can be stolen.
Whether you play as a Runner or Corporation, the Living Card Game system gives you plenty of options to customize your deck and strategy in order to come out on top, victorious. With the Android: Netrunner Revised Core Set you can jump right into the action and try out each of the Runner and Corporation factions with Starter Decks for each one. This Revised Core Set features many of the cards from the original Core Set, originally released in 2012, and cards from the Genesis and Spin Cycles. Many of these cards also have new and updated art! So, get ready to "jack in" to Android: Netrunner!
The Corporations
There are four major Corporations to play as, and each of them has their own approach to keeping out the Runners.
Haas-Bioroid
The world leader in cybernetics and artificial intelligence, known for their production of bioroids as a cheap labor alternative and network security. The ability for these bioroids to interact directly with the brains of users employing neural interfaces has sometimes resulted in brain damage, fatal in some cases. Playing as Haas-Bioroid, make use of your bioroids to make the Runner think twice about interfacing with your agendas lest they end up tangling with some of the more unstable AI.
Jinteki
Jinteki embraces the traditional Japanese aesthetic of its roots while remaining on the cutting edge of human cloning technology. Jinteki is adaptable, ready to face any number of challenges in the rapidly changing social and economic landscape. Runners beware their braintapping tech, however. The rumors of psionic ability experiments may be dismissed by the greater scientific community, but Jinteki may just have a couple net damaging tricks up their sleeves.
NBN
NBN is the largest media conglomeration in the world, owning and operating a commanding share of the top-rated content streams. NBN's roots run deep into the world of private data due to their prominence and efficacy as a media distribution service and they have been accused of using this data for more nefarious purposes. As NBN, you're tapped into the eyes and ears all around you, tagging the Runner's movements and taking decisive action against them when they've been traced.
Weyland Consortium
The Weyland Consortium is known for funding the building of "the Beanstalk", but it's influence reaches far wider than many know. Weyland throws around its vast resources to get its way, acquiring new companies in the space exploration and colonization fields in hopes of solidifying mankind's home in the stars. As the Weyland Consortium, gain massive amounts of credits and use them to get your way, squashing the Runner under your piles of resources.
The Runners
The Runners come in three factions, each with their own approach to taking on the evil Corporations.
Anarchs
Anarchs have a strong contempt for the corporate oligarchs, the whole corrupt system, and often for society in general. Whatever the exact target for their rage, their unifying characteristic is their anger. At their worst, Anarchs just want to watch the world burn. At their best, Anarchs are tireless champions for the downtrodden and oppressed. They're very good at breaking things, spreading viruses, and trashing Corporation assets and programs.
Criminals
Criminals are in it for themselves. All runners are technically criminals, at least if you ask the coprs, but these runners embrace it. They make self-interest an art form and don't care who gets hurt so long as they get ahead. Many Criminals engage in more traditional forms of crime as well, stealing data and money with equal gusto. Criminals are very good at covering their tracks and employing a variety of dirty tricks to attack from an unexpected angle.
Shapers
To others, Shapers seem like idealistic naifs. They're not motivated by rage against the corporate injustice that is a daily fact of life for the underclass. They're not in it for the money. Many never understand why Shapers do what they do, but it's not actually very complicated. Shapers are motivated by curiosity and a certain amount of pride. A Shaper may orchestrate a data raid as underhanded and destructive as the most frothing Anarch, but their goals are different: the Shaper just wants to see if they can do it. Shapers are also tinkerers and builders, and they push their hardware and software beyond their limits.
Critical Praise for Android: Netrunner!
"I was predisposed to dislike this… but I really liked it. It's a really fun game."
"It takes a bit to get into this game, but because of that it offers a fairly deep and rewarding experience."
"I was very impressed."
-Tom Vasel, The Dice Tower
"It's a high-quality game."
-Joel Eddy, Drive-Thru Review
"Brilliant asymmetry."
"So smart, so well-balanced, so thematically appropriate."
-Richard Ham, Rahdo Runs Through
"It's not just Netrunner's theme that awes. Mechanically it's just as slick."
"Netrunner is simply a huge amount of fun. It's just a wonderful game."
-Quintin Smith, Shut Up and Sit Down
Netrunner
The Android: Netrunner Revised Core Set is a great jumping on point for new players. Get your hands on some classic cards and pick up the Android: Netrunner Revised Core Set today!
Locations
