Android Netrunner is a two player card game set in a dystopian cyberpunk future where powerful corporations control everything.
In this
world, advancements in biology and technology have blurred the lines between man and machine.
Elite hackers known as “runners” can physically interface their brains with the
ubiquitous and ever expanding network. Using this “neural interface” they
attempt to hack into these corporation’s servers and retrieve valuable secrets
which will disrupt their operations.
Of course, these corporations are far from defenseless. They deploy advanced
security programs designed to prevent access to their critical systems and stop the
runner at all costs. If they can successfully trace the location of the runner they can
also dispatch powerful security forces to eliminate the threat.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. The corporation stands to lose priceless data which may threaten their
growth or very existence. The runner risks brain damage as they use their mind as a vehicle to navigate
the dangerous networks and battle the corporations for a piece of the power and control.
Who will win? That’s for you to decide!
SET UP
The Corp has 3 central servers: HQ, which corresponds to their hand and is represented by an identity card. R&D refers to their deck.
Archives represents their discard pile. The Corp may also install remote servers by laying certain cards face down near the central servers.
All credit for this image goes to Xander Harris (dahbuss) of boardgamegeek.com
The runner’s hand of cards is called their “Grip”. Their deck is referred to as the “Stack”. Their discard pile is known as the “Heap”. The
“Rig” refers to the play area where the runner can play (a.k.a. install) cards which represent Programs, Hardware, and Resources.
PLAY DESCRIPTION
Both players have access to the same resources, time and money, which they expend to
further their causes. Time is referred to as “clicks” and money as “credits”. Every action
the player takes requires them to expend one or more of their clicks. When a player uses
all of their clicks their turn is over.
Many actions also require the player to
spend a certain number of credits.
Although clicks are restored at the
beginning of each turn credits are not and must be earned. You’ll find that
resource management is an important strategy of this game.
OBJECTIVE
The object of the game is to score agendas, a special type of card that only exists in the
Corp’s deck. The Corp scores these agendas by “installing” them as “remote servers”
and then advancing them which requires expending clicks and credits.
The runner scores agendas by stealing them from the Corp. They do this by making
“runs” against the Corp’s servers which represents the runner jacking-in to the network
from a remote location and attempting to
access one of the Corp’s servers. If they
successfully bypass the Corp’s defenses and access the server and if they find an agenda
there they get to score it.
The first player to score 7 agenda points wins the game. Additionally, the runner can lose if
they take enough damage to be “flatlined.” The Corp loses if they run out of cards in R&D
(i.e. their deck of cards).
This should give you a good foundation for taking the first steps to learn the rules of the game. Although the learning curve in Android
Netrunner is much steeper than many other games the rewards are well worth the effort. The best way to learn is to be taught by
someone who already knows how to play the game. Alternatively, or even conjunctively, you can use the following great resources:
OFFICIAL FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES TUTORIALS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAslVfZ9p-Y
FAN BASED & MORE EXPANSIVE TUTORIAL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3w0B7txipk
RULEBOOK: http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/ffg_content/android-netrunner/support/android-netrunner-core-rules.pdf
GREAT WORLD’S TOURNAMENT SHOWING ACTUAL PLAY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOBAQOa4MsQ
RULES SUMMARY & GAME MANAGEMENT CHEAT SHEET: http://boardgamegeek.com/file/download/9gdn5fobu7/Android.docx
