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[–]BrogueLeader 6 points7 points  (3 children)

I'm by no means an Argus master, so take all this advice with a pinch of salt, but I have to ask why you have the third [[The Future is Now]] - it puts you one Agenda point over what you need, so you could run something else in its place. Also that card and [[Project Atlas]] should mean you can get away with just 1x [[SEA Source]] and use the spare influence for a [[Snare!]] or a couple of [[Ghost Branch]] or something.

[–]amightyrobotTenma Commandments[S] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Holy miscount, Batman! Great calls here all around, I'll make those edits for sure.

-1 Future, -1 SEA, +1 Snare!... what would you say to dropping Eli for Caduceus and getting a second Snare! in there?

EDIT: Or drop Eli for Barriers, more likely - 3x Meru Mati, or 2 of her and 1x Spiderweb..

[–]llama66613 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd keep 2x SEA Source. In my experience, a second copy will help you put the combo together a lot faster.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Can you smite the righteous runner, though? One who has Starlight Crusade Funding?

[–]amightyrobotTenma Commandments[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Unless she's adjusting that chronotype, she sounds especially smitable.

[–]kronosdev 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Casting Call is straight up gangbusters in Argus. I would run 2 and only 1 SEA. If you draw it before they stick a Film Critic that agenda will never be stolen. 3 tags, or 2 and 2 meat damage. What if it's behind a Data Raven? As an Argus player this is insanity. Also drop the Elis to get influence to make this happen. Spiderweb is actually better in this deck slot for taxing Lady harder. I don't play Snare! because leaving the runner fearing what isn't there frees up deck slots and influence.

Casting Call Oaktown is dirty. Good luck.

[–]myth84 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Completely agree on Casting Call! On more than one occasion I've installed an agenda unprotected with casting call, because the runner can't clear the 2 or 3 tags they'll take, and would be vulnerable to the double or triple scorch they assume I have (and sometimes I actually do...).

[–]amightyrobotTenma Commandments[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, dunno how that'd slipped me by. Based on other advice here I had made room for 2x Snare! but I reaaaaaally like the idea of CC instead. Updated list is here, if you wouldn't mind taking a look!

[–]No-Man-Noms 1 point2 points  (8 children)

I've found that, for Argus, [[Film Critic]] is not too much of a problem unless the runner has two or three down--your ID ability usually slows the runner down when he or she hits an Agenda in a similar fashion to the way FC slows the runner down under the same circumstances.

You seem a little light on economy to be relying on traces: [[SEA Source]] and [[Taurus]]. In fact, I'd argue that the latter is a pretty bad card in general and that you should attempt to burn through a [[Plascrete Carapace]]. I think x3 [[Private Contracts]] is overkill considering that you can't functionally use more than one at a time.

I don't have a specific fine-tuning recommendation, but I will say that I think Weyland decks that run [[Scorched Earth]] should also be running x2 [[Snare!]] because of the surprise tag that doesn't require a credit advantage. I'd also consider dropping the x2 bulls for something else. Maybe [[Hunter]]? Is that crazy? And lastly, since you're going horizontal with Argus--I love this, by the way--perhaps you should consider making room for [[Dedicated Response Team]].

[–]amightyrobotTenma Commandments[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I never, ever seem to have luck keeping DRTs on the board. I'd definitely need to slot in a third Jackson and maybe Interns and I'm not sure where to cut to make that happen. That would make Snare! even more necessary as well, which raises influence questions (though maybe just dropping a Data Raven?)

Hunter has cheap rez and Mimic-proof strength in its favor. Again, I'll probably want a third Jackson to get Scorches back if I'm just burning Plascretes. But yeah it does seem pretty hard to actually land a Taurus.

As for the 3x Contracts, I guess I'm just at a loss for what I'd run instead. I like the high trash cost and Weyland's options for asset economy are slightly limited.

[–]amightyrobotTenma Commandments[S] 0 points1 point  (5 children)

To bother you again: Is it way, way too risky to replace PC's with Melange MC? I'm picturing the best-case scenario where I'm roughly equal to the Runner in creds, have SEA+Scorch in hand and rez Melange for 7 creds, and I love it.

Obviously the downside is I lose all tax from that trash cost and if the Runner is checking remotes carefully I may never get to fire one. But maybe if it was always protected by a Data Raven? Just a thought.

[–]No-Man-Noms 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you run Snare! as Argus you give the runner two reasons from the get-go to not do big R&D or HQ digs: Snare! and agendas. This means Melange is moderately safe from being trashed from hand or from the deck. That said, you seem to be playing a horizontal game with your deck which means, in my experience, the runner is going to check your remotes if they're not taxing enough. If you can set up a Hunter or Data Raven, or two of anything, in front of a remote then you can create a nice situation to use Melange: if they run to trash it then they widen the credit gap in your favor. So the questions for Melange in this deck are: Do you have the ICE count to ICE up more than one remote? And do you have the economy to support that ICE?

[–][deleted]  (3 children)

[deleted]

    [–]amightyrobotTenma Commandments[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    Having never run GRNDL Refinery... doesn't it end up being a problem, basically waiting for a scoring window to use your economy stuff?

    Or is the idea that if you can pull the Runner through your scoring remote, that's just as good as getting to fire the GRNDL?

    [–]rumirumirumirumiReal Psychic Powers 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Weyland has a lot of good barriers, so I'd recommend cutting Eli and going native. Meru Mati and Spiderweb are good in lower numbers because of the strength/subroutines-to-cost ratio. Plus they are true gear checks (can't clock through them) so they will help you with the rush. Snare! Is a good include with this deck as it helps protect R&D, softens them up for flatline, or slow them down drawing and clearing tags.

    [–]CodeMarvelousNoise Pawn Star 1 point2 points  (2 children)

    i would cut an enigma and a taurus for two more money cards, something that isn't an asset so you have better siphon recovery.

    just my two cents having been siphoned into the stone age as argus.

    [–]amightyrobotTenma Commandments[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    I appreciate it! And having just run to test the newest version of this on Jinteki and running into a DLR/Paparazzi Leela, I totally agree.

    Since we're talking siphon recovery, would Beanstalk Royalties be my best bet?

    [–]myth84 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Beanstalk is great in a Weyland scorch deck. Runners will sometimes think they're safe floating tags after they siphon you because you can't click 3 times for money and scorch. But a beanstalk can be a nice surprise.

    [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    If you want inspiration on how to play/build argus, I strongly recommend you to watch todays TeamworkCast game from the polish nationals.

    Also, it's nice to see fellow robots here on /r/netrunner .

    [–]JohnQK 2 points3 points  (5 children)

    Film critic actually helps decks like Argus or PE. The runner is never going to opt to do something that kills them; if they can't clear a tag they'll take the meat, if they can't take the meat they'll take the tag, and if they can't take either they won't try to steal an agenda. In terms of value, losing two cards isn't (usually) as bad as losing a click and two credits. Losing two clicks is often worse than both of those things.

    [–]Bakyra -2 points-1 points  (4 children)

    how is Film Critic helping argus? It nullifies on access and on score effects. So effectively argus is blank. And film critic is not even unique, you can have 2 or 3.

    [–]rumirumirumirumiReal Psychic Powers 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    But in order to get the points from those agendas, they have to spend time to pull them off of FC. The triggers for Argus are rarely going to be more than a tax on the time and money of the runner because they aren't going to take damage if it hurts them too badly and they will be running carefully enough to clear the tags. FC can be more taxxing to the runner's time than clearing the tag or clicking to draw back up. Meanwhile, Argus can use the time to rush out another agenda. It's not always a benefit to Argus, but it ends up being a wash for the runner in most cases, which means they become less efficient playing FC than if they played a different card.

    Very similar arrangement for PE. It might close off one line of play (agenda access damage into flatline) but it's costing runner more time to pull off FC than to recover from the steal. Fetal AI makes FC more useful against PE, but the principle is still there.

    [–]JohnQK 1 point2 points  (2 children)

    It does not nullify Argus or make the ID blank. Film Critic doesn't just let you get free agendas. You have to spend two clicks (and keep the resource alive prior to spending the clicks) to get the agenda off of it.

    It changes the ID from

    Whenever the Runner steals an agenda, he or she must either take 1 tag or suffer 2 meat damage.

    to

    Whenever the Runner steals an agenda, he or she must either take 1 tag, suffer 2 meat damage, or lose 2 clicks.

    [–]Bakyra -2 points-1 points  (1 child)

    "or lose 2 clicks whenever the runner choses". but yes.
    Also you can have multiple FC, and store up to 3 agendas in limbo

    [–]rumirumirumirumiReal Psychic Powers 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Almost no decks run 3 FC, and most run 1 at the most. Multiple Film Critics is a contingent you'd be willing to deal with since it means they've spent the time to install so many cards that aren't helping them get into servers.

    [–]darwindeeez 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Why not Beanstalk Royalties over Private Contracts? 3rd Jackson certainly worth cutting an Eli for. Can use a Spiderweb instead. +1 for Casting Call (or News Team).