Startup - Cups and Balls

phlip45 280

Game plan - Mulligan for prepaid no matter what

Use the weird card whenever you can get into both HQ and RD with a bypass effect. Most of the time they'll let you see RD, and if you see an agenda you go steal it. If they do show you one in HQ, go steal it. Punitive is scary. So if you suspect it, just money up, or get the cups and go steal it.

If everything goes well, breakers will feel like a dead draw.

5 comments
28 Mar 2024 GreatA1exander

He do be getting double prepaid on turn 1 though...

29 Mar 2024 phlip45

As long as you get one prepaid you're happy. If you don't get 1 of the 3 prepaids, hopefully you get 1 of the 5 draw cards ( or 8 draw cards if your opponent doesn't know to give you credits with Wildcat Strike).

On the subject of Wildcat Strike, I know a lot of people don't like giving the choice to their opponent. The thing is that when you pay only 1 or 0 credits for it, you REALLY don't care which one you get. Most opponents will give you the credits, which is secretly what you want.

Am I saying this so that opponents might think about giving me the card draw instead? You decide.

29 Mar 2024 Kelann08

Is loss of Icebreakers a concern? Does Startup have anything that can trash you Icebreakers? I haven't played it enough to know for sure and only 3 icebreakers makes me nervous.

1 Apr 2024 phlip45

@Kelann08 There are definitely some ice out there that can trash programs, and there are always men with bats. The thing is, I almost never install my breakers and most of the times I do they feel like dead draws. If an Ice takes out my breakers and I needed them, that is almost always my fault. Same thing if I get tagged and the Bruce Waynes take me out.

Start up doesn't have the Hafrun into Stavka problem, or Stavka at all for that matter.

10 Apr 2024 Eldil

I ran this three times yesterday at our local group, and it won all three times. I never installed an icebreaker, and a couple of opponents were running a decent amount of ICE.

Some recollections:

Early Hermes is brutally effective, especially in the early game. I might consider cutting a Mutual Favor for a third copy.

Chrysopoeian Skimming + Mary da Silva + Cupellation = chef's kiss. The agendas have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

Thank you for sharing the deck!