History TabletopGame / NetRunner

** The FFG version is being continued via the NISEI (later renamed Null Signal Games) fan project.

** The FFG version is being continued via the NISEI fan project.

* CloningBlues: Life pretty much sucks for clones, who are supposed to have HappinessInSlavery but are hinted to be aware that they're basically slaves that can be [[NeverSayDie "retired"]]. Several do run away, including the playable runner Ken "Express" Tenma.

In 2018, Fantasy Flight Games announced that it would not renew its ''Netrunner'' license with Wizards of the Coast, and its version of Netrunner went out of print. It was continiued by a fan organization called NISEI (Nextrunner International Support & Expansion Initiative), which regularly produces free print-and-play expansions.

In 2018, Fantasy Flight Games announced that it would not renew its Netrunner license with Wizards of the Coast, and its version of Netrunner went out of print. It was continiued by a fan organization called NISEI (Nextrunner International Support & Expansion Initiative), which regularly produces free print-and-play expansions.

The original version of the game was published by Creator/WizardsOfTheCoast (of ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' fame) in 1996 and set in the ''[[TabletopGame/{{Cyberpunk}} Cyberpunk 2020]]'' setting. It only lasted for two booster sets before going out of print, but in 2012, Fantasy Flight Games obtained the rights to ''Netrunner'', updated it to be consistent with its cyberpunk-noir board game ''TabletopGame/{{Android}}'', and reissued the game as the Living Card Game [[http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=207 ''Android: Netrunner'']]. Though there have been some changes (making the game an LCG and not a CCG, of course; providing "identities" for the Corp and the Runner, each with their own abilities; lots of flavor text overhauls with references to the ''Android'' universe and to lots of other sci-fi and fantasy), the gameplay is mostly the same and has been very well received. The game has both a core set and several expansions of varying sizes.

The original version of the game was published by Creator/WizardsOfTheCoast (of ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' fame) in 1996 and set in the ''[[TabletopGame/{{Cyberpunk}} Cyberpunk 2020]]'' setting. It only lasted for two booster sets before going out of print, but in 2012, Fantasy Flight Games obtained the rights to ''Netrunner'', updated it to be consistent with its cyberpunk-noir board game ''TabletopGame/{{Android}}'', and reissued the game as the Living Card Game [[http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=207 Android: Netrunner]]. Though there have been some changes (making the game an LCG and not a CCG, of course; providing "identities" for the Corp and the Runner, each with their own abilities; lots of flavor text overhauls with references to the ''Android'' universe and to lots of other sci-fi and fantasy), the gameplay is mostly the same and has been very well received. The game has both a core set and several expansions of varying sizes.

The original version of the game was published by Creator/WizardsOfTheCoast (of TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering fame) in 1996 and set in the ''[[TabletopGame/{{Cyberpunk}} Cyberpunk 2020]]'' setting. It only lasted for two booster sets before going out of print, but in 2012, Fantasy Flight Games obtained the rights to ''Netrunner'', updated it to be consistent with its cyberpunk-noir board game ''TabletopGame/{{Android}}'', and reissued the game as the Living Card Game [[http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=207 Android: Netrunner]]. Though there have been some changes (making the game an LCG and not a CCG, of course; providing "identities" for the Corp and the Runner, each with their own abilities; lots of flavor text overhauls with references to the ''Android'' universe and to lots of other sci-fi and fantasy), the gameplay is mostly the same and has been very well received. The game has both a core set and several expansions of varying sizes.

* FanSequel: Fan expansions to the original were common after it was no longer printed. ''Android: Netrunner'' is also being continued via the NISEI fan project.

* UniquenessRule: Only one unique card of the same title can be active at a time. Duplicates are immediately and unavoidably trashed.

!!Tropes Exclusive To The Original TCG:

* VillainWithGoodPublicity: One of the Runner's possible victory conditions is giving the Corp enough Bad Publicity points that this trope no longer applies to them. Bad publicity was kept in ''Android: Netrunner'', but it only provides the Runners with more financial resources to attack the Corporation and is not a victory condition by itself.


!!Tropes Exclusive To ''Android: Netrunner'':

* CloningBlues: Life pretty much sucks for clones, who are supposed to have HappinessInSlavery but are hinted to be aware that they're basically slaves that can be [[NeverSayDie "retired"]]. Several do run away, including criminal runner Ken "Express" Tenma.
* EvilInc: All Corporation factions from ''Android: Netrunner'' more or less qualify, but Weyland deserves special mention. Their way of dealing with Runners is usually nothing short of assassination, and they don't mind blowing up a whole district just to get one guy.
* YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters: Frequently mentioned. It really does depend on the runner in question; some are motivated by altruism, some by greed, and some simply by boredom. The Anarch faction has the most self-described freedom fighters against corporate oppression.

** The Flavor text of "[[http://netrunnerdb.com/en/card/01101 Archer]]": "Next time, read the Terms of Service more carefully. Or you might find yourself in the [[WesternAnimation/{{Archer}} danger zone]]".

* ViralMarketing: The Corp Advertisement card "BBS Whispering Campaign".
** In the remake, NBN's ICE "Pop-Up Window". Also, the neutral card "PAD Campaign" seems to imply this as well.

* AwesomeButImpractical: Several cards that are devastating but unwieldy or cost-ineffective.

The original version of the game was set in the ''[[TabletopGame/{{Cyberpunk}} Cyberpunk 2020]]'' setting. In 2012, Fantasy Flight Games bought the rights to ''Netrunner'', updated it to be consistent with its cyberpunk-noir board game ''TabletopGame/{{Android}}'', and reissued the game as the Living Card Game [[http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=207 Android: Netrunner]]. Though there have been some changes (making the game an LCG and not a CCG, of course; providing "identities" for the Corp and the Runner, each with their own abilities; lots of flavor text overhauls with references to the ''Android'' universe as well as lots of other sci-fi and fantasy), the game has been very well received. The game has both a core set and several expansions of varying sizes. On 8 June, 2018 Fantasy Flight games announced that Wizards of the Coast would not renew its license and is ending its partnership. It was continiued by a fan organization NISEI (Nextrunner International Support & Expansion Initiative).

* BlandNameProduct: To energy drink Red Bull's "Red Bull gives you wings.": "Diesel gives you flames."
* BilingualBonus: The flavor text for Harbinger and Apocalypse are written in Baudot Code, a binary character system used by teleprinters. They translate to "I AM BECOME DEATH" and "THE DESTROYER OF WORLDS" respectively, recalling Oppenheimer's famous quote.

* FanSequel: Fan expansions to the original were common after it was no longer printed. ''Android: Netrunner'' is also being continued via a fan project.

* MegaCorp: The corporation is obviously the embodiment of this trope. The four current corporate factions have their hands in nearly everything in society. Between them, very few things are outside their collective influence.

* MustHaveCaffeine: The card "Jack n' Joe": "There's too much blood in my caffeine system."

* TakeOverTheWorld: The card "[[http://www.netrunneronline.com/cards/world-domination/ World Domination]]". If the corp manages to score the card, it wins the game.
* UniquenessRule: Only one unique card of the same title can be active at a time. Duplicates are immediately and unavoidably trashed.

* VillainWithGoodPublicity: In the original game, one of the Runner's possible victory conditions is giving the Corp enough Bad Publicity points that this trope no longer applies to them. Bad publicity was kept in ''Android: Netrunner'', but it only provides the Runners with more financial resources to attack the Corporation and is not a victory condition by itself.

* ColonyDrop: the card I've Got A Rock represents the Corp dropping a meteorite on the Runner's house. Also qualifies as NoKillLikeOverkill, in that it deals ''three times his maximum health'' in damage.

** Runners: Cards that inflict brain damage (permanent reduced hand size) are one of Anarch's specialties

** ''Financial Collapse'' depicts Chaos Theory heartbroken as her dads fight over money, implying she is aware her run on the Titan bank [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone is part of the reason.]] However, when Core 2.0 was announced, [[TheBusCameBack a teenaged Chaos Theory returns as the default Shaper ID.]]

* SituationalSword: Certain "tech" cards that are strong against certain archetypes or card types but useless if they don't appear. For example, Cyberdex Virus Suite shuts down virus decks, while Film Critic is only useful for securing agendas that have harmful effects associated with stealing them.

''Netrunner'' is a card game that depicts [[CyberPunk cyberspace combat]] between [[ShadowDictator a global]] [[MegaCorp mega-corporation]] (the Corp) and a hacker (the Runner). The Corp's goal is to [[TakeOverTheWorld complete their secret agendas]] before the Runner can hack in and spoil their secret plans for world domination. It isn't easy, though, as the Corp has strong defensive data forts protected by malevolent computer programs known as [[Creator/WilliamGibson ICE]] (once again short for [[FunWithAcronyms Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics]]). The Runner must use special programs of their own (called icebreakers) to break through and steal the hidden plans - to keep the Corp from taking over completely.

* PsychicPowers: One of Jinteki's most closely guarded secrets is that they've developed these in their Nisei line of clones.

* PutOnABus: Android: Netrunner experienced its first card rotation in 2017, eliminating Andromeda, Whizzard, and Kate [=McCaffrey=] from tournament play, but two of them have a single card depicting a narrative for why they no longer run.

* FanSequel: Fan expansions to the original were common after it was no longer printed. The latter is also being continued via a fan project.

* {{Cyberpunk}}: Very much steeped in the genre. The original version, in fact, is actually tied into the Cyberpunk tabletop game, to the point one sourcebook (''Rache Bartmoss' Brainware Blowout'') had rules for using the game as a replacement for the clunky netrunning rules.

* ShoutOut: Several; many to TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering, with whom the game shares a creator. Lots of references to other science fiction (especially {{Cyberpunk}}) and fantasy, too.

* [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique Dangerous Forbidden Technology]]: In the original game, the "Omnitech Spinal Tap Cybermodem" In ''Android: Netrunner'', "Spinal Modem". Both cards are cheap computers that provide a powerful edge, but also have a chance to cause unpreventable brain damage when things go wrong.

The original version of the game was set in the ''[[TabletopGame/{{Cyberpunk}} Cyberpunk 2020]]'' setting. In 2012, Fantasy Flight Games bought the rights to ''Netrunner'', updated it to be consistent with its cyberpunk-noir board game ''TabletopGame/{{Android}}'', and reissued the game as the Living Card Game [[http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=207 Android: Netrunner]]. Though there have been some changes (making the game an LCG and not a CCG, of course; providing "identities" for the Corp and the Runner, each with their own abilities; lots of flavor text overhauls with references to the ''Android'' universe as well as lots of other sci-fi and fantasy), the game has been very well received. The game has both a core set and several expansions of varying sizes. On 8 June, 2018 Fantasy Flight games announced that Wizards of the Coast would not renew its license and is ending its partnership.

* FanNickname: [[FanNickname/TabletopGames Lots of them.]]

In 2012, Fantasy Flight Games bought the rights to ''Netrunner'', updated it to be consistent with its cyberpunk-noir board game ''Android'', and reissued the game as the Living Card Game [[http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=207 Android: Netrunner]]. Though there have been some changes (making the game an LCG and not a CCG, of course; providing "identities" for the Corp and the Runner, each with their own abilities; lots of flavor text overhauls with references to the ''TabletopGame/{{Android}}'' universe as well as lots of other sci-fi and fantasy), the game has been very well received. The game has both a core set and several expansions of varying sizes. On 8 June, 2018 Fantasy Flight games announced that Wizards of the Coast would not renew its license and is ending its partnership.

->"The greatest casualty of the early corporate wars was the middle class."
-->Flavor text for the ''Corporate War'' card