To get an idea of the gameplay I have created a video. Since I do not go into detail, although each rule, but you get I think a good overview how the game runs and what it's all about. Just look therefore ideally the video and then read on, you know well what I am talking :) I have also created a new video for the German version where I hopefully can do it all a bit clearer and convey with a red thread. The game documents are not included with the game and you can also to my knowledge not available for purchase, but at Boardgamegeek there are templates to print itself. If you do, definitely makes what her and the game for beginners somewhat clearer.
Please stone if I did not often times used the English terms, I have the game played very often in English for 7 months, because you have to make friends with the German ideas first, which I have tried, the terms always as generic as possible to use and not to lose myself in the terminology of the game;)
The game takes place in a future dystiopen, also called cyberpunk, as one example of such films as Ghost in the Shell knows (who does not know should definitely watch him, one of three anime you should know). In the future, everything is truly networked, a large part of life is played out in cyberspace. Keyboards and mice are ancient relics, one connects his body directly to the information superhighway. In this future, no longer individual governments have the power but the world is controlled by global conglomerates, called Corporations that control all aspects of daily life and steer and control the people.
But of course there are rebels, described by the Corporations as criminals, they call themselves Runner. Runner are hacking the hack to steal important data or to gain access to information sought in the server of Corporations.
And that's the point in Android: Netrunner. A player incarnates a Corportation. The Corporation has various server that needs to protect them from the attack of Runner medium Ice. Ice are in a way firewalls that can stop the runner or even damage. In the game is ultimately all about agendas. An agenda provides a certain point, who first 7 agenda points, wins the game. This requires setting up the Corporation server, this server you must install Agendas, this advancen order to score eventually.
The runner, however, must install in his rig various programs, resources and hardware to access the server of the Corporation to obtain and to steal the coveted Agendas. Installs he he programs the ability to disable the various subroutines of Ice to obtain access to a server. Resources improve the opportunities of the Runners, to launch attacks or to avoid tracing the Corporation, while the additional hardware, the possibility is more and better programs to install. Depending Runner offer a different modules different advantages.
However, the Corporation may install on their servers not only Agendas but also assets. These assets can be traps for the runner that could harm it or otherwise bad for him. Since the Corporation brings into play initially covered all the cards, the runner knows not initially on Ice which it encounters, and he seldom knows what is hidden on a server. Here an interesting cat and mouse game between runner and can develop Corporation, an aspect that I like very much in the game. It also constantly struggles with too few resources, so you have to decide when to which card while playing, when the Runner where a run starts at the Corporation thereby pulling money out of pocket, because if they stop a run on a server wants, she must uncover her Ice firewalls, which in turn costs money.
In the Corporation everything is a server, both the newly installed in the game, so called Remote Server, as well as the hole cards, the deck and the discard pile, so you have to protect all these "server" before accessing the Runner. This aspect of the game is also very interesting, but in order to really grasp and understand it may have to the game but I think have played once.
There are three different runners and four different corporations in the base game, the play is all different. There are mutually a few neutral cards that are always added to the deck, but depend on who the individual Frkationen very different abilities and play also all a bit different. I find that very beautiful, so you have a large variation equal with the basic game and may try around much.
Android Netrunner is your Living Card Game, that is a game expansion pack appear on the one in which at regular intervals with new cards that give one more opportunity. On the other hand, to use this expansion pack properly can, Android Netrunner is also a Deckbauspiel in which a private deck you can before the game assemble, with which you then can just play as you like yourself. One can quite simply again and again to play with the preset decks and very long have a lot of fun, but then who plays there regularly play really will want to eventually own decks assembled, similar to its own preferences.
The recommendation is in fact always a second Core Set to buy to start with the deck building. It sounds stupid, twice to buy the same game, but good value for standard this really is the best option to be effective to build decks.
But as I said, you have to run to have fun in the game, you also play the game with only the prefabricated deck from the base game and still long, long have fun with it no deck building.
The playing time is 60 - 90 minutes indicated that even get there quite well. Initially can also take a little longer individual games, but if you have some experience with the game, you should need no more than 90 minutes and even this 90 minutes get a much shorter playing against.
Of all previously appeared Fantasy Flight Living Card Games this is so far my favorite and I have every played. If you like good two games, playing styles like asymmetric, is to bluff, if you like to read his opponent, assess and lead them astray, which is very well served with Android Netrunner and is likely to have a lot of fun with the game.
Addition to the original review:
Meanwhile, I'm playing this game for 7 months and still very much and very often. In the field of two-person games it's always what I when it may go a little more demanding and above the level of Lost Cities prefer games. I've already brought supplement packs, but not yet wrklich looked after the deck construction, as the game also makes so with the basic set for a long time a lot of fun. Still my favorite, because FFG is quite have to think what to beat this game.