So bringing in new players that are at least familiar with the game type. They ask about faction types compared to play type and who balances against who. Is there a balance circle where Corp 1 works well agains Runner A but struggles with Runner B? Are Criminal decks always better fro Argo play? I know that each Identity changes what the decks can and can't do but is there a core layout or balance?

How do you answer in a new player question about the Factions and play style?

Man, what a question. There's not really a balance circle in general, at least not one which immediately disintegrates upon contact with actual deckbuilding. The influence system is extremely generous in allowing players to blur the lines between factions. I would say if they like hard hitting straightforward builds, Shaper lends itself to that. High stakes aggression tends to be criminal. Anarch builds tend to be control based by destroying or disabling the corp's ability to play.

Likewise, Weyland builds tend to be straightforward but brittle, HB can play a very taxing long game. Jinteki and NBN focus more on peculiar types of aggression, presenting the runner with unavoidable or unacceptable risks. But there's so much variation it's extremely hard to generalize. Even defining what concepts like "Aggro," "Rush," and "Control" are kind of difficult in a game with this much customization and asymmetry.

There isn't really a faction circle, although some IDs are really strong against others (Reina is great against a Foundry deck for instance).

Mostly I would just point out the things the factions do best.

Criminal has a lot of derezzing and tricky run events

Anarch has all the fun viruses and destruction

Shaper has the tutors and lots of card draw.

HB builds large servers and has fast advance

NBN is fast advance and tag and bag

Jinteki is net damage and shell game

Weyland is full of money and tag and bag.

I think the starter decks in the core set does a very good job in explaining the characteristics of each of the factions.

However as for new players the factions are not the toughest obstacle for new players. The biggest obstacle is to where to go from the first core set. Be it a 2nd or a 3rd and which Expansion pack to pick up after. With the exception of the deluxe packs all the expansions do not focus on a single faction so when you get a pack you are getting it for a specific card(s) that are in the pack. Also the deluxe packs don't necessarily have the best cards for that faction.