So, they just announced Android: Netrunner is coming to an end, after 6 years, due to licensing.

Jacking Out

While it’s sad, FFG has taken this opportunity to talk about what it means for L5R and other LCGs in this other article:

State of the LCG

They say they want to treat each LCG separately, as its own entity, regarding releases, packs, and such. And they talk about their decision of the “6 packs in 6 weeks”:

Q:Why did you choose to use the “six packs, six weeks” format for Legend of the Five Rings: The Card Gameand what are the benefits of this format?

Andrew: The six packs, six weeks idea was about turning the release of a new LCG cycle into an event. It’s exciting when a new cycle is announced, but it’s challenging, in the case of our competitive LCGs, to maintain that excitement eight or nine months down the road when you’re waiting for that sixth pack to be released. Changing the release of a cycle from a slow burn to a six-week extravaganza of unbridled enthusiasm seemed like something worth trying out.

As for the benefits of the pattern, one of the criticisms I’ve heard levied against monthly LCG packs for our competitive LCGs is that if you’re a player devoted to a single faction, there’s not a ton of content for you in a single LCG pack. We saw the potential for this to be exacerbated in Legend of the Five Rings: The Card Game, given how strongly players identify with their favorite clan. Now, at the end of six weeks, you have an entire cycle of content to play with, as opposed to having to wait six months to build that deck you’ve been dreaming about.

Lastly, having the packs release closer together allows the themes of the cycle to flourish in the metagame right away. The developers do a great job of creating cohesive cycles that feel great thematically and mechanically, but with the six-month release model, it can feel like it takes too long for those themes and mechanics to really sing. Getting the cards into players’ hands quickly gives them more time to experiment with everything the cycle has to offer before the next cycle drops.”

All in all, while a lot of them are very sad that A:NR is ending, I think this will allow them to focus in the other LCGs, which is good for L5R, given that is their own IP, so maybe that puts it over the licensed LCGs.

This bit got me very, very, intrigued:

“Tyler: In broad terms, as I can’t yet go into too much detail about these items: the story is going to evolve in a very significant manner next year, and we’re going to see something that makes honor and dishonor matter far, far more while playing the game”

8 minutes ago, Tabris2k said:

This bit got me very, very, intrigued:

“Tyler: In broad terms, as I can’t yet go into too much detail about these items: the story is going to evolve in a very significant manner next year, and we’re going to see something that makes honor and dishonor matter far, far more while playing the game”

/groans
Unicorn has 0 self-honor or enemy dishonor.
Scorp has, what, 12 enemy dishonor?

1 minute ago, caseycheesecake said:

/groans
Unicorn has 0 self-honor or enemy dishonor.
Scorp has, what, 12 enemy dishonor?

Not everything is some sort of plot to keep Unicorn down!

2 minutes ago, caseycheesecake said:

/groans
Unicorn has 0 self-honor or enemy dishonor.
Scorp has, what, 12 enemy dishonor?

Would love to see a Battle Maiden with Pride.

1 minute ago, Tonbo Karasu said:

Not everything is some sort of plot to keep Unicorn down!

LIES!

All this talk about how they are going to make Unicorn great again..............

With the 6 packs in 6 weeks coming after the Kotei I'll be attending, I was going to play something besides the pONI, but, now I kind of want to be really stoopid and play them at a Kotei before they get good.

Resisting the urge to do something stoopid is not something I'm good at.

@caseycheesecake and @twinstarbmc

From that same interview:

“Brad: I’m psyched for the release of the Elemental Cycle. This cycle was in development right around the time of the game’s launch, so it was the first time we were able to incorporate the reception of the entire player base into our design—which is huge. And yes, there is a nice boost for the Unicorn clan in this cycle.”

And

”Tyler: For me, it has to be the way that Unicorn is struggling at the tournament level. Fortunately, we’ve been taking steps to address this in development, and I foresee an exciting ascent for this clan—sooner rather than later.”

1 minute ago, Tabris2k said:

@caseycheesecake and @twinstarbmc

From that same interview:

“Brad: I’m psyched for the release of the Elemental Cycle. This cycle was in development right around the time of the game’s launch, so it was the first time we were able to incorporate the reception of the entire player base into our design—which is huge. And yes, there is a nice boost for the Unicorn clan in this cycle.”

And

”Tyler: For me, it has to be the way that Unicorn is struggling at the tournament level. Fortunately, we’ve been taking steps to address this in development, and I foresee an exciting ascent for this clan—sooner rather than later.”

Words. I'll wait until the cards are in my hands, thanks.

1 minute ago, twinstarbmc said:

Deeds not Words. I'll wait until the cards are in my hands, thanks.

Added and bolded to get the nice old school L5R reference in there.

This settles it. I'm going full Kevin Garnet "Anything is possiblllllleee" and rocking the purple at the SGK

1 hour ago, Ishi Tonu said:

All this talk about how they are going to make Unicorn great again..............

With the 6 packs in 6 weeks coming after the Kotei I'll be attending, I was going to play something besides the pONI, but, now I kind of want to be really stoopid and play them at a Kotei before they get good.

Resisting the urge to do something stoopid is not something I'm good at.

Yes, I hear the Taint rots your brain.

I was thinking...

A lot of those A:NR players will probably make the change to another game, sooner or later. And if they’re looking for a LCG, L5R is, right now, the best one to jump wagon to, because the buy in is cheaper than others, being new and all...

So maybe, this is good news for L5R, for the fact that we can receive a big influx of new players.

5 minutes ago, shineyorkboy said:

Yes, I hear the Taint rots your brain.

Nah, just makes your palms hairy.

6 minutes ago, Tabris2k said:

I was thinking...

A lot of those A:NR players will probably make the change to another game, sooner or later. And if they’re looking for a LCG, L5R is, right now, the best one to jump wagon to, because the buy in is cheaper than others, being new and all...

So maybe, this is good news for L5R, for the fact that we can receive a big influx of new players.

Maybe they can buy up all the 3-core-plus-six-packs bundles the Chicken Littles have been selling for the last few months.

1 minute ago, twinstarbmc said:

Maybe they can buy up all the 3-core-plus-six-packs bundles the Chicken Littles have been selling for the last few months.

Went to Android forums out of curiosity and found this thread . I think is an example of what can happens, people recommending the jump to L5R, and A:NR players buying it.

At the very least, maybe this serves FFG to focus on their own IPs, and stop buying other licenses.

Just as the Elemental Cycle, which followed "Disciples of the Void ", has a focus on how the Great Clans interact with the elements, and their Shugenja, I would expect that the Dynasty Cycle to follow the Scorpion Clan Pack, "Underhand of the Emperor ", to have a focus on how the Great Clans interact with their Imperial duties, in relation specifically to Honor and Dishonor. This would make even more sense if we are seeing a Stronghold in each Dynasty Pack of the Elemental Cycle, which would lead to the possibility of a Stronghold in each Dynasty Pack of the next cycle.

Regardless of the Strongholds, I would expect the next cycle after the Elemental Cycle to focus on Courtiers and political hijinks. After that? Bushi and military hijinks.

44 minutes ago, Ishi Tonu said:

Nah, just makes your palms hairy.

And you go blind.

35 minutes ago, Tabris2k said:

Went to Android forums out of curiosity and found this thread . I think is an example of what can happens, people recommending the jump to L5R, and A:NR players buying it.

At the very least, maybe this serves FFG to focus on their own IPs, and stop buying other licenses.

Eh, though it is an IP and they did get the license, they wanted Netrunner for its core mechanics. The original starter, which would sell for $15-$20 today, were being sold (and purchased) on eBay for $300. It's a really good system and they did some really good things with it. Not everything was/is perfect, but it is really good for a card game.

Quote

Starting on October 22nd, 2018, Fantasy Flight Games will no longer offer for sale any Android: Netrunner The Card Game products, including Android: Netrunner playmats and card sleeves.

I take this to mean that they'll be dropping it on distrusters and the like for cheap, just like they did with the Warhammer: Conquest. At least this time there's heads-up and an amical separation, so they won't be shipping the last 3 sets at once, and only what they have. I expect the last cycle to be relatively scarce, but the rest should be easy to snag. Figure I'll be finishing up my collection around Thanksgiving.

1 hour ago, Duciris said:

I take this to mean that they'll be dropping it on distrusters and the like for cheap, just like they did with the Warhammer: Conquest. At least this time there's heads-up and an amical separation, so they won't be shipping the last 3 sets at once, and only what they have. I expect the last cycle to be relatively scarce, but the rest should be easy to snag. Figure I'll be finishing up my collection around Thanksgiving.

All i know about dying LCGs that last Cycles are printed in much less numbers and after some time people are looking of these expansions so prizes are going up. Same for Core Sets.

3 hours ago, Tabris2k said:

I was thinking...

A lot of those A:NR players will probably make the change to another game, sooner or later. And if they’re looking for a LCG, L5R is, right now, the best one to jump wagon to, because the buy in is cheaper than others, being new and all...

So maybe, this is good news for L5R, for the fact that we can receive a big influx of new players.

I keep hearing arguments like this. Honestly, if I was right now a very unhappy player of ANR, and I heard the guys at the next table were rubbing their hands at my misfortune being their gain... I would at the very least make a note of never engage with them, to say it nicely.

If this is the trend I definitely would hope one big release ones a year. Now six week is just why... it would be cheaper to shoot to keep just one big expansion box for whole cycle. And the release small pack here and there in between.

18 minutes ago, Hannibal_pjv said:

If this is the trend I definitely would hope one big release ones a year. Now six week is just why... it would be cheaper to shoot to keep just one big expansion box for whole cycle. And the release small pack here and there in between.

Problem with one big expansion is that many people just wouldn't buy it, while with six separate packs they will. You can argue that the total cost for them will be the same, or even lesser with one big box (as they would be saving on packaging, distribution and logistics costs). In any case you would be right, but that doesn't matter. It's just a matter of perception over maths; that's why people buy lottery and play in casinos.

Some players will buy 6x6 on release date (some happily, some grudgingly), others will buy first those that they need most, and maybe the rest down the line (or maybe not at all). With one single big buy, you'd make happier the first group, but probably would lose most of the second group.

3 hours ago, Tabris2k said:

I was thinking...

A lot of those A:NR players will probably make the change to another game, sooner or later. And if they’re looking for a LCG, L5R is, right now, the best one to jump wagon to, because the buy in is cheaper than others, being new and all...

So maybe, this is good news for L5R, for the fact that we can receive a big influx of new players.

Hmmmmmm, yup.

Also, maybe it’s time to purge the forums of those naysayers that keep voicing negative comments generally about the rules and specifically about certain cards.... you know the type.

4 hours ago, sndwurks said:

Just as the Elemental Cycle, which followed "Disciples of the Void ", has a focus on how the Great Clans interact with the elements, and their Shugenja, I would expect that the Dynasty Cycle to follow the Scorpion Clan Pack, "Underhand of the Emperor ", to have a focus on how the Great Clans interact with their Imperial duties, in relation specifically to Honor and Dishonor. This would make even more sense if we are seeing a Stronghold in each Dynasty Pack of the Elemental Cycle, which would lead to the possibility of a Stronghold in each Dynasty Pack of the next cycle.

Regardless of the Strongholds, I would expect the next cycle after the Elemental Cycle to focus on Courtiers and political hijinks. After that? Bushi and military hijinks.

I dunno, you figure the focus on Imperial duties would have been in the Imperial Cycle ( Tears of Amaterasu through Meditations on the Ephemeral ). That, and Underhand of the Emperor has been title associated with the Scorpion Clan for years, along with the Lion- and Crane Clans being the Right - and Left Hand of the Emperor respectively.

1 hour ago, Mon no Oni said:

Problem with one big expansion is that many people just wouldn't buy it, while with six separate packs they will. You can argue that the total cost for them will be the same, or even lesser with one big box (as they would be saving on packaging, distribution and logistics costs). In any case you would be right, but that doesn't matter. It's just a matter of perception over maths; that's why people buy lottery and play in casinos.

Some players will buy 6x6 on release date (some happily, some grudgingly), others will buy first those that they need most, and maybe the rest down the line (or maybe not at all). With one single big buy, you'd make happier the first group, but probably would lose most of the second group.

I still believe a 6x12 ratio would be better, but that's just little old me.

2 hours ago, Mon no Oni said:

I keep hearing arguments like this. Honestly, if I was right now a very unhappy player of ANR, and I heard the guys at the next table were rubbing their hands at my misfortune being their gain... I would at the very least make a note of never engage with them, to say it nicely.

Sorry if the impression my comment made on you was that I’m happy about A:NR shuting down, nothing could be further from the truth.

I have two friends that play Netrunner, and I feel sad for them.

I also want to introduce them to L5R. I know they haven’t played it before because they were too invested in A:NR. I’m pretty sure they will like it, and if they want in, now is the moment, before the step in price gets too high.

So, do I like that A:NR is ending? No. Do I acknowledge that this could be an opportunity to bring new players to L5R? Yes. Will I help that happen, by recommending L5R over other card games? Definitely.

I would be beyond excited for the next cycle to focus on courtiers, glory, and honor/ dishonor.