Here is the scenario

1. A runner approaches an unrezzed ice.

2. The corp rezzes the ice.

3. When comparing the strength of the ice breaker against the strength of the ice, the corps ice is stronger and the runner is unable to increase the strength of the ice breaker.

Question #1 : Does the runner encounter the ICE, suffer the ill effects of the subroutines, and if he survives continue on to the next piece of ICE.

-or-

Question #2 Is the run terminated

-or-

Question #3: Does the runner suffer the ill effects of the subroutines before the run is terminated.

Firstly, the run will ONLY end if one of the subroutines states 'end the run'.

Secondly, if you have encountered ICE and are unable to break one or more subroutines (or decline to) then they resolve and you suffer the effects in order.

You do not need an Icebreaker to pass a piece of ICE that does not have 'end the run' in its effects.

You do not need an Icebreaker to make a run.

So then what is the point of comparing the strength of an icebreaker to the strength of the ice? is it only to then allow you to attempt to break the ice's subroutines if the runner's strength is higher than the corps?

So then what is the point of comparing the strength of an icebreaker to the strength of the ice? is it only to then allow you to attempt to break the ice's subroutines if the runner's strength is higher than the corps?

Yes. It allows your icebreaker to interact with the ice if the icebreaker's strength is at least as strong as the ice's strength .

Please note that the Runner does not have strength. The Corp does not have strength.

If the answer to your question was 2 or 3, what would be the point of "End the run" subroutines?

From the rulebook:

Also check out the example of a Run on page 19 of the rulebook now that you've played a few games.

Thanks for the answers, this really helps!!!

A question related to this topic:

When I approach an unrezzed ice and the corp decides to rezz it, am I still able to jack out, or am I automatically encountering it already?

You decide whether to jack out before the corp decides whether to rez.

A question related to this topic:

When I approach an unrezzed ice and the corp decides to rezz it, am I still able to jack out, or am I automatically encountering it already?

the corp cannot rez the ice until the point where you would be considered to be encountering it. The only exception for this rule are Snitch and a new card that I can't remember the name of. The first one lets you "peek" at one ice per run (even if it's the first ice in the server) and have the option of jacking-out once you've seen it. The other gives you the option of jacking-out after seeing the first ice be rezzed.

The only time you are "approaching" ice without encountering it is after the first ice in a server. It is then that you must choose to jack-out or continue. Once you choose to continue and the corp rezzes the ice, you must break/bypass/suffer the subroutines of said ice.

Okay, thanks for the replies, guys. Now it's quite clear.

Really loving that game (found it rather accidentially on the Essen fair 2013), so does my girlfriend. Unfortunately it seems to be way more popular in the US than in Europe, which makes it hard to find people to play against.

It's pretty popular in the UK too, and I know it's been translated into at least German and Polish, and I think Spain (probably others too). I don't know how popular it is in those countries, but at least enough to warrant translations.

Yeah I've got the german version, but if I have a look at the "organized play" section of the forum, it looks quite hopeless.

Not wanting to go too much off-topic here though

Check the netrunner forums on boardgamegeek.com. There are a lot more people on that site than here. You should be able to find a ton of players in German there. I remember the German National Championships being discussed there in the last month or two so there are definitely players and groups there.

If in Switzerland or Austria, it might be a bit more difficult to find an organized group. The only ones I'm aware of are one place in Bern and once place in Zurich.

Another option is to download OCTGN and play online if you want some more variety.

the corp cannot rez the ice until the point where you would be considered to be encountering it.

Not quite. The runner approaches the ice in step 2, and commits to continuing the run. There's an opportunity for the runner to trigger paid abilities. Then, after they pass, the Corp can rez ice, rez other cards, and trigger paid abilities of their own.

Then, in step 3 of the run, the runner is actually encountering the ice and dealing with the effects of any other complications the corp threw their way from Step 2 such as a Corporate Troubleshooter or Chilo City Grid, etc.

Check the netrunner forums on boardgamegeek.com.

Thanks for the hint :-)