Update #04: Root Kit No Mo

Hi, Erik here, long-time reader, first-time poster.

A couple years ago, shortly after we developed the "subnet" mechanic that would become the core of Black Hats, I came up with a card type called a "daemon" that would be played permanently onto the board with a corner of the card touching a system on the outside border and would thereafter apply an effect to that subnet. It was unique and fun and it sucked and now I feel a deeper connection to Travis Coates.

Ray is the hero behind Black Hats, but this was the start of my villain arc.

Since then, I have made it my life's work to critique, rework, and cut as many other mechanics and cards from Black Hats as I possibly can in the name of my beloved daemons. I'm writing this post today to boast about my latest victim: the rootkit.

I already don't miss it.

During the Gencon games, no other rule or mechanic was responsible for half so many mid-game questions and requests to be reminded of what it even was. Countless runner activations passed where the players forgot it was even a thing and, if I may be perfectly honest with you, after years of working on Black Hats, I also frequently forget about it.

Removing this would, of course, require reworking several runners, executables, and even one of the rigs. It's telling that it only took me about an hour to come up with alternatives for all of them and I already like 95% of them better than their rooty predecessors.
​
The real winners, though, are me and Ray and any of you who might one day try to teach Black Hats to someone else: no longer must you say "well except for the allied rootkit token" after the handy mnemonic of "you can't hack anything with a piece of cardboard on it".