“Of all the stimjoints in all the arcologies in all the worlds, she jacks into mine…”
Hello Netrunners, thank you for answering my call. Conrad aka “Banknote” here, Art Director for NSG. Today I have the honor of introducing you to Vantage Point’s Criminal identity.
But before we meet “Vic”, let’s talk about some of the choices that led to its visual design and, by extension, a number of other cards in Vantage Point.
With My Brains and Your Looks, We Could Go Places
When I picked up Netrunner back in 2016, one of the first things that stood out to me was the unique combinations of tropes, aesthetics, and characters. Clearly, the foundation of the world was recognizably cyberpunk, drawing on designs, concepts, and language from Netrunner’s ‘96 origins (namely Cyberpunk, Neuromancer, and other classics of the genre). But on top of that there were elements of utopian sci-fi and, of course, Cybernoir.
Cybernoir (sometimes called Tech Noir) might best be represented by Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, but there have been many other examples, including The Terminator, The Matrix, and a personal favorite, Terry Gilliam’s Brazil. By borrowing the trappings and aesthetics of classic noir films and placing them into a futuristic and dystopian world, we get a mix of something classic and familiar; something that draws on the past to look forward. This blend of punk and noir really spoke to me, and is part of why I was hooked on Netrunner from the first time I flipped through my buddy’s binder of Identities.
B-1001 
WAKE Implant v2A-JRJ
In many ways, noir and cyberpunk are a natural combination. Both reflect the cynicism of their times, and explore a world that doesn’t care for its people, those people who fall through the gaps, and what they do to survive. Both focus around heists, murder, extortion, and other crimes. Many stories focus on antiheroes, either those trying to do the right thing in a cruel world, or those who have given up on right vs. wrong after being knocked down one time too many. Who doesn’t want to root for the underdog?
Bright Light, Dark Shadows, Tears in the Rain
So what are the visual tropes of Noir and Cybernoir? Again, we can look at Blade Runner as the most influential example of the genre. The interplay of light and dark harkens back to classic noir films. The shine of neon lights off a rain-soaked street. Glowing billboards towering over crowded alleys. Trenchcoats with high collars, sleek and suggestive dresses and gowns, flashy suits and striking outfits. We’ve seen these things in Netrunner since the days of the original Core Set.
These are all reasons why I was so excited when I first heard about the concept behind Vic.
Hardboiled Hardlight or Soft-spoken Seductress?
Virtual Intelligence, P.I. – “You Can Call Me Vic”
Criminal Identity: Digital
Pronouns: It/Its
Minimum Deck Size: 45 – Influence: 15 – limit: 4 – Base : 0
Once per turn → , 1: Draw 1 card and remove 1 tag.
“I knew from the start this case was gonna be the end of me…”
Illustrated by Marlon Ruiz
Virtual Intelligence, P.I. – “You Can Call Me Vic”
I was awake, and knew I shouldn’t’ve been. I felt the Dame and the Rat nodding off. This was supposed to be their scene, so why the hell was I here? That’s when the phone rang again, rattling that little bell in my head that says it’s time to go do something stupid.
It was 23:02:13, planetside standard time, and the kid was on the other end of the line. Trouble, but wouldn’t say what. I checked my drawer: one revolver and one bottle of Sprinting Jim, down to one shot each. I made my choice. At 23:02:19, I was in her pocket.
Illustrated by Marlon Ruiz
Hey, isn’t this an article about art? Well, now that we’ve met our newest friend, let’s talk about its very unique look. Vic draws clearly on classic noir looks and archetypes in its identity art. The majority of its look is modeled off the classic private eye aesthetic, with a futurized version of a trenchcoat and fedora. We also see it mid-shift from a previous role, that of the Dame, in a slinky dress, the holosmoke of a cigarette floating above its right hand. And importantly, we see its signature emblem, modelled after the eponymous Maltese Falcon, pinned to its lapel. This is the icon the Irregulars see when Vic gives them a call.
We on the Visual team were excited to use Vic as an excuse to find more ways to get the noir back into Netrunner. You’ll see this on a few other Criminal cards, including Vic’s signature console, and the previously-previewed resource Underdome Irregulars. But even outside Criminal, there are a number of cards that draw on designs from the Roaring Twenties though to the Jazz age.
We hope everyone enjoys this mix of vintage aesthetics and futuristic cyberpunk style as much as we enjoyed creating them! And I hope this is the start of a beautiful friendship between Vic and players everywhere.
Vantage Point will be released on March 2. It will be available from our online store, our retail partners, and as a free print-and-play PDF immediately, and from our print-on-demand partners as soon as it’s approved.
