So I've been taken in a bit by the new Neuroscape game and one nice thing about it: Since I don't know anyone else who plays, I can play online in a browser! There are two spots, Deckscape and Lootpanel.
The games have mostly been pretty fast paced, and my ability to keep up with things is undoubtedly linked to Neuroscape's similarities to Magic, it has a feel and look all it's own. There are unique play spaces that have meaningful impacts on the game, and Neuroscape does a very good job of keeping stack interactions clear. However, the similarities are not always a positive.
For some reason, the designers have made the decision to have Gear (items that equip to Characters) disappear when the character dies. They work like Auras in Magic-arguably the weakest permanent type.
This means that factions that rely on gear, like the Cyborgs or Dustrunners, really suffer. Why are you running gear that doesn't remove a permanent or outright win, when there is removal? This condition is mitigated somewhat by the fact that characters don't have 'summoning sickness' but it also doesn't change the fact that most gear is bad and any removal for that character means you're getting a 2 or 3 for 1.
They also haven't done much with what is different about the game either. You have two life totals, but there is no distinction between the two-yet.
Still, there's a strong theme, they've done a nice job cleaning up some of the pacing issues Magic has, and more often than not I'm finding good play and deckbuilding is rewarded.
