Thought on Barid's with N4 hacking

Welcome to the Desert!

Bostria mentioned upgrades.
But man, I dont like the new HDs. Not much left to decide, which programm to use, when.

 

I like the hacking streamlining. While it does give less choices, it does focus what is the role of each of the devices.

 

How’s that different from N3?

 

That's exactly it. N3 gave you multiple options that essentially did the same thing. So there was always a single best option. This streamlines the process by only giving you one option.

As for Barids, with how aggressive normal/killer hackers are, pitchers seem like a very important tool in the hacking game.

 

I had a choice.

 

Of what?

 

However if the same choice is made (for example) over 90% of the time, why keep the other options?

 

Sometimes Skullbuster was the choice for me, because of Breaker and that +3 really minimized the chance to flubb a roll. Also Basilisk was a rare but still sometimes used program.

Why not balance the programs instead outright removing them?

 

So you were always using the most optimum Program for a specific task?

That's what everyone else is referring to with 'there was no choice/there was always a single best option'. Multiple choices where there is always an optimal choice is no choice.

 

Either you dont get me or I dont get you....
Where is there no choice, when I mostly use Redrum/Carbonite, but in some cases Skullbuster/Basilisk is the better choice for what I want?

 

I think you don't get me (and the rest of the posters). In N3, there was massive duplication of similar programs, but there was always an optimal choice for any given end result.

This gives the impression of choice, without there being meaningful choice.

In N3, you chose what end result you wanted, and used the appropriate optimal choice.
In N4, you choose what end result you want, and use the Program that does that.

 

I'm a big fan of the new hacking, with the light caveat that I'm interested to see what EVOs cost and if they're available outside their current platforms.

This materially changes the current Barid Hacker Lt who in N3 was a great source of cheap supportware. He might not be viable any more. But Barids generally should be great cost effective hackers in N4. Haqq infowar is coming in hot and cheap.

 

Okay, lets see if I got it now.

So if I have the choice between Rifle, Lsg or DTW it is just the impression of choice, because I will always use the optimal one. Therefore I should just have one of those three available, because the outcome would be the same?

Anyways, I liked the so called impression of choice. Its just personal preference, like I would rather have Kinematica as a rule instead of Dodge +1". I just happen to be one of the few cases that doesnt like to sacrifice flavour for simplicity.

 

With hacking it was more like the choice between shooting with a combi or a pistol.

 

I for one appreciate our new Hacking Overlords.

 

i really hope we keep the pitcher

 

It’s more like if a single model had a combi rifle, a breaker combi, and an ap rifle. They all do the same thing and do technically have distinct niches, but mostly just slow things down because you have to constantly double check what saves the enemy has. There’s no decision about how to engage, it’s just about memorizing which slight variation is ideal against which enemy.

 

Better comparison, but still...whats wrong with that?

I also dont buy, that things are going to slowed down so much. In that case every Multi weapon should be stripped of special ammo. And people who play regulary, know ARM and BTS of most units anyway.