But 14 wip oblivion with 6bts and camo state to avoid repeaters when needed is quite decent. It's not the best way of doing hacking, but certainly one of the most fun ways.
For 62 points you also get 14 bs multi rifle with 5 arm 2w 6-2 mov and mimetism -6. I'm not saying Hac Tao is meta breaking but it's a pretty good unit. In n3 my most used profile was KHD. New HMG with NCO is good but my own experiences haven't been amazing, but it's user error for sure. What I would love is either NCO on all profiles or something special with Hacker profile. Either being HD+ or having extra trinity, or upgraded oblivion/carbonite/trinity. Something that would stand out. Absolute wish listing is NCO HD+ with trinity on top. But let's be honest, this is not gonna happen (also 70 points would be my guess).
I mean, I'm not a fan of any version of the Hac Tao and never have been, they're just way to one-dimensional for consuming a full fifth of the list. Nah, it'd be 64 points. Most of those things don't even cost points. Still not as cost-efficient as the complete steal that is the Anathematic, but at least no longer one-dimensional.
The HacTao KHD had always been a very solid unit for doing objectives, and N4 does not seem to have changed that. He cannot "kill" hackers now in their own game but he can ARO Oblivion to oppose another Oblivion or Carbonite, which in my book is better for a HI than just resetting. I just wish he also had NCO, or something extra that is unique. The loss of the KHD and it still being just a MULTI Rifle... (+1 DAM) would be my wet dream for that profile.
But as any other two edged blade, makes the HacTao vulnerable to KHD now... The NCO is the HMG profile... Wanting everything is good, getting it... not so.
Yeah, though I hear people think KHD is not as good as regular hacking devices these days. Also, a token state is always a pretty good way to not get hacked. A definite N4 boost to the Hac Tao is the crit change. ARM 5 is solid now, and with ARM 8 in cover and Mimitism -6, not a lot of shooting hits will get through and stick. In N3 I always seemed to lose one or both Hac Tao wounds to crits. That should happen way less in N4 unless the dice really have it in for you. Here are the numbers for a combi rifle crit against a hac tao in cover: N3: 100% -> 1 Wound. N4: 6% -> 2 Wounds (ouch). 56.25% No Wounds (Yay). 37.5% -> 1 Wound As a Hac Tao you generally win face to face shooting unless you get crit, and the glass is now more than half full even when you do get crit. Unless it's that 1 in 400 games where you take both wounds on the first ARO... then you definitely wish you had a doctor nearby.
That would be something to apply to the Raptor Squad in O12, since it's a HI Multi Rifle with a Devabot (synchro zippo), but has no other marker state option, nor visual mods. The Hac Tao, however, has Camo state and Mimetism-6 (let's gloss over the difference in costs xD), and the KHD is the only option with a MULTI rifle (making it the cheapest, aside from the ML one); this means that the Hac Tao will use the Cybermask program once in a blue moon (crossing mines' detonation area)... but also, it's the only Specialist profile the unit has. So, I really can't compare the KHD with the HD in the Hac Tao (regadless, any HI with a hacking device gest open to be hacked by KHDs), and besides the Hac Tao is paying SWC for the device, so in this unit I feel it's more about what is it you need on the table. What I meant is that being aware KHDs can go against the KHD Hac Tao is important. And there are some hackers with Upgrade programs, that get them turned into a mix of Hacker and Killer Hacker (the Asura comes to mind, H+ with trinity is mostly the same as having all programs but for the Zero Pain) I had to face a Brigada in a game, and yeah, ARM 5 feels elite where 4 used to feel simply strong, which is kinda surprising, since LI can go up to 2-3 ARM, while MI ranges from 2-3 too, and there are "light" HI with ARM 3 through 5, with 6 being (I think) TAG only (Achilles aside)*. * EDIT: and Ariadnan Kosmosoldat aside... (the Ratnik I would place in the "TAG" category, more or less, but yeah...
I agree here. I've never been comfortable with a Hac Tao in a list. And he's rarely been a game changers when he's on the table.
Speaking of camo HI troops, I'm a bit disappointed in the Zhencha. Specifically the hacker. Not because he's bad, he's mediocre, but because he's so expensive, he kind ruins the others in a list (IA). He's 4pts more than the FO and doesn't do much better at the job. I keep finding myself taking the FO SMG or a Liu Xing SO instead. In IA I'm going to take the Daoying has a hacker most of the time. In vanilla, I doubt I'd ever take him since I have Guilang, Ninja, Kanren, and even Daofei. Edit: I still get a little upset about the Sombra being better clones of Zhencha, but then I have satisfaction that not many make take them over Bandits or Morans in Coregidor and never in Vanilla.
It is unfortunately the gross premium that HI pay for infiltration, I think I've been having problems fitting them comfortably in lists as well, they cost premium but they have remarkably bad stats and SMG is kind of terrible in this edition from my experience so far. I know some claim that N3 meta of lots of Chain Rifles are gone, but this new N4 meta gave everyone I wanted to actually shoot a Nanopulser or Zapper...
A question to the vanilla players, how do you rate the Hsien ? The multi MSR seems very nice, able to clean midfield from SK with MSV, able to move easily with smoke from the monk, resilient vs hacking with his -6 tinbot. He is a lieutenant but the phaesant CoC is nice and it complete him well Did anyone tried him ?
He's not a bad shout but you've got to compare him to taking an lt LVL2 and NCO model for order efficiency and consider a CoC trooper as well if you're using him actively in FTF rolls.
Yes and then looses Panzerfaust and Mines. Not worth it at all. Every time I put him in a list I end up chaning to an FO or Liu Xing SO.
That makes sense, the Panzerfaust is super useful as an upgrade from the DEP... it makes the FO really useful for coordinated orders vs tricky ARO troops etc.
I use it sometimes, but yes it gets stung hard on cost paying +4 for the BSG over the SMG, and 5 points for the HD. The SMG FO has a bunch of extra shit thrown on top of it just to bloat the points. It's one of those profiles that feels better at 400 points.
Did you mention, that there are no action pack for Yu Jing?.. And for tohaa... Are CB going to discontinued Yu Jing?! (I am not serious. It is on the level of conspiracy theories. But there are no Yu Jing action pack. And it is uncomfortable, expensive to buy kaldstrom+beyond.) :)
