I won a Zencha assault hacker yesterday, and the model is so cool I want to make him work. I think he is very expensive for what he brings (and loses) over a FO Zencha though. I normally don’t run assault hackers for fear of killer hackers, so I guess the best way to support them would be with guilang deployable repeaters and killer hackers. Do people run assault hackers successfully? Which profiles do you use normally? Daofei?
IA: Shang-Ji. Saves your bacon, even if he does so charging you kids' college fund worth of points. Vanilla/ISS: Kanren AHD. Or KHD. Never know which one it is. I think the Zhencha AHD, just like the Ninja, Daofei, Hac Tao are too expensive (for their WIP+BTS) while Tiger and Liu Xing carry too much risk for an AHD. This also applies to a long range of similar AHD units in other factions unless you can also have a reasonable amount of deployable repeaters/pitchers and KHD in CH:L2+.
I tend to go to tournements with at least one assault hacker in one list. Even if they are dead bodies against a KHD people not always expect them and against some "monsters" like the cutter or achilles they are gold Ofc i look against the army i will play (never against vanilla nomads for exemple). And speaking of what hacker: In vanilla kanren or guilang, both good in quality price and both capable of hide himselfs (kanren deployed like a Zhansi or like a killer hacker device). In ISS the ksnren pr the Crane (that last only in LI games). And with IA the Shang-Ji, maybe the only assault hacker i pick usually. With the haidao support, and with a usfull missile launcher remote wilcard is the best tool in order/cost to shot some fuided missile. All other assault hackers are or too expensive (really the ninja AHD is a porfile from another era) or wasting a loadout for a good killer porfile (hac tao, daofei, zencha in vanilla).
The Guilang did a good job as an assault hacker for me. In IA, the Zhensha is too expensive and vulnerable as an Assault Hacker. And like you said, he looses his mines.
The Guilang is such a small investment for a decent AHD, and has so many other options (that MSV1 is gold). Totally worth it. I would also/alternately run a Zencha AHD against an opponent that's not heavy on hacking, because camo AHDs are in general a lot safer, and the Zencha can do damage directly really well too. Haven't had a chance to try the SHD Zencha out yet, but have been on the receiving end of them. If the mission is already a good one for infiltrating hackers, having a KHD Ninja in there too to help save your bacon if someone decides to hunt you down is nice. Not sure how useful they will be against Jammers (which are the most annoying anticamo tool in the game now), guess that will have to come down to clever positioning.
Please convert it soon...that always triggers CB to release an official model :P I also rate the Guilang assault hacker, has worked pretty well for me as a decent speed bump for enemy HI/TAGs...until a KHD moves into the area anyway
Sometimes you need to paint it (and post pics), and sometimes even post a BatRep with the converted and/or painted model. Of course, sometimes you finish a conversion and get that profile get removed from the game... *looks at his Keisotsu Sniper*
I'll just echo what most have said here: If you really want an AHD in YJ, the Guilang and Kanren are probably your best bets. All the other options are either decent or not really that decent: Ninja AHD is just... I mean, that one gets an actual gun at least, but if you need a Hacker Ninja, the KHD costs over 10 points less and still does about the same as a specialist or classified taker... Hac Tao AHD: It's... eh? I mean, same case with the Ninja, you get a KHD for cheaper there, but the cost is just 3 points and 0.5 SWC, so really, both are valid. Liu Xing: I'd probably gravitate towards the other specialist profile it has, but if you really wanna do some AHD kill-setups, I suppose the BSG does help. Shang Ji and Crane AHDs: Both are strictly decent HI Hackers. And rather similar too: both have BTS 6, both have DTWs. Main difference here being that the Shang Ji is cheaper in exchange for less WIP, dropping from competent to bloated CC and going from a MULTI-Rifle to a Combi-Rifle and from 2 Nanopulsers to a LFT. Zhencha AHD: On first glance, it doesn't seem TOO bad. Perfectly average infiltrating camo AHD, by all accounts, really. Until you remember the Zhencha has a very pronounced weakness to Shock ammo. Which is prevalent on KHDs. To me, it's just doubling down on the Zhenchas main weakness, really. I'd rather use the FO BSG instead there. Tiger AHD: It's an AD AHD on one of the best ADs in the game. Decent WIP, decent as a Specialist, just decent overall. If you were going for the specialist Tiger, it was either the Paramedic or the AHD either way here. Daofei AHD: It's the only Specialist Daofei profile, so... that's about it. These are just my two cents though ( Please note any opinion I give should be taken with at least a bucket of salt. ). I'd suggest asking around more with other people.
Glad I never started work on my MSR raiden...loved that profile in JSA as it really messed with people's heads Still going to make her one day...in honour of all the fun I've had with the profile
That'd be a really easy conversion from a Celestial Guard sniper... GS mold the shoulder pads and maybe helmet, sculpt hakama.