So, I have found myself really interested in the EVO Hacking Device recently. It's inclusion seems to, at least to me, really open up a whole bunch of synergy chains. To elaborate more clearly, I feel like the EVO Hacking Device is a really strong addition to any REM centered lists or just lists that make more extensive use of remotes. I think this is mainly due to the Overclock program meshing really well with the 8 point Mimetism Flash Pulse remotes ( Because cheap burst 2 Flash Pulse bots seem like a rather potent ARO piece. ) and the dedicated combat remotes that some factions get ( Examples being stuff like Bulleteers, Rui Shi and Tsyklon Sputniks. ) by allowing you to to save orders/command tokens by not needing to put ( Those of them that are capable of it. ) into supressive fire ( While I do know that an ARO Burst 2 Spitfire is probably worse than a Spitfire in suppressive fire, it does have merit IMO, since,if you have multiple bots you would like to have a better chance of surviving the upcoming reactive turn, spending one order to improve all of their AROs with +1 Burst instead of several orders or a command token to put them all into suppressive fire seems like a pretty decent choice. Preserves range bands and helps the non SF guns too. ). And the fact that you can put Overclock up even if you go second just makes this feel better. But also I believe the EVO-HD to also open up further remote synergies: being able to use the sensor remotes Sat-Lock ability without the -6 WIP mod seems pretty neat ( And then benefiting from Overclock as well, due to in-built Repeaters. ), especially considering you may have taken one or more flash pulse bots who also pack sniffers and are fast to deploy them, really allowing you to cover entire chunks of the table for sensor use. Which leads to easier sensor-sweeps and sat-locking, which also makes the smart missile launcher remotes more tempting due to easier access to putting enemies into the Targeted state ( Although they lack inbuilt Repeaters, so no having them join in on the mass of Buffed ARO remotes. ). And +3 to the PH roll for AD deployment is just a pleasant extra on top. But, knowing I really am not that experienced of a player ( And because I find myself really craving the absorption of whatever knowledge I can binge from these forums. ), I would like to know all of yours opinions on the EVO Hacking Device. Am I overestimating the devices usefulness and the usefulness of having a bunch of remotes under Overclock? Have I left anything else out that makes the EVO-HD great? Thanks for at least giving this a read. Looking forward to any further discussion. P.S.: Sorry if the part about why I think the EVO-HD is pretty good is hard to follow. Quality text structuring isn't a skill I'm good at.
I use EVO regularly in PanO, and for the same reasons you've listed. It acts as a force multiplier for armies with large numbers of hackers and remotes. And since I'm a fan of drone-heavy tactics... It's especially evil in SAA, given the number of Repeater-equipped REMs and the way G:Synchronized works. Overclock allows you to give a Pathfinder, 3xFugazi Peacemaker or two - including Auxbots! and Scyllabots Burst 2. It's an insane defensive boost. And then you look and see that SAA is actually the most hacker-heavy PanO sectorial... In more general terms Sensor + as many Snifbots as you can take is a great tactic for every army that can use it, and thanks to Overclock and Sat-Lock boost EVO plays with it really well. The synergy goes deeper, as this tactic restricts camo infiltrators - the usual KHD users - which helps to keep your EVO safe.
Yeah, sadly the faction I play, Yu Jing, only gets the flash pulse bots at AVA 1 in both ISS and Vanilla. I got interested int eh EVO Hacker after seeing it pop up in good light in a lot of the guides around here, so I looked into it, and, well... not gonna lie, I would gladly grab one. Alongside a TR baggage bot. Also, so taking something such as, lets say... 3 flash pulse bots, an EVO bot and a sensor bot is a perfectly reasonable idea? 'Cause it sounds good on paper to me.
That's the exact combination I was talking about. It packs enormous amount of utility in fairly cheap package. I usually stuff it into Group 2, use Coordinated Orders to move Sensorbot+Snifbots to into midfield and deploy Sniffers, than use Sensor to Discover all Camo and TO Camo in range, and prevent them from going camo unless they'll move outside my Sensor area... which now covers large part of the midfield. And if I revealed an infiltrating hacker my KHD now has a juicy target. It's not as shiny in YJ, I agree.
Honestly, even though it isn't as shiny in Yu Jing, you have to admit, it's not that bad considering we have two REALLY solid combat REMs: the Rui Shi and Lu Duan. The Lu Duan probably actually taking the top here when it comes to Overclock goodness. 3 S4 models ( Or just one, since the lack of S4 models kind of limits the Lu Duans Holoprojector Lv2 a lot. ), seemingly defenseless, and suddenly... Burst 2 Heavy Flamethrower ARO from a Lu Duan. The Rui Shi can do well with the program too I suppose. MSV2 + Burst 2 Spitfire AROs is decent at least.
YJ/ISS also have the Kanren Minelayer who can place a Sniffer during deployment to further extend your sensor/Sat-lock area. Hacking rerolls and coordinated hacking are also useful with the number of KHDs YJ/ISS can get.
That is a good point, we do have about 3 KHDs. But then again, that is a command token that could have been spent on putting a bunch of Zhanshi / Celestial Guards / other Combi/MULTI-Rifle / X-Visor troops into suppressive fire instead of rerolling a hack attempt. But coordinated hacking does sound useful. More flexibility.
