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How many hackers is considered too many ? too little ?
How many hackers do you guys use ?

It might depend on the mission. Some might require them. It can also depend on who you are going against. If you are fighting Ariadna they could be useless. Some you just take because you need them to take Remotes so you take the cheapest. Nomads will commonly have one or two because they have some where it's no choice, like the Custodier is always a hacker.

Thanks !
As I chose Ariadna as my main focus, I barely scratched the surface of what a hacker can do =P

The only hackers you would have to worry about is any with Hacking Device Plus. They can use the FO skill with it.

Thank you good sir =)

As Ariadna you really don't have to worry about it.

For everyone else, you're trying to guess what you're up against. If I have anything that can be hacked, like Heavy Infantry, I want to have a Hacker on the board just as a defensive measure. It's also nice because I can take a remote or two. I like Remotes.

The prevelance of Hackers, particularly the popularity of the Nomads, means I get scared off from taking Heavy Infantry a lot. Once I get a better handle on things, that might adjust... then it's Asawira time.

I saw in a few places on forums & so on that Ariadna's HI can't be hacked, but couldn't find a reference in the 2nd Ed rulebook -- can anyone give me the page number it's mentioned? The rulebook is a bit oddly organised...

P 181, right hand column, about halfway down:

"Traditional heavy armour, typical of Ariadna, is not powered and only allows a higher protection level to their possessor. Use of Teseum in these armours helps provide a good Protection/Weight/ Comfort ratio. Traditional armour cannot be hacked and is not affected by E/M Special Ammunition."

Typically I have found more then one hacker to be a specialist list that focuses things like hacking device plus + GML + a camo infiltrator hacker to act as a repeater.

There is a LOT of times your hackers will be twiddling their thumbs not doing at the much unless your group uses hackable terrain like door or missions involving hacking.

Thanks, Marco!

It also drastically depends on the faction you're playing. If you want to play a Nomad hacking list, taking a spare hacker is a great idea.

If you're playing Ariadna, you might never need a hacker.

For most armies, taking one hacker is enough for defensive hacking and shenanigans.

Ariadna has two kinds of hackers.

The Autocannon.
And the highlanders (who hack you to bits with rusty crowbars).

They don't truck with this fancy-schmancy techno-majik stuff.

The best reasons to take a hacker in Infinity are, ironically, not actually to hack other units or defensively hack. I take a hacker in every single list I can possibly fit one into for tow reasons:

1- Hacking against AD:Combat Jump. If you use one order to attempt to hack AD:CJ, you will learn if your opponent has anything waiting to jump in (they have to reveal to you if there's a dropship waiting, even if you don't successfully hack it). You may not succeed in the hack, but the knowledge is invaluable. It doesn't prevent AD:AI or ADarachutist (the lesser versions of AD:CJ), but it protects you against somoene dropping in to frag all your cheerleaders.

2- Defense against guided missile launchers (GML). If the enemy starts lobbing guided missiles at you, a hacker gives you a chance to hack/deflect each shot. it's an ARO hack attack against the missile's BTS of -3. While that's not the best chances in the world, it's a lot better than getting shot with no dodge or anything.

Those are two types of lists that pop up with enough regularity that the opportunity cost of -not- taking a hacker is generally greater than that of taking the hacker... especially if the hacker gives you access to drones and even the occasional offensive/defensive hack. Of course it also depends on your local metagame.

As for defensive hacking, it's not always your best option. If your hacker doesn't have a BTS at all and your HI or TAG has a decent BTS, defensive hacking isn't often in your favor. In fact, it can make things worse. I usually take hacking on the chin with TAGs or HI unless I've got a hacker with WIP 13 and BTS -3 or better.

And as for Ariadna, you apes can barely spell your own names, let alone type commands into a computer . That's why you've got all them big 'ol guns!

So if I understand it correctly, if you have a hacker anywhere on the table, he can attempt to hack guided ammo as an ARO, even without LOF or being within 8 inches of the firer or target?

Seems like it
And it looks like you get an attempt for every hacker on the board (unless something prevents it from hacking)

Yup, if someone hacks you, launches guided ammo, or a HI/REM/TAG walks within 8" of a repeater/hacker... then every one of your hackers gets a chance to act.

So what does hacking a tag or heavy infantry do? Can you take over control of a tag or powered armor trooper and turn them against their own force? Or just disable them so they can't do anything?

TAGs, Power Armour and Remotes can all be immobilised through hacking. TAGs (only) also can be possessed, so do basically become part of their hacker's force temporarily - but this is harder to achieve than immobilisation.

It also has to be declared (I am attempting to possess the TAG) and it requires TWO consecutive successful hacking rolls (normally*) - which means two orders as 'hack' is a short skill, not a short movement skill, so can't be combined with another short skill like 'hack'.


*Combine TAGs can only be immobilised, and cannot be possessed. Their hardware is too alien (The combine has seen Independence day and no hippy with a macbook is going to ruin their day this time).
Also, with the right program and an EVO remote, this can be done with a single roll.

I love how they came out with the Baggage/EVO remotes. At first glance you are like "what's this? No guns! Why would I take this?" Then you get into the rules for them as support. The EVO is great for hackers and the Baggage helps by adding 20pts to your army for calculating Retreat! No they don't shoot down the enemy but they can still win the game.

I like having the ability to attack other Hackers in a Shadorun-style mindwar. It's freaking awesome. Risky, but badass. You can one-shot the enemy hackers with some careful maneuvering, and just mind-fry them on the spot.

Not a lot of people do it... but it's great to catch people off guard. Nomad players, despite having awesome Hackers, usually don't see it coming.

And of course, there's that one piece of equipment that people might forget to use when they take a hacker along:

The humble rifle. When there's nothing within easy hacking range, you've still got a gun to make opportunistic ARO shots with.