Transmission Matrix query

[Pacific]

Hey Guys,

This came up in a game the other day, hoping someone can help.

This is for the mission 'Transmission Matrix'. The text reads:

The Transmission Antennas are Repeaters for the Hackers
of both players. The Transmission Antennas don’t apply the
Firewall MODs.

In the pic below, 'X' is the Transmission Antenna



My question is, can Asura (A) launch a hacking attack at the Ghulam Hacker (B), despite B being outside the range of the antenna?
The thinking is that technically the antenna is a repeater, and therefore 'connected' to both sides hackers. Therefore a hacker getting into that repeater area can basically fry every hacker on the table, as if it were an enemy repeater.

Or, is the antenna otherwise not technically an 'enemy repeater' as described in the rules? Very grateful for anyone's thoughts on this!

[Claudius Sol]

You can hack through the repeater. But this requires the target model to be within 4" of the antenna.

So the Asura couldn't hack the Ghulam, but the Ghulam could hack the Asura. I think.

[Dylan Gould]

But this requires the target model to be within 4" of the antenna.

The 4" is the specified "transmisison area" for objective purposes, at the center of which is a repeater. The scenario does not change the standard 8" range for repeaters.

[el_presidente]

But isn't X a friendly repeater to B? in that case A could hack through it, and the scenario specifies that B wouldn't get the firewall bonus.

That's how I've understood it, but maybe there's something I'm missing?

[Claudius Sol]

But this requires the target model to be within 4" of the antenna.

The 4" is the specified "transmisison area" for objective purposes, at the center of which is a repeater. The scenario does not change the standard 8" range for repeaters.

I'm not a vetted TO or anything, but that doesn't make sense to me, personally. I would just treat the 4" radius as a "repeater" sort of area.

But isn't X a friendly repeater to B? in that case A could hack through it, and the scenario specifies that B wouldn't get the firewall bonus.

That's how I've understood it, but maybe there's something I'm missing?

The problem I see is that if it's both an allied repeater and an opponent's repeater, you are not allowed to hack through an opponent's repeater to their hacker, right? You need a repeater directly in range of your target.

I'm not the biggest fan of hackers, so I could have that wrong.

[Pacific]

Many thanks for the replies guys.

I've actually got this mission coming up in an ITS, so I might clear it with the organiser. I don't want to go running my hacker into the zone and then start brain-bursting some guys hacker that he has hidden in the far corner of the board because he wanted him to be safe

But isn't X a friendly repeater to B? in that case A could hack through it, and the scenario specifies that B wouldn't get the firewall bonus.

That's how I've understood it, but maybe there's something I'm missing?

I can understand the logic of being able to hack through an enemy repeater, and get at the hacker that is linked up to it. It's actually a really cool idea as well!

But, what has confused me here is that same logic (of the repeater being somehow linked to the hacker on the side) and whether the enemy hacker could then just attack through that to get at them.

I can see this mission being ''Scanner wars" (if you have seen that movie ) a lot of popped heads on the first turn as both sides hackers just nail each other (without firewall defence) from across the board.

[Bobman]

The antennae act as friendly repeaters to both sides so as long as A in within 8in it is a target and within Bs hacking range.

The 4in radius is only for calculating points for the mission.

It does make this mission a hacking nightmare because if you move within ZoC of any antennae then you will get AROs from all enemy hackers and in this mission they have likely brought 2+ hackers.

[Pacific]

OK thanks for the reply Bobman.

In that case, think I will go with the assumption that a hacker entering the antenna ZoC can hack (and, in turn be hacked in ARO) by any hacker on the table.

[Icchan]

It does make this mission a hacking nightmare because if you move within ZoC of any antennae then you will get AROs from all enemy hackers and in this mission they have likely brought 2+ hackers.

It's also possible they didn't bring any hackers, because they're not needed for the scenario. If anything, they're more of a liability if you didn't bring dozens of them. You'll have a lot easier time on this mission if you don't bring anything hackable to the table.

[Pacific]

The problem is then though, if you move something like a TAG or HI into the area around the matrixes... that's like a fancy dinner on a polished silver plate to any hackers that are on the other side!

[Icchan]

The problem is then though, if you move something like a TAG or HI into the area around the matrixes... that's like a fancy dinner on a polished silver plate to any hackers that are on the other side!

Then don't use them. If you don't bring anything that's hackable and the opponent brought hackers, that's 6-30 points he wasted on something he can't use effectively.

[Morze]

Not taking REMs, TAGs or HIs is a sacrifice I don't like to with some armies.

I've been thinking... Could Blackout be used against this kind of scenery repeaters?

[Pacific]

That's an interesting point actually.. I have no idea!

[Bobman]

The problem is then though, if you move something like a TAG or HI into the area around the matrixes... that's like a fancy dinner on a polished silver plate to any hackers that are on the other side!

Then don't use them. If you don't bring anything that's hackable and the opponent brought hackers, that's 6-30 points he wasted on something he can't use effectively.

That is true. But I'm in the camp of it being difficult to have an effective list without something hackable.

But at the very least you should bring 1. You're right they are not needed but you also don't have to put them in the repeated range to have enemies in their range as they have to to achieve the mission.