Placing similar tech next to each other

[GameWarrior2216]

Does anyone know what it means when you put similar tech near each other in your inventory? When you do, the icons are surrounded by the same color. Does this make the tech work better?

[Malkav0]

It's an adjacency bonus. Some modules (but not all) have stats that can be affected by this bonus. Modules best put in the middle of several others are usually the randomly generated S modules. There's a few exception for some weapons where base module gets a big bonus, but no need to get into theorycrafting ^^ just know it boosts stats of at least randomly generated modules, and the more adjacency it has, the more of a bonus it gets.

[GameWarrior2216]

Would it be to better to put them in a block formation or it doesn't matter if it's in a straight line?

[Bowi]

Originally posted by GameWarrior2216:

Would it be to better to put them in a block formation or it doesn't matter if it's in a straight line?

I think cross or block patterns are better. You're lucky. Before "BEYOND", we couldn't move the techs once installed. 🥺

[Malkav0]

If you make a square of 4, for example, they may all benefit from 2 bonuses each other. If you make a line of 4, only 2 modules will have 2 bonuses. (I hope it's clear). If you make a cross with 5, the central module will have the max bonuses, but it's rarely optimal (again, don't want to make it too complicated)
If you're interested, there are a more in depths explanations out there. But even then, some things are only found when tested (like, some modules don't benefit from a bonus at all so they should be placed only to give a bonus)