Computer hacking skill sometimes not an option in battle?

[peppergomez]

Rose has a 10 for computer skills but some of the time in battle that option is greyed out in terms of hacking enemy worker bots. I'm unsure why. It's the start of her turn so she has the AP.

I'm in the battle with Dugan at New Citadel and Rose appears unable to hack any of the robots to make them friendly, which is making this battle nearly impossible.

Am I overlooking anything here?

Also, for some battles like this is there anyway to avoid starting all bunched up out in the open? I lose someone within the first turn and see no way to position my rangers behind cover before Dugan and several enemy AI get their shots in.

[Cryme Tyme]

that fight is one of the tougher fights, you need someone with high combat initiative=17 or 18; about the bots: they impossible until you damage them some, the more damaged the easier it is to hack.

[peppergomez]

thanks

[red255]

generally speaking I'd just take the precise shots to lower their armor, then finish them off. taking their armor down from 9 or 10 down to 5 or 6 is significant.

although with anti material rifles 11 AP deadeye and bloodthirsty roboticist I just shot them in the head and watched them die.

I got 7 rangers, and 2 surgeons. I'll take first strike it takes 2 AP to use a medkit

which so long as I didn't make my guys glass cannons should be OK right?

I take takayuki and get him 10 Strength, he's not only a mule, but he's a tank. He doesn't actually suck if you give him a proton axe with a leather grip and super slam weights, but the main reason I keep him around is to eat bullets for the rest of my team.

[peppergomez]

what confused me about Roses's inability to hack the enemy robots in this battle was that in prior battles she is able to hack robots even when they have not incurred any damage

[red255]

are you using the hotkey bar or trying to get there thru some left clicking option?

[peppergomez]

the action wheel with the computer disk icon- I have Rose select a robot and note that the disk icon is greyed out with the message that it is unavialable. Her computer skills are maxed out.