"Smart choice, indeed." Hack to victory.

Difficulty: Hacking Playstyle

• JP Specific Crafts Knowledge: JP will be building a unique Network PC, and potentially some unique armor gear as well. Good to review them beforehand. See Hack JP below.

• Hacking Playstyle is Different: JP plays differently than all characters as he doesn't typically bother with Mastery but instead craft his Network PC as Hack JP. A learning curve is expected.

• Hacking Playstyle has RNG: Some runs will be better for JP as he can find his items quickly as most of his items are rare.

Two Playstyles: Hack, or Battle JP

• Hack JP: The main playstyle of JP is going for Hack JP, AKA building a Network PC to hack into the Research Center (his Hacking skill) and kill all remaining players by succesfully achieving it in the Research Center. An option more often seen in non-competitive lobbies, typically. Still, to increase his chance to succeed, JP has optional crafts:

  • Armor: Tuxedo / Optical Camouflage Suit

    • Tuxedo: With the introduction of starting armor, Tuxedo crafts has been nerfed. But JP can still utilize it for himself by starting with Cotton Work Glove as a Weapon for it. The proc on Tuxedo will help JP survive as he typically runs around with low armor. Top player like Plessi uses it over Optical Camouflage Suit as builds naturally into an LCD Panel.

    • Optical Camouflage Suit: This stealth option has very low armor and it is very rare for other characters to start with a Full Body Swimsuit as well. It helps JP stay undercover once. Builds more naturally into salvaging the Broken Laptop first.

  • Accessory: Optimal Camouflage Bag: Same idea behind the Optical Camouflage Suit, this can save a hit to JP from other players. Requires you to do break more glasses, so it might not be practical. It will be dependent on situations.

  • Special item: Smoke Bomb: This is also a unique craft that JP can use in the Research Center if he gets his hand on one by reducing his chances to be found. It's better if you have one, but not a big deal if you don't either. Fun fact, it has the same duration as Peace Zone from Hart.

• Battle JP: This playstyle leverages the strength of Infrared Vision for free mastery hits. But JP still has to work with low DEF that doesn’t help his chances to build mastery against players as well. It's usually better to just play another character than this option.

Skill Explained

• Hacking: Allows for a unique playstyle as other characters have a failure rate for hacking. Make sure to review your Network PC and Special Shutdown Code crafts.

• Infrared Vision: Great aptitude to use before moving into an area, or just when JP is trying to open the Research Center with the Network PC.

General Tips

• Scout Aptitude: Good consideration to spot players before going into an area. More importantly it also has a built-in 10% chances to be found that can be use in the Research Center for the final push. Can be used on cooldown basically.

• Blue Cell: This is a good consideration as JP doesn't have too much time and inventory to craft Stamina items.

• Dodging Stance: The only character that can stay on Dodging Stance all game to avoid any fight and reduce his chances to be found.

• Network PC Craft Efficiency: It is more efficient, inventory-wise, to initially build an LCD Panel craft first, and then upgrade it with the Broken PC rather than the opposite. You save an inventory slot. Then you'll go Electronics next.

• Early: Select an area without anyone to build his armor and start building his Network PC.

• Mid: Opens Research Center while didn't get interrupted. Good to use less contested areas with not much Food in them as most players will be looking for Food at that point.

• Late: When Research Center is open, trying to hack into it quick, or when contested by the Reseach Center guard (strongest player), can also finish some armor gear or even his specific craft to go for a final push in the RC. This is make or break before RC closes again. If it does, JP can still try to re-open Research Center. Good luck!

Counters

• Contest: Easiest character to bully if you find him at any point in the game as they are typically Hack JP. His strength will be dependent on how contested JP was.

• During Hacking: Hacking into the RC takes time, and it reveals the information to all players, so you might find him and interrupt him while he's doing so.

• Research Center Etiquette: When the Research Center opens, typically the strongest player will stay there as the Research Center guard to protect it from JP. Payoff is three big Food from Mr. Meiji, and free Mastery hits from hitting JP. Emotes in-game can be used too to signal to other players that you guarding it. That’s the Research Center etiquette. 

• Tiara of Light: It has higher chances to spot a JP, so it's a consideration to more easily spot it during the game, and most importantly in the Research Center. It assumes that you are the Research Center guard. And it also assumes that JP is actually a threat.

• Broken Laptop Sabotage: More as a joke than anything, it is possible to salvage Laptops from JP early game to slow his progress.