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To Mount Ams Or To Not Mount Ams...


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#1 Alexander MacTaggart

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Posted 22 October 2014 - 03:48 PM

That is, truly, the question.

Whenever I take it off my mechs I immediately feel the lack. But, with the amount of LRMs flying around in some matches, I just burn through the ton or two of ammo I brought and then I feel like the weight I devoted to it was wasted and possibly better-used on more weapons.

It feels like AMS is just a delaying tactic, since it can't totally shoot down anything but the smallest volleys.

Do you or don't you mount AMS, and why or why not?

#2 JC Daxion

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Posted 22 October 2014 - 04:14 PM

I almost always mount it in my mechs.. I figure the 1.5 tons it needs is worth it.. at most ill get a bit of extra ammo,, Or another heat sink+ some armor, or .5 tons of ammo.. Or possibly an extra ML, or a few sml's It just seems like the trade off is worth it..


that said, I have recently tried ECM mechs, and those i have been leaving it off and not noticing. But over all, i just feel it is an added cushion of protection, + when you stack them with other peoples AMS, they can really knock off a ton of damage and save someone's butt.

this is all PUG experience though, I'd guess groups have a much different opinion on the matter. that said, It seems like now, since the free atlas+ cent, there are lots less missiles flying, so if you want to try removing it, now is the time to see how ya do :)

#3 Phobic Wraith

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Posted 22 October 2014 - 04:37 PM

I almost never mount AMS. There are a couple of reasons, but the biggest is that while AMS may only be a ton and a half, it isn't just a medium laser and some armor off, it's usually a downgrade from gauss to an AC/10, and some more armor and heatsinks to make up the difference. In my experience AMS almost always means a complete build rework... and for what? 5 missiles a salvo? Cover is weightless and works much better (no, I'm not saying learn to play). Personally I only take AMS when I can't possibly think of anything else to use my tonnage on. And that doesn't happen often.

#4 Elizander

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Posted 23 October 2014 - 08:56 AM

I already learned how to not die from LRMS maybe 95% of the time so I stopped putting it in unless I'm running a mech that's specifically made to support the team.

It can help a teammate that's trying to get behind cover but it won't do anything for that 53 kph silly person that's standing out in the open.

#5 UrsusMorologus

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Posted 23 October 2014 - 10:50 AM

I mount it on mechs that (1) dont have ECM and (2) cant make it to cover fast enough for Radar Deprivation to work. So the assaults and heavies typically, sometimes a medium.

#6 Tim East

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Posted 23 October 2014 - 11:26 AM

Lights: Not unless you intend to use it to protect other people from missiles.

Mediums: If you go under 80 KPH.

Heavies: Yes.

Assaults: Two if you can.

#7 Heinreich

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Posted 03 November 2014 - 11:23 AM

Most of my mechs have AMS. It may just be a delaying tactic in the sense that it will eventually run out, but it still lessens damage taken by you and the others around you. It may not save the idiot standing out in the open, but it may prevent enough damage for you to live long enough to take cover, or prevent enough damage now so you (or your teammate) can live long enough to land a killing blow later.

#8 Gorgo7

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Posted 03 November 2014 - 11:30 AM

Generally if my mech is slower than 82kph it gets the AMS treatment. I find at those speeds that it is moving with the group and even if I'm not targeted directly it contributes to the victory i always foresee in the future.
:)
If I have two tons of AMS ammo and I run out (usually two AMS installed) than for sure it was worth it! Even one ton is worth it! If the match ends and I am at max AMS it was not...oh well. Insurance doesn't always pay off!
Remember, you don't have to be the target for AMS to be useful.

Happy hunting!

Edited by Gorgo7, 03 November 2014 - 11:32 AM.


#9 Ruccus

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Posted 03 November 2014 - 05:55 PM

With the new XP/C-Bills changes, I think they should add some sort of bonus for using AMS; maybe a small bonus amount of XP or C-Bills depending on how many missiles you shoot down that were directed at a teammate. I think lighter mechs don't use it because it doesn't directly aid in XP or C-Bill generation (it only helps in keeping you or a teammate alive to help in the fight longer than otherwise would have been possible).

I try to run AMS on my heavier mechs and have played around with my triple AMS Kit Fox (thought three tons of equipment that an ECM Kit Fox doesn't really need can hurt a build's personal performance), but I generally use it more on builds that have a range weakness. When I'm running dual AMS on my Summoner I try to put myself in the role of assault escort to keep my team's Atlases or Dire Wolves from dying as quickly to LRM vomit.

#10 Daoa Hakoke

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Posted 03 November 2014 - 08:36 PM

I've never felt that AMS was that useful unless you are specifically trying to protect your team. I have one mech with ams and its a kitfox. It just takes up room on my assault mechs that I can use for something more important, and I can honestly say I can probably count on one hand how many times I've died to lrm rain from that decision and it was normally because I got out played or messed up horribly.

Edited by Daoa Hakoke, 03 November 2014 - 08:37 PM.


#11 Tahribator

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 07:49 AM

I rarely mount AMS and almost never on my lights/mediums unless they can mount two.

If I do mount it, it's because:
  • I can't fit/don't need any more DHS.
  • I don't any more weapon ammo.
  • I can't up the engine instead.
Basically it's borderline useless if your team around you isn't also mounting AMS . . . and people rarely bring AMS because of the same reason. Now, if there was some kind of C-Bill bonus to justify dedicating 1.5 ton+ tonnage on AMS, the picture could change slightly. At least 8 AMS on 'Mechs in close proximity can effectively firewall any amount of LRMs.

#12 Alexander MacTaggart

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 07:53 AM

View PostTahribator, on 04 November 2014 - 07:49 AM, said:

Basically it's borderline useless if your team around you isn't also mounting AMS . . . and people rarely bring AMS because of the same reason.


Yeah, this is the conclusion I came to. But nothing's going to change unless we change it, right? So I went ahead and decided to fit AMS to all my mechs. Some games it's wasted tonnage, but in others it's useful, and every once in a while I get a team with 6+ AMS and then it becomes really nice.

1.5 tons doesn't seem like a whole lot to sacrifice (granted, I don't have any IS light mechs right now, they'd probably be a bit more of a tight fit), and hell, I spend 4 tons on my Kit Foxes (triple AMS and 2.5 tons ammo) but that's kind of their thing.

#13 MisterPlanetarian

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 01:08 PM

1.0 tons now. 1000 shots is enough for a single system imo. If you could deactivate it when under cover etc it would be almost too much imo.

#14 Peter2k

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 01:20 PM

Most of the times no

In matches where the sky was blocked out by LRM rain the combined AMS systems of several mechs didn't even make the smallest difference
But that was against a group of 8, with 2 dedicated tag/narc spotters, 4 missile boats, 2 supporters with at least some LRM's and I swear a whole lot of arty


And in matches where you only have like 1 or 2 missile boats you don't need ams, only cover, flanking and teamwork

Now if you ask me if target deprivation and some ecm would be nice?
Well :D

View PostMisterPlanetarian, on 04 November 2014 - 01:08 PM, said:

1.0 tons now. 1000 shots is enough for a single system imo. If you could deactivate it when under cover etc it would be almost too much imo.


I've had matches in group que where everyone's AMS ran dry within the first 2 minutes, and the enemy had still missiles left

#15 Sniper09121986

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 01:30 PM

OP, could you make a poll? I bet we would all like to see the results. Also, I used to run AMS all the time, but since I switched to Clan mechs I learned to make do without it more or less. Not that AMS helps all the time, but with the limited pod space on, say, Ice Ferret the skill of covering becomes more important.

#16 Alexander MacTaggart

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 09:12 PM

View PostMisterPlanetarian, on 04 November 2014 - 01:08 PM, said:

1.0 tons now. 1000 shots is enough for a single system imo. If you could deactivate it when under cover etc it would be almost too much imo.


You can toggle it (with tilde - that's the ~ next to the 1 on QWERTY keyboards)

#17 White Bear 84

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 09:15 PM

Depends if you pug or do not pug. A lot fewer LRM's in group matches than PUGS....

#18 eblackthorn

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 09:17 PM

1.5 tons is a lot of space when your running a 45t mech. In my opinion its OK to skip AMS if you get the Radar Deprivation module and or have access to ECM.

#19 MisterPlanetarian

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 10:00 PM

View PostAlexander MacTaggart, on 04 November 2014 - 09:12 PM, said:


You can toggle it (with tilde - that's the ~ next to the 1 on QWERTY keyboards)


Except Swedish ones :D

#20 Thrudvangar

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Posted 04 November 2014 - 10:32 PM

i'm mounting AMS in every mech i own, not to have it against LRMs only but against NARC too.
... and i feel a little more saver with it when i have to run from cover to cover...

and i think its a must for slow heavies and assaults or even mediums





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