7 replies to this topic

[Deathlike]

There's too many threads about it and frankly there's no good solution outside of complaining about it.

I was thinking that the best way to "balance" it is the following.

ECM is by default off should not have any special characteristics while OFF. When using the button to activate ECM (which is J for like "Jam"), it would do what the current version does... provide the cloak and the anti-streak protection and radar protection/disruption.

However, this lasts for a short period of time... like 8 to 10 seconds or so. When the time expires, it will take 15 to 20 seconds before it can be enabled again.

This will allow the most beneficial effects of ECM to be available, but not indefinitely as the semi-permanent invisible cloak that it is literally being used as... also being used as simply the anti-streak locking mechanism that neuters mech building (or pretty much eliminating most lights out of the equation). ECM can still being used for scouting and stealth, but not to the degree that it is currently being used now and won't need a separate counter added (which many have suggested BAP).

Please strongly consider this balance. I personally want to hear what PGI thinks of ECM as the problems and I'm sure people can come up with better ideas to fit the criteria which would make this more balanced....

Edit: The only other tweak I had forgotten about is that ECM should ONLY give the mech with ECM anti-streak protection. It simply should NOT be shared for all friendly mechs under the cloak.

Anyways, I forgot to mention that ECM under these circumstances can be "waited" out in any chase situation (preferably if the one being chased knows how to use buildings/cover effectively) so these battles can be not so one sided between other light mechs.

Edited by Deathlike, 23 February 2013 - 01:58 AM.

[FrostVixen]

ECM is fine the way it is. Stop boating Streaks and LRM's and you won't have a problem against them. They are actually no threat to any of my mechs. ECM effectively promotes teamwork as it keeps people together. You have many options available to you to deal with ECM. A shot from a PPC will disable it temporarily, A tag will allow you to broadcast the ecm so long as you are not within 180m of it. I'm sorry you have to work for your kills now, Get used to it.

Without ECM the way it is, Streakcats and LRM deathboats only weakness would be range. That is too much power for a cheeseboat.

[Nerf Harder]

FrostVixen, on 23 February 2013 - 02:11 AM, said:

ECM effectively promotes teamwork as it keeps people together.

Forming a mob. Now regarded as teamwork.
Valid tactic for everyone that only swings clubs.

ECM effectively kills teamwork as it takes my only ability to coordinate with my team (I play PUG only).

[FrostVixen]

Nerf Harder, on 23 February 2013 - 06:08 AM, said:

Forming a mob. Now regarded as teamwork.
Valid tactic for everyone that only swings clubs.

ECM effectively kills teamwork as it takes my only ability to coordinate with my team (I play PUG only).

Hey, In this world now days, An angry mob of disgruntled pilots is the only way anything gets done. :U


Now that I actually think about it, Any drop where the team did NOT stick together 90% of the time was wiped. The other 10% being against a team where 2 or 3 of their allies dropped.

Edited by FrostVixen, 23 February 2013 - 08:59 AM.

[DeadlyNerd]

ECM should block enemy missile locks from anywhere and friendly missile locks only from within the bubble, including the carrier mech.
Only affected mechs will be the ones carrying ecm and lock on missile systems, and that's generally what matters cause nobody is complaining about the spider ecm variant.

[Fiachdubh]

You would swear ECM is some kind of force field of invisibility the way people carry on. Ditch the streaks and learn to shoot.

[RLBell]

Go pugging without ECM and you will understand what the complaints are. Most players pug and ECM makes it hard to succeed as a pug. It is not an instant win button, as I sometimes pug in an AS7-D-DC and still lose (once I was killed by indirect LRM fire, but could not find the source of the counterjamming). With ECM as it is, pugging means LRM's are useless and streaks are next to useless. It would be nice to be in a pug team that has the discipline to stay tight, but that forces matches to go "Stay tight. Head for the enemy base. If they took a different route, pray that we get to theirs before they get to ours".

Until you try dropping exclusively into pick up groups, with the only chatter being what you type, in a mech without ECM (I have an AS7-D-DC, but mostly use Stalkers because I unlocked all the elites in three of them, or the trial Catapult-K2 because it is fun), don't immediately call me a loser for complaining about ECM.

[Deathlike]

ECM mechs aren't overpowered, in the sense that they don't suddenly become invincible to AC20s and PPCs, but the netcode isn't quite working the way it should (it may have kinda regressed a little in the current patch). PPCs are usually not the optimal weapons for light mechs to carry.

The issue is that in most cases that lights vs other lights with ECM is not a fair fight.. if not more one-sided than anything. You would need a higher/significant threshold of skill to actually win vs a Raven 3L (not impossible, but not that easy either).

LRMs vs ECM is not a problem.. since your dependency is with TAG to be effective and you need to get a visual on the enemy to be effective in the first place.

Outside the mechanics of streaks (which, should be more scattering like SRMs instead of instant lock on win), SRMs are useful but you would have to have a real high proficiency level with SRMs to deal damage to faster mechs (splatcat works under certain circumstances) so it's not exactly the fairest comparison.