10 replies to this topic

[Samaritan]

Hon. Mechwarriors;

There have been many posts concerning ECM and LRM ballance within the game. I believe them both to be in need of some corection. My biggest complaint regarding the ECM LRM interaction at the moment is that mechs in clear line of sight are not locked up when ECM is present. I propose that any mech equiped with TAG and a clear line of sight be permitted to target that mech with LRMs. I propose that TAG be a hands free auto aim computer controled targeting system that can be directed at the pilot's discreation through the weapons group he assigns. Any unit in line of sight within range of the TAG should be qued up with each R key toggled. The current system requires that this be done manually and that the target remain designated for the entire duration of the LRM flight. This is hard to do while fighting one's mech and should be an automated process. An experiment along these lines may help to remove the absurdities of scoring 0.00 pts of dammage based on the luck of the match making draw and ECM distribution among teams. I would like to give some examples from my MWO experiences.

Allow me to introduce you to one of my Mechwarriors, Rainbow Dash.



Dashie is a veteran of over 600 missions in the COM-2D. Her Mech is configured for battle along the following lines.



Rainbow Dash is a master of Mechwarrior combat and has equiped the Extended Range and Target Decay Modules. Rainbow Dash has enjoyed a number of victories in her COM-LAR, some of which can be attributed to the infrequency with which she has been forced to deal with enemy ECM.



With the advent of ECM, RD has been forced to hang back, waiting for her team to nail the ECM platforms that prevent a solid lock in plain view. Even with the use of TAG, the speed and frequency with which enemy mechs take cover prevent most of her ordinance from reaching her targets. This has reduced her over all damage out put and endangered the team's chances for victory by essentially delaying her ability to contribute meaningfully to the fight.



This difficulty has been further compounded by the frequency with which she has been shut out of the fight entirely by ECM. A mechwarrior armed with LRMs is rolling the dice with a significant chance of being completly useless. This is absurd.



With the introduction of the new Alpine map the problem of ECM ballance in team match ups can lead to no win scenarios. The substantially reduced numbers of kill tracks coupled with the Romulan Cloaking effect makes for a difficult match in which hunter killer packs of Raven 3Ls roam the conquest VP sites at will.



Rainbow Dash used to be one of my solid performers in her COM-2D before the advent of ECM. She could hold her own.



Unfortunately for me, ECM is so strong that I am about to lose a good mechwarrior to a transfer to another Service.



Losing RD to the Chair Force would be a tragedy. Please consider allowing TAG equiped units to lock up mechs in line of sight within 750 meters automaticly. Please allow other members of the lance to accept this R target designation as well. I believe it will help to relieve the pressure the current ECM/LRM interactions are exerting on our suspension of disbelief and our norms and standards for big stompy warfare.

Respectfully

Samaritan

Pony Script:

Edited by Samaritan, 03 March 2013 - 05:21 PM.

[valkyrie]

You're using a Commando with LRM5s. I think I found your problem.

[Kittamaru]

Personally, i agree - as it stands, ECM makes, well, no sense. If I have VISUAL LINE OF SIGHT to a target and so much as TOUCH it with a TAG laser, optical, infra-red, and other systems should be capable of maintaining a solid lock so long as I maintain line of sight. I understand that isn't quite how things work in tabletop, but you know what - in tabletop, ECM doesn't quite work the way it's been implemented here anyway. No item should be a hard-counter for a series of other items, not like this.

Another thing to consider is that, in TT, if you have line of site with something, you will have it for your turn (unless you move to block your own LoS). In MWO, being a dynamic (read, not turn based) battlefield... yeah, things don't quite work the same here.

[Samaritan]

Hon. Valkyrie;

Thank you for your assistance in this matter. I employ a STK-5M in my lance as well. I have been rendered equally ineffective with 5 x LRM 15s and 2500 LRMS.




In this mission I ran my missile bays dry and died in a laser duel for a total of 94 pts of damage.



I used to do much better with these two rides. When discussing the issue within my clan they have been far more concerned with the fact that my COM-2D goes into battle without armour. Going comando in my Comando did not keep me from contributing well to my teams performance before the advent of ECM.

Thanks again for your assistance.

Respectfully

Samaritan.

Pony Script:

As for the pony high lights, I am writing a Battletech My Little Pony Fan Fiction and thought the playfull pictures might better inform the reader while engendering a smile or two.

[Kittamaru]

Just as a side note- I'm not proposing ECM needs nerfed. Rather, allow TAG to counter it somewhat. Make ECM a little more dependent on staying out of sight, which would make more sense.

[Jief]

ITT: bronies agreeing with each other and people hating on ponies.

[Samaritan]

Hon. Kittamaru;

Your aproach to the matter and suggestions sound good to me. I hope PGI will push the ECM/LRM lock issue into the Indirect fire sphere as well.

Respectfully

Samaritan

[Hotthedd]

The OP's suggestion, if I read it correctly, is asking for ultra-easy mode for TAG.

A 1 ton energy slot weapon that nullifies enemy movement to avoid LRM spam.

This is a bad idea.

[Syllogy]

-1, Bad idea.

Edited by Syllogy, 04 March 2013 - 07:42 AM.

[Mechteric]

I think just making the weapon toggleable without the need for macro spamming would be sufficient.

[Oderint dum Metuant]

If you ran your bays dry, ie used 2500 LRM's and score 90 pts.....TAG is not your issue.

Positioning and target selection are.

Edited by DV McKenna, 04 March 2013 - 08:46 AM.