Major Scumbag, on 13 March 2013 - 09:02 AM, said:
I would like to submit that there is a uptick in LRM usage because of alpine. Once there was a possibility of dropping into a map that you could not see the other side of from spawn, people decided that they may want to carry something that could reach out to over 270m.
I also see a lot of comments about how no one should be able to kill without LOS. (Wait for the airstrikes and artillery modules) As someone who pilots a A1 catapult with LRM's (It does happen) I can say that everytime I fire indirectly there is a high probability that exactly zero of those missiles will have positive impact. If they do find their target it is because that target is exposed (out in the open) or fails to move. At all. Once in a blue moon I end up with a teammate who can do things like press R and keep that target in site. If I have saved a kitten or something that day I might get a TAG indicator.
Since I can not count on any of that from a random team member I have to do things to better my chances of putting these all powerful missiles on target. Now my A1, without any of those fancy energy hard points, can not mount TAG. I still stay in position where I can fire with LOS. Why would I as a non-artemis, non-TAG LRM "boat" (does 2x LRM15s constitute boating?) stay in LOS and generally with 350m? To decrease missile flight time to target. This also means that I can not just stand still and click when the target turns red, I have to actively maintain fire distance against opponents who can shut down my primary armament by closing within 180m. This also means that I can be fired on.
I put in a few games last night on the A1, 2x LRM15 2x SRM6. 9 out of 10 times that I was able to take out an opponent with my LRM's it was because that opponent was out in the open. This also took several flights of missiles to make happen, and generally while I'm trying to run away because of that whole 180m minimum range thing.
The "LRM Boats are OP" thing is a tired argument. A LRM boat is no stronger than a quad+ PPC stalker, 6xSRM6 Cat or any other popular max alpha build. When was the last time you (forum collective you, not who I quoted) got a "Warning incoming PPC's" and then had at least 5 seconds to do something about it?
LRM's bring different advantages to the battlefield, than that of the PPC or Gauss. However they also bring with them great downsides, especially if you are boating them. If I forgo the SRMs and pack on some more LRMs on that same A1, I am well and truly screwed by anything that can stay within 180m of me. If you are wondering that is pretty much everything.