44 replies to this topic

[Signal27]

Since LRMs and SRMs have had their damage reduced, I'm curious as to how this will affect AMS use in the game.

[EmeraldSongbird]

I find AMS is still a must on an assault mech, maybe a heavy, but anything else is just taking up space.

Edited by Doobles, 21 March 2013 - 06:51 PM.

[FrostCollar]

I mostly pilot fast mechs. Speed and cover is a much surer defense against missiles than AMS, and the most dangerous type of missile to me (SSRMs) usually bypasses it entirely due to the minimum range.

If you don't have speed though? Well, sure.

EDIT: Actually, I should clarify my answer: your question was "will you continue to use AMS." My AMS usage patterns haven't changed. On my light mechs, AMS doesn't do enough for me to merit its use regardless of LRM damage. If I've escaped to cover it isn't helpful and if I haven't I'm in trouble regardless. Such is the life of a light.

Edited by FrostCollar, 21 March 2013 - 07:04 PM.

[Lord Ikka]

Never stopped using it, no matter what happens with LRM balancing. Its on almost all my Mechs, especially my Assaults.

[Commander Kobold]

none, the sprinkle doesn't hurt enough to warrant it.

[El Bandito]

I never used AMS in 4 months of playing. Never found the necessity to (convince me otherwise, I dare you). Either you manage to get in cover and dodge all the missiles (yet you STILL waste AMS ammunition behind cover) or you won't make it and eat 90% of the missiles and get screwed.

If PGI implements AMS toggle on/off feature then I might consider it. If not, I can get 2 heat sinks instead and get more out of it.

Edited by El Bandito, 21 March 2013 - 07:05 PM.

[The Silent Protagonist]

I only use it if I have the weight. I always have it on my Death Snail though, as that thing is fast enough that whilst running away from a volley it can shoot down nearly all the LRMs, from anything but a LRM20. Sometimes, however, I outrun the LRMs outright.
AMS is a useful tool, but cover and speed are my first lines of defence.

[Stonefalcon]

For the sake of 3 tonnes on a stalker to get two AMS and two tonnes ammo i think it's a bargain that protects you for so much more tonnage in damage.

[Sheraf]

AMS, what is that?

[Fishbulb333]

In my experience AMS has only ever been really effective against LRM 5 or at a stretch, LRM 10 which are the least commonly used LRM systems. So, nope will continue to avoid using it. The real AMS is either hugging a friendly ecm mech, or better, using cover.

[Ted Wayz]

El Bandito, on 21 March 2013 - 07:02 PM, said:

I never used AMS in 4 months of playing. Never found the necessity to (convince me otherwise, I dare you). Either you manage to get in cover and dodge all the missiles (yet you STILL waste AMS ammunition behind cover) or you won't make it and eat 90% of the missiles and get screwed.

If PGI implements AMS toggle on/off feature then I might consider it. If not, I can get 2 heat sinks instead and get more out of it.

I can understand your answer if you play by yourself. But if you play with others as a support mech you use the AMS as much to cover other mechs as to prevent damage to your own.

There, I dared.

[The Silent Protagonist]

Ted Wayz, on 21 March 2013 - 07:28 PM, said:

I can understand your answer if you play by yourself. But if you play with others as a support mech you use the AMS as much to cover other mechs as to prevent damage to your own.

There, I dared.

This. The more mechs have AMS, the more effective it is for all of the mechs.

[armyof1]

Ted Wayz, on 21 March 2013 - 07:28 PM, said:

I can understand your answer if you play by yourself. But if you play with others as a support mech you use the AMS as much to cover other mechs as to prevent damage to your own.

There, I dared.

I'd take 1 ECM instead of 3 AMS any day, anywhere.

Edited by armyof1, 21 March 2013 - 07:37 PM.

[El Bandito]

Ted Wayz, on 21 March 2013 - 07:28 PM, said:

I can understand your answer if you play by yourself. But if you play with others as a support mech you use the AMS as much to cover other mechs as to prevent damage to your own. There, I dared.

And reveal my location? No thank you.

[Levi Porphyrogenitus]

I take it on most of my mechs. The only real exceptions are the ones where space and/or weight are just too tight, or where there are other factors that render the AMS less or entirely not necessary. I have no plans to change my builds in response to temporary shifts in the game, especially when those temporary changes don't entirely obviate the usefulness of something I have equipped.

[Zordicron]

I take it if I have the tonnage for it. if I am trying to squeeze in some particular loadout, it is usually one of the first casualty, as I fell if I am stretching tonnage to gain offense it is logical defense is reduced. I will never choose it over main armor areas though, nor will I choose it over heatsinks on super hot running loadouts, but thats more of a more offense vs def again.

[Tekadept]

If I cant think of any other weapons or armour to squeeze on the mech i will put it on. other wise probably not

[Mavairo]

Right now I'm carrying on all of my mechs. I roll with a buddy, and jointly we have good coverage. When our 3rd is on we have 3. Which gives us really good coverage.

I might pull it off in a few days to get some tonnage back at some point but we'll see.

[Brilig]

AMS is worth its weight in gold.

[Signal27]

FrostCollar, on 21 March 2013 - 06:53 PM, said:

EDIT: Actually, I should clarify my answer: your question was "will you continue to use AMS." My AMS usage patterns haven't changed. On my light mechs, AMS doesn't do enough for me to merit its use regardless of LRM damage. If I've escaped to cover it isn't helpful and if I haven't I'm in trouble regardless. Such is the life of a light.

That's a good point. I would've figured that lights and mediums need AMS due to their light armor and taking a full on swarm of missiles is sometimes inevitable - such as getting into a brawl while one of his team mates takes advantage of the lock to launch LRMs at you from a distance