Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed here. I found it really heartening when a feedback thread was opened, and there was a LOT of feedback, most of it positive, most of it talking about how bent/broken ECM was and suggesting a lot of possible changes.
And now we as a community get this response, and the impression I get from this post is 'We listened, and changed nothing, because we were happy with where ECM was the whole time, it was the rest of the game that was busted'
Bryan Ekman and Russ Bullock spoke recently at PAX East, and one of the statements they made that struck me most profoundly was how at PGI it was a philosophy to challenge assumptions, to find ways to make things work. So now I find myself challenging the assumption that ECM 'works'
I personally think the basic premise of ECM and its intended functions is going the right direction, but its too much of a good thing. The sensor range reduction is too much, the weapon lockout is too much, the total cloaking effect for the carrier mech is too much, the fact the primary counter to ECM is more ECM is too much, the PPC/ECM effect is meaningless because it takes too long to lock missiles and LRMs especially travel too slowly. The TAG range increase? all this has done is made TAG a lighter, more effective alternative to mounting Artemis.
What are the changes being made amidst all the feedback? Weapons can now hit their targets? Thats not a fix for ECM, thats basic game function. ECM being given a hard point? Again, not really a fix, because its not going to stop ECM being mounted, at best it gives an aimpoint on the slowest of ECM carrying mechs.
A simple challenge for PGI's internal test team, or hey, your beta community, a simple test of ECM would be to make it available to all mechs, look at your metrics, see how many mechs DON'T choose to mount it, see how long LRMs and Streak SRMs last in that environment.
I'm not saying scrap ECM, I'm saying listen to your community and dial it back, I'm challenging the assumption by the community that you don't listen, that the choices made are capricious and without care for the input from the community.
Please PGI, challenge your assumptions, listen to the feedback a lot of people went to a lot of trouble to provide.
Edited by whiteknight, 03 April 2013 - 01:56 PM.