1 reply to this topic

[AlmightyAeng]

I had originally posted this thread in suggestions...but it occurred to me that it fits better here.
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After playing with AND against ECM I've been thinking about how I would change it if I were a developer. Since ECM is such a button-issue for so many in MWO, I'm sure I'll get lots of flame/noob/lrn2play/angry comments...but hopefully some constructive criticism, too...and who knows, maybe the development team will glance at it.

Right now ECM feels a little overpowered to me (granted, one of my favorite mechs is my D-DC...I'm not an advocate for removing ECM). Mainly, it feels that way, to me, for three reasons.

1) ECM lights loading streaks aren't vulnerable to streaks themselves.

2) From a distance, ECM completely negates indirect missile fire (notice that because of TAG direct fire is still possible) an aspect of the game that I think added some serious depth.

3) Whoever brings more ECM into the 180m bubble wins...because the effect is Mech +1.

I'm wondering what you think the effect of the three following 'changes' would be regarding balance.

1) What if ECM didn't create an invisible, impenetrable cloak? What if, instead, it lengthened both Missile-Lock time by 3 or 4 times what it is now, as well as detailed target information? It would be an effective detriment to missiles, without invalidating indirect fire completely, and would hide statistics of a mech without turning them into ninjas. This might also help in ECM/Streak light vs. Non-ECM/Streak light battles. Alternatively, see the next suggestion.

2) I like that ECM lights can run into the bubble of an LRM boat and block them gaining lock. I think that should stay. However, I think that if ECM is blocking enemy missile lock...it could also block your own while in disrupt mode. Wanna fire streaks? Switch to counter, fire them, and switch back to disrupt before the LRM boat can get a lock. I think adding that level of difficulty might make it a little less one-sided in regards to ECM/Streak lights.

3) Instead of having a system of +1 ECM winning out...why not change counter so that it can counter multiple enemies ECM? It doesn't have to be a blanket counter to ALL enemy ECM...possibly just 2 or 3 enemy ECM at one time.

I'm sure none of these are perfect, but I think they are worth discussing. I appreciate any and all constructive feedback. Thanks.

[Aim64C]

You bring up some interesting points - and, rather than re-post a page full of my own ideas (which are not entierly dissimilar from yours) - it would be best to merely link to the topic I started entailing them:

http://mwomercs.com/...-an-mwo-how-to/

It's not just ECM that gets looked at. BAP, Narc, TAG, C3, Null Sig - and various module systems designed around information warfare are presented.

The problem with the current state of information warfare is that there's really only one side of it, currently. ECM serves to restrict information while nothing fills the role of providing more information or processing of that information to present a better picture to the team.

If a few of us detail-oriented people can get together and hammer out the entire picture of Information Warfare (not just ECM) - we can probably put together a very interesting and complete proposition.