Information Warfare (IW) has existed in BT for a while, mainly through force-multiplying tech like ECM/BAP/TAG. As a lance-commander, it was always a good thing to have a light mech so-equipped on your team, but as a single player I could see how that might be boring.
If your whole job is just to provide an umbrella of electronic cover for your team, and your weapons/armor are too weak to engage in heavy combat, then you just end up being on an "escort" mission until contact is made.
So, assuming the devs have something more than this in mind for light mechs, what could it be?
- ECM for personal coverage, and acting as a forward spotter for artillery (TAG; a "stealth misson" or Splinter Cell for Mechs).
- Using ECM to jam the enemy's comms? It would be super cool if this could be done to in-game VOIP! Of course, there would probably just be a bunch of cheaters that would use an out-of-game VOIP to get around the effect...LOSERS!
- If some sort of hidden unit ability is in place, or if there are minefields, Beagle Active Probe (BAP) will be of use...maybe BAP adds a small targetting bonus?
- ECCM to counter-jam enemy ECM...then, just to talk to your lancemates, you need to keep your scout mech close and safe.
- ECM messing with the enemy's radar, depending on what mode you have it in.
- Maybe only BAP can detect units that are underwater while you're above water.
- Like in the Mechcommander games, maybe higher sensor skill/BAP can determine specific info about the other team.
- Using BAP to eavesdrop on the other teams comms? Cool!
Any other suggestions?
*edit*
- NARC tagging for lancemates
- Possibly increased XP gain for light mech pilots?
- "Eyes-on-target" bonus to hit for enemies illuminated by TAG; scout get a % of the kill bonus
- Scout can negate bonuses or abilities of commanding units with ECM. (i.e. can't call in artillery until the jamming is cleared)
- Enemy NARC ineffective while the beacon is within a friendly ECM field.
- Light-only mission types. Skirmish, Recon, etc.
- "Point-of-interest" tagging on the other players'/commander's map
- Scouts are the only ones with advanced warning of TAG/NARC/incoming artillery? Have enhanced visuals for detection/location of IW enemy scouts?
- Fragile terrain like frozen lake/lava crust that only low-weight mechs can cross.
- Large, random maps with fog of war makes speedy lights valuable for scouting terrain.
- Charging!
Edited by Cyttorak, 12 November 2011 - 04:12 PM.