6 replies to this topic

[KingKalvin]

Been thinking about this since I started playing again ( a month ago )

With the recent implementation of 12v12, I know that someone from PGI thought that adding more players would create new strategies for the game. Other problems aside, the biggest drawback I see is that ECM determines what players will and will not do 80% of the time.

Someone posted a topic here in the forums about the player created imbalance of "the blob" mentality. One of the main points posted there was that players feel safe under ECM cover and while that is true, this creates one dimensional play which is form a blob and duke it out with the other blob. For now we have 5 mechs that can equip ECM and those are the spider, commando, raven, cicada, and the Atlas.

The first four mentioned can go to speeds up to 100kph and are considered as scouts with the cicada with the exception of being a skirmisher. The atlas however can only go 54kph without sacrificing firepower. The game revolves around mediums, heavies, and other assault variants following the atlas for ECM cover. What does that make? The blob.

Now imagine if PGI actually released variants of, lets say, the Victor or Awesome with ECM or even a new medium/heavy variant. Players can now have other options to take rather than just sticking with the atlas for ecm cover.

I would like to know people's opinions about this. Would this benefit the game? Would this make it bad?

Edited by KingKalvin, 15 August 2013 - 01:18 AM.

[Khobai]

ECM still needs a complete rework IMO. Having ECM hard counter missiles is just bad game design. period.

Until ECM is balanced properly, I think the less ECM mechs we have the better, because ECM mechs will be less common, and the game will be screwed up less as a result.

Although the Thunderbolt in all likelihood will have a variant with ECM.

Edited by Khobai, 15 August 2013 - 02:04 AM.

[OneEyed Jack]

ECM is a scout tool, so it's been primarily restricted to mechs intended for scouting duties. It was given to the Atlas D-DC most likely because they wanted it on at least one larger mech and the D-DC is considered a command mech, with the notion that it would make sense as protection for the commander and his lance.

While they may not have restricted it exactly to builds that carried ECM stock, in canon, they've followed a pattern that makes a certain sense. Scout, Command and/or EW. I'd imagine they also don't intend for it always to be easy and convenient to keep the entire force under an ECM umbrella. I'm sure it will be on more mechs in the future, but I doubt they'll put it on any that they can't at least assign a specific logical reason for. And, personally, I agree. I don't think anyone wants to see the game turn into everyone always having ECM cover because it's on such a variety of builds that it's always convenient.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's on one of the BattleMasters, since there will almost surely be a dual-cockpit "command" variant among them.

[GODzillaGSPB]

Visible...lost...visible...lost....visible...lost

ECM has already a huge impact of the matches. And you want more, really?

[Kitane]

In light of PGI not willing to change ECM from the current broken implementation to something more sensible, it would make more sense to strip ECM from D-DC completely and leave it only on scout mechs.

Adding more heavy/assault ECM mechs is simply terrible idea.

[KingKalvin]

Good points

[Malsumis]

I vote for PASSIVE SENSORS. I miss the days when I could turn my radar off and sneak around. I know PGI mentioned something about passive sensors and really hope they put it in soon. What I also like about passive sensors is if you want to sneak around you have to use your eyes and have situational awareness unlike ECM. With ECM you just let your radar do the work for you.

Also, passive sensors is a good counter to ECM.