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How ECM should work is that I'm fine with the stealth bubble, but they should of made tracking missles use a sort of always on invisible tag for the arm reticle that doesn't allow you to target the mech but allows you to achieve locks on it at a slower rate of course. Then the 180m disruption effect would interrupt target info, missle tracking, etc.
TAG would then allow you to target the mech and remove the lock delay , but you will not receive target info as all your doing is painting the target and the ecm is still shielding the target from any scanning equipment. Also you receive full bonuses as the source of the targeting info is coming from the spotter with the TAGs painted target.
NARC would work similar to TAG in that you can now target the mech, but unlike TAG you lose the NARC Bonuses cause the NARC is inside the ECM bubble and is sending a signal strong enough to cut through but not strong enough to relay good targeting info and results in a 50% reduction to the lock delay.
Artemis has it's lock time increase and bonuses remover when firing at a ECM covered mech, but gets full benefits if the target is under the effects of TAG or NARC.
Now BAP is kind of inappropriately being used as a ECM counter when it's supposed to be countered by ECM. I think the hard counter part needs to go and be replaced with some soft counters. Like BAP will increase the maximum range you can target ECM mechs by 25% of max Sensor range and lowers the effect of Disruption against the BAP mech by 30m. But inside 150m the ECM will disable all BAP functions.
I also believe BAP needs to be noticeable boosted so it is a strong equipment choice and makes a noticeable impact apart from ECM. Maybe make it good enough it can be limited to certain mech chassis or variants to give them more battlefield appeal. One way they can do that is by giving BAP a Probe Mode.
Standard Mode:
- +25% increased sensor range and ECM Detection Range based on total current Sensor power for BAP owner.
- +50% increased target Info gather rate.
- -30m to ECM Disruption Range for BAP owner.
- Detect and target Powered down mechs up to 180m (optional: Sensor Range Modules increase this range appropriately.)
Optional: The 360 module has it's range increased by 25% when BAP is equipped.
Probe Mode:
- Loss all the functions granted by standard mode except Detect Powered Down Mechs.
- Can Detect but not target enemies through terrain up to 150-180m this includes powered down mechs, but ECM will still mask enemies under the bubble you can't see even if you are not being disrupted. This information is shared to all allies unless being disrupted.
Optional: The 360 Module allows your allies to see all unseen enemies within 180m around you, but are limited to the same targeting rules as the BAP user.)
*note* Now I know the Probe Mode kind of steps on the toes of seismic sensor, but if BAP was limited to certain mechs seismic would still be available to all mechs that can't use BAP and could lead to seismic getting some of it's teeth back. Also Siesmic wouldn't be innately affected by ECM except for disruption to your instruments when in disruption range.
Now this all could lead to a new module called Disruption Shielding that would lower disruption effective range by 20% for standard and 40% with Advanced.
Now this is a step towards improving the information warfare pillar of the currently poorly existing role warfare, but more is desperately needed. Now to improve upon the information warfare pillar I suggest all mechs should have different types of sensor equipment based on their roles.
Basic Sensors - 500m max detection range before improvements. Equipped on most assaults and heavies and some mediums.
Enhanced Sensors - 750m max detection range before improvements. Equipped on most mediums and combat lights and a couple of heavy and assaults mostly the support platforms.
Advanced Sensors - 1000m max range before improvements. Equipped on only a few mechs but mostly on super lights/scout mechs/and mechs with advanced sensor gear like the raven. only a rare few heavy and assaults will have these like the Cyclops if it was in game.
Now to accompany the sensors is what I call sensor profile. Basically working off the current mech size category to determine how easy a mech is picked up by sensors.
Tiny: -20% maximum detection range.
Small: -10% maximum detection range.(jenner should be moved to here)
Medium: -5% maximum detection range.
Large: No Adjustment
Huge: +10% maximum detection range.
Massive: +20% maximum detection range.
*Note* The Sensor Classes and Sensor Profile will not stop the firing of LRMs even at max LRM range as you can still achieve a lock throught the always on invisible tag laser mentioned earlier. Though you still will suffer lock delays and get no target info or lock bonuses till they within sensor range or you got a spotter or are using equipment like TAG and NARC.
Another thing they could do is make targeting info tied into the grade of sensors you allowed to use so mechs with the stronger sensor suites mainly mediums and lights will be valuable assets as they are capable of relaying detailed mech specs for your heavy guns to take advantage of.
Standard Sensor - only receive mech class/designation/and range. No hitbox or armaments info.
Enhanced Sensors - much what we got live now.
Advanced Sensors - get full info including Weapon and Ammo placement. might take PGI some work on how to implemite it.
*note* you could always improve your info gather levels with the info gathering module with the advanced version being able to bring a basic sensor user up to advanced sensor lvl as far as inof gathering is concerned.
With theses changes the lighter mech categories especially the light scouts can actually do their job as scouts and spotters without having to rely on equipment like ECM to safeguard them. Also since this would noticeable effect LRMs they could finally make LRMs a good reliable weapon choice by much improved speeds and tracking against fast targets.
Edited by Destoroyah, 12 February 2014 - 09:54 PM.
