17 replies to this topic

[Simbacca]

What I find strange is that teammates can see that you are being TAGed and NARCed yet as the pilot you have no warning icons indicating as such.

After all we get warning icons (and sensor problems) indicating that we are in a foe ECM bubble.

I would suggest adding in such warnings - which would help in pilot survival.

[Dramborleg]

I think the TAG's red laser pointer already makes it pretty obvious. As you mention, your teammates can see these things easily, so if there's a sneaky spotter Spider who's snuck behind you and is pewpewing targets for his Stalker buddy over the hill, it's up to the whole team to notice him.

[Simbacca]

Dramborleg, on 19 March 2014 - 09:44 AM, said:

I think the TAG's red laser pointer already makes it pretty obvious. As you mention, your teammates can see these things easily, so if there's a sneaky spotter Spider who's snuck behind you and is pewpewing targets for his Stalker buddy over the hill, it's up to the whole team to notice him.

That assumes you see the TAG laser. And with the game's complete lack of quick chat or positionally said mech is isolated - having the "You are TAGed" or "You are NARCed" would prove useful.

[SleekHusky]

I would approve with certain way of doing it. No alarms or voice saying you have been tagged or whatever. But an icon around the same place where it tells if you are in friendly ECM cover or if an enemy ECM is near.

[Dirus Nigh]

No, you should not get a warning when you are tagged. All that does is out the spotting mech. If you cannot figure out that you are being spotted for indirect fire that is your own fault.

As for NARC you already know you are narced when the LRMs keep coming.

However if BAP gave you hud icon showing when you got narced that would be interesting.

[OP8]

I voted no but was close to being on the fence here. Although I do agree with this as a pilot, and would like it when I was tagged, I think it defeats the point and risk of sneaking into flanking positions as a spotter. I think it's more strategy oriented and fair for light mechs to be able to sneak up and be effective at their role for the few extra second it takes a battle aware team mate to see you're tagged and look for the beam. Lights should be able to utilize this situation to offset their lower XP gains and likelihood of death in most matches if they cower in the huddle. Players should have more reasons to check their sixs and be distracted from front line targets. It should be the player's responsibility to defend their team's perimeter through active recon and watching for spies. Perhaps at the expense of the target at the time, but to the gains of strategic variety and battle depth. Like I said, I was on the fence and personally hate having to chase down lights who get behind me, but that's their job and they did it successfully I guess according to diverse roles right?

[Gyrok]

Dirus Nigh, on 26 March 2014 - 02:06 PM, said:

No, you should not get a warning when you are tagged. All that does is out the spotting mech. If you cannot figure out that you are being spotted for indirect fire that is your own fault.

As for NARC you already know you are narced when the LRMs keep coming.

However if BAP gave you hud icon showing when you got narced that would be interesting.

What about if ECM could tell you it was being compromised? o.0 Might be a winner there...

[9erRed]

Greetings all,

Originally this game was to have the "TAG" invisible to everyone and you could only see the beam if you were using "Thermal vision". But sadly that is not what we currently have.

- Some IRL military combat vehicles that could/can be targeted with a laser range finder, before the enemy either fires or launch's something, will have "Laser Detectors" that will give a sound clue that you are being "Lazed". The Mech's should have something similar that can identify a low power "targeting laser" and give the pilot a sound clue.
(either Betty, or warning sound.)
- If your arguing, "the whole point of the TAG is to be sneaky", sorry, there are counter measures to this common device. If you need an excuse that not every Mech might have these detectors, then have the "Advanced Sensor Module" be the element that includes these sensors. If you don't load that module then you don't get the "laser detectors" and warnings included.

[In game now, all you have to do is turn around and you can see the TAG beam, or another friendly can tell you there is a beam. And pretty simple to just follow it back to the "spotter", ends that sneakiness right there. If the TAG beam was truly invisible, the spotter has his chance, and the "detectors" would actually be of use.]

- Similar to this, if the NARC produces such a strong broadcast signal that it can redirect LRM's in flight, the Mech's sensors should be able to "sense" this strong transmitter. And Betty should announce "NARC Present", or at least a flashing icon where the ECM icon is on the top right HUD location. (whether you have ECM or not.)
- From the other end, as it is now, unless you can see an Enemy Mech that has an active NARC on it, there is no HUD indication telling you there is one out there and active. And if you are carrying LRM's you could "Dumb Launch" and they would tract to target. (again, Betty could announce "NARC Active", to let you know there is a target requesting service.) And that is the whole point of NARC, beyond line of sight indirect.

So yes, to both TAG and NARC warning.

As a note here, PGI was, some time ago discussing advanced sensor pack's that would be deployable and others that could project false signals or ghost signals. - What's happening with these ideas? We could really use deployable sensor probe's for the "Jenner Alley" on the Caustic Map. (drop it and leave, get a warning if an Enemy Mech pass's by. Or activate a deployable sensor to produce a false sensor image of a Mech(s).)
~ maybe those can be a part of the Command Console's uses, sensor items and counter measures?

9erRed

Edited by 9erRed, 26 March 2014 - 06:53 PM.

[Zerberus]

Maybe as a perk to mounting BAP, but generally I think no.

If you`re still taking indirect fire despite being behind ample cover for >4 seconds and can`t figure out why, then the issue is not with the mech or any of it`s systems, but rather the pilot`s lack of situational awareness and incapacity to add 1 and 1 together

Edited by Zerberus, 26 March 2014 - 07:16 PM.

[Prezimonto]

I love the idea of putting this on the BAP for detecting NARC beacons.

TAG, because it comes at the price of Line of sight, shouldn't reveal itself. I actually don't think even your team mates should see it unless they have a BAP.

[Rasc4l]

Of course not. If you don't know you're being narced/tagged, you're doing it wrong. And anyway, you will know soon enough.

I don't care what whiners say about the current LRMs, as long as they are not used in competitive matches, they are underpowered and anything that nerfs them further should be avoided.

[Dirus Nigh]

Rasc4l, on 27 March 2014 - 08:15 AM, said:

Of course not. If you don't know you're being narced/tagged, you're doing it wrong. And anyway, you will know soon enough.

I don't care what whiners say about the current LRMs, as long as they are not used in competitive matches, they are underpowered and anything that nerfs them further should be avoided.

I was watching an MSRB match with SJR last night. Both teams were using LRMs.

[Simbacca]

Rasc4l, on 27 March 2014 - 08:15 AM, said:

Of course not. If you don't know you're being narced/tagged, you're doing it wrong. And anyway, you will know soon enough.

I don't care what whiners say about the current LRMs, as long as they are not used in competitive matches, they are underpowered and anything that nerfs them further should be avoided.

What I propose is not a nerf - it merely gives the Mech pilot more information as to his/her situation. What makes the information warfare portion more weird is that we get "Incoming Missile" warnings yet no such warnings with TAG or NARC.

At any given rate TAG warning indicator also opens up new tactics - harassment and confusion of foe mechs. For example, you want to force certain mechs to duck back down to cover from a ridge - TAG 'em! Or use the TAG to direct the foe's attention in the wrong direction - while your main body comes up, and surprises and smashes them.

Edited by Simbacca, 28 March 2014 - 11:54 AM.

[Fire and Salt]

I find it illogical that your teammates can tell that you are tagged or narced, but you cant. Your mechs can share target information... why not this?

Probably wouldn't be needed if there was in game voice chat. But there isnt...

[9erRed]

Greetings all,

I would like to see the NARC have a radius pulse generated on the mini map, no mater what Mech it is on. Say a yellow blip pulsing on the targeted unit. That way everyone would know there is an active NARC on the Battlefield.
- This could also be presented on the larger tactical map as a similar pulsed signal.

(MW:LL does this, and it's very effective. Showing everyone there is a target available for missiles.)

9erRed

[VixNix]

No for TAG
Yes for NARC

Tag is direct and silent
Narc is indirect and is not silent

[Darth Futuza]

The following comments apply only to Narc as tag is fine as it currently is (though I'd like to see an ER-Tag sometime).

No, for automatically for every mech.
Yes, for some module you have to buy and equip to your mech to detect.

[NullZeal]

Yes if it's a module.
No if it's standard equipment.