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However, I, like 99% of LRM users out there who boat (4+ launchers) use chainfire. We do it to better manage heat, we do it to better control ammo usage and we also do it do keep a nice stream of cockpit shake and that annoying sound it makes as it hits mechs. Hey, I'm no more Catholic than the Pope, you know.
What would the implications be, say, if LRMS could no longer be chainfired, instead they need to fire all at once, in one salvo? This would increase heat, and would therefore cause mechs to slow down their rate of shooting. It would also allow mechs more time to get into cover since the time between incoming hits would be greater. It would also allow a sniper to weather the hit, and have a good 4 - 5 seconds of non-shake to fire off a few gauss rounds or PPC rounds at the LRM mech in question.
Next, to this, we add a mechanic whereby it calculates how many missiles are fired and bases the spread on the whole swarm of missiles. So if I fire 4 LRM 10s, it bases the spread on 40 missiles, not 4 x 10 missiles, thus giving more spread and also causing more missiles to miss. Fire 4 LRM 15s, you're looking at a 60 LRM spreak, not 4 x 15.
Net result, boating would no longer be as advantageous. The mech that loads 4 LRM 5's to troll or annoy people would see that LRM become an LRM 20 for the purposes of spread and will incure 8 heat instead of the 6 heat of the LRM 20. It forces people to make a choice.
Look at the LRM 10. I can chainfire a metric $%^& ton of LRMS before shutting down, and when I get close, I just slow down a bit. With this idea, those 4 LRM 10s lose their tight spread since they become the equivalent of an LRM 40 and they cause approx 28 - 29 heat with the ghost heat penalty. I can't fire that continuously, and when I get too hot, I just can't fire of I shut down, thus giving the brawler a chance to hide or close distance and introduce me to his AC/20.
I can already see a way around this mechanic, and that is to assign my LRM launchers to different groups, but then, maybe LRMS should be placed in their own group that cannot be modified.
I know I don't have all the answers, but I know that there are a lot of smart players here, many smarter than me, and I am sure that this idea could have a positive impact on the game, or else, come Clan Mechs and Clan Tech, you'll see a lot of chainfired LRM 20s coming your way.
Edited by Martis Gradivus, 17 April 2014 - 11:54 AM.
