LRMs are fine. Sure I have matches there there's a preponderance of LRMs, I have matches where both sides (including me) are heavily LRM based which is hilarious to witness.
Here's the thing about LRMs, and a few have said some of this already:
LRMs require lock, with ECM in this game, holding lock is very difficult unless you bring your own TAG and have LOS to the target in the TAG's range and you can hold that TAG long enough for a few salvos.
LRMs are dependent on members of the other team holding target locks for you.
LRMs are pretty slow and most lights can out run them, or at least get to cover fast enough to nullify them.
LRMs also do spread damage, unlike the AC5+PPC meta or the AC/<anything> and/or PPC and/or GR meta.
LRMs are the only weapon that have another system designed to nullify them: AMS. There's no reactive or reflective armor in this game. SRMs move too fast for AMS to hit, and ECM really spoils the LRM boater's day -- more so than any other play-style in the game.
LRMs have a minimum range of 180m, get inside that and the LRM boat is probably going to die. Unless they're smart and pack some decent secondary weapon systems (probably lasers), but even then, the LRM boat's at a disadvantage and is just waiting for an ammo explosion.
With the exception of an ammo explosion, none of the above is true for any other weapon system in the game. Especially the direct fire weapons which are king now. But no other weapon system packs as many disadvantages and rules than LRMs. The only system that could be worse than LRMs are SRMs, but that's temporary. Once they fix the hit detection system for them, we're going to see a return of brawling like never before. And LRMs, again, will go back to being a garbage weapon system.
LRMs don't need a nerf.
I'm not a high Elo player, I'm in the middle of the pack and haven't moved since Elo's been put in. LRMs aren't a problem for me. Contrary to popular belief, there is a bit of skill needed to run LRMs effectively. Especially if you're playing solo. Many LRM boats don't have that skill and just spam them until they're out of ammo, its sad but true. I enjoy the AC+PPC meta and I also enjoy my LRM boats. My point is, I see LRMs from both perspectives and have no problem with where they are right now.
Here's how to deal with LRMs w/out having to call for a nerf:
* Change your game.
* Change your position.
* Stay near cover, pop out, fire, get back into cover. (AKA 'hill humping') Just as you would in a real firefight.
* Advance to the next bit of cover, never ever wander out in the open. If you do that, you can only blame yourself when you die.
* Don't chase the light. See the above point.
* Want to lose the lock on you? Find good cover and power down for a few seconds. Or just find good cover, something 2x taller than you, and wait for them to move on to some other target. Then close in and finish them.
* Call out to your team where you think the LRMs are, let the lights and over fast movers get in there and disrupt them, giving you time to advance. Trust me, the fast movers love that stuff.
* Have an ECM equipped mech on your team, stick to it. Nothing annoys a LRM boater more than 12 mechs clustered around one Atlas DDC.
In fact, if you do the above stuff in any mech, packing any combination of weapon systems, you will win more than you lose. And if your team loses, it probably won't be your fault.
Combat awareness, skill, and decisions win the day in every MWO game.
Edited by Apnu, 19 May 2014 - 12:32 PM.