JigglyMoobs, on 04 July 2014 - 03:53 PM, said:
The real problem is that lights are meant to be scouts and harassers, and disorganized pug teams do not know how to take advantage of their lights.
The primary problem is lack of effective comms between PUG players.
To "fix" lights, I suggest either implementing in-game voice communications or implement more effective symbology communications.
In fact, I'd prefer pgi leave the in-game comms to programs like TS since having everyone talk in a pug game can:
A. Get really annoying.
B. Cause additional server load leading to lag, and HSR issues.
Instead, IMHO, a much better solution is to let players communicate with each other via symbology. For example:
* When a light pilot sees a heavy enemy force flanking the team, he should be able to lock on to them and press a single button to flash a warning to all teammates. The corresponding marker should show up on the tactical map.
* When light mechs lock onto an enemy mech long enough to read out it's paper doll, he should be able to flash that information to all team mates so that the last read shows up immediately when someone else on his team locks on.
* The light pilot should be able to lock onto an enemy that's in a good position for LRM fire and designate a special marker on him for to alert the LRM boats in the team.
* All players should be able to signal when they require ECM cover so that lights or other pilots with ECM can move in to help.
Of course the light should get XP, C-bills and match score for doing all of the above.
In an organized team all of this is done via voice Comms, which makes well piloted lights really really useful. Without voice comms, if there are ways to do the above on the fly with minimum number of key presses, lights will still be really really useful.
As things stand now, lights cannot stand still to type (because they will die). They cannot get the information they are gathering out to the team. Thus, they are not fulfilling their proper row as scouts, making their lack of damage output glaring.
This is what I'm talking about for NARC.
Honestly? Decouple NARC from just being an LRM buff. Make it an information management tool.
You NARC someone, everyone on your team gets instant access to their paperdoll on target selection.
It lasts 120 seconds.
Only mountable on lights/mediums, same as CC only on heavy/assaults.
It provides a minimal missile (LRM/SSRM) missile lock improvement.
It constantly provides damage% next to the target symbol.
Going under ECM coverage still pings you to enemy radar but all the other perks are lost, including the ability to lock missiles. Let it 'flicker' like being under ECM does within range, but at least it keeps you present for your allies radar.
This is the sort of powerful information sharing tool that PUGs need. Premades are no longer a big factor in the solo queue - that's awesome. It'll take a bit for behaviors to shake out and change like they should (people are still milling around, waiting for someone to carry them) but a simple, direct and informative iconic information sharing tool is a *huge* potential buff for lights/mediums.
It's the power to control the flow of the battle in a lot of ways. We need that.