I put a lot of effort into the hundreds of pages on ECM feedback many moons ago. I will share my feedback again, and if anyone needs good old ICE, you can PM me. I can give a lot of feedback on light fights, which were impacted very heavily from ECM, and although I don't play much recently, I would if the game started to pick up.
There is a point to start when it comes to ECM, is it too powerful, and is that power warranted? Let me explain that. When I asked for "what is the weakness of ECM?" there was no answers given, there are really two weaknesses, at the time.
1 ECM can be detected from enemies mechs, (a bit ironic), you can avoid this by clicking J, and only if they have ECM themselves.
2 It is limited to certain mechs, to have ECM to have to be in a specific mech.
Before we continue, although I will still write what needs to be said, we, as a community, have to decide, should ECM be "too powerful" but act as a buff to the mechs that can use it, and therefore we can equip it to mechs that need help, or should be be "very powerful" where mechs that have it should use it, but the effects aren't that great, but the mechs that have it are limited, or just "useful" where all mechs could use it, like BAP, but it may not be worth the tonnage and space.
This is very important, after the representatives are decided, we have to make that choice first.
Now, what is my problem with ECM? It is too good for its tonnage and slots. Every single mech that can use it, will use it, and the mechs that can use it, are actually on the upper end for mechs in general (at the time especially) and in their type of mech, Raven-3L is the best Raven by far, and then has ECM too. There are no mechs that can equip it that do not, and that is, in theory, a problem.
Keep in mind, if this is successful, we may be able to impact other aspects of the game, so I would suggest that we make ECM in the image that we would imagine as perfect, if the game was as well.
Another large issue with ECM, is that it really messes with game balance very largely. LRMs are never going to work right if they have a hard counter, there should not be a counter to weapons, especially as one so light. LRMs are so hit and miss, their design is just a mess, but no matter how LRMs are, there is no way to accurately pin down how powerful or weak they are with ECM potentially messing up the ability to work.
ECM is so damn complex now too. When I actually wrote and put effort into changing it, it was a little too complex for the game, but now I have no idea exactly how everything works with it, its just nuts. It really needs to be simpler, its 1.5 tons and 2 slots for butt sakes, it doesn't need to be as complex as a huge list of things that you have to remember and re-evaluate every time you play.
To touch on points:
ECM, how powerful AND how limited should it be?
ECM is currently so powerful, or at least too powerful, that every mech that can, will have it.
ECM messes with the balance of LRMS too much for them to work right.
ECM is so complex, that you can't possibly expect a new player to understand how it works.
I really look forward to helping anyone with this new idea, I've been hoping for this forever, and I have high hopes, PGI extends their hand, and I sure as hell will give them a hand shake back.
--End of general statement--Personal opinion on ECM
ECM is too powerful, as to the, availability vs power graph, I have no opinion there, but I would prefer if the "electronic counter measures" just counter electronic upgrades, and it needs to be very simple, either it should just protect the mech its on, or extend to teammates, or only impact the enemy directly (ie, it needs to protect you from the effects of Artemis, protect your teammates with a bubble, or only impact the enemy if ECM is on them), I personally would like it to have an area to encourage mech diversity, and help diversify load-outs.
What I think ECM should do:
Counter BAP
Counter Artemis
Counter TAG
Counter NARC
It should impact the user directly, and should impact nearby allies, if an enemy has BAP, they can see you like normal out to normal sensor range, but cannot 'see' you beyond it, which is extended with BAP.
In addition, I honestly haven't played in a while, it should also be considered to impact other things, like Command Console?
Lastly, LRMs, and this is to be discussed in detail in the future, least I hope, should be viable weapons that are useful, but are significantly more powerful, when an ally (and not yourself) TAGs or NARCs the target.
OH yes, I should add this, I would actually like to be on the council of players, I dunno if its a faux pas to 'nominate' yourself, but if there was a minor interest, I would be happy to write a detailed 'essay' of what I would bring to the table, at the least, I want to make the gap between player and dev smaller, let our voices be heard, and work hard to collaborate the data and present it in a clear and logical way. I'm very passionate about this game, despite all the sadness it has brought, I always loved this concept and would love to put the effort forward to bring positive change that could benefit everyone.
Edited by ICEFANG13, 12 September 2014 - 10:11 PM.
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El Bandito, on 12 September 2014 - 08:29 PM, said:
