24 replies to this topic

[ACH75]

I've noticed that AMS does not work on missiles shooted below his attachment's base so

it does not work at blocking SRMs most of the time...

Well, the rate of fire of 1 single AMS even with both modules is far than great but should be nice

to have an Anti Missile Protection Shield with full spherical AoE.

[The Boz]

I'm constantly looking at my AMS streaming bullet after bullet at LRMs that are crashing into the ground after missing my Atlas completely. Are you SURE that it doesn't shoot down?

[Rushin Roulette]

I am afraid that it has nothing to do with the height of the missiles, but what sort of missiles. As far as I understand, AMS only works against missiles which need a target lock. That means they work against LRMs (not sure if they work on dumb fired LRMs) and Streak SRMS. Regular SRMs however do not require and can not lock, so AMS does not shoot them down.


I could be wrong though... so Im open to correction.

[Xythius]

Rushin Roulette, on 12 November 2014 - 06:08 AM, said:

I am afraid that it has nothing to do with the height of the missiles, but what sort of missiles. As far as I understand, AMS only works against missiles which need a target lock. That means they work against LRMs (not sure if they work on dumb fired LRMs) and Streak SRMS. Regular SRMs however do not require and can not lock, so AMS does not shoot them down.


I could be wrong though... so Im open to correction.

This is correct, AMS will not target/engage standard SRM's, only Streaks & LRM's will be fired upon.

~Xythius

[Bigbacon]

wait, but doesn't AMS often shoot down Narc rounds? I keep seeing people saying it does.

[The Boz]

AFAIK, it shoots at all missiles: SRM, SSRM, NARC, LRM, you name it.

[ACH75]

It Shoots at all Missiles BUT only in Semi-Spherical AoE (Umbrella!) so if a missile trajectory is below the attachment's base of your AMS it's not shooted and it's a shame...

In Practice, the smaller the mech the most efficent AMS is 'cause it's like it has a shorter umbrella handle...

Edited by ACH75, 12 November 2014 - 06:37 AM.

[Macksheen]

It is indeed an umbrella. I've tested this quite a bit. It also seems to be somewhat blocked by the mech geometry.

You can test this with a buddy by taking a Kit Fox (say) into the testing grounds and alternate having the missile firer and Kit Fox both jump up on a rock, etc. You don't need to lock either to test the AMS - just fire near the target.

[Egomane]

Xythius, on 12 November 2014 - 06:10 AM, said:

This is correct, AMS will not target/engage standard SRM's, only Streaks & LRM's will be fired upon.

~Xythius

I'm afraid it is not correct. AMS is shooting at all enemy missles. But the SRMs flight time is much shorter then LRMs, as they have a higher flight speed, and therfore the AMS has a much shorter time to respond to the SRM threat and can't shoot as many missles down. This is enhanced, by the fact, that SRM mechs tend to go up and personal with their target, creating flight times as short as a tenth second or less. Of course an AMS can't work against that.

Edited by Egomane, 12 November 2014 - 07:37 AM.

[Macksheen]

And AMS is an umbrella and is usually high-mounted, putting most SRMs below it's arc or response.

[Shlkt]

SRMs travel faster than LRMs, which means that your AMS system has less time to shoot at them. A vanilla AMS system (no quirks, modules, or outside help) needs 90 meters in order to shoot down 1 SRM. If your attacker is closer than 90 meters then your AMS system will have no effect (except for wasting its ammo).

And even if your attacker is farther out, say 150 meters, it's still likely that you'll shoot down just 1 missile. Typical SRM builds will fire at least 18 missiles (3x SRM-6). So the AMS system only buys you a 6% damage reduction (1 out of 18) most of the time, and even less than that when facing 4, 5, or 6 SRM-6.

It's unlikely that the AMS overload module will help you shoot down more than 1 SRM missile in most cases, but it does reduce the range at which your AMS becomes effective. Instead of 90 meters you only need ~82 meters in order to shoot down that first missile. At longer ranges AMS can potentially take down 2 missiles or more, but SRMs are hard to aim at long range and you're more likely to be shooting down missiles that were going to miss you anyway.

Overlapping AMS coverage provided by multiple carriers has not been sufficiently tested vs. SRMs as far as I know. The combined effectiveness of multiple AMS systems will depend on whether each AMS shoots at the same missile or not (I suspect they do not most of the time). Multiple AMS on the same mech... maybe it's helpful?

We don't generally see AMS in competitive drops. LRMs are rarely used, and if a team brings SRMs then they are planning to engage at point blank range. At those ranges AMS doesn't have enough time to shoot the missiles.

Edited by Shlkt, 12 November 2014 - 08:07 AM.

[Thorqemada]

Yes - AMS does shot down SRM as i can say for sure having seen my own SRM volleys disintegrate in multiple AMS Scenarios.
Though AMS has a reaction time (sort of minimum range) and can not shot Missiles that be to close to react and as SRM fly faster than LRM its more likely AMS will not have much effect against SRM.

AMS does very well shot Missiles below its Hardpoint Mount as i have visualy witnessed.

[keith]

ams does shoot at all missles. srms have a faster speed plus a higher helth. went off of smurfy. all ams does 3.5 dam. lrms have 10 health, as do srms. u just have to account for speed/ range/ grouping. means 3 shot per kill on any missile based wep system depending on buffs.

[LT. HARDCASE]

Rushin Roulette, on 12 November 2014 - 06:08 AM, said:

I am afraid that it has nothing to do with the height of the missiles, but what sort of missiles. As far as I understand, AMS only works against missiles which need a target lock. That means they work against LRMs (not sure if they work on dumb fired LRMs) and Streak SRMS. Regular SRMs however do not require and can not lock, so AMS does not shoot them down.


I could be wrong though... so Im open to correction.

AMS does activate against dumb fired missiles. I know this because I regularly launch missiles over the enemy position, just to waste their AMS reserves.

Edited by Kevjack, 12 November 2014 - 10:24 AM.

[Ultimax]

Egomane, on 12 November 2014 - 07:35 AM, said:

I'm afraid it is not correct. AMS is shooting at all enemy missles. But the SRMs flight time is much shorter then LRMs, as they have a higher flight speed, and therfore the AMS has a much shorter time to respond to the SRM threat and can't shoot as many missles down. This is enhanced, by the fact, that SRM mechs tend to go up and personal with their target, creating flight times as short as a tenth second or less. Of course an AMS can't work against that.

Indeed.

[Salvag3]

Try pitching your torso down when you have incoming srms, it tips your umbrella down and you may catch some of them in it.

[The Boz]

Kevjack, on 12 November 2014 - 10:23 AM, said:

AMS does activate against dumb fired missiles. I know this because I regularly launch missiles over the enemy position, just to waste their AMS reserves.

I routinely fire LRMs into the sky just to see if an AMS fires at it and reveals the location of a hidden mech.

[Brody319]

AMS doesn't fire on regular SRMs
SSRMs are shot, but they move so fast not many will get shot down.
NARC is moving pretty fast so if your AMS isn't ready to go, it won't stop it.

[Egomane]

Brody319, on 12 November 2014 - 10:40 AM, said:

AMS doesn't fire on regular SRMs

Yes, it does!

[Greenjulius]

I'll add my voice to the debate. I know AMS will 100% shoot down SRMs and NARC. I ran my Huginn the other day with 2xSRM4 in chainfire, and an Atlas-K with dual AMS shoot down at least half the missiles before they could reach him. Eventually he turned to the side, and 1 AMS seemed to stop shooting them down allowing for more to hit.

I think AMS indeed has to be able to "see" the missile with the only obstruction being the mech's own body. AMS will shoot through walls without issue.