Not another LRM OP thread, your brain is screaming right now?
First of all, I'll write this in big bold capital letters so there can be no misunderstanding. Ok, ready?
LRMs ARE NOT OP
There. Now we have covered that base.
Individually, LRMs are not overpowered in any way, shape or form. Individually. As in, on a player by player basis.
So what makes LRMs to be considered OP then?
Universal Indirect Fire with Free Shared Targeting
This is the root of all LRM woes and why we keep seeing LRM complaint thread after complaint thread. It's not the missiles at all. It's how they use free shared targeting.
This isn't the first thread about this, and it won't be the last. But as long as this root problem continues existing these threads will continue to be made.
As long as every LRM user in a match universally gets to indirectly fire on a free target lock without line of sight, LRMs will continue to be considered OP.
Known LRM facts:
- weak against organized, experienced players playing as a team with communication and focus
- strong against unorganized, inexperienced players not playing as a team without communication and with no focus in a PUG format, aka the solo drop queue
- can be fired at any locked target shared from another team mate for free without the use of TAG, NARC, or any type of C3 mechanic
- the missiles will track a target when fired indirectly without line of sight
Ballistics? Needs line of sight.
SRMs? Needs line of sight.
Lasers? Needs line of sight.
Artillery? Needs line of sight.
Airstrike? Needs line of sight.
Flamer? (lol) Still needs line of sight.
LRMs? Do NOT need line of sight. Fire from anywhere, at any time, with missile tracking and no penalty.
Why Does This Unbalance the Solo Queue?
Because most of the solo queue is pubbers who aren't grouped with the rest of the team, or using any type of VOX communication (because in-game VOX doesn't exist), don't stick with their lances, and basically run around like lemmings as if they're playing a single player game with a bunch of bots populating it.
One guy gets a target lock, and suddenly every other guy with LRMs is mashing the trigger and 80+ LRMs blot out the sun to converge on some poor new player.
Changing LRM damage will not fix this issue.
Changing LRM velocity will not fix this issue.
Changing LRM spread, arc, or cooldown WILL NOT FIX THIS ISSUE.
Removing free shared targeting will fix this issue.
Requiring TAG or NARC for indirect LRM fire with missile tracking will fix this issue.
Requiring the LRM boater to get line of sight to get their own target and fire their missiles will fix this issue.
And now.....openeth thy floodgates of fiery flaming.