19 replies to this topic

[Hydrocarbon]

There appears to be 21+ Marauder variants listed on Sarna, and 7 are listed with ECM. Since this is a very old mech, I'd make a guess than the lions share of these are pre-3050 variants.

So with 1/3 of the mechs having ECM, this indicates one of the 3 variants will have it?

Could it be the first ECM Hero mech??

[Mcgral18]

Hydrocarbon, on 13 September 2015 - 11:04 AM, said:

There appears to be 21+ Marauder variants listed on Sarna, and 7 are listed with ECM. Since this is a very old mech, I'd make a guess than the lions share of these are pre-3050 variants.

So with 1/3 of the mechs having ECM, this indicates one of the 3 variants will have it?

Could it be the first ECM Hero mech??

No, the MAD Bounty Hunter doesn't have ECM. That's the TBR Bounty Hunter.

Also, the Pirates Bane has ECM, it's the first ECM Hero.

Edited by Mcgral18, 13 September 2015 - 11:14 AM.

[DarkMetalBlade]

Hydrocarbon, on 13 September 2015 - 11:04 AM, said:

Could it be the first ECM Hero mech??

Pirate's Bane beat you to it; that's a hero mech that can have ECM.

[Sable]

there are quite a few variants for the marauder and i wouldn't be surprised if one of them included ECM. But it's not really the ECM that i'm looking forward too, it's the IS having a good all around 75 tonner to compete with the clans. Clans have the timberwolf and a bunch of good 65 tonners, IS has the thunderbolt at 65 tons and sometimes the grasshopper. Since the orion isn't really that popular it will be a welcome addition for those looking for a good all around heavy mech.

[GeneralArmchair]

If I'm reading Sarnanet right, only the MAD-5L is the only ECM MAD that uses tech that is available at this point in time. (Edit: Nevermind. Overlooked that it has stealth armor)


Everything else is from later in the timeline where the IS has toys like rotary autocannons and light fusion engines.


There are a lot of ECM variants available once we finally timeskip (and if PGI REALLY wants to get rid of weapon quirks like they are doing on the PTS and they still refuse to give the IS the significant numerical and tonnage advantages that they are supposed to have over clan forces, then we desperately need a timeskip if we are going to have even a semblance of balance between the clans and IS)

Edited by GeneralArmchair, 13 September 2015 - 11:28 AM.

[Tennex]

so exactly how many ECM variants are within timeline for 3050 ?

[Mcgral18]

Tennex, on 13 September 2015 - 11:31 AM, said:

so exactly how many ECM variants are within timeline for 3050 ?

Zero is the answer.

[LordKnightFandragon]

Because moar ECM is just what this game needs.

ECM needs to be a light mech only thing...

[SgtMagor]

everyone gets ECM,

[Bishop Steiner]

None.

Pretty sure the MAD-5L is the first factory ECM carrier, and it's the 3067 Capellan Confederation version of the Reseen Project Phoenix Marauder.

[GeneralArmchair]

LordKnightFandragon, on 13 September 2015 - 11:48 AM, said:

Because moar ECM is just what this game needs.

ECM needs to be a light mech only thing...

The prevalence of ECM is primarily a problem because the clans can slap it onto most popular builds with ECM equipped omni-pods. IS ECM mechs are by and large terrible and rely on the ECM as a crutch to keep their heads above water.




As for ECM marauders:
MAD-5L : Has Stealth Armor, which doesn't show up until at least 3063.
MAD-5R: Has a RAC-5, which isn't developed until 3062
MAD-6L: Has stealth armor (3063) and plasma rifles (3068)
MAD-7D: Has RAC-5 (3062) and an IS targeting computer (3062)
MAD-9M: Has Streak SRM-6 (3058). While the tech is closer to the techlevel available than most of the others listed here, its numbering designation implies that it isn't fielded until much later.
MAD-9S: Has a Light Fusion Engine (3062)
MAD-9W2: The first red flag is that this is based on a Word of Blake design, so it is a Dark Age era mech. Beyond that, it is equipped with a Snub-nose PPC (3067), improved jump jets (3069), heavy duty gyros (3067), and a light fusion engine (3062)

None of the seven ECM equipped MADs are available for the Clan invasion timeline. We really need to advance the clock to the post-invasion time period.

[Hydrocarbon]

Mcgral18, on 13 September 2015 - 11:36 AM, said:

Zero is the answer.

Where do you find timelines for variants? I've had the worst luck finding anything besides first production dates.

[Escef]

GeneralArmchair, on 13 September 2015 - 12:07 PM, said:

MAD-9W2: The first red flag is that this is based on a Word of Blake design, so it is a Dark Age era mech.

Jihad era, Dark Age is after. Not sure how many of the WoB redesigns remained in production after the Jihad ended and everyone recaptured their factories.

[Bishop Steiner]

Hydrocarbon, on 13 September 2015 - 12:51 PM, said:

Where do you find timelines for variants? I've had the worst luck finding anything besides first production dates.

http://www.masterunitlist.info/

[Strum Wealh]

Hydrocarbon, on 13 September 2015 - 11:04 AM, said:

There appears to be 21+ Marauder variants listed on Sarna, and 7 are listed with ECM. Since this is a very old mech, I'd make a guess than the lions share of these are pre-3050 variants.

So with 1/3 of the mechs having ECM, this indicates one of the 3 variants will have it?

Could it be the first ECM Hero mech??

None of the Marauder variants carry an ECM suite in their stock configurations until the debut of the MAD-5L in 3067.

Future canonical variants having ECM suites is not a guarantee that in-timeline variants will have the feature added (see: Banshee, BattleMaster, Grasshopper, Hunchback, JagerMech, Quickdraw, Shadow Hawk, Thunderbolt (which has six canonical ECM variants), Vindicator, and Wolverine).

Likewise, past canonical variants having ECM is not a guarantee that current variants will have the feature added (see: Firestarter, Stalker).

The Pirate's Bane is already the first ECM-capable Hero Mech.

[Mcgral18]

Hydrocarbon, on 13 September 2015 - 12:51 PM, said:

Where do you find timelines for variants? I've had the worst luck finding anything besides first production dates.

I used SSW.

Admittedly, it only has an 90% accuracy rating, so not a guarantee.

[Davers]

Sable, on 13 September 2015 - 11:23 AM, said:

there are quite a few variants for the marauder and i wouldn't be surprised if one of them included ECM. But it's not really the ECM that i'm looking forward too, it's the IS having a good all around 75 tonner to compete with the clans. Clans have the timberwolf and a bunch of good 65 tonners, IS has the thunderbolt at 65 tons and sometimes the grasshopper. Since the orion isn't really that popular it will be a welcome addition for those looking for a good all around heavy mech.

We have no idea if the Marauder will truly be competitive or not. It could end up as a 75 ton Cataphract with an easy to hit from 360 degree shoulder weapon that everyone leaves empty.

[Hydrocarbon]

Bishop Steiner, on 13 September 2015 - 12:55 PM, said:

http://www.masterunitlist.info/

Thanks! However that's about the only useful info from that site. After looking them over, the available variants are rather stale. Given the low number of hardpoints, I'd presume people will either boat big weapons or a big engine. Mechs like this make it very clear they never designed mechs for tactical combat.

Davers, on 13 September 2015 - 01:54 PM, said:

We have no idea if the Marauder will truly be competitive or not.

After the IS quirk nerfs it will most assuredly suck cattle c*** vs clamz, but it's the fact it's available. It won't be as bad as a PB post-nerf, so maybe I should clarify my "first Hero ECM" question.

[Speedy Plysitkos]

My MAL-P is eating marauders for breakfest. Give them 3 ECM, 10 LL, whatever. Im hungry.

[Bishop Steiner]

Hydrocarbon, on 14 September 2015 - 07:20 AM, said:

Thanks! However that's about the only useful info from that site. After looking them over, the available variants are rather stale. Given the low number of hardpoints, I'd presume people will either boat big weapons or a big engine. Mechs like this make it very clear they never designed mechs for tactical combat.




After the IS quirk nerfs it will most assuredly suck cattle c*** vs clamz, but it's the fact it's available. It won't be as bad as a PB post-nerf, so maybe I should clarify my "first Hero ECM" question.

that list is for exactly two things, to show official canon variants and when available. Tis why it's a master unit list.
For details on units, try http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Main_Page (solid overviews) and http://www.solaris7.com/ (For TRO breakdowns)