4 replies to this topic

[mindwarp]

No matter how PGI tweak the current incarnation of infowarfare, the fact remains that many, even most people will discard it in favour of dealing more damage. After all, why bother locking targets when you can aim by eye and do just as well as if you'd taken the time to hit "r" and wait for the paperdoll.

So I suggest that a damage bonus be applied to locked targets. Get a good solid lock on your target, and the on board computers can tweak your aim and give you a damage boost. I'm not suggesting auto aim or anything like that - this would still rely on you aiming at the mech and individual components. Just giving a damage boost when you fire on a locked target relative to the strength of your lock.

Just as random numbers, I'm imagining something like a 10% damage boost for firing at a locked target, and maybe 20% for firing at a locked target within range of your BAP. Sure you can hit your target without a lock, and you can even hit the right area of your target, but with the lock you can get your shot just right and hit a weak point, or a weapons port or something. Dedicated infowar mechs can get those bonuses faster, or even get bigger bonuses.

This means that sensor range is important - potential extra damage for snipers. It means that lock speed is important for brawlers. It increases the value of PPCs since they can break ECM letting you get a lock and extra damage. And it opens up a bunch of options for info war mechs, like some can share their bonus with team mates, or some can get stronger locks and a bigger damage boost. That light info war mech doesn't sound like such a deadweight if he's gving your assaults a damage buff, does he?

Just to reiterate - none of this is to replace your skill at putting the crosshairs in the right place and pulling the trigger. It's just to make you hit harder if you utilise info warfare.

[DivineEvil]

I'd be fine for this if they'd also try to test if doubling IS mech internal structure gonna make a good deal.
All in all, additional damage would be good - it would make LRMs a more sophisticated weapon even as a secondary, would increase relevance of crit-adjusted weapons like LB-X, would add specific mech variants for sniping with sensor quirks, and so on. But TTK is pretty low at the moment, and even assaults are felt as being brittle. Leaving Clan mechs out of that test is just to compenstae for their XLs and overall smaller physical profiles, and to see if it's gonna skew a balance in a good direction.

[Noth]

I like the idea, and feel it is more likely to be implemented than wanderer's dispersion idea, though I think teh dispersion is the better idea.

DivineEvil, on 15 September 2015 - 10:53 PM, said:

I'd be fine for this if they'd also try to test if doubling IS mech internal structure gonna make a good deal.
All in all, additional damage would be good - it would make LRMs a more sophisticated weapon even as a secondary, would increase relevance of crit-adjusted weapons like LB-X, would add specific mech variants for sniping with sensor quirks, and so on. But TTK is pretty low at the moment, and even assaults are felt as being brittle. Leaving Clan mechs out of that test is just to compenstae for their XLs and overall smaller physical profiles, and to see if it's gonna skew a balance in a good direction.

Internal structure buffs are legit. The increase on the AS7-D was very very noticeable.

Edited by Noth, 15 September 2015 - 10:59 PM.

[DivineEvil]

Noth, on 15 September 2015 - 10:58 PM, said:

I like the idea, and feel it is more likely to be implemented than wanderer's dispersion idea, though I think teh dispersion is the better idea.

Internal structure buffs are legit. The increase on the AS7-D was very very noticeable.

Yeah. Imagine that increase on every single IS mech, from Locust to the Atlas. And with values, that are scaled with the type of a component. I think that would make crit-based weapons much more relevant for knocking out equipment, and the game to be much more forgiving for new players and loyal IS players, and more demanding in piloting skills to Clanners.

I don't see a dispersion as something that is intuitionally reasonable. Extra damage to the locked targets, and maybe a steeper damage ramp when firing into a unsppotted target, that is outside of weapon's optimal range (basically a reduction to weapon's maximum range), to me seems as something that is more comfy to work with.

[BARBAR0SSA]

Drop radar range down to 150M (make ecm like 20M), give light mechs really enhanced zoom(way more than current) and targeting laser (so non E hardpoints can do it), and let them scout and paint targets for the weaponry mechs. Would be a lot more tactical. Keep adding MOAR trees and cover

Also where the heck are the FAKE mech signal counter measures hmm? Why can't I drop a false signal distraction in some trees