2 replies to this topic

[Ialdabaoth]

Information Warfare is a really promising idea that hasn't always panned out well in practice. I'd like to provide a structure for sensor systems that would make IW-style play more engaging.

1. Detection Range
All Battlemechs have a base sensor detection range, based on their weight class. Larger Battlemechs can be detected from further away.

Light Battlemechs - 500 meters
Medium Battlemechs - 600 meters
Heavy Battlemechs - 750 meters
Assault Battlemechs - 900 meters

Some Battlemechs have better sensors, which are represented by Sensor Quirks. For example, the Spider 5D might have the quirk "+20% Sensor Range". This would mean that a Spider 5D could detect Light Battlemechs at 600 meters, Mediums at 720 meters, Heavies at 900 meters, and Assaults at 1080 meters.

'Detect' just means that a dorito appears, allowing you to target that mech.

2. Sensor Modes

All Battlemech sensor suites have two modes: Active and Passive. ECM and BAP integrate into the Battlemech's sensor suite, and their modes are dependent on the Battlemech's sensor mode. The default key to change sensor modes is 'J'.

In Active Mode, a Battlemech's range to be detected is increased by 25%, and its range to detect other Battlemechs is increased by 50%.

3. ECM Suite
In Active Mode, an ECM suite will counter one enemy ECM suite in passive (jam) mode.
In Passive Mode, an ECM suite will reduce the Battletech's range to be detected by 90%, and will actively jam the sensors and communications of enemy mechs within 90 meters. If still detected, it will double the time necessary for Target Info Gathering and for LRM locks.

4. Active Probe
In Active Mode, an Active Probe will detect all shutdown mechs within 200 meters, will detect (but not counter) any enemy ECM suite within 200 meters, and will detect all active mechs within 200 meters that are separated by less than 15 meters of solid terrain. It will also cause Target Info Gathering to happen *instantly* when a target is selected.
In Passive Mode, an Active Probe will increase the range to detect other Battlemechs by 50%.

5. Command Console
In Active Mode, a Command Console will share your targeting info with all teammates - i.e., Mechs that you detect will appear on your teammates' screens as open doritos, even if you do not target them.
In Passive Mode, a Command Console will share your teammates' targeting info with you - i.e., Mechs that your teammates detect will appear on your screen as open doritos, even if you do not target them.

6. TAG and NARC
When hit by TAG or NARC, a Battlemech will immediately become targetable by all teammates, regardless of ECM, Active Probe, or sensor range.

[Solis Obscuri]

Why don't we just have real sensor modes (RADAR/Infrared/Magnetometer) like in Battletech instead of fake "passive RADAR", incorporate advanced target info gathering into the BAP functionality like in Battletech, and then make ECM a countermeasure system that works against advanced targeting and info-gathering systems like Artemis, NARC, and BAP (like in Battletech) instead of making it into an even more broken a Jesus-in-a-box that functions as a null-signature stealth armor plus magic fog-of-war.

Then we can can keep all of our real Battletech information sharing and maybe build the command console into something useful for the tonnage like satellite uplink functionality.

[Generic Internetter]

Great ideas, I agree!

Ialdabaoth, on 27 January 2016 - 04:09 PM, said:

2. Sensor Modes
In Active Mode, a Battlemech's range to be detected is increased by 25%, and its range to detect other Battlemechs is increased by 50%.

...Exactly how it was in MW4 (and MW2?). You flip your radar between active and passive.
Yeah, this already existed in a previous MechWarrior computer game, but not in MWO!
PGI please add.