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These were probably all brought up before, because we already have a similar system in Streak SRM.
Please read the entire post to get the complete picture of the proposed changes, as taken out of context, these can make LRM appear either severely OP or literally useless.
1. Separate direct and indirect fire mechanics
Indirect fire (No line of sight, lock held by a teammate)
The weapon functions as it does now, spraying ineffectually over a mech's position, not really taking the 'mech itself into account.
Direct fire (Line of sight to the target, you hold your own lock, or through NARC/UAV)
Without changing the flight mechanic, individual missiles in a cluster/stream actually lock on to different components. Provided that the lock isn't lost (radar dep, ECM, etc), the targeted 'mech doesn't find cover and is not protected by AMS, all missiles hit, though still spreading the damage over the entire 'mech, similarly to Streak SRM.
So, if an Atlas is standing in the open, with no AMS, ECM, or possible cover, and is hit with a single direct fire LRM20, X of those 20 missiles will hit the left arm, Y the right arm, etc.
2. Change the way the LRM-related systems work
NARC and UAV would make LRM function as if the attacker had LoS. NARC might need a duration reduction. (Tag laser doesn't provide the perk, and serves to counter ECM.)
AMS should be significantly more effective at shooting down missiles. I'm not sure about the math, but I think a single AMS should at least be able to nullify a single LRM5.
For example, if you are shot by a LRM20, a single AMS would shoot down 5 of the 20 missiles.
If you are shot by chainfired 3xLRM5, it should shoot down 7-8.
C-LRM would be more susceptible to AMS because it travels in streams instead of clusters. I think 7-8 missiles shot down from a LRM20, or somewhere around that number.
Thus, a 'mech with 3 AMS would be a significant detriment to LRM, and a team of 12 AMS would completely nullify a single LRM boat.
Expected results
Implemented together, I think these changes would affect the game in several ways:
- It would encourage people to actually lock on their targets themselves, lessening the number of people standing behind in 100 ton 'mechs, shooting at targets 900m away.
- It would encourage people to use LRM in a more stock/lore fashion, taking 1-2 LRM as support for their standard, direct fire weapons. This would give more variety to builds, and make builds more versatile.
-It would make ECM more tactically important, especially on bigger 'mechs, like the Atlas or Hellbringer
-It would massively improve NARC
-It would make AMS and LRM20 something worth using
In my mind, this would make LRM more suitable to being carried as support weapons, to suppress enemies engaging your team while you close the distance, and to add damage while actually firing at them with lasers and stuff, especially if PGI comes through and steers the game away from alpha peeking with the new heat system.
You could still sit at spawn in your Stalker and chuck missiles at enemies you can't see, but for a team with a couple of AMS, you may as well not exist.
Please give your opinions on the matter, and suggest better solutions if you have them.
I am aware the weapons themselves might need to be adjusted for tonnage/heat/slots/ammo to balance them, but let's focus on the gameplay/mechanics part and assume those are a given.
Edited by 2fast2stompy, 03 March 2016 - 02:14 AM.
