101 replies to this topic

[Mcgral18]

ATM wise, you have to wonder how they'll make them less of a given missile choice for the Clams

They have longer range than LRMs in TT (not that it matters much, 810M), but will not likely be buffed. Which is fine, effective range isn't past 600M, and the 2 damage bracket ends at 450M.
With the ammo per ton likely being ~75 (225 dam, 150 dam, 75 dam potential), they'll be half as sustainable at range compared to LRMs.

However, when you get closer, they begin to get far more effective.
I am expecting it to be a locking weapon system. Likely with LRM targeting. This isn't necessarily bad, because that means mainly torso seeking high damage missiles, at half decent range.
It does mean however they are not F&F, and you'll also need the Taxes. Good news being the AP having a 360M range, so you can still get decent range out of them.

If they use Streak targeting...well, that bumps their effectiveness down another touch. But it does come with an advantage: No CoF spread, just Bone spread, as well as F&F

That means JJ mechs will appreciate it.
And, if you can force them to torso twist (with conventional weaponry), the Bone targeting then makes their shield side fall apart completely, having ALL of the missiles focus on the Leg and Arm (then Side Torso) of the given side.
Even Assault mechs couldn't withstand that long.


If they're dumb fire...well, they'd need decent velocity

As for disadvantages compared to SRMs, I expect Stream fire. Maybe the same 0.05s as LRMs.
I also don't entirely expect them to have 3.0 damage, or to have a 10M optimal range with a 810M extended, which means ramping damage ALL the way, and not the 3 separate range brackets.

This means they'd only have 1.875 damage at 300M, and 0.75 damage at 600M
That...makes them much weaker, actually. Maybe not that. It would also confuse the heck out of new players and the UI.


I guess PGI might have to do something new with ATMs.
We'll also have to see how Artemis affects them.
By Lore, they come stock with Artemis, but in MWO all locking weapons benefit from the half lock duration
Which begs the question...Will ATMs get 25% lock time with 0 tons spent? With an additional half (12.5% lock time) when using TAG?
That wouldn't be much of a lock time at all....but maybe that bug will be addressed after so many years.