24 replies to this topic

[Lily from animove]

So can I have your ecm hardpoint then?

[Appogee]

My thinking on ECM is:

• I equip it when it's available, so that it effectively serves as 'radar deprivation' from the LRM missile rain. It saves me some Skill Points that I can put into the Firepower Tree.
  
• I don't unlock any of the buffs. It takes too many Skill Points. (And I'm not trying to create a big bubble for PUG teams that probably won't use it.)
  
• On any Mech that doesn't have ECM, I unlock the first level of Radar Dep. Again, I just want to give myself a chance to avoid most of the missile rain.
  
• On one Mech - an Assassin - I use ECM and Stealth armor, for the specific "sneak up behind them and assassinate them" playstyle.

Please let me know if you think my logic is flawed or that I'm doing it wrong.

[ice trey]

DjPush, on 01 August 2017 - 03:03 PM, said:

There doesn't appear to be any point to it. Everything can detect you now at any range. I have filled parts of the pilot tree to extend the coverage. It doesn't matter. So.. So long ECM. Calling time of death at 17:02 on 8/1/2017.

I'm OK with this, because PGI made ECM overkill since it's inception.

Remember that all ECM was supposed to do in tabletop was to break up C3 networks and negate effects from Artemis and NARC, but here it nullifies homing entirely and often hides radar signatures. In the early days, it used to completely scramble sensors, take your kids to daycare, call your inlaws for you, and filed your tax returns.

While I don't mind ECM adding some benefits, It should be modifiers, not Rock-Paper-Scissoring entire weapons systems like Streaks and LRMs into obscurity.

Also, watch the skies for UAVs. They ignore ECM. They're pretty common and 40K cbills can be easily be made back even in a lost match.

[Khobai]

They really need to change ECM around. It shouldnt grant stealth at all.

1) get rid of ecm stealth, it never shouldve granted stealth, its dumb that it grants stealth. instead it should do the things that its actually supposed to do like cutting enemy mechs off from their teams shared C3 sensor network and creating fake radar signatures (ghost mode).

2) add passive sensor mode to the game. passive sensor mode would basically give all mechs access to a weak form of stealth. but using it would halve your sensor range and prevent you from sharing sensor information with teammates. using passive sensor mode would also disable BAP and other active sensor equipment. passive sensor mode stealth should be about the same as ECM is now without any skill nodes.

3) stealth armor should make you untargetable at all ranges. Although BAP should detect and counter stealth armor within 120m because thats what BAP does. Its supposed to detect stealthed and shutdown mechs. BAP should detect EVERYTHING within 120m, even if you dont have LoS, it should detect enemies through walls and terrain. It should detect things behind you. Again its what BAP is supposed to do.

4) add three new consumables to the game: a sensor jamming consumable, a consumable that creates fake radar contacts, and a seismic probe consumable.

then we have the start of information warfare being added to the game.

Edited by Khobai, 02 August 2017 - 01:19 AM.

[Dr Hobo]

Khobai, on 02 August 2017 - 01:03 AM, said:

They really need to change ECM around. It shouldnt grant stealth at all.

1) get rid of ecm stealth, it never shouldve granted stealth, its dumb that it grants stealth. instead it should do the things that its actually supposed to do like cutting enemy mechs off from their teams shared C3 sensor network and creating fake radar signatures (ghost mode).

2) add passive sensor mode to the game. passive sensor mode would basically give all mechs access to a weak form of stealth. but using it would halve your sensor range and prevent you from sharing sensor information with teammates. using passive sensor mode would also disable BAP and other active sensor equipment. passive sensor mode stealth should be about the same as ECM is now without any skill nodes.

3) stealth armor should make you untargetable at all ranges. Although BAP should detect and counter stealth armor within 120m because thats what BAP does. Its supposed to detect stealthed and shutdown mechs. BAP should detect EVERYTHING within 120m, even if you dont have LoS, it should detect enemies through walls and terrain. It should detect things behind you. Again its what BAP is supposed to do.

4) add three new consumables to the game: a sensor jamming consumable, a consumable that creates fake radar contacts, and a seismic probe consumable.

then we have the start of information warfare being added to the game.

Get rid of shared C3. Then add it back as a module. Gives IS command consoles a use,and gives mechs like the Crab something to do.

A free C3 module is really a bad idea tbh and it just makes the point and delete adventures that happen not fun at all. And it would make LRM boaters have to be conscious about their positioning so they know when they should and shouldnt shoot(as an LRM/ATM/MRM/SRM boat driver,nothing is more infuriating then catching a full LRM 100 rack to the back because a teammate is just shooting at the dorito halfway across the map)

This would also make sniper mechs have a need to be within sensor range,and not at the very limit of the weapon ranges if they want to be the most efficient with their mechs

Go with your ideas and I'd be game.