Lykaon, on 17 January 2019 - 12:15 PM, said:
Except that the LRMs are inferior in pretty much every meaningfull way when forced to compete with autocannons,lasers,PPCs or Gauss weapons.
So now I need to wonder what is the point if LRMs are just as restricted to clear lanes of fire as more conventional direct fire weapon options.
When LRM platforms occupy that fire lane they are performing at an inferior level compared to other direct fire options. So logically if you options are put an LRM platform in that fire lane or an AC carrier there you would logically utilize the AC equiped mech over the LRM carrier.
This would logically lead towards a tendency for LRMs to leverage the indirect fire aspects of the weapon system and thus defeat the whole purpose of encouraging and rewarding direct fire use of LRMs.
TLDR: If LRMs are not as good as other direct fire weapons and lack the capacity to reliably operate in close second line (firing over friendlies) then why use them ? And since LRMs are of questionable value as direct fire weapons when other more effective options are available then wouldn't this create a trend where indirect fire LRM use is heavily leveraged?
And if this does occur then there is little to no incentive to utilize LRMs as direct fire weapons.
EXACTLY!!!
that is basically what makes an LRM a weapon to use in many cases.. the ability to push a narrow corridor, like say on Solaris city. While the direct fire users can't use there instant hit PPC's from mulitple lines, the LRM's can actually add on damage..
Hurling LRM's right over a brawlers head as they circle is actually a thing for many of us users helping open up that armor. It's part of the strat that helps the bralwer.. We are not using them as meat sheilds as many other Direct fire weapons so often do.. I know i get hit in the back from them all the time as i brawl. When i see those LRM's come raining down from a mech that is only 250-300m from me i love it.. A nice tight spread, and no worries about being hit by someone as i turn to wonder how is coring me out.. ohh its only my own team.
also clan side, we have ATM's,. I see zero reason for two weapons that work the same.
I want an LOS BUFF that's it.. Something to encourage LRM users to get their own locks, to make the weapon a bit more useful for doing so, and maybe helping put an end to the classic, LRM turret that never shares armor and doesn't mvoe the whole match. , But i want LRM's to work like LRM's..
turning them into Streak LRM's which are a totally different weapon will not do that..