3 replies to this topic

[monev]

I know there's a debate about the actual usefulness of machine guns in combat, but if say, you spot a salvo of LRMs headed your way, would it be possible to aim those guns skyward and manually shoot down incoming missiles? You wouldn't be able to get them all, but If this was possible then that would add an entire other dimension of utility to the guns potential usefulness per ton. I know LAMS already exists, but I don't see a problem with it stacking, being a manual thing it would be all about pilot skill and reaction time. I personally think it would be incredibly boss, and I would highly consider throwing one on any build that had a few other extra tons and a ballistic slot on an arm (since arms have faster tracking response)

I could even see it evolving into a new support sub-role, a light mech with ballistic slots on its arms could help cover other mechs in the lance until the lance got into a closer fighting range, inside the missiles minimum range, where it could still use those same guns in close support combat.

While on the topic of LAMS, how about a special LAMS module with much heavier requirements (even taking up hardpoints on the mech) that is essentially AoE? That is to say that it would target any missile that passes within, say 200m or 300m, of the equipped mech no matter who those missiles are actually targeting. This would also include out-going friendly missiles too. Again, it wouldn't be able to shot down all the missiles, in fact it would probably have a success rate lower then a normal LAMS.

You could have it equipped on an Atlas and its lancemates could keep close formation to stay under it's protection, but any friends with missiles would specifically have to stay OUT of range. Additionally If you have multiple allies with the same system, and that light mech with machine guns I mentioned before, you would have quite the umbrella.

Clearly there's the possibility of all this reaching broken proportions, but the question isn't, "Is this brokenly powerful?", but "What would the requirements have to be to make it NOT broken?" Let's discuss shall we?

[Team Leader]

monev, on 18 July 2012 - 04:47 PM, said:

I know there's a debate about the actual usefulness of machine guns in combat, but if say, you spot a salvo of LRMs headed your way, would it be possible to aim those guns skyward and manually shoot down incoming missiles? You wouldn't be able to get them all, but If this was possible then that would add an entire other dimension of utility to the guns potential usefulness per ton. I know LAMS already exists, but I don't see a problem with it stacking, being a manual thing it would be all about pilot skill and reaction time. I personally think it would be incredibly boss, and I would highly consider throwing one on any build that had a few other extra tons and a ballistic slot on an arm (since arms have faster tracking response)

I could even see it evolving into a new support sub-role, a light mech with ballistic slots on its arms could help cover other mechs in the lance until the lance got into a closer fighting range, inside the missiles minimum range, where it could still use those same guns in close support combat.

While on the topic of LAMS, how about a special LAMS module with much heavier requirements (even taking up hardpoints on the mech) that is essentially AoE? That is to say that it would target any missile that passes within, say 200m or 300m, of the equipped mech no matter who those missiles are actually targeting. This would also include out-going friendly missiles too. Again, it wouldn't be able to shot down all the missiles, in fact it would probably have a success rate lower then a normal LAMS.

You could have it equipped on an Atlas and its lancemates could keep close formation to stay under it's protection, but any friends with missiles would specifically have to stay OUT of range. Additionally If you have multiple allies with the same system, and that light mech with machine guns I mentioned before, you would have quite the umbrella.

Clearly there's the possibility of all this reaching broken proportions, but the question isn't, "Is this brokenly powerful?", but "What would the requirements have to be to make it NOT broken?" Let's discuss shall we?

I like it (completely unbiased guys)

[ManDaisy]

I would welcome dedicated anti missile platform mechs as well. Jagger mech , being able to mount 4 machine guns on the arms being a good anti air example.

[Strum Wealh]

monev, on 18 July 2012 - 04:47 PM, said:

I know there's a debate about the actual usefulness of machine guns in combat, but if say, you spot a salvo of LRMs headed your way, would it be possible to aim those guns skyward and manually shoot down incoming missiles? You wouldn't be able to get them all, but If this was possible then that would add an entire other dimension of utility to the guns potential usefulness per ton. I know LAMS already exists, but I don't see a problem with it stacking, being a manual thing it would be all about pilot skill and reaction time. I personally think it would be incredibly boss, and I would highly consider throwing one on any build that had a few other extra tons and a ballistic slot on an arm (since arms have faster tracking response)

I could even see it evolving into a new support sub-role, a light mech with ballistic slots on its arms could help cover other mechs in the lance until the lance got into a closer fighting range, inside the missiles minimum range, where it could still use those same guns in close support combat.

While on the topic of LAMS, how about a special LAMS module with much heavier requirements (even taking up hardpoints on the mech) that is essentially AoE? That is to say that it would target any missile that passes within, say 200m or 300m, of the equipped mech no matter who those missiles are actually targeting. This would also include out-going friendly missiles too. Again, it wouldn't be able to shot down all the missiles, in fact it would probably have a success rate lower then a normal LAMS.

You could have it equipped on an Atlas and its lancemates could keep close formation to stay under it's protection, but any friends with missiles would specifically have to stay OUT of range. Additionally If you have multiple allies with the same system, and that light mech with machine guns I mentioned before, you would have quite the umbrella.

Clearly there's the possibility of all this reaching broken proportions, but the question isn't, "Is this brokenly powerful?", but "What would the requirements have to be to make it NOT broken?" Let's discuss shall we?

Both ideas have already been discussed separately here and here (among other places).
(Even if the forum's built-in search is cumbersome, using a normal search engine (e.g. Google) with "mwomercs + (topic of interest)" will work...)

Also, the IS doesn't get LAMS (as distinct from LAMs; note the capitalization (or lack thereof) of the "S") until 3059 (though, it started development in the FedCom in 3054).
MWO starts in 3049, so LAMS shouldn't be available for some time yet.

That said:
1.) Page 100 of Tactical Operations (viewable here) describes optional rules for how a normal AMS can be used as a weapon, comparable in performance (except range) and effect to standard Machine Guns.
However, to the best of my knowledge there are no rules (standard or optional) for doing the reverse (using normal weapons for missile defense).
Additionally: given how small, fast, and maneuverable BT/MW missiles are, the odds of anything other than an automated system (like AMS) actually hitting even a single missile is so small as to be negligible - thus, why AMS exists in the first place.
So, no - no one is "teh 1337" enough to take down a -C1 Catapult's full salvo with their bank of Pulse Lasers.

2.) Tactical Operations (again, on page 100) describes a second optional rule for making AMS more effective (basically by allowing a certain roll result to shoot down all missiles targeting the 'Mech that are launched from any one weapon).
However, the AMSs mounted on any given 'Mech target only missiles that would have otherwise successfully hit said 'Mech a.) for the in-story reason of conserving their limited ammunition stores and b.) for the gameplay reason of not completely rendering missile-based 'Mechs and weapons completely useless and irrelevant.

3.) As we know that the Devs are making a point of heavily adhering to the BT canon/lore, it seems likely that most weapons and equipment would generally retain the capabilities and limitations described in said canon/lore.

On those grounds, I personally disagree with the notions put forward in the opening post.