5 replies to this topic

[Kozmik]

Hi -- I found this explanation about ECM disrupt in an old post from 2018. Is this still an accurate? (I also know you need the skill tree nodes to improve the range of effect of disrupt) -- Thanks!

ECM Disrupt stops enemy mechs from getting the little red dorito over you.

It is disabled if:
you are too close to a mech with BAP -- bap cancels ECM
you are too close to a mech with ECM on counter mode
You are too close to an enemy and don't have much in the skill tree for ECM
You are getting hit by someone using a TAG laser.
You are under a UAV
You were just recently hit with some type of PPC
You are near a radar detection node (escort)
You are near a turret in incursion mode

Edited by Kozmik, 09 August 2023 - 09:25 AM.

[Void Angel]

Yes, that's generally correct - although honestly I don't remember about Incursion. I don't play that mode often (no one does,) and Escort has been removed since that post.

A few things about ECM that may not be apparent:

• ECM doesn't actually shield you from being detected on sensors (the dorito) from outside its actual range. What it does is reduce the enemy's effective sensor range by a percentage; this is why ECM skill nodes are so important for using ECM. So, if I have no skills, targeting computers, etc, that increase my sensor range, my sensors can detect you from up to 800m away. If you have some combination of quirks and skill nodes to bring your ECM percentage up to 50%, I will be able to see through your ECM bubble and detect you from up to 400m out.
  
• This effect is separate from the ECM system's actual range of 120m. This is the range at which ECM applies the sensor cloaking effect above to friendlies, as well as disrupting target sharing and slowing lock-on times for tracking weapons.
  
• Any given source of counter-ecm, whether an ECM system set to Counter, a UAV, or an Active Probe, will only burn through one ECM system at any given time. So if I have ECM and am standing next to an ECM 'mech underneath a UAV, my ECM will not be countered. TAG bypasses ECM, so it won't care how many ECM 'mechs are standing next to you, but it also won't stop an ECM 'mech it hits from protecting everyone else.
  
• Probably because of their counter-ECM effect, the bonus range you get from Active Probes do not count as part of your sensor range for determining the first effect, above. If you've got 800m sensors, plus an active probe (for a total of 1000m,) a skilled-up ECM will still reduce your detection range to 200m.

There's more to ECM and information warfare in general: an updated source is Found Here, along with the current go-to MechLab to model and share builds.

[SafeScanner]

^ what void said no need for me to add

Edited by SafeScanner, 09 August 2023 - 11:53 AM.

[Tesunie]

Kozmik, on 09 August 2023 - 09:25 AM, said:

Hi -- I found this explanation about ECM disrupt in an old post from 2018. Is this still an accurate? (I also know you need the skill tree nodes to improve the range of effect of disrupt) -- Thanks!

ECM Disrupt stops enemy mechs from getting the little red dorito over you.

It is disabled if:
you are too close to a mech with BAP -- bap cancels ECM
you are too close to a mech with ECM on counter mode
You are too close to an enemy and don't have much in the skill tree for ECM
You are getting hit by someone using a TAG laser.
You are under a UAV
You were just recently hit with some type of PPC
You are near a radar detection node (escort)
You are near a turret in incursion mode

Okay. Pieces of this are accurate still, others no so much.

ECM Disrupt stops enemy mechs from getting the little red dorito over you.
- No. This was quickly changed, as it was causing a lot of friendly fire. It no longet stops the IFF (red or blue marker) from appearing.

It is disabled if:
you are too close to a mech with BAP -- bap cancels ECM
- Yes, for the most part. If you have ECM and BAP, then your AP will no longer disable the ECM. You have to change your ECM mode to do this, which turns off it's "cloaking" feature.
you are too close to a mech with ECM on counter mode
- True.
You are too close to an enemy and don't have much in the skill tree for ECM.
- True, to some extent. ECM cuts your opponent's detection range of anyone under ECM roughly in half, last I recalled. There are skills to make this better, as well as skills that can increase sensor range that helps counter it at the same time. You need to get the ECM skills in the skill tree to get maximum boost from it.
You are getting hit by someone using a TAG laser.
- This will not "disable" ECM, but it does "punch through" ECM, making it so you can be targeted at a greater range.
You are under a UAV
- True.
You were just recently hit with some type of PPC
- Also true. A PPC hit will disable your ECM for about 5 seconds (last I recalled). It will also disable stealth armor, something the AP family can not do.
You are near a radar detection node (escort)
- Escort no longer exists, so ignore.
You are near a turret in incursion mode
- I believe this may be true, but it will not effect stealth armor. I believe the radar tower also punches through stealth when it is powered and does a radar "pulse".


I think that about covers the greater details? Sorry if any of this has already been mentioned. it is typically easier to just answer it all, than read all responses to see what has or has not been answered yet.

[Ignatius Audene]

On mechdb is a wiki with far more info about sensor / ECM etc.

[Kozmik]

Thank you all very much for the information! I really appreciate it!