26 replies to this topic

[mekredd]

ECM and anti-missile point defense systems already exist in cannon, and are as effective as they need to be at missile deterrence. Flares might still be useful on night-time maps tho.

Smoke, on the other hand, is something that does exist in CBT but is under/never utilized in the Mechwarrior line of games. Breaking line of sight is a great way to escape from or advance on an enemy position without being destroyed by direct-fire weaponry, even if the enemy can still see you on radar.

[Nik Van Rhijn]

If they put them in people will use them. Good idea.

[Pvt Dancer]

In table top, the idea of chaff and flares is what leads to that LRM 20 or SRM 6 not hitting you with all of it's missiles every round or the system outright missing you. They can still use that system by determining how many missiles actually hit you when you fire them, players can determined if they outright miss you or not.

Smoke, while used in table top, was an artillery effect. This was not something that was put on a mech at the time. This could be implemented, but it would take up space/tonnage. I for one would not sacrifice LRM 20 or AC 20 ammo for this.

It /would/ be very easy to create a "module" that allowed you additional countermeasures or made existing ones more effective (Scout?) or called in a artillery smoke screen (Command?) to cover an advance or break up long range fire on your defensive position. I think that might be the better way to go, honestly.

[BarHaid]

Putting smoke rounds in your mech would only be useful if you were part of a team. Oh yeah, you ARE part of a team! This would be a great addition to the Command mech: laying down cover for your lance-mates to advance on the opposition. Yeah you're losing out on some destructive power, but if your team is able to hit harder because of it, it might be worth it.

[UncleKulikov]

Smoke would be great against non missile weapons.

[Insidious Johnson]

Good idea, but never has been implemented into a mech game. It would open up more "rush" tactics for brawlers, discourage ranged snipers, and require frequent updates as to the tactical situation on the field. So like all good ideas, it'll probably get shelved.

[Gigaton]

UncleKulikov, on 17 April 2012 - 02:12 PM, said:

Smoke would be great against non missile weapons.

I was thinking opposite. I described the real world application for VIRSS (visual and infrared screening smoke) on previous page. It's basically like chaff that is used in direct response to impending enemy attack. It could be implemented in the visual effect of chaff pods if the chaff pods are available in game. System like Artemis IV that uses guidance by infrared beam would probably be vulnerable even in RL terms.

Normal smoke screens for covering movement are pretty problematic, since they aren't of much use once the pilots presses 'L' for "Thermal Optics, Engaged".

And with the tentative effect of thermal imaging in the game being this:

InnerSphereNews, on 03 February 2012 - 11:00 AM, said:

• • Vision Mode 3 – Thermal – Allows the pilot to see heat signatures through solid objects

...I don't see smoke doing much at all against properly equipped 'mechs. Forest fires and the like might be different if implmented (at least, they are so IRL but TI doesn't see through mountains IRL either). And like I said before, there are anti TI smokes IRL (the VIRSS) but, AFAIK, they don't retain the anti TI capability for too long so they are basically chaff.

Granted, laying smoke on lance of 'mechs without advanced vision modules and then pounding the blind lance down would be interesting, if rather unfair, tactic. It would require custom selection of lances and wouldn't work on everyone so it might be mostly useful with Merc Corps early on in the game' lifespan. The tactic might eventually force everyone to reserve module slot for TI as preventive measure, so that might make smoke a pointless addition in the first place.

Edited by Gigaton, 17 April 2012 - 05:23 PM.