12 replies to this topic

[Skyfaller]

It makes no sense for scout mechs to not have more advanced detection systems than heavier mechs.


I'm not 100% sure but it seems the detection range of all mech is roughly 600m.


How about increasing the lock range of mechs based on their tonnage?

Assaults: shortest (400m)
Heavies: mid-short (450m)
Mediums: Medium range (500m)
'Combat Support Lights' -Jenner/Raven-: (600m)
'Recon Lights' -Commando- : (800m)

This is just the ability to radar-detect a target (red triangle over their heads).

[Dagger906]

Radar-detect? Are you refering to los or relayed target already spotted by someone else?

No offense, but you should read up on MWO mechanics, it's a bit different from previous MW games.

[Zphyr]

I think it's 800m. And we will probably have some module that increase detection distance. It makes no sense that a little commando would have more powerful computers than a huge atlas.

[Voidsinger]

Yes however, there is another way.

Each mech would have a signature, based on engine size, mech size, emmission control. Detection range should vary from mech to mech, just like modern military aircraft. With Assaults for obvious reasons being detected furtherest away.

Seismic sensors are likely to be a module.

[Sean von Steinike]

http://www.sarna.net...le_Active_Probe

This might fill the role.

Edited by Sean von Steinike, 13 November 2012 - 10:41 PM.

[cmopatrick]

the current visual lock range is 800m.

Skyfaller, on 13 November 2012 - 06:48 PM, said:

'Combat Support Lights' -Jenner/Raven-: (600m)
'Recon Lights' -Commando- : (800m)

no offense, but... the Jenny and Commando are scout hunters and PITAs, as are (to a pathetically lesser degree) the RVN-2x and 4x. they can run out and scout in the game as we have it now, but that is not their intent. the only true scout in the list is the RVN-3L. the devs may nerf the tar out of it by ruining the ECM and BAP that it is supposed to carry (and these chassis are not), but that does not change the fact. if ANY mech should have greatest visual range without modules, it is the Raven.

can you tell i'm a Raven pilot? if so, what was your first hint... ?

Edited by cmopatrick, 13 November 2012 - 10:56 PM.

[Skyfaller]

cmopatrick, on 13 November 2012 - 10:54 PM, said:

the current visual lock range is 800m.



no offense, but... the Jenny and Commando are scout hunters and PITAs, as are (to a pathetically lesser degree) the RVN-2x and 4x. they can run out and scout in the game as we have it now, but that is not their intent. the only true scout in the list is the RVN-3L. the devs may nerf the tar out of it by ruining the ECM and BAP that it is supposed to carry (and these chassis are not), but that does not change the fact. if ANY mech should have greatest visual range without modules, it is the Raven.

can you tell i'm a Raven pilot? if so, what was your first hint... ?

The point is the light mechs should be the scouts of the force. It makes no sense to have them get close to an enemy to spot them. I don't think the spot range is 800m since I've seen mechs at a distance and the red arrow did not pop up on their heads nor did I get spot bonus until they were around 600m.

A light mech whose mission is recon would indeed have better detection systems and optics than an atlas.

Light mechs have different roles too. The raven is mainly a scout and electronic warfare, the commando is a scout and light damage support, the jenner is a combat support and scout as a 2ndary function (it carries the heaviest arsenals). Give the light mechs a functional role based on their weight and capabilities is all I say. The raven will shine when ECM and beagle are in so let the Commando have the longest spot range.

[Storky]

If all mechs same balanced , then light mechs have to get a better radar.

[cmopatrick]

Skyfaller, on 14 November 2012 - 07:19 AM, said:

I don't think the spot range is 800m since I've seen mechs at a distance and the red arrow did not pop up on their heads nor did I get spot bonus until they were around 600m.

well, while i agree with your general premise, i must disagree with this bit. in both jennies and Ravens, i have tested the range and it is lockable at 799 and nothing at 800. been that way for months.

what you might not know is that i (like several others before and since) started a thread a lot like this one decrying the lack of visual range for scouts back in September (while still in CB). the general consensus in response is that the modules will be how we get the abilities to improve sensors and vision beyond the basic, rather than the chassis or class. the devs never weighed in on that that i know of (though i have not read EVERY word out there in their many blogs).

i'm NOT saying i think it makes much sense to do that when you can still use heat (on most maps) combined with zoom to get a pretty good direct fire beyond that range, but you can not mark them for your teammates to see or target. i am just trying to inform you of what i know (and hope will change for the better).

Edited by cmopatrick, 14 November 2012 - 07:44 PM.

[IceWendigo]

For game balance purposes, bigger Mechs should be detected by the radar further away than smaller Mech, with the smallest 20-25 tons being the hardest to detect from a distance, this would help differentiate these smaller Mechs from larger Light Mechs like the Jenner. A radar Skill that could add +2%, +4% +6% to base detection range would be interesting (all skills imo should have levels that you can increase for a lower cost instead of a single bigger % that costs more XP)

Note that the TT 3025 technical readout mentions that the Commando is stealthy (which means its harder to detect passiveley without ECM, ECM which should interfere with radar detection while [unless its differet in BTech] signaling that there is ECM being used, so it alerts to the presence of a nearby EMC using Mech but you dont know where the Mech is by looking at the HUD/Radar)

Edited by IceWendigo, 14 November 2012 - 08:55 PM.

[Stingray Productions]

I think the scouts are fine in stock, but you should be able to buy upgrades or a new sensor system to have longer range, sort of like a Beagle-Active Probe.

[Fooooo]

Voidsinger, on 13 November 2012 - 08:05 PM, said:

Yes however, there is another way.

Each mech would have a signature, based on engine size, mech size, emmission control. Detection range should vary from mech to mech, just like modern military aircraft. With Assaults for obvious reasons being detected furtherest away.

Seismic sensors are likely to be a module.

I sorta like this idea.


Basically give all the mechs different signature strengths equal to their size and possibly the size of engine a player puts in it.


So an Atlas with an XL355 or something would be able to be targetted at say 1500m.
An atlas with a standard 300 would be targetted at say 1200m, standard 200 engine maybe 1000m.

etc etc etc for all the mechs, the good thing with this is that you can give some special mechs made to be stealthy very low signatures, so you can only target them at say 400m or less, or even make a module that only some mechs can use that lowers their signature etc.

Edited by Fooooo, 15 November 2012 - 12:20 AM.

[cmopatrick]

interesting ideas there. magnetometer is supposed to be on the list, larger mechs would fit that profile of early detection really well, at least in low magnetic environments (city would be bad because of all the building metal). detecting partly on the signature of the engines would add another twist, because the top speed jennies and Ravens run 300 and 295 xl engines.

btw, afik, it is BAP (and much later in timeline Bloodhound) that could detect the ECM field, all others needed los. an interesting note, TAG is not jammed by ECM, while Artemis IV, C3, and even Narcs are.