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ECM currently hard counters SSRMs while in range. You can get around this partly by carrying TAG, but there are issues with feasibility. Now, many people are going to cringe at this thread as they remember the straight month of frustrating SSRM dominance from the likes of Catapults and Jenners. However, my issue is that SSRMs currently are almost entirely limited to those mechs to which SSRMs are supposed to be most effective against: Light mechs. If I take SSRMs against those mechs while they have ECM, I will literally never fire a shot of my SSRMs, while they will likely tear me apart with their own.
Regardless of the balance of the weapons themselves, the ability to use them on mechs has been very limited due to the likes of ECM. However, I'm not going to suggest a nerf to ECM, or even a buff to Streaks. No, instead its entirely an interaction issue.
Currently in MWO, if you are under the effects of ECM, you can not lock SSRMs against those targets, meaning you can not fire the SSRMs. However, this was not the behavior in the tabletop (oh no, TT warrior! Relax, I never even played it, only have a great interest in its rules);
Quote
Within its effect radius, an ECM suite has the following eff ects
on the following systems. The ECM suite does not affect other
scanning and targeting devices, such as TAG and targeting
computers.
Active Probe: Active probes cannot penetrate the ECM’s area
of effect. The probing unit would notice that it is being jammed,
however.
Artemis IV FCS: ECM blocks the effects of Artemis IV fire
control systems. Artemis-equipped launchers may be fired as
normal missiles through the ECM, but they lose the Cluster Hits
Table bonus.
Narc Missile Beacon: Missiles equipped to home in on an
attached Narc pod lose the Cluster Hits Table bonus for that
system if the pods themselves lie within an ECM “bubble.” The
Narc launcher itself (standard and iNarc) is not affected by ECM.
C3 and C3i Computer: ECM has the effect of “cutting off ” any C3-
equipped unit from its network. If a C3 master unit is isolated from
the network because it ventures inside the ECM radius, the entire
portion of the network below it is effectively shut off (all units
subordinate to it on the diagram on p. 132). Only those C3 units able
to draw an LOS to the master unit that does not pass through the
ECM radius can access the network. If the master unit that connects
the lances of a company lies inside the ECM effect radius, the link
between the lances is lost, though each lance’s network functions
normally (unless the ECM also interferes with them individually).
on the following systems. The ECM suite does not affect other
scanning and targeting devices, such as TAG and targeting
computers.
Active Probe: Active probes cannot penetrate the ECM’s area
of effect. The probing unit would notice that it is being jammed,
however.
Artemis IV FCS: ECM blocks the effects of Artemis IV fire
control systems. Artemis-equipped launchers may be fired as
normal missiles through the ECM, but they lose the Cluster Hits
Table bonus.
Narc Missile Beacon: Missiles equipped to home in on an
attached Narc pod lose the Cluster Hits Table bonus for that
system if the pods themselves lie within an ECM “bubble.” The
Narc launcher itself (standard and iNarc) is not affected by ECM.
C3 and C3i Computer: ECM has the effect of “cutting off ” any C3-
equipped unit from its network. If a C3 master unit is isolated from
the network because it ventures inside the ECM radius, the entire
portion of the network below it is effectively shut off (all units
subordinate to it on the diagram on p. 132). Only those C3 units able
to draw an LOS to the master unit that does not pass through the
ECM radius can access the network. If the master unit that connects
the lances of a company lies inside the ECM effect radius, the link
between the lances is lost, though each lance’s network functions
normally (unless the ECM also interferes with them individually).
In fact, as we can see, missiles aren't affected at all, at least as far as Total Warfare is concerned (or perhaps my lackluster reading ability?).
There's several solutions:
1: "You're a mad streakcat player and SSRMs should have a counter." I've literally never played a streakcat, but my current issue is that the mechs that SSRMs are supposed to be useful against are the ones with almost exclusive access to it, because they're also the ones mounting ECM.
2: Allow SSRMs to "lock" a mech within the bubble, but when they fire their missiles, they do not follow the target, instead they act like standard SRMs. Due to the large square area around a target that you are free to move your reticule in and still maintain the lock, you could also lead the target if need be. This is my preferred solution.
3: Allow SSRMs to lock and fire just like they can normally, but the lock takes much longer to achieve. This solution means SSRMs have their standard effectiveness while under the effect of ECM, but a fast light could break that slow lock many times before you'd get a chance to fire. This not exactly a solution I would support.
4: PGI currently intends to increase the range of TAGs. This might help LRM users, but I'm not sure how well this will help SSRMs.
5: As per the rules above, ECM would not affect streaks at all. This is a solution to consider.
Once again, this is not a discussion of ECM's other balance issues or perceived issues. I simply don't believe that SSRMs should be so limited (take them with ECM or don't take them at all). Yes, TAG allows missiles to lock against ECM mechs, but with SSRMs, unless more than several people have them, the ECM mech is likely to run right at you to avoid getting hit by them. A Raven can easily close the 90 meters it takes to shut them down within a few blinks of the eye.
My real issue is just how binary it is. It isn't good for a weapon system to be either very effective (which is being addressed, per command chair posts), or entirely useless. Yes, SSRMs can be used against these mechs, but the amount of effort you have to put into it versus just switching the weapons out makes me believe they really aren't worth taking at all. Forget all our bitterness about the weapon's abuses in the past (or even in the present on Ravens and Commandos). Simply think about how black and white the issue currently is. Its similar to perma-jamming UACs from the table top. It would not translate well into the real time game because people would simply not use the weapon. That's how SSRMs currently feel for me (unless you yourself carry ECM).
Thanks for listening to my ramblings.
Edited by Orzorn, 11 December 2012 - 05:59 PM.
