11 replies to this topic

[ShadowThunder77]

whats the very best light or medium mech that can use both PPC and ECM??

[Elizander]

Well there are only 2 light mechs and 1 medium mech that can use ECM right now.

Commando 2D (can have 1 PPC), Raven 3L (can also use PPC) and the Cicada 3M (can also use PPC)

[ShadowThunder77]

should i get the Raven 3L,Commando 2D or the Cicada 3M??

[Elizander]

Go to the battlemech guide section. There are some guides there, though most people will probably say get the Raven. It's bigger than the commando and it can carry Streak missiles unlike the Cicada.

[ShadowThunder77]

how are streak missles against enemy ECMs??

[Lancer Deistler]

You can't even fire streaks at ecm covered mechs. But you can use your ecm as counter.

Edited by Lancer Deistler, 13 December 2012 - 03:08 AM.

[ShadowThunder77]

what good will streak missiles be if the entire enemy team is runnung ECM mechs??

BTW that would leave direct fire weapons as the only option

[Lancer Deistler]

Thats exactly wat is happening now in-game. But as i said you can switch your ecm to disrupt mode (think it's 'j' button) and you will disrupt the ecms in your influence sphere (180m), so you can lock on with lrms and ssrms. Also helps your team alot if you do that. Of course you loose you own cover aswell.

Edited by Lancer Deistler, 13 December 2012 - 03:34 AM.

[Elizander]

If the enemy mech has ECM, you switch your ECM to jam mode now both of you can streak each other.

Your alternative is to mount 1 TAG in place of a laser and TAG him from 180m-450m to fire your Streaks on him.

[Konril]

ShadowThunder77, on 13 December 2012 - 02:48 AM, said:

whats the very best light or medium mech that can use both PPC and ECM??

I'm sure you can shoehorn a PPC into a Raven if you're really creative about it. However for the specific combination of PPC and ECM in the same mech, two likely canidates come to mind.

The CDA-3M Cicada comes standard with a big XL engine and an Ultra AC/5. Rip the autocannon and ammo out, and that frees up 10 tons for you to do as you like with. Move a medium laser to the center torso then you can fit the PPC and ECM in and still have enough tonnage left to start beefing up the armor. I would also recommend replacing that small pulse with another medium laser. Endo steel structure will allow even more armor, just enough to be a half ton shy of maximum.

Your second option is to go all out with an AS7-D-DC Atlas. Pull the command console and the default weapons, upgrade to double heat sinks, and you can put in 2 PPCs and a Gauss rifle and still have tonnage left for a LRM 15 & 5 set or 3 SRM 6 launchers with 3 tons of ammo each for the gauss and missiles. But it might not be a bad idea just to use SRM 4s and put some extra heat sinks in the engine.

[stjobe]

I wouldn't recommend putting a PPC on a COM-2D.

If you absolutely must do it, go with an ERPPC, Double Heat Sinks, Endo-steel, and your ECM. That, and a 200XL engine will put you right on 25 tons. You'll only have the ERPPC as a weapon, and the distinctive feature of the 2D, its three missile hardpoints, will be wasted.

[BigJim]

My advice? Don't bother taking an ECM mech just so you can say you've got ECM.

They're useful on a scout to a degree, but hell, like the guy said above, in a 1v1 fight it's not like having ECM will protect you from an enemy ECM mech's streaks, as he'll just toggle it into Counter-mode and then he can target you.

And vice-versa, if you run into an enemy ECm scout in your ECM scout, you can do the same.

But why even get into some kind of silly ECM arms race if you don't intend the mech for that specific role?
I still see well piloted mechs of all kinds dominating vs crappy pilots with ECM, there's way too much faith being put in ECM right now, ECM this, ECM that, f**k ECM, just don't suck and you'll be fine mate.

When I'm running with a scout lance of course, we take ECM because we're up against a well practised team who will be using it, but make no mistake - In scouting terms right now, ECM is used to counter enemy ECM and thus to enable our guys to use their streaks, not for any larger reason.

LRMs? Only baaaad scout pilots ever need to fear LRMs.
Being seen?
Only baaaad opponents don't use heat-mode and snipe you if you're silly enough to stay in LoS for too long.

No, our ECM is there to negate the enemy ECM and to allow streaks to be used.
Once the netcode is back up to snuff and Streaks are less powerful, that will be a less important factor as laser-scouts will be a very viable option for those skilful enough to use them (right now streaks are so forgiving of mistake even crap pilots can rack up large damage).