269 replies to this topic

[Qarnage]

On a competitive level, ECM haven't changed much builds or tactics. LRMs can still work sometimes when the team is built around them, and are still cheesy, you take a high risk/reward gamble. The most reliable loadout strategy is still high direct damage builds. Focused fire still gets us the win, simply need better communication now. Main change, Jenner is not anymore the scout of preference, Raven is. The most skilled scout still win in an engagement.

[AlexWildeagle]

ECMis only OP'd to the LRM boat crews. Anyone who plays a balanced mech more typical to BT and other mechwarrior games love ECM

[Lupus Aurelius]

AlexWildeagle, on 14 December 2012 - 03:54 PM, said:

ECMis only OP'd to the LRM boat crews. Anyone who plays a balanced mech more typical to BT and other mechwarrior games love ECM

Sorry to disappoint you, but indirect fire support is one of the core elements of Battletech/MechWarrior, and usually part of a balanced team. ECM does not just effect LRM boats, it effects anyone that mounts LRMs or Streaks. Look at most Battletech standard builds, and, except on specialized role mechs, the majority have some form of indirect long range capablity, even if it is just a LRM 5 or LRM 10.

[xxx WreckinBallRaj xxx]

Syllogy, on 14 December 2012 - 07:26 AM, said:

Backfire.

Poll shows that most people do not want PGI to remove ECM.

Doesn't mean they don't want it nerfed or other stuff buffed for balance. That poll is misleading.

AlexWildeagle, on 14 December 2012 - 03:54 PM, said:

ECMis only OP'd to the LRM boat crews. Anyone who plays a balanced mech more typical to BT and other mechwarrior games love ECM

Did you pull this out of your own rear, or someone else's?

[topgun505]

THIS. The 4X is unquestionably a steaming **** (unless they buff machine guns). Removing ECM from the 3L and putting it on this one would at least give a reason to take this variant and it wouldn't be anywhere near as obnoxious regardless of how much people try to min max it.

Jalak Bali, on 13 December 2012 - 11:46 PM, said:

ECM itself is not overpowered. It's overpowered due to the chassis it can fit into. Remove ECM from the Atlas, give it to the Awesome or Dragon. Remove it from Raven 3L (best Raven chassis) and give it to 2X or 4X. Hell, give it to both, just not the 3L. ECM should come with a penalty: that the mech you're piloting will not have optimal DPS for that weight class. Also make the mech with ECM lower in engine selection.

[Onyx Rain]

I personally think they could balance it by just making it only effect the mech that has it, or making the area of effect much smaller.

One mech riding around with ECM is useful, has something to protect itself....but when it shields an entire team, it is to much IMO.

Personally I don't run streak/LRM boats so Ecm doesn't bother me much...I don't need a red box around my target to hit it. I use heat vision a lot, so I can still see the mechs from distance most times...but seems like it really screws with a lot of people, and my entire team falls apart, and we all die when our team isn't ECM heavy and the other is. I guess it is the LRMs and streakcats that get us...I don't know, but ya right now it seems ECM is a little to game changing.

[Lupus Aurelius]

Thontor, on 14 December 2012 - 03:03 PM, said:

I would like to make a request to Bishop Steiner. Since this thread is being pointed to by the community managers, would you mind adding an additional poll question simply asking "Do you think ECM is too powerful in it's current state, Yes, or no."..

If it's even possible to add questions..

I believe that would clarify for the devs a little better on what people's opinions are. Because as i've stated before, I do believe ECM does too much in it's current form, but I don't believe removing it, even temporarily, is the answer.

Agreed. it would add another level of definition. ATM it is too polarized.

[Vassago Rain]

No.

[MadcatX]

Well, seems everyone is weighing in on this, might as well.

ECM was a game changer for both Pugs and premades. Other then 8vs8, which I have heard is only ECM-heavy teams from the forum (always a trustworthy source of information ), it's moved the game ahead towards one of it's goals: teamwork-oriented.

-- Scouts are now more valuable then ever, and that is not a bad thing.
-- The use of visual confirmation ( At the beginning of a match, I usually hop onto a high vantage point, switch to thermal and see in which direction the enemy is leaving their base, something I didn't do in the past. ) This is not a bad thing.
-- LRM's now require a bit more skill, either from the pilot if he's tagging by himself or be it a team effort. If this means a shift away from the " Pilots who use LRM lack skill " train of thought that has been pervasive since closed beta, this is not a bad thing.

It's making the game go in the direction I'm happy with, and I believe it's removal, even temporary, would be a step backwards.

[Kaijin]

MadcatX, on 14 December 2012 - 08:06 PM, said:

-- LRM's now require a bit more skill, either from the pilot if he's tagging by himself or be it a team effort. If this means a shift away from the " Pilots who use LRM lack skill " train of thought that has been pervasive since closed beta, this is not a bad

If by "skill", you mean 'More effort to use than any other weapon system for less than stellar results'

[MadcatX]

Kaijin, on 14 December 2012 - 08:20 PM, said:

If by "skill", you mean 'More effort to use than any other weapon system for less than stellar results'

Well, skill = more effort. As for the less than stellar results, I tend to agree although I don't boat them. Although I'm looking forward to seeing how the TAG range increase improves on that.

[GalaxyBluestar]

MadcatX, on 14 December 2012 - 08:06 PM, said:

It's making the game go in the direction I'm happy with, and I believe it's removal, even temporary, would be a step backwards.

so long as you're happy...

[Lupus Aurelius]

Vassago Rain, on 14 December 2012 - 07:22 PM, said:

No.

Yes

[Jacmac]

Why hasn't this thread been locked and people redirected to the suggestions thread and what ever poll the admins are yapping about? I don't get it. If a thread is created about the dev ECM comments in the PC Gamer article, the thread is locked, yet this 80 page mess continues....

[SpiralRazor]

and it should until said Dev changes his mind.

[Lonestar1771]

Honestly I would rather have broken features than no features. I'm still fuming about the removal of knockdowns.

[bryce]

I agree that I've seen a big drop off in participation from our unit base, and most of the people that are playing are now running ECM SSRM laden scouts. It's easy to beat up on people, and I definitely agree that complexity has been lost. Gameplay is entirely about ECM now, and while I find it fun to play that way occasionally I cannot stress enough that I believe this will get old fast. I don't want ECM suspended, but I do want it to be balanced.

[Corvus Antaka]

topgun505, on 14 December 2012 - 04:57 PM, said:

THIS. The 4X is unquestionably a steaming **** (unless they buff machine guns). Removing ECM from the 3L and putting it on this one would at least give a reason to take this variant and it wouldn't be anywhere near as obnoxious regardless of how much people try to min max it.

ECM itself is not overpowered. It's overpowered due to the chassis it can fit into. Remove ECM from the Atlas, give it to the Awesome or Dragon. Remove it from Raven 3L (best Raven chassis) and give it to 2X or 4X. Hell, give it to both, just not the 3L. ECM should come with a penalty: that the mech you're piloting will not have optimal DPS for that weight class. Also make the mech with ECM lower in engine selection.

no no no. ECM is working just fine. It makes perfect sense to put ECM on an Atlas, and on the fastest raven, and on the most powerful commando chassis.

The other variants are just there to grind away to elite without an ECM so you learn how to pilot.

I mean seriously - what kind of logica are you operating on that you would think putting a hugely powerful equipment on a less powerful mech in terms of speed/loadout would be more balancing than putting it on the best variant of that mech?

And just because the ECM in MWO doesn't come close to it's TT working description & function in no way means we can't slap one on an atlas, because putting an invisibility cloak on a 100 tonner is a great idea.

This remind me of world of warcraft when warriors could finally heal themselves without priests because really, why would you want to not have a hugely powerful tank also be able to heal himself?

*cough*

[GalaxyBluestar]

bryce, on 15 December 2012 - 01:00 AM, said:

I agree that I've seen a big drop off in participation from our unit base, and most of the people that are playing are now running ECM SSRM laden scouts. It's easy to beat up on people, and I definitely agree that complexity has been lost. Gameplay is entirely about ECM now, and while I find it fun to play that way occasionally I cannot stress enough that I believe this will get old fast. I don't want ECM suspended, but I do want it to be balanced.

ravens commandos and atlas teams i said it would get old very very fast back dec 4. i am surprised this thread hasn't been locked already though????

[MadcatX]

GalaxyBluestar, on 14 December 2012 - 08:28 PM, said:

so long as you're happy...

Indeed I am, thank you for reminding me.