23 replies to this topic

[Felicitatem Parco]

Stanton Langley, on 16 December 2012 - 11:00 AM, said:

Yes, this is another ECM thread.

There appears to be two main viewpoints on ECM--that it is gamebreaking or that it isn't. Personally I fall somewhere in between; I think ECM has a rather disproportionate impact on some styles of gameplay while others are far less affected.

My suggestion is to allow every chassis to mount ECM. For those that think it is gamebreaking, they can run their ECM in counter mode and have at least some defense against enemy ECMs regardless of the chassis they choose to pilot. Those that think it isn't gamebreaking can continue playing as they do now.

The disadvantage would be a greater diversity of mech builds that include ECM... The advantage would be that players can drive the mech they want to drive with or without ECM. So the trade-off of increased diversity (normally touted by the developers as a good thing) for increased player satisfaction (also frequently mentioned as a goal of the developers).

I'd also like to see a graph showing LRM/SSRM loadouts pre/post ECM going active. I have a feeling it would be a very telling graphic. Likewise use of the ECM-capable chassis pre/post ECM active. These requests are probably far below the notice of the development team, but it's worth a shot.

I am moving this thread to the Suggestions Forums, as it is a suggestion, or rather a set of suggestions, to the Game Devs.

Edited by Prosperity Park, 16 December 2012 - 01:19 PM.

[Harmatia]

I don't really find ECM to be much of a problem, other than base rushing Raven's in 8 mech groups, but that's another issue (group composition) entirely. Allowing any mech to take ECM is probably the worst idea one could employ in an attempt to "balance" that piece of equipment. In most circumstances it's not that difficult to deal with. If there was tonnage or class limits on groups or PUG's, you wouldn't see the variant abuse that's been going on since ECM showed up. Even so, before ECM entered the fray almost everyone I played with, or against, were all LRM boats or streak cats. It was the exact same thing (system abuse) by players as you see with ECM now, except instead of being pounded into the ground by a 1000 LRM's, targeting has become more difficult.

Frankly I think ECM should probably be limited to scout mechs. A lightly armored mech (easy to kill) is the perfect balance for ECM (hard to detect/target). Maybe increase it's tonnage so light mechs equipping ECM have less space to squeeze weaponry in. Or maybe ECM should get broken momentarily when the mech carrying it fires a weapon, producing a lock-on window. There needs to be a balance for the mechs actually using ECM, other than 1.5 tons, which even on a light mech is peanuts compared to what you get in return. I run a Hunchback 4G, the AC/20 is a beast that (lagshield aside) can easily take out or disable a smaller mech in one shot. But it takes up a lot of slots (preventing the addition of a XL engine) and ways a lot. There is a downside to operating an AC/20, weight and space. The ECM has no such drawback, and that's the ultimate balance problem.

[Mechwarrior Buddah]

Prosperity Park, on 16 December 2012 - 01:19 PM, said:

I am moving this thread to the Suggestions Forums, as it is a suggestion, or rather a set of suggestions, to the Game Devs.

why not lock it like all the other ecm threads and point to the one with the poll?

[Hammer RLG]

yes, allow on all mech chassis for that that want to spend the cash and the space/tonnage. but that means it will be seen more on heavier mechs with the space and tonnage to burn.