19 replies to this topic

[ShadowThunder77]

as long as ECM is in the game should i run ECM mechs only from now on??

[ShadowThunder77]

well??

[EyeOne]

Here's my experience using a ECM mech: It makes everyone want to kill you first. It's like a bullseye on your face.

This game is not ruled by ECM as some say. I'd run the mech you want to run and not worry about it.

[Roughneck45]

Only if you need the crutch to be effective.

Im indifferenet to ECM, if you think you need it, then run it.

Edited by Roughneck45, 07 January 2013 - 09:54 AM.

[CDLord HHGD]

Run whatever you want. I usually train the crosshairs of my AC20 on ECM mechs first. And nothing gives me warm fuzzies more than nailing a light at full speed with my AC20 and watching them die doing cartwheels. That's just special .

[De La Fresniere]

ECM protects you from homing weapons. It's nice but not strictly needed.

I don't mind when opponents use it. All it does is give me advance warning there's a Raven or Commando nearby.

[ShadowThunder77]

might as well run ECM since my prefered playstyle is harder to use now

[Darkmoose]

If you are scout mech that likes to hide and paint targets from 500 yds out with TAG, or fast cap to split enemy team, it works well, it works on non scout mechs by disrupting the ability for missiles to lock, and allows a big group of mechs to stay hidden and ambush.

[BLUPRNT]

You opened up another ECM debate.
I will awnser honestly. If you are hear to play and have a good time bring what ever you like to play with.
If you are hear to win and pad stats then ECM will help but it is not a gaurentee.
I have 2 LRM boats with Tag and will pummel you to death if I get you in my sights. And will usually focus on you first to eliminate the ECM from the field. Lasers, SRM, and Ballistics, can still pick you apart. Streaks at this point I think are the only useless thing against ECM I believe.

[CodeNameValtus]

It shouldn't be about running only ECM mechs or not.

Play what you want to play (I own 0 ECM Mechs, and don't have any plans to buy any in the near future). I just adapted my playstyle to give myself counters to ECM being in the game.

1) Don't only rely on lock-on weaponry (LRM's / Streak SRM's)
2) Pay attention to your mini-map more (if a friendly mech drops off your radar, rush over to his position, because there's an ECM mech within 180m of him)
3) More liberal use of zoom / thermal vision to shoot at range. Remember, just because you can't 'R' Target it, doesn't mean you can't hit it. I see people ~1000m out from me all the time, standing still in the open, in what I later find out to be ECM AS7-D-DC's. That I've pelted several times with Gauss Rifles / PPC's / ERLL / AC/5's / UAC/5's / AC/2's at range, and they go down like a sack of potatoes once they get closer.
4) Since ECM mechs like to try to be very close to your mech (within 200m). Focus more on close range firepower than long-range firepower. I've noticed a definite increase in the damage I can do with mechs armed with SRM's, LB10X's, AC/20's, etc. Everyone wants to mash on top of each other...capitalize.
5) Your LRM boat can't have all Laser back-up anymore. You should probably mount TAG to one of those laser slots and find a good button to set it up to constant fire (I like Mouse Button 4 for this (this is the back button on the thumb bar for me)). You need it to get a lock on ECM'd Mechs at range.

[Deathwatch]

If youre playing cause you want to win, yes ECM is mandatory. If you just love to play a certain mech and youre ok playing with a disadvantage, well just pick that mech if its availible yet.

[ShadowThunder77]

i've gotten too used to spamming LRMs and i dont like change

[Sayyid]

You can still spam LRMs... but now they are LOS only and have an affective range of about 200m if the target is standing still or running to or away from you. So for the most part LRMs are about as useful as mammorys on a bull.

[CDLord HHGD]

Sayyid, on 07 January 2013 - 10:12 AM, said:

You can still spam LRMs... but now they are LOS only and have an affective range of about 200m if the target is standing still or running to or away from you. So for the most part LRMs are about as useful as mammorys on a bull.

LRMs can still work effectively without a lock. Sometimes you'll get that stationary sniper and the LRM will hit what you aim them at. So aim them at the mech and even if that mech backs away behind a hill, you will still hit the area they were at, and if it's down hill, the LRMs may still hit the enemy. The cool thing is, that without a lock, they won;t get the incoming LRM warning so they'll see inbound LRMs, but with no warning, they won't pay attention until it track in and its too late.

[ShadowThunder77]

so just start being more sneaky during battle?

[Felicitatem Parco]

Running the ECM-Variant of an ECM-Capable Chassis Line will grant you a Battlefield advantage... it will also limit the stringency of your training. ECM is a powerful tool, but you'll run the risk of learning how to be dependent on it to evade the enemy. It's not a Crutch or Training Wheels - it's a powerful tool, and a tool that your enemies will learn to work with/against over time.

I would suggest using both ECM and non-ECM Mechs just to keep your toes frosty.

Edited by Prosperity Park, 07 January 2013 - 10:21 AM.

[Bguk]

Crap, the ignore feature doesn't ignore threads as well. Darn.

[ShadowThunder77]

thank you for inspiring me to use my favorite mechs regardless of what the enemy team uses

[Lykaon]

Here is what I have noticed in this post ECM mechwarrior.

8 man vs 8 man premades almost never have less than 5 ECMs.5 out of 8 mechs running ECM.Many use 8 of 8 but more common is 6 of 8.If 8 v 8 premade is an example of optimized builds I would venture ECM is mandatory for top line competition.

When I PuG and drop without ECM (either my own mech or team mates) and the other team does have ECM the chances of my side losing has increased significantly.PuGs do not adapt quickly or in general at all.ECM heavy battlefields require rapid adaptation due to the near void of passive info warfare tools.Since passive info warfare is all pugs get and ECM cuts it off ECM is again mandatory to at least counter the enemy's lock out of passive info.

ECM is a force multiplyer that in practice multiplys it's self.Cloaking a team in ECM enhances the groups ability to manuver and capture advantagous ground or circumstance.This improves the chances of victory thus it's a force multiplyer.
ECM however multiplies it's self.1 ECM allow a group to move cloaked.1 enemy ECM counters that ability.2 ECM counters that counter so it's better to have 3 ECM but then of course it becomes mandatory to take another to counter the added counter to counter what has already been countered....it's silly but this is why 8 v 8 premade drops are choked full of ECM.


A seperate yet valid point.Two of the most destructive weapon systems when "boated" are LRMs and Streaks.Both weapon systems are hard countered by ECM.

Back to pugs and ECM.I frequently see puggies fail to make proper use of the ECM they do all be it randomly deploy.If your mech is fast you should not be hanging back with the main body (that is for the Atlas DDCs) you should be recon.Your team gains more by you showing them where the bad guys are than not allowing the bad guys to maybe see them.

If you see another fast mech with ECM stick together.If you are a fast mech without ECM stick to the ECM scout as a bodyguard.A pack is better than a solo act.

Also remember to switch modes as needed.If your side is being jammed toggle to counter.It's better that both sides see everything than risk being the only side blind.

How I got off on this tangent I don't know but I suppose my point is that until we see ECM nerfed to reasonable performance levels it is a major impact in matches.

[Sayyid]

I decided to give ECM a try on my Commando 2D. And found if I run a ER LL and an ECM I can stay at long range and do more damage then I could with my HBK-4SP in a brawl before the ECM patch.

One weapon on a 25 ton mech that goes 110+kph and doing over 400 damage is just WRONG!