12 replies to this topic

[Lysander Voidrunner]

Can someone please clearly indicate how to use it? I'm not sure if all the ECM detractors are right or if the crybabies can't use it correctly so I take no judgement on the issue, however, I have problems with the TAG so I would like someone to tell me what I'm doing wrong.

Here's the typical scenario, I hop into my LRM boat, with a tag, place myself on an advantageous spot, light the enemy up with the TAG (I know it's tagging because the crosshairs turn red and the icon appears over them) and keep it on him... 5...10...15...20 seconds... nothing. I can't get a lock on them. They're within 750m. I have Artemis. I have a full load of missiles. I have a clear line of sight. I have no lock.

What am I doing wrong?

[HighlandCoo]

Have you hit "R"?

[Codejack]

Lysander Voidrunner, on 08 January 2013 - 10:41 AM, said:

Can someone please clearly indicate how to use it? I'm not sure if all the ECM detractors are right or if the crybabies can't use it correctly so I take no judgement on the issue, however, I have problems with the TAG so I would like someone to tell me what I'm doing wrong.

Here's the typical scenario, I hop into my LRM boat, with a tag, place myself on an advantageous spot, light the enemy up with the TAG (I know it's tagging because the crosshairs turn red and the icon appears over them) and keep it on him... 5...10...15...20 seconds... nothing. I can't get a lock on them. They're within 750m. I have Artemis. I have a full load of missiles. I have a clear line of sight. I have no lock.

What am I doing wrong?

You're not actually pointing at them; it's part of the netcode issue.

[Havyek]

TAG should allow you to get a lock on the currently TAGed 'Mech without hitting R, but almost as soon as you move your cursor from the target you lose lock.

Also, within 180m against ECM TAG does nothing.

IMO, if PGI wants TAG to be a legitimate counter to ECM, TAG should work against ECM regardless of range and if being jammed or not, but if being jammed you cannot relay that info, but that's just me.

[Lysander Voidrunner]

My present theory was that I was targetting an Atlas (hard to miss) which was stationary, it had ECM and it was about 550m away. I still couldn't get a lock on it. The only viable answer I gave myself was that there was a little raven running around my friends and I and he also had some ECM going on. But so far, it simply looks like I got a defective TAG from the box, any way to RMA it? LoL. I kid, I kid. But all jokes aside, I know the TAG is supposed to be a direct counter for ECM, but so far, it feels like it wasn't doing much save for trying to hurt the pilot's eyesight.

[King Arthur IV]

you have to hold tag on the enemy 24/7 to work, right up till the missiles hit.

problem with ecm "bubble" is if your tag goes off target for a split second, you basically lose the lock.
what they should if did was make tag more like the bat light, then i would never get it off target.

no seriously, 1 ton laser should be shooting out a massive beam.

Edited by King Arthur IV, 08 January 2013 - 11:06 AM.

[Deamhan]

BDU Havoc, on 08 January 2013 - 10:48 AM, said:

TAG should allow you to get a lock on the currently TAGed 'Mech without hitting R, but almost as soon as you move your cursor from the target you lose lock.

Also, within 180m against ECM TAG does nothing.

IMO, if PGI wants TAG to be a legitimate counter to ECM, TAG should work against ECM regardless of range and if being jammed or not, but if being jammed you cannot relay that info, but that's just me.

Not a bad suggestion....

The ECM is a jammer so with that in mind, the TAG (being a laser designator) basically turns the radar tracking missiles (radar lock assumed) into laser guided missiles.

This should allow missiles that use the locking function to track and can still be fired without a lock (So LRMs only I believe) to track the nearest TAGed enemy within the hud. ECM can still negate the ability to lock but for LRMs with the TAG, they don't have to.

[Havyek]

Deamhan, on 08 January 2013 - 11:20 AM, said:

Not a bad suggestion....

The ECM is a jammer so with that in mind, the TAG (being a laser designator) basically turns the radar tracking missiles (radar lock assumed) into laser guided missiles.

This should allow missiles that use the locking function to track and can still be fired without a lock (So LRMs only I believe) to track the nearest TAGed enemy within the hud. ECM can still negate the ability to lock but for LRMs with the TAG, they don't have to.

Was thinking more of SSRMs since LRMs are ineffective within 180m anyway.

This would allow 'Mechs with SSRMs + TAG to both TAG enemies for their missile boats, or use their own SSRMs + TAG to return fire when jammed. It would only allow TAGing 'Mech to get a lock based off of their TAG, but would encourage lights with ECM to do more than simply circle strafe and SSRM targets to death while remaining protected against enemies with SSRMs and no ECCM. They'd need to juke, change directions, run behind buildings etc to stop getting TAGed + SSRM instead of just CODing until enemy ECCM came to jam them and then run off.

[AA Yeti]

I haven't had any issues. I actually put two TAG on my 4x LRM 20 stalker, one in the arm and one in the torso to pretty much guarantee I don't break lock. I believe you do have to hit R if you were previously targeting someone else though.

[Lysander Voidrunner]

See, I had the target box come up, that's not the problem, it was flickering in and out (which is why I mentionned the ECM raven) and the TAG was dead center torso on a stationary Atlas within the TAG range (~500m) and I held him light up for a good 15-20 seconds, but the Missile lock circles just didn't appear... at all...

[somedood]

Lysander Voidrunner, on 08 January 2013 - 11:58 AM, said:

See, I had the target box come up, that's not the problem, it was flickering in and out (which is why I mentionned the ECM raven) and the TAG was dead center torso on a stationary Atlas within the TAG range (~500m) and I held him light up for a good 15-20 seconds, but the Missile lock circles just didn't appear... at all...

It would have had to be because another enemy ECM was within 180m of you. When you're in the ECM disrupt range TAG doesn't work anymore since you can't lock or share target infomation with your team. If you're outside the ECM disrupt range (outside 180m of an enemy ECM) you can lock on to an enemy with TAG while they're under the cover of ECM - but like others have said you can't let the TAG laser drop off the target for very long at all or you lose the lock and it takes a long time to be able to lock again

[Havyek]

Best guess then is that you're being jammed by another ECM 'Mech that's within 180m of you. ECM kills any chance of a lock once you get one within 180m of you (unfortunately).

A 'Mech without ECM is normally able to be targeted within 750m (IIRC). One with ECM cannot be targeted until 450m (again, IIRC). In order to get a lock on it, you can hit it with a TAG at 750m and get a lock until it gets within 180m and then with or without TAG you won't be able to get a lock.

[Deamhan]

BDU Havoc, on 08 January 2013 - 11:35 AM, said:

Was thinking more of SSRMs since LRMs are ineffective within 180m anyway.

This would allow 'Mechs with SSRMs + TAG to both TAG enemies for their missile boats, or use their own SSRMs + TAG to return fire when jammed. It would only allow TAGing 'Mech to get a lock based off of their TAG, but would encourage lights with ECM to do more than simply circle strafe and SSRM targets to death while remaining protected against enemies with SSRMs and no ECCM. They'd need to juke, change directions, run behind buildings etc to stop getting TAGed + SSRM instead of just CODing until enemy ECCM came to jam them and then run off.

Good points and I just noticed your loc is Barrie. I'm in the CF, spent 5 years in Borden. I miss having a decent city nearby. Cold Lake doesn't have much to it.