The entire quoted post below is golden, and worth a read if you haven't already. I'm just quoting the proposed fix to ECM.
ltwally, on 09 January 2013 - 10:04 PM, said:
This is actually pretty simple. Fix all of Information Warfare in one sweep, as follows:
- Upgrade Beagle to be more effective. (Half of what it does for TT simply does not translate into MW:O). It should generate noticeable improvements on sensor range, and allow sensors to "see around corners". This would turn it into a scout tool for MW:O like it is in TT. Limit Beagle to scout mechs (light mechs + Cicada), as it is a scout tool and should be constrained to scout mechs.
- Upgrade NARC to be more effective. It needs to last substantially longer. (In TT, it lasts for the duration of the battle, though this might be over-powered in MW:O.) Also, it needs to broadcast so that friendlies can use it for targeting data, even if no friendlies have Line-of-Sight.
- ECM should counter Artemis, Beagle and Narc. It should have no effect on other sensors. Open ECM up to all mechs.
Implement those 3 things. Test it for a month or so. Adjust as necessary. I'd bet good money that few adjustments would need to be made; once Beagle and Narc are actually worth using, then having ECM only counter them makes it worthwhile.
I'm not convinced this is
the best fix possible for the entire information warfare aspect of MWO. In fact, I have a comprehensive information warfare proposal linked in my sig that I think trumps any version that relies on the small handful of e-war equipment pieces from TT as the sole composition of i-war.
However, that said, I do realize that my implimentation takes alot more work than most. And so far as simple fixes go towards promoting the best gameplay experience, this guy hit the nail on the head.
If the DEVs want us to play in the dark with even less information than we had before ECM, then they should reduce all mechs base capabilities (possibly by removing the free pseudo-C3 computer we all get that transmits target data, or just flat out reducing maximum locking ranges, or by giving every mech a built in ECM for no crits/tonnage). All of those options would be
fair ways to impliment the effects of ECM that do not mess with gameplay, balance, or (at least to the same extent) enjoyability.
Similarly, if the DEVs wanted us to play with access to more information, they could simply improve every mech in the other direction, increase maximum targeting/locking range, increase map visibility, let sensors detect enemies through terrain, etc.
But imo, the information we could gather pre-ECM was already spot on and quite limited in many cases. I am perfectly OK with modifying our total information on the battlefield up and down a little bit with mech modifications, equipment, etc. But drastic changes to the basic formula just weren't warrented, it was working just right.
Thus, the choice to restrict the information gaining, sharing, and using by giving ECM stealth beyond 200m, canceling of all incoming and outgoing enemy targeting info inside 180m, and full hard-lock canceling inside 180, distrupted that balance significantly.
Conversely, if we implimented a 2 crit, 1.5 ton piece of equipment that gave a continuous unbreakable uplink to a satellite that provided constant minimap updates for all units positions on the field (even if it wasn't targetable, just battlegrid locations), it would
drastically disrupt the balance of the game because it massively shifts the total amount of information on the battlefield. No more guessing where enemies are, no more getting caught by overwhelming numbers unexpectedly, no more sneaky base-caps, no more guessing where those last couple of guys went to hide while their conquest points stack up on you, etc. If we then limited this module's use to just 5 chasis because it was too powerful, would anyone in their right mind call that balanced?
No. They wouldn't. ECM does too much for too little, just like that satellite uplink equipment would. It becomes a requirement, a tax to every variant that can mount it, and a stamp of disapproval to every variant that cannot.
To bring this post full circle, the quoted fix eliminates the biggest problem with ECM, it changes the flow of information on the battlefield by too much. Its OK if it disrupts information sharing between enemies in its bubble, but it cannot disrupt target aquisition (hardlocks) of any mech, nor should it be granting aoe-stealth.
I do not recommend this change out of some love of TT (It was a fine game the few times I played it, but I have no special allegience to it), I recommend this change wholeheartedly because it will bring the total information on the battlefield back to near where it use to be, which is where we want it, and because it will put the benefits of ECM in a far more reasonable proportion to its mounting costs.
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