40 replies to this topic

[Alistair Winter]

When I first started playing, I equipped AMS as often as possible, except on certain light mechs, like the Raven 2X or 4X. Hell, I bought the Atlas AS7-K just for the chance to have two AMS. But I've come to feel that it hardly makes any difference against skilled LRM boats. Against noobs, I can avoid damage by staying in cover and against pesky Dragons with LRM 5's and LRM 10s... well, I'd rather have an extra heatsink or two.

Maybe I'm overlooking something, so I'm hoping someone might enlighten me.

[ivr56]

Never use AMS
I personally find it a useless waste of space

I stick to ECM bubbles from friendlies or use cover and take pot shots slowly advancing to deal with most LRMs.

Edited by ivr56, 11 January 2013 - 12:29 AM.

[twibs]

ECM has made AMS a novelty item for the most part. Sure if I can get one with little or no sacrafices then sure, but that usually only in the assaults.

From heavies that I also play alot I usually get more bang out of my bucks with more weapons, ammo and heatsinks.

[Xyroc]

I find AMS more as something that just reduces damage as I move for cover in my slower mechs ( or completely destroys the LRMs if they arnt boating and I have dual AMS ) ... fast movers really should be able to dodge LRMs unless caught way out in the open.

[Windsaw]

I still try to use my non-ECM Commandos at least in PUG matches.
Scouting without ECM-cover makes AMS recommended regardless of speed.

[Remarius]

I find them useful on certain builds particularly as most of my games are in solo heavies and rarely with ECM that doesn't run off showboating (yes light's I'm looking at YOU!). In fact when playing with 2 friends often we all run AMS and the missile shield is impressive.

[Adrienne Vorton]

always..well almost always...

[Elkarlo]

You mean the Magic Equipment Piece which defends against the dreaded LRM Boats which can annihilate
a whole Team thanks to Tag?
You Mean the Equipment which takes out the Punsh out of the Sixsix Cat when they are over 120 Meters ?
And which kills all Streak Missles over 150 Meters?

Everytime i can squeeze it somehow in my Mechs. Sadly most other Team members don't use it,
so i run out of Ammo fast, and THEN i die.

Only Mech without AMS: Com-2D ECM... no room.

Edited by Elkarlo, 11 January 2013 - 01:15 AM.

[Alistair Winter]

I can see how it would be useful with pre-made groups, who stick together and combine their AMS. But in PUGs... well.

[FerrolupisXIII]

my team and i had some fun one afternoon with this:

two STK-5S stalkers, load out to taste, both with dual AMS. i personally had 3000 rounds of ammo. (yes i am aware that is 4 tons of space)

one Atlas D-DC, ECM, load out to taste, AMS.

we stayed in a wedge with the Stalkers in front, Atlas behind/ between. generally tore down anything that peaked out with multiple laser strikes with some ballistics from the atlas. anything that got close ate SRM/ Streak fire in addition to the already impressive barrage. any missiles fired at anything but point blank couldn't penetrate the concentrated AMS, and that was if they could even target us due to ECM.

Long story short, it has its use. however i will agree its not something every mech requires. i don't run it on any of my other mechs, but the dual AMS really shines when you load it up.

still waiting for a toggle to turn AMS off, OR better recognition of interfering terrain i hate wasting ammo on the side of a building :/

[Ursh]

Generally, if someone is LRM boating, they're raining so many missiles that the AMS will not save me.

That's why I don't equip it. If someone has an lrm 15 or 20, I'll just weather the fire while I reposition. If someone has an lrm10, I laugh at them for wasting tonnage.

[Ewigan]

I use AMS on all of my slower mechs, my lights are supposed to be able to hide in cover or simply outrun the rockets.

Hiding in an ECM bubble doesn't help if you are mostly staionary for some reason.
there is always TAG and the ability to dumbfire LRMs, what funnily only a few people use.

[Solomon Ward]

Very undecided.Equip/Unequip it constantly.

If it were just about myself i wouldn´t equip it at all.Cover is sufficient for me.

But together with teammates who also have AMS slotted it synergizes well for the benefit of all.

[Edward Smith]

The thing is with AMS is that if only 1 person has 1 its not a lot of use. But if every one in the bubble has 1 you will notice its a very good piece to have.

[Mycrus]

Only with mechs slower than 70kph...

Rest cover and breaking locks will do

[BerryChunks]

The more people that equip AMS, the more effective a "bubble" of anti-missile defense will be when you stay in a large group.

Or you could just set down ECMs and be unlockable in addition to denying LRMs

Ewigan, on 11 January 2013 - 02:43 AM, said:

I use AMS on all of my slower mechs, my lights are supposed to be able to hide in cover or simply outrun the rockets.

Hiding in an ECM bubble doesn't help if you are mostly staionary for some reason.
there is always TAG and the ability to dumbfire LRMs, what funnily only a few people use.

in order to actually fly, missiles have to accelerate to high speeds and stay at high speeds. I doubt 70 miles per hour is going to realistically outrun missiles unless you force them to hit walls. Fighter jets can barely outrun missiles with afterburners on, and thats if everything goes right.

[Doc Holliday]

I use AMS on most of my builds except the fast ones (80+). If I'm fast enough to be able to usually dodge behind cover after I get the "missiles incoming" warning then I don't really need AMS. Otherwise, it's way too risky to count on ECM in random matches.

[Skyfaller]

AMS is wasted tonnage. It only 'counters' LRM5s and miserly reduces lrm10's.


With the advent of ECM LRM is much less of a threat as well. Thus, AMS is simply not worth using.

Even with a 2-AMS mech you still get clobbered by a single lrm20 launcher fired at you...so why would I waste 3 tons or so to carry something that just doesn't work?

[Voidsinger]

If you look at Tabletop (Yes, I know), by 3085, AMS WAS extinct except for certain Laser AMS experiments. Guardian ECM had taken over.

The big issue in MWO, is that AMS is no defence against SRMs/Streaks, thus the utility is massively reduced.

I think AMS utilisation will always be regulated by LRM status and power within the game. There have been times when AMS was a necessity, others wasted tonnage.

[John MatriX82]

I normally avoid mounting AMS. I tend to pack it in slow builds, but only if I really have spare weight and crit slots for it.. which is rare. Imho only dual AMS mechs (Atlas K or STK 5S) are interesting since the number of missiles that they shave off from you is nice. Unfortunately I don't have them both, I owned the latter, but 5M and 3F are superior and most of my builds never accomplish to even have the free crit slot for the AMS.