2 replies to this topic

[Quxudica]

There are currently three light variants in the game running ECM. Two of these variants have seemingly made all their compatriates redundant, if not irrelevant, due to the fact they both can equip the essentially mandatory equipment of ECM and Streaks. The ability to negate enemy missiles combined with the equivlent damage of an AC/5 (sometimes more) that can never miss has made running any other Light a questionable choice.

Its not impossible to use other mechs, but the disadvantage of not having both of those technologies is so large (especially when bad netcode is factored in) that performance will unavoidably drop against any half skilled opponent.

I really have no suggestions to fix ECM itself, if it even needs fixing. However to me it seems that in this specific case the problem is due to the combination of both techs (something made evident by todays Spider introduction, aka free kills for Ravens) ECM capable lights should not be the variants able to use streaks , rather it should be energy and balistic variants that have the tech, allowing them to counter missiles to level the field - not give them a mammoth advantage. This would mean missile boat or streak heavy lights need to work together with teammates for best effectiveness, instead of being entirely self reliant.

I would add that another facet of the issue is streaks simply hit much to hard given they never miss. I have cored a mech that was completly off my screen and nearly behind me by firing a salvo of streaks, a simple wave of red circle over red square is all you need to maintain lock, theres no reason to always be looking at your target given adequate situational awareness. Yes streaks spread, but they are anti light weapons, their grouping is more then tight enough to chew up thin light armor. Whether a mechanics change is needed or a simple number tweak I cant say, I have seen many good suggestions on these boards.

[Nuclear Weapon]

Quxudica, on 15 January 2013 - 03:17 PM, said:

ECM capable lights should not be the variants able to use streaks

Thats the fix... right there

[Quxudica]

Nuclear Weapon, on 15 January 2013 - 03:21 PM, said:

Thats the fix... right there

Its the most obvious, at least to me. The issue is having both techs on one light makes them too self reliant, it should be one or the other. The only potential exception is I belive the Jenner K should probably have ECM, as that variant has never had any reason to be chosen over its sister chassis and a single SSRM tube would not likely be to overpowered, especially if their damage gets tweaked down like it should be.