5 replies to this topic

[Sable Dove]

So the biggest issue with ECM is that there's nothing to reliably counter it.
TAG? Takes up a weapon slot, deals no vision.damage, must be kept on target, and is visible even without thermal. Also, for your team to benefit, you can't be close to any enemy ECM.
NARC? Takes up a missile slot, fires like a ballistic, has very little ammo, and isn't very effective. Also, weighs at least 4 tons. Also also, ECM cancels it. Should be the other way around; NARC should counter ECM.

Hard to balance TAG without changing what it is entirely. I'd suggest reducing it to 0.5 tons, and increase the time before the effect wears off by a second or two.
Also, make the beam invisible except in Thermal, and only faintly visible in Thermal. And don't give players any indication that they are being Tagged.

As far as NARC goes, I can think of two possible solutions. Both of which require it to be change so that ECM does not cancel them, and in fact, NARC cancels ECM.
1. Increase ammo per ton to 10-15, increase duration to 30-45s. This just makes it slightly more appealing, though still not very good compared to ECM.
2. Keep ammo where it is, but make the effect permanent until the component that was hit is destroyed. This allows the NARC to (almost) completely counter ECM, which it should considering it takes a weapon slot, weighs over two and a half times as much, and you have to buy expensive ammo for it.

Would also like to see it available in Ballistic form too, if only for my poor Spider 5K

[Lazydrones541]

Tag and NARC should break ECM somehow. Temporarily would be my response.

BAP: Beagle Active Probe: Seems to me like this should have some soft counter to ECM. (IF anything reduce the amount of sensor reduction.
Also, modules that increase sensor range and lock on. Perhaps even a module that soft counters ECM. Say, overrides for you and only you if within the influence of ECM? Just thoughts...
Modules Lv2: +30% range + a BAP (+10~15%?) Should IMO counter ECM in SOME minor way.

I like the NARC idea: Perhaps a lock on, and a counter for ECM for the pilot who initiates the NARC/TAG. (temporarily- as TAG can be held indefinitely)

(However, I doubt we will see any kind of counter for ECM)

[Sable Dove]

Actually, now that I think about it, a new Ballistic that fired a tracker would be ideal, because not only would there finally be some sort of electronic warfare element, but it would also mean streak cats wouldn't be able to mount it.

[Ravn]

I swear this is a repost. I've seen this suggested a couple days ago.

[Sable Dove]

Ravn, on 28 January 2013 - 04:29 PM, said:

I swear this is a repost. I've seen this suggested a couple days ago.

Well it wasn't by me, so I'm gonna say maybe it's just a popular idea.

[Trev Firestorm]

TAG should not be countered by ECM at all, otherwise current implementation is ok (it should also work against shutdown mechs, don't know/remember if it currently does) (btw it was 0.5 tons for a little while and it was glorious and made much more sense)
NARC, well it sucks and it makes sense that ECM counters it if you think about how each system is supposed to work... the need for viability conflicts with my need for things to make sense :-p
BAP- should overpower ECM atleast somewhat (and maybe even have a burnout mode that can destroy the ECM on the other mech, and/or itself in the attempt), BAP could do with some other tweeks seeing how it should basically be an active radar system