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pvp ECM drones

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Mr Lea
Blert
#1 - 2011-10-18 03:25:09 UTC
in like a 1v1 or very small fights

if i deploy 5 ecm drones can this shut down an enemy completly? for me to eat him up with missiles? how good are these drones for pvp? for small scale or larger fights?
Vimsy Vortis
Shoulda Checked Local
Break-A-Wish Foundation
#2 - 2011-10-18 04:08:03 UTC  |  Edited by: Vimsy Vortis
ECM drones, particularly medium or large ECM drones can turn a pretty much sure-lose fight into a win that leaves the loser crying and screaming in local about how you got lucky and suck at PVP because you had 5 medium ECM drones when he brought damage drones.

But obviously jamming is chance based so you're trading consistant damage being applied for a chance to totally screw the other guy completely. There are also some situations in which ECM drones just aren't appropriate. Like all things, they are situational.
JoeTwo PointOh
Did he say Jump
Deepwater Hooligans
#3 - 2011-10-18 14:57:05 UTC
It also depends on the type/race of ship you're fighting. Minmatar generally seem to have lower sensor strengths, and so are somewhat more susceptible to ECM. Don't expect to jam them out like a dedicated ECM boat though, they have a significantly lower jamming strength.
Mara Abraham
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#4 - 2011-10-18 15:01:49 UTC
Good day:

http://www.rifterdrifter.com/2011/04/why-i-hate-ecm-drones/ is a good article on ECM drones.

The lights are very iffy with even a full flight against a single frigate sometimes failing completely.

The mediums tend to work well against bc down, but again iffy. I've yet to try out the heavies.

They are good to carry, but don't count on them to save your ship or win the fight every single time.

Thank you.

--- Mara Abraham

  • http://www.factionalwarfare.info/
  • http://evepiratelife.com/
Lyrrashae
Hellstar Towing and Recovery
#5 - 2011-10-18 16:05:29 UTC
If you've got a spare mid-slot, then you might also consider an ECM Burst (the meta 4 one--"Cestus ECM Shockwave," I think it's called):

Jam strength across all 4 sensor-types is high 7s/8-ish with decent ECM skills, much greater chance of breaking lock and warping off if you're aligned, and you mind the range. (It's great for chaotic "furball" type situations if you're solo, though not so good in gang, as it can/will also spoof your mates' targetting.)

Low- or zero-sec only, though, that area-effect will get you CONCORD'ed sooner or later in hisec Oops...

Ni.
Bellatrix Umbra'awe
Federal Navy Academy
Gallente Federation
#6 - 2011-10-20 15:44:58 UTC
Absolutely, the ECM drones are not something to rely upon, but geezus, they saved my arse so many times....


http://web.obsidianfront.com/kb/index.php?a=kill_detail&kll_id=3298

http://web.obsidianfront.com/kb/index.php?a=kill_detail&kll_id=3299

This fight (two BCs vs two BSs) was definitely won by my ECM drones and with help of the gate guns ;)
Dynast
Room for Improvement
Good Sax
#7 - 2011-10-20 16:46:10 UTC  |  Edited by: Dynast
Every time I see ECM drones, I want to kick someone in the slit until they spit ovaries.

Which is why I use them, they're that good. They can be countered by people who are on the ball but they have to spend time focusing drones with high traversal and small sig radius, so if they don't have warriors or hobs to do it for them, they can lose the fight just by trying to pop the ECM drones while I'm shooting their shields/armor.

If they don't pop them, odds are they'll get at least one cycle off, and that's that. Free disengage, free re-range, and zero damage while I keep shooting.
Mr Lea
Blert
#8 - 2011-10-20 16:52:07 UTC
alrighty! ill try some ecm drones out someday for sure, thanks guys :)
Gritz1
Ice Fire Warriors
#9 - 2011-10-20 17:57:04 UTC
I have found the lights to be rather useless most of the time. However, I went against a Cyclone in my brutix and rather shut him down 90 percent of the fight with 5 Medium ECM drones. They really can turn the tide in a 1 v 1 battle.
Mikeh24
Federal Navy Academy
Gallente Federation
#10 - 2011-10-20 19:55:13 UTC
In an extreme case of luck I managed to kill a rapier with an enyo fitted with a light ecm drone
FloppieTheBanjoClown
Arcana Imperii Ltd.
#11 - 2011-10-20 21:27:59 UTC
ECM drones are definitely a force multiplier. I've used them to shut down multiple (badly fit) logi ships and to jam out cruisers that were supporting a battleship, allowing me to focus just on my primary target and minimize incoming DPS.

Founding member of the Belligerent Undesirables movement.
Capital T
Doomheim
#12 - 2011-10-20 21:59:13 UTC
I hate ecm drones when my fleet doesn't use them, they are always a pain in the arse, and they are very useful for the offensive. Train your drones skills up and let them fly.
Cannibal Kane
Viziam
Amarr Empire
#13 - 2011-10-21 05:37:07 UTC
For some reason...

ECM drones Hate and Like me. Those that Like me belong to my targets... those that Hate me belong to me and Jams nobody.

"Kane is the End Boss of Highsec." -Psychotic Monk
Tora Oni
Legendary Sidekicks in Space
#14 - 2011-10-21 08:24:34 UTC
They are fine, until you run into someone using ECCM II's and you wish you had dmg drones. It all depends on who you fight.
Louis deGuerre
The Dark Tribe
#15 - 2011-10-21 10:51:37 UTC
Does the 'fail just retry untill success' cheat still work ?
Mara Abraham
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#16 - 2011-10-21 16:56:50 UTC
Good day:

Yesterday one of my corp mates lost a ship because of the use of the exploit (I'm told it might be a banable offense, but what do I know?) of recalling and resending out the ecm drones. In that particular case, the exploit worked.

From my own experience (without using an exploit), light ECM drones are extremely hit and miss on even frigate size hulls.

I have had success with the medium ecm drones (in terms of being more reliable) against BC down targets IF the BC down target is not running any type of ECCM.

Thank you.

--- Mara Abraham

  • http://www.factionalwarfare.info/
  • http://evepiratelife.com/