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Change ECM so it always has an effect, but only removes some targets instead of all.
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Rockhart
Uncorporated
#1 - 2012-08-01 19:48:54 UTC
Currently, ECM works either all or none, with a random chance of occurring at all. This makes it either "useless" or "overpowered" depending on success rates.

By making it so that ECM always takes effect, it brings it in line with the other electronic warfare types.

Instead of only all-the-way-on, or all-the-way-off, many levels of gradation could be achieved.

This would also bring in a new "meta" as ships with many possible targets would be less vulnerable to ECM (Logistics spring to mind first) while smaller 1-2 max target ships would still be neutralized easily.

And with a "max" skilled pilot, the number of lost target locks could scale so that it will effectively be "all-the-way-off" again.

Inspired by ATX.
Ruareve
Caldari Provisions
Caldari State
#2 - 2012-08-01 22:09:55 UTC
The only way this would work is if the empire specific ECM modules were changed to omni because an ECM ship would have to use the mid slots to fit a tank since it would always be targeted.

How would ECCM work under the new system? An auto-targeter would be a better option since it would give you additional targets to counter ECM.



I think a better change would be to make ECM an actual ELECTRONIC counter measure and not an anti-lock counter measure. Remove the empire specific modules and instead turn them into modules that slow down RoF, lock speed and direction for a short period of time, reduce amount of repair both self and remote, offline an enemy module, or remove fleet booster effects.

Each of these would be a % or time effect and ECM skills would increase the duration/effectiveness while sensor strength and ECCM would act as a counter.

The only problems I see would be the offline a module effect. I think this ECM type would need to be limited to one per ECM ship and have a 1-2 minute recycle. The potential exists for such a module to be OP but I think it could have some interesting effects to fleets.


Yet another blog about Eve- http://ruar-eve.blogspot.com/
Taoist Dragon
x Never Regret x
#3 - 2012-08-01 23:07:41 UTC  |  Edited by: Taoist Dragon
Or instead of making them all 'omni' make the all racial with no 'omni' variants.

Give them a strength and if that strength is greater than the target sig strength then they are jammed.

Put a restriction on one per ship and you make a very good one ship neutraliser.... for their target race only.....

Easy.


This way ECM isn't way OP and eccm will actually mean something.

That is the Way, the Tao.

Balance is everything.
Astroniomix
School of Applied Knowledge
Caldari State
#4 - 2012-08-01 23:14:29 UTC
Taoist Dragon wrote:
Or instead of making them all 'omni' make the all racial with no 'omni' variants.

Give them a strength and if that strength is greater than the target sig strength then they are jammed.

Put a restriction on one per ship and you make a very good one ship neutraliser.... for their target race only.....

Easy.


This way ECM isn't way OP and eccm will actually mean something.

That's how it used to work. And it was terrible.
Taoist Dragon
x Never Regret x
#5 - 2012-08-01 23:30:48 UTC
It was but there were still 'omni' ecm and you could field multiple.

The mechanic was sound but the balance was bad...

If you restict the number and make them all racial then will only ever be able to jam a single ship and only of the specific race you are fitted for.


Therefore a force multiplier if you know what you are going up against and have the right number to do it.

and no more falcons showing up and jamming the crap out of an entire gang!


Makes it very powerful in a very specific way...just like the other formes of ewar.

As an Amarr pilot a TD can be totally devastating to me as my chosen weapons (laser) already have the lowest tracking.

SD can be the worst to a long range targeting missile thrower! etc etc

That is the Way, the Tao.

Balance is everything.
Gizznitt Malikite
Agony Unleashed
Agony Empire
#6 - 2012-08-01 23:53:21 UTC

Here's my opinions:

1.) ECM is very powerful... but that's not necessarily a bad thing. TD's are also extremely potent, especially if they start effecting missiles too. SD's and TP's need some lovin... I'm not convinced ECM is tooo potent, and I'm not convinced it needs a nerf. If I were to nerf it, I would alter the jamming formula so your % chance of jam with a single jammer never exceeded 90-95%. In most fights, ECM ships provide a nice fight-altering punch, but are still reasonable vulnerable.

2.) I don't see the big benefit to changing ECM to reduce a static number of targets a ship can target. Either this will have little to no effect on a fight, or it will still be the very potent EWAR it is today. I think the chanced base of ECM actually provides more balance, especially when coupled with ECCM modules.

Kitt JT
True North.
#7 - 2012-08-02 06:58:52 UTC
The only people who whine about ECM being OP, are the ones who have clearly never flown an ECM ship.

Sometimes they're awesome, and sometimes you die in a firey death and curse CCP.