EVE General Discussion

Propulsion jamming works as intended. Yeah, my bad - scramblers/disruptors are boolean as well (I tend to categorize propulsion jamming separately from all other e-war), but in my defence, I just have to say that no one complains about these modules cause you know...both sides can still shoot at each other freely and use other modules freely. Add on top that the number of options in order to escape these modules are quite more numerous than that for ECM. Who would have thought! So comparing these modules to ECM is indeed rather...stupid.

As for other e-warfare (weapon disruption, dampeners etc) - these have for starters a counter-module that benefits the user regardless whether it is used as a counter or not, unlike ECCM modules. And even if they don't have a counter module - like target painters, they do happen to have something else, namely falloff. Unlike ECM falloff, every single other module simply becomes less effective past falloff range. And guess what - the target can STILL shoot back without having to worry about the almighty RNG shutting them out completely in an instant! Isn't that simply AMAZING?

No, I still propose a rework on ECM and make it a constant effect that makes ships unlockable based on target sensor strength, resolution and distance to all other ships versus ship signature radius and distance to target. With enough ECM modules on a single target you would still get the same effect as the current ECM - a total lockout - and a permanent one at that. There would be no reason for anyone to complain because if you are solo and face off versus many players, you are most likely in deep trouble anyway. Same if you are called primary in a larger fight.

The only single difference would be that the opponents would have used more resources on you in order to get you to a state in which you cannot target anyone. No RNG entity spooking about leaving things to chance where a single module determines whether you are allowed to do anything or not.

I think you're confusing EW in general with the specific form of EW called ECM.

People keep thinking that ECM can be countered by ECCM like any other EW form in the game.. which is not true.

For example : 1 tracking disruptor can be countered by 1-2 tracking computers. In this case, you adapted your fit so that it counters the other side, and you end up in the same state than previously, like if nothing happened.

Same thing for Cap warfare : You're under 1-2 neutralizer, you ask one logi to have 1 energy transfer and you end up at the same level of cap than if there was no e-war on you.

About ECM, I can say that we are prepared against it : Our basi usually have two ECCM + one sensor backup low slot, and the sensor strength skill at 4-5... And yet, against a Falcon or a Rook you end up being extremely penalized even against only one module : It may not proc immediately, but after a few cycles you WILL end up being jammed, despite your counters. So, even for 3 modules to counter only one, in the end you're not in the same state than if there were no ECM on you... Because you will still run under the full 20 seconds cycle uncapacitating you, which will result in your other basi no longer repaired. Second basi dies, the first follows, and then the rest of the fleet. All because of ONE module that just proc no matter what you do to counter it. And even if the ennemy can't kill the other basi in 20 seconds, you still have to relock your target, reactivate the cap chain and so on... Another 5 seconds lost.

My solution for ECM :

- First point : make the ECCM low slot module give you the ability to passively instant target every target you had before the jamming cycle. Currently almost nobody uses the sensor backup.. for good reasons, it's underpowered ! This would fix the problem. Eventually, this ability wouldn't work if you have a two sensor dampener against you. You would then need two sensor backup to be able to use this ability, countered by three dampeners, and so on.. Exactly like warp core stabs.

- Second point : add a reflect effect on the ECCM, exactly like capacitor batteries : For each ECCM you have, it adds 20% (for the T2 version) of reflect when you're under a successful jamming cycle. The reflect is send to the ship that jammed you at the end of the cycle, so for a 20 seconds jam, you are unable to target anything for 16 seconds, then you can, and the falcon is unable to target for 4 seconds, beggining at the end of the jam effect (otherwise if he has a lowslot sensor backup, with first point ability, he would instant target again, and this wouldn't change anything). Eventually, if you're succesfuly jamming a target with one ECCM fitted during multiple cycles, the reflect 'stacks' and only applies when finally the target is no longer jammed. So that if you run three sucessful jam cycles on a target with one ECCM before failing, you're under the reflect effect for 12 seconds.

- Third point : A bit like triage/siege modes where activating your module is meaningful and subject to consequences, as long as you have an ECM cycle active (even if it failed), you can't cloak. This ensuring that Falcons are not just uncloaking-targeting-recloaking if they fail all their cycles with ennemies in relatively close range.

I thougth i was going to see a video of someone getting pwnd with ecm in a small scale fleet battle, left dissapointed..