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T2 Auto-targeting missiles
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Deckel
Island Paradise
#1 - 2017-05-14 23:56:52 UTC
I'm sure many of you have heard the ECM argument that F.O.F. missiles are a countermeasure to ECM or other Ewar types, but considering that they only target the closest hostile force, that really means that they are almost useless in a battle that has drones and fleets with targets constantly changing their distance. To defeat a target you often need constant dps pressure which auto-targeting missiles cannot be relied upon to apply. They also cannot be used to initiate combat, which means you need a secondary mechanism to start combat.

Some of this could be changed with simple updates to Auto-targeting logic, but I think it may be better to just give this better logic to a T2 variant.

So I propose T2 Hybrid Targeting Missiles
These missiles can initiate combat and deal damage to targeted ships, and will continue to target and follow the same last target focused upon until the target dies, even if target lock is broken. It will only find a new closest hostile target when a firing cycle is started with zero locked targets, or the last target dies or leaves grid. Manually stopping the firing cycle will be required to adjust targets to different locked or nearby targets. Missile damage and explosion metrics will still remain the same as standard auto-targeting missiles but range will be extended to be the highest range of all missiles of similar genre(extra 25% maybe?).

I think these changes could make Auto-targeting missiles a little more reliable and useful to the Ewar scene, and Eve in general.
Lugh Crow-Slave
#2 - 2017-05-15 02:56:31 UTC
you don't full up and go 100% auto targeting that's not how these work. you put them in your fast frigs or cruisers (only a full clip or two) these can then get up to the ECM ship and chace them off. when you start getting jammed you begin to swap and then fire once you get close.

they are not meant to be a hard counter to ECM that is what SEBOs are for they are a soft utility counter meant for niche situations in small gangs. but simply put if you have drones you do not need them.

they can also be used to break tackle if you are under heavy ECM but this is more a hail marry

BLOPS Hauler
The 16.8km Bubble
Old Pervert
Perkone
Caldari State
#3 - 2017-05-15 16:50:08 UTC
FOF are not a countermeasure for ECM, or even EWAR in general. They're an answer to them at best, and they're a weird one at that.

As mentioned by Lugh, ECM and RSD are both countered by a Sebo. These can be used on turret ships as well as launcher ships. Also, ECM pilots will hate you if you're in a drone boat, assuming you launch your drones before they redbox you.

About the only legitimate use for FOF missiles is multibox ratting with RHML battleships.. and even that's not really a fantastic approach.