Player Features and Ideas Discussion

In RL ECM is usual is done by blinding sensors by large amount of noise. While this prevents locking of normal targets it actually makes it easier to track jammer that is source of noise, so a typical modern anti air and anti ship active guided missiles are programmed to switch to passive mode if jammed and guide to source of jamming noise.

As an analogy I would suggest that ships targeted by ECM be allowed to lock on ships or drones that are attempting to use ECM on them, even if they are unable to lock any other target. Maybe even ECM targeted ships should get sensor range and resolution bonus against ships using ECM on them.

This would make ECM useless in solo ships but still useful in fleets to either take out enemy logistic ships or DPS ships that have gunn/missile range smeller then ECM range. In that way ECM would become equal to other EVE e-war methods in that it is useful only is specific situations and and against specific ships instead of instant overwhelming force multiplier that can be used against any ship (except supper capitals and titians).

Clicked on the thread expecting a suggestion that would nerf ECM to the point of being worthless.

Instead found an idea that's actually pretty damn good, I like it.
This would also go a long way towards making ECM less powerful in small gang fights, which are the main situation it could be considered overpowered.

While this would be a pretty big nerf to ecm drones (maybe increase their strength to compensate?) This seems the best idea I've seen so far.

Suprising.

I'm going to have to grudgingly +1

This simple fix is a great idea to the problem of sitting there helpless (which is mostly just annoying that you can't join in the fight.) Perhaps the ECM modules should increase signature as well, since they're blasting out a lot of EM noise.

Actually in RL what happen is a missile is able to lock on to the source of the White noise.

This we already have they are called FoF missiles they can be fired at any aggressive ship whether your can lock them or not. Therefore why do we need yet another module or change that make a Ewar ship redundant.

We have 3 three counters to ECM already

1. ECCM
2. FoF missiles
3. Drones

Why the hell do we need yet another counter?

I suggest your learn how to counter ECM rather than whine about it.

As someone who's flown every ECM boat including the infamous pre-nerf Falcon, I like to think I know what I'm talking about here.

1. Worthless. Takes up a slot while having no secondary benefits, and does very little. The chance-based mechanic of ECM contributes to this.
2. Also worthless - FOFs do hilariously low DPS and will only even target the ECM ship if you're lucky. They're also pretty much only applicable to the Drake, as that's pretty much the only missile boat larger than a frigate worth using.
3. Only any good if said ECM boat is even in range - not exactly likely if fitted and flown well.

In smaller engagements, ECM is overpowered. Simple as.
The reason it's so difficult to nerf is that it'd hard to nerf the EWAR without breaking half a dozen ships, but this idea makes it less viable for locking down an entire gang with 2 ships while still keeping it useful in an anti-support role. Best solution I've seen so far, frankly.

This ability you speak of is in SOME missiles only. Those missiles can passively "home" on very strong amounts if radar or infrared EM waves. This application is not present in all anti air and anti ship missiles by any means and currently has an in game equivalent of FoF Missiles.

FoF is not an equivalent to those RL missile systems, because FoF will just target anything and do low DPS. The anti-radar missiles look specifically for the source of the radar jamming and usually do enough damage to kill the thing.

So I would really like to see an equivalent in the form of a missile (or multiple, considering 4 damage types and different sizes) that only targets ECM sources and can actually do damage.

Also, the counter measure against RL anti-radiation-missiles is to shut the jamming off for a moment. This could also be used in EVE to stop the incoming missile from finding its target - with the penalty of breaking the jamming for a moment.

Interesting possibilities!

When the only viable counter to X is more of X or overwhelming force, something is badly wrong and needs rebalancing. ECM fits this perfectly. Thanks for helping me make my point there.


Provide evidence/proper argument or **** off. So far all you've contributed is a list of "counters" that are at best situational and at worst utterly useless.


I am an Ewar pilot, thanks, unlike you by the look of it. Let's re-list your "counters" from my point of view, shall we?

1. Drones - I'm out of range of all but sentries. The only ships that can use those are a couple of battleships and two cruisers - hardly practical.
2. FoF missiles - utterly laughable. Even if I'm in range, and they fire at me, (two very big ifs there) they do pathetic DPS and most of them get shot down by my defenders. Yeah, FoFs barely even deserve a mention here.
3. ECCM - thanks for giving up a slot for something that only barely hinders me, guys. I've managed to get jams on 2 ECCM'd Basilisks at the same time before.

Oh and I think you mean "get blown up" not "get podded", as if you're not in a bubble it's pretty damn hard to get your pod killed unless you lag out. As for getting blown up - hey guess what, I'm too far out for most weapons to even reach me. I guess having a clue how to fly my ships is why I don't lose many ECM boats eh?

Right on, sister!

Having been stuck in the situation of being solo'd by a small gang with an ecm ship I'd say that yes, it is a pain in the arse sitting there not being able to shoot back BUT even if I could have I'd have been blown away anyways as I was outnumbered so it really makes no difference. In 1v1 I've never been beaten by an ECM boat because as soon as they lose that ECM my drones are on them and they die or warp off as soon as they get ECM lock again. The better the ECM the worse the tank. There are counters to everything in the game. Some of these are having other people about you. In a giant game of rock paper scissors lizard spock you win some you lose some.