Pirate's Bane "ECM is dumb on this mech" (4xMPL, XL180)

4/5,

1 rating

if your guns dictate that you must close to within the detection range for ECM...then its useless!

BTW I do not consider the locust to be a hit and run mech. I play this mech with the intent to run the guns at maximum fire rate for the duration of the entire match, as much as the heat will allow. Rather than run from a fight, I poke in and out of cover and try to feint and get my enemies to fire and hit them during their recycle times. I circle around the cover to keep them out of view, and only disengage when there is risk of being flanked. It is an extremely aggressive play style, but the locust is just so fast that it is possible to play this way not not just get gaussed immediately, especially if you are capable of remaining aware of who has their attention squarely on your squishy butt. For this play style, ECM is only usefull if you can be at a range great enough to take advantage of the free face time that ECM affords you, but at 220-250m...the only value of ECM is the increased missile lock time. Ducking into cover with radar derp gets you out of trouble faster than ECM, and inside of 280m you're detected anyhow, so why waste the tonnage? Go 4MPL and core out an Atlas while looking him straight in the eye.

 

It lets you get into detection range.

 

That little Locust just may be able to go toe to toe with my laser Jenner IIC

 

With a speed of 156, closing in on a target is absolutely not an issue. Besides, a locust is best used in an area of dense cover, so the places it will do well are places where the cover itself + radar derp will make ecm obsolete. If you need ecm to stay out of trouble in a locust, your situational awareness needs some work, and you're probably sticking your neck out when you shouldn't. A locust pilot peeks--they do not stare.

 

I prefer the defense-in-depth approach. For example, my Kit Fox has ECM and 3xAMS. My LRM boats have TAG and BAP. My Centurion CN9-A has 3 shield components.

 

Have been piloting the Locust for a while now, first the PB because initially i thought the PB was the most suited chassis to play the role of "assassinator" role but then i made the switch to the 1E (6xSPL) and that was the real murder machine for me. What i noticed in difference of play style is that the PB with ECM is more forgiving getting behind enemy lines (you will not magically blip on their radar) and lets you squirrel in and around the enemy group more easily as you are often overlooked in the middle of the battle. However, the ECM bubble will eventually distort ones radar / minimap and thats a dead give away someones in the back. Of course you can switch the ECM but then you might as well just leave out the whole thing. Alright, it helps with streaks and such, but the ultimate assination / backstab means that the enemy doesn't even know / notice your are doing business back there... In the end, i believe the best defence / way of operating the locust is not to "not get shot" but "not to be seen". Not at all is perhaps utopia, but minimal exposure is what i aim for, really satisfying to play mind games and trickery with people that don't know whats going on other then their back armor is melting... Locusts allow for such thrilling gameplay and are so much fun to pilot

 

I can see that. Might have to kit out one of my other locusts again

 

Extremely strong Firepower for such a light Mech. Might be a bit hot for long Fights, but no ECM is imo a drawback because this Little Thing is fragile and really needs every defense option it can use