The EMP Effect

I was discussing with a friend last night our opinions on the shift with the Clan Invasion and how the battles do see to be swaying more into brawling and direct fire engagement with slightly less jump snipers.

We came up with the idea to include more PPC EMP effect. EG: Instead of PPCs only disabling ECM, PPCs would also disable BAP, Targeting Computers, and, Jump Jets. If we assume the PPC interferes with a DDC's ECM, why would it not inhibit other electrical systems? It would be going too far to say it shuts down a mech or that the EMP disable all energy weapons, but, certain critical systems (ECM, BAP, Targeting Computer, Command Console, Jump Jets) would be an interesting turn in pushing the brawl into melee instead of hiding in hills and jumping...

This would shift not only Streakers and LURM boats with BAP to lock on faster (and counter ECM) but it would also allow you to stop a Jump Sniper mid flight if you're quicker on the trigger. Obviously, that's assuming PGI/The Community is focused on shifting away from the Poptart meta, but, I at least thought it was an interesting idea.

Granted, I am an avid fan of Jump Sniping and really do not mind it as it is a valid tactic. However, it is a lot more fun to get into face-to-face battles where you have to grind an opponent down instead of the short window of sniping.

Thoughts?

 

You want to make PPC's more powerful?

 

That's not a bad idea. Add more of an electronic warfare aspect to the game.
I would say though that the effect should be limited to areas hit on the opposing mech... With the assumption of modular shielding against the event for surrounding areas. This could even extend to tech based modules.
For instance. BAP is located in the RT so a hit on the RT disables it for as many seconds as it takes for the system to reset itself.
This would actually make way for improved tech with quicker recycle times after the EMP event. etc.

 

The discussion I was having last night was actually aimed more at making Jumping less prevalent.

PPCs are powerful, but, with the heat levels now, they are fairly balanced, imo.

 

I would classify JJs as elector-mechanical systems, same as any other moving part of the mech. Shielded from most EMP.
Sensors, such as ECM, BAP, or just regular sensors, on the other had, i would see as being effected.

Get hit by a PPC, loose all electronic sensor tracking capabilities for a few seconds. (maybe does not effect your sensor range if team mates are in line of sight of you and your target)

 

Hmmmm.. my Idea to break the Poptard-Meta and force you to brawl much more but on the other makes PPCs still a pretty useful Weapon:

1. (ER)PPC is disabling ECM, BAP, Targeting Computers, Jump Jets
2. (ER)PPC is doing "Splash"damage only. It`s the electrical damage all over the whole Mech, like "122221".
3. (ER)PPC is making the Target disappear from your MiniMap/disables your team*s Targetlock on that Target, so your Missile Boats can`t lock that Target and sooo even breaks a bit the Lurmageddon Hell.

So in the end, it`s a double-edged sword...


LONG LIVE THE BRAWLERS!!!

 

Why would your multi-spectrum sensors be effected when you hit the enemy?

Not like you fired it at yourself.

Reality is one of the biggest user of PPC's are poptarters anyway so really can't see why they deserve another tool to cause havoc. Pop just over cover ... fire... drop down... oh look apparently now my enemy not only can't hit me as I'm hiding in cover but they also can't use any electronics they have to respond......

.... no?

 

ECM, BAP, Targeting Computer, Command Console, and, Jump Jets wouldn't help much after your target is behind cover anyway. It may inhibit their targeting other mechs in their own area that they are fighting, however, once a Poptart drops, you cannot use any of those tools against them anyway. However, if you could shoot them out of the air and disable their Jump Jets, you may deny them the chance to get a well placed shot off. That way my line of thinking, at least. You certainly raise a very valid point in that it would give the Snipers more power. I just think that would be more power to support other mechs on their team, not make them any stronger. (Like a 3L countering a DDC's ECM bubble)

I agree, there are definitely big disadvantages to any type of system like this. I was just spitballing with a friend as we discussed ways that could shift away from such a powerful Jump Snipe meta.

 

Past the addition of the Counter ECM aspect of this weapon and the possibility of affecting other electronic systems with its emp nature, I kind of like Blagg's take on this as far as making it less of a pinpoint weapon and spreading the physical damage over surrounding areas. It would change the model of the weapon from pinpoint sniper to target softening & in turn give the wepon a more tactical function.

 

I don't think it would be a fair thing to do, since you have to realize that upon firing such a weapon, you're likely to EMP yourself. Any electrical devices you could justify being shorted out on the target would also have to be shorted out on the firer, due to the nature of the PPC.

If it was a rocket or missile that generated the pulse at the point of explosion, I'd argue that more systems could be shorted out.

 

And yet, it does fire from a ECM mech and not int interrupt it's own ECM...

 

Which should be changed.

 

I disagree. I really feel more electronic/tactical warfare would be a great addition.

 

More EW would be cool, I agree. I just think it shouldn't be tacked onto what is already a powerful weapon.

As someone mentioned upstream, your idea would make the poptarts a bit more powerful if they could short out the EW mechs hunting them. I doubt it would accelerate the shift away from jump sniping.

 

Since the firing mech's systems know when the ppc is firing, it's silly to think that it's own systems would be affected. We are not talking about an actual EMP here. As the Cappy stated the weapon has an EMP affect upon the impacted mechs ECM capabilities. It makes sense that this should carry over into other sensitive electronic systems. Blagg also mentioned that migrating the weapon from pinpoint to spread would help the situation, & finally I mentioned the so called EMP affect being limited to sections of the mech where the primary impact occurs... This could further be limited to a section that is cored. Viola, no more poptard weapon of death, but still a strong tactical tool.... rant, rant, rant

A tool that would take some actual skill to use I might add...

 

Even the greatest superheros have weaknesses. If they didn't how could anything they do be classified as... heroic?

 

Last night i thought again bout my mentioned idea of replacing the pinpoint-damage of the PPC with a Splashdamage and EMP Effect. I think if the PPC does only EMP on the hit Target, this would be a little bit too weak for most players, and probably it would be only a fun weapon, but not a serious viable choice in competitive games.

So i thought further and this morning i came to the next cool idea. What if the PPC does not only EMP Effect on the hit target? What if it does EMP Effect on several Mechs that stand too close to each other. Remember the standard situation? -> Mechs standing all under the ECM Bubble of an Atlas D-DC or an ECM Raven etc. ?

Now remember how the PPC looked like in MW2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWzWdwj9NvU(from 42' onwards)​

When it hits, it goes off in a big blue Energy Explosion. Now imagine this in MWO - as a Scout you see a big fat Atlas D-DC and surrounded by lots of his teammates. You shoot your PPC at that Atlas and a big fat blue EMP Explosion shocks the Target and all the Mechs that stands too close to him, taking away some "Buffs" of them for some few seconds - electronic shockwave. I find this idea cool, fun and even viable in competitive gameplay.

Some other thoughts:
- turn the splashdamage into an AoE Damage: The Hit Target gets the 10 Damage, let`s say Splash in form of "122221". All the close Mechs gets a small Damage of 1-2. To make it not too powerful, the Reloadtime of the PPC could be adjusted, so that it takes longer time to shoot it again.

- Would be cool to give the Pilot the option to switch between two Effect Options: Sniping Mode with a faster Projectile Speed and bit better Pinpoint damage, e.g. "12421" and the other the mentioned EMP Shockwave Mode with a slow flying Energy Ball (like in MW2) and AoE Damage!

What you say about these thoughts?

 

Poor little kiddies, aim is required, what will they do?

 

PPCs already require good aim, am I missing something?

Whatever, I don't get the point of this. No offense, I just don't think weps should be doing lots of procs and counters, rather, shit like NARC flamer etc should have those types of perks or unique uses/mechanics on lockdown, otherwise whats the point of using anything but PPCs.

 

Not sure why you're snarky about it. Generally one needs to aim weapons to do damage.