Basic ideas for ensuring flexibility in the ECM system

EVE Technology and Research Center Player Features & Ideas
1

Currently, the ECM system has very low effectiveness against fleets composed of ships from various factions, so capsuleers rarely use it; as a result, ECM systems and Caldari EWAR ships specialized in this system are being shunned.

Therefore, if the ECM system is rebalanced to flexibly counter the mixed fleets, the ECM and Caldari EWAR ships that were previously overlooked by capsuleers will be chosen more frequently.

Idea of ensuring flexibility is as below.

  1. The ECM module is integrated into a multispectrum ECM module, and four types of scripts(magnetometric, gravimetric, RADAR, LADAR) added to replace the existing specialized ECM module.
    * This adopts the concept of other EWAR module.

  2. Unlike other EWAR system, when equip, unequip and switching the script, ECM module needs re-adaption time(as same as weapon reloading times).
    When switching the script, unlike other EWAR system, icon of module will be totally changed(recycling current using ECM module icons).
    * This adopts the concept of weapon system.

  3. Graphic Effect Integration: Unifies the attack effects of all ECM modules into a single integrated graphic called “Multispectrum ECM”.

    *Since capsuleer will always execute attacks corresponding to the sensors used by the enemy ship, it is unnecessary to separate graphics by sensor type.

  4. Different class module have different re-adaption time.

    • For example, re-adaption time of each class module as below.
      Class Time
      T1 30 seconds
      T2 20 seconds
      Faction 15 seconds
      Officer 10 seconds

  5. Caldari faction EWAR ships have a re-adaption time reduction bonus.
    For example, such as griffin, tengu, widow, have the bonus as below.
    T1 ships : 10% per skill level
    T2 ships : 15% per skill level
    T3 ship with EWAR subsystem : 15% per skill

  6. The numbers in example 4 and 5, it is just example, so please consider the concept only.
    Only the developers will be able to predict the appropriate number.

This idea is just basic idea, and that the real rebalancing plan has many things to consider, such as ECM module fitting values, jamming strength and range, and the rebalance of Caldari EWAR ships.

I hope that ECM modules and Caldari faction EWAR ships will be frequently used, yet not feel excessively powerful compared to other types of EWAR modules or EWAR ships from other factions.

2

I don’t like it.

ECM modules currently reward preparation and intel.

If you know from your scouts that the enemies have minmatar logi and caldari dps, you can prepare and fit your ECM ship accordingly. Or you could fit a range of modules with a preference for whatever ships you think are most dangerous to your fleet, such as having an extra yellow jam versus the spooling weapons of Triglavians.

If you turn ECM modules into a scripted module instead, this removes the ‘preparation and intel’ part of the strategy, and turns them into a reactive module where you just have to colour match your script with the background of the target ship.

There’s not even an interesting player choice to do so, you just match script with the target, so the game mechanics of ‘scripting’ the modules are also incredibly bland and boring.

I see your suggestion results in a loss of multiple strategies and dumbs down these modules to a level that I think we’re better off just having one general ‘multispectrum ECM module’ that jams everything at optimal strength, so we don’t have to play a game of colour matching yellow with yellow while we’re flying just like I’m trying to teach colours to my toddler daughter.

Why not use the multispectrum ECM module in the first place if you’re not willing to do take the time to prepare? The faction versions aren’t expensive.

2 Likes
3

ECM… how far the mighty have fallen.