Oolite Bulletins

A small tweaking of the 'ardheads may benefit realism... they are ECM resistant/hardened not -proof.
Having different grades of hardning also provides opportunity for beginning oxp-ers.

proposal: (which I'm sure has been suggested before)
-set hardened missile AI to detonate on ECM with X chance (below 10% otherwise ECM spamming would destroy them too easilly)
-when failed:
-set the AI to a tumble state* for say 5 seconds, resume normal operation
-5% AI loses target, acquire random new target.
-45% detonate
-50% resume normal operation

*custom tumble with high speed random direction, standard tumble wih 0speed would look stupid.

Arexack_Heretic wrote:

proposal: (which I'm sure has been suggested before)
-set hardened missile AI to detonate on ECM with X chance (below 10% otherwise ECM spamming would destroy them too easilly)

That's how hardheads always responded to ECM.

Arexack_Heretic wrote:

-when failed:
-set the AI to a tumble state* for say 5 seconds, resume normal operation
-5% AI loses target, acquire random new target.
-45% detonate
-50% resume normal operation

*custom tumble with high speed random direction, standard tumble wih 0speed would look stupid.

I like the idea of ECM having various different outcomes. So in principle thumbs up here.

Commander McLane wrote:

That's how hardheads always responded to ECM.

Really? I had forgotten, or never realized.
A fuel injector is usually my second purchase after the standard ECM.

Arexack_Heretic wrote:

A fuel injector is usually my second purchase after the standard ECM.

A fuel injector is often my second purchase right after the large cargo bay. I don't go looking for fights till I have a LOT more, so an ECM is unnecessary till later. Basically nothing will fire a missile at you unless you shoot it...a few times. A fuel injector can let you complete a cargo run in 3 minutes realtime from station-to-station. After just 1 hour going hard like that, you could afford a military laser!

Switeck wrote:

There really isn't a decent defense against an ECM-resistant missile fired less than 2 seconds before the enemy passes you head on. Even a regular missile may be able to hit you before you can ECM.

I died a lot from normal missiles shot from very short range.

Now I take more care to not get into such position / situation.

Commander McLane wrote:

Arexack_Heretic wrote:

proposal: (which I'm sure has been suggested before)
-set hardened missile AI to detonate on ECM with X chance (below 10% otherwise ECM spamming would destroy them too easilly)

That's how hardheads always responded to ECM.

Moreover I remember learning from this board that ECM has a higher % of success the closer the missile is.

Irc. ECM sends out 3 or 4 waves of in- or de-creasing distance. A close-by missile would receive all 3 (or 4) waves and on each wave dice are rolled what happens.

Sorry, no idea what topic it was were I learned it.

snork wrote:

There really isn't a decent defense against an ECM-Irc. ECM sends out 3 or 4 waves of in- or de-creasing distance. A close-by missile would receive all 3 (or 4) waves and on each wave dice are rolled what happens.

Sorry, no idea what topic it was were I learned it.

It was written somewhere, but is wrong for the hard head. The 4 waves of ECM pulses is correct, but on the first pulse the the code goes in a decision loop were is ignores any further pulses for 5 seconds.