TTS and TAGs

[Named]

The value of the TAG seems obvious - it's a little OP and weird that a targeting laser somehow increases damage rather than just increasing chance to hit. Is there a lore reason for this?

Separate question for TTS - are these worthwhile? I've only ever put them in A/C head hunting 'Mechs and I've never been sure if they are adding value or taking up heatsink or armour space.

Can anyone shine some light on the value of a TTS (assuming the pilot has Called Shot Mastery and rank 10 gunnery).

[Old Man Gibb]

IMO, both are worthless. The weight and cost makes putting them on anything other then an assault mech is not worth while. In my games I have never had to or even wanted to use them for the reasons already mentioned. But hey, their is about 40% of this game that is a waist of programing time. But I guess each to their own.

[Lack of Stuff]

They are both excellent. You already outlined the power of TAGs and the fact that you can stack TAG marks on a single mech makes them very powerful.

For TTS it's just an extra chance to hit which is valuable depending on your loadout. If you already have a high accuracy weapon setup then it is unnecessary but for things like high recoil UACs TTS can be invaluable.

LRM boats almost always benefit from TTS and even certain energy weapons like TAGs hit more consistently with TTS.

At 1 ton for a TTS+++ the investment is minimal. For the heavier or lower quality TTS it's more about your preferences.

Edit: Note that TTS will do nothing for called shots or "headhunters" aside from just increasing the chance that you hit the target at all.

[danko9696]

If you have access to TTS+++ use them in heavies and assaults if you have only one kind of weapon, they're very very good. For TTS++ is a case by case decision, they can be good in LRM boats and dual AC20 setups.

[Morgian]

I did not analyze it, but my Jagermech performs better since I built one in for his ACs. It was more noticeable on mechs with more weapons benefitting from it, though - missile boats and energy weapon batteries.
The accuracy bonus looks unimpressive, but since it lets you hit more often it translates into DPR. How much depends on the number and damage of affected weapons. It may be a consideration how many rounds of ammo you carry; if you have only a few, the TTS looks much better.

I might try one with an assassin to see how he performs against light mechs afterwards.

[danko9696]

Originally posted by Morgian:

I did not analyze it, but my Jagermech performs better since I built one in for his ACs. It was more noticeable on mechs with more weapons benefitting from it, though - missile boats and energy weapon batteries.
The accuracy bonus looks unimpressive, but since it lets you hit more often it translates into DPR. How much depends on the number and damage of affected weapons. It may be a consideration how many rounds of ammo you carry; if you have only a few, the TTS looks much better.

I might try one with an assassin to see how he performs against light mechs afterwards.

Of course depends a lot on the setup. But they don't help only against lights, also (and more important) against many other penalties like long range, obstacles, evasion, recoil and so on. With the heavier UACs are a must.

[Morgian]

I guess it was the help with the recoil penalty which made the effect obvious on my ACs. I haven't tried UACs yet, they need so much ammo :(

I was thinking of the light mechs, because they are so hard to catch with heavier mechs. The assassin has an inbuilt -3 evasion device, so he might be able to kill the darn spider-mechs even better with a TTS.

[danko9696]

Originally posted by Morgian:

I guess it was the help with the recoil penalty which made the effect obvious on my ACs. I haven't tried UACs yet, they need so much ammo :(

I was thinking of the light mechs, because they are so hard to catch with heavier mechs. The assassin has an inbuilt -3 evasion device, so he might be able to kill the darn spider-mechs even better with a TTS.

Lights are hard to catch only with some weapons like AC20s, but with massed ML/SRMs they're not an issue. You have so much firepower that missing a big chunk of damage you'll still kill them, whereas with big cannons like dual AC20s if you miss one or two you lose half or all the damage. I'm thinking more about firing near maximum range plus one or two eva pips from a heavy or assault.

[CrazyGoatMan]

Putting an LRM boat up on a mountain generally seems to give such a bonus from Height the hit chance is already 95%. Would a TTS help at all in this case? My guess is ACC would still just cap out at 95%. Any thoughts or experience with this?

[danko9696]

Originally posted by CrazyGoatMan:

Putting an LRM boat up on a mountain generally seems to give such a bonus from Height the hit chance is already 95%. Would a TTS help at all in this case? My guess is ACC would still just cap out at 95%. Any thoughts or experience with this?

Higher ground gives you an accuracy bonus, and all accuracy bonuses only work to counter penalties such as long range, evasion, obstructed view, ...

In the case you say it would depend on the target and the distance. If you have a +10% to hit because the elevation, -20% because you're firing outside your optimal range, and a -30% due to target evasion, then yes, a TTS would help.