How does Steath work

[Krakenheim]

I am playing with a CTF-0X and all my lance within the bubble, only actions I took was reserve. A red unidentified mech is the only contact. I have 120m or 100m rangefinders on my units.
AI plays: sensor lock someone, unidentified mech moves, shots at locked unit.
Or contct is a red mech as above, someone gets sensor locked, no new contacts enter my detection range.
Both this situations are happening to me in almost every mission.
I really dont understand how Steath works, can someone help ?

 

[Kharille]

Theres always a computer piece with sensor lock. When they sensorlock your cataract, cataphract that unit loses cloak. I think its best to keep your distance. Got the vaguest idea if they get close you also lose 1 sensor lock. Best try to stay far away and see if you can tell which computer unit has the sensor lock.

If you reserve to the last turn, you can take your actions, deplete your stealth firing, and have it renewed for the following turn.

 

[Jade_Rook]

As long as a mech is inside a friendly ECM bubble, they will receive 1 stealth charge at the start of the turn. Mechs equipped with ECM (like the Raven and CTF-0X) get 2 stealth charges.
As long as a mech has at least 1 stealth charge, it cannot be targeted by attacks.
Using sensor lock or firing weapons removes a stealth charge from the acting mech.
Having an enemy mech enter the ECM bubble reduces stealth for all mechs covered by the bubble by 1.
If a mech is sensor locked, then they lose all ECM benefits and can be freely fired upon.
Sensor locks expire at the end of turn and stealth charges are renewed at the beginning of the next turn.

If you have ECM, the enemy will be very likely to sensor lock your units. It is one of the difficulties of working with ECM. You need to manage your actions to manipulate what the AI will use and when. Being untargetable isn't always desired.

 

[Chaos Theory]

I use ECM primarily to manage aggro in escort and 3-way battle missions. On escorts, I cloak the vehicles forcing opfor to waste turns sensor locking or rushing scouts into melee range. On 3-way battles, I cloak my lance so that the 2 opfors spend their turns firing at each other instead of at me.

Also, if all your units are cloaked and there are no other targets, the AI will often reserve until someone acts. This could be an effective way to negate the initiative disadvantage of an all-assault mech lance. I haven’t tried this one because I‘d rather cleanly win or lose initiative but if anyone has success with it, I’d be interested in hearing about your experience.

 

[Hobbes__]

As long as a mech is inside a friendly ECM bubble, they will receive 1 stealth charge at the start of the turn. Mechs equipped with ECM (like the Raven and CTF-0X) get 2 stealth charges.
As long as a mech has at least 1 stealth charge, it cannot be targeted by attacks.
Using sensor lock or firing weapons removes a stealth charge from the acting mech

Addendum: stealth 'Mechs can always be targeted by melee attacks, regardless of the number of stealth charges. And IIRC, a Stealth 'Mech doesn't lose any stealth charge if it performs a melee attack

 

[MarkDey]

Addendum: stealth 'Mechs can always be targeted by melee attacks, regardless of the number of stealth charges. And IIRC, a Stealth 'Mech doesn't lose any stealth charge if it performs a melee attack

Huh! That's good to know - it might make for an interesting ninja Hatchetman.

 

[GrayDeath]

My mechs do lose their stealth charges when they perform a melee attack. And at least I can‘t melee attack a full stealthed opponent.

 

[Hobbes__]

My mechs do lose their stealth charges when they perform a melee attack. And at least I can‘t melee attack a full stealthed opponent.

If they fire their support weapons, it's logical that they'll lose a charge.

This pic was taken during Skirmish mode. My assassin is about to melee attack a Raven fully stealthed.

 

[Jade_Rook]

My mechs do lose their stealth charges when they perform a melee attack. And at least I can‘t melee attack a full stealthed opponent.

Were they visible, but stealthed or were they still a sensor blip?

If they fire their support weapons, it's logical that they'll lose a charge.

This pic was taken during Skirmish mode. My assassin is about to melee attack a Raven fully stealthed.

What happened to your Assassin's stealth charges after the attack? I am assuming it was fully revealed since it made an attack and would have any enemy within its stealth bubble.
Did you check without firing the support weapons? I would expect melee to cost a stealth charge, even without firing support weapons.

Thank you for the help confirming these mechanics!