The problem with dogs?
Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 10:44 am
Some people seem to think there is a problem with dogs, or "dog logic" in the game.
What is the problem? How should they be improved?
Are they different compared to the original game? In important ways?
Dogs have a number of uses where they do already work:
(1) Can be used to scout at the start of the game.
(2) Good for searching for crates at the start of the game.
(3) They work as vision extenders for infantry giving an advantage over allies in the early period of the game.
(4) They can camp outside a barracks and munch through newly produced enemy troops. If the opponent can't pull back forces to take care of it, they will probably be forced to place down some base defence, which may give you the opportunity to attack a different part of the enemy base.
(5) They can defend against early game rushes. A dog can wipe out grenadiers or rocket troops stopping an early game rush in its tracks. They can be produced quite fast and may save you in an emergency. Even facing infantry which instantly shoot dogs dead, if they are focused on attacking your base then dogs can quickly kill them along with other enemy troops.
The issue presumably is going to be the later game. At any stage of the game, dogs can still be useful against an APC attack, or troops sneaking into your base. Apparently they detect spies although I don't know how well they do that job. I have experimented a little bit with iron curtained APCs carrying dogs. If you drive into a patch of enemy troops the enemy will be focused on the APC when you release the dogs. You may get some kills. Might be worth it against shock troopers, in addition to just trying to run them over.
But you don't normally see dogs in the later game mixed up as part of an army. I'm not sure this means that they can't work in that type of situation. Maybe you just need to get the right situation and the right trick with them, and they could work well in the later game.
I have suggested that the cyborg doggie may be one way to see increased use of dogs in the later game.
So... anyone have thoughts on dogs? Have I missed out other possible uses of dogs?
What is the problem? How should they be improved?
Are they different compared to the original game? In important ways?
Dogs have a number of uses where they do already work:
(1) Can be used to scout at the start of the game.
(2) Good for searching for crates at the start of the game.
(3) They work as vision extenders for infantry giving an advantage over allies in the early period of the game.
(4) They can camp outside a barracks and munch through newly produced enemy troops. If the opponent can't pull back forces to take care of it, they will probably be forced to place down some base defence, which may give you the opportunity to attack a different part of the enemy base.
(5) They can defend against early game rushes. A dog can wipe out grenadiers or rocket troops stopping an early game rush in its tracks. They can be produced quite fast and may save you in an emergency. Even facing infantry which instantly shoot dogs dead, if they are focused on attacking your base then dogs can quickly kill them along with other enemy troops.
The issue presumably is going to be the later game. At any stage of the game, dogs can still be useful against an APC attack, or troops sneaking into your base. Apparently they detect spies although I don't know how well they do that job. I have experimented a little bit with iron curtained APCs carrying dogs. If you drive into a patch of enemy troops the enemy will be focused on the APC when you release the dogs. You may get some kills. Might be worth it against shock troopers, in addition to just trying to run them over.
But you don't normally see dogs in the later game mixed up as part of an army. I'm not sure this means that they can't work in that type of situation. Maybe you just need to get the right situation and the right trick with them, and they could work well in the later game.
I have suggested that the cyborg doggie may be one way to see increased use of dogs in the later game.
So... anyone have thoughts on dogs? Have I missed out other possible uses of dogs?