I saw some idea like balancing stats or reducing build time on multiple war factories.
I Think a simple game mecanic can bring them back on the scene by using their mobility without altering their stats and as well put the game more fun playing with them.
Most of the Vehicule are with turret, they can aim and shoot at a target while moving only by doing a 2 steps action :
focus fire than move command
stop key (so they target the nearest enemy in range) than move command
The downsides of this;
- First, it requires lot of micro because every time a target is dead or out of range you have to do the first step again (focus fire or stop).
- Second and major dowside while you're doing the first step, your vehicle STOPS and will have hight risk to take damage or simply die by being immobile during the micro sec you need to give the move command.
example by comparing :
current behaviour :
- Tank is going A to B in move command : he will just travel ignoring everything until getting to B
- Tank is going A to B in A-move command : he will travel but he will STOP and attack first enemy in range becoming an easy target and breaking his travel to be immobile until SURVIVING the engagement.
- Tank is going A to B in move command in hold fire stance ; tank will behave like the current behaviour, move A to B doing nothing.
- Tank is going A to B in move command in defence stance : he will travel to B, firing at the first target in range without stoping or altering his journey, once the target is out of range (or dead) he would be cappable to adquire the next target in range and so until reaching B (without stopping one single time).
- Tank is going A to B in move command in return fire stance : he will travel to B, will hold fire until receiving damage from a target in range without stoping or altering his journey, once the target is out of range he be able to respond to the next unit attacking him so until reaching B.
- Tank is going A to B in A-move command : Same behaviour as the current one, the A-move has its use and don't need changes.
practical examples :
- A ranger sent around a blob with some queued waypoints in circle, he could dodge the rockets while automatiquely firing at all the units in range.
- A squad of 4 tanks sent accros a base in a single move command, firing at all building one after another without stopping avoiding being hit by turret or flame tower while dealing damage.
- 3 flak trucks sent around artie/V2 and be able to kill them just by being close without stoping at risk to be hit by a shell/V2 and without too much micro if nothing justify it.
I'm pretty sure this "simple" change would buff quite a lot each vehicule with turret and change a bit the way vehicule are currently used.
OFC, all vehicules without turret and forward attack would only be able to fire at an enemy if he is in the direct path without nescecity of turning to aim. example an apc sent across a blob to crush can fire right in front of him before crushing making prone the infantry and getting hight chance to crush or at least inflict damage if the crush doesn't happen.
For the ones who would like to respond with an argument like "yeah but micro needs skill, bla bla bla" Sure it does, but by adding this automatic behaviour you don't have to micro on a single unit like crazy to acheive a minor goal, you can micro more units at once and start thinking complicated coregraphy of several vehicule squads at once with complicated queue of order and trying to acheive the perfect timing that will give you the triumph. Wich is impossible right now. So,plz don't think "you're trying to make this too easy" but see "I'm trying to open more gameplay opportunity".
Thank you for your patience to read the whole thing and feel free to ask questions if some points are unclear.
WhoCares