[1.4] Reduce tank field of view by 75%

[theBlind]

As most people seem to agree upon, tank-spam and tank-only armies are a problem.

As such, I'd like to propose this change of gameplay to make sure that tanks need proper support to be effective.

This is an idea that simulates a real-life fact in order to achieve a similar gameplay effect within the restraints of the game-engine. (So get off my back with realism complaints from both sides, m'kay? ;) )

My idea is based on the real-life fact why tanks have infantry support because their naturally limited field of view makes them excellent targets to sneak up upon in an urban environment especially.
This can't really be transported into the engine, unfortunately.

What can be done is to reduce the field of view the tank itself generates. Thus, it would be necessary to always accompany your tanks with either infantry (including light vehicles) or armored cars (which should have a reduction in FOV of say 33%), leading to mixed armies because it greatly reduces the effecitveness of lone tanks.



I'll also mention that this suggestion is imperfect: A tank out on an open field should have the kind of vision it currently has. But I don't think it's possible to have variable field of view and computing line of sight on the fly takes too much processor time - this is the very reason why the feature is not active.

[TheDeadlyShoe]

I believe poor machinegun accuracy adequately simulates tank FOV issues. This pretty much forces people to bring infantry with tanks, it seems like a kludge to me. The route to victory in an armored conflict shouldn't center on who can kill the other sides spotter squad faster.

sudden strike for example was very vision centric and I don't think that made for good gameplay.

Besides which, the obvious route to go is to build snipers, as they can be hidden and can take out AT guns in a pinch. So everyone would just build snipers and jeeps since jeeps can see almost as well and can take out snipers.

[DoctorLee]

This is an okay idea. It forces player to support their tanks with infantry or recon units.

It will prevent some tank spam, but then again, tanks current FOVs are short enough.(reminding me of Panther)

[Sn1tch]

I think it's fine how it is.

I don't know about WW2 but, were there any airstrikes/airplanes that had a bomb specifically designed for AT?

Like a cheap 75 munition airstrike that blows any tank up in 1 hit but has a small blast radius. Should be cool.

Problem is that it has to be on both teams.

[kirkmoor]

Does anyone know if having the chap in the turret has any benefit to LOS? He dies too quick to be of much use otherwise?

I don't think the tank LOS is broken at the moment but it is an interesting idea. With infantry spotters (some) tanks can fire beyond their own LOS - is this correct?

[theBlind]

The sherman gunner does not provide a LOS benefit, but an armor benefit.

[FalseMyrmidon]

I believe poor machinegun accuracy adequately simulates tank FOV issues. This pretty much forces people to bring infantry with tanks, it seems like a kludge to me. No, that forces you to bring anti-infantry tanks too.

[Brendan]

this is a poor suggestion. Tanks have view ports that can see 360 degrees. Thier limited field of view is negligible on this scale of game.

[theBlind]

That's why I call it a simulation of a real-life fact to achieve a gameplay effect :)

[ALoserIsYou]

Horrible suggestion. Realism =/= fun, especially in an RTS such as this.

[Dread Moose]

i love the suggestion, it would force tanks and other armored vehicles if alone, to get within striking distance of infantry Anti tank.

360 degree view ports still to quit little as you are very restricted and in a moving tank driving around you would have a damn hard time spotting any infantry unless they were waving as you drove by.


I had made a post about this a long time ago, but it pretty much got shunned because people felt tanks should be able to see further than infantry. I also thought that when the gunner is on top, he should increase the view, but as soon as he is killed it drops back to low.

[AntiCommie]

I like the idea, but I dont know if it would work... I guess I dont see where this will make the game more fun, like some people already said snipers(and storms) will be used to spot because they can cloak. Other then the spotters I think everyone will still use mostly tanks. I already think most of the good players use a combo of tanks and AT guns, supported by inf(Atleast for Allies), so forcing this wont really fix anything.

[Noble]

All the good players realize that they have to back their tanks up with at least SOME infantry allready. The field of vision is fine as is.

[CRABASSAULT]

Lols to whoever suggested a 75 munition tank killer smart bomb.

[exe163]

how about AT gun kill tanks in 2 shots, and tanks have tiny LOS