I feel like I fundamentally don't understand how Active Scouting works

[Ulfgard the Unmaker]

So, afaik, for active scouting to work you need to be in either a light tank, or a modern vehicle with the "improved optics" modification. Right? And it has to be done from either the gunner's sight or binoculars, over the course of several seconds.

Why, then, am I getting the "active scout" indicator on my HUD within seconds of almost every engagement when there are no tanks that are either light or modern enough to have "improved optics"? I want to make it clear that I'm not ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ about it, I just don't understand how it's happening so consistently. I do understand that 5.3 is kind of a weird BR in terms of starting to see a more diverse mix of old and modern vehicles, but I can't believe that in every fight, every time I engage, it's against a vehicle that has that capability? What part of this mechanic do I not understand?

[Slyke]

You're talking about realistic battles, right? In RB when you hit a target with anything (including machine guns), it gets spotted momentarily. It looks the same as active scouting, but doesn't last nearly as long (unless you hit the target again).

Also there are definitely vehicles that can scout at 5.3.

[Ulfgard the Unmaker]

Originally posted by Curst:

You're talking about realistic battles, right? In RB when you hit a target with anything (including machine guns), it gets spotted momentarily. It looks the same as active scouting, but doesn't last nearly as long (unless you hit the target again).

Also there are definitely vehicles that can scout at 5.3.

I do dabble in RB from time to time, but it's been a while. I am aware of the temporary spotting that happens from weapon impact. Firstly, when I refer to the "active scout" indicator, I mean the icon on the vehicle status indicator at the bottom left, with the binoculars inside a circle. Also, in this particular case, I'm actually referring to AB, but I suppose the question pertains equally to both modes, though it would be even more frustrating in RB.

I know it sounds silly to question "why am I spotted" in AB when everyone's got markers anyway, but even the arcade markers usually disappear after a few seconds of being well and thoroughly behind cover. Active, though, permanently marks you no matter what you're behind for its full duration. This ruins the ability to surprise enemies with peek-and-pull tactics or even trying to re-position, as the entire enemy team can see what you're up to.

[Lunovus]

If I'm in a light tank of rank II or better (or some SPGs that have that ability too), I scout every enemy I can see that hasn't been scouted yet.

It gives some small SL & RP, more when enemies I scouted are damaged, even more when enemies I scouted get killed.

And it gives an advantage to my team.

Simple as that.

[Ulfgard the Unmaker]

Originally posted by Lunovus:

If I'm in a light tank of rank II or better (or some SPGs that have that ability too), I scout every enemy I can see that hasn't been scouted yet.

It gives some small SL & RP, more when enemies I scouted are damaged, even more when enemies I scouted get killed.

And it gives an advantage to my team.

Simple as that.

I mean, I get that. But in almost no cases do I see a light tank, hence my confusion. Maybe I underestimate my opponent's abilities to scout and gtfo, but if I thought there were any light tanks around I wouldn't have asked.

Edit: Just happened again. The only tank in sight was a T-34-57; being a medium, it's not an inherent ability, and I checked the modifications only to find out that there's no improved optics. So what gives?

[Shard]

Originally posted by Ulfgard the Unmaker:

Originally posted by Lunovus:

If I'm in a light tank of rank II or better (or some SPGs that have that ability too), I scout every enemy I can see that hasn't been scouted yet.

It gives some small SL & RP, more when enemies I scouted are damaged, even more when enemies I scouted get killed.

And it gives an advantage to my team.

Simple as that.

I mean, I get that. But in almost no cases do I see a light tank, hence my confusion. Maybe I underestimate my opponent's abilities to scout and gtfo, but if I thought there were any light tanks around I wouldn't have asked.

Edit: Just happened again. The only tank in sight was a T-34-57; being a medium, it's not an inherent ability, and I checked the modifications only to find out that there's no improved optics. So what gives?

It's very much possible to hide completely and still spot. While looking through the binoculars, you are looking as if the commander was peeking from the top of his hatch, so you don't have to expose yourself at all in order to spot.

[Ulfgard the Unmaker]

Originally posted by Shard:

It's very much possible to hide completely and still spot. While looking through the binoculars, you are looking as if the commander was peeking from the top of his hatch, so you don't have to expose yourself at all in order to spot.

That's probably what's happening, I guess. Idunno, though, because it's near-constant. I'm talking like 17/20 engagements it happens. I guess I'm just struggling to believe that there's one just out of sight THAT often, you know?

[Lunovus]

My scouting crews are trained with more crew points into Keen Vision.
On top of that if the vehicle is spaded it has the mod for +30% for crew visual range.

I like playing some light scouts too, and have some of them talismaned.

So my US and Japanese M24s are aced in 6 of 6 crew slots and my AMX-13 (FL11) is aced in 5 of 5 crew slots (without GE apart from the talismans).

You can probably guess that my chances to see you before you see me are pretty high. ;-)

[Ulfgard the Unmaker]

Alright. Guess the answer is just that my crews are as blind as I am, and there's ALWAYS a light tank, somewhere, that can see me.