Swapping Trucks and Half Tracks

[TechnoCrow]

Hi, I am curious to know what people think of the following suggestion:

Since trucks are unarmoured, it would make sense for them to be used for 'behind the lines' work. Since half tracks are armoured and armed, it would make sense for them to be used more aggressively. However, the fact that half tracks can be used as spawn points while trucks cannot results in people using them the other way around.

In my opinion, it would make sense to make trucks the mobile spawn points and remove that ability from half tracks. That would encourage people to use both types of vehicle in a manner that is more in line with their abilities.

[Gibber1sh]

You going to have to enumerate how you are going to balance it, currently:

Trucks cost 100 fuel have a 1.5 minute spawn cooldown (commander ability) and (assuming all trucks get destroyed) three trucks are auto-spawned every 5 minutes.

Halftracks cost 300 fuel, are not auto-spawned and have a 5 minute commander cooldown.

Half tracks also move slower than trucks and are more difficult to drive due to limited visibility.

In short commanders only build halftracks, because of the spawn ability.

[Trexler ♤]

I just wish that the half-tracks that were in the game were made into 2 different types, one without a gun and is only 1 shot to destroy, and an armored one with the gun and it would take 2 rockets to kill. The half-track without the gun could spawn at the start of the match on the flanking spawns, and they only respawn once destroyed, such as when the transports are destroyed and respawn

[TechnoCrow]

Here's an example suggestion:

Continue to have the current trucks at 100 fuel.

Also have spawn point trucks (they could be styled as command vehicles, for example) for 250 points.

Have half tracks for 150 points with their armour and weapon but no spawn point ability.

[Gibber1sh]

Originally posted by TechnoCrow:

Have half tracks for 150 points with their armour and weapon but no spawn point ability.

As a commander I just don't see myself spawning any of these.

In most use cases I think a different (cheaper) vehicle is a better use of the fuel:
Jeep (80), Supply Truck (100) or Recon Tank (100).

The Recon tank outclasses this HT in everything except passenger capacity and I just don't think you need the extra capacity most of the time - especially since players can ride on the roof in those few cases (officers ride inside - since they can drop OPs if required).

The fundamental problem is this type of HT is a single use vehicle (I don't see anyone driving it back) - The Jeep is similar in this regard which is why it is typically only used by recon or the commander themselves.

Another negative is it takes up one of the commander vehicle spawn spots (they only have 5).

Originally posted by TechnoCrow:

Also have spawn point trucks (they could be styled as command vehicles, for example) for 250 points.

The critical differences are that the driver isn't protected when driving to the front and that it would be vulnerable to MG fire. As such 200 fuel may be a better price.

It is an interesting trade off; cheaper (hence more likely to get built) but less useful - I am not sure how I feel about this one - would be interesting to see how it plays.

[Gibber1sh]

Originally posted by Trexler ♤:

I just wish that the half-tracks that were in the game were made into 2 different types, one without a gun and is only 1 shot to destroy, and an armored one with the gun and it would take 2 rockets to kill. The half-track without the gun could spawn at the start of the match on the flanking spawns, and they only respawn once destroyed, such as when the transports are destroyed and respawn

The transport truck is basically a halftrack without a gun.

And you can't increase the damage required to kill a halftrack without radically changing tanks (you can kill a heavy with three shots from the rear).

[TechnoCrow]

Another example suggestion:

Trucks for 100 fuel.

Half tracks for 100 fuel. Slower and lower visibility than trucks but armoured and armed as well as being better cross country.

Command truck spawn points for 200 fuel.

[POPO Sandh]

always hated the idea of half tracks being a mobile garry, barely used, should have been a light support vehicle, imagine how the battles would be if the half track was used in fire fights and on the field instead of never spawning or if spawning cause its a valuable mobile garry it stays way back behind the lines with no one controlling it, literally no joke i have like seen the half track spawn maybe 7 or 8 times in my hours sine its release and i can remember only once where somebody actually went on the mounted MG and used it against enemies.
they could have even added half tracks with anti tank guns and much more if they went with the light support vehicle route.

when i heard about it i was excited then saw it just a over expensive spawner that barely adds anything to the battlefield cause it isnt used most of the time. i wish team17 change that somehow.

[Gibber1sh]

The problem with the vision of cruising into battle in a halftrack with the MG blazing is the cost of a 1 time use vehicle, in terms of:

• Fuel needed to spawn.
  
• Taking up one of the commander spawn spots (5 total)
  
• Dev time for T17

A solution which would eliminate all three, would be to replace the (free) auto-spawn transport truck in the middle spawn with a halftrack. It would be identical to the commander spawned ones except, without the infantry spawn ability.

You would now have a more tactical choice during the initial rush: do you take a regular truck and get there first or the armored HT and get there a bit later.

During the match there would typically be a "decoy" HT on the map **, which makes it more difficult for the enemy team to decide if they should send squads to kill (spawn capable) HT's.

** - I would envision the "decoy" HT to work the same as transport trucks - it would auto respawn in middle base, 5 minutes after it is destroyed.

[Mad Jack]

Originally posted by Trexler ♤:

I just wish that the half-tracks that were in the game were made into 2 different types, one without a gun and is only 1 shot to destroy, and an armored one with the gun and it would take 2 rockets to kill. The half-track without the gun could spawn at the start of the match on the flanking spawns, and they only respawn once destroyed, such as when the transports are destroyed and respawn

This sounds really cool but it wouldn't work out, your proposed armored HT would be killed just as fast (well maybe it gets to live 10 seconds longer but you get the point). The low survivability and its one-way-character would then make it from a commander pov uneconomical.

The game features too much very versatile, powerful and nearly instantly available anti-vehicle tooling to give vehicles any more room, unfortunately.