Gameplay: Suggestion about gunning in tanks

[Grimster]

I am very much against the driver being the one to handle the main gun on tanks which in my opinion was a good thing with PS1 where you as driver could completely focus on the driving and it also promotes team play.

Then this morning my brother cracked an awesome idea I don't remember seeing anywhere.

What if they could make it so that the driver has control over the main gun but when a gunner hops into the tank he gets to control the main gun or give the driver the ability to pass over the control of the main gun?

That way you could still drive the tank alone and still be able to deal damage but it would also make it possible for people like me who prefer to have a gunner doing all the shooting so I can focus on the driving to fully enjoy the tank.

Any thoughts on this idea?

[Toppopia]

Originally Posted by Grimster

I am very much against the driver being the one to handle the main gun on tanks which in my opinion was a good thing with PS1 where you as driver could completely focus on the driving and it also promotes team play.

Then this morning my brother cracked an awesome idea I don't remember seeing anywhere.

What if they could make it so that the driver has control over the main gun but when a gunner hops into the tank he gets to control the main gun or give the driver the ability to pass over the control of the main gun?

That way you could still drive the tank alone and still be able to deal damage but it would also make it possible for people like me who prefer to have a gunner doing all the shooting so I can focus on the driving to fully enjoy the tank.

Any thoughts on this idea?

Sounds good, except you would want it as an option to pass the control, not automatically do it if someone jumps in, or else some bad griefing could happen, unless your vehicle was set to outfit only. But other than that, awesome idea.

[Grimster]

Originally Posted by Toppopia

Sounds good, except you would want it as an option to pass the control, not automatically do it if someone jumps in, or else some bad griefing could happen, unless your vehicle was set to outfit only. But other than that, awesome idea.

Yeah absolutely. I mentioned that in my post might not have been totally clear though. But I think absolutely that should be an option for the driver to pass it over.

I know I would prefer to pass it over to one of my outfit mates as I prefer concetrating on the driving and also I would prefer to concetrate on the shooting if I am in the gunner seat.


Back in PS1 me and my brother usually took turns on driving. So if we would go poof then the other would fetch a new tank.

[Cuross]

I like this idea, especially since in PS1 I usually never got any other vehicle certs except the AMS and aircraft, but would gun for tanks a lot. It's definitely nice to have dedicated drivers. It doesn't split their attention or tempt them to doing anything risky.

But I think that the MBT's I saw in the videos had the main gun fired by the driver with the smaller guns fired by the gunner, so in essence, I don't think this would work.

It's a good idea, but I wonder if it would get far, it's just another learning curve that tankers are going to have to overcome. Use the main gun outside of firefights and siege the enemy and let the gunner use their skill to protect you while you're focusing on maneuvering through the battlefield.

[Talek Krell]

Similar suggestions have come up. Devs are currently examining ways to appeal to both playstyles.

The primary problem with your specific suggestion is the Magrider. Due to the main cannon being fixed forward instead of on a turret the vehicle would have to be re-designed in order for the role of the gunner to be at all engaging. That takes time and resources.

There is also the issue of the secondary turrets. Disabling the secondary weapon would vastly reduce the combat potential of the vehicle, giving it to the driver would just make his situation worse (think of trying to work an AA turret while simultaneously driving full speed), and having the gunner work both would be functional but it would also mean the tank can't use both weapons simultaneously which, again, reduces its combat potential compared to a tank where the driver has retained the main gun.

At the moment my favored approach would be to make vehicle customizations that completely rework each tank when they're being operated by specialized crew. Different weapons, different values for armor. They won't be able to manage something that extreme by the time beta hits, but at least they could give it the attention and the balancing it deserves.