A respectful request for Don, Andy and Shrapnel

Artur · #1 November 10th, 2005, 04:45 PM

Gentlemen,

I have a respectful request for you. WinSPMBT is a very good game it is the main reason why I still play the SP series. One of the main strengths of this gane is that the developers were open to the (hardcore) players' suggestions. I can prove that as my several suggestions were implemented as well.

In the recent patch, there was a fix which causes the tanks' turrets to turn to the direction of the movement. This is not good as it is now for many reasons.
1. In armor combat there are many times when the turret has to be turned in other direction than the movement direction even if the enemy is not seen. These are shoot and scoot tactics or convoy escort when the armor is covering one side of the road, or just simply moving from cover to cover and the turret is turned towards the suspected threatening units.
2. Even though the "fix" may aid the AI (I am not sure though) it is no good to "teach" the newbies a such an incorrect way of operating the armor.
3. This feature worked the same way since the very first version and nobody complained about it. This was NOT just for aesthetic reasons.
4. I know I am not alone with this and I am sure fixing this problem would measurably increase the players' contentment with WinSPMBT.

Now don't get me wrong nothing is perfect and everybody makes not so good moves during a developement and I am no exception as well. (I am also a software engineer.)

As far as I am able to see without knowing the code, it would not be so much work from the coding aspect. It may take a few minutes only or a few hours the most. Testing is another thing as they may have to run a lot of test cases. However if this problem would be fixed a dilemma would be solved as now people are thinking about which version to play PBEM the 2.0 or 2.5.

There were some good and some not so good examples with other games when a patch contained a bad solution. Once Battlefront issued a patch for Combat Mission Africa Korps. It turned out to have a serious misfunction (too frequent gun hits if I remember right) and they re-issued the patch. Everything got back to normal. And there are some bad examples like the other SP variant which has also a serious bug in the current version and nothing has done with that until now...

My request is the creation of a small patch containing the winSPMBT exe or one of the dlls to fix this turret direction related problem and nothing else. I know there will be a lot of time until a serious patch will come out for WinSPMBT as Don and Andy will be busy with WinSPWW2. Do not let this issue make a quite measurable discontent among the players if it could be resolved with a little effort. I myself installed Wulfir's excellent scenarios included in V2.5 to my V2.0 installation and decided not to play with V2.5. (Except from trying out some scenarios if they work well with 2.5). I know that I am not alone.

My fellow gamers who agrees with this request please "sign" here. Just sign no quarelling please. Don, Andy and Shrapnel have done an excellent job and I am greatful to them for making this wonderful game for us. I am confident that if a lot of gamers will show they agree with this request, Shrapnel Games will take that in comsideration.

Thank you for your attention,
Art�r Sz�kely-Tak�cs.

Double_Deuce · #2 November 10th, 2005, 05:07 PM

I agree with Artur.

I can live either way but it does lessen the realisticness (if thats a word) of traveling with a turret (gun tube) oriented in a designated direction and not only toward ID'ed enemy targets.

Since WinSPMBT will be used for the foundation of WinSPWW2 I fear this issue will carry over into the player base of that game as well and we'll be having the same discussion all over again.

RVPERTVS · #3 November 10th, 2005, 06:55 PM

I think you still can move and turn the turret in any direction you may wish (by right clicking)so, maybe I�m not getting right what are you guys complaining about, but I don�t see what�s the big deal about this new feature.

Hub01 · #4 November 10th, 2005, 07:24 PM

I would also like to see the gun tube orientation as it was prior to the v2.5 patch.

Cameronius · #5 November 10th, 2005, 08:23 PM

I agree also (see my reply to "gun tube orientation"). I figure a good solution would be an on/off switch for this mod in game preferences.

Mobhack · #6 November 11th, 2005, 10:08 AM

Quote:

cameronmurdoch said:
I agree also (see my reply to "gun tube orientation"). I figure a good solution would be an on/off switch for this mod in game preferences.

I have been monitoring this one, to see what the balance of opinion is.

I originally introduced this one, to stop the AI habit of wandering around the battlefield with turrets at random directions, often approacing you presenting the rear of the turret (and thus weaker armour).

It was originally only for AI-controlled units, but as I usually find myself having to point the turret in the direction I intend to go, it saved a right-click

!

It seems quite a few of you micro-manage the turret direction though!.

I will probably remove this one to just the AI in the next version, as it is a definate help for the computer, as that seems to be where the balance of opinion is heading.

Cheers
Andy

Double_Deuce · #7 November 11th, 2005, 12:54 AM

Quote:

RVPERTVS said:
I think you still can move and turn the turret in any direction you may wish (by right clicking)so, maybe I�m not getting right what are you guys complaining about, but I don�t see what�s the big deal about this new feature.

You are correct, you can move the turret by right clicking (while stationary) and it points the entire vehicle in that direction. The issue that has come up now is now (and its something I have been testing most of today) is while moving the vehicle the turret will always face in the direction you are moving. IF you are targeting an enemy unit the gun stays on that target BUT if you move out of sight of that unit to flank him you lose contact and the gun automatically swings to the front of the vehicle. Lets say you back down a road in a built up area and swing around another road to get a flank shot on the same target you will emerge with your gun point in the direction of travel and NOT where you know the target is. This gives the enemy unit you are stalking 1st shot with your turret pointing over the front and possiby no where near the target location. This prevents you from putting your gun over the left flank in advance so it will be ready and pointing toward the enemy you are wanting to engage as you emerge from behind cover.

Artur · #8 November 11th, 2005, 04:57 AM

There are two WinSPMBT players at the Blitz who would sign but they cannot log in.

They are:
Grumbler
Walrus

See thread:
http://www.theblitz.org/message_boar...=20846&t=20846

Artur.

SHortreengage · #9 November 10th, 2005, 08:27 PM

I am in complete agreement with ARTUR.

Shortreengage

Weeble · #10 November 10th, 2005, 09:28 PM

I must add my voice to this, as this feature of the patch has IMHO been a retrograde step.

Tank designers generally put most armour on the front of a turret, and expect the users to have enough sense to both try to see the opposition and put their best defence towards any anticipated target, regardless of direction of movement.