Question about Mine Clearing VS Engineer Tanks

[Suhiir]

I seem to be a bit confused (nothing new there).

Looking at OOB #12 (US Army) I see :
Unit #192 - Sherman Dozer (UC 37 - 110 pts)
Unit #196 - Sherman Flail (UC 36 - 120 pts)
Unit #239 - M48 Blade (UC 37 - 160 pts)
Unit #194 - M48 Rollar (UC 36 - 170 pts)

Now in both examples they have the exact same stats with the exception of one being Unit Class 36 (Mine Clearing Tank) and the other being Unit Class 37 (Engineer Tank).

According to the MBT Game Guide UC 36 "Clears mines and DT" and UC 37 "Clone of 36, Clears mines and DT".

But from my game experience UC 36 units DO NOT clear Dragons Teeth and UC 37 units do. All well and fine, one wouldn't expect a flail to have much effect on them whereas a dozer blade could push them over, dig them up, whatever.

So why does the less capable UC 36 (Mine Clearing Tank) cost 10 points more then the UC 37 (Engineer Tank)?

[Marek_Tucan]

I believe the Mineclearing stuff clears mines significantly aster than Dozers, but will check it out.

[Mobhack]

that is my understanding of it - both clear mines and DT but the mineclear tank is biased towards mine clearance (slow DT clearing) and the engineer vehicle towards DT clearance (thus slower mine clearance).

Cheers
Andy

[Marcello]

"both clear mines and DT but the mineclear tank is biased towards mine clearance (slow DT clearing)"

Last time I set up a trial my mineclear tanks did not want to have anything to do with DTs, which is exactly the way it should be.

[Mobhack]

Marcello said:
"both clear mines and DT but the mineclear tank is biased towards mine clearance (slow DT clearing)"

Last time I set up a trial my mineclear tanks did not want to have anything to do with DTs, which is exactly the way it should be.

I will check the code and make sure that they can clear both types of obstacle - otherwise the AI would be snookered if it bought the wrong type!. Thus, the engineer vehicle should be capable of dealing with either, if in a limited manner.

Cheers
Andy

[Suhiir]

Mobhack said:

I will check the code and make sure that they can clear both types of obstacle - otherwise the AI would be snookered if it bought the wrong type!. Thus, the engineer vehicle should be capable of dealing with either, if in a limited manner.

Cheers
Andy

Thanks Andy.
All well and fine, but why the cost difference then?

[thatguy96]

I would think it would be based on the relative danger posed by mines. If mineclear tanks are supposed to clear mines faster and engineer tanks clear DTs faster, then I would wonder if its based on the idea that clearing mines faster is worth more than clearing DTs faster.

[Marcello]

"otherwise the AI would be snookered if it bought the wrong type!."

I fail to see where is the big deal. Have the AI buy only engineer tanks, which can deal with both, and not the mineclear ones. The AI disadvantage would be minimal and you avoid the very unrealistic situation of tanks with KMT kits being able to clear obstacles.

[Marcello]

I ran another test. It seems that mineclear vehicles can clear DT. I don't know if it was a previous version, a glitch or just plain memory playing tricks with me.
I clearly remember mineclear tanks being unable to clear DT in a test several months ago. Whatever.

[Suhiir]

Marcello said:
I ran another test. It seems that mineclear vehicles can clear DT. I don't know if it was a previous version, a glitch or just plain memory playing tricks with me.
I clearly remember mineclear tanks being unable to clear DT in a test several months ago. Whatever.

So do I.
Must have changed it in the current version.