Wishlist: Wasting High Explosive Anti Tank Rounds

[RERomine]

Originally Posted by Ramm

I could filter my unit but that would not solve my problem. If for example I told my unit not to engage soft targets to prevent HEAT wastage my unit wouldn't be able met threats from a soft target! In this instance my unit would only use up HEAT against hard targets as per the authors request, however it would not be able to engage a soft target at all.

I propose that the player be given the option via the preference menu to withhold permission to expend HEAT ammunition except against hard targets. This would satisfy me.

It sounds like you are saying you want to be able to filter weapons independently, say to engage soft targets with a machine gun, but nothing more than that, correct? Something along the lines of hard targets, main gun engages. Soft targets, MGs engage if in range.

[Ramm]

Originally Posted by RERomine

It sounds like you are saying you want to be able to filter weapons independently, say to engage soft targets with a machine gun, but nothing more than that, correct? Something along the lines of hard targets, main gun engages. Soft targets, MGs engage if in range.

You my friend are a Seer! Thank God someone understands.

[Ramm]

What I want is actually much less, I just want the ability to not use up HEAT when firing against soft targets when I deam that the HEAT ammo is too low to waste.

[Imp]

Originally Posted by Ramm

What I want is actually much less, I just want the ability to not use up HEAT when firing against soft targets when I deam that the HEAT ammo is too low to waste.

So when you deem you want to save it set the filter, to save it before that set the range to engage soft to 12 or lower that way other units like your MMGs APCs will deal with them leaving your tank undistracted by a none threat. At 12 hexes when it opens up if the heat does not get it the mgs probably will.
Or if you just want to engage soft vehicles in a certain area set your overwatch hex this is when its usefull.

[RERomine]

Originally Posted by Ramm

What I want is actually much less, I just want the ability to not use up HEAT when firing against soft targets when I deam that the HEAT ammo is too low to waste.

You would have to clearly define what those conditions would be in such a way that would be programmable, applicable to all time periods covered by MBT, acceptable to others impacted by the change, realistic to code and fits within priorities Andy and Don have set.

You have to decide when does a soft target warrant just bullets and when do you throw everything you have at it? Consider jeep with a recoilless rifle for instance. This is a soft target, not an ATGM weapon (where another filter could be activated) and is capable of killing some tanks. Would you want to throw less than the maximum at this, considering it could kill your tank, just to preserve the last few HEAT rounds you have, in case a tank shows up? If you lose that exchange, it won't matter how many rounds you die with. The bigger question is, would other people agree with your assessment? They would be impacted also.

This all gets into a very subjective area. Personally, I believe if it can kill my tank, I need to kill it first. It doesn't matter if I use my last HEAT round to do it. I would probably be inclined to exercise other options first (small arms, MGs, tanks with more ammo, etc.) from other units before going down that road, but if it's my only option I'll take it.

Can that be coded? Yes, there isn't anything that can't be programmed. I don't believe I've ever seen Don or Andy say it can't be done. Typically, it's too difficult dealing with legacy code and in then end changes little or it falls too much into personal taste and isn't globally excepted. This is their code and they would know best.

That's my 2 cents, again. I think that puts me up to 4 cents

[Ramm]

The only thing that I'm asking for is weapons release authority for soft target engagement on all >4 HEAT stocks. The option
to say "no, don't do that". Or, to say "yes, please use the HEAT on that pesky inf squad"

Sincerely,
Andrew Nault

[Imp]

I understand what yo are saying but feel you can pretty much work round it with the filter & it would not impact my play style much.
Hardly use the filters but it is handy more so in MBT.
If tank is near to infantry reduce his range to engage them based on when RPGs are dangerous. Now they are close & becoming a threat so use everything you have with a high hit chance & not getting distracted firing at distant infantry. Yes I have not used my MGs but thats a good thing because I have saved shots incase vehicles & air turn up. This means I can protect my troops & APCs if something dangerous turns up & hes free to pinn everyone in my turn. If there are no major threats left out there meaning I don't need him to save his shoots then I have no need to save HEAT either.
Infantry are the same if you have a long range RPG like the 7 consider turning down vehicle engage range to 5 or 6 for better accuracy, less if ambushing. In my experience RPGs are rarely wasted firing at trucks as normaly other weapons have caused a bail out.
As a thought & no idea here but if I was in a tank tasked with giving infantry support & did not use everything at my disposale to do it the infantry would have every right to be pissed.

[DRG]

Here's the short answer.

NO

Here's the moderately long answer

Adding a "preference" to the game is NOT a simple matter ( this assumes you think it is ) and virtually everything you want to do can be done with the existing filter as others have already pointed out.

End of discussion.

Don

[Ramm]

Originally Posted by Imp

I understand what yo are saying but feel you can pretty much work round it with the filter & it would not impact my play style much.
Hardly use the filters but it is handy more so in MBT.
If tank is near to infantry reduce his range to engage them based on when RPGs are dangerous. Now they are close & becoming a threat so use everything you have with a high hit chance & not getting distracted firing at distant infantry. Yes I have not used my MGs but thats a good thing because I have saved shots incase vehicles & air turn up. This means I can protect my troops & APCs if something dangerous turns up & hes free to pinn everyone in my turn. If there are no major threats left out there meaning I don't need him to save his shoots then I have no need to save HEAT either.
Infantry are the same if you have a long range RPG like the 7 consider turning down vehicle engage range to 5 or 6 for better accuracy, less if ambushing. In my experience RPGs are rarely wasted firing at trucks as normaly other weapons have caused a bail out.
As a thought & no idea here but if I was in a tank tasked with giving infantry support & did not use everything at my disposale to do it the infantry would have every right to be pissed.

If I understand what you are telling me correctly, then I can control how much HEAT an AFV is using agaisnt infantry by telling him not to attack outside a certain radius.

But what about if I have an infatry squad and I don't want them wasting their RPG or bazoola rounds on other infantry? And I still want to be able to blast a tank when it comes close.

Sincerly,
Andrew Nault

[Marek_Tucan]

Originally Posted by RERomine

This all gets into a very subjective area. Personally, I believe if it can kill my tank, I need to kill it first.

Plus in real combat you'd be hard pressed to see at a distance whether that thing on the back of a jeep is a light RR, ATGM, .50 MG or just some cargo.