I don’t know how you play Motorcycles whenever you do, since they’re an extremely niche class, but I imagine most probably just use them as Assaulters on wheels. Like a taxi you just pull up right at the objective and abandon your bike. Whenever I play as Motorcycles I use them as intended as MG Nests on wheels, riding around finding good spots to lay down fire then speed away to a new position. Regardless of how you use them, I think Motorcycles are perfectly fine in their role as is.
APCs are a bit more complicated. APCs are divided into two categories, unarmed and armed. There are a few different playstyles for APCs.
- dump them somewhere then fight with your infantry on foot
- ferry teammates directly to the objective
- use the APC as a combat platform
The unarmed APCs generally fit well into these playstyles. However the armed APCs just feel different. Armed APCs feel like they lean more towards a similar role to Motorcycles. You shouldn’t just dump them somewhere but actively use them to fight as a light combat vehicle. Things get a bit more complicated when there are different armaments for these APCs. Some are armed with MGs while others are armed with howitzer assault guns, flamethrowers, mortars, autocannons, anti-tank guns, etc.
APCs that were armed with basic MGs like the Sd Kfz 251 were used solely as infantry transports, while APCs that were armed with more specialized weaponry did not actually carry infantry but were used explicitly as a combat vehicle. Tell me what’s the point of having a Panzer II Flamm as a tank slot while a Sd Kfz 251 Flamm is an APC.
I think that only support vehicles that are armed with basic MGs should be APC class vehicles, ex Sd Kfz 251, Universal Carrier, LVT, etc; if it is an APC that is armed with anything other than a MG then it is a “tank slot”. For example, the previous Sd Kfz 251/9 would be changed from an APC into a “tank slot”. This is no different than the M13 Halftrack being a tank slot instead of an APC.
Another similar debate begins with Armored cars. Some have suggested Armored cars should be made into Rider vehicles. The complication arises just like APCs as there were armored cars with various armaments. Would a Sd Kfz 234/ 4 with Pak 40 anti-tank guns be a Rider vehicle. In game the various armored cars we already have are armed between auto cannons to light anti-tank guns and they all count as “tank” slots. Why would a Puma be a tank slot while a Sd Kfz 251 Pak 40 would be an APC
I think for now the only other vehicles Riders should receive is cars armed with MGs, ex the Jeep with Browning MG and a Kubelwagen with MG 34 as they perform basically the same function as the Motorcycle, a MG nest on wheels.
I’m not saying that in the future we can’t seriously overhaul the vehicle system and diversify and specialize it, but I think for now we should keep it simple and go step by step.
If it has just a regular MG it’s an APC, if it has
- flamethrower
- mortar
- auto cannon
- anti-tank gun
- howitzer
- rocket artillery
- SPAA
- etc
It should be classified as a tank slot
The M3 Halftracks with its M2 Browning is an APC, the M13 Halftrack SPAA and M3 with AT gun is a tank slot