Different way of commanding tanks

Suggestions
1

Currently players are encouraged to drive tanks as gunners while commanders are essentially a manpower reserve. To me, it seems inappropriate.

My idea is as follows:
Commander has the most situational awareness of all of the crew members, he is jack of all trades but master of none. Player is meant to play as a commander (unlike currently).

If you want to move your tank you use WSAD as normal, the difference is that commander will shout orders (“driver, forward” etc.) and after a short delay, the tank will move forward. If you play as a driver, tank moves without delay I mentioned.
So, as the driver you have better control over the vehicle, but less awareness because of vision ports facing mostly forward.

As the commander you can freely watch through all his vision ports without turning the turret (current “free look” option would be the default setting). To turn the turret you have to press a button, this will set the turret on the set angle to the tank, commander will shout proper command (“gunner, aim 223” for example). You can also hold the button to turn the turret like it is the case currently, after releasing the button, the turret stays at set angle (like after tapping the button), double press the button to set the turret at 0.

To shoot you have to “aim” as a commander and mark tatget for the gunner (again, with shouting a proper command), to make it easier, commander may be equiped with binoculars.
Here we encounter problem of the accuracy. Logically, aiming should be dependent on the skill of the AI gunner, but I’m aware that it would be a bad idea because of the RNG factor directly impacting the duel of the tankers.
The other option would be to aim the gun like normal, but from the commander perspective (so you have full control over the gun but you use binoculars instead of sights). It’s a bit meh in my opinion, although it may work.
There may be also a hybrid system, instead of aiming with the gun itself, you aim with a circle that indicates an area where AI will shoot.
The problem is the RNG of the potential AI gunner, on the other hand player can always switch to the gunner to aim by himself, so AI randomness is not a factor anymore.

The same system could be used in case of hull MG.

Assuming that AI shoots, you as the commander have time to look around and spot other threats or take other actions.

Another problem is that some tanks (like for example early T-43) had gunner-commander. It may be used as interesting ballance mechanic but I’m not sure if it’s worth it.

Anyway, you get the general idea (I hope) so please, give your suggestions.

4 Likes
2

I like the idea but It’s kinda too complicated

Why not just give the commander more situational awareness and less chance to be snipped by AI when peeking from the hatch

3

I don’t think it will change anything, you can still get sniped by another player.

You mean implementation or usage?

Sidenote

I noticed that I post ideas that are either arcade or too complicated, I guess I have to change my way of thinking.

4

I like it, but that might be a big effective nerf to tanks.

5

I don’t know. You would be still able to use gunner just as it’s now.

6

shoot-and-scoot is a must for me.

This of course would be more realistic, but it would shift the meta a bit.

7

Full agree.

Like almost every change of existing mechanic.

8

I like the idea but I think it will be very hard to implement and feel too much “simulator-like” so it would drive players away from tanks.
From options you presented I would be more for aiming as commander, but there are few problems with that such as current implementation of commander sight and absence of ability to scope on target like gunners do.
I think that if aiming through commander could be a thing, we should also be able to use scope on targets while looking through commander optics in order to acurately aim the gun.

But leaving too much freedom over tank´s main armanents to AI will generaly cause more frustration than immersion.

1 Like
9

It would take away usability of the gunner so I don’t know if it’s good idea.

10

I love the idea too, but like everyone else here pointed out it might make tanks too simulator-like to use.

One way to implement this would be if we got multiple game modes like war thunder has. Arcade, realistic and simulator.

Another way I could see this work would be if players could que to share a tank together. Gunner, commander and driver could be real players, with radio operator and loader being bots on the standby.
They would be capable to replace the gunner and driver in the event they leave the tank or die, and allow the commander full tank controls as it works now.

I would actually love co-op play in a tank. It would drastically increase realism while putting control in the hands of the players instead of the AI

Of course, all tanks would have to be made like this though, or else a solo player tank could easily take out a 3 player tank.

11

I’ve unlocked the Panzer III on Moscow, and while standing in the hatch the crosshairs goes where I look, and can shoot both main gun and MGs. So it is sorta that way already. But buttoned up I’m not sure haven’t tried it.