This suggestion is for developers to take into account the main tool of engineers and that can rarely be used properly due to its current operation: it only serves to dig and to kill its animation is still that of “dig” but in the enemy’s chest…
That is why I come to give a series of ideas for developers:
Currently only the player can use the shovel to dig and even if his bot has them equipped, they cannot, that is why I suggest that as more soldiers have shovels equipped, they can dig with you and you give them orders, let me explain: if I have one shovel, I will make a hole, if I have a bot with a shovel, I will be able to make two holes and so on, now, within this suggestion, I would like to request that the troop orders interface be improved so that as an engineer you could "draw "what do you want to do with your soldiers
Let’s imagine this situation: Defense Map in the HeadQuarters of the Pacific campaign where the allied forces usually attack from the beach and the Japanese must defend the area, I could if I wish manually order my squad to dig a trench around the input (I can order the entire squad or do it individually with the consequent time that it would take to do so) and draw more or less what I want to do, within the options to draw there would be “standard” shapes but a brush option to choose what you you want exactly
Within the “commands” of the shovel there should be an option to “fill” the hole in which it allows you to take dirt/sand/gravel to fill trenches, one to “add” and thus put more elevation to the ground and another to "flatten " in order to have more possibilities to place a rally or make a pass more accessible for tanks
Sorry if it’s not perfectly draw but I HOPE you get the concept I have in mind
This is not difficult, just add an option of “digging foxholes” and let AI soldiers try to dig the ground under their feet. If they can dig, they will dig a pit that can serve as a bunker for themselves.The player can let the AI soldiers go to the position that the player wants alone through the “Switch the mode of giving orders”. If they are arranged in a row, it will be easy to get a trench.
I can give you a situation in Normandy: the infamous farm that attacks you from several points, a group of players kept the allies at bay while several players made a trench full of spiked barricades along with machine gun nests, it was hard but we won
You should also keep in mind that too many holes being dug around will start to defeat some of its effectiveness, depending on how they are dug.
Personally, I think the better option is to give an order that will make an option for a second troop stand next to you and dig alongside you to where you are going 2x wide at once. Another option that will put one on either side of you for a total of 3x wide.
This can help to keep your lines clean without overdigging as much.
PLEASE NOTE:
2x wide is the optimal width for placing defensive barbwire so it is more resistant to artillery.
3x wide is the optimal width for troop movement.
Instances of trenched wire actually helping hold enemies back, trench lines helping to get across open area, and foxhole cover from artillery. I’ve seen and done all of these fairly frequently that definitely HELPED in victory.
