Obsolete wrote:There is something mechanically wrong with a Puma only having a spotting distance of 5. The Puma after all, was supposed to be a scout/recon vehicle, yet in this game it performs worse than other units not assiged that role. Also, I'm not sure it makes sense to not increase these ranges when a vehicle is ontop of a hill.
Maybe, it has something to do with "ambush skill" of Puma!?
We've rated any unit with a closed top as 4-5 spotting. It was recon because it was fast not because it was fitted with any special equipment to spot more easily. Open topped vehciles see further.
While not open topped, surely with the hatch opened the commander had a view equal to any open topped vehicle? These were recon vehicles designed for that purpose, with radio communication on board etc
From wikipedia:
The radio communication cars proved their ability in infantry support, especially during street fighting [...] Still, the eight-wheeled cars turned out to be the best vehicles that Rommel had for long range reconnaissance across the wide desert territory.
It does sound a bit strange that an M18 tank destroyer is beter at recon than a recon vehicle, just because it is open topped.
The 8/Rad and Puma's primary function was recon & screening was it not? I still find this very hard to chew that their vision is in fact the worst of any unit in the whole game.
They can see as well as any other tank. It can be changed easily but I dont think there is a need. Every tank had a hatch, so you could argue that about any of them. I think for more casual players it is easier to understand that an open topped vehicle sees better than one that is buttoned up.
You have soo much to do and here we beta tester are complaining about this and that!
This is wrong, thats unrealistic, bla, bla! (The other beta tester pls don't take it personally, I am critising myself!)
Because of that I didn't want to talk about Puma more; but after this latest post; which I found a very good one; I want to add something.(I mean the post of adherbal!)
Sd. Kfz. class was a very good recon, because it was fast and could be driven backwards by the second driver/radio operator!
The PUMA production started 43 because of the russian tanks but produced only 250 or something like that!
That means recon and fighting heavy armoured vehicles can not be combined!
Recon vehicles were fast, that means hard to hit and their duty was observe and if its getting hot, disappear!
And for this beatiful game all this info means:Recons should have more spotting distance and actually they should drive back when they see the enemy tanks!
I forgot about the reverse driving. That option should maybe be added. We already have the Archer who drives backwards, perhaps the Puma can allow the user to select (reverse-drive) so he keeps the frontal armour facing the opposite side? I guess it may not make that much difference now that the firepower on everything is so souped-up.