Spotting scope and Hull down

Jump back to quoted post29 Dec 2014, 09:45 AMStrummingbird

Just tested a Hull Down a little using cheatcommands mod.

You can't use Hull Down on a light vehicle, which is a damn shame. So no hull-down for 222s, 251s, or Panzerwerfers for reduced reload.

Panthers with Hull Down lost to an IS2 3 out of 3 times, both at ~30 range. That doesn't include circling, or simply closing the gap on the immobile panther to increase penetration, and conversely doesn't include the fact that the panther has 60+ range in hull down. Naturally, armor battles are very RNG dependant, so take this one with a grain of salt.

Hull Down takes 16 seconds, which is fairly long. This would be acceptable if you could have multiple units carry it out to make it faster, but only one unit at a time can conduct Hull Down.

You can't Hull Down your ally's tank. So no King Tigers or OKW Panthers.

Hull Down Tiger Ace or vet 3 Stug have a pretty hilarious rate of fire. But you can't hull down your ally as mentioned nor would you want to fix down a turretless vehicle.

In conclusion: I don't think it's a very good ability.

Jump back to quoted post29 Dec 2014, 12:47 PMButcher

Scopes are a must have on StuGs and Panthers to use that 50 range when being attacked.

I barely ever used hull-down in a competitive game. I once did after it was buffed back then but it was a disappointment. You give up mobility for a bit more range and rate of fire. However mobility has a higher value in this game. You risk getting your tank overrun and flanked by swarms of medium tanks by making it a sitting duck.

After all your task as a German player should be to not get flanked by mediums and to keep your distance. Hull-down pretty much ignores this concept and can make you sacrifice a tank.

Why would I want to have an immobile Panther (with 60+ range) and that can be attacked rather than a mobile Panther that can still keep the range gap (50 range) and stay out of harms way by reversing?

Thus it´s one of the worst abilities in the game.

Jump back to quoted post29 Dec 2014, 16:30 PMausterlitz

Because u can counter tank destroyers that way without charging,because u can undo hulldown at a moment's notice and use smoke if necessary to cover the move.

Jump back to quoted post29 Dec 2014, 16:58 PMImagelessbean

Not really. If I had an SU85 and ran into a hulled down panther I would simply back up and bring a zis forward. At that point the panther has to pull back.

I did not realize the build time was 16s! For such a niche ability this is too long.

Also it has already been mentioned, but B4 >>>>> hulldown.