Profile of Olekman

I made an equal implementation and proposed it to the patch-team. The response was short: they don't want it to see through LOS blockers.
It has probably the same reason that the Brits gets a medic squad: requiring micro.

So just as I thought, someone else did figure this trick out before me. I still think that it could be made to be balanced and require micro by, for example, making this into a timed ability that only lasts 10 seconds, but also reveals the Uhu's location to your enemies. Think Katyusha, but instead of rockets it delivers vision.

Still, too bad it likely won't be implemented.

As many of you know, Infrared Halftrack's bugged scan causes units to stay permanently revealed on the minimap when certain circumstances are met. While I think that the balance team's solution is solid and keeps it role as a spotter unit, I wondered whether there are any alternatives.

Don't know if any modders figured this out before, but after tinkering around I managed to give the "Uhu" vision that ignores line-of-sight blockers. It sees everything, not just "infrared ghosts" of units, though it doesn't reveal camouflaged units. Video below shows how it works in-game.


I'm not saying this is a superior way of fixing Uhu, but I do think it's a bit closer to its original form. Of course, this would require plenty of balancing - a narrower arc and shorter range, maybe longer setup/packup time, or maybe even changing it into a timed ability.

There is one side effect to this method - as you may have noticed in the video, IRHT has its "global" vision even when not setup. This can be easily addressed by making its default vision shorter than usual. In fact, the modded Uhu in the video has vision of 20 (boosted to 80 on setup), but perhaps 10 would be better.

What do you think?

I'm not sure about MG42/DP28 on-the-move stats, if they are "elite" or anything like that, and how they compare to Commando Bred and Para 1919.

Slightly off-topic, but that's another weird thing - there are some inconsistencies between normal and fire-on-the-move versions of LMGs. First of all, there are actually 3 weapon profiles for LMGs: regular (one that can't fire on the move), moving (one that can fire on the move) and moving_no_prone (only Obersoldaten get this one and as the name suggests - it can fire on the move and has disabled prone-firing).

For M1919A6, their accuracy compares as follows: regular > moving > moving_no_prone. There's a sharp drop in accuracy between the last two and the regular version fires slightly shorter bursts.

For LMG-34 it's: moving_no_prone = moving > regular. Additionally, regular deals only 4 damage compared to 6 of the "elite" versions.

For LMG-42 it's: regular > moving = moving_no_prone. Both of the moving versions have slightly shorter reload on average.

For DP-28 it's: regular > moving = moving_no_prone. This is the only one without any hidden "bonus features".

Vickers K and Bren obviously can't be compared in this manner.

Obers can fire a DP1928 on the move.... everyday learning something new

Not only DP-28, but any LMG that's not Vickers K or Bren. Same with Paratroopers, Rangers and Airborne Guards. Only the Commandos and Airlanding Officer are better in this regard, because the only LMG they cannot fire on the move is Vickers K. In fact, the only faction without any fire-LMG-on-the-move squads is Ostheer since addition of the Soviet Airborne commander.

I know it might sound like I'm nitpicking, but it's just a question of consistency - all the other LMGs can be fired on the move by those elite infantry squads, so why not Vickers K and Bren? They don't seem that much different, so I assume it's an oversight.

Fully loaded Vickers K gun with full ammo is about 14.5 kg. No way in hell you’re firing that thing while running with any accuracy without training on it for months.

For comparison I’m actually pretty strong and tall and when I was in the greek army we did some fire and manuever with the 4.5 kg G3A3 and it was a bitch to fire on the move while trying not to fall over because you can’t pay attention to where you’re stepping all while you’re trying to manuever the gun around.

Too long didn’t read: Nobody can fire on the move with accuracy unless the terrain is good. Humans can’t multitask. Therefore the way you use the gun needs to be 2nd nature to th point where the weapon is an extension of yourself so that you can both fire accurately and move around, therefore training with your specific gun is extremely crucial to learn how it handles and behaves.

As for the game and back on topic, I agree with Katitof that it’s probably intentional since firing on the move is so difficult if you’re going for it you at least need a gun you’re familiar with and can manage. A foreign gun you’ve never used before is gonna surprise you with recoil/handling/spread etc and you’d probably waste too much ammo trying to learn on the spot, so I agree with the game not allowing elites to fire foreign weapons on the move.

I wouldn't say it's intentional, because all squads with unit_type "lmg_user_fires_on_the_move" can in fact fire any LMGs on the move, with the exception on Vickers K and Bren. Squads that have this unit type are: Paratroopers, Rangers, Obersoldaten, Airborne Guards, Commandos and Airlanding Officer.

Here's another example: Paras firing LMG42, but not firing Bren, while on the move