Strag

Just like it should, IMO. The mobile arty is tube-launched (and rocket-launched?) artillery on a tracked chassis. You can drive it around much like you would a tank, but it's not going to have the speed and handling of a tank. Instead, what you'll want to do is park a mobile arty piece in a protected place, preferably far from the area of engagement. Then, you'll need to have a SpecOps player use his binoculars to provide you with a spot. Upon receiving a spot, your targeting screen will go active (while you're inside your mobile arty piece), and you'll be able to observe your rounds from an overhead satellite view as you fire them. Using this view, you'll be able to adjust your fire and "walk" it onto targets. Or, you'll be able to manually pre-zero your targets so that you're ready to hit them the minute enemies arrive.

This arty system is completely user operated, and it takes some skill, coordination, and practice to use. However, it is also very flexible, allowing the user to direct his fire as he chooses.



Dunno. We'll find out in a few days!

icky

I wonder how long it'll take before the crazy skilled players of TG will be shooting arty "from the hip" with deadly accuracy.

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Strag

Probably not too long.

I think it'll be interesting to see how arty will work on our server logistically. Will we have a dedicated arty squad(s), much like we have dedicated air and chopper squads, whose only job will be to offer arty support when called on by infantry squads? If so, I can see the importance of the SpecOps player in infantry squads increasing, possibly to the point that each infantry squad has one nearly all the time. We'll have to see how things pan out.....

TG_Bubba

An arty squad sounds good. Put them under the direction of the CO and it could be deadly. Something like a specialty squad.

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Lorian

So would it be like, 1 engi controlling the arty, and the rest as spec ops around the map spotting?

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Obi

More likley that the arty squad will be a small squad of a engineers. All the other bigger squads will go around thier objectives as usual but if a squad needs artillery then thier spec ops guy will call it in.

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Strag

I would think it'd depend on how many arty pieces were available on a given map, and what the overall strategery was. If there were three or four arty pieces available, maybe a dedicated arty squad would only have the artillerymen, and the infantry squads would call in their fire when needed via their SpecOps link. Or, maybe the CO would direct the arty where needed, as Bubba said.

The nice thing about this system is that it puts the controls into the hands of the players, so that squads can call arty in directly if needed, or the CO can delegate the arty as needed. Also, folks who get good with the arty can have a little pride in their "job." Heck, maybe we could have a special arty ribbon added to the list of available BF2 awards(?), for those who really excel at using it.

RocketPunch

I say the Spec Ops will probably the best kit for SL. Let the grunts do the sweeping and SL at a well hidden position for spawn, spotting and arti. at the first sign of troube, call for arti and let the SM spawn for the second wave of attack.

I see the SL becomes and even more so of a "director" of their squad than BF2.

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BHack

I don't see whats to stop someone from finding a known spot on the map and memorizing the required trajectory to hit high value targets without needing a spotter. Well, pretty much what Icky said.

I mean if you have more than one arty piece couldn't you just spam one spot constantly so its uncappable?

Oh well I'm talking out my butt! Might as well wait to find out.

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Strag

If so, that's when it's time to call in your team's air power to take that arty out. Rock, paper, scissors.

icky

I'm sure there's a long arty reload and stuff like that.

The maps I've checked so far (2 or 3) have 2 arty pieces, one of which must be owned by each team, but it wouldn't surprise me if both could fall into the hands of one team.

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WhiskeySix

yeah was just gonna say, the arty squad's probably more like 1 eng kit + 2 SAM kits

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ViralInfector

How would protection of the Arty pieces go from the tactical perspective? Also, will the Snipers have the same ability to Call for Arty strikes seeing as they're far out and have a greater range of view than most Ground Infantry?

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JMJ

Nothing is stopping this, it was done in the original PoE.

xTYBALTx

Can't wait for team operated artillery. Planetside added this feature with it's first expansion, and it was amazing. The way it worked was this: the spotter spots the target with binoculars and any linked artillery piece (user operated) would see a target on their HUD. Line up the arty's crosshairs with the target and you have a good shot.

I teamed up with buddies a few times and absolutely rained death - from about 20km away! Two of these things could turn the tide of a siege. I, too, am excited to see how it's implemented in POE.

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