TG_Rizzo

I'd like to see the transport choppers spend more time actually transporting rather than playing pseudo-gunship.

In a perfect world, we'd have a dedicated helo squad (or more, depending on number of helos) concentrate primarily on inserting and removing troops as well as providing resupply and fire support (when absolutely necessary).

The transport crew would consist of: 1 pilot, 2 gunners (perhaps 1 Support, 1 Engineer). That leaves three seats available for troops from another squad, or perhaps even three SL's to be dropped off at three separate locations after which their squaddies spawn in on them, or perhaps an entire squad of Spec Ops on a demolitions mission, or a pair of snipers on top of a tower, or a small squad of engies at disabled assets, et al. Plenty of possibilities.

The CO coordinates the insertions/exfiltrations/resupply with SL's. SL's would make requests and the CO would contact the choppers crew(s) and provide a rendezvous waypoint for both squads.

Transporting troops may not sound like the most glorious job but IMHO it's a far more important task than merely hovering around battlefields killing infantry. I believe that if a CO/team took full advantage of this transporting potential (particularly on the bigger maps) they'd have an easier time of managing the ticket system--getting troops where you need them ASAP is half the battle....

Rizzo out.

Mateo

Good point Rizzo. The first time someone brought a BH down and said: "need a ride?" I almost plotzed.

It's not a gunship, but people use it like one. The guns are there to clear the LZ and cover the exiting troops you are transporting.

jex

Except some dip**** thought to only allow 6 people in a blackhawk. And what's the deal with the APC's that only hold 5? Do you know how stupid it is to have one squad member have to run because he can't get in?

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Jex

Bommando

The BH is too valuable as a gun platform for transport and we all know it owns in that role. For the MEC and China, I recommend taking it one step further and only having a pilot. Pick up a squad, move them rapidly to another flag, then do the same for another. It's worth a try.

Black_V!per

I use the BH for transport on maps with a carrier, i give lifts for squads to back flags. They try to make a gunship out of it, but i tell them to bail out, i lost control and start doing barrol rolls...

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Lagomorph

I've been trying to get this sort of thing going for a day or so now. (Always as MEC or China so I don't have to worry about people wanting to use the thing as a gunship.) =P
The trouble is that you really need the right "situation."
That being:

1. Yourself (SL and pilot as either Spec-ops or medic, I have trouble deciding which) ;P

2. A buddy on your squad willing to sit and wrench the whole game. (It's getting hard to find people that are *good* at this *and* aren't already bored of it.) =/

3. A Commander who understands and at least attempts to make use of your efforts. (I'm reminded of the many times when I've formed a dedicated Airforce squad only to be told by the CO that somehow 2 extra guns on the ground would help our team more than constant bombing runs wherever he wanted.) =/

4. Other squads that will understand at least as well as the CO what you are trying to do, and hopefully will begin requesting the service so the CO doesn't have to micromanage so much.


Point 1 is easy, point 2 isn't *that* difficult to come by and you could always manage without an engineer. Points 3 and 4, however, really seal the coffin on any attempts you make if circumstances aren't "perfect."

There were a few times these last few days that I thought I might be able to pull it off but the maps that came up during those times just didn't have a helo. (or were mashtuur.) ;P

I intend to keep trying anyway, so hopefully we'll somehow get everyone from the Karkand craziness last night back, but on Zatar Wetlands or somesuch "big" map.

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Combat is very simple, there is a first place and a second place. Second place is laying face down in the mud...sometimes, so is first place.
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Phelan Ward

I love Blackhawks trying to make it to shore. One TV guided missle and six insta-kills later and I like it even more. Really, Mashtuur City is the only map where the Blackhawk works as a gunship. Any other map it'll bother you for a few minutes before someone shoots it down or scares it away. Those are the maps where it gets used as a transport.

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TG_Rizzo

Lag, I think points 3 and 4 could be met on the SM private server easily enough and maybe even on public password nights, to some degree. Either way, I think it's worth a try. Maybe people will catch on eventually....

TG_Rizzo

1) an escort could be provided but yes, there's always the chance of getting shot down. It's no different when it's being used as a gunship...
2) i've rarely seen them used as transports on *any* map since the demo

SmokingTarpan

I tried this the other night on Clean Sweep, but forgot to lock my squad. For the few minutes that I did have a mostly empty squad, however, the CO did have me running around to pick up and drop troops.

What I don't mind: Blackhawk being used as a cover-fire, troop-insertion tool.

What I do mind: Blackhawk just flying around, doing nothing but gunning down troops and "Instant Vertical Capture (IVC)" of flags.

I would happily volunteer to create a 2-man, locked squad that does nothing but use the Blackhawk as a transport vehicle. However, I'm sure people would get pissy that it wasn't being a dedicated gunship (especially the people who like their 800+ point squad scores).

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[squadl]
"I am the prettiest african-american, vietnamese..cong..person." -SugarNCamo

Mateo

Then the hell with them! Using a BH tactically instead of rolling death is a fine example of TG play.

TG_Snap

I ALWAYS carry a wrench for those helo missions, invite me, I want to help push this tactic forward.

Lagomorph

It might just be a percieved problem, but I keep thinking that 2 guys "ferrying" is a bit wastefull in small games like we see on the private server. The loss of 2 is almost nothing for a team of 32 and if properly used I think the mobility would completely make up for it. The problem comes with getting such a large game and actually having it coordinated.

I can't wait for frequent matches like the (hopefully) upcoming AGE action to test out this and many other tactics/orginizational setups that have been discussed on these forums.

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Combat is very simple, there is a first place and a second place. Second place is laying face down in the mud...sometimes, so is first place.
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TG_Rizzo

This is why it won't happen until the scoreboard is removed. But that would piss em off even more.

Lagomorph

Yeah I can imagine the moaning now...

"But transporting these guys only gets them to THEIR points! What about MY points?!?! ....NO KITTY! THATS MAE POT PIE!"

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Combat is very simple, there is a first place and a second place. Second place is laying face down in the mud...sometimes, so is first place.
[age-c1]
[eng][air]