88s and Obs Balloons : A Couple of Potential Command Choices

For bug reports and fixes, installation issues, and new ideas for technical features.

Moderator: SEOW Developers

Post Reply
Kopfdorfer
Posts: 99
Joined: Thu 26 Apr 2012 2:13 pm
Location: Dartmouth , Nova Scotia , Canada

88s and Obs Balloons : A Couple of Potential Command Choices

Post by Kopfdorfer »

Currently in the Object Specs Table and in the MP , Observation Balloons , Barrage Balloons and 8.8cm FlaK 18s are represented by several different objects .
In order to represent their variable deployments and uses , these different Object variants must be represented separately in the Campaign Template , though they simply represent different deployments of the same Objects.

What if each of these objects was considered a single type within the MP , and the variants were activated by commander choice in a tool tip between missions?
This would not require a change in the object specs table , as all the object versions with slightly different characteristics are already there, but it would streamline the use of these objects in SEOW.

Consider the Observation balloon ( I love the new camera aspect of this object).
It has 3 different objects when extended representing 3 different altitudes of operation (30m , 60m , 90m) when the balloon is deployed, and it could be given a non-deployed Stationary version , and a Moving Object version.
Consider the Barrage Balloon.
It has 4 different alltitudes when deployed ( 600m , 1200m , 1800m , 2400m) , and could be given a non-deployed Stationary Object , and a Moving Object version.
It would be quite utile , if these differences could be accessed through the MP by tool tip , rather than having to place the different types when deploying your force.
Think of the consternation when an enemy bomber force , confident that the Barrage Balloon screen was under 1000m over the target area , blundered into one that had been adjusted to 2400m ?

Considering the 8.8cm FlaK 18/36.
As we all know , it could be (and was) deployed tactically to suit different needs both as an anit-aircraft gun ,and as a ground attack weapon. Historically this was one of the great virtues of this weapon , along with the German doctrine that called for it to be used both ways.
Being able to harness both these uses without lopsiding the resolution of combat caused the development of the 2 different object versions we have in HSFX now , one for each purpose. Yet one of the key values of this weapon was the dual threat to the enemy , of a single weapon.

What if the choice of deployment was left to the Commander in the MP as a tool tip ?

This would give the commander the option of enabling it as EITHER an AA Weapon , OR a Ground Attack weapon by mission.
To me this is a more elegant solution than having the 88 FlaK represented by 2 different unit types on the map , and comes closer to portraying the historical choice of disposition available to a Schwerer FlaK unit commander. Now the Gun would truly be a dual threat , since the enemy would not know which deployment it was in , and that deployment may have changed since the last time they flew over it , or drove up to it .

A further realistic wrinkle could be added , by only allowing the tactical deployment to change when the weapon is within Command and Control. Now a valuable officer must be included to change this tactical disposition.

I hope this concept appeals to others out there.

Kopfdorfer
Kopfdorfer
Posts: 99
Joined: Thu 26 Apr 2012 2:13 pm
Location: Dartmouth , Nova Scotia , Canada

Re: 88s and Obs Balloons : A Couple of Potential Command Cho

Post by Kopfdorfer »

Balloon Altitude is selectable by commanders in the Tool Tip of the MP !

Thanks to JG26 Badger for the idea , and 4Shades (as always) for the implementation.


Kopfdorfer
Post Reply