So, we've watched as the MBT has been considered one of the hottest topics since they announced that the driver will be the gunner. Half love the ability to shoot what they drive, and half hate the loss of co-operation. But on top of all this, the only solution Devs have created was to maybe allow a mod to let a person drive and another gun, with possibly a bigger gun or such. The problem with this, is that it only increases firepower, and a slight bit of mobility, but is still less powerful than 2 MBTs with a single person.
Thus, here is a new idea to cause a simple change, inspired by the original models of the MBTs from PS1.
Add in a Chassis Mod for MBTs, to allow a bigger, more capable chassis of the same tank. The name stays the same, it's not a new tank per say, but it can support a bit more and require both driver and gunner.
Borrowing a picture from the Epic SOE Memories thread - a Comparison of PS2 and PS1 Vanguard.
Take a look at how the old one was much wider, with a longer barrel. Just imagine the two merged. The same turret, but different Chassis. The old style Chassis would give a larger amount of armor, so it can take more punishment, and it receives a larger, harder hitting barrel with a more more flat shot (this means less drop off, bullet doesn't fall as much).
So, here's how the new Chassis works vs the base type. These all require a driver and gunner as stated.
Heavy Vanguard - Using the old much wider style, it also allows for a much bigger, heavier hitting barrel. This thing does much more damage and is much easier to hit distant targets with. This gives it a much more intimidating stance against lighter tanks, forcing them to use their speed to close in. It is wider and has trouble maneuvering in enclosed spaces.
Heavy Prowler - The new prowler has 3 slots (driver, main gunner, secondary gunner) like the original. But unlike the base model with a double gun, the heavier Driver & Gunner type has a TRIPLE BARREL gun. Rather than alternating, it rotates, like a slow firing Gatling gun, allowing a 50% bonus to attack rate, confusing and oblilerating enemies. It will be a taller tank, like the original.
Heavy Magrider - Gone is the strange front driver cannon, replacing it is a rotating top cannon and 2 forward-fixed driver operated heavy anti infantry pulsar guns. The gunner can use the top gun to take on vehicles while the driver has a much more useful anti infantry weapon, which was always the only real use of the front gun. Now, instead of trying to balance movement and vertical aim onto a target with a slower firing small cannon or such, it's a rapid fire gun to ensure better hit chance!
So, what are the tradeoffs other than having to have a designated driver and gunner? For one, while they all have 150% the base hit points, this doesn't repair at the same speed. It's all relative, meaning that it requires 150% the time to repair. They also have trade offs for their bulk. They are bigger and less agile, but with a designated driver they can make up for it. The Heavy Vanguard is much easier to hit and can't fit in tight spaces, the Heavy Prowler is slightly slowed down, and the Heavy Magrider has much more momentum, making it harder to slow down and stop.
By making it these Heavy Chassis modded Variants, the tank trade off is much more evident and probably more accepted by players.
The only concerns I can see people having for this are:
This makes the base MBT like the Lightning in relation, or makes the Lightning unneeded.
The Lightning is the fasted ground vehicle next to the ATV and is always suited for different roles. The H-MBT merely creates a somewhat better tank than the MBT out of the MBT. The use and style stays the same, but they fill a more tactical role over having two MBT out.
The H-MBT is like the BFRs, a heavy tank, and will ruin the game and remove the need for a MBT.
The H-MBT will only be 150% stronger/more armored. This makes it technically weaker than 2 MBTs. It'll also cost a deal more than an MBT. These things balance it out. The presence of an H-MBT would not be significantly noticed. There are plenty of trade offs but it gives what designated Drivers and Gunners want out of a tank, compared to a solo MBT.
If anyone of you like this idea, just say so, don't be shy. Keep it supported
If you have an issue with it, let me know, maybe I know a solution or maybe you can prove it a bad idea, but don't stay silent. We're trying to make a great game even better!