[Malorn]

The explanation on the previous page about the camera position vs turret makes a lot of sense in explaining why the prowler has an asymmetrical design.

In PS1 the driver's view was below the turret, with the gunner slightly above the guns. In PS2 it looks as though the driver's view is on the turret, but still low.

If they put the driver view above the turret it might have been awkward or given the driver more of a view advantage than they wanted. That or the top may be reserved for the secondary gunner. If they kept the guns center then they very well may have obstructed a lot of the driver's view. By putting the main gun to the side they free up the driver's visibility, though I wonder if they may have created a blindspot on the left side.

Seems like a they may have had a function-over-form decision. It allows them to put other weapons on the right side (the description of the prowler indicated more weapon systems than the other tanks), while still leaving the top open for the secondary gunner.


As for advantages, we know that the Prowler is medium armor, high speed, high RoF. In PS1 it had the highest damage throughput (dps) of the main guns of all the tanks.

The Prowler is a medium tank that is not only the fastest empire specific tank on the field but it can be armed to the teeth with extra weapon systems beyond the other empires medium tanks, making it one of the deadliest vehicles in the game.

This is consistent with the general Terran design:

Terran Republic weapons have the fastest firing rates, largest ammo capacities, and are generally designed to allow for maximum sustainable damage.

I believe the Prowler will have the highest dps of all the tanks again in PS2, while also being the fastest and retaining its medium-armor status from PS1. If you compare the characteristics of the prowler from PS1 to PS2...

1) It remains highest dps
2) It retains the same armor (relatively speaking)
3) It moves up from the slowest tank to the fastest
4) It's profile has become smaller, even smaller than the other tanks.
5) Driver has both main gun and a secondary machinegun (something it lacked in PS1)

As far as I can see it's a straight upgrade from PS1. Main complaints of it were the lack of a machinegun on the gunner, slow speed, bulky profile. All of those have been addressed in the PS2 prowler.

Tactics-wise it appears the Prowler is the perfect Blitzkrieg tank, able to move in fast and low and bring to bear unrivaled firepower. It isn't a glass cannon since it has medium armor. Its smaller size and speed will help compensate and give it some flanking advantages.

And best of all - no tank can run from a prowler (except maybe a mag over a river). Speed means you can dictate engagements, and that's a poweful advantage in its own right. It can outrun the other tanks, which means it can escape and nothing can escape it.

Looks to be a great and fun tank in PS2 with its own niche like the other two tanks.