Dev1200 wrote:The point of the limited arc is so that people don't build them on top of buildings or mountains and rain fire from across the map, while also acting as an effective AAMG.
The reason HMG's have a limite arc is because they are mounted on a tripod that is capable of a limited movement. For the M2HB mounted to the M3 tripod, the elevation limit is +16/-19, or 16 degrees up and 19 degrees down when not using the T&E. Those are real-world values, I'm not sure myself what the exact in-game values are.
The limited range of elevation/depression in PR has nothing to do with trying to "direct" where players build them, it's simply to simulate an approximate realistic value of what the real tripods are capable of.
chrisweb89 wrote:The current version though makes hilltops and strategic positions useless for HMGs though because they can't fire below and take advantage of their height as stated in the OP. I think as long as the MG isn't given more positive angle, adding downwards angle won't hurt.
If you are unable to position your weapon systems to provide the necessary cover, find another location to set up or find a different way to provide the fire support. You just have to put the puzzle together to make the pieces fit properly.
Psykogundam wrote:I think your right. but i dont like it. even if people put a HMG on a tree (which i've seen done recently with a recoiless rifle) its down to the skill of the squad leader to place it whereever they deem fit. DEVs should provide the pieces. at this stage they should stop trying to manipulate the players so much.
+1 epic draughsmanship
Since when are the PR staff "manipulating" players? They provide assets with the most realistic specs as possible, or at least what is best to ensure proper gameplay balancing. This is a game meant to partially simulate actual combat, and as such players are expected to use some form of semi-realistic tactics.
If a player can't learn to use a weapon system as it was designed to function and employ it in a manner in which it was meant to be employed, then maybe they should go back to playing Pokemon or something.
lucky.BOY wrote:How would be the recoil like when you put the tripod on sandbag instead of flat ground?
Maybe we could make this as a right-click option when deploying a HMG.
Remember that the tripod feet have spade-like cups on the ends that are intended to dig into the ground to limit rearward movement caused by weapon recoil. By attempting to place a sandbag under the feet, those spades are just going to tear holes into the sandbags and cause gradual release of the contents.
When combined with the heavy recoil, and the fact that the bags will likely slide, after a few short bursts the bags will have emptied out completely or to the point where they no longer serve their intended function.
chrisweb89 wrote:What realism thing? Since when do armies not position their HMGs on high ground to shoot down on people attacking up the slope?
Soldiers are well aware of the traverse and elevation limitations of tripod-mounted weapon systems. If you intend to place a weapon position to cover a specific sector, and that weapon system is unable to cover that entire sector for reasons such as limited range of aim, obstacles in the way, or depressions in the ground, we use additional assets. We cover those "dead zones" with obstacles, or use indirect-fire weapons as needed. If the dead zone is close, M67. If it's beyond range, M203. If further than that, mortar.
Players should also be smart enough by now to understand that the fixed-position weapon emplacement such as the HMG bunkers are only capable of providing fire to a limited sector. AT NO TIME should you rely on just an HMG bunker to cover an area, unless there is no chance in hell that the enemy can approach that bunker from another direction. So if you do need to position an HMG atop a hill and the HMG is unable to cover a sector below, supporting weapons should be used to cover that dead zone. If you can't do that, don't set up there. Those who do so and get their bunkers zapped deserve the loss, they asked for it.
Sorry, but the suggestion is not realistic or practical. Learn the limitations of a weapon system, and how to complement it with supporting assets. That's all part of the game soldiers call War.