I feel useless when playing Trans

[SkyEmperor]

I usually play trans, because I love to fly, but in my opinion trans is not that useful, I mean not the whole round. The first minutes are ok, you drop some squads and crates and then nothing. Sometimes someone calls you for crates but that's all.
It looks like everyone are afraid to call for fast trans behind ennemy lines.

[LiamNL]

People always think, oh it's better to just walk less noise. And otherwise you can keep dropping crates at the available mortar squad and make them happy instead of them having to ask for it always.

[mat552]

That's how it's always been. Fast trans behind enemy lines is a good way to waste 20+ tickets in a hurry, transport helicopters are at the very bottom of the food chain, even a squad of regular rifleman are a serious threat.

After the battle lines are set up the game rarely advances faster than logistics trucks can keep up, by about the ten minute mark you only really need one person doing helitrans, everyone else should find something more productive to do.

PR just isn't big enough to necessitate constant helo ops.

[SkyEmperor]

If there is a mortar squad I keep dropping crates on them but you don't get mortar squad every round.
But I'm pretty sure having useful heli could make the game more awesome.

[Mats391]

If i have nothing to do in trans, i usually start flying around scouting areas far from main battle. That is a good way to lose the chopper tho

[HunterMed]

you can also start droping crates all over the place (if its safe) or at locations where the team will usually build fobs.

[Hokunin]

I just start dropping crates near squads and fobs, and its not completely becomes useless, from time to time there are some infantries spawned on main who demand a taxi. Also don't forget to type on chat that you're available for services.

[PatrickLA_CA]

Well you can act as a scout helicopter if there really isn't anything to do. Give squad lead to the guy in the copilot seat and have him use the FLIR most trans helicopters have to relay intel to other squads.

[OldGoat5]

Wehen no one else is flying and theres plenty of choppers, i used to have a guy shoot hats out of the passenger seat at tanks, as well as snipe and recon from very high up. Takes good hover skills, bf2 engine allows you to achieve a 100% stable hover if you practice it.

[BlazeDBe3]

Trans is also limited by map size and with added viewrange whatnot, some maps it really is worth hiking it then taking a heli.

I don't know how to make Trans more useful, but i feel it will need a overall balance, to AA and armor of chopper. Maybe stand some more hits? Provide it with more useful roles?

I mean it be nice to have a Heli on like sniper patrol / recon circling above. But with AA on every map (i think) kinda can't do that..

[fatalsushi83]

you can also start droping crates all over the place (if its safe) or at locations where the team will usually build fobs.

Once when I was playing on Muttrah, the trans guys did this and it was awesome. The streets were littered with crates and our squad could resupply and build FOBs anywhere we went.

I try to minimize how much I use trans mid-game because its just too risky but when you need trans and they're not there, its incredibly frustrating. So my thanks go to patient/cooperative trans pilots.

[matty1053]

When i play trans and there is nothing to do... I just drop crates at fobs and near squads.

[PLODDITHANLEY]

Drop crates, go CO get officer deploy FOB, wait get rifleman build.

Make sure it's safe though....

[JackONeill]

Suddenly there is a need for supplies and/or trans, therefore we need people that is either on standby or ready to help out as soon as possible.

[code99]

you can also start droping crates all over the place (if its safe) or at locations where the team will usually build fobs.

Hey thats actually a nice idea, it never occurred to me that I could be doing that.

Noob question tho, if the enemy blows up a crate, do we lose tickets or something?

[Rudd]

Noob question tho, if the enemy blows up a crate, do we lose tickets or something?

nope

as others have said here there are lots of roles for trans to fill

Recon is especially useful when using a helo with co-pilot FLIR, just fly high alt and you basically have another UAV.

If a team isn't utilising it's transport, then it's often on the path to defeat. E.g. Muttrah, if USMC don't use their helos to take the intitiative by getting behind the enemy then they better be ready for a slog match at north city.

Transport can be dangerous yes, mitigate that danger by liasing with the commander UAV to check the LZ or if you're super lucky a CAS chopper will be willing to fly escort, perhaps there is a friendly unit that can secure the LZ first (e.g. your armour component)

As a defender I will often be asking for crates so that I can spam LATs etc without worrying about ammo, indeed I've gotten rather annoyed at a couple of pilots who keep saying "You already have two"

two? TWO? Two is not enough for spam!

[rPoXoTauJIo]

If team not asking for anything, then it means fun times starting!
Instead of performing requests you can:
1. Browse map.
2. Looking for weak flanks on map.
3. Looking at dying friendlies, and trying to guess what is killing them.
4. Drop crates in areas where YOU want it.
5. Pre-drop crates in areas where you think friendlies will pass - you're being pretty much like human-based FCS, trying to predict your own forces.
6. Drop crates on enemies heads.
7. Patrol behind frontline.
8. Blame team in chat. Advice team in chat. If you're admin, you have special toys to also annoy\kill\kick\ban\mapvote, all using chat.
And there's lots more of possibilities for "useless trans", it's also a game of "what can i do for team?"

[Ace_Wolf]

Noob question, but the transports do have side gun,right? If so, you could use it for a light CAS/ scout platform, if you could get three people willing to fly around in a trans for the match (two door gunners, and co pilot) Obviously dangerous but some squads on the ground might like a sudden gun run if the co pilot see who is pinning down that squad and the primary CAS is already engaged with something else.. 'shrugs' just my two cents..

[rPoXoTauJIo]

Well, you have to met some conditions then:
1. You're winning lots of tickets.
2. Admins are ok with that.
3. It's a vietnam, and you're playing Fortunate Son in mumble.

[ComradeHX]

Have you tried not flying and/or c4-chopper?