Sharing
Posted: 2006-05-27 20:21
Well we all know PRMM is a reality mod. We've all noticed that on every successive build, it seems to get more and more realistic, each time the devs manage to tackle an unrealistic aspect of our sister vBF2, eradicating it from the game and making it even more realistic. Well, I think I know what the next thing that should be challenged is.
Ammo bags.
Yes, ammo bags. Those little satchels that carry ammunition of all shapes and sizes. They carry ammo from every gun ranging from the western world to the middle east, right over to the far east. M16? You got it! AK-47? You got it! Ammo of all calibres from pistols to rockets, it's in there. And the best bit? Over time they literally spawn right on you. How cool is that?
Despite PRMM's efforts to make this more realistic, namely in their execution of the time delay for ammo collection, I don't think the issue is correctly addressed. It's still a little... well... silly. I know anyone can nitpick little things from BF2 that aren't completely accurate, but this is definetely one of them that I believe can be addressed given enough attention by the developers.
So, from another thread, I've come to the conclusion that this is the best solution.
Sharing. Yes, sharing. Let's take the USMC for example. The 30 rounds magazines carrying the 5.56 NATO ammo work in the M4 and the M16. That's the Spec Ops, Assault and Medic class covered. Also, the M249 is compatible with this very same ammunition, so that includes the Support class too. All the M9 pistols used by the USMC carry the same 9mm magazines, and I think the P226 takes the mags too. What does this mean? Well, wouldn't it be a good idea if they could share their ammo?
What I propose is this: ammunition is to be distributed in magazine form. No more miracle bags carrying every ammo for every weapon. Certain classes can carry more magazines than others, and it's their responsibility to distribute the magazines. How does this work? Certain classes have the option to yield the magazines of their primary ammunition to give to other players. For example, you select a certain weapon slot and you're shown your player holding a mag. You're given the ammo count to the left, exactly proportional to the ammo of your primary weapon. You can toss the ammo by left clicking or drop it by right clicking and then it's free to be picked up by someone using a compatible weapon. The Spec Ops, Assault, Medic and Support class could all pick up or throw down the M16 magazines. Every USMC soldier could pick up the 9mm cartridges, and let's say the Anti Tank class gets the added duty of throwing down these magazines.
By default, each class would carry the same amount of magazines for their weapons. The only change would be the maximum magazines for the assault class would be increase by a fair bit. Let's say he can hold 10 magazines which he's either free to use himself or to share. He can start off with 5, but by visiting a friendly transport vehicle or supply crate he can increase his mags. It's his choice and his duty to ensure his men get this. In the event an assault guy isn't around, any bearer of this ammunition can still share it, that's the beauty of it. Even if the might support gunner runs out of ammo bags, he can still load his weapon with the M16 mags by means of an alternative ammo method. Think about the old shotgun options from 0.25. You could switch between slug and buckshot ammo. Well, you can switch between standard box ammunition and magazines, though be default the support class starts with no magazines. He can be given them, but would that really be the best use of the limited ammunition? You decide.
What of all the other weapons and ammo; claymores, grenades, mines, C4, SLAMs, rockets, sniper mags, SMG mags etc? Well, the frag grenades may be distributed by the engineer class, but that's about it. All the other specialist ammo and weapons needs to be collected directly from a resupply point, such as a supply crate or a transport vehicle. This will dramatically decrease their effectiveness outside of a squad. An assaultman is no longer your best option, you're going to need a car or a squad leader to get a supply crate in if you want to use these classes. Supply crates are now of a much higher importance if you want to use your AT rockets or anti tank mines.
So, what of the MEC and PLA? Well, firstly it's important that two new weapons are implemented. For the PLA, they'll be needing the Type 95 assault rifle, the QBZ-95. It's basically the same as the Support weapon on their team, just with a smaller barrel and it fires 30 round magazines. If this was the case, then just like the USMC the Spec Ops, Assault, Medic and Support classes would all fire the same ammunition from the same magazines. As the support weapon of the PLA uses C magazines, a standard magazine would also fit. They also all use the same pistols, so again this is no problem. The MEC would require the AK-74 assault rifle, which fires the same ammo as the Spec Ops' AKS-74U and the RPK-74. Again, they can share.
One of the coolest features of this is when you steal an enemy's rifle. Now you'll not be so fast to restore your ammo, as it's not so easy getting rounds that fit. You'll have to find a transort vehicle native to that team to restock, or get some from a supply crate. It'd be real nice if country specific supply crates were made, then it'd be important to steal ammo from an enemy supply crate! An alternative method of getting foreign ammo would be to take another weapons bag and throw down their magazines and then pick it up with the bag you just had. Sounds complicated, but serves you right for stealing!
As I've said many times, I have no experience in the field of actually making this work. I understand it's easy for me to point out all these wonderful ideas, but it's another thing for you guys to actually put them into motion. I really hope this idea is considered, if it is at all possible. I'd love to see this system used in the game, it would not only increase teamwork ethics, but also the realism factor and the overall 'wow' this mod would have against all the others.
Well done if you read all that. Feel free to critiqué.
Ammo bags.
Yes, ammo bags. Those little satchels that carry ammunition of all shapes and sizes. They carry ammo from every gun ranging from the western world to the middle east, right over to the far east. M16? You got it! AK-47? You got it! Ammo of all calibres from pistols to rockets, it's in there. And the best bit? Over time they literally spawn right on you. How cool is that?
Despite PRMM's efforts to make this more realistic, namely in their execution of the time delay for ammo collection, I don't think the issue is correctly addressed. It's still a little... well... silly. I know anyone can nitpick little things from BF2 that aren't completely accurate, but this is definetely one of them that I believe can be addressed given enough attention by the developers.
So, from another thread, I've come to the conclusion that this is the best solution.
Sharing. Yes, sharing. Let's take the USMC for example. The 30 rounds magazines carrying the 5.56 NATO ammo work in the M4 and the M16. That's the Spec Ops, Assault and Medic class covered. Also, the M249 is compatible with this very same ammunition, so that includes the Support class too. All the M9 pistols used by the USMC carry the same 9mm magazines, and I think the P226 takes the mags too. What does this mean? Well, wouldn't it be a good idea if they could share their ammo?
What I propose is this: ammunition is to be distributed in magazine form. No more miracle bags carrying every ammo for every weapon. Certain classes can carry more magazines than others, and it's their responsibility to distribute the magazines. How does this work? Certain classes have the option to yield the magazines of their primary ammunition to give to other players. For example, you select a certain weapon slot and you're shown your player holding a mag. You're given the ammo count to the left, exactly proportional to the ammo of your primary weapon. You can toss the ammo by left clicking or drop it by right clicking and then it's free to be picked up by someone using a compatible weapon. The Spec Ops, Assault, Medic and Support class could all pick up or throw down the M16 magazines. Every USMC soldier could pick up the 9mm cartridges, and let's say the Anti Tank class gets the added duty of throwing down these magazines.
By default, each class would carry the same amount of magazines for their weapons. The only change would be the maximum magazines for the assault class would be increase by a fair bit. Let's say he can hold 10 magazines which he's either free to use himself or to share. He can start off with 5, but by visiting a friendly transport vehicle or supply crate he can increase his mags. It's his choice and his duty to ensure his men get this. In the event an assault guy isn't around, any bearer of this ammunition can still share it, that's the beauty of it. Even if the might support gunner runs out of ammo bags, he can still load his weapon with the M16 mags by means of an alternative ammo method. Think about the old shotgun options from 0.25. You could switch between slug and buckshot ammo. Well, you can switch between standard box ammunition and magazines, though be default the support class starts with no magazines. He can be given them, but would that really be the best use of the limited ammunition? You decide.
What of all the other weapons and ammo; claymores, grenades, mines, C4, SLAMs, rockets, sniper mags, SMG mags etc? Well, the frag grenades may be distributed by the engineer class, but that's about it. All the other specialist ammo and weapons needs to be collected directly from a resupply point, such as a supply crate or a transport vehicle. This will dramatically decrease their effectiveness outside of a squad. An assaultman is no longer your best option, you're going to need a car or a squad leader to get a supply crate in if you want to use these classes. Supply crates are now of a much higher importance if you want to use your AT rockets or anti tank mines.
So, what of the MEC and PLA? Well, firstly it's important that two new weapons are implemented. For the PLA, they'll be needing the Type 95 assault rifle, the QBZ-95. It's basically the same as the Support weapon on their team, just with a smaller barrel and it fires 30 round magazines. If this was the case, then just like the USMC the Spec Ops, Assault, Medic and Support classes would all fire the same ammunition from the same magazines. As the support weapon of the PLA uses C magazines, a standard magazine would also fit. They also all use the same pistols, so again this is no problem. The MEC would require the AK-74 assault rifle, which fires the same ammo as the Spec Ops' AKS-74U and the RPK-74. Again, they can share.
One of the coolest features of this is when you steal an enemy's rifle. Now you'll not be so fast to restore your ammo, as it's not so easy getting rounds that fit. You'll have to find a transort vehicle native to that team to restock, or get some from a supply crate. It'd be real nice if country specific supply crates were made, then it'd be important to steal ammo from an enemy supply crate! An alternative method of getting foreign ammo would be to take another weapons bag and throw down their magazines and then pick it up with the bag you just had. Sounds complicated, but serves you right for stealing!
As I've said many times, I have no experience in the field of actually making this work. I understand it's easy for me to point out all these wonderful ideas, but it's another thing for you guys to actually put them into motion. I really hope this idea is considered, if it is at all possible. I'd love to see this system used in the game, it would not only increase teamwork ethics, but also the realism factor and the overall 'wow' this mod would have against all the others.
Well done if you read all that. Feel free to critiqué.