Tanks and infantry are the subject of a lot of GÇÿdebateGÇÖ on the forums. The purpose of this topic is to have a reasonable discussion about the subject without everyone telling each other to go back to COD. If you post in this thread, please keep it civil. ItGÇÖs my hope that both sides can explain their concerns and needs and then we (or CCP) can think of a good compromise.

This does not concern the current state of balance. Tanks certainly do need a buff in their current state, but thatGÇÖs not the point of this thread - this is to think about where they should be in the future.


I will begin by listing the concerns (at least the ones IGÇÖm aware of, IGÇÖll update this list) of both sides.

HAV concerns:
Not isk efficient, too expensive for their cost
Too easy for a single AV specialist to destroy them or lock the field down for them
Disparity in tech levels between tanks and AV - proto AV exists while proto tanks do not

Infantry concerns:
Possibility of extremely hard to stop pubstomping machines
Fear of a complete mechanical inability to stop a tank ravaging a team


Both sides have very valid concerns. If tanks are too strong, they could easily pubstomp endlessly, with infantry getting completely crushed bar some organised AV squads. At the same time, tankers are investing significant isk into their tanks, much more than is put into any individual dropsuit, and so it should certainly be capable of doing more damage than a single dropsuit.

If it only takes one AV specialist to kill a tank, then (as tanks are such large targets and AV weapons generally have excellent range) it doesnGÇÖt take much more to effectively lock down the field for other vehicles as well, especially if the time to kill is low. This is a problem. On the other hand, if it takes multiple AV to destroy one vehicle a solo HAV pilot is effectively worth multiple players and if there isnGÇÖt an organised AV group in every match then thereGÇÖll be heavy tank pubstomping.

ThereGÇÖs a balance to be found that keeps HAVs powerful machines of war in the right circumstances but still vulnerable in the wrong circumstances.

What do you think HAVs should be like in terms of power? Post your thoughts, and try to keep it civil please.

How many times must we say this?

We get very stupid blue dots in our turrets practically every match. No, I don't want that idiot lighting me up on the map for Red Johnny Random to lock on to me with his cheap EZ-Mode Darkside CBR7s. I'd rather play half taxi to those idiot blue dots who may or may not jump out when I'm next to a red objective with no red dots in sight, where I KNOW for certain he can't light me up on the map, than stay in the redline for 1/3 of the match because the idiot gets mad at me that I won't give him air to shoot at.

You don't understand what it's like until you experience it for yourself. It's maddening to see some blue dot get angry at me because I won't ferry him around in my 80 ton limo (at least, that's how it seems to me how they themselves view blue dot tanks).