The Black Jackal
The Southern Legion
The Umbra Combine
875
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Posted - 2013.10.04 00:30:00 -
[1] - Quote
Hit-and-Run, or a better term Hit-and-Fade, involves the ability to quickly strike, do some damage, and get out. Typically this tactic is used in guerrilla warfare where the enemy has larger resources and/or forces.
Hit-and-Fade requires 2 things to succeed. The ability to get in and get out fast, and the mentality that though you may do damage, you wont always 'destroy' your target. With this mentality being applied to DUST 514, and most notably to Shield Tanks, I would like to point out a few problems with adopting this mentality on a Heavy Attack Vehicle.
Quote:The Ability to get In and out Fast.
This is something that HAVs in general lack. And will continue to lack after the Vehicle 'rebalance' according to released attributes. For multiple reasons. HAVs are not able to manoeuvre well through terrain. The Shield Tanks have a slight advantage in this department, but it isn't enough to compensate for their lack of HP. HAVs also lack speed. Even the shield ones that are designed with the Hit-and-Fade Mentality are not fast enough to pull it off.
Quote:Damage Vs. Destruction
With the assumption that you manage to pull of a typical Hit-and-Fade attack. The chances of you beating the enemy down (in Tank Vs. Tank Warfare) are negligible. Hit-and-Fade attacks are supposed to be hard hitting, and currently no weapon provides a hard enough hit (alpha) with comparison to the speed of the Hit-and-Fade to overcome this. Missiles have the highest 'alpha' but do not track fast enough to maintain your speed, Blaster have high DPS, but are less effective Vs. Armor, and more effective Vs. Shield. Railguns don't track nearly fast enough to perform a hit-and-fade. So at most, you will do a moderate amount of damage, then pull out as they come around to engage you.
Damage lasts only as long as it takes them to repair, with no long-term benefit. Thus the Hit and Fade mentality fails in DUST 514.
What comes to mind for me is World of Tanks.
A 'Light' Tank can engage in Hit-and-Fade attacks on Heavy Tanks with a measure of success. They may never be able to destroy the Heavy Tank, but they can cause significant long-term damage. How?
Non-Lethal Systemic Damage.
The Light Tank can target vulnerable places on a tank. Take out the tracks, hit the gyro so they can't turn their turret as effectively, hit their ammunition reserves causing engine damage and chip away at the armor. As well as eliminating or reducing the opposing tank's offensive capabilities.
A hit-and-fade attack would aim to 'disable' the hostile targets, and not necessarily destroy them. Allowing heavier tanks to have an easier time disposing of the hostile unit.
In order for Hit-and-Fade to function half as well as it should, Shield Tanks would have to be given a fast-tracking, hard hitting weapon (low rate of fire), a boost to their manoeuvrability and the ability to cause long-term non-lethal damage to their intended target. Thus enabling some function to actually performing a hit-and-fade. Otherwise, only the kill will matter, and the 'stand and deliver' style of the Armor Tank will almost always win such a contest. As that is what they are designed to do. |