Vehicles currently suffer from a lack of having well defined roles. HAVs are currently best at blowing up other vehicles.

Skirmish 1.0

That would be an okay role if there was a good reason to need vehicles on the field.

Same thing as above. Can't hack a null cannon? Blow it up.

LAVs are typically fielded for fast transport but otherwise pose no direct threat to anything other than objectives.

This, yes; also would've been great in Skirmish 1.0, because again, you need to take out those first null cannons, as well as cutting off infantry so they can't hack it back.

Dropships are typically easily dealt with through swarms and MLT dropships are simply a disposable means of getting uplinks on rooftops.

I have a Minmando alt with all its weapons at 5, with varying degrees of proficiency. I destroyed a ship in 3 volleys yesterday. It's pathetically easy to destroy vehicles.

One issue that I see is that LAVs and dropships most of the time are deployed for a single purpose at the beginning of the battle: to get to objectives and rooftops before the other team, after which they are usually recalled or just simply left behind to their own fate.

It's because both are incredibly weak and have little staying power.

This is a problem if HAVs are to be anti-vehicle.

What infantry wants, infantry gets.

They are too slow to do anything about intercepting LAVs and dropships at the beginning of the battle

I used to try to race out on a road to intercept dropships at the beginning of a PC battle.

and usually become minor annoyances to infantry once the ground (infantry) battle has been established.

I sometimes get AV'd even though I'm taking out threats to my tank. I hadn't bothered with infantry at all, yet they have such a raging fear and hatred of vehicles that they want it dead immediately, even if it's not a threat to them. What's the best though, is staying out of swarm lock on range, then sniping the poor SOB.

There's no well defined reason to call out a HAV if there are no vehicles on the field.

I do it to make infantry rage.

They can't hack anything and don't get as many kills as an infantryman most of the time.

Still sometimes fun, but rarely rewarding as far as kills, SP and WP go.

What I suggest is that HAVs should be as flexible in their roles as infantry can.

Unfair to infantry.

This means that through sacrifices, a HAV should be able to be anti-infantry.

Again unfair to infantry.

It seems to me that most people forget about having to make certain sacrifices in order to gain certain benefits when it comes to balance.

Sentinel - slow moving, ~1000 HP. Assault - no drawbacks. Scout - low HP. Logi - no sidearm except the Amarr. Commando - no grenade slot.

I see nothing wrong with an AI HAV as long as it has very little AV capabilities.

Veteran pilots make the most out of everything.

I am willing to accept the fact that if I call my AI HAV, I will be surely beaten by an AV HAV (something which I'm already accepting when I call my blaster HAV).

Negated by experience (and obviously close range).

Same should go with AV HAVs against infantry, which is also currently happening with railgun HAVs.

Experience does a little to fix this.

Imagine this: Team A wants to capture Team B's objective, but Team B's infantry have set up a good position and stop Team A's infantry. Team A calls in an AI HAV to provide the firepower needed to clear Team B's infantry. Team B calls in an AV HAV to destroy Team A's AI HAV. Team A calls in their own AV HAV to take the attention of Team B's AV HAV. At this point, depending on pilot skill, either Team A destroys Team B's AV HAV and win the offensive or Team B destroys Team A's HAVs and wins the defense.

A good team wouldn't need the tank for very long. That blaster tank can go around the AV tank, and kill it.

Just like infantry can focus into destroying vehicles while becoming weaker against other infantry,

Commando suit

pilots should also be able to focus into killing infantry while becoming weaker against other pilots.

Fixed by experience.

It should be about gains and sacrifices for both infantry and pilots.

Little sacrifice for an experienced pilot.