Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaakko
I've been trying this out for a few days now and found it good so far. My eyes caught a couple of things I'd like to hear an explanation for. Firstly, the increased range of M16s. Secondly, the reduced range of .50 MGs. The first is not so much of a problem but the second gives an unwanted advantage to other OOBs, unless the other OOBs' .50/12,7mm MGs are reduced to 32 as well. The 32 hex range "feels" more realistic and less arbitrary than the standard 40, but I need to be convinced before I go through the trouble of changing it in all the other OOBs I'm playing with/against.
|
M16's
1) Game standards are that all "assault rifles" (anything 7.61mm or less) have a range of 8 (400m). "Battle Rifles" (7.62mm+) usually have a range of 10 (500m).
2) The US Army (on which all USMC weapons data is based) only requires its people to qualify at a max of 300m (someone can correct me if I'm wrong) with the M16. The USMC requires them to do so at 500m (and if they can't they can actually be discharged for unsuitability). To the best of my knowledge no other military force in the world (other then of course sniper types) requires such standards, and ranges of basic marksmanship.
3) The official range of the M16A1 is 460m, the M16A2 500m, not sure about the M16A4 but probably 500m as well.
4) The USMC has a tradition of, reputation for, and in fact requires, marksmanship as a basic trait in all Marines. "Every Marine is a rifleman" is not something they pay mere lip service to. Cooks, clerks, and in fact regimental commanders are required - required - to quality once a year with an M16.
All that said I increased the range of the M16A1 to 9 (450m) and the M16A2/A4 to 10 (500m). It's not such an advantage as you may think, it may give them the first shot occasionally, but not that often. More to give a "USMC flavor" to the OOB and make it unique. It may also slightly increase their chance to hit at lesser ranges (my tests have been inconclusive on this) but that's fine - marksmanship 101 should be a USMC OOB trait.
.50 cal HMG's
Actually if you look you'll see that only weapons on pintel/anti-aircraft mounts have a range of 32, those on tripods with T&E's (traversing and elevation) mechanisms are still at 40.
The reasoning is simple - on a tripod with a T&E the official, and actual effective range of the .50 cal is 2000m. A free gun on a pintel mount has 80% of that range (i.e. 32). You'll see the same exact logic and range ratio in the MMGs as well.
You'll see the same thing in many - but not all - OOBs. One of the little "issues" (not a bug, nothing broken just...annoying) with WinSPMBT that may be somewhere near the bottom of Andy and Dons "to fix" list somewhere.
I'll admit this is something of a problem as the other OOBs tend to give all HMGs a range of 40...but...really, how many HMGs do you see in the game? More then you would in reality (just like many times games have more tanks then reality) but it's not usually that big a problem.
Glad you're finding my revised OOB interesting, hopefully it gives a "USMC flavor" to your battles, they're not just "US Army Lite" *grinz*