Heavy Tank Woes
by Greg Gant · in ThinkTanks · 04/30/2003 (2:15 am) · 11 replies
I've noticed as of current, the Heavy Tank seems to be the weakest tank in the lot simply because its too slow and the armor doesn't really offset the trade off for speed. Online, its really easy to pick off the heavy tank with a normal or light tank simply by dogging it to death. The heavy tank, being the slowest can't outrun them and its only hope is a head on charge which a light tank can easily out maneuver and the normal tank can avoid. Right now online gamers pretty much stick to the Normal and Light tanks. It'd be nice to see a bit more diversity rather than mostly players with one of two tanks. Any plans to balance this tank?
About the author
#2
I took great pains trhough many playtesting sessions to balance all the tanks. The heavy, in particular, was very hard to balance. Originally, it was stronger, and when our test group learned the best strategies for using it, they were unstoppable in the Heavy.
The heavy is the 'nerves of steel' tank. It is great for long range sniping, and when in a head to head battle with a light, hold your fire until you can be sure you will land the whole burst.
Also, the heavies, being slower, don't do as well as the lights on open terrain. If engaged in a dogfight with a light, head for the hills. The auto-leveling turret is much better on the heavy tank, and combined with the slower speed , it makes for a much more stable shooting platform.
All of the tanks are 'the best' when you can use the terrain to bring out the strenghts of that tank and minimize it's weaknesses.
If there is enough call for it, we can adjst the balance of this tank, but we want to wait a little longer until people are playing and learning how the tanks handle and how to use them effectively. In our playtest sessions, it took the playtesters a few weeks to really learn how to use all the tanks effectively.
I would not be surprised if soon we see a few people in the heavies that are going to be very scary to go up against.
Joe
04/30/2003 (8:53 am)
Greg,I took great pains trhough many playtesting sessions to balance all the tanks. The heavy, in particular, was very hard to balance. Originally, it was stronger, and when our test group learned the best strategies for using it, they were unstoppable in the Heavy.
The heavy is the 'nerves of steel' tank. It is great for long range sniping, and when in a head to head battle with a light, hold your fire until you can be sure you will land the whole burst.
Also, the heavies, being slower, don't do as well as the lights on open terrain. If engaged in a dogfight with a light, head for the hills. The auto-leveling turret is much better on the heavy tank, and combined with the slower speed , it makes for a much more stable shooting platform.
All of the tanks are 'the best' when you can use the terrain to bring out the strenghts of that tank and minimize it's weaknesses.
If there is enough call for it, we can adjst the balance of this tank, but we want to wait a little longer until people are playing and learning how the tanks handle and how to use them effectively. In our playtest sessions, it took the playtesters a few weeks to really learn how to use all the tanks effectively.
I would not be surprised if soon we see a few people in the heavies that are going to be very scary to go up against.
Joe
#3
04/30/2003 (11:44 am)
I didn't realize terrian was such a factor in the gameplay, thanks for the strategy tips. Waiting does sound like the right thing to do.
#4
05/02/2003 (1:24 pm)
Man, in a late night session of TT online (sorta have to play it late because of stupid ComCast day use suckage) I was doing fine with the Light Tank. After placing second place and first a few times I decided to try the Heavy Tank since I was on a role. Oy, anyone with a light tank pretty much schooled me even when on hills. Maybe I need more practice...
#5
Think Tanks have an ammo clip that refills at a steady pace from their ammo cash. Much like a magazine on a gun. When you hold down the mouse left mouse button you will instantly unload all the bullets in your clip in rapid succession. Unfortunately now your clip is empty and it's reloading. At this point you have two choices, keep clicking away firing the new bullets as they become available in your clip, or wait a few seconds for the clip to fill up and then fire another burst. In almost all situations it is best to stick with the burst fire. It deals the most amount of damage in the least amount of time.
The heavies only have three bullets in their clip, as opposed to the 8 or so that the lights have. However these bullets back a wallop. Land two burst rounds on a light and their history. Since you have more armor they wont be able to keep up.
Another trick to improve your effectiveness is to max out your mouse sensitivity, if your a serious player adjust the mouse properties in the control panel to maximum sensitivity before playing, then when you go to the options menu in think tanks and max it out there as well. There's a slight adjustment period where you have to get used to how fast the targeting reticles move, but once you get the hang of it you'll see a marked improvement in your combat ratio.
Best of Luck :)
05/02/2003 (1:34 pm)
Joe and I are both pretty good players and we tested the heavy vs. light combination a fair amount. I was actually able to kill more with the heavy then I was able to with the light. The trick is to use the heavies burst fire. For those of you who haven't figured out burst fire this is how it works.Think Tanks have an ammo clip that refills at a steady pace from their ammo cash. Much like a magazine on a gun. When you hold down the mouse left mouse button you will instantly unload all the bullets in your clip in rapid succession. Unfortunately now your clip is empty and it's reloading. At this point you have two choices, keep clicking away firing the new bullets as they become available in your clip, or wait a few seconds for the clip to fill up and then fire another burst. In almost all situations it is best to stick with the burst fire. It deals the most amount of damage in the least amount of time.
The heavies only have three bullets in their clip, as opposed to the 8 or so that the lights have. However these bullets back a wallop. Land two burst rounds on a light and their history. Since you have more armor they wont be able to keep up.
Another trick to improve your effectiveness is to max out your mouse sensitivity, if your a serious player adjust the mouse properties in the control panel to maximum sensitivity before playing, then when you go to the options menu in think tanks and max it out there as well. There's a slight adjustment period where you have to get used to how fast the targeting reticles move, but once you get the hang of it you'll see a marked improvement in your combat ratio.
Best of Luck :)
#7
The heavy tank demands accuracy since charging a light tank won't work for the part thus the idea is to attack from afar. I tried luring opponents to the hills but more often than not. More often than not, I was hoping I could just make it to the hills and getting killed (thus losing score). I bet in the sub 80ish ping zone for LPBs, the heavy tank could bring the pain. It seems like most people who use the Heavy tank online though just end up getting creamed. I don't think I've played a skillful Heavy Tankers yet either, I've played against players (like Tally Ho) whom are quite good with the Normal and many more with the Light Tank.
05/03/2003 (4:26 am)
Y'know I thinking the Light Tank fairs better in mild to moderate lag due to the methodology is more favorable than the Heavy. With the Light Tank the "Drive-By" tactic works to perfection; sweep a stream of bullets so the enemy player drives into it or catches up to him. The heavy tank demands accuracy since charging a light tank won't work for the part thus the idea is to attack from afar. I tried luring opponents to the hills but more often than not. More often than not, I was hoping I could just make it to the hills and getting killed (thus losing score). I bet in the sub 80ish ping zone for LPBs, the heavy tank could bring the pain. It seems like most people who use the Heavy tank online though just end up getting creamed. I don't think I've played a skillful Heavy Tankers yet either, I've played against players (like Tally Ho) whom are quite good with the Normal and many more with the Light Tank.
#8
He apparently uses various technics, sniping, and also charging.
Another thing the bots know better than us (that and the better radar) is the comparative damage of the tanks they attack. It seems they can detect if you've just taken a couple shots (when theres no smoke).
05/03/2003 (10:08 am)
Hum (bot) is pretty good with the heavy, if you don't have too many players on a map, you regularly lose to Hum(bot) !He apparently uses various technics, sniping, and also charging.
Another thing the bots know better than us (that and the better radar) is the comparative damage of the tanks they attack. It seems they can detect if you've just taken a couple shots (when theres no smoke).
#9
Note on bots: the gold brains especially have an expanded radar, so if they are after you there is nowhere to hide. Humbot has great aim and i have known it to get me several shots in the back as I realize the smoke I saw was from someone it just killed and fled the site. If you hit a bot with a bullet, even just one, it jumps on your tail and hangs on.
* in his sky high flying light tank
HEY GUYS WHO WANTS FOULPLAY'S REAL GLOWING BRIGHT BLUE BRAIN! COMES WITH INSTALLATION INSTUCTIONS! I HAVE TRIED IT AND IT IS COOL! SEE SCREENSHOT ON FP'S WEBSITE AND EMAIL HIM FOR THE BRAINS. EVEN GOT DIFFERENT COLORSRED,GREEN,ORANGE, HOT PINK! GET AN OMNI BRAIN NOW!
www.geocities.com/ttfoulplay/ThinkTanks.html
Small print: client side changes only. This means that when you have it, all human players will have blue brains, but no one online will be able to see it. It still looks really cool on your screen tho guys!
08/24/2003 (7:08 am)
Just a note: I was playing yesterday against a guy in a heavy, and I found that in my light, I was able to win several games, if I really focused on the game. Of course, that could be either my outstanding skill ;) or an integral advantage. On a later game, tho, I spent too much time talking and tied, and one game I lost because I was trying to get a player to try one of FP's new omni blue brains*. One of the games I was not playing as hard as I should have and I tied with Greg Bot (gold brain in a heavy, like humbot). So heavy skills are definitely required. Without me going all out in those games, tho, the heavy beat pretty much all the light and medium opposition.Note on bots: the gold brains especially have an expanded radar, so if they are after you there is nowhere to hide. Humbot has great aim and i have known it to get me several shots in the back as I realize the smoke I saw was from someone it just killed and fled the site. If you hit a bot with a bullet, even just one, it jumps on your tail and hangs on.
* in his sky high flying light tank
HEY GUYS WHO WANTS FOULPLAY'S REAL GLOWING BRIGHT BLUE BRAIN! COMES WITH INSTALLATION INSTUCTIONS! I HAVE TRIED IT AND IT IS COOL! SEE SCREENSHOT ON FP'S WEBSITE AND EMAIL HIM FOR THE BRAINS. EVEN GOT DIFFERENT COLORSRED,GREEN,ORANGE, HOT PINK! GET AN OMNI BRAIN NOW!
www.geocities.com/ttfoulplay/ThinkTanks.html
Small print: client side changes only. This means that when you have it, all human players will have blue brains, but no one online will be able to see it. It still looks really cool on your screen tho guys!
#10
Ben
08/24/2003 (4:37 pm)
There are few very good heavy playes all of whom are listed on LC50's website. Most of the heavy's you see are people who think its cool and go try it out for fun. They are the heavys that are so easy to kill with lights or mediums. Ben
#11
And those listed on the site may not be the best. For example, I'm just a crazy nutter who likes the heavy and will try it in all sorts of situations. Some days I'm better than other days. And I've held my own against lights and mediums several times, but not all the time.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is, don't take that list as some kind of "Hit List" that you have to outgun. :) It's basically a list of folks and/or aliases often seen in Heavy tanks. Some of them might even have different names they use for tanks other than the Heavy Tank. I know I do... :)
08/25/2003 (4:15 pm)
Quote:There are few very good heavy playes all of whom are listed on LC50's website...
And those listed on the site may not be the best. For example, I'm just a crazy nutter who likes the heavy and will try it in all sorts of situations. Some days I'm better than other days. And I've held my own against lights and mediums several times, but not all the time.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is, don't take that list as some kind of "Hit List" that you have to outgun. :) It's basically a list of folks and/or aliases often seen in Heavy tanks. Some of them might even have different names they use for tanks other than the Heavy Tank. I know I do... :)
Kevin Lindeman