Chemical Warfare Infantry Discussion - Special Weapons

[CharAznable3]

Chemical Warfare Discussion

With infantry mode expanding, I wanted to open a discussion around how gas-based mechanics could be implemented in a balanced, gameplay-focused way that adds strategy without becoming frustrating. The idea isn’t to create overpowered tools, but to introduce area denial and disruption options that encourage movement, coordination, and counterplay. Gas could function primarily through effects like reduced visibility, blurred vision, to making no go zones without the needed equipment AKA gas masks. Different types could include tear gas or irritant agents for flushing players out of cover, as well as hybrid smoke/gas that both conceals and disrupts. More toxic versions like chlorine gas could be used to push players out of buildings and spaces even with the ability to destroy a tank that is without overpressure / filter systems A key part of this would be deployment methods, such as hand-thrown grenades, under-barrel launchers, deployable canisters, or even indirect delivery like mortar-style support or drone release at higher tiers. These systems could create temporary zones that shape engagements, especially around objectives or chokepoints.

For balance, effects should remain temporary and avoid full player disablement, with clear visual indicators and limited stacking to prevent frustration. Counters would be essential, including gas masks that reduce or negate effects, as well as environmental factors like open spaces dispersing gas faster. From a progression standpoint, lower tiers could feature smaller, short-duration gas effects, while higher tiers improve spread, duration, or deployment flexibility rather than raw strength. Overall, this could add another layer of tactical depth forcing players to reposition, coordinate, and think about terrain use without replacing traditional combat. Curious to hear how others think gas mechanics should work, especially in terms of strength, counters, and whether they’d improve or complicate infantry gameplay.

Gas

Irritant / Riot Control Agents (least severe, most gameplay-friendly)

• Tear gas (commonly used for crowd control)
• Pepper spray type agents

Choking Agents

• Chlorine gas
• Phosgene

Blister Agents (persistent area denial concept)

• Mustard gas

Nerve Agents (may be hard to balence)

• Sarin
• VX

Counters

For gas mechanics to work in infantry mode, strong and accessible counterplay is essential. This can be split into personal gear, vehicle systems, and improvised/makeshift solutions to keep gameplay flexible and realistic.

Personal Equipment

• Gas masks (standard or upgradeable) to reduce or fully negate effects
• Protective gear (limited-duration filters or stamina trade-offs)
• Loadout trade-offs (carrying protection vs. extra ammo or equipment)

Vehicle-Based Counters

• Sealed vehicle interiors that protect crews/passengers
• Overpressure / filtration systems on higher-tier vehicles
• Vehicles acting as temporary safe zones for nearby infantry
• Armored units pushing through contaminated areas to break stalemates

Makeshift / Field Solutions

• Cloth or improvised face coverings (reduced effectiveness vs proper gear)
• Taking high ground or moving upwind to reduce exposure
• Using buildings, interiors, or enclosed spaces for temporary protection
• Waiting out or avoiding contaminated zones rather than pushing through

Gameplay Balance Ideas

• Counters should be effective but not absolute unless fully equipped
• Encourage decision-making (prepare with gear vs risk exposure)
• Allow multiple levels of protection, from improvised to fully equipped
• Keep everything readable so players understand when they are safe vs exposed (gas detectors, clear visualization, in game audio “troopers will yell gas gas gas”)

Deployment Methods

For gas mechanics to feel natural and balanced in infantry mode, the way they’re deployed is just as important as their effects. Different delivery systems could create variety in how players use gas for offense, defense, and area control.

Infantry-Based Deployment

• Hand-thrown grenades
  • Quick and simple, ideal for clearing rooms or tight spaces
• Under-barrel grenade launchers
  • More range and precision for targeting windows, rooftops, or cover
• Dedicated launchers
  • Larger area coverage, slower to use but more impactful

Emplaced / Deployable Systems

• Gas canisters (placed on the ground)
  • Release gas over time, useful for holding objectives or chokepoints
• Tripwire or triggered devices
  • Activate when enemies enter an area, adding a defensive layer

Vehicle-Based Deployment

• Vehicle-mounted launchers / shells
  • Fire gas rounds into contested zones from a distance
• Support vehicles
  • Create temporary denial zones to assist infantry pushes

Indirect / Advanced Delivery

• Mortar-style deployment (if added later)
  • Area saturation from a distance, more strategic use
• Drone deployment
  • Dropping small canisters for precise placement in hard-to-reach areas

Generally Chemical Weapons in Infantry Mode

• YES ✅
• NO ❎
• I have Something To Say → In Chat
• Maybe

Starting Images

Don't Mix Random Things Together

If you got some ideas feel free to share them on how chemical warfare could change WarThunder infantry and what could be brought into the game.

[kizvy]

War crime maxxing

[BIPH]

Makes sense too add later. But right now theres alot of balancing to do especially with the vehicles

[CharAznable3]

Still perfectly historical cold war military plans did call for there use.

[CharAznable3]

It could balance vehicles to a point overpressure systems can be broken or any damage to your tank can let the toxic air in. Also old vehicles like a T-34 would have major issues in that environment.

[ThiccoIai]

Good luck finding documwnts to get them added lol. WP and tear gas would probably be as far as they go

[BIPH]

Yup. On your second point though, most vehicles have a positive pressure system, so small holes wouldn’t be catastrophic, also the reason that T-72s can get away with case ejection.

[CharAznable3]

True. But if the pumps are damaged you are in for some pain.

[CharAznable3]

May be easier then you think. Gaijin has worked with less and with anti-chemical warfare programs internationally having supervisors there is open source information.

To decommission the stockpile most of the information became open source AKA shells ammo etc. international agreements the information is likely good enough for the game.

[quartas121]

@ThiccoIai

Good luck finding documwnts to get them added lol

most prevalent ones are fairly well documented

[CharAznable3]

Ya for international weapons control! 😊😘 for the documentation!

[CharAznable3]

The only issue would be chemical weapons that are not disclosed and rumoured to exist. But that is not a issue. Sure some say Japan has a special stockpile but is it real?

Low production test munitions is a second issue some nations do produce the underlaying shells for tests and stockpile but never fill them or have the fill stockpile. But if needed they can modify a Civ chemical company to get them the gas like chlorine from other uses. Would the theoretical non filled shells or test shells count? Maybe

[joshje100]

Gaijin, give me mustard gas and my life and wallet is yours.

[ThiccoIai]

The chemicals themselves might be easy but delivery methods are harder. A lot of options are available but might not be written into doctrine, especially air launched. There’s also things like phosphorus smoke that isn’t design to be a weapon but would easily be deadly

[Code_649]

I’d put chemical weapons in the same box of “Probably won’t happen because game rating” as cluster bomb munitions.

Of course, tear gas is technically a chemical weapon. Non-lethal, sure, but still.

[CharAznable3]

Yes but if we get information like a shell and the gun it goes into we could include it for a vehicle as long as the gun could fire it. For example the M109 Paladin had chem round for its 155 mm mostly every artillery gun the USA had could fire a chemical round. Her WW2 SPGs could fire a lot of the Americans WW1 stock sitting back at home but that never happened outside of training.

Also yes phosphorus smoke can be used in that way but there are true phosphorus shells meant to be much more effective. I have a infantry incendiary post coming up to start a discussion on that angle.

[BOMBAY9997042-live]

Warcrimes so absolutely not with the exception of tear gas as it’s nonleathal

[CharAznable3]

not mine but Gaijins but its a useful tool in game and the way the infantry mode is going (do you bring lots of equipment and get bogged down or bring little and be more maneuverable?) is a good trade off of if I don’t bring a gas mask I can have an extra clip for my MG damn I should have brought my gas mask.

[CharAznable3]

I don’t want to get into the law as its not part of the Discussion and is not relevant the legality of it here. Its illegal in war as it forces you out of cover therefore forcing you in the way of a MG therefor making it lethal. You have to pick between suffocating or getting hit also tear gas will be lethal if you stay in it long enough. Though you can use it in domestic civil issues or domestic terror issues but not outside of that but it does happen as its easy to get your hands on. Bear Mace is also a issue now as it can nock someone out and be made into a gas cloud dispenser thing a well trained soldier or police have issues handling it as it feels like your face is on fire and you have have the mother of all colds making you feel like you cant breathe. I sadly know because when I was working a can of Bear Mace exploded because it was in the window in the sunlight during the summer it sucked.

[CharAznable3]

If I remember right cluster bomb munitions had not real target in game as you could not effectively kill a tank maybe an anti-air as there job tends to be against soft targets something a IFV is not. With infantry we might get it now but concerning age rating I don’t think a gas cloud is worse age rating wise vs a normal tank shell.