- Yes
- Yes, but with alterations
- No
This is a suggestion for a permanent, enhanced Naval EC mode to mostly replace the current capture point based mode.
As it has become obvious, the current naval battle map setups are not feasible for a succesful, popular naval mode.
Currently, there are several main issues my suggestion seeks to adress:
-
The spawns are too close and often within view, allowing for immediate firefights, leading to unsatisfying deaths at the start of the match (made worse by the bots targeting those who spawn first)
-
It isn’t suitable for other naval vessel types (i.e. submarines and perhaps carriers) or more modern ships equipped with missiles for the above mentioned reason, making higher br ships hard to implement
-
The slow, cumbersome, larger ships are ill suited for weasling between small islands and going from one cap point to another within any reasonable time
-
In naval battles, an immobile target capturing a point is a dead one
-
Modes such as the singular capture point with teams spawning on either side largely make ship types with little armor redundant and drive away players trying to grind trough the naval trees if they have to face battleships in destroyers and light/ heavy cruisers as they are the easiest targets and thus picked off by the entire enemy team
-
The fights are too messy with almost all ships concentrated in one or two locations
- When spawning, the ships constantly ram each other, making any strategizing, maneuvering or proper aiming impossible and occasionally even pushing their teammates into enemy torpedo volleys (that can be directed right at their spawn points due to the current lackluster design of the naval mode)
- The vessels currently in the game cannot be played to their various strengths or bring all their weapon loadouts to bear (such as the 3.3 italian destroyers with 52 mines that will only lead to their demise when equipped as of now, as well as coastal and blue water ships with depth charges for anti-submarine warfare… also just most coastal ships at br ranges where they can face destroyers, as only fast and nimble torpedo boats and the OP SKR ships can face them eye to eye)
What I suggest for a new and improved naval EC mode:
- Spawn points similar to current ec, near harbors or other POIs, further away from initial enemy spawns which allows for a more strategic playstyle and safer spawning, as well as players being more spread out
- A spotting system for (player controlled) recon planes (both ship launched and planes historically used in this role such as the bv138), allowing them to “discover” convoys and other potential targets (possibly including players) and marking them and their current heading on the map for the team. This marking will fade/disappear with time unless the target is actively shadowed by the plane
- AI Carrier strike groups and airfields launching occasional AI plane squad attacks against spotted targets of interest (such as players) within range, allowing for a more immersive experience and keeping players on their toes, even while not engaging other ships in battle. The larger the ship, the more attractive of a target it becomes once spotted (as in real life). Spotter planes near convoys within range may also be targeted by ai fighter squadrons.
- New damage mechanics such as oil trails for ships/submarines that were hit in the fuel tanks, making them easier to spot from the air, requiring visiting a port or submarine base to fix
- Dynamic events, keeping any naval EC match from getting boring. These are listed in detail below.
Dynamic events such as:
-
AI convoys (like in the “battle of the north atlantic” event) of more various ship compositions than the current ones and with varying levels of warships protecting them, which make for enticing targets for minelayers and submarines to ambush and for destroyers/light cruisers which are fast enough to give chase and battle face to face. Players on the side of the convoy could be rewarded for keeping the convoy safe over specific time intervals or they could receive additional rewards for killing enemy players that are within a certain range of the convoy or which did damage to the convoy (no idea if this already is a mechanic, I apologize if so).
-
Coastal bombardement targets at varying ranges away from the water, acting like bombing points in air RB, offering possibilities for battleships and other vessels with large firepower and range to gain XP without having to face enemy players necessarily (the targets are different and in addition to the already present coastal fortifications).
-
Rescue missions for survivors of sunken ships and downed planes (especially convoy ships). These would drift in/near lifeboats and will have to be rescued within a certain timeframe. This can be done by any sufficiently sized naval vessel or seaplane. Small boats and planes may have to make multiple journeys. After picking up the survivors, they could either be brought back to a harbour or other AI vessel for a xp and sl reward according for the amount saved; or they could give the players’ ship additional crew per-centage. The exact reward or effect is up to the developers to decide on. Like in real life, players may have to look out for submarines still roaming the area. Other variants of this could be picking up shot down air crews from safety buoys (such as the ones used by Germany during the battle of Britain).
-
Large, map specific operations such as amphibious landings for pacific maps, bringing a level of uniqueness like in the old air rb pacific maps for the US and Japan.
-
Objectives slightly upstream in rivers and within smaller, shallower island groups for coastal vessels to complete, with AI or players as enemies
Why this would help the naval game mode:
-
The resulting gameplay will be better suited for the realistic handling and damage mechanics of war thunder ships, in contrast to the arcadey feeling and spotting mechanics of ships in the closest competitor to War Thunder, which also employs the current capture point map set-ups.
-
The mode would make War Thunder far more unique in general, differentiating it from the competition and further embracing the mixed arms aspect which is this games strength.
-
Different ship types will be more effective by being able to often pick fights according to their strengths.
-
The ship types that are currently only available in the WT mobile app, such as modern missile cruisers or submarines could be added far more smoothly as the EC mode makes them easier to balance and less overpowered. Submarines would in turn make ASW ships/planes and destroyers more useful than they are in the current meta.
-
Larger and more modern ships would allow for a full naval BR range to be implemented, allowing planes such as the Tornado IDS mfg and the Shackleton to have a use.
-
Weapons such as depth charges and mines would suddenly become vital assets to secure a win. Mines could be laid before a convoy or to secure capture points such as harbors while depth charges can be used against submarines like in the “battle of the atlantic” event.
The new mode could be implemented as the simulator mode for naval to test the community response. I also recommend lowering the research costs a lot as they too make naval very unenjoyable right now.
(Note: I posted this post in a more fitting forum category before, but it has been pending there for weeks now, leading me to the conclusion that very specific section of the forum has been abandoned by the moderators, meaning my post would never see the light of day there)