War Thunder: WWI Vehicles and the New Rank 0

Game Discussion General Discussion
1

WW1/ Interwar Vehicles

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Renaults
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I propose the addition of a WWI/Interwar bracket featuring 0.0–0.7 BR tanks, planes, and armored cars from the WWI and early interwar periods. This bracket would be distinct from the main tech tree, offering slower, tactical, and immersive gameplay that stands apart from other BR ranges in the game.

Why Add This Bracket?

A7V_21

1. Gameplay Diversity

  • Slower, more tactical battles emphasizing positioning and teamwork.

  • A unique focus on machine guns and light cannons, requiring players to target weak spots on lightly armored vehicles.

  • Early aerial combat with biplanes and triplanes adds an immersive dynamic, including strafing runs and small bombs, as well as unique weapons.

2. Beginner-Friendly Environment

  • Simpler, slower vehicles make it ideal for new players to learn War Thunder’s mechanics.

  • Isolation from higher BR ranges creates a low-pressure environment for newcomers.

3. Historical Immersion

  • WWI and interwar vehicles have a very unique flavor of gameplay, appealing to history buffs and veteran players.

  • Maps inspired by WWI battlefields (e.g., trenches, craters, ruined towns) would provide a fresh and visually stunning experience.

What Would This Bracket Look Like?

Garford-Putilov_Kurzemnieks

US Tech Tree

Tanks

  • 0.0: Ford 3-Ton Tank (50 cal Browning machine gun, very light armor)

  • 0.3: M1917 (37mm Puteaux gun, MG variant for alternative loadout).

  • 0.7: Mark V (Male) (British heavy tank, 57mm 6-pounder guns and MGs).

  • 0.7: T1 Cunningham.

Armored Cars

  • 0.0: Jeffery Armored Car (Recon vehicle, MGs).

  • 0.3: M1 armored car

Planes

  • 0.3: Thomas-Morse S-4 (Agile scout biplane, single MG).

  • 0.7: SPAD S.XIII

  • 0.3: Curtiss HS-2L

  • 0.7: Handley Page O/400

  • 0.7: Caproni Ca.5

German Tech Tree (Including Austro-Hungarian Vehicles)

Tanks

  • 0.0: A7V (57mm Maxim-Nordenfelt, multiple MGs).

  • 0.3: A7V-U

  • 0.3: LK II (37mm Maxim-Nordenfelt, light and mobile).

  • 0.7: Grosstraktor (75 mm KwK, 6-14 mm steel armor).

  • 0.7: Leichttraktor

Armored Cars

  • 0.0: Ehrhardt E-V/4 (Recon, twin MGs).

  • 0.0: Büssing A5P

  • 0.0: Austin armored car

  • 0.3: Junovicz P.A.1 (MGs, early Austro-Hungarian armored car).

Planes

  • 0.0: Albatros D.I

  • 0.3: Fokker Dr.I (Triplane, German upgrades)

  • 0.7: Fokker D.VII

  • 0.0: Aviatik C.I

  • 0.3: Gotha G.IV

  • 0.3: Halberstadt CL.IV

  • 0.7: Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI

French Tech Tree

Tanks

  • 0.3: Renault FT (37mm Puteaux gun, MG variant as an alternative).

  • 0.3: Autocanon de 47 Renault mle 1915

  • 0.7: Schneider CA1 (75mm Blockhaus Schneider gun, medium armor).

  • 0.7: St. Chamond (Heavy, 75mm gun, MGs, decent firepower but poor off-road mobility).

Armored Cars

  • 0.0: Peugeot Armored Car (Light armor, MGs).

  • 0.0: Minerva Armored Car

  • 0.3: Renault AM 1914 (Better armor, MG turret).

Planes

  • 0.0: Blériot-SPAD S.7

  • 0.3: Nieuport 17

  • 0.7: SPAD S.XIII

  • 0.0: Caudron G.4

  • 0.3: Breguet 14 B2

  • 0.7: Farman F.50

British Tech Tree

Tanks

  • 0.0: Mark I (Female, MGs only).

  • 0.0: Whippet (Medium tank, quad MGs, fast for its time).

  • 0.3: Mark I (Male, 57mm naval guns + MGs).

  • 0.7: Mark V (Male) (British heavy tank, 57mm 6-pounder guns and MGs).

  • 0.7: Gun Carrier Mark I (60-pounder gun)

  • 0.7: Vickers Medium Mark I

Armored Cars

  • 0.0: Rolls-Royce Armored Car (MG, lightly armored but fast).

  • 0.3: Austin armored car

Planes

  • 0.0: Airco DH.2

  • 0.3: Sopwith Camel

  • 0.7: Bristol F.2B (Multi-role fighter, twin MGs + bombs).

  • 0.7: S.E.5a

  • 0.7: Sopwith Pup

  • 0.0: Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c

  • 0.3: Handley Page O/100

  • 0.7: Handley Page O/400

Russian Tech Tree

Tanks

  • 0.3: Renault FT (37mm gun, imported from France).

Armored Cars

  • 0.0: Austin-Putilov (Twin MGs).

  • 0.3: Poplavko-Jeffery

  • 0.7: Garford-Putilov Armored Truck (76mm gun + MGs).

Planes

  • 0.3: Nieuport 17

  • 0.7: Sikorsky S-16

  • 0.3: Sikorsky Ilya Muromets

  • 0.7: Anatra DS “Anasal”

Italian Tech Tree

Tanks

  • 0.0: Fiat 3000 (Italian Renault FT variant, MG).

  • 0.7: Fiat 2000 (Heavy, 65mm gun + MGs).

Armored Cars

  • 0.0: Lancia 1ZM (MGs, colonial use).

Planes

  • 0.0: Nieuport 11 “Bébé”

  • 0.3: Macchi M.5

  • 0.7: Ansaldo A.1 Balilla

  • 0.0: Caproni Ca.1

  • 0.3: Caproni Ca.3

  • 0.7: Caproni Ca.5

Japanese Tech Tree

Tanks

  • 0.0: Renault FT (Imported, MG variant).

  • 0.3: Renault FT (37mm gun variant).

  • 0.7: Otsu Gata Sensha

  • 0.7: Type 87 Chi-I

Armored Cars

  • 0.0: Austin-type Chiyoda armoured car

  • 0.0: Vickers Crossley (Type 87 armored car)

  • 0.3: Chiyoda armored car

Planes

  • 0.0: Yokosuka Ro-go Ko-gata

  • 0.3: Nieuport 24

  • 0.3: Nakajima Ko-4

  • 0.7: Sopwith Pup

Swedish Tech Tree

Tanks

  • 0.3: Stridsvagn m/21 (Light, 37mm gun).

  • 0.3: Finnish Renault FT (Imported, 37mm gun).

Armored Cars

  • 0.0: Scania-Vabis Armored Car (MG turret).

  • 0.7: Garford-Putilov Armored Car (Finnish)

Planes

  • 0.0: Fokker D.II

  • 0.3: Fokker D.VII

  • 0.7: Phönix D.III

  • 0.0: Farman F.40

  • 0.3: Hansa-Brandenburg C.I

  • 0.7: Fokker C.I

Chinese Tech Tree

Tanks

  • 0.0: Carden Loyd Tankette

  • 0.3: Renault FT17

Armored Cars

  • 0.0: Minerva Armored Car

  • 0.0: Rolls-Royce Armored Car

Planes

  • 0.0: Caudron G.3

  • 0.3: Nieuport 10

  • 0.7: Sopwith Camel (Imported)

Key Premium Vehicles

  1. Fokker Dr.I “Red Baron” (Plane, $3–5 premium).

  2. Renault FT-75 BS (Short-barreled 75mm gun, alternative playstyle).

  3. Sikorsky Ilya Muromets “Special” (Unique markings, bomber).

  4. Beutepanzer Mark IV (Captured tank).

  5. K-Wagen

Matchmaking

tanks
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Separate Queue

A dedicated queue ensures these vehicles never face tanks or planes from the main tech tree beyond 0.7 BR.

Bot Integration

To keep queue times short, matches can include AI-controlled tanks and planes when necessary, similar to naval battles. Advanced AI behavior could make matches feel competitive and engaging.

Monetization Opportunities for Gaijin

1. Affordable Premiums

  • Cheap premiums (priced at $3–$5 USD) would be accessible to all players.

  • Examples: Fokker Dr.I (Red Baron), Renault FT-75 BS, Beutepanzer Mark IV, K-Wagen.

2. Historical Packs

  • Bundled vehicles with unique skins or crew voiceovers tied to specific battles or nations.

Potential Challenges and Solutions

Queue Population

  • Challenge: Ensuring enough players for matches.

  • Solution: Bots fill gaps, with AI mechanics tailored to WWI-style tactics to maintain immersion and engagement.

  • Challenge: Gameplay too slow.

  • Solution: Smaller, concentrated, maps. And perhaps, a special map that’s WW1-themed or two.

Conclusion

Kaiserschlacht
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The WWI/Pre-Reserve bracket would be a win-win for both players and Gaijin. It offers a fresh, immersive gameplay experience while providing new monetization opportunities. Whether you’re a beginner, a history enthusiast, or a veteran looking for something different, this bracket has something for everyone.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback!

8 Likes
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my favourite plane from when I used to play Wings of Glory (the tabletop RPG not the mobile game of the same name)

disappointed to not see a sopwith triplane, the thing fokker stole the design of for the DR1

2 Likes
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I love machine gunning British mark 1’s.

4

I love it 👍

5

Amazing idea, would love to see this.

6

I would suggest making it an entirely separate MM, because facing a 1.0 in a 0.0 would be like facing an F-104 in an Me-262. It wouldn’t work otherwise.

I’d also like the general progression to be similar to ranks I-III, because it would incentivize players to stay due to higher rewards.

1 Like
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