Here are a few things I've picked up playing mostly as a Soviet tanker.
- Command your driver with the 3D Command Widget along with the WASD key. If you're a squad leader or tank platoon leader, you need to scroll your mouse wheel to specify "Your Tank." Point, and click with the LMB to send your driver to that spot. Unfortunately, your driver won't stop if you hit Space bar for the brakes when following the 3D widget unless you hit either W, A, S, or D first.
- Command your gunner (in the Panzer IV) to attack targets with the 3D Command Widget. RMB click on enemy tanks. This won't work in the T-34, as you don't have a separate gunner.
- Use the periscope for better situational awareness. In the T-34, scroll out of the gunsight, and RMB click while still looking forward, and you'll go to the periscope. It'll look almost exactly the same, but you won't see the cannon on the right, you'll be higher, and you can look around without moving the turret. If you spot your enemy, hit CTRL to link up the turret to your periscope sight, and fire directly from the periscope view without bothering to RMB, and scroll wheel into the gunsight view.
- Use SHIFT to zoom. Whether when driving unbuttoned, T-34 hull MG (really do this all the time), or playing commander, you can get a better idea of what you're looking at with the zoom key (unbuttoned or through the cupola). It's faster than the binoculars.
- Don't camp at spawn or "Spawn Hill" as Soviets on Gumrak. You won't win in a long range cannon duel with the Panzer Iv. I don't know if it's by design, or the damage models aren't final, but the T-34 easily goes up with 1 shot, while the Panzer IV's seem to require multiple shots most of the time. What compounds this is the Panzer IV has a dedicated gunner that can either be very accurate AI aiming, or insta-hot switch from a player, which is faster than the T-34 commander / gunner going to the gun from an unbuttoned position.
-Remember you can spawn at two different points in Gumrak. Try it Spawn 2, you may like it.
- Use the T-34's mobility as an advantage. That means drive fast, get to partial cover (hull down), and fire. That also means, drive slowly and fire while on the move - the T-34's Christie suspension makes this more reliable than on the Panzer IV. I'll often use the 3D Widget to tell my driver to go to a specific point, and while they're driving, I'll be firing away not doing double duty driving with WASD / delayed directional commands.
- If you get your right brake hit, you can still turn right by backing up and engaging Left brake.
- Can't figure out who that guys is in your tank? I'm sure this will be rectified in the final release, but for now, hit ESC, go to the Squad Selection menu, and look who's in the tank with you. Hit ESC to get out of it, as you don't want to accidentally suicide / respawn if you hit continue.
Platoon Tank Commander specific suggestions:
- Use the smoke shells. Good way to obscure enemies firing upon you so you can move or send your squad up (shoot AT the enemy to blind them).
- Use the recon plane to spot enemy targets. Tanks can't hide under cover from the plane. Tell your team you're calling in recon and to check the map.
- Use artillery. Spot with the Command Widget (F key) / RMB, and call it any from ANYWHERE with your tank's radio.
- Command your squads (they may even listen), using the B function, and scroll wheel to select All Squads, or individual squads, and select which objectives to attack or defend.
Hope this helps, and I'd like to see other people's suggestions.
- Command your driver with the 3D Command Widget along with the WASD key. If you're a squad leader or tank platoon leader, you need to scroll your mouse wheel to specify "Your Tank." Point, and click with the LMB to send your driver to that spot. Unfortunately, your driver won't stop if you hit Space bar for the brakes when following the 3D widget unless you hit either W, A, S, or D first.
- Command your gunner (in the Panzer IV) to attack targets with the 3D Command Widget. RMB click on enemy tanks. This won't work in the T-34, as you don't have a separate gunner.
- Use the periscope for better situational awareness. In the T-34, scroll out of the gunsight, and RMB click while still looking forward, and you'll go to the periscope. It'll look almost exactly the same, but you won't see the cannon on the right, you'll be higher, and you can look around without moving the turret. If you spot your enemy, hit CTRL to link up the turret to your periscope sight, and fire directly from the periscope view without bothering to RMB, and scroll wheel into the gunsight view.
- Use SHIFT to zoom. Whether when driving unbuttoned, T-34 hull MG (really do this all the time), or playing commander, you can get a better idea of what you're looking at with the zoom key (unbuttoned or through the cupola). It's faster than the binoculars.
- Don't camp at spawn or "Spawn Hill" as Soviets on Gumrak. You won't win in a long range cannon duel with the Panzer Iv. I don't know if it's by design, or the damage models aren't final, but the T-34 easily goes up with 1 shot, while the Panzer IV's seem to require multiple shots most of the time. What compounds this is the Panzer IV has a dedicated gunner that can either be very accurate AI aiming, or insta-hot switch from a player, which is faster than the T-34 commander / gunner going to the gun from an unbuttoned position.
-Remember you can spawn at two different points in Gumrak. Try it Spawn 2, you may like it.
- Use the T-34's mobility as an advantage. That means drive fast, get to partial cover (hull down), and fire. That also means, drive slowly and fire while on the move - the T-34's Christie suspension makes this more reliable than on the Panzer IV. I'll often use the 3D Widget to tell my driver to go to a specific point, and while they're driving, I'll be firing away not doing double duty driving with WASD / delayed directional commands.
- If you get your right brake hit, you can still turn right by backing up and engaging Left brake.
- Can't figure out who that guys is in your tank? I'm sure this will be rectified in the final release, but for now, hit ESC, go to the Squad Selection menu, and look who's in the tank with you. Hit ESC to get out of it, as you don't want to accidentally suicide / respawn if you hit continue.
Platoon Tank Commander specific suggestions:
- Use the smoke shells. Good way to obscure enemies firing upon you so you can move or send your squad up (shoot AT the enemy to blind them).
- Use the recon plane to spot enemy targets. Tanks can't hide under cover from the plane. Tell your team you're calling in recon and to check the map.
- Use artillery. Spot with the Command Widget (F key) / RMB, and call it any from ANYWHERE with your tank's radio.
- Command your squads (they may even listen), using the B function, and scroll wheel to select All Squads, or individual squads, and select which objectives to attack or defend.
Hope this helps, and I'd like to see other people's suggestions.
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