Is WIC Gameplay like a stripped-down GC2?
[MSV]Ghost reveals
15, May, 2006
WiC could be seen as more action packed than GC2, but that doesnt mean its less tactical. Action doesnt exclude tactics and vice versa. If you play WiC in a less that tactical way, you are bound to lose against a more tactical player. Without a doubt. You are afraid that there isnt enough depth, that its not tactical enough. I will try to give some concrete examples.
Examples: I did a good deal of infantry playing during E3, mostly because its a versitile role and easy to hand over to a beginner. As infantry, there are a few things to consider if you want to stay alive.
1. Dont get caught in the open.
2. Dont bunch up.
3. Secure transport.
4. Choose your cover.
5. Pick your targets.
6. Assist your team mates.
If you get caught in the open, the enemy has numerous ways to kill you in a short time. You are slow, so chances are you wont get away. This means you will have to plan your movement if you want to survive. The best way is to stay in or close to cover and leap frog as you go. Just moving a mass of infantry across the plains will get you destroyed.
As you go, or during fights, you have to be careful of how your troops are placed. Infantry has low hitpoints and not much protection, a napalm strike for example can take out several units in one go unless you are careful. A set of tanks can run you down if caught in the open. An airstrike och well placed artillery barrage can wipe out your entire force. Keeping in mind how your units are grouped is yet another tactical element to consider.
Since you are on foot, you will need transport when you move longer distances. Depending on what you intend to do, different transports serve different purposes. You can use jeeps, APCs, amphibious transports or helicopters. All have their unique advantages, and disadvantages. Considering these things before you order it down and move out is again of tactical and strategical importance.
Different types of cover serves different purposes. Forest for example conceals your troops from prying eyes and offer a certain degree of cover from incoming fire. You can also space out your troops, preventing them from becoming easy targets. Buildings offer good cover, but are also easier to target since the enemy knows your exact position as soon as he sees where the fire is coming from. This means you dont want to stay to long in the same building. When you take cover, you also limit yourself in a certain degree, you become less responsive. Taking into consideration how you will protect yourself from being flanked or assaulted is an extremely difficult tactical process.
Certain targets are harder to kill than others but might still be more dangerous to your infantry. Some targets can repair other units. Others target still might pose a direct threat to your allies or to the progress of your faction. Deciding in which order to address these targets is a tactical decision that can determine the outcome of an entire battle.
As infantry, you are pretty good against all threats you can come across. But you are also vulnerable. Since you are able to fight both ground and air units, you will often find yourself in a position where allies need your assistance (more often than not the support and armor players). Deciding who to help, when and how is a tactical decision of strategic importance. It can decide the outcome of the entire match some times.
All of the above tactical decisions are made in intense action situations. Just like on a real modern battlefield. So to be honest, it will all be as tactical as you and your team mates make it. The more tactical player(s) will always come out victorious.
[MSV]Ghost