Unit Request: Self Propelled Artillery

[Scipio Africanu]

Though I feel Radar Artillery is a realistic addition to the progression of the more modern military hardware, I don't think it best represents the capabilities of bombardment. Today, the closest equivelent to this is the Self Propelled Artillery and I feel its sorely missing from the game as it provides a very unique capability on the battlefield not found anywhere else and is the next step in artillery. I sure would love to have this animation, anyone else?...

Hope these pictures inspire some to want or build this hardware.

 

[Kal-el]

It would seem a fairly easy conversion. Just combine the cannon from the artillery unit with the mech infantry chasis. There would obviously have to be some size alterations but it should work.

I think it would be a cool unit to have in the game.

 

[Pablostuka]

Yes, an unit like the M-109 self-propelled artillery would be a very intersting unit, but...the radar artillery would be an updated version of this unit?Or maybe we could use twice in the game, as today are used in armies...
But I think it could be too interesting a self propelled artillery of the WW2 era, like the German Wespe, or similar

 

[Ed O'War]

I too thought that self-propelled artillery was something missing from the game. I'd also like to see WWII era self-propelled artillery, particularly German equipment. SP artillery was always my favorite type of artillery unit in Panzer General.

 

[Scipio Africanu]

Well my idea of Radar Artillery is really Multiple Rocket Launchers which I use as a ground transport for missile varients using animations such as the PopeyeII and HArpoon animations by Dark Sheer. However on a more conventional setting the self propelled artillery could provide more firepower, while the radar artillery provide a larger range with a slightly reduced bombardment. I think this would define each unit with a specific capability and make them bot hequally used.

 

[Cazovi]

The Germans should get a big bertha immobile artillery that they can use to defend their cities with...actually, what would be interesting is to have a whole range of immobile artillery and such and be able to build an artillery transport to take them to the front lines, add some more types of strategy

 

[Jagdpanther]

Too bad the Crusader got canned.

You could always make Paladins or MLRS units though.

 

[trevort]

I don't think crusader has been canceled. Check out www.teamcrusader.com Man that crusader sure will be one cool howitzer.

 

[Dark Sheer]

I might try to capture some screen shot from Fortress Europe to see if I can convert them into a self-propel artilery unit. My only concern is that the unit graphic from that game might be a little too small for Civ3. I will see what I can do.

 

[Jagdpanther]

Originally posted by trevort
I don't think crusader has been canceled. Check out www.teamcrusader.com Man that crusader sure will be one cool howitzer.

I think it was the Jan. or Feb. edition of Army magazine that said that...

Some articles that I've read about the Crusader described it as a piece of weaponry designed to take on nonexistant mass formations of Red Army armour.

 

[Scipio Africanu]

Great stuff Dark Sheer. The Crusader project was originally planned to be slated, however with the Bush Administrations surge of money into the Defense Department and the Republicans strong affiliation to the crusader project, theres new life in the M2001 Crusader.

 

[Dark Sheer]

Here is the image I manage to capture from Fortress Europe. Since its a WWII game, this is obviously a German self propel gun for WWII.

The question is:

Should I keep the german cross marking (as can be seen from the image) or should I replace the cross with a Civ colored star so that this can be used for all Civ?

Comments will be welcomed. And since I got all 8 direction frame, to get this unit out is very fast (2-3 days max). Please give comment as soon as possible.

 

[Jagdpanther]

why not make a generic version and make a special WW2 German one as well?

 

[Dark Sheer]

Originally posted by Jagdpanther
why not make a generic version and make a special WW2 German one as well?

Somewho I knew this is going to be the answer

Alright then, I guess I will work on the generic one first.

 

[Ed O'War]

Dark Sheer:

Are you sure that that picture is a SP artillery? It almost looks like a Marder tank destroyer. I guess, though, that it's close enough to be used as either (the standard artillery unit in the game looks more like an anti-tank gun to me than a howitzer).

BTW: Have you finished the Humvee yet? Don't mean to be pushy, but that's a unit I've been looking foward to.

 

[Dark Sheer]

Originally posted by Ed O'War
Dark Sheer:

Are you sure that that picture is a SP artillery? It almost looks like a Marder tank destroyer. I guess, though, that it's close enough to be used as either (the standard artillery unit in the game looks more like an anti-tank gun to me than a howitzer).

BTW: Have you finished the Humvee yet? Don't mean to be pushy, but that's a unit I've been looking foward to.

Well….it IS a tank killer. Remember, I took it from a WWII game and it is a German tank killer. I got the idea when Kal-el suggested the combination of the Artillery on the chasis of the Mech Inf. So I thought, might as well take the tank killer image as they are indeed Anti-Tank Gun mounted on a tank chasis. There are hardly any real Self Propel Artillery during the WWII era. Of course I do have images of Artillery being toll by a truck which technically can make a good image of a more mobile Artillery unit if that is what you guys want.

 

[Scipio Africanu]

I would suggest removing the Axis marks and replacing them with some other type of symbol or shape for the civ color. Just for wide reusability instead of a WWII only unit. Also I would extend the barrel a bit as Self Propelled artillery demand longer barrels for accuracy. The unit looks a bit choppy as well from the resizing. Otherwise its lookings good , better then I could do anyhow.

 

[Ed O'War]

There were plenty of German SP artillery units: The SiG IIB, Wespe, and Hummel are three that I can think of off the top of my head (I loved SP artillery in Panzer General). They also had a half-track that mounted six rocket launchers (can't think of it's name though). But if you make a more generic looking one based on a tank destroyer, it could probably be used for both SP artillery and as a tank killer. I also agree with Scipio that it should be more of a generic unit for reusability, rather than a WWII specific unit. Looks good though.

As far as towed artillery, one could just use your Army Truck for the run .flc and the standard artillery unit for the default, attack, fortify and death .flcs, then give it a wheeled movement of 3 or so, and call it Towed Artillery.

 

[Jagdpanther]

nebelwerfer is the german rocket sp arty

well you could put, in addition to sp arty, sp AT units, assault guns, etc...

like Nashorn, Sturmtiger, StuGIIIG, Jagdpanther (heh), Marders, Jagdpanzer IVs, Hetzer, etc...