Trains, barges, and trucks!

[Sabre]

Okay, seriously, when was the last time you saw a train in the MA, let alone attacked it?  Heck, we seldom bother to attack road convoys or barges, either (and those don't shoot back).  My thinking is, how do you make them relevant? How do you make players want to attack them and defend them?  Historically, attacks against transportation infrastructure such as bridges, rolling stock, rail yards, and locomotive and truck factories (collectively referred to as "the transportation option" in planning the Allied bombing campaign) were extremely effective (more so than the "POL option" of attacking energy targets).

I want to throw out a few ideas to stimulate discussion.  First, how about the ability of players to spawn the convoys, like a supply run only on steroids, with man-able ack for defense?  How about trains supply towns, and towns supply their attendant base with truck convoys? How about a factory for trains/trucks as part of strat?  How about a major rail yard in each sector (attached to a base town, perhaps)? Just a few ideas to get the train rolling, so to speak.

[Mongoose]

  I attack enemy supply vehicles any chance I get.  The problem is, I can't find them very often. 

[gyrene81]

personally, i'd like to see the hq set in a megacity and more factories in smaller cities scattered through the zones.

[ImADot]

Trains supply the factories, so you need to fly around the mega-city strat.
Convoys/barges supply the bases.

You'll see the train tracks/roads if you're low enough. The end of the line is a little shack near the object being supplied. Just follow the line away and you'll come across the train/convoy as it moves from the shack at the beginning of the line towards the base. You can't see the start/end point for barges, but they're pretty easy to see as they are large and slow.

Every traincar/truck/barge that is destroyed will lengthen the downtime of base objects. If anyone is concerned enough about keeping objects destroyed longer than the default (if full supplies reach the base), they would seek out and destroy the convoys.

Not everyone plays the game the same way or even knows/cares about supply lines.

[icepac]

If you're not seeing them, you are limiting your game experience.

Here's an example of how trains enhance the gaming experience.

I noticed a spawn pretty close to our city the other day and knew some enemy tanker would eventually drive out to strats so I spawned a M18 and drove out to intercept.

As I drove, I heard the explosions of the trains that someoene was hitting just outside of strat flashing range and waited to hear his tank start up before I moved in and shot him.

Sure, I could have upped an A20 and spent 4 minutes to collect the kill but that takes zero creativity or even skill.

[jeffdn]

Regarding the trains, what if they puffed out smoke like trains did back in the day? That might make them easier to see!

[ImADot]

Regarding the trains, what if they puffed out smoke like trains did back in the day? That might make them easier to see!

They do...but you need to get low to see it, as it doesn't look like the smoke from a burning plane and doesn't stream back for miles. There's even a train whistle you can hear if your engine is off.

[Lusche]

Okay, seriously, when was the last time you saw a train in the MA, let alone attacked it?  Heck, we seldom bother to attack road convoys or barges, either (and those don't shoot back).  My thinking is, how do you make them relevant?

They already are relevant, it's just that this relevance is being largely ignored. Ever since the strat update, there has been no tour I was flying in, in which I did not undertake several convoy busting missions. I have occasionally extended downtimes of killed field objects way beyond what the factory level indicated by simply cutting the supply line.

[SmokinLoon]

They already are relevant, it's just that this relevance is being largely ignored. Ever since the strat update, there has been no tour I was flying in, in which I did not undertake several convoy busting missions. I have occasionally extended downtimes of killed field objects way beyond what the factory level indicated by simply cutting the supply line.

Exactly.  If a player would immerse themselves a bit deeper in to the experience and think outside the box they'd know that destroying convoys and barges can extend the down times of strategic OBJ (ammo bunkers, barracks, radar, fuel tanks, auto ack, and town buildings) by 54 seconds per truck or barge destroyed.  It adds up and can ultimately play havoc with a resupply effort.  Every ten minutes a convoy spawns and every ten minutes the field can be set back for a net loss of 7 minutes (or net gain of 3 vs 10 mins). 

I highly encourage players to pay attention to convoys and barges while near an enemy field.  When near an enemy strategic complex and you're low enough and have the means I highly suggest to pay attention to the trains as well.  I've not done the leg work just yet to see just how the destruction of trains effect the resupply of the factories or fields, but will eventually.  Looshy?  Have you tested out the ramifications for destroying trains at the complex? 

[mthrockmor]

AH should consider adding some logistical opportunities.

I have long thought we need to add Liberty ships and small merchant fleets. Maybe a serious train schedule. I remember when we had zone strats. Get back to zone strats with the major strats. Then add merchant fleets or large trains that resupply the zone strats. Create an incentive for a mission of 20 Beufighters to hit a merchant fleet, and a reason to defend that merchant fleet.

With maps that don't suit a merchant fleet, it is a large train or series of trains that resupply the zone strat. Again, a raid of a dozen P-38s or Fw-190F8s hitting the trains, which now need a CAP to protect them. If the resupply effort is destroyed maybe all air bases can no longer support drops tanks or fuel load outs go to 75%.

Create the incentives to aggressive prosecute and defend logistics.

I like that idea.

boo

[Lusche]

Looshy?  Have you tested out the ramifications for destroying trains at the complex? 

Yes, I have done that in a custom arena with default MA settings except 'protect objects'
Works just the same as base resupply convoys, i.e. totally destroying one train is increasing the downtimes of the factory building it supplies by about 7 minutes.

[SmokinLoon]

Yes, I have done that in a custom arena with default MA settings except 'protect objects'
Works just the same as base resupply convoys, i.e. totally destroying one train is increasing the downtimes of the factory building it supplies by about 7 minutes.

What is the time interval for trains?  10 minutes?  You're slakin' with your information.     Oh, and thanks.   

[Lusche]

What is the time interval for trains?  10 minutes? 

As far as I know, yes.

[olds442]

Regarding the trains, what if they puffed out smoke like trains did back in the day? That might make them easier to see!

A good running coal burning steam train actually makes a lot less smoke than you think. Thick black smoke is most of the time too much coal and not enough fire in the firebox.

[ScottyK]

  I would love for the return of trains (not just at strats). It would be funny to see NOE missions busted up again if they are not paying attention.

  When i started i remember on several occasions being popped by the trains while RTB.

  Also if they were reimplemented have the railroad tracks visible on the map if selected. (similar to spawn points) this way players could  have an idea of the routes taken by the trains and could do jabo runs on them.