|
GeneralClausewitz -> RE: Medics (8/30/2015 3:33:09 AM)
|
I respect the fact that medics will likely not be in the game. I'm not designing it so I don't get to make that pick.
Having said that, I think it would be extremely realistic (and fun) to have medics in the game. The problem is how would they work? As others have pointed out, battlefield wounds are typically horrendous and can take weeks, months, and years to recover from (and some wounds will never heal). Even light wounds can sometimes result in a ticket to the rear, if only for a few days.
Nonetheless, medics could definitely be added in a way that makes sense and doesn't destroy immersion. One of the reasons that the survival rate of wounded soldiers was so much higher during WWII than in past wars was because medics were routinely attached to frontline units, ensuring first aid happened ASAP. Medics were often despised in the beginning of the war since many of them were conscientious objectors. However once a unit entered combat they became one of the most revered members of the unit, since they were often the difference between life and death. It happened regardless of the branch or country. Ask a Marine what they think of the Navy, and you'll likely get some colorful and derogatory comments. However if you ask a Marine what he thinks of Corpsmen (meaning Navy medics that are assigned to the Marines), you'll get the exact opposite reaction. Medics were a staple of frontline combat in WWII, so there's absolutely nothing ridiculous about them being in a game that portrays WWII combat. However they would have to be implemented realistically. Here's one way to do that:
-One soldier in each HQ unit would be a medic. They either don't have weapons at all, or are very lightly armed. Since both the Germans and Americans typically respected battlefield medics, regardless of which side they were on, medics typically refrained from carrying weapons, and in return the enemy usually refrained from intentionally hurting them. The Pacific War was the exact opposite, since the Japanese rarely respected medics, oftentimes using the red cross on their helmets as a bullseye. Medics in the Pacific almost always carried weapons, and rarely wore a red cross insignia so they wouldn't stand out. However this game is obviously set in the ETO, so Pacific War is irrelevant.
-The medic gives a morale boost either to the entire unit, or at least to squads that are within their command range. In practically all wars, one of the most demoralizing sights a soldier could witness was a wounded comrade that was not receiving medical attention. The typical reaction to this sight was "If that guy isn't getting help, I sure as hell won't get it either!" On the flipside, a soldier seeing a wounded comrade receiving good and speedy medical care was emboldened to braver feats, knowing they were in good hands if they were likewise wounded.
-A medic can temporarily "detach", or has a special ability, that allows them to recover wounded soldiers. The quicker a soldier is recovered, the more effective the ability. There is a small chance (maybe around 5% or so?) that a soldier who has been incapacitated will have their major wound become a minor wound.
Having said all this, the casualty system in CC is what really needs an overhaul. From my experience, the killed to wounded ratio in CC is about 1:1. In reality, the ratio was more like 1:3. It would add a lot more depth to the game if casualties followed this ratio, and it could give some great incentives to have your medic near the frontlines, ready to spring into action if anyone gets hit. Currently, it seems like it really doesn't matter much if a soldier has been killed or just wounded, since the outcome is the same. Adding medics into the game would give a reason to care whether a soldier has been killed or merely wounded.
|
|
|
|
