Russian Federation
Some more combinations, this time two versions of the Panzer III, with some visual liberties of course.
I was using a bulldozer attach function and syncing to the gunner_sync marker of an M2 .50cal that's added to the turret's abp. That way the unit plays like a regular vehicle, but animating the treads is tricky. I used a filter action that requires the turret (Pz IV) to be moving, then a velocity variable will be applied to the hull (StuG) to move the treads.
Now, unfortunately, there is a big issue with AI. The AI can't spawn attached entities it seems, so this method will not work for AI-controlled vehicles. The vehicle has to have the "abandoned" critical removed from its health_ext, as on death or takeover by AI, the vehicle will lose any attached entities.
If anyone has found a way to make the AI spawn attached entities, let me know.
To circumvent this, I created team weapon-style copies of the Panzer III for the AI - these work exactly like the SdKfz 234 I made, see the guide above. This leads to two more issues:
1. The AI will never build team-weapon-attached vehicles. Maybe because it identifies the dummy weapon as useless, I don't really know. This can be fixed by having the AI build a regular Panzer IV as a dummy, that despawns and in its stead spawns a team weapon attached vehicle
2. Once the AI has built a team-weapon-attached vehicle, it will not use it properly. The moment it takes control, it will reverse the vehicle into its own base, drive up to the HQ and drive out again, about one sector, then reverse back and so on in an endless loop. I observed this behavior in several tests.
@Sie_Sayoka: You have experimented with these methods more than anyone, do you maybe have a solution or a pointer how to fix this, especially No.2?
It's open so many frankenstein options, amazing!
Back in 2016, i dreamed about some old models to be updated with WFA ones by Relic, but it never happened, like:
1. Ostwind on Panzer IV J hull
2. Tiger I with Sturmtiger hull/chassis elements
3. ZSU M17/M16 on M3 Halftrack
4. Brummbar with chassis from Panzer IV J
5. T-34 and SU-85 with T-34-85 hull (it has proper exhaust system)
6. SdKfz 251/1 or 251/16 based on Wurfrahmen 40 model
Also i have some ideas for new possible combinations:
1. KV-85 (KV-1 hull + IS-2 turret and rexeturred gun)
2. SdKfz 250/9 (250 + 222 turret)
3. M36B1 (M36 Turret + M4A3 hull)
4. M4A3(105) HVSS (M4A3 Turret + 105mm + M4A3E8 hull)
5. Jagdpanzer IV with KwK 40/L48
6. British Sherman (Firefly hull + M4A3 turret)
7. Vampire SdKfz 250 (250 + radio from 223)
8. SdKfz 250/10 (250 + M42 AT Gun)
9. Achilles with 17 pounder (M10 + Firefly cannon)
10. StuG IV (StuG III G top part of hull + Panzer IV J Chassy)
11. ISU-122S (ISU-152 + IS-2 cannon)
(wishful thinking)
Relic Entertainment
