254 Reconnaissance Tractor

Veterancy Abilities

• Observer Lockdown: Active toggle ability gained upon reaching veterancy level 1. When toggled on, the 254 will disable its movement, but in return significantly improve its off-map barrage abilities. These improvements include significantly increasing the amount of rounds fired, increasing the maximum cast range, and reducing the minimum cast range. This essentially means more powerful barrages with greater flexibility on where it can be cast. If the player can keep up with the micromanagement, ideally the lockdown should be enabled to fire off the barrage abilities, then toggled off so the unit can be repositioned immediately before any counter attacks occur (as it does not need to stay in lockdown after the ability is cast). More information about the enhanced versions of these barrage abilities can be found below.

• Signal Detection: Passive ability. When stationary, this unit will periodically reveal enemy units in a large range around it, even through the fog of war. This is represented as a 'radar ping' where white rings periodically radiates from the 254 tractor. If it overlaps with an enemy unit in the fog of war, they will be detected and either an infantry or vehicle icon will show up on the screen and mini-map. While it does not reveal the exact unit identity nor provide vision in the fog of war, it essentially shows the player the positioning and type of unit(s) in the fog of war. Moving will disable this ability and interrupt any current detection rings being sent out.

• Support Veterancy: Passive ability. This unit will gain veterancy experience when nearby friendly units also earn experience. This allows it to still gain XP despite having no weapons.

• Vehicle Capture: Passive ability. By default this unit can capture territory much like infantry units can, without requiring additional upgrades to do so.

• Off-Map Mortar Barrage / Improved Off-Map Mortar Barrage: By default the Off-Map Mortar Barrage is an active ability that will fire artillery strikes at the target area. This artillery strike occurs very quickly with little delay after the ability is cast, and is effective at saturating the target area with multiple volleys in quick succession. These volleys are relatively light artillery, but is still very effective against infantry and is great for forcing an opponent to move units out of the area or else take great damage.

  The Improved version is available only when the vehicle has its vet 1 ability Observer Lockdown, toggled on. This version has a larger maximum cast range and a smaller minimum cast range, greatly improving the flexibility of where it can be placed. It also significantly fires more rounds for a total of 14 rounds, making it overall a much stronger artillery ability at the cost of a longer cooldown.

• Off-Map Smoke Barrage / Improved Off-Map Smoke Barrage: By default the Off-Map Smoke Barrage is an active ability that will fire smoke rounds at the target area, saturating it with sight obscuring smoke clouds. Smoke is useful for a variety of offensive and defensive purposes. Like the tractor's mortar barrage, this ability occurs very quickly with little delay and saturates a decently large area.

  The Improved version is available only when the vehicle has its vet 1 ability Observer Lockdown, toggled on. This version has a larger maximum cast range and a smaller minimum cast range, greatly improving the flexibility of where it can be placed. It also significantly fires more rounds which saturates a larger area, making it overall a stronger ability at the cost of a longer cooldown.

Upgrades/Abilities

• Smoke Canisters: Active ability. Drops smoke directly in front of the vehicle. Requires the Vehicle Survival Package upgrade from the Armory.

• Vehicle Capture: This unit already can capture/decapture by default. The Rapid Advance upgrade from the Armory will still apply the increased movement speed and rotation rate bonus.

• Battlefield Repairs: Passive ability. This unit will automatically repair itself over time when stationary and out of combat. Requires the Emergency Repair Kit upgrade.

Armored Support Battlegroup

• Vehicle Awareness: Passive ability. The vehicle can detect enemy vehicles in the fog of war. Requires the Vehicle Awareness perk.

• Panzer Storm: Active battlegroup ability. Upon activation, globally increases the speed of all vehicles and grants them immunity to engine criticals for the duration.