What is the purpose of clusterbombers?

[Doeko]

Can someone explain this to me?

For global comparison purposes, equal-price HE bombers generally
1) Have a larger impact radius
2) Do more damage (take off about 4-6 health off of a heavy tank, vs only 4 for a cluster if you're lucky)
3) Do damage to everything instead of just vehicles

So, can a case be made for clusterbombs?

(Yes this is a subtle "HE bombs should be nerfed a LOT thread. It's ridiculous you can take down heavy armor with it easier than clusterbombs).

[Lparsons7641]

Clusterbombs have already been nerfed.

They are kinda useful against lighter armor.............but as you said so are HE bombs.

[Doeko]

Clusterbombs have already been nerfed.

They are kinda useful against lighter armor.............but as you said so are HE bombs.

2 firestones are useful for making a fire...

but so are matches.

[Mumbles]

Cluster bombs were hit hard by the damage mechanic changes to RD. I propose that they keep their current, somewhat pathetic damage and regain their ability to damage infantry. In the ALB beta they were anti-everything units, and it was overpowered, but I think that now they might be ok.

[CornProducts]

To be honest the only time I have seen cluster bombs used is when I went up against some newer players and they didn't seem to know what bombs they were dropping. They put two clusters right on top of 40 motostrelci. As a result I think one of them sneezed.

EDIT: I take that back. I used a pair of Mjollner's from ma Sweedish plane to finish off a T-72B. He had 3 hit points left and was scurrying away so I chased him down.

[CandyMan]

Clusterbombs are pretty anemic atm. Upon seeing one drop 4 500kg clusters on a 1 top armor strella and it survive, I removed them from my deck.

[DoktorvonWer]

Cluster bombs were hit hard by the damage mechanic changes to RD. I propose that they keep their current, somewhat pathetic damage and regain their ability to damage infantry. In the ALB beta they were anti-everything units, and it was overpowered, but I think that now they might be ok.

This would just leave them still as less-effective HE bombs, which are still going to be better at killing infantry.

[another505]

they are pretty useless

for lone big heavies, use atgm

for a large amount of tanks, HE bombs just does the job too, and can kill infantry

however, one good cluster is 225 kg
for same size, it is better at damage vehicles and tanks in a larger radius

apparently, back in alb, maybe same in rd
the size of the cluster bomb doesnt affect anything...

[orcbuster]

Suggest that all plane clusters get a +2 AP buff across the board

[SaitoHawkeye]

To distract AA from incoming tactical nuclear F111C.

Not really a whine BTW Commonwealth Airborne is one of my favorite decks because it's one of the few things that can dislodge a town full of Li Jian and Spetsnaz.


In all seriousness, they do seem to be pretty weak now. Aardvarks and cheap Mig21/Alpha bombers were a staple of my deck for punishing unsupported tank rushes, but for reasons I can't understand they just seem to plink off

It really bothers me that clusterbombs don't affect infantry AT ALL though - I understand the Rockeye and equivalent are primarily an AT weapon but it just feels really odd for them to ignore people.