I neither like the health bars. I prefer the old school approach: I understand if I'm doing well by judging how fast enemies go down. If they can be toggled off then I want them to go away.
Well, realistically you'd see they're heavily injured and have that information anyways. Not that I'm defending it - While it's really convenient for me I think it cheapens some of the gameplay. Although I'm pretty sure the majority of casual players like it, so it'll probably be staying. Of course, realistically you'd be able to see they're badly damaged and thus they would look badly damaged in-game, but that's a lot harder to do than simply giving them a healthbar or giving them new animations.
I like the health bars, they let me see if my weapons are actually worth something on longer ranges as well as vs different toughness targets.
I like em, if only to see how much ridiculous lag I have. Pumping someones head full of bolter rounds and their hp starts to drop on the 4th bullet or so.
You dont have that information. Especially when you take into account the completely different HP pools behind each factions. Theres also the shooting order to take into account. Now you know exactly who to shoot based on their HP left during big encounters. All done with information you shouldn't have access to. This would be ok if it had any drawbacks, like points used. Make it part of the war gear.
Imo best solution is make them a toggle. If someone wants to keep them they can. Kf not then they turn it off. They are more of a play preferance option than a must have option. They dont really give all that much of an advantage. There are pros and cons to using and not using them in play so just give players the option to choose and the problem will be solved.
My shooting order is based on what guns the enemy is using and how much of a threat they provide to me or the objective I'm gaurding/assaulting. I doubt I would shoot a tac with a base bolter and only 45% hp left crouching behind cover over the full health full shield burning light user trying to kill me.
What about a tactical with 10% left in open field vs the other tactical with full health right next to him? Whats up with the extremist example? No one is going to get out of their way to get anyone behind cover wth. Again, its information you shouldn't have.
Depends is the full health tac shooting me? Is the low health dude in the open? Is the low health dude shooting someone capping a point? Is the full health player using a grav gun on a vehicle? Are they close enough together that I can just shoot both of them? What gun am I using? Do I have grenades to toss at both? Do I have teamates approaching to engage in melee? There are loooots of things to consider in any tactical shooter game. Sometimes the guy with a pistol breathing down my neck is a bigger threat than the guy with a bfg and no health running for cover. I mean if both guys qre ignoring me and in the open I'd just shoot the easier target anyway doubt health totals would influence who I am shooting at unless I see a low health heavy braced up on a railing but then again I tend to always go for braced heavies regardless.
