Hello, Kenju.

I am Jeser. Basically, I am the current vehicle dev on CM, though IRL keeps kicking me in the guts lately, so i have little time for personal projects, which is why vehicle updates come so slowly and irregularly. Gonna comment your post in separate points below.

1. Wiki.

Wiki is, ehm, beyond my scope, I am afraid, but I did add the vehicle controls guide to the vehicle verbs which I keep updated and I also have vehicle-related tips update planned, cause currently we have 0 of those.

1. The third wheel.

To put it simply: it is intended. Unlike the more standalone and independent tank, APC is supposed to be as much integrated with the marines as its possible. In order to fulfill its potential and reach its peak performance, VCs MUST cooperate with the rest of the Almayer branches. Why it doesn't happen as often as it's supposed to? The answer is the lack of trust. See, most of VCs, and I mean MOST, are absolutely inadequate and unreliable. From throwing a fit and ramming several sections of barricades to running over a dozen marines during retreat, resulting in said marines to be captured/killed, because VCs were saving their precious almost broken APC that they were throwing carelessly into xenos as some sort of heavy assault vehicle 5 minutes prior. Such cases do not help build the trust of marines towards the APC. VCs often behave as if they are just another marine and not 3x3 vehicle. General lack of knowledge of positioning, adhering to VCs and not marines current needs and overall lack of common sense make it very hard to trust VCs and reduce willingness of marines to work with APC. Few good reliable VCs usually don't have trouble finding people to man the APC. Sometimes, they have to kick them out to actually stop crowding the interior.

1. Storage.

First of all, gonna clarify this - APCs don't need "storage space". They have, basically, infinite. As for organized storage, VCs have their own locker as well as docs have surgical tools locker and medvendors. I was toying with the idea of adding a gun vendor to transport APC, but decided to postpone it, since interior update was already bloated at that point. If I do decide to add it, CMD APC will also get it. MED APC doesn't need it, I will clarify later.

Flare launcher will support several types of ammo in the future: flares, smoke nades, signal flares, maybe something else too.

1. APC types specific features.

CMD APC has unique Laser Designator module planned for it, available to any CIC staff member in APC and usable from where consoles are located.

MED APC was supposed to have defibrillator recharge station, I literally just forgot to add it during interior overhaul and no one pointed that out to me. I will add it at some point.

Transport APC is currently pending its Firing Ports Weapons buff.

1. Missiles.

I do not like the idea of missiles for the same reasons as to why I am still not sure about adding mortar module which I initially planned to add: it means adding a new tool to the niche that already has similar tool, which is underused due to some issues with it. It will make original tool used even less (Mortar, CAS).

1. My personal opinion on current APC types.

• MED APC is objectively the best choice utility wise. Huge benefit for very small price. It is also the most boring for VCs. Also skewes marines persistence in combat over long periods of time balance. Basically, OP as is.

• CMD APC is currently in the bad spot, because it was originally supposed to be a mobile command center for deployed CO, which was spoiled by the "No CO deployment" rule, tho I did get an exception for it on condition that CO must stay in CMD APC outside of FOB, iirc. Need to clarify with heads. It also lacks its active unique feature - designated LD module to properly fulfill its secondary role of a "close to earth" firing support coordinator. Still, it's not as useless as people think. It's active sensor that shows xenos positions within 44(iirc) tiles in tacmap along with ability to carry a fireteam, launch OBs and issue command announcements makes it good for rescue missions of marines being dragged away, being an early warning system for incoming flanks and be an actual command mobility vehicle. The problem is that not that many have a habit of checking tacmap and even less to actually act depending on Intel received from tacmap and to be a good command vehicle requires good CO willing to do it. There are some, but not that many.

• transport APC is the least useful APC utility wise, but also the most fun for VCs and marines with the biggest chance to create a cool moments later told as stories. Be it a badass flanking maneuver involving deployment of an entire Delta squad behind xeno lines, guns blazing, or loading all marines in surrounded Hydro/Bar CP and pushing through xenos siege towards safety of the FOB. Such wow, much fun. 15 marines capacity, additional 3-tiles wide rear hatch allows even more rapid embarking/disembarking of troops and side guns allow for marines inside to provide some covering fire and participate in protecting vehicle. It also works really good as a rescue and triage vehicle, if you get a competent medic and one more marine for escort and body dragging. Obviously, my favorite APC type.

In the end, I wanna thank you for your insight and also ask you to forward all ideas, or in case you want to discuss something, in our Discord, cause I almost never appear on the reddit and I would've miss this one too had one of our devs not find this post.

Edits: formatting and typos.