Re: BF Portal WW2 Opportunity List (BF1942 + BFV)
I like the idea of the Portal eventually providing us the tools to have a full WW2 experience akin to BF1942. That being said, I think I would have a slightly different take than yours, in that we have to remember that WW2 is only one aspect of the Portal, and that they're trying to focus on it being a revival of BF1942 rather than BFV despite the use of BFV assets for efficiency sake. Maybe eventually we'll get BF1 and BFV maps ported over, but if not, my approach would be the following based on the campaigns and factions of the original BF1942, as well as what assets exist in BF1 and BFV that could be easily brought over:
First thing to remember is that factions in BF1942 had very limited gun options. At launch, all the Allies and all the Axis were virtually clones of themselves, with guns like the Soviet DP-27 and Japanese Type 99 only being patched in later. The Portal seems to be taking this approach for now, with only original BF1942 Allied and German weapons on display. However, they are including the M1 Garand, which in BF1942 was only patched in later and exclusively for the USMC on Pacific maps, which means they aren't necessarily being strict on the original rules. That means weapons from BF1 and BFV could be ported later to thematically fit future factions/maps.
JAPAN: Given that everything exists for the Japanese faction in BFV except the Type 99 LMG and Type 5, it's interesting that they aren't already being shown in the Portal. However, this is probably because all the Pacific maps in BF1942 had heavy naval warfare components, which wasn't in BFV. To truly evoke BF1942, they'd have to resurrect the aircraft carriers, battleships, destroyers, and submarines. I really hope they do, but it'll probably be a long time before we see that if ever.
Maps: The no-brainer here is Midway, as it's the most iconic of the original BF1942 Pacific maps besides Wake. Guadalcanal reimagined with dense brush akin to BFV's Solomon Islands is another good option.
Weapons: The Type 99 LMG and Type 5 semi-auto rifle would have to be made as these were Japan's unique weapons in BF1942. The Type 99 Arisaka rifle, Type 100 SMG, and Type 94 pistol could be ported from BFV to further distinguish them when the faction is added.
SOVIET UNION: Unfortunately, very little exists in BFV that could be easily ported to create a Soviet faction. That being said, some of the BF1 Russian/Red Army uniform assets could work (notably the telogreika padded jacket found on the Red Army medic). Any vehicles would have to be recreated from scratch.
Maps: Soviet maps were known for being meat-grinders with a heavy infantry and, in the case of Kursk, armored focus. Personally, I think the urban infantry combat aspect would be the best to bring back here, as we'll already have El Alamein for combined arms battles and it would be amazing to see BF1942's Stalingrad and/or Berlin with the Frostbite engine's destruction capabilities. Those maps would also reduce the need to create extra vehicles for the faction, as they didn't have any air component.
Weapons: In BF1942, the only unique Soviet weapon was the DP-27, which would have to be made from scratch. Medics also had the MP18/28, like Japan, but Battlefield Bad Company 2: Vietnam had the PPSh-41, and since BFBC2 is part of the Portal, I think it would make sense to bring that back instead. The Mosin-Nagant M38 carbine was a BFV preorder exclusive added to BF1, but that means it's an asset that could be brought over too. Finally, BF1's Nagant revolver would be a unique sidearm, as BF1942 didn't have revolvers.
FRANCE: Battlefield 1942's first expansion, The Road to Rome, added the Italian and Free French factions. BFV has literally everything needed to recreate the French faction, and it would be a shame to see that go to waste. In terms of uniform, they could recreate the French SAS style used in the original game (the green British commando beret in BFV is in fact using a color/badge combo that historically was only used by the French SAS), but rather than that mostly-British style I'd personally advocate for the more distinctly French uniforms found in BFV's Tirailleur campaign and "Liberté" multiplayer cosmetic.
Maps: Without a doubt, the BF1942 map I want to see resurrected in the Frostbite engine most is Monte Cassino. It was BF1942's most atmospheric map, and there hasn't really been anything like it in any WW2 game since, but now it would have dynamic weather (rain/thunder) and added destruction to the ruins of the monastery. There was even BFV concept art for a Cassino map, but unfortunately the game never got that.
Weapons: In BF1942, France had no unique weapons (well, initially the Sten gun, but that was later patched to also be on the British faction on Road to Rome maps) or vehicles. Thankfully, however, there are a ton of BF1 and BFV weapons that could be ported to distinguish France from the other Allies. I would port over the Lebel 1886, MAS 44, Chauchat, and Ruby pistol.
ITALY: Fewer WW2 assets exist for Italy in BFV than does for France, but the uniform can be cobbled together and the M33 helmet is in the game, including an unreleased version with Bersaglieri plumes.
Maps: Honestly, I don't think any of the maps in BF1942 where Italy was a faction would be fit to resurrect. Operation Husky would be overshadowed by Omaha Beach; Operation Baytown and Anzio were too symmetrical and with wide-open fields of view that would probably cause a lot of griefing (certainly the case of Anzio originally). Anzio might also be problematic as historically Italy had already switched sides; the only Axis Italian troops that fought there were RSI. The good thing here is that BF Portal will allow us to swap out any factions we may want on any map, which means we can always use the Italian faction on the BF1942 North African maps anyway.
Weapons: BF1942's Italy had the Breda M30 LMG, which would have to be created from scratch. Other than that, BF1's Carcano M91 Carbine and BFV's MAB 38 SMG would be good options. BF1942 also gave the Italians their own tank, the M11/39 Carro Armato, which would be unique from a gameplay perspective, but I doubt we'd see that recreated...
CANADA: Only found in BF1942's Liberation of Caen map added at the very end of the game's life cycle (patch 1.6), nothing would really distinguish this faction from the British other than voices and insignia, but would be fun in the unlikely scenario they recreate that map. They also had the M1941 Johnson LMG and a few unique vehicles.
MAP SUMMARY:
BF1942 Maps:
- Midway
- Guadalcanal
- Stalingrad
- Berlin
- Monte Cassino
To those maps I already described above, I would also propose:
Omaha Beach: This one is kind of a no-brainer for thematic and marketing purposes. To enlarge the map to better fit 128 players, I would also extend the back to include parts taken from/inspired by BF1942's Bocage map.
Tobruk: Iconic North African setting and would be a good opportunity to resurrect the Conquest Assault game mode.
Operation Market Garden: Spawning as a paratrooper on the map's edge like in the original BF1942 would be a unique twist reminiscent of BFV's short-lived Grand Operations mode.
Eagle's Nest: This BF1942 Secret Weapons map played a lot with variations in terrain and climate. Now that dynamic weather exists, would be interesting if it were possible to have some people fighting in Berchtesgaden's clear weather below while others up in the hill faced snow.
Finally, if we ever did get BFV maps ported, the ones I'd vote for are:
Arras: An early war Battle of France map, which was sorely missing from the original BF1942. Probably the most popular Western Front map in BFV, and we could use the French faction too.
Mercury: Battle of Crete, another campaign missing from BF1942. This time, have the Axis (or whatever team we choose since it's Portal) parachute in as with Market Garden.
Provence: This map's layout kind of already feels more like a BF1942 map than it does a BFV map, and Operation Dragoon also wasn't in the original BF1942. Plus, another good map for the French faction.
Iwo Jima: A reimagined BF1942 map for BFV, ported to a reimagined BF1942 in BF Portal. Seems like a natural fit.
Anyway, it's very unlikely we'll ever see a fraction of any of this. Just fun to dream about.
