As with any significant change made to WWIIOL:BE, reaction to the new radial clutter is resulting in a mixed bag from players. Some love it, some hate it, some are on the fence. TOTO would like to explain that it's not a game-breaker, but it is a game-changer.

TOTO:I hear some complaints about our new radial clutter.  Most of it is caused by the notion that it blocks your view when you are prone.  Let me explain why this should not even be something that you fret over: Most radial clutter is drawn in areas that, in the past, always reminded me and most people, of a nice flat, felted pool table.  Not much going on and not much to look at.  Most of the time, players avoided these areas like the plague.  They were open, didn't offer much cover and if players didn't maneuver them with the utmost caution, became killing zones. Guess what? With the introduction of radial clutter, that hasn't changed at all.  By now, you should know that radial clutter (not high grass), offers no concealment (except for others lying prone in radial clutter and within the minimum draw distance you have selected for your display of it). And new players will learn that pretty quick.

Does it obstruct view while prone?  It could yes, but only your view of others lying prone; if they stand up you can see them.  Not only can you see them, but that exposes them to fire.  In a sense, the new radial clutter actually helps survivability in the case of players getting their asses caught out in the middle of nowhere.  At least now, you can go prone and wait for your opponent to get up so that he can see you, which gives you a chance to end his sortie.

Again, radial clutter offers NO concealment, so in the case of your enemy having better optics, a defilade or elevated position, even with radial clutter you are still at a disadvantage.  This is true with the old system as well. As a matter of fact, with no radial clutter two players, lying 25 meters away from each other on the same flat elevation, would not only be deadly but rare.  Now with radial clutter as it is, this scenario would NOT be instant death and actually has an increased probability of survivability for one or both of the players.  Given the example above, this is why I also feel that giving the players the option to turn it off completely will give them an unfair tactical advantage.

I think it is important to understand that your view is only obstructed when trying to view other prone players.  I am sure there are a few cases that are exceptions but the benefits of our new radial clutter far outweigh the handful of instances where you might think it's a hindrance.