While I agree, same thing could be said about other MGs. T0 MG42 can lock out good parts of Across the rheine (one, not 3 like maxims)......
......Especially since OST and UKF can build 3 mgs without even teching but you don't see people complain about that balance-wise.
I'll answer you both at the same time as it's the same theme. UKF early game I've complained about aplenty, so we'll see how the nerfs to their early game change things.
Ost MG42 is part of a larger problem imho where the MG42 is too good, but has to be because grens are a weak unit. So ppl will try to spam them out in that 2xpio, 2xmg42 build. 3 x mg42 + mortars is very obnoxious to play against, esp if they have an OKW teammate who'll just outman your ass.
So we agree about 1vs1. Good.
Speaking about 3v3 there are two important aspects we shouldn't miss.
1. You have already taken the mid, including green cover spots and sandbags. If he goes for 3 maxims he maybe won't even build cons to get third maxim earlier. This means the moment he arrives with engineers and his first maxim you have already 2 units positioned in mid plus the third unit arriving at that very moment. At Redball this means you have the building at lower right + green cover for example.
2. Most allied players won't play very defensive, especially USF can't do that. So if you have a maxim lane player and can't manage it, just help out a teammate and double up another opponent. If the maxim player doesn't react and gives up his one lane block this won't play out very well for their team. If you push through the mid for example you can take maxim player from front and back. This is no difference to running into Ostheer multiple MG42 in one lane. Don't try to take it from the front unless you have a lot of smoke or indirect fire.
1. I even have
volks behind sandbags (serious) on the fuel but really it's very easy to outshoot someone who's out of range to shoot back and sandbags aren't perfect cover very often (leading to that one man to be suppressed and they can walk up to you with a flame engineer or cons).
2. You're assuming they aren't of comparable skill and with a plan in mind & options to deal with contingencies. The flank is already covered by a maxim or a teammate MG and often mined too. Sweeper SP can't be everywhere.
Like I said earlier,
it IS counterable but it's absolutely mind numbing to play against, nvm the 'skill' required to counter this is astronomically higher than the requirement to play it. I have countered it many times, even decrewing 4 mgs as part of a coordinated push with a lane partner. The game doesn't need more incentives for this kinda playstyle.
PS: And yes Gbem is right, OKW's anti-MG tools are rather lacking. Hence Feuersturm shows up so much for that smoke on the mainline which would be OP normally.