Commander Update Beta 2021 - Soviet Feedback

That should be for a German-t34 ;D

I know, but it will be good thing to end the ramp skill drama

Give T-34 a vet 1 or 2 like Ost tank, it is already in the game

Soviets did not uparmor their tanks like this. That model is for an unused German captured T-34.

Soviets did not uparmor their tanks like this. That model is for an unused German captured T-34.

Partially. There was this type of armor, T-34s with such armor were produced in a small batch. But these were tanks without a hexagonal turret.
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Partially. There was this type of armor, T-34s with such armor were produced in a small batch. But these were tanks without a hexagonal turret.
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If I'm not mistaken these were crew modifications, nothing official, and probably discouraged. The Germans had a tendency to add to the T-34's they captured, adding side skirts from salvaged metal and commander copula's from damaged Panzer III's and IV's.

If I'm not mistaken these were crew modifications, nothing official, and probably discouraged. The Germans had a tendency to add to the T-34's they captured, adding side skirts from salvaged metal and commander copula's from damaged Panzer III's and IV's.

All T-34 tanks with various options for additional armor were factory-made. This modification is from factory # 112. There were other options for additional armor from factory # 112:
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factory # 183:

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STZ - Stalingrad Tractor Plant:
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Ninja change:

Terror tactics shock troops replaced by ABG

Terror tactics
CP 0 KV-8
CP 3 airbourne guards troops(PLS change the name to Airborne Guards troops)
CP 6 Fear Propaganda Artillery
CP 8 ML-20
CP 12 IL-2 precision bombing strike

Lend-Lease

M2HB 50cal reverted to DhSK HMG

Why?

Lend-Lease

M2HB 50cal reverted to DhSK HMG

Why?

Cause lend lease 50cal were only used on mounted vehicles.

The changes that imo should be included in the patch:

Fix PTAB bombing
Reason:
The ability is expensive/difficult to use vs vehicles while does too much damage vs structures/trucks.

Possibly lower cost/CP and damage but make the planes arrive earlier and add some criticals (drive/loader injured/blind/slow)

Redesign ambush tactics for vehicles
Reason:
The ability is quite bad for TD while cloaked T-70/Su-85 in reckon mode are broken. It also overlap with SU-76 vet 1 ability.

One could test change the ability to be available only to TDs allows them to auto camo when stationary adding 10 sight (no penalties or first strike, focus sight disable effect)

If possible change the color of messages from radio intercept
Reason:
more player friendly

PPsh should take up a weapon slot
Reason:
Consistency other upgrades like SVT/PTRS/MR take weapon slot.

Repair speed for 7 men conscripts should be toned down
Reason:
Their repair speed is superior to CE

Move mark target out of Mechanized support tactics and Guard motor Coordination tactics to commander that are less popular.
Reason:
The ability is quite potent (especially with ISU deflection damage of 120->162 with mark target) and that makes these commander far more poplar than other commanders that also come with ISU-152, T-34/85.

Incendiary barrage
Allow ATG to move out of the area, increase duration if there is need for it.
Reason:
The ability is to cheap/early available to hard counter ATGs

Replace Tracking with skill shot for ISU-152
Reason:
The unit should not be able to fire the skill into FOW using mini map info or have increased sight (self spot)

Team weapon drop
Although support weapon drops are not an issue with other factions the 6 men crews of soviets make it an issue. Replace the ability with a call in support weapon group of the maxim/zis by adding the cost of the crew to the ability.

Lend-Lease

M2HB 50cal reverted to DhSK HMG

Why?

Turned out the Soviets never used M2HBs in infantry roles. And a standard 6 men M2HB team would likely have been a bit overpowered compared to the DhSK.

Turned out the Soviets never used M2HBs in infantry roles. And a standard 6 men M2HB team would likely have been a bit overpowered compared to the DhSK.

Maybe replace it with M1 ATG without the AP rounds it could be a great boost to T1 builds and the commander.

Maybe replace it with M1 ATG without the AP rounds it could be a great boost to T1 builds and the commander.

Interestingly, 400 57mm M1 guns were sent to the USSR. But there are no photographs or reports of use.
For a Lend-Lease, a 40mm Bofors would be suitable.

Maybe replace it with M1 ATG without the AP rounds it could be a great boost to T1 builds and the commander.

I like this idea.

Not sure about the AT round removal, but overall it would add a nice T1 teching route to an otherwise T2 commander.

I’m mostly happy with the changes to the various Soviet commanders. Most f them help a lot to diversify and shake up otherwise unused commanders.
However I do think more work needs to be done on the Partisans as currently they still are really bad. Merging them was a neat idea but they really need improvements to make up for the fact they need time to upgrade. Cheaper reinforcement cost, make them more durable, maybe they always start with a couple PPSH. Just don’t leave them as is.
Also hope we can find a good middle ground for the B4. Even these changes seems like that they won’t make the B4 particularly good but at the same time remove the enemy potential it comes with on live. I haven’t had a chance to test it though.

I really do like about 90% of the soviet changes, many of them bringing diversity and new gameplay options. There was a lot of work put into that will be great fun to play. Thanks for that!

One thing I want to remark about the last patch: I do think that the 0,75 seconds reload nerf on 76mm Sherman hits Lend Lease too hard, since the Sherman is the main selling point. There was so much work put into this Doctrine that I like to see it work out. But 76mm has to compete directly with T34/85 commander choices and after this last nerf I do think T34/85 comes out on top always.

T34/85 versus standard shells of 76mm Sherman with upgraded 50.cal:
T34/85 has slightly better frontal AI vs infantry with target size 1 already and way better AI vs infantry with lower target size or versus infantry that are not in front of all the MGs. The reason for that is the way better AOE of the main gun. Especially in late game T34/85 is a bigger thread to vetted infantry.

T34/85 standard shell has better penetration

With 800 hp T34/85 can take one hit more (which is often the difference between survival and destruction) and has slightly less target size


Yeah, I do know it is 5 fuel and 2 population more (and 60 MU less), but that should be always worth it. I don’t think the 6 seconds shell switch, smoke pods or 25% better moving acc make up for the raw allround power and survivability of T34/85. Choosing 76mm was always about highspeed RoF. Now it gets “standardized” without a compensation at AoE for example.
Keep in mind both 76mm doctrines (AEF and Soviet) come without doctrinal indirect fire or offmap, so their power is centered mainly around the 76mm.

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Sherman 76mm is not balanced against T-34/85 because it not fighting T-34/85 it is fighting PzIV and it replacing T-34/76.

Even if it balanced against T-34/85 it would mean that T-34/85 needs slight nerf because it one of the most cost efficient main battle tanks.

Sherman 76mm is not balanced against T-34/85 because it not fighting T-34/85 it is fighting PzIV.

Even if it balanced against T-34/85 it would mean that T-34/85 needs slight nerf because it one of the most cost efficient main battle tanks.

Sherman 76mm has to fight exactly the same targets as T-34/85, so of course you have to directly choose between going for one or the other. So you should compare AI and AT values as well as survivability. Anything else makes no sense.

T34/85 needs no nerf it is surely cost efficient but not op. In the end it has to fight Panthers too. It is just about right, a good brawler tank.

I'd like to repeat my B4 suggestion to make it work more like the Sturmtiger's round. 580 damage seems fair to me; not one-shotting mediums, but keeping its identity.

I also am not a fan of the Air Supply Drop in Soviet Reserves, since it's just taken from another faction and doesn't appear elsewhere in the Soviet roster. Airdropped or regular DShK, maybe?

Sherman 76mm has to fight exactly the same targets as T-34/85, so of course you have to directly choose between going for one or the other. So you should compare AI and AT values as well as survivability. Anything else makes no sense.

T34/85 needs no nerf it is surely cost efficient but not op. In the end it has to fight Panthers too. It is just about right, a good brawler tank.

Τ-34/76 also fights PzIV compare 76MM with T-34/76 and you will see it fine.

T-34/85 is one of the most cost efficient tank in the game, it is used as benchmark all main battle tank should be buffed.

Τ-34/76 also fights PzIV compare with it and you will see it fine.

First 76mm Sherman and T34/85 are both doctrinal, so you have to choose to get one of them.
Both have pretty much the same combat role, cost and timing while T34/76 differs a lot at all three criteria (including the fact that it can't go toe to toe vs a PZIV unlike the doctrinal choices).

You see? It really makes no sense to compare to T34/76. I know that you know that by yourself, why even saying that?