last i checked they got rid of retreat modifiers. so unless the flamethrower has something specific then yea your guy is toast.
ie: they never had retreat modfyers in coh2.
Wtf really? I've always been under the impression that there was a simple modifier on retreat. But thinking about it, it makes a lot of sense, and I'll bet this may have just been mystified due to attack move having infantry switch targets, thus making it seem the retreating squads take less damage. (Not getting shot in favor of non-retreating units is certainly taking less damage.)
What it boils down to, is the CE Flamer hitting Ost units as if they are 4 Cons (which they aren't), as opposed to Pio hitting Sov units as 6 Cons.
So? One or two man conscript squad can't scratch anything. You can almost cap a point and build a bunker in front of that squad with impunity. A one man grenadier, specifically with an LMG, can deal a significantly larger amount of damage, (I think the numbers were akin to four PENAL squad members to one LMG.) and has armor which allows for better movement to and from battle and garrisons without taking killing damage from small arms fire.
The window argument is an interesting one, but is equally applicable to Ost depending on where either units Flamer targets the building. If its from a blind angle, the profit is equal, except that the Sov Flamer still hits harder in proportion than then Pio Flamer does.
Except for the LMG thing, yeah, that is true.
Its quite simple. Increase the AoE template and reduce the DPS on Ost Flamer, for the same net result asymmetrically. Flamers are too central and crucial a Garrison counter for this kind of imbalance in effectiveness to remain.
Not necessarily, unless you're suggesting that the AoE template would only be affected when the pioneers are targeting garrisons. They would become less effective at fighting infantry in all circumstances outside of garrisons. It also affects issues of friendly fire concerning extremely close range units.
Trying to get the same net result out of asymmetry by making changes on only one level of one aspect of gameplay is a surefire way to either undermine the point of the asymmetry, (making it meaningless), or to further upset balance due to the volume and variety of options that achieve similar results (Mortars, grenades, etc).