I make 1 sniper for 1 shock. 2 Snipers for 2 Shocks. Bleed them dry. 1 Sniper costs less than 1 shock and owns them.
Once you hit vet1, hilarity ensues (pending RNG gods). I have a replay where my sniper kills 1 shock model with the first hit, then first an incendiary round that kills 4 more models. The lone shock model retreats, only to be gunned down by rambo sniper.
That sounds about right. I love the incendiary round, but it has an rng range of anywhere from doing seemingly no extra damage(and no obvious stun) to wiping 4 men of a shock squad. If all that has to do with is unit bunching(I don't think that's all of it but I'm not sure) then that at least is somewhat predictable, but still not easy for your opponent to account for. shocks seem way too damn expensive for that kind of kill power to happen...ever, but something more modest and more consistent would be nice.
I'd still prefer they revert shocks and guards to two points(or the equivalent of the 1 point they used to be), though I admit the more I play like this, the less I'm positive that its necessary in terms of balance. It does feel off to me though. A shock troop can enter the game after a minor skirmish goes down. I can't be certain, but I'm pretty sure I've run into shocks even before the very first actual engagement has occurred. The timing is basically the difference of an additional conscript or penal squad that would otherwise have to be on the field so that the russian player can maintain enough field presence before shocks or guards unlock.