I remain optimisitc because of all that we got in 2014:
- quasi dedicated servers (battle servers) that intermediate between players and ensure lag isn't caused by one person with a bad connection. Leaps and bound ahead of CoH2 2013 or CoH1's p2p connection.
- Observer mode, like holy fuck we actually have this now, that's awesome.
- Infantry killability, cover, and flanking was all made relevant with diverse weapon profiles - made the game SO much more fun to play. It was unplayable in December of 2013 imo.
- Cover spread, men actually stand behind cover now and don't jump out from behind it? Should have always been this way, don't know how we ever managed without it.
- New factions are decent and although they need balancing they're not game breaking like the Brits were. Or as overpowered as PE was in 2009 with the fallschirmjagers of death etc. All in all could have been A LOT worse. They only need sculpting now, and a good platform to go off.
- They made a new UI for replays and obs mode meaning you can see 30% more of the game, and can see all the units for the opposing team. Made casting a lot more effective and easier to watch.
- Map maker and Steam Workshop.
- First wave of mod tools.
If we get even half of that in 2015 I'll remain happy with CoH2 as a game. My priorities would be:
- OKW balance tweaks and faction design tweaks to make them more interesting and less reliant on one or two OP units to make up for their weaker periphery options.
- Improve Soviet call-in dependency by making base built units stronger.
- Introduce new commanders for USF and OKW giving USF less late game reliance on the Jackson by way of heavy armour - and OKW more variance in tactics.
- Fix numerous bugs.
- Take improvements from smaller observer UI into real game.
If we got that I'd be happy, and I consider that the bare minimum!