Can't seem to add my Steam numbers nor my Steam name VOV
Anywho, are Maxim spamming still a thing? I've played for months and I've only seen it once (a year ago, yes Maxim spams were more common). The reason why I, my friend, and probably others dont do it is because the Maxim is just inferior in every sense with the exception being the deployment time.
The firing arc is much much narrower, the 6 men crew have less health which means you'll get more 'interrupts' where the Maxim user is killed and the next crewman gets onto the MG but he'll probably get killed before he can fire or even retreat, so the next crewman comes in and etc.
Yes, the deployment time is faster but it's much easier to outflank a narrow-arc-firing maxim than a MG42. Plus, Grenadiers have freaking Rifle Grenades that fire from afar.
Ostheer requiring the most micro? Really? Well, certainly more micro than OKW :V But you have units like the MG42 which covers such a wide arc, is buildable in the very first building (why, Relic?) and apparently is only 240 Manpower compared to say, the inferior 50 Cal MG team, which can handle themselves pretty well. Not to mention those bunkers that keep you on the frontlines with the Reinforce/Healing upgrades or protecting points and flanks with the MG upgrade.
Ostheer also have the best AT gun in the game, which already penetrates most vehicles, has a long range, fires at a faster rate than the ZIS, and also can stun vehicles.
The G43 upgrade is really significant, Ostruppen spam is quite deadly given that they also have Panzerfausts, and I lol when I hear people complain that the PZ Grenadier is underpowered (yes, 2 Shreks + already effective STGs)
And Ostheer tanks, like the OKW's, is already well rounded in having great guns, great speed, and great armor. And there's a loooooot of Tiger commander users. And the Panzerwerfer is probably the best default (non-commander) artillery unit.
Yes, with infantry (save for the Ostruppen) you probably will have to be more careful with losses so I suppose there is a level of micro there. But again, Ostheer have units like tanks that require less micro to handle whereas a Soviet player will need to micro more tanks/infantry to take out a Panther.
Controlling 2 T34s is far more demanding than controlling 1 Panther.
I still stand by my belief that playing Soviets and USF is far more micro-intensive due to having to control more and (arguably) inferior units. I don't know much about the Brits but I will say from my experience: USF/Soviets<--Wehrmacht<-----OKW
My only concession from all of this is yes, losses do matter more as Ostheer which is micro-related.
Oh, smoke and flank. I already do that with MG42s. It is annoying that while Axis get their grenades no matter what (linear progression), USF and the others have to purchase grenades which for the USF, is the only way of flushing MGs out :/
i respect that you wrote such an long and detailed post, kudos for that but i am really afraid that most points dont make any sense at "higher" level of play (im bad at this game, but for for the sole reason of maxims spam is sooo effective while requiring so less micro i got to rank 150 with soviets in 1v1) or the bunkers, which rarely used in higher levels of play because they die so easily and you actual sacrfrice map presence for it.
things can be different if you are a 3v3, 4v4 player but these modes dont matter at much at balance because its much more about teamcomposition (factions synergy, individual skill of players)
and for me it seems like you dont play ostheer much, otherwise you would understand why they need so much micro to be effective, they are all about combined arms and dare you if you lose a squad or missplay once and get thrown off the field completly. oh and that 4man mainline infantry is a hell to babysit mid-lategame, they get wiped SO EASILY. if you watch "pro" streams or tournaments game you see them wiped quite often, in contrary to riflmens, tommies or concscripts which are really rarely lost at higher level of plays.