I mostly agree except lack of rec. acc.
By saying, that Cons should be used for screening, it puts soviet player in a spot where he needs at least 2 kinds of mainline infantry (sometimes even 3 if Guards/Shocks) to get what's best from Penals. It's completly different than anyother faction. Rifles, Volks, Grens or Tommies don't need any screening. They just vet up and become better in terms of firepower and suravilibity. By using Cons and Penals together you put much more micro on soviets player.
Second thing, I can't imagine close combat units without rec. acc. bonus if that unit does not have camo/smoke/armor.
Shocks - smoke and armor.
Rifles - smoke and rec. acc.
Assault Grens - sprint at vet 0, no tech and superior close range.
I mean, with such approach we could easily take armor from shocks becase Cons shold do screening.
In other words, Im not convinced to your point.
I'll preface this post with the following:
1. I'm not an expert on weapon profiles
2. I've only tried the proposed Penals on the receiving end (when Miragefla kicked my arse when we played his mod)
I believe Miragefla's intention is to turn Penals into a unit that has access to 2 roles and excels only in that area, depending on whether or not the upgrade is purchased:
- Without purchasing the upgrade, Penals are pretty damn good long-range fighters. However, you need to screen for them with other troops, or you will bleed
- With the upgrade, Penals turn into budget shocks with a flamer (the intent of throwing the 3 PPSH's along with the flamer upgrade is so that we don't reintroduce the Rifle Company effect into the game). Thus, if you want flamers, Penals will have to give up their long-range DPS.
Now, with respect to intra-faction synergy, requiring that units of multiple types be present on the field should be viewed as design we should aim for.
Compare this to the following factions that require/force you out of spamming a particular type of unit:
- I don't think it is viable to spam Grens if you want to win a game
- You will bleed very hard if you only spam Tommies (more than 2-3 is a crowd); it makes sense to mix some Sappers in, since they are cheaper/more durable
Compare it to the WFA factions where it is not only viable, but it is the meta to face against:
- Rifle, Rifle, Rifle
- Volks, Volks, Volks
Redesigning Penals should mean to carve out a role for them and make them viable. They should not substitute Conscripts (and neither Maxims should be able to substitute Conscripts AND Penals, as they currently do).