I am arguing that the inequality in lmg stats is fair as there are other relevant stats which give them balance. So citing the worse Bren stats as reason to allow two of them is bogus logic.
m1919 is clearly not balanced, but it's doctrinal at least and usf need stronger infantry as (aside from Pershing) they have paper tanks. To use that as reason to allow double Brens is also bunk. If anything you could improve the Bren stats a little but if you do this, at least consider other indirect stats which factor into balance such as timing and squad sizing and the original faction concept.
Ok. So what should tommies be good at? And why should anybody invest in UKF infantry upgrades?
If penals have PTRSs wont SU t1 Penal/sniper play be practically invulnerable vs OKW? I mean, its not like OKW had any good way of countering sniper play to begin with (other than map dependant jagger inf)
We don't know yet, and we certainly hope that this is not going to be the case. That's what people should try out and see. Penals don't have snares, and upgrading to PTRS makes them vulnerable to infantry.
On the other hand, people could already go Soviet Sniper into Guards.
Though it might spell death for the Kubel-spam.
I think his point was that despite the Bren dealing less DPS, it is comparatively as or more effective than the lmg42, because it has to deal with axis squads with less effective health than allied squads.
Tommies do cost more. With the upgrades considered, they do cost a lot more than the squads they have to fight.
As far as effective HP is considered, this is also not a valid point. Tommies receive a lot less Accuracy bonuses than other squads in the game.
Moreover, Tommy scaling per-model is equal to Grenadier scaling per-model. Thus, even though Tommies are way more resilient than Grenadiers, they deal way less damage.
Proof:
Grenadier
Total received accuracy: 0.91 * 0.77 = 0.7007
Total accuracy: 1.4
Bonuses sum = 1.4 / 0.7007 = 1.99800199801
Tommies
Total received accuracy: 0.8 * 0.76 = 0.608
Total accuracy: 1.2
Bonuses sum = 1.2 / 0.608 = 1.97368421053
Do note that:
- At some point we also need to consider the utility of Tommies to the cost disparity
- Received accuracy is a garbage stat for long-range infantry. Having veterancy bonuses slanted more towards hard-hitting accuracy is what makes a long-range unit scale well. This is why Grenadiers, who are so cheap, can punch very well above their weight
- The veterancy bonuses are applied ON TOP of the equipped items. Thus, further widening the gap between the LMG42 and the Bren gun.
Limiting Tommy Brens to 1 single one would make them:
- Unable to trade with the far superior utility-wise Grenadiers
- Make them completely useless vs upgraded Volks
- Make even fewer people consider to invest in infantry upgrades