I find the idea of introducing a “Light AT” vehicle to US interesting, but ultimately destructively difficult to balance. US have lots of AT spread throughout all levels of tech, bazookas hard counter light vehicles while soft countering larger ones, while Jackson hard counters heavies but isn’t as efficient for its cost against light vehicles. If anything the problem with the Jackson TD results from uneven effectiveness of the tiers as a whole. Buffing the Stuart might make Captain play more rewarding and allow LT-Capt as a viable teching route instead of LT to Maj or Capt to Maj. Tier skipping allows fast tech, but takes away tools from the player. That’s a good risk/reward scenario, but if LT or Capt is always better than the other, and neither one is worth a back-tech after getting Maj, then you end up with less diversity. What I mean is that you end up with Maj tech being imbalanced because it is trying to fill the role of whatever you skipped to get there. Bazookas, .50 cal M2HBs, M1 ATGs and M36 Jacksons need to be balanced together as AT options scaling to different threats, but the tiers that they all come from must also be balanced to each other in other aspects as well.
Maybe move the mortar to Capt and Pack Howi to LT? Maybe buff Stuart against infantry? Maybe none of those things, but Jackson problems are a result of over reliance on it as “only” or “best” US AT option.
#makebazookaszookagain
Seeing where the general game design is going, USF Lieutenant vs Capt is a dead design now. It has always been a drawback to contain USF snowballing from a superior early game back then. But USF doesn't have superior early game anymore, so today USF ends up with a stupid choice between suppression or atgun and then one of both or medium while being at the same level than its opponent which already get everything to counter any situation at that time.
People complain about the homogenization of the game and I understand that but since we are at it, let's finish it and give USF all the tools they need to be in pair with other factions.
1- Remove free lieutenant and free captain (they could be bought in there respective tier)
2- Unlock .50 and Atgun whenever T1 or T2 is achieved
-- T1 is Lieutenant / M20 / Halftrack
-- T2 is Captain / Stuart / pak
-- T3 unlock gives the Major then Sherman / Jackson / Scott