- It's a boring overlap to just have a shitty version of the Ziss gun on Tier1, whether or not its got some gimicks to make it useful. PTRS Penals is a more unique approach that's completely different to the Ziss gun. This makes Tier1 actually feel unique instead of "It's Tier2 minus the Maxim." since you could argue that Sniper and Mortar fill a similar role. (dislodging and harassing static units)
I disagree, because it fits the model of T1 being a micro approach (not the gameplay type of micro) and T2 being a macro approach. Sniper, M3, M42 are good at tackling one or 2 enemy things at a time. Maxims, mortars and Zis (with its bombard), can counter enemy groups. So the strategic choice is to counter at a micro or macro level. Makes total sense.
- M42 won't scale into the late game where as PTRS Penals are mobile and still decent due to deflection damage. (Assuming that Penals can get a 3rd PTRS option later on in the game which we have coming for 1.3) If M42 gets deflection damage its then going to be the only AT gun in the game with deflection, where as all infantry-based AT weapons have deflection damage
Infantry scaling in late game? Infantry get gibbed in late game no matter how much vet they have. So would an M42, so there's no difference there. Perhaps this is why we suggested M42 has retreat.
- It will require the commanders with M42 on it to have a new ability, which will be more work and would put it even more out of scope of the patch
Alright this is perhaps a valid point, but not the worst thing in the world. There may be benefit in calling in one M42 while building a second simultaneously, for example. And the commander change could be done later. Also, how often are M42 call ins used? Never, that's how often.
- PTRS Penals gives a lot of fun synergy with M3 and M5, which will help those units become more interesting because currently they're not very useful or at least one-dimensional. (M3 as Flamer Clown Car, M5 as Quad.)
Fair enough... but simply giving penals PTRS won't guarantee these vehicles become more useful.
- Having to build the M-42 instead of just upgrading PTRS to ward off light vehicles will make Tier 1 even weaker, and that's the opposite of what the concern is now of making people actually want to go Tier1 over Conspam and/or T2. Conspam gives better early game pressure and more AT utility, Tier 2 is more robust and gives better strategic flexibility (and Maxims are OP) Without Flamer Penals being so overpowered, and with Guards being nerfed, what reasons is there for players to want to go Tier1? The only real reason is the Sniper and better scaling of Penals compared to Conscripts.
To counter this argument, I would say, what's the benefit of having a penal squad that sucks at AI because it has PTRS? That's making T1 weaker at AI. In other words, your argument depends entirely on how you look at it. The recent Penal nerfs don't help your argument here either.
- Whilst not necccesary buffing the anti tank of Soviets due to the heavy investment it requires, PTRS Penals give strategic flexibility to anti-tank in ways that all other factions have, since M42 will have the same counters and vulnerabilities as Ziss. In team games, Soviets can be in a very limiting spot late game if heavy Axis Tank destroyers nullify all their armour and Offmaps, Rocket Arty & Sturmtiger can constantly deny AT guns. With no infantry-based AT, Soviets have little options in these situations.
Rocketarty and Sturm will be wiping penals just as easily as they will wipe M42.
yuenchey
Relic Entertainment
