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Thread: Tips for HMGs gameplay.21 Feb 2017, 15:46 PM Jump back to quoted post21 Feb 2017, 14:02 PMV-T Great guide, thank you Esxile!! Few questions though: So you always keep your MGs packed up and ready to move? Basically let enemy engage first, unpack, shoot back?? My instinct would be to always have MGs ready to fire. Or do you mostly mean the "offensive MGs" in this tip? I like the idea that one should move the MG with the infantry, pin enemy with MG, while using infantry to flank. To use the MG in the attacks. nice. I'd like to discuss more about using MGs as part of infantry, and the likes. Is it useful to keep a infantry squad with the MG to counter flanking, or even use 2 MGS with widely spread fields of fire to cover about 180 degrees to avoid flanking... 2 MGs, one house (not to be confused with a rather nasty video about a cup and young ladies...), using wire to secure flanks, using bunkers to house MG squads etc.. first point, unpacking the HMG avoid unnecessary lose by mortar barrage, you opponent knows it location so he is going to flank it. In my opinion, a HMG deployed for no reason is a half dead HMG, because your opponent will see it and flank it. Second point, packing and unpacking a defensive HMG take a lot of time. So if you have been flanked it is usually result in ordering a retreat. But if you HMG is already unpacked and waiting for your order, you have enough time to deploy it in the right direction. All of this of course requires to have spotters, do not let your HMG alone. In: Strategy Desk
Thread: Your wishes for the Panther20 Feb 2017, 13:44 PM Jump back to quoted post20 Feb 2017, 13:39 PMVipper Actually no. Allied TD have been buffed so much (to deal with the KT) that axis armor advantage is quite pointless. Axis tanks would be far better of if they had less far less armor and where cheaper or had more DPS. Su-85 chance to hit Panther at range 60 4X24=96% Su-85 chance to penetrate frontally Panther range 60 220/320=67% Su-85 vet 2 chance to penetrate frontally Panther range 60 220X1.3/320=90% M36 chance to hit Panther at range 60 3.5X24=84% M36 chance to penetrate frontally Panther range 60 200/320=63% M36 AP chance to penetrate frontally Panther range 60 240/320=75% Why are you comparing vetted Su/M36 vs non-vetted Panther? Non-vetted TD having between 60 and 70% chance to penetrate is a good value. In: COH2 Balance
Thread: Your wishes for the Panther20 Feb 2017, 12:44 PM I'm not sure the panther need anything in fact. let me develop why. The Panther is still great vs Soviet and USF. Some mentioned the issue with the Su-76, but this is an issue with the SU-76, not the panther. Now the real issue lies with the Brit. Let's remember that Coh2 is a RNG game. The panther design relies essentially on its armor. What is Armor? a better chance to bounce shots which is purely RNG. So vs Soviet and USF, the match is mostly decided by RNG, will the M10/M36/SU-85 penetrate the frontal armor of the Panther? If yes, is the next one also going to penetrate etc... and From this expectation is build the balance of power between the Panther and its natural counters and targets. The Panther doesn't really need a lot of life since it simply deflect 70% of the shot it is suppose to take (at max range). And in order to balance its superior armor, the panther has lower firepower which is perfectly fine if we stick to this balance logic. Now comes the Brit. First we must acknowledge that Brit don't have easy-to-use stock snares like the USF doesn't have easy-to-use stock mines. So in order to balance this kind of lack of snare feature (stupid feature we all agree on that), Relic gave Brit really high penetration AT units. Atgun, Comets and Sherman FF have extremly high chance to penetrate frontally panthers. So as Brit if you can't snare your target you can at least deal to it a lot of damage. And this is where the Panther's problem lies. Panthers and mainly Ostheer Panthers aren't mean to be penetrated every single round even at max range. they are mean to bounce majority of shots to be balance with they lack of firepower. In opposition, Brit have been given extremly relisient units such as churchill. Low armor but a ton of life. Here again this goes against the usual design on which Panther is a central piece. Panther is use to face low/normak lifepool units with sometime aswell, a high armor value upon that (ISU-IS2). If you start making the panther easier to access or better, Sov and USF will pay the high price. We all remember how games were unbalance late game when the panther was too good. Today it is unbalance but because of the Brit. So my opinion is to bring Brit into the same design as other factions. Maybe give them an easy-to-use stock snare and reduce its AT firepower. In: COH2 Balance
Thread: Tips for HMGs gameplay.20 Feb 2017, 10:31 AM How do you manage your HMGs ingame. Depending on the faction you are playing the HMG has crucial role in your strategy. I would like to share my vision, how I manage them and why and would like your tips to improve my own skills, to see if I miss something. There are two types of HMGs in my opinion, those used aggressively and those used defensively. My vision of HMGs roles is the following: Aggressive HMGs = Maxim, DHSK and .50 Defensive HMGs = .42, .34, Vickers Please do not deviate the topic on which ones are good, which ones are crap, this is irrelevant here. the question isn't if they perform enough well in your opinion but how to make them perform better in your hands. As I mainly play Ostheer and USF, my comments will be focused on the HMG42 and .50 but many tips can be share for any HMG playstyle. TIPS for HMGs gameplay There are 3 different commands allowing you to use your HMG, each having different result in your HMG behavior. Each of those commands should be use appropriately in regards of the situation your are facing Pre-define Setup You are pre-positioning your HMG in a direction. Usually behind a cover. If you do so, it is because you know the enemy is coming from the facing direction. This is the most basic command and probably the one used when you are still discovering the game and its mechanisms. This command works well when you want to protect a point cornered by the map edge or shot-blockers. You know your enemy can't come from your flank. A-Move You are sending your HMG in a direction and it will stop where you clicked if it didn't met any enemy on its path. If it met enemies in range, the HMG behavior is to setup and shot whenever it has been attacked or not. So in other word the HMG enter automatically in Combat mode when an enemy is in range, setup and fire. It is probably the most common command of HMGs, and also the easiest way to manage them. With those automated actions, you gain more freedom to manage your other units around. M-Move The HMG goes to where you sent it but doesn't setup at enemy sign and will not until it reach the point you where you sent it. If your HMG is already at the point it will setup only if it has been attacked. It is important to note that having enemy in sigh and in range isn't enough, the HMG squad must be attacked to position itself. Those are the 3 different commands used to manage HMGs in game. As each of them result in a different behavior, each of them must be used accordingly to the situation faced in game. Before going into those situations, some Tips to use HMGs: If you decide to use HMG and this is more true for Ostheer play, you have to consider your HMG as the backbone of your army. Where your HMG is facing is where your army is facing = where is the center of attention. Your HMG isn't there to protect your flank because at the moment you redeploy your HMG to cover it (the flank), this direction becomes the main direction and the rest of the map, your flank. This is something I still have a lot to improve in myself but looking at the battlefield with this idea in mind helps a lot to take the right decisions at the right times. Never let a HMG alone. This is more true for your HMG42,34 and 50. Never let them alone on the battlefield because they can be easily flanked by two squads. If you have been pushed back, your HMG shouldn't be the last unit you keep in the middle of the map. If you are attacked at by indirect fire, leave your cover. Seems crazy but out of cover your HMG squad models spread better. Do not put them on red cover but neutral cover is better than green if a mortar is firing at you. Use AP round whenever you can. Reaching vet1 with a HMG isn't something difficult, if you do so do not forget to use AP round, your suppressive power will increase greatly. When and Which command to use in situation. As I stated before, Pre-define setup command should only be used on really specific occasions and locations. And most of them is to protect a side point, on the edge of the map, from capping. The map edge offers a great anti-flank protection. It will force your opponent to come with a vehicle or a greater force to deal with it since he cannot really flank you. So let's leave this command here as it has little value when considering the HMG has backbone of your army. This leave us with A-Move and M-Move commands to manage your HMGs in 99% of cases. Now when it is better to use A-Move and M-Move is what I'll try to describe below. I though a lot about when should I use A-Move and when should I use M-Move command and most of situation are almost equal. To be honest it is more a question of skill than situation. Yes it requires more skill to use M-Move than A-Move command, more skills and more APM since you'll have to micro more your HMG to make it attack where and when you want. But it also provide you much more control on your unit. To develop a bit this idea, let me share you one of the biggest cons A-Move have over M-Move, both commands has this cons but A-Move is much more impacted has it gives you little room to react. Letting your HMG auto-deploying has a great cons, and this cons is about where does the HMG face when un-deployed (aka where the HMG carrier model is facing). If the first enemy unit in sigh is at the edge of the virtual cone of fire of your HMG, it will deploy but your enemy will only have to move a bit left of right to get out of the cone and flank you. One other situation which is even worst is the enemy flanking unit comes in range of your HMG, your HMG deploy to face it and turns its back to your enemy main force. Obviously the quicker your HMG deploy the less reaction time you have to avoid this situation. It happens more than often that your HMG auto-deploy in the almost-wrong direction forcing you to unpack and repack, losing precious time and maybe having to instant-retreat since your cannot stop your opponent army anymore. To avoid those situations, make sure your HMG carrier is facing the general direction from where your enemy comes, make sure your HMG is well supported with spotters on its flank so you can control your HMG and avoid unnecessary auto-deploy. So of course M-Move share this cons, but the HMG will only deploy if it is attacked which give you more time to react here again if you have spotters. Another cons A-Move has over M-Move is the effective zone of fire. As we know A-Move make your HMG deploy automatically when an enemy enter in range. But is it really what you want? If your enemy isn't blobbing (or blobbing intelligently), he may have 1 unit in front of the others, all fighting vs your units. But using A-Move your HMG will only suppress the first one in range leaving the other free of their movement. A-Move offer great automation but those can be used against you. In Conclusion using A-Move or M-Move is, in my opinion, mostly a question of urgency. Before the battle start, use M-Move on your HMGs and micro them. When the battle has started, use A-Move on your HMGs to freed you from micro if you need it. Managing HMG is all about avoiding unnecessary and wrong deployment. This is crucial when the battle start so you M-Move to make sure you HMG is deployed when, where and facing the direction you want. When the battle is ongoing, you know there will be no more flank and you are busy managing all your units, A-Move becomes a good option to reduce the time spent on your HMG and let you focus on other units of your army. Following this conclusion, some Tips: Do not click A-Move too far from your position. HMGs have great range, there is no need to click A-Move too far forward. If you have spotters your HMG will always be ready in time. Do not click M-Move too far from your position. Same and worst result will happens if you click M-Move somewhere out of position than A-Move. Always unpack your HMG after a fight. The fight is over and you won? Unpack your HMG and make sure it faces the right direction again. So you can setup it in time for the next fight. Have Spotters. Never let your HMG alone on the front line, the best way to succeed in managing your HMG is to know where your enemy is before starting the fight so you can manually setup it. In: Strategy Desk
Thread: The issue with Ostheer Tech 4.17 Feb 2017, 14:15 PM T4 is a bonus tier suited to be played with Commanders not having the Tiger. As JohnSmith said, the problem is not the T4 but the panther. In: Lobby
Thread: How do deal with double wielding rifles?17 Feb 2017, 13:54 PM Jump back to quoted post17 Feb 2017, 12:18 PMAlphrum you really wanna compare a riflemen squad costs to a KT? discussion with people like you who'd defend their faction to the death is impossible isnt it From a playercard perspective between us, I think facts shown in it deserve your words. From a gameplay perspective, A-move squadblob or A-move a KT is the same thing, It wipe squads standing on its path. Jump back to quoted post17 Feb 2017, 13:01 PMAPlebsyTeddyBear18 You forget that you get free squads for teching, which I assume, he upgrades just as I do. He says his opponent went T2 so one of his squad cost 200 instead of 280, we can apply a reduction of 80 to the total. Does it change anything? In: OKW Strategies
Thread: How do deal with double wielding rifles?17 Feb 2017, 11:40 AM Jump back to quoted post17 Feb 2017, 11:24 AMAlphrum its okay to have A-moving wiping squads since they cost alot of MP and munitions so lelic please allow OKW obers to duel equip mg34's and dont forget dual mg42's on grenadiers too Isn't the concept behind the King tiger? In: OKW Strategies
Thread: How do deal with double wielding rifles?17 Feb 2017, 10:32 AM Jump back to quoted post17 Feb 2017, 10:14 AMullumulu in 10-13min u can get easily 4-5 squads with 4-6 upgrades. 1-2 zooks and 4-5 bars do the job very well. Oh so now it is not anymore double BARs + double Zooks on 6 squads in 10 minutes. Interesting. In: OKW Strategies
Thread: How do deal with double wielding rifles?17 Feb 2017, 09:39 AM Jump back to quoted post17 Feb 2017, 09:20 AMAPlebsyTeddyBear18 I build munitions caches specifically for this purpose. 10 minutes is stretching the imagination yeah, but after 15 minutes you can get that composition up and there isn't much the OKW guy can do against it. It isn't really fun to play like that with USF either, it is just a-move and watch yourself 'win'. Every now and then you will lose a rifle before you can get critical mass, but not very often. 1120mp + 400mp cache + 150mp Bar/zook upgrade + 250mp ambulance 1920mp in 10-15 minutes let's say you have an average of 220mp/minutes (6 full squads get you down to around 200mp/min), 2200mp in 10 minutes. Do you really believe you can spend 1920mp, not counting reinforcement, over 2200mp in 10 minutes on a balanced match? That's a bad joke. In: OKW Strategies
Thread: Lol shocks.17 Feb 2017, 09:00 AM Jump back to quoted post16 Feb 2017, 18:38 PMImagelessbean snip Please stop with the powercreep. Shocks were good before penal buff and they are still very tanky. Let's have the Penal nerfed to were they should be and shocks will become again a real choice. In: COH2 Balance