Profile of Esxile

I would happily upgrade my grenadier squad twice, but I can't. This doesn't mean that a riflemen and infantry sections should be better just because they have more upgrades and that the basic design of a faction should be negated by powerful vet, upgrades and indirect fire. What is the use of this faction's design then?

The problem is that the Ostheer mainline infantry unit isn't capable of reliably fighting riflemen, infantry sections or penal battalions. These units gain immense power with vetereancy, which further hampers the Ostheer mainline infantry unit. Grenadiers need to be in cover to fight effectively, yet we have double bar riflemen and double bren infantry sections destroying grenadiers in cover. USF mortar and British mortar pit both deny cover to the grenadiers in a very effective way, meaning you can't utilize the grenadiers as they were meant to be utilized.

Now people argue that you should support your grenadiers with combined arms, including mg42s and mortars. The only problem is that riflemen are supported by the USF turbo laser guided mortar that just destroys weapon teams in mostly 1 or 2 blows, including grenadiers that need cover to fight effectively. The British mortar pit does the same. On top of this, riflemen can utilize smoke and grenades on top of this turbo laser guided mortar. All these facts in essence mean that your weapon teams aren't safe anywhere and can't support your grenadiers reliably.

The only 'mainline' infantry unit the grenadiers can reliably counter are conscripts. Conscripts themselves are a joke. This shows the horrible state of conscripts and the somewhat lackluster state of grenadiers. Something needs to be done.

Edit: not even to mention when an Allied light vehicle comes out and insta gibs half of your grenadier squad on the first shot.

At the end, only your edit make sens, yes the issue is around Soviet and USF having better infantry and then better light tanks while from a balance perspective, it should be something opposed. The 222 is really potent for sure for its price but it is too fast denied by Guards, it is a bit better vs USF but cannot really overcome the gap early game made with the Mortar/RM combo.

1- Grenadiers aren't mean to go toes to toes alone vs Penal or RM upgraded. Accept it because it is balanced.
2- There is a problem with the pacing between model which increase the sentiment Grens/pzgren are underwhelming.
3- USF mortar is still too potent, nothing new under the sun, there is nobody to say the opposite.
4- T-70 and Stuart are too potent and come over the already Sov/USF domination while 222 or 251 aren't in great help or already well countered by Guards/zooks.

From the guy who wrote that,

I know that the rant of some Axis fanboys here is way too much over the edge but I honestly think that you have to be a fool to say that Axis and Allies are on the absolute same level in terms of winning possibility right now.

If you simply ignore all Katitof + Australian Magic posts, I think this board can develop some very interesting conversations. Sadly there are no many topics where they are not.

We can guess the dream team is about the people thinking the same way you are and ignoring anybody having a different point of view. Remembering me a team listening only half of the community comments to build their balance patch.

Show Spoiler

The main reason I lose playing Axis AT game or random game is because my fellow teammates never bother to build a midgame tank, they all wait to get their super late game panther or king tiger. It is more visible with the OKW. OKW players, friends of mine included, are completely denying themselves their mid game options. Not a Pz4, sometime not even a Luch. -Hey I save for the King tiger. Too bad they have plenty of counter at that time and you already lost your infantry.
I have to admit a lot of OKW players are still playing that game as before the last patch and they mainly lose because of that first.

For the Ostheer, honestly playing Allied when I see an Ostheer player with Pz4/Stug/Ostwind intel bulletin, I know I'll face/play with someone good, who understand the meta and the game will be hard. But too many Ostheer players are still spaming HMG/cache into T4. They haven't yet release that USF got a mortar and the new meta here is to spam them early game. You can't play anymore only conservative as Ostheer, you have to balance your army, wall of HMG42 doesn't work anymore.

Now yes, probably Allied factions have the edge today, but this is not the main reason of many Axis defeat.

Last but not least, one question, how Volks can feel weaker than last patch vs RM? they got STG instead of shreck, their DPS is better in all aspects when RM dps haven't change.

The option is there to have one or two zooks, that is the point. So if you have two zooks split over two squads you can still retain the same lmg/bar dps of a double lmg/bar squad AND same dps as a double zook squad but with the risk spread in half. Your whole blob is likely to be far more devastating then any other blob. People don't play like this so much in 1v1 but it's real in 2v2.

Also you mention flame nades on Volks as if REs and Rifles don't have any special capabilities themselves, that in their specific usages dwarfs the utility of the flame nade. Rifles have very useful smoke grenades and a pretty awesome regular grenade. REs have ability to build tank traps and fighting positions. Why complain about overall utility of pre schreknerf Volks when rear echelons and Rifles are so easily combined and share together a utility that surpasses the Volks all around offerings?

So there is only 2 or 3 zooks in the blob, how is it an issue impossible to manage with a Pz4/Ostwind with some proper support.
How tank traps and FP are something giving an edge to a blob?
Smoke grenades are double edges sword, they don't shot at you neither.
Grenade are powerful indeed but flamnade have a faster animation, guarantee a model kill on hit and deny area which for your opponent to micro a lot. Now I'm not saying a blob of RM with grenade isn't powerful, but volks with flamnade + shreck was far better.

Panzerbusche is an idea that appears regulary from time to time.
If anything, I would see Panzerbusche as a upgrade for Volks.

Then Volks would have an option.
Pure AI upgrade
or
Minor AT+Minor AI upgrade by double Panzerbusche (copy past Cons' PTRS).

That would solve many, many issues with T70 or Stuart.

Then you come back to volkspam/blob all day long.