Profile of general_gawain

i'd also say there is nothing wrong with some recon options outranging at-guns or flares being 'uncounterable' by aa. as was pointed out before, the latter applies to single-pass recon planes as well; the only problem with flares is that they provide too much vision for a too long period for too little cost or other restrictions (e.g. being bound to a unit with certain activation range).

I agree with a lot you said:

a) Unit bound flares (Soviet mortar/sniper, OKW PFs...) are fine. They are restricted in range and time and they have a munition cost.

b) Single pass planes (USF Major, UKF Assault ability,...) are fine, because they give you only a small time window to see what you need to see or use abilities. In addition they cost more munition than the unit bound flares.

c) Circling recon planes (mainly commander call-ins) are fine because they can get shoot down and aren't cheap either.

d) Commander flares are op or borderline op, because they can't be countered and give full sight over a big area for a long time. They will hopefully removed.


...but

e) And now we get to the point were we disagree maybe. Putting a scoped Vet2 222 or a IR HT relatively safe behind your 60 range AT unit means that all allied recon vehicles will be counterd with the exception of a Vet3 T70 before they get even sight themselves. I do think it is a pretty lame mechanic to strip the option to use recon vehicles completely from allied side and force them into nondoc plane call-ins (UKF / USF) or unit flares (soviet). To be clear, it is just a reduction of options/versatility not a complete denial of recon.
It gets strange even more if you bear in mind that each allied faction had a doctrinal recon vehicle that was able to give pretty much uncounterable information about opponent frontline:

- UKF: Alien-laser-vision-beam Valentine which was even more op than IR HT (complete bs, I'm glad it is gone)
- USF: Greyhound with huge sight bonus at Vet3 which resulted in sight way over 60
- Soviet: T70 in recon mode which is the last one that has still over 60 sight at Vet3 but had over 90 once upon a time

So why it was denied to one side only? I don't get that, because it is such an integral aspect of the game. My main point is there should be no constant sight over 60. This does adress the SU-85 cone fire ability too. All of this abilities should be timed with cooldown at least.
In addition, given the current state of Recon Company, I would turn Greyhound in a better recon vehicle with Vet (timed as all others of course), that would give it some usability, would be thematic and would make Recon Compqany more attractive again.

Maybe because as axis, you don't care about winning.

Wtf? Why on earth I shouldn't want to win with axis? Please don't troll me.

But either way, your use of the JP-IV is an outlier, There is no OKW vehicle built less often.

And thats not understandable. Yeah. i can understand to build a PZIV first if you need more AI, depending on game situation. I do that too. But why is everybody rushing for Panther, if you have a stock TD that wins vs every allied medium or TD? I got them to Vet5 already. Why not using them?

I'll take longer range, better rate of fire and higher accuracy and higher damage over time on my allied TD's. (all factors lend to ease of use)

Then take JPIV, it keeps its ROF advantage with vetting in comparison to allied TDs. Range an accuracy is similar. Health will get better with vet, it can take a hit more. The slightly lower PEN only takes effect when fighting heavies. Firefly has better damage always but a lower RoF by far.

KV-1 is just the same quirky design as Churchill, only a little bit worse. While it has some more AI damage and armor plus more speed it still a slow damage sponge like Churchill. Churchill performs better because of more health, better main gun penetration and a really great smoke ability which synergies well with crew defence at Vet1 or can conceal a huge area for advance/retreat.
With a slow damage sponge you are alway at the receiving end. You don't pick fights, your opponent does. You are the one who levels enemy tanks, thats nothing you want.
Hull-Down on a tank with 40 range and a far penetration of 80? Situational useful at best. Soviet has far better tank options than KV-1.

Is this really a thread whose entire premise is "all the factions need to be identical"?

Sorry, you didn't understand the matter of this thread. If you put aside doctrinal recon planes (which are all pretty similar) recon is still asymetrical. While soviets get nondoc recon with mortar and sniper flares, USF/UKF get a lot of nondoc recon by officer planes, OKW and Ostheer get their main nondoc recon ressource from direct sight vehicles. This thread is about paying for it regardless of source and making it timed. Anything else is lazy and not understandable in a micro intensive game light CoH2. Just park your 90 sight Vet2 222 with scope somewhere in safety behind your frontline and keep it there until your frontline moves.
As the discussion progressed it got clear pretty soon that not only axis units are affected. Allied light tanks with recon mode or SU-85 with its cone sight should be adressed in the same way. Just pay for what you get. Imagine USF would throw their grenades for free. Yeah, that would be strongly asymetrical in comparison to all other factions, but it would be bs nevertheless.

IR vehicle has a sight of 35 it should have more.

Having to spend munition for extra sight is also not a good idea since its it sole role it provide vision.

Same with spotting scopes. Having to spend 30 munition for an upgrade that does nothing and only allow you to spend more monition for sight does not really make sense especially sine a Soviet mortar can fire flare...

Reckon abilities should simple be timed abilities.

IR HT: I meant standing still in its recon mode of course. Its okay that is has 35 while moving. Its sole role is providing vision and because of that it provides nondoc superior vision (75 atm and 77 in my proposal -> +2 because of unit size). You can make HT IR HT cheaper if it is to expensive, but getting superior vision should cost something every time you use it.

Tulips cost you two times too (purchase + activation), but if you ask me Scopes can be passively free or be cheaper at least, if their acivation cost something.

If all recon abilities above 60 sight would be timed abilities this would be already a huge gain, even without mun cost. But Imo a small mun cost on top would be even better.