I like this idea quite a bit. Like the German army fighting in Italy. The only thing I would say is to not have the pz38(t) - most of these were being refitted to Marders/Hetzers at this time in the war. Perhaps a different recon unit instead?
Yeah, I linked to the Panzer 38(t), but the vehicle I was actually referring to was this semi-obscure variant:
According to the Wiki, somewhere between fifty and seventy of these things were constructed in 1943-44.
This faction concept is based very roughly on the Luftwaffe “Herman Göring” Division that fought the Allies in Italy in 1943-44. This army offers the heaviest and most powerful support weapons in the game, a number of new vehicles, and a highly flexible tech tree that offers a choice between aggressive and defensive specializations.
Quick facts about this faction:
- Four tiers including the HQ
- Semi-linear teching
- Three levels of veterancy
- Eighteen units in the core army
- Three new infantry units
- Four support weapons never before featured in the Company of Heroes franchise
- Three vehicles never before featured in the Company of Heroes franchise
- Five vehicles returning from Company of Heroes 1
This faction begins the game with its most important unit, the Luftwaffe Field Offizier. Promoting the Luftwaffe Field Offizier to higher ranks unlocks higher-tier units and new abilities. Unlike with the American forces featured in CoH2, Luftwaffe Ground Forces players do not need to juggle three officer squads late in the game – they only need to take command of one.
The Luftwaffe Ground Forces also borrow a bit from CoH2’s British Forces. Like the British Forces, the Luftwaffe Ground Forces players are offered a choice between two tech specializations – in this case, Aggression and Defense. Each specialization unlocks four unique units, one in each tier, as well as a host of abilities designed to support different playstyles. Unlike with the British Forces, unlocking a specialization is free. Also unlike the British Forces, Luftwaffe Ground Forces players are welcome to change their specialization once they’ve made a selection. Changing the specialization, however, is not free, and players cannot have both specializations unlocked simultaneously.
Right now everything's still a bit rough and a lot of the details are very sketchy, but I think the concept works pretty well overall.
The Luftwaffe Field Offizier
The Luftwaffe Field Offizier is the starting unit of the Luftwaffe Ground Forces. Although protected by a number of bodyguards, the Field offizier is weak in combat. However, he has a number of useful abilities that make him an invaluable battlefield asset. “Promoting” the Luftwaffe Field Offizier to higher ranks gives him new abilities and unlocks higher-tier units.
Allows Luftwaffe Field Troops to throw Model 39 hand grenades.
Leutnant Rank (HQ/Tier 0)
Luftwaffe Field Troops
Luftwaffe Field Troops are the core infantry unit of the Luftwaffe Ground Forces. A versatile five-man squad armed with Karabiner 98K rifles. This squad receives additional offensive and defensive boosts when stationed in cover. Can use base weapon racks to repossess a number of weapons previously employed by the Royal Italian Army.
The 12cm Granatwerfer 42 is a heavy infantry mortar that offers greater range and a more powerful shell than most mortars currently featured in the game. Due to this weapon’s enormous weight, it cannot retreat from combat. Has a very low rate-of-fire.
The 10.5 cm Leichtgeschütz 42 recoilless gun is effective against all armoured targets. Unlike more conventional anti-tank guns, this weapon provides very little protection for its crew, but compensates with a wider firing arc. Due to this weapon’s enormous weight, it cannot retreat from combat, although its low profile allows it to cloak when not moving. Somewhat comparable to the Raketenwerfer 43.
Fallschirm-Pioneers
Fallschirm-Pioneers are the Luftwaffe Ground Forces’ engineer unit. These guys are armed with powerful FG-42 rifles and receive additional offensive and defensive bonuses when stationed in cover. Can be upgraded with mine-sweepers. Comparable to Sturmpioneers.
Though outclassed by Allied medium tanks like the Sherman and Cromwell, the Panzer III Ausf. L possesses reasonable firepower with its fast-firing 50mm KwK39 L/60 gun. Comparable to the Panzer IV but does less damage per-hit.
A relatively rare vehicle, the Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) mounts a 2cm KwK38 L/55 gun on a Panzer 38(t) chassis. This vehicle is effective against infantry. Comparable to the Luchs.
Basically a StuG-III mounting a 10.5cm LeFH18 howitzer instead of the 7.5cm StuK40 gun. This vehicle is powerful against emplacements and infantry. Direct hits from its weapon can stun enemy vehicles. Comparable to the Brummbar but with less armour and health.
jackson, firefly, and the jagdpanzer are all 14 pop. If you're going to lower the pop on the jagdpanzer4 you need to lower the pop on the jackson and firefly as well.
I dunno, in my experience both the Jackson and Firefly have a bigger impact on the battlefield than the SU-85 and Jagdpanzer. The turrets help, for a start, and the 200 damage is huge.
Performance against units in buildings could be improved and it could get better veterancy bonuses. Don't want to see an AoE or damage buff because I don't want it to start doing freak squad wipes like the Pack Howitzer.
Battlegroup HQ is weak right now and needs buffs imo. The Flak Halftrack is pretty terrible and the IR Halftrack is a strange niche unit.
Problem with StuG is that it's an essentially defensive weapon. You can't really win games with StuGs unless your opponent overextends. Same thing goes for most other tank destroyers in the game.
Just want to add that I also believe four-man squads are part of the Ostheer's identity and that increasing the squad size to five risks homogenization.
The Ostwind is the only non-doctrinal Ostheer unit that clearly deserves a buff imo. The Panther needs to be looked at it, but I'm wary of just buffing it as I can see it potentially overperforming against heavy tanks with its gun's excellent penetration values.
And I sort of lol at people making arguments like the PaK40 being the best AT gun or the Panzer IV being the most powerful stock medium. These points aren't wrong, but the actual difference in performance between, say, a Panzer IV and a Cromwell is not of much strategic importance. I'd argue that both units have approximately the same impact on a match.
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