I honestly think this is a bad solution. Please correct me if I'm wrong (I don't have the exact numbers at hand right now), but the StuG always or at least very reliably penetrates Allied armor except for the very heavies, which is its intended role. Increasing the range to 60 would make it very similar to the JP4 and only be possible with increasing the fuel price accordingly.
In my eyes, the reason why we don't see much of the JP4 is that it has no real role on the battlefield. It is quite fiddly due to being a casematte, too expensive to buy for just countering mediums and has too less pen to fight against heavies. The Panther is more often a better choice because while being more expensive, it's an overall less micro intensive and allround better unit. The only thing that a JP4 can do better is countering Allied TDs, but that's it.
StuG would suffer the same fate. Right now it has a very good niche. A Casematte to counter mediums. A bit fiddly but being cheaper than the unit it counters. And it also performs well in that role. If TWP really is a big issue, than it should be buffed or exchanged for another ability. But keep in mind that the overall performance of the StuG should remain the same (assuming here that the StuG is decently prices for its performance)
Agreed fully here with Your arguments. Logical. The issue is simply complicated. Still I'm not so sure it is such a bad idea, but I have more.
I see two main problems. First, no stock 60 range tank destroyer for ost. It makes stugs (and other tanks) easily destroyed by anti tank guns with range 60 and allied tank destroyers, also with range 60. Stugs have to close in to shoot and can be kited by other TD. Also anti tank infantry kills them very well and they can't be further from them where bazookas are less likely to hit, because they are 50 range. At the same time they can't be too good cause they are tier 3. In the past they had TWP that would stop the vehicle and wouldn't allow it to retreat for a couple of seconds. This ability was enough to make 50 range ok. The problem was when two or more stugs kept using it one after another and stopped allied tanks. It was a nightmare and good that it got nerfed. Having written all this I really sort of think that maybe making stug simply more expensive and giving it 60 range might be the best and simplest solution (maybe 55 range?). Another solution would be to replace twp with a copy of USF at gun timed and munipaid ability to get extra sight and range temporarily. It would drain munitions for extra performance. Another option would be an upgrade to stock scopes instead of pintle (you could choose one of the two) One more thing, stug with range 50 is a good defensive weapon, but you sometimes have to support attacks too, and then range 60 would really help as good micro wouldn't make you enter at guns and casamate TDs range that easily.
The second problem is connected with ost tier 4. If stug is too good, there is little reason to buy a panther. My opinion (similar to Imperial Dane's) and confirmed by observing the tournament so far is that ostheer tier 4 is overpriced. Panthers seem to be too expensive and building them drains you of too much resources for what you get. With the same resources your opponent will build two tanks, or a tank and an infantry squad. Panthers need to be repaired by pioneers to use their health pool effectively, which means that you basically need to buy a panther plus a pio to keep repairing it (or retreat the one you have - which means removing 200 manpower from the front reducing strength of inf and capping potential). It is almost 600 manpower and almost 200 fuel. Just a bit less you pay for a Jackson and a sherman where you get two crews included in the price. What is more, those crews can repair both of these tanks quicker and have access to crit repairs. Soviets will field SU85 and a t34 for almost the same price as panther, and buy engineers more cheaply, plus will get fast repairs from many doctrines. UKF can field a comet at a price of panther, which is similarly strong at anti tank duties (comet vs panther dual comet will more often lose but panther survives with amost no health), and comet is very good against infantry. That means that panther is just a myth now. I'd make panther cheaper or make it better at infantry longer range combat.
So all in all - what you do with stug must be connected with panther.
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