Or make it not a superior 81mm clone in most cases.
Since I finally organized my CE patch notes with details, here's the version I propose:
M1 81mm Mortar
Changed the damage profile and stats to make the mortar closer to a light weapon meant to support and keep up with riflemen and other units while not overlapping with heavier indirect-fire units like the Pack Howitzer.
-AOE from 1/0.5/0.25 to 1/0.4/0.15
-AOE distance from 1/2/3 to 0.5/1.5/3
-Cost from 260 to 240.
-0.75 Wind Down from 2.
-Can interrupt set-up time.
-Veterancy 1 changed to WP Rounds.
-Angle scatter to 7 and scatter max to 7. Barrage scatter max to 5.
-Auto-fire reload from 4 to 2.8.
-Minimum range to 20, maximum range to 65 for auto-fire and non-vetted barrage.
Before anyone thinks it may be OP due to ROF, its damage is not impressive at all and it needs to be closer meaning its also easier to kill. It compensates by being faster to relocate which matches the USF's play-style and being an annoying unit that will at least make you think about moving. Pack Howitzer become relevant once again since it hits much harder with range.
If you're going to nerf the damage and the aoe that much you might as well change it to a sixty mm mortar. 81s across the board should be pretty hard hitting.
I disagree with the starting resource nerf for usf. The mortar provides a little bit of variance in usf build orders... It helps against crew served weapons but limits field presence. It's definitely necessary on narrow maps where ost mg play can shut down rifles early.
I don't have an issue with mirage's changes but too many people are still whining. They made updates and it's no longer OP. Is it effective? Yeah, but why would you buy it if it wasn't? If anything, it limits the value of the pack howitzer. A little more variation between the units would be fine.
Maybe if the damage profile was dropped but it suppressed slightly to compensate? Then it's a support weapon and rifles still need to do the killing.
But yeah, if you drop the damage or aoe you gotta rename it to a 60 mm.