Profile of tenid

Since there are a few topics on artillery going around, I thought I'd add a few thoughts on it.

Simply put, I believe the axis factions have a definite and decisive advantage in late game indirect fire. This can make 2v2 and higher games a complete nightmare, since there are usually stronger defensive lines on both sides.

So first, here's what I consider the stock late game units for each faction:

Wehrmacht: Panzerwerfer
OKW: Stuka zu Fuss
Soviet: Katyusha
USF: Scott
UKF: The 25 pounder?

I'd argue both the axis units outdo any of the allied options. In fact the Katyusha is the only stock allied unit that really does its job, and even then it seems to be considered to be weaker than the Panzerwerfer. The Panzerwerfer itself is just incredibly good at the minute. The Scott I wouldn't consider that useful in general, and a recent thread seems to back that up:
http://www.coh2.org/topic/47357/the-m8a1
I don't feel I need to say anything about how bad the 25 pounders are. I wouldn't even consider them proper indirect fire since they require a unit in grenade range anyway.

The picture gets slightly better with doctrinal units:
Wehrmacht: Lefh
Soviet: ML-20 or B-4
USF: Priest or Calliope
UKF: Sexton

Of those units only the Calliope sees much use - but it also ties the USF into a doctrinal choice if they want any real form of indirect fire. This hugely limits playstyles to doctrines with indirect fire, otherwise you're relying on off map artillery which is usually slower and often requires large munitions investment - assuming whatever doctrine you're using even has something worth using.

I may have missed units, so please add any you think I've missed. I have left out mortars since they're generally lighter and easier to counter.

Another problem with late game artillery is that counter battery simply doesn't work for the most part. Even if you catch a panzerwerfer or stuka firing, the chances of any counter battery fire hitting it enough to kill it are slim - assuming you even have the choice. It makes artillery bombardment an incredibly low risk strategy.

It's already back up.

Artillery options in general are a bit of a mess. For example, both axis factions get a stock heavy indirect fire unit whereas only the soviets get a stock option on the allied side.

An excellent post on the details behind the 25pdr. I'd known it had a pretty pathetic splash but didn't know how bad exactly.

I still maintain that gun artillery vs rocket artillery and artillery in general needs a serious overhaul, but there's no denying that the 25pdrs are sub par.

My only concern with the proposed scatter changes is that visually it might look a bit odd if firing close to base, but that isn't something major.

I'd also like to add that the arty doctrine should be able to blind fire them again. Still waiting for an explanation as to why that was changed.

I saw the pre-buff KT as a sort of come back mechanism for the OKW. A way to compensate for the fuel penalty and wait time when losing trucks. Since neither of those apply anymore I'd fully support requiring all three deployed and active.