Profile of Wilson

From my experience of playing with Ostheer, I would say that grenadiers scale relatively well into the late game. The only issue I have encountered with them is simply that they are prone to being squad wiped due to their small squad size. That is why I am suggesting an upgrade available after upgrading to Battlephase 2, for a fifth man to be added to the squad. However, the purpose of this fifth man is not so much to add combat effectiveness to the squad so much as survivability. Adding a fifth grenadier would simply unbalance what was otherwise a pretty balanced unit.

Instead, the upgrade would add an 'experienced NCO' to all grenadier squads similar to the 'bolster infantry sections' upgrade of the British. Instead of carrying a standard rifle which would give the squad an edge in combat, the NCO would carry an MP 40, preferably with the performance similar to the pioneers' MP 40s. That way, at distance, the squad should output essentially the same damage as it does now and at close range, it will be the equivalent of a 1 man pioneer squad supporting the grenadiers, overall not really a threat.

Visually, the NCO could use the grenadier model, though perhaps without a helmet cover or some other small difference. For the sake of distinction from 'bolster infantry sections', the NCO could also perhaps grant a passive +5% experience to the squad while he is alive, though to reinforce, he may cost up to 36 MP.

The reasoning for adding the upgrade after Battlephase 2 (StuG, Ostwind, and Panzer IV) is so that in the early game, allied infantry such as American riflemen will still keep their squad size advantage while there are little to no possibilities for random squad wiping, though by the mid to late game, the Ostheer player can essentially protect their squads to a degree from mass artillery. As with the British, increased squad sizes equals slightly more pop taken by the squad, and more MP spent on reinforcing.

Please post feedback below. The point of this idea is to help alleviate the grenadier's squad wipe potential while effecting their current balance as little as possible. This does not apply to panzergrens as they are an elite squad and deserve the risk v. reward of their small squad size.

Just give the long-range role to Penals so they have a more distinctly than being better Conscripts with a lack of utility. Conscripts should serve the utility/meatshield role for the SU in the mid-late game. With that and a few slight changes to some core units, they'd be pretty self-sufficient without docs.

Also no to giving Soviet weapon teams better weapons for self-defense. They already have six man crews.

Fair enough with the weapon team defensive SMGs, but Penals already have a role that they serve well. This is the early assault role. They have satchels for clearing out buildings or OKW trucks and flamethrowers for everything else. The problem with them is that they are a wasted investment into the late game. You shift the penals into the long-range role and the Soviets lose another role for the early game. That is why if any of my suggestions should be considered, it is probably Penals and Conscripts ---> Strelki. This way, you can get your early assault unit that will transition into frontline infantry later.

I like the idea of conscripts becoming something more... but there is loads and loads of upgrades for them already tbh!

I think we're lucky penals have guns in the game anyway as they were used as tramplers mostly... then yeah t34s while good are pretty dull and could do with some love! I like your ideas op let's see what everyone else thinks!!

Perhaps it would be a good idea to transfer all the upgrades for Conscripts to Strelki as well? (Molotov, PPSh-41, RPG-43)

As it stands currently, the Soviet faction has been somewhat devoid of any effort to give it some kind of flavor or new features, as is the case with the Ostheer. To help make the Soviets more interesting to use and make them a bit less dependent on doctrinal units. I propose the following: (I'm aware Relic will not be receiving this, just looking for community feedback)

Soviet units should be able to 'upgrade' after receiving a certain amount of experience. What I mean is that with this change, a Soviet player will have two options when one of their conscript squad reaches let's say Veterancy 2. If the unit is in its home base territory, the player will be given the option to transform the squad from 'Conscripts' to 'Strelki' for a certain cost. What makes this more of a risk v. reward is that after transforming into Strelki, the unit will lose all its experience, it will be a clean slate, but a better base unit. After all, I doubt that the squad would really still qualify as a 'cheap and inexperienced fighting force' after seeing so much combat. With this change, a player must decide if they want to keep the benefits of a fully veteran squad such as less received accuracy and such or start fresh with an ultimately better squad, but having to get it vet up all over again. Keep in mind that this proposal is simply for the idea of Soviet troops upgrading with veterancy, any numbers I throw out are irrelevant and can be changed.

Some possible units to be upgraded with veterancy:
Conscripts --->Strelki
At Vet 2, conscripts can upgrade in HQ territory to Strelki, better long to mid range infantrymen with a mix of Mosin and SVT rifles.

Any support weapon (Mortars, AT guns, MGs)
Support Weapon --->
Instead of turning into a different unit, at Vet 2, support weapons will be given an upgrade in HQ territory to be set back one level of veterancy in return for a mix of personal defense SMGs (PPS-42/43s or PPSh-41s to help deter infantry)

Penals --->Strelki
At Vet 2, Penals can upgrade in HQ territory to Strelki. This is more of a reward/incentive to use Penals in the early game and exchange them for Strelki once the Penals lose their usefulness. This is essentially them being returned to their standard units and operating as regular soldiers once more.

T-34-85 --->T-34-85 w/ Anti-Panzerfaust Wire Mesh
At Vet 2 (which is hard to get in a T-34-85), the tank can upgrade in the HQ territory and lose one veterancy level in return for an Anti-Panzerfaust Mesh that would basically reduce the likelihood that the tank receives an engine critical from panzerfausts or other snares.

I feel like this change will keep with the Soviet idea of having a lot of manpower and cheap units that become better (think guards status) if they can survive the hardships of combat. If incorporated well, I feel that this concept would make the Soviets more fun to play, more competitive, give more risk/reward (upgrade now, later, or never), and actually feel like it fits in with the 1944 time period of the game. Again, to avoid being overpowered or completely disrupting the balance of the game, any of the values listed above can and probably should be changed. Ideally, this is a relatively straightforward change that will only require one new unit to be added (Strelki).


- T-34-85 with Wire Mesh