Actual question.
I might struggle a bit against OKW, but I really don't know how to use them, beyond 4 Volks into PZ4s.Show Spoiler
depends on the gamemode really. In 1v1 mechanized is used 98% of the time so you can apply maximum amount of pressure with luchs + puma. In teamgames battlegroup is more commonly used than 1v1, but I'd say mech is more used at top tier because of how fast you can get the stuka out.
Battlegroup tends to be less used because as OKW you start with a very decent lead in power with sturms and how fast you can crank out volks (except against UKF who just dumpster them from minute 1). Soviets tend to regain ground after a bit as well with maxim spam (which is dated and now semi ineffective), penals from minute 1, snipers, clown cars, etc. Everything except conscripts. USF is just crying in a corner for 10 minutes till they can get heavy infantry from a doctrine or a light vehicle to bully.
But back to the main point of why battlegroup isn't really used is because there isn't a super punishing unit you can use to smack your opponet with and potentially swing the balance of the game. The MG34, which you get from either truck going up has decent suppression, but minimal damage. Although it may stop units, it doesn't bleed manpower well in the slightest. The ISG, which is now much better than previously takes a significant amount of time to start to have a lasting effect on your opponet. It's also the only nondoctrinal access to smoke, which is nice, but limited. The flakHT, with its setup time is good for locking down areas and slight creep against infantry but isn't too great at ending games.
Now the reason you want to close the game is because you do not want to be going into lategame against certain doctrines etc. 5 man 2x brens/BARs are difficult to fight 1v1 with volks alone, obers don't arrive till about minute 10 at the fastest, and they only trade even with upgraded units at that point when you buy their upgrade. OKWs lategame stock consists heavily of P4s and panthers and the occassional JP4. The P4 is a great all rounder, but is the most expensive of all stock mediums. The panther is a direct clone of the OST panther, formidable HP pool, superior mobility and high penetration all on a great price. JP4 is good when your opponet is snared and slow moving. It's a bit funky to use because of the lack of rotation of the main gun, similar to the SU76. Because of this it tends to fire its first shot at -50% accuracy because of the mobility debuff, because it fires before it stops rotation. Other than that though it has the highest RoF of any nondoc TD and good penetration for dealing with low armor targets. Its penetration can prove an issue against high armor and especially high HP targets, specifically the IS2. And then there is no designated AI tank. No HE shells, no infantry shreding vet 1 centaur obliteration straffe, just the P4 or bust. Yes Obers are solely AI, but 4 men don't last too long vs centaurs and HE shermans.
All of the above is based on nondoctrial units. When you factor is crap like callin panther, omegawatch and goliaths the faction will perform far exceeding what i've posted. Although things like the callin panther enable such aggression from mechanized, that's another can of worms.
There are many issues with the faction, and it would most definitly require its own thread if I were to explain every single aspect, but a complete overhaul of the faction would essentially be required. Although a complete redesign of most factions, except probably OST is required IMO.
I suppose you think units like the Raketenwerfer and the KT also need buffs, since they are seen as borderline meme units, I wonder what would you do in order to fix OKW.
Can't tell if attack or actual question.
OKW has a lot of problems, and the MG34 is in fact one of them, but I think tackling a lone unit would probably not be healthy for faction balance overall. OKW is currently the powerhouse of axis since OST is.... sad to say the least, but buffing something currently for OKW without major faction power changes on other units is probably a no go.
Invised offtopic posts
It's just too thin. Once you get past the early game and the enemy has multiple mgs flanking becomes impossible unless the enemy fucks up.
This^
You can't flank because there is no room to flank. Mega sight units are like 500% more effective because they can see 2/3 of the width of the map just by sitting in the center.
picks up phone
"Hello, Dzaara? Rutra? Yes I have a new challenger for you two...
No no you can have axis and overwatch. Map won't matter either...
Ah good we'll cast it live, can't wait for the match."
Show Spoiler Funny dialogue aside. Nope
Tell that to any soviet player trying to counter ele/JT by suiciding 3-4 T-34s as obviously, you're not going to kill it from the front.
Yeah, if there only existed an ability that could make StuGs immobile and give them 60+ range hmmm, hell, it could even boost their defence a bit.
Bad design =/= make other bad design choices.
They have cheap, spammable, expendable TD instead.
We talk about Tiger 1, not Tiger 2.
Its AI power is lower only in comparison to pershing, every other generalist vehicle got worse AI.
Moreover it would massively buff its AT and it already has 2nd highest RoF out of all limited to 1 230 fuel vehicles.
60 range would make it ISU but with turret.
Losing units doesn't win wars
/moved to new members
When though? I've reported this guy loads of times starting years ago.
Idk that's a SP question