Profile of Jae For Jett

I don't know about having exchanged Stuart with M15 in this configuration you can have now HMG+M1 for 60 fuel. I think the only reason to go T2.5 would be for the pak howitzer. Hmg+Stuart is a really strong combo.

I think it's important to keep team games in mind too. Anti air is a lot more important in team games, as is indirect fire.

So, Lt will be getting a BAR via an upgrade (similar to other mainline infantry) or through weapon racks?

Answered in sanders' post. It's an upgrade.

Lieutenant
BAR removed; can be purchased for 60 munitions. BAR on an earlier LT was seen as too powerful.

I don't see how a single BAR in this squad was too powerful.

In most cases, it wasn't. But now the lieutenant squad itself is coming 50 manpower and (most significantly) 20 fuel earlier. The unit comes earlier, so we're bringing its power down as a cautionary measure. Additionally, LT will always have a natural leg up over CPT as long as the LT comes with a BAR and CPT comes with nothing. It's easier (and in my opinion, better design) to balance the two tiers if neither gets a free weapon over the other.

I see your point, but having that much early game manpower is bad for the sov/okw matchup, even if it does make for a "balanced" matchup. Because OKW has such early game power, soviet players are forced to get an m3. The m3 also has to be really strong in order to make up this power gap, meaning it has to hit harder than it should for its timing. It also just hurts build diversity since you always have to get an m3 since its the only way you survive. With OKW putting out less early game pressure, sov can explore more early build options, and OKW can get power in other areas to make up for the oppressive early game they lose. Basically, lowering OKW starting manpower can allow matchups that are currently balanced to be made into balanced AND fun/healthy matchups.

Finally, rifles to 260/26 probably will cause problems for the ost/usf matchup. If an ost player mismanages his mg42, then the usf player quickly achives map dominance. Straight up cheaper rifles can easily put this early matchup into a dangerous state as it makes the early game far more punishing for the ost player. Also, rifles would simply vastly overperform for 26 manpower. Finally, cheaper rifles would hurt build diversity. Why get a weapon team when you can get a cheap core squad that performs well? Other options (the kind of combined arms options I think the game should be pushing) become worse in comparison if you buff rifles like that.

I think Riflemen are fine or even good/excellent for their cost, especially at max potential (great vet and double BAR). I just feel that USF struggles to field enough units quick enough to stop the OKW Sturmpioneer/Volksgrenadier mass in the first 5 minutes.

Again, just look at how youre describing this issue. Youre talking about it as if it were an okw starting manpower + sturm problem, and not a rifle problem (because it is). Again, fix whats broken. Changing rifles is tantamount to changing whats not broken in an attempt to fix something else thats broken.