Profile of GI John 412

I’ve akways thought it was odd that troops in cover fire LMGs from the hip, completely ignoring the obvious bipod attaches to them and the advantage they would gain by utilizing it. From someone who has actually fired several belt fed weapons systems from various positions I can attest that the grenadier hip fire technique in game is super cool and fun, but horribly inaccurate. It is used on initial contact to provide immediate fire, but subsequently the prone position is used if in the open or cover is used as a rest if available.

I propose a slight visual change to reflect realism in cover use and bipod support:

1. In heavy and light cover as well as buildings, troops holding an LMG will use the crouching or kneeling animation with the LMG held to the shoulder. This puts the bipod approximately on the edge of the cover if a shell hole or wall and makes it appear supported.

2. Troops in the open continue to either hip fire if elite, or otherwise go prone to shoot.

3. This will have zero effect on balance, but visually will improve the look and feel of the game. I’ve akways thought it was silly that sandbags are built waist high and then troops all stand behind them fully exposing their chest instead of acutually using the cover. This will also add a visual indicator that some troops fight better from cover, like tommies and osttruppen, because they are shooting from a supported position.

4. I’m not sure about how hard this would’ve to implement, but if it were to be included in the SBP then at least we could all gain something that isn’t controversial like the horrible changes to the op op opie Cromwell.

5. Respond in the poll and support your answer with a comment. If you think it should remain the way it is, then why? If you like my idea, then why as well.

I agree that diversifying the roles of the Vickers K and Bren Gun is a good move. Accurate, but short bursts from the Bren to make it an “all rounder” vs high rate of fire with longer burrs but with less accuracy to make the Vickers K a powerful gun closer up but less effective at long range. Correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t that mean that the Vickers K would be better vs troops in the open or in negative cover while the Bren Gun would be less punishing to exposed troops while retaining more effectiveness vs light and heavy cover? If so, I think that that would be a cool way to make them different. Or, nerf just the Bren and reduce the cost and leave the Vickers K alone, making the half track drops a viable option in a 1v1. Options options options.....

The Jackson's problem is it's got to be everything USF needs from a tank destroyer. The other factions have two or more specialist AT vehicles filling different roles.

The result is a tank which has no vehicular counter. If it did whichever tank countered it would counter USF's entire armour lineup.

In my opinion what USF needs is a cheaper non-doctrinal vehicular AT option that fills a similar role to the SU-76, AEC, Puma or StuG. That'd let the Jackson fall back into a more specialist Firefly/SU-85 role.

I find the idea of introducing a “Light AT” vehicle to US interesting, but ultimately destructively difficult to balance. US have lots of AT spread throughout all levels of tech, bazookas hard counter light vehicles while soft countering larger ones, while Jackson hard counters heavies but isn’t as efficient for its cost against light vehicles. If anything the problem with the Jackson TD results from uneven effectiveness of the tiers as a whole. Buffing the Stuart might make Captain play more rewarding and allow LT-Capt as a viable teching route instead of LT to Maj or Capt to Maj. Tier skipping allows fast tech, but takes away tools from the player. That’s a good risk/reward scenario, but if LT or Capt is always better than the other, and neither one is worth a back-tech after getting Maj, then you end up with less diversity. What I mean is that you end up with Maj tech being imbalanced because it is trying to fill the role of whatever you skipped to get there. Bazookas, .50 cal M2HBs, M1 ATGs and M36 Jacksons need to be balanced together as AT options scaling to different threats, but the tiers that they all come from must also be balanced to each other in other aspects as well.

Maybe move the mortar to Capt and Pack Howi to LT? Maybe buff Stuart against infantry? Maybe none of those things, but Jackson problems are a result of over reliance on it as “only” or “best” US AT option.

#makebazookaszookagain