Yes, it was like that in the preview and it was pointed out but they went ahead anyway...
"Can now fire a Heavy Mortar Barrage up to range 150 once Hammer or Anvil have been unlocked.
Heavy Barrage fires a total of 8 rounds into the target area with a 100 second recharge; affected by veterancy."
"M1 81mm Mortar
Cost from 240 to 230
Barrage scatter angle from 10 to 9
Distance scatter max from 8 to 7
Mobile Mortar Smoke (M21, 250 Half-Track, USF/British 81mm, Soviet 82mm, Ostheer 81mm)**
To increase the effectiveness and responsiveness of smoke barrages, the speed at which they fire shells and rotate has been adjusted. Furthermore, smoke barrages will no longer share a cooldown with the primary barrage to allow players to have on-demand smoke.
Infantry Mortar pivot time from 2 to 1.25
Smoke Barrage wind down from 2 to 0.375
Number of smoke shells per barrage from 3 to 4
Scatter bonuses at veterancy 3 no longer apply to smoke barrages
Smoke Barrages no longer share a cooldown with the primary barrage"
wow 150 range...what does affected by vet means? even faster recharge on vet...
so fast pit + later bofors and atg protection...
my okw trucks are sitting ducks ...
and every 4v4 games is a smoke fest now...not sure if that is what you intended....
imo
-lock the heavy mortar to emplacement commander and keep it at 100s recharge times and consider reduce range to 120....
-remove infantry mortar smoke wind down and shell per barrage buffs. back to 2 and 3 respectively.
smoke fest is very one-sided for the initiator and the one at receving end cannot do shit, especially for ost a more static faction...
it is like if you have early recon planes for free, just opposite of revealing sight...you block sight and breaks the tactical fun of FOW....