Profile of Hannibal

What you have quoted was a response to Looney suggestion that JLI should remain as is but move to CP 2.

That's a fair point, however you're usually asking to discuss only what you have posted and not implications by whom you quote or what others discussed before you. By these measures, please stick to what you demand from others. I have not written anything about moving JLI to CP2.

At CP 2, with 100 sec CD, (no infiltration) trying to delay in order to use JLI as core infantry does not seem be very viable.

I on the other hand have suggested that these unit should become more focused on utility than damage and become support units with lower Pop/cost.

Which suggestion do you agree with?

JLI are okay as they are at the moment, there is no big reason to change them if there was the chance to do so. They actually fit their historic role quite well. Making the critical kill a timed ability as you suggested might be a good way to go, but obviously has to be tested.

The flare change seem to rather hard, they CD on rearming the flare should simply be significantly increased now the ability is hardly used.

Alternatively it could be replaced by conscript's flare with no damage or low cost (or no cost) "sniper" flares launched from trucks.

The flare change was necessary and good. It required no input and generated a massive sight bonus for axis, especially regarding the good availability of rocket artillery. The time to place them could be shortened though. Not sure what you mean by "sniper" flare. The one the Soviet sniper and Panzerfusiliere have?

Seriously doubt that since game has a number of oversight that where not actually intended but where simply not noticed. I will continue to doubt that this behavior was a decision until someone can provide some proof that it was intended for the released product.

(I pretty sure most abilities are not created from scratch but edits of other abilities like "war speed" for instance or the reason behind it was so that the upgrade is not available to tank captured by UKF)

Stuka having 0 penetration for instance is a prime example.

I have no interest in arguing semantics on weather it qualifies as bug or not or even if it was decision at some point, it a abnormality that should be fixed and I am glad that you agree.

(edited)

Definitely CoH2 has quite some copy and paste issues. For unit upgrades, there rarely is a clear clue if that is intended or an oversight/bug, so I'll stick with what I think is most probable. Anyway, we agree on the conclusion.

No, faction do not work the same and OKW do not have early access to HMG so they usually spam more infantry than other factions.

OKW does have the Kubelwagen that let's you replace at least 1 infantry unit in the early game with a non-bleeding vehicle, which in turn usually opens up the space for getting more elite squads later on in the game.

JLI do not get flares
Sprint has limited use for long range unit with no normal grenades or snare
Booby traps are also available to Ober
Salvage is also available to other infatry
First aid kit is no bad but medic kits are also available

What they really bring to the table is the camo/extra sight.

Just because other squads have it does not mean they don't bring anything to the table. You can skip other units and still have those abilities like the booby trap in your line up. The sprint is also decent to dodge Soviet and USF close range squads, much cheaper than losing an expensive model and retreating. In the Scavenge Doctrine, it also combines with the infiltration grenades if I am not mistaken to flank and attack support weapons.

I agree that their camo and sight is their biggest plus and I also add the snipe crit to it. 3 JLI squads were basically not counterable with infantry back when they were 0CP and you could spam them.

While OP's idea might fix some problems, I somehow doubt it would really balance snipers properly in the end. USF, OKW and to some extend UKF would still not have a good response to them. 3v3, 4v4 and some more narrow 2v2 maps will also not really change due to there being enough screening infantry and flanking being impossible.

If you'd want to stick with the current design, I'd make them slower out of cover and only gain normal speed in cover. That way they are less mobile and you can finally chase them across a field with normal infantry, they positions and moving patterns become more predictable and they are overall less efficient due to increased walking time. The slow down after shooting was an okay start, but in the end did not do an awful lot. It barely allows you to get your normal infantry into max range, at which point the sniper will get next to no damage due to poor long range moving DPS of all early game units.

My overall idea would be to make snipers more affordable 2-men squads and to remove the critical kill but give them higher damage and overall high accuracy instead so that shots can me missed when the enemy is in cover. They can then get recon abilities and be generally moved into recon roles. I'd personally even go as far to make one guy a spotter with long sight and the other one the sniper with the good rifle but less sight, but this is a quite complicated solution that is not obvious to the player, so I understand if that would need to be scrapped. This way they are less fragile, require less micro, can punish badly positioned squads and support and ongoing engagement, but not annoy the living heck out of you. They are more expendable and replaceable when lost, but can act as observers in the late game. Also, the defending player can actively reduce his bleed by positioning his squads well. This interaction is currently missing in the design of snipers which makes them annoying for the receiving side.

You surely have a replay on that?