Profile of Hannibal

These are the actual damage profiles of ZiS prepatch (Zis1, blue; I was lazy so sorry); ZiS postpatch (Zis2, orange) and the Brummbär. The only thing that is not accounted for by my calculation model is if the max AoE differs from the far AoE distance point. In that case, everything that goes beyond the far distance point is neglected and 0, but units like that are quite rare from what I remember.

Graph resolution is 0,1875 m.


Data for Zis-pre / Zis-post / Brummbär
kill radius for 80 damage: 1,500 / 0,000 / 1,106
area under plot: 206,04 / 204,41 / 376,70
functional area under plot: 206,04 / 204,41 / 301,09

Note: "functional area" is the area of the plot that is also below the 80 HP mark which basically corrects for artifacts when calculating AI capability. Graph areas are arithmetic estimates and no perfect integrals.



Conclusion:
Prepatch ZiS and Postpatch ZiS had the same overall AI damage, but prepatch there was a high model wipe capability (even better than today's Brummbär). Now ZiS can't wipe a full health model anymore, while overall AI damage stays the same. I can't tell anymore how reliable the prepatch ZiS was at hitting targets, but if the scatter was not touched I'd say it's an overall nerf (just like every artillery unit and even abilities got changed towards more reliable, less bursty damage).

If anyone provides me the SU76 data I can insert them into the graph (although 4 units is the max to compare).

I knew someone would be unable to follow and force me to explain it.

3 StuGs = 270 Fuel

1 Panther + T4 Cost = 235

The more likely scenario is that you skip T3 and go for T4 instantly, which would bring the cost of your Panther down to 210 Fuel, and even then you completely neglect MP.
But I agree, assuming you already went for T3 as OST, there will be a big gap until you have a T4 unit which is risky to do.

Panther - Exactly the same as the OKW Panther, this unit is constantly monitored as the "Lategame" unit for axis. I feel its in a good spot as parity with the jackson, SU85 and Firefly are very tightly monitored and updated often as the game evolves.

Panther is fine in my eyes and often the main reason to go for T4 as OST

Brumbar- Can be very strong in the right situation, but can also get blasted by AT very easily if brought in at the wrong time against heavy resistance. Prohibitively expensive especially if you don't have less expensive t3 units to back it up or you are opting for a panther as well.

Brummbär of very situational and actually a good vehicle. The main problem is that it is heavily micro dependent (best use is on hold fire with manual ground targeting). So good players will often get their cost back with high wipe potential, while worse players will rage that it so often misses its shots. The price is balanced around high level play.

For the further discussion, as someone said Brummbär would have short range: It has 35 range, which is quite far. And it can lob its shots over obstacles, which is a great trait, but not useful on every map.

Panzerwerfer- Rockets all come at once but arrive slower than the first rockets from Katusha or Calliope. I find it slightly worse than those options as it makes it much easier to aim, but other players seem to have more success with this than me.

I'd actually prefer the Panzerwerfer over the Katy. Great unit to wipe squads if your opponent is not pinpoint accurate with his call where it will land.



Main problems with T4 is OSTs design. OST has no real LV with the power of a Puma, Luchs or T70. So near the midgame, OST often needs a vehicle to not fall behind too much. Waiting for T4 will often be too risky (at least in smaller modes), so going T3 is just a way safer option. T4 is great in teamgames though, no real need for T3 there. Just skip it and get the big guns instantly.

Just to reinforce my point:
What does Battlegroup HQ lack that Mechanized can offer? Objectively, Battlegroup has quite some advantages, the biggest one being medics, a FRP on bigger maps (usually more useful in larger modes as well) and some fuel savings over T2. These are very good traits. OKWs design could potentially allow for a T1 infantry focused gameplay, or a T2 vehicle focused gameplay. At the moment few people play T1, although none of the units in T2 are OP by themselves. What does this tell us? Thr conclusion is that the gpod traits of T1 cannot compensate for the overall shitty units it offers

I don't actually think the Flak is bad for it's timing at the moment but I feel like Battlegroup HQ is too expensive in general at the moment. If you think about it, it's 70 mp 15 fuel for the truck, 200 mp and 25 fuel to drop Battlegroup and 100 mp 15 fuel for medics. That ends up being 370 mp and 55 fuel just for healing access. This delays the Flak Halftrack heavily in my opinion, if the Battlegroup was lets say 150 manpower instead of 200 and the truck came with the medic upgrade you could save 15 fuel and 150 manpower which could help you tech quicker getting Obers out faster or being able to rush the Flak HT without having to skip out on healing. The Flak comes to late if you get medics first and the rest of the truck doesn't really help with the Retreat Point being overpriced. ISG's are nice but when you could have the Luchs and the Puma you would take them instead. Mech at the moment is essentially 270 mp 60 fuel, meaning you spend 5 more fuel but you save 100 manpower which is more noticeable. Mech is generally cheaper and has better units resulting in more people going for it, the truck only becomes more expensive when you spend 100 mp 15 fuel on the mechanics but people don't tend to do this in the early game since repairs aren't as big of an issue.

You could just not buy medics right away and get the Flak first while surviving on medcrates as it is the current meta. I think OKWs fuel and tech timing is pretty balanced compared to other factions, so I would not give them an upgrade for free unless you you put the cost somewhere else.
In my eyes the Battlegroup is a good building. Can give you medics, front line reinforcement and you tech up faster than with T2.
For me it clearly comes down to the units and the current LV meta. Let's face it, probably no other building of any faction has such useful units as OKW T2. Luchs, Puma, StuKa - they're all great. But they're not really unbalanced, all prices and timings are alright. So how does Battlegroup compete woth that? IR halftrack - only useful in larger team games. ISG - decent, but OKW rarely needs early game AI power, especially not against in general more mobile Allied infantry. And the Flak - that's being discussed here, in my eyes it does not add enough value to the building.so what's there to do?
Buff by price reduction - could mess up overall OW timings and game balance.
Put Luchs or Puma into Battlegroup - would be an overall berf to OKW
Buff Battlegroup units to give them more shock value (ISG is standardized, IR halftrack has no combat power, so Flak remains)