Profile of ZombiFrancis

I always thought the Soviet Union should have a couple global upgrades that cost fuel that would do things like increase manpower income and reduce reinforce costs of infantry, or at least conscripts.

Minor increases or reductions that would mean a lot over time, but would be a dangerous investment to take too early. A hundred or so manpower and 40-80 fuel for:

+10 manpower a minute.

or

-10% reinforce costs on all infantry.

But at the same time I always thought the conscript PPsh upgrade should be stock, (that could just as easily stack with the doctrinal version for 6 PPsh).

Global upgrades costing fuel are often worthwhile. (I also thought OKW vet 4 and 5 should be locked behind an upgrade, and much easier to acquire as a result).

The delay on abilities is important.

AT partizans should have a rapidly researched AT weapon. That unit upgrade would require a bit of a munitions threshold and a limited timer for just lolschrecking. It would open the unit up to more stealthy mine laying than just jumping out to finish a retreating vehicle. It could also require them to be in friendly territory if that's suitable.

I had forgotten how BS and utterly boring heavy sov t2 play is. I actually quit playing Ost for about 12 months because I was fed up with maxim spam and because some sov players would rely upon the durability of the six man squads to remain in the game.

Whilst separating maxims and zis guns to different tiers is a good start, the two problems i have is the squad durability and the concept of opening with t2 and maxims in general.

It truly astonishes me tbh just how prevalent mgs from every faction are in this game.

Note : I am not necessarily saying its batshit op,more frustrating and braindead.

Show Spoiler

I know it is not within scope of the patch but leaving t2 as is will always result in certain games being an exercise in frustration.

Ah yes, I agree. But in my opinion I would much rather approach a problem of soviet units being too durable than with unit composition in T1/T2. Separating Maxims and ZiS would force that exact style of gameplay to tech T2 for mortars and ZiS or just go without them. (Or vice versa, just not have maxims and support ZiS and mortars with conscripts and even a sniper if they have the mp.)

It'd really break that frustrating braindead feel of T2 and at least open up the window for Axis players to try and take advantage of their own teching to respond to Soviets (instead of hoping for a hamstrining choice on their part.)

A different approach:
T1 offers benefits to infantry call-ins
T2 offers benefits to support weapons call-ins

https://community.companyofheroes.com/discussion/243466/soviets-all-giving-soviet-t1-and-t2-a-clear-role#latest

I think you've got an idea there. Reducing CP cost though from 2 to 1 is a pretty considerable reduction though timing wise.

I feel like if they were reduced in CP they'd almost have to be built from the tier building to preserve the timing. But in that case I would actively not build tiers to keep them as callin units.

The problem is with DSHk, M42, and 120mm being reduced in price/whatever in T2 is that they're all essentially variants of what's already in T2. Why would you want a quicker M42 when you have ZiS unlocked? 120mm I get and the DSHk is great, but different in function as the maxim. Especially when you consider these doctrines support T1 far more synergistically.

I think much of the appeal of call-in is the "panic puma" type mentality. I think they're more a reaction to opponent's gameplay than a preemptive strategy. But I do like your line of thinking.

Latest changes to Penals are the wrong direction :c
Compare Penals with an actual "Elite Infantry" unit such as Obers that come out of the final OKW tech building. The power creep is insane. Ober's have to get at least vet two (accuracy bonus) in order to be any use and are only able to buy One (1!) LMG. And also Obers suffer from 1.5X damage from explosives which provides a (overly) huge weakness to their anti-infantry strength.

The only thing elite about Obers is their price. Four hundred manpower for a unit that has virtually the same survivability in the lategame (when it arrives) as Grenadiers. They really bring nothing to the table except for a particularly good LMG. And the LMG34 has definitely seen better days.

Not since the original/initial days of the lulziest LMG34 have I feared Obers. And even then I really wasn't afraid of them or felt they were that scary. They were just a big fat juicy targets that sometimes made my paratroopers or shock troops deathgods.

Then the Brits came out with their Sniper and everything to add insult to injury.

I think this is a lot of argumentation over 80 manpower and 10 fuel.

There's no supply yard or kraft centre for buying vet in coh2. And for that reason the utility and strategy of attacking bases is pretty downplayed except for only wiping squads as they retreat.