Profile of ZombiFrancis

Ostheer panther has (always had) two issues:

It's price/timing is way out of whack with the rest of the factions.
It is either too inaccurate on the move, or too inaccurate on the move.

Arguably there's a third factor: Keeping Panthers alive and on the field is a challenge because pioneers take forever to repair them. It's also a challenge to keep pios alive and available to repair. Their flamethrowers and minesweepers are typically in high demand. Especially now if USF is also getting mines. It is worth noting though, that before WFA, this was actually balanced because combat engineers were also scrambling to keep Soviet armor repaired. (Windustry nothwithstanding.)

And largely because of this, in the context of Soviets v Ostheer, the Ostheer panther actually functions as intended. In the extraordinarily rare occasions of large teamgames of EFA only factions, Ostheer can and certainly will snowball into a swarm of panthers. But once USF or UKF (or an OKW teammate) enters the picture into those teamgames, that dynamic goes completely out the window.

The changes to repair that are being proposed don't address ostheer pioneers or USF tank crews. This is suspect. Removing the ostheer panther's extra armor at vet 2, which was the only rule of thumb you could rely on (Just get to vet 2, then your panther can do things.) doesn't help the landscape either.

But this is looking at the Panther holistically, taking into account unit synergies, and most importantly outside of a vacuum, so...

Balance Team: What are your current limitations for this patch? What is on and off the table for this patch? I can't speak for anyone else, but my level of analysis, criticism, and shits given is entirely governed by the degree to which you are willing and able to attempt to solve issues of balance.

...Or are your limitations specifically just the goals laid out in the changelog?

Show Spoiler

Good lord these threads get asinine quick.

Balance team: valid points have been made, questions have been asked, but like clockwork they're ignored if you don't have a way of passing blame onto the playerbase, relics scope, or by arbitrarily declaring the question invalid.

The justification for the changes to panthers is all over the board. If it's taking seven pages and tomes of posts and the reasoning still isn't clear, that's a sign that maybe reevaluation is necessary.

Having a good list of changes in a patch is not a license to stubbornly redesign units in this game as per private agendas.

Been asking this since FBP: why are you looking at panthers, elefants, and Jacksons in such contained vacuums? Do you just believe tank crews and repairs are irrelevant? Is the Sherman irrelevant? Are you trying to get ostheer to crutch even more on the stug?

I mean come on, every one of these community patches is like 80% genuine good collaborative work, and then a few completely hairbrained ideas that are relentlessly defended as The One True Way despite any notion to the contrary.

What is the point of trying to discuss things? Going to demand 60 replays from anyone and everyone each definitely proving that the Jackson and panther changes aren't perfect? Just like with penals? Or volks stgs/Sturm schrecks?

With resounding consistency: Excellent list of general changes affecting all factions, QoL changes, and bug fixes.

Conscript molotov-AT merge I like... Opens the door for the third ability. Are the PPsh changes foreshadowing of a non-doc PPsh upgrade, perchance?

Obliterating that Lend-Lease meta.

But man, the panther changes. Increasing pop cap though? At least no one can say that the OKW Panther is a good version of what the Ostheer panther should be like. Nipped that argument in the bud. Poor Ostheer is paying a whole lot for a second faster reload on their panther.

But of course, getting that 640 health Jackson, come hell or high water. 520 or 560 I can understand. But 640 is just trolling, especially when reducing Elefant damage. Why not increase Sherman health to make it viable as a screening tank?

RE Mines. Kreygasm. I don't care that they're m7s. I'll take it.

Trash-talk is a component of competitive play.

Not everyone uses it, not everyone abuses it.

Hello fellow CoH2 players and pros. I haven't played the game for too long, maybe more than a year (busy with work and conscription service and all). Now I wanna get back and play a bit but I have no idea what the hell is going on. Watched a few streams, but felt like asking you guys a few questions.

So, I wanna know about the new meta(s) in 1s and 2s (I have all the factions). Also "factions strength" (No balance debates here, just tell me which factions are less demanding and a bit noob friendly right now).
Also, I think there were some major mechanics overhauls (OKW teching for one), if you mention a few I would be grateful.

Thanks in advance.

Yeah I'd say OKW is the place to start to shake off the rust. Your t0 has everything you need for the entire game.

Tech at your choice and leisure. Most people go for the Luchs because it can come out very early. (Think CoH1 American m8 rushes. Except OKW isn't really having to choose between BARs and other such decisions.) Since volks have garrison and cover denial grenades and StG upgrades that actually improves their long range performance over their rifles, you can utilize them for everything except for lategame tank killing.

The only think you need to worry about as OKW are lategame tanks, which fortunately USF and Soviets more or less lack entirely without the correct doctrine choices. Plus you got non-doc KT going for you.

That said, in 2v2s if there's a UKF player you might actually have to react to your opponent's strategy. In 1v1s UKF is much easier to overwhelm before the lategame as OKW due to the unnaturally strong early and mid game they enjoy.