Title, I've watched and played a 2v2s in preparation for 1v1s from taking a year break. I also watched the current GCS tournament. I've noticed that now everyone and their dog goes LV, doesn't matter what faction it's always an auto pick. Current patch made rushing for mediums blatant suicide since LVs will absolutely demolish your entire army. LV are meant to SUPPORT AND HARRASS, not win the entire game for you.
I'm sick and tired of seeing 444/Puma/T70/AAHT/Luchs every single fucking match I play or watch, it's just boring because there's no strategic thinking involved anymore. Do I try to hold for fast medium or rush lights to win the game for me? Not to mention current OST/SOV matchup it's an autopick MobDef & KV1 leading to extremely stale matches even between different players.
I propose every single light tank gets nerfed significantly so they no longer a must pick for all factions. Especially T70/222/AAHT/FlamerHT as the Luchs is "fairly" balanced by not wiping the entire squad in 10 seconds.
Sadly that's "only" half the problem. The only way to fight LV's is with an LV of your own.
The "hardcounters" that are ATG's are a huge investment, lack the mobility needed and are unreliable in hitting the lv's. What's more, they require 3 shots to kill an lv, which is simply too much when fighting the mobile fuckers.
That leaves mines and specialised AT infantry, both of which have their own counters and problems (even guards become a MP drain vs 444 and flame ht and mines can be sweeped).
Thus if you don't go AEC/t70/444/aaht, you get fucked.
I prefer a HP of 360, but that messes with abandon crit change and still leaves 3 shots for atg's, (4 more like since the damned things like to miss lv's)
A general higher cost for light vehicles would encourage sniper heavy play early on. This would only further amplify the trend of Soviets and Wehrmacht being the two dominant factions as they have the best snipers.
I would try increasing the fuel cost on light vehicles but reducing the manpower cost. This slows teching, and makes them harder to easily replace, but wouldn’t be a flat nerf.
Says alot about snipers, if you need the current lv's to stop them.
Higher fuel could work if call-ins got erased, else you get the current mobile defence meta.