Profile of Ztormi

I think making them immune to a core game mechanic is a bad way to go.

With the LMG42 long range DPS decreased (normalized to the level of other weapons), I think the way to go for now should be a decrease in their build time. This means Penals can finally fulfill their long range DPS role, which they can keep up for a long time from cover and pretty cheaply when Conscripts merge into them.
One main reason for their lacking performance (being beaten at long range DPS) is now gone. This means that the meta might shift into a more penal-friendly state all by itself.
The decreased build time would still be good so the massive hole in field presence created by long build times of T1 + penals is decreased a bit and to incentivize people to try them out again.

Good analysis and good suggestions. I'd add that the introduction of tier0 Ostheer units really screwed penal builds in my opinion, mainly because of the build times.

In the current state of the game considering the build time and tech needed to get Penals, I'd say 320mp is fair price for the utility they provide.

I agree with you about the timing thing.

Just decrease Penals cost to 320mp and remove that retarded flamer explosion crit and they would be fine.

drink vodka/ the real Russians don't drink vodka is a myth.it seems to me that drank this vodka from Relic when did the game about super German army especially about that lie in main campaigns that they wrote aboute soviet army.

Real Russians drink vodka wearing sweatsuits and sitting in slavsquat.

I've been doing Penal strategy a lot in 1on1 and I think I can make it work.

Early build order:

Conscript>Conscript>Second Engineer>Tier1>Penal>Penal...

In case of light vehicles get third conscript with at nades or wait for guards incase you don't have good mines planted, otherwise get third Penal.

Notes for early game:

-Stall for your first Penal squad, use conscripts for harassment and constantly merge them with Penals
-Don't spend your munitions on Penal flamethrowers, spend munitions for mines because light vehicles are the biggest weakness of this strat. Penals work very well without flamers if you use them correctly.
-Upgrade your engineers with flamethrowers, they are the building clearing units for you
-Keep Penals at distance. Assault grenadiers rape Penals close range even if they are equipped with flamethrowers. I've had much better luck against them without flamers.

Mid-late game:

-Tech to tier4 and get unit of your choice. SU-76 against blobs, mgs and light vehicles, SU-85 for anything heavier. Usually I end up getting one SU-76 and 85 after that.

PS. I'm not playing 1on1 that much, around 50 games in the bag atm so if anyone decent wants to test this against me send me a pm.