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Merge with combat engineers is most powerful in the early game as you can keep your flamethrower fighting enemy grens and pios a lot longer. In the late game, it's less impactful as due to lack of durability vet, combat engineers just die too fast to make it worth doing in most situations.
I'm ok with the pioneers being 200mp and CE being 170, even in the late game. What is a bit harder to swallow is 25mp reinforcement vs 21(or 20/18 if you use merge to save on mp).
It's the 25mp reinforcement that breaks the piggy bank in the late game, not the initial cost. That's almost as much as assault grens(26) FFS. |
finished reading here
The initial purchase cost is ok, but the reinforcement cost(26) is ludicrous given their performance. At vet 3 they have an RA of 0.83 which is quite poor for a vet 3 combat unit(ambush or not) and their vet 3 PPSH stats are worse than shock troops at VET 0! Hell, their PPSH stats are worse than Volks grenadier MP40s, all the while having only 4 models, worse starting RA(then mp40 volks) and worse max vet RA.
I would either reduce their reinforcement cost, buff their RA (through vet) or a combination both.
They dont have focus fire which I am grateful for, and that their damage output is a little lower then other ambush units is alright, but they should at least be semi cost effective in durability if not firepower. |
Isn't it the other way around?
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300 < 280?
It's more that long range favors PF less then close range against peniles. The G43s give PFs a sizable edge in close quarters. At long range, they are fairly close in dps though vet 3 peniles should win vs vet 5 G43 PFs At anything above ~15 range.
As for the cost, you really do have to factor in the G43 upgrade munitions since without it the PFs dont even come close to peniles. |
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There are plenty of units that have "no brainer" upgrades. 7 man cons, mg34 obers, BAR rifles(after racks), FG42 FSJ and plenty others.
The STGs arent really about choice, but rather a general power spike at a specific timing to allow volks to stay competitive in the same way that the 7 man upgrade works for cons.
Both are just flat upgrades, both take up all weapon slots, the stgs arrive substantially earlier but the 7 man upgrade is more powerful and scales better. |
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The reason I dont consider pios comparable in recon is due to how powerful their spotting actually is. While it no doubt can help an MG spot an incoming blob a little earlier, 42 range is insufficient to provide much beyond that. Compare it to the M3A1 with 50 base spotting range, vet 3 M5 with 45.5, su85 with 75 on focus sight, recon T70 with base 52.5, hell even tracking su76/su85/zis/isu is 49... that 42 sight range isnt looking so good beyond spotting for your mgs.
It's not that having 7 extra sight range is bad, far from it. But the application for it is more limited then it would appear at first glance.
Lastly regarding combat engineers, just compare them in terms of cost effectiveness to conscripts. At vet 0, combat engineers on a per model basis are actually stronger then conscripts as they have 9% lower recieved accuracy then cons while only costing 5% more to reinforce. In terms of recruiting, they are a mere 6% higher cost per model.
On a per model basis, a vet 3 combat engineer with no upgrades is the rough equivalent of a vet 2 con. Pretty good for a spammable cheap to replace engineer unit. Obviously the correct squad ratio is 3 CE vs 2 conscripts- 510mp vs 480mp.
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While the intent is nice, I dont agree with the execution. The problem is imo that Mp40 volks bully cons harder then STG volks. Mp40 volks have the close range dps to charge a squad of cons in cover and win convincingly. STG volks in the same scenario is a lot less one sided.
I think people often underestimate how powerful mp40 volks really are.
Edit: If you wanted to give volks MP40s in this manner, I would take a ppsh con approach and give them 2 or 3 mp40s at a reduced cost. I dont know about giving them smoke, we saw how bad it was with riflemen. If the mp40 upgrade was in any other doctrine, I think it would be borderline oppressive. |
I think either a vet requirement reduction or even a cost reduction (reinforce, purchase or both) could help.
Comparing combat engineers and Pioneers, combat engineers in the late game are cheaper to replace, cheaper to reinforce and can assist engagements at safer ranges. Pioneers offer some spotting utility, but Soviets overall have a more diverse set of STOCK recon options anyway so imo bit of a moot point for the late game.
It should also be noted that soviets have more varied and common doctrinal repair options then ostheer
Basically pioneers just need to be easier to replace in the late game. This can take the form of easier "re-vetting" or cheaper cost.
And just as a side note, I think combat engineers are extremely cost effective, one of the most cost effective infantry units in the game. They are not OP, nor are they super powerful but the combat ability and utility you get for their cost is quite decent. |
While I like this doctrine theres a lot I'd change.
M4C is fine, I think its underrated by a lot of people. It has the highest rate of fire of any generalist medium which really helps its AI, good base penetration and great AP penetration. This allows it to stand toe to toe with the ostheer P4 and put up a good fight vs the P4j, something the T-34/76 cant really do.
The air dropped fuel is boring but fine.
The DSHK should be replaced with a M2 50cal air drop similar to the dshk air drop in airborne doctrine. This fits the theme better and would be more unique.
Conscript repairs could be replaced with an M1 carbine package upgrade(or drop) that gives rear echelon carbines to conscripts and/or combat engineers, and yes, RE carbines are better then conscript mosins. The only thing that may be adjusted is the upgrade would have to give additional moving accuracy as the RE carbines have horrid moving DPS.
The M5 halftrack combat group could either be replaced with 2cp assault guard callin, or 2cP M3 halftrack like US gets.
Personally I think the m3 halftrack would be cooler though... |
Have a look at my recent games, I've been having a blast with them.
It's not just that you've been playing brits recently, but your paradigm shift in attitude.
Like I said, I have no issues with you personally, but rarely do I see people change fundamental stances so quickly. I'm glad that you are enjoying the brits, personally I've always struggled to have fun playing them- admittedly I havent played them a lot nor terribly recently. |
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Well I'm surprised to see this kind of thread here. I've never personally had an issue with you though you have sometimes been hostile to the balance team- and not excusing your behavior, but it is a common issue amongst posters here for whatever reason. I'm skeptical about your quick change of heart, and I'm not yet convinced about the brits, but I think you are trying to extend an olive branch and that's a good thing.
Maybe it will be a reminder for some other people that tend to trash other people's opinions on the forums with sometimes unbeliavable self-assurance and complacency that they actually might not be that right and they should really take a step back.
Hmmmm who are THESE people? They dont sound very nice... |