Spain
After being playing around 10-15 games, I think the HMG42 is too strong effectively vs USF.
-1) HMG42 240mp hard counter 280mp rifles. Since USF doesn't have any other starting unit to fight, HMG42 is simply the best tool to shutdown USF early game. In a map like semoisky, I have see 3 MG start, garrisoning each key building in the center and holding all the game long.
-2) HMG42 vet1 hard counter the entire USF tiers 1. It is also something important to highlight, since the HMG have been buffed, it is easier to get it vetted. M20 and Half-track are simply hard countered if they enter the HMG arc of fire.
Why hard counter and not soft counter, because it kills any light vehicle in 1 burst making the arc of fire (very large one) also an area of denial for anything USF can field from T1. Last but not least, it kills it faster than a pack.
To counter it, USF doesn't have a lot of options, flanking + smoke or going T2 pack howi or going Doctrinal mortar cp2.
One requires a lot of micro and rapid decision making for a non guarantied result:
-Smoke is a double edge sword + you need the munition
-Pioneers have extra vision and can detect you before you start your attack, HMG can be repositioned before it.
-You are attacking and so going to bleed hard, success or not.
-Retreating from a unsuccessful flank is, in many time, equal to losing lot more model, if you try a real big flank and it doesn't work, your units behind the line are simply going to be mince meat for the MG.
This is why it requires a rapid decision making, retreating in time to not bleed too hard if it fail.
Pack Howi is simply too late and to expensive for what it delivers.
Mobile mortar comes with a good overall doctrine. But it requires you to invest 40 fuel and will be shut down by a fast 251. In addition USF player must plant m7 mines to cover it.
The HMG42 isn't too strong by itself. but also because it scale so well with T1 other support weapons. HMG42 + mortar is simply bestial with Pioneer to give sigh, you can take ground little by little.
HMG42 + sniper is probably also really strong. I haven't face it yet but since USF can't do shit vs sniper in first hand, sniper + HMG is going to rampage. Once the HMG is vet1 it can cover it from any USF T1 unit.
HMG42 + gren is more potent, vet1 + faust and USF T1 is shutdown.
There are many people around that forum talking about learning to flank. This is exact, the problem is learning requires some kind of will (to learn) and a learning progression visible. The change has been really brutal, not sure if the usual USF "blobbers" will be interesting in learning anything from that.
Why am I saying that, simply because there is a new no-brain blobby faction now: Ostheer. 2MG start + grenspam, you can blob all you want and get HMG to cover your ass.
Solutions are probably one sided.
USF cannot be change that much or it will impact USF/OKW matchup. Adding or moving mortar/pack to T0/unlock is probably the only solution USF side.
Ostheer can be tone down in some other areas now. increasing the HMG price to 280-300 is imo the best change to bring, this price is fair in regard to its capabilities, it will make the unit less spammable and bring slowdown OStheer BO and tiering.
Learn to use smoke + closing in with rifles correctly.
If the HMG is activated with AProunds, wait for it to end. Then start harrasing with AAHalftrack/M20. End.
Relic Entertainment
