This is my point of view about Panther in 1vs1 and 2vs2 only:
Panther as a non - doctrine tank ( both OKW and Ostheer ) need to invest large amount of fuels to get 1 out and I believe that buy the time you got the first Panther on the field, enemy would have the same thing:
- SU-85, M36 Jackson if you decided to build late tier.
- Call in tanks like T34/85mm or IS2/ ISU ( just a bit later ).
So tell me why should I get a Panther in 1vs1 ?
With those tech up fuels and cost for 1 Panther atm ( 175 ), I can just wait for something far better like a Tiger that have good armor, better dealing with infantry and I can get 2 of them ?
Same thing for the Soviet players: A nice combination of Shock Troops + Tier 2 can hold off until KV8/IS2/ISU/T34/85mm come in and you can get 2 of them? ( 4 in case of T34/85mm )
The thing with OKW/Soviet/Ostheer atm is there
late tier don't work really well together.
- Ostheer Tier 4: Panther price is too high but only anti-tank/ Brumbar is the same thing/ Panzerwelfer cool down time is long
- Soviet Tier 3: T34/76mm is nice but only in mid game, M5 Halftrack only anti-infantry and reinforce only and T70 only good if you can get it fast enough
- Soviet Tier 4: Su/85mm is good against enemy tank, Su-76 is too crappy thanks to light armor, not really that good against infantry and the barrage is same asme. Katchusa hit area is big and mostly German can get out without too much damage.
- OKW Tier 4: Ober very good against infantry, Luch is lower than average ( would be better if can come out sooner ) , Panther only good against tanks ( costly ) and SturmTiger is so much of a troll unit .
But USF is another story: They don't depend on call - in tanks much because
all of their units in late tier is rock hard!
- M4 Sherman can deal with medium tanks in the same level like P4, Stug 3 and too good against infantry thanks to HE round.
- M36 Jackson even with thin armor it can just hold fire and stay in the back of the Sherman to wait and see if enemy anti-tank unit like Puma/ Panther coming up.
- M8 howziter can kill infantry wayyyy better than what SU-76 did.
So it's maybe not just about the price but it's about the design of those late tier: Make them more useful and worth it so people will stop masturbate for better call-in units. (
And don't only fix 1 faction because those fanboy gonna bitching about it - OMG WHY LOWER PANTHER PRICE WHEN SU-76 is crap or it too good blah blah blah ). Really, don't. if you gonna say the ideal of fixing those tier then say it for all factions.
- Ostheer Tier 4: Lower fuel price for Panther down to 155/ Panzerwelfer cool down time need to be lower and the range maybe smaller so it can be fair for Russian players. Remember that Russian Counterpart Kachusa need to fire 2-3 times so German have more chance of running away but when Panzerwelfer fired all the round will land in 1 hit.
- Soviet Tier 3: I don't know what to suggest.
- Soviet Tier 4:, Su-76 need to be like the USF M8 Howziter: Crazy good against enemy infantry. Katchusa rate of fire need to be way faster and the erea of effect need to be smaller. so it can kill enemy better.
- OKW Tier 4: Luch would be better if they move it down to tier 2 or 3 but make them more costly ( 85 fuels ) so it could be something like the USF Stuarts. Panther fuel to 155 and SturmTiger aim time need to be faster ( keep the same reload speed, this unit damage is too good atm.
As for the moment, my tactic with the OKW Vehicles is this: Get a Puma out then wait for Command Panther:
- Command Panther have extra sight so it can scout for Ober infantry.
- Mark Target from Command Panther is nice to deal with rushing T34/85mm or IS2.
- Extra speed and sight can help the Puma flanking, fire the Special round into enemy SU-85/ M36 jackson so your army can move up quicker.
P/S: Not really relate but:
- Can we make the USF/OKW at nade to be the same as Panzerfaust + Russian at nade ( The heat-seeking anti-tank weapon ? ). It's not fair when enemy vehicles can just back out but when USF/ OKW tried to back out they will always be hit. If not than make the panzerfaust + Russian at nade to be like the OKW/USF one: Will not work if enemy vehicles back out.
- Can we add hold fire to the Panther?