Profile of comm_ash

I think it would be interesting to fully embrace the mobile/ offensive theme of hammer:

Nerf:
-Lower armor to Cromwell level
-Lower health to 720 (maybe)

Buff
-Increase accuracy on the move to .75
-Increase penetration
-Better Vet
-Better MGs
-Increase turret rotation speed and reduce target size (maybe)

Would make it the opposite of a Churchill. Now the comet relies on speed and hit and run tactics to defeat the enemy, instead of fighting 1 on 1 engagements with enemy tanks. Not sure if it would be viable at that high of a price, and would probably ruin the unit for teamgames. Still, I think it could be interesting.

Heads up, I don't have the game open and I can't remember most CP values. We can obviously use the correct values.

Assault Doctrine:

0CP: Sherman V (Literally the American Sherman M4A3-75(w) in British Army Terminology)

1CP: Recon Infantry Section (Infantry Section with 1 scoped rifle or 2 stens, with ability to cloak, shoot flares. Scoped rifle could make squad like JLI or Pathfinders if used instead of sten. Scoped rifle or stens would take up 1 weapon slot.)

2CP: 3-inch British mortar team (US 81mm mortar with IS crew.)

4CP: Advanced Cover Combat

11CP: Typhoon Attacks

I would like this doctrine to give the brits a more flexible and aggressive strategy.

The British historically used many American Shermans, to the point where they outnumbered Cromwells. This doctrine would finally give the Brits in COH2 access to their workhorse tank. The early mortar would give the brits access to a mobile barrage/ smoke tool, and could by combined with spotting from recon infantry sections to allow a more aggressive playstyle. Advanced cover combat is self explanatory, and the Typhoon gun + rocket strafe would give the doctrine a bit of late game oompf.

This is an interesting question. Should all units have similar percentages of strength gain with veterancy? Should more expensive units get better vet, or by simply having higher stats out the gate, be more benefitted by having the same vet bonuses as weaker units? What about across factions, should vet be applied based purely on unit cost and role, or be tweaked to help individual factions with different niches?

These are all questions that come down to game design. As the game is currently, vet bonuses have nothing to do with balance based on cost, but more to do with a unit's role, faction flavor, and overall faction strength. Medium tanks are the best example of this. All factions have medium tanks, but the vet varies drastically based on the factions. Axis armor gains defensive bonuses though armor at vet 2, whereas Allied armor gains offensive bonuses through DPS.

TLDR: Looking at vet balance based purely on unit cost or numbers is the wrong way at conceptualizing it. Unit vet is more broadly related to faction flavor, unit role, and faction relative strength.

Smoke pots and the smoke canisters ability are great examples of bad/ good game design. At the end of the day, they both do the same thing, create smoke. However, the execution is what makes these abilities.

One one hand: smoke pots. Press a button, and your tank is immediately smoked. No casting time, no targeting. As a result, you also immediately reset enemy weapon's aim times, and even if they attack ground ASAP, you have a good chance of escape. The entire impetuous on working around the ability is on your opponent. Bad design.

Smoke Canister on the other hand, both have a cast time and are targeted. This ensures that some degree of fore-planning is required to use them effectively. Not only that, but the ability itself can be used in many ways. You can use it defensively when retreating to cover your escape. You can use it to cover another friendly tank in trouble. You can smoke enemy sight-lines before a push. You can use it to support infantry. There are almost limitless possibilities!

In terms of this poll, I disagree with the options. I say give Smoke canisters instead of smoke pots to all armor, and delete smoke pots entirely except for light vehicles (Puma, AEC, M20, etc.).

I came back from the dead just to add:

I really hope we can find some way to get withdraw and refit back into US mechanized. Used to be the best part of that doctrine. Really added a new play-style to USF.