Profile of Grumpy

Comet

The Comet is receiving changes that are similar in-spirit with the ones already described for the Cromwell. In addition to these changes, we are also reducing the range of the main gun of the Comet to 45 to match other anti-infantry-capable tanks (e.g., Pershing, Tiger). We believe that Comet’s higher-than-average armour and mobility will still allow it to overcome the reduced range. At the same time, this will make standoffs with the more-specialist Panther more balanced.

Main gun range from 50 to 45
Population cost increased from 16 to 18
Reduce rotation rate from 36 to 32 to prevent crush (same as Panzer4 levels)
Turret traverse rate from 40 to 45 (to compensate for chasis rotation changes)
Moving accuracy from 0.75 to 0.5
Rear armour reduced from 130 to 110
Fixed an issue where the grenade throw ability would sometimes not work
Fixed an issue where it was possible to use the grenade ability while moving
Increase horizontal scatter from 6 to 7.5
Distance scatter max from 4.2 to 6.4
Distance scatter obj min from 5 to 10
Distance scatter offset from 0.3 to 0.25
Cromwell/Comet Smoke Shell/White Phosphorus

We find the range of both abilities (80) and the lethality of the White Phosphorus to be over performing. At the same time, we are introducing a critical fix to both abilities to make them more reliable.

Range of Smoke Shell/White Phosphorus reduced from 80 to 45
Comet White Phosphorus will no longer finish off infantry models, bringing its performance in-line with other White-phosphorus abilities

I was wrong, it was more like an 9x nerf depending on how you look at the changes, and nothing in it made the standoffs with the Panther more balanced. Reverting the range decrease would help a litte versus Panthers as the Panther wouldn't always fire first, and it wouldn't affect AI that much due to the scatter nerfs. Giving it some of the moving accuracy back would help also. I don't think its a terrible tank, and UKF doesn't need more AI tank options, so a few small tweaks would work better.

Back then Stuart and AEC were anti-everything so both needed a big nerf to make the game less about LV wars. Also back then all the units got basically overnerfed. Like the Dshk as a great example. They seem to have learned from that though. The recent nerfs were less drastic.

I just watched a replay of VonIvan that included him using a Stuart. He got good use out of it - stopping bleed from the Luchs in mid game and helping against attacks by infantry on his flanks in late game. That was in a 1v1. I think part of my bias against it is that I usually play 2's, 3's or 4's where the concentration of AT is usually higher. I might try it again in 2's. The window when it could be helpful in 4's seems like it would still be too small to be useful.

I agree that the balance team is doing a much better job of nerfs, when needed, in the last couple of patches.

they have same long range dps as volks but comes with much better mid and close range dps, better vet and better stating target size all for 30 more mp, i think they are effective as they are

Here's one of the few replays involving good players in an OKW vs USF matchup:

•  
  

  0

  VS

  El Profesor 17.09

  VonIvan

  21

  Prodi Smurf | Intense game

  by: VonIvan map: Unknown

  2

  -

At the six minute mark, the Damage/kills/deaths are:
OKW 3233 23 11
USF 1950 11 23

So somehow the units with better DPS manage to do about 60% of the damage and less than half the kills. Maybe you should give this player some tips because you clearly know more than he does. Also, this wasn't one of his test/troll builds.

At the 12 minute mark, the numbers are:
OKW 9350 52 39
USF 7970 39 56
USF is trading okay as mid game units come out.

The final stats were:
OKW 61717 175 189
USF 66036 189 182
Once the Jackson came out, USF started trading well. The pack howie was helpful for awhile but eventually wiped and not recrewed, but VonIvan got a Scott so the pack howie wasn't needed. Also, the other player built five MG34's, only one Raketen, and no JPIV's, which seem like strange choices. He also didn't cap the bottom VP until around 8 minutes which probably affected the outcome of the game.

VonIvan was down to 27 VP's when he won. Had the other player maintained his early game dominance for just another minute (or capped the bottom VP earlier) then he would not have won. That's a razor-thin margin, even for a good player.

This was on a wide map. Narrow ones like Alliance are worse.

Maybe "glass" isn't the right term for rifles and RA isn't what is important, but they're not good early game against OKW and get wiped too easily in team games once rocket arty comes out.

It was interesting to see VonIvan get a Stuart and use it.

How many riflesquad do you build? vs OKW I'll build 3 of them + 1 officer, vs Ostheer 2 of them + 1 officer on a regular build without callins infantry to transition the faster possible into early hmg or m20.
Riflemen are cost inefficient early game because they can't carry the early game with even more cost inefficient Rear Echelon. They don't trade efficiently vs volks at any range (even if they win) and are bullied by Sturm on a level that let you think the price difference cannot really be 20 manpower. Vs Ostheer they get simply outspamed by Gren with a super early HMG in support (who don't build 4gren + 1 hmg early game?) and its even more pathetic when Assgren are called.

Every game I watch on 1vs1 is about the USF player trying to avoid the maximum to build riflemen. I can recall a recent game seen on VonIvan channel where he had 3 riflesquads hold by 1 Sturm squad...

Know I agree the things are changing once you can equip some BARs on them but before reaching that state, there are too much opportunities for your opponent to end you quickly.

Even just building two rifles, I often end up with 5-6 infantry squads, plus a RE, which is generally two more than I want. I'd gladly give up the "free" squads to get the free side tech that OST and OKW get, plus making both the AT gun and MG available if either Captain or Lt is purchased.

RE's were overnerfed because they became too cost efficient late game when equipped with upgrades like 1919's. They're the same price as Pioneers but don't trade well with them at any range, nor are they even close to 2/3 of a SturmPio squad.

Because rifleman is so cost-ineffective unit

Soviet and UKF have cost-effrctive long range unit but USF dont have it

And USF have few commander choice
Without priest and m1919, USF is just trash in team game

Mostly this. Riflemen were nerfed in a couple of balance patches and USF hasn't been the same since.

I think it was the December Balance Patch that stuck a fork in this pig:

USF Riflemen now lose access to smoke grenades. This change will ensure that players continue fostering a mixed-squad army well into the late-game, and will also reward players more for using USF's elite infantry.
It must have been someone's attempt at humor after screwing USF over. There were no buff's to any of USF's "elite infantry", and nerfs for several USF crutch units like the HE Sherman and 50 cal.

The RA for most USF infantry seems too high for the price, maybe too high even regardless of price. Pairing up glass cannon tanks with glass infantry is a bad combination.