I hold that the sole issue with assault guns is that Panther and blitz(for P4 and panther) and ESPECIALLY panther + blitz is so good that assault guns are just way overshadowed.
Germans dont need Stug G because its often just better to tech to the panther because the panther far outclasses the Stug G in every respect. Germans also don't really need an assault gun because of nitro-blitz to get their P4 to the flanks of heavy soviet tanks and a P4 can circle strafe all day while Stug has to fight head on (this could be playstyle/situation dependent on which is better). So in essence germans simply dont really need stug g. It's not that its flawed in itself and is really outclassed by blitzed P4 and Panther.
Soviets SU76 gets MAULED by Panther. A few posts up someone said they had taken out a Tiger with SU-76. Sure, yes, of course you'll take out slow tiger all day. I'd like to see how your SU-76 fair against a Panther, much less a blitzed panther, even much less a blitzed and smoke screened panther. Not to mention SU 76 gets eaten alive by P-Gren shrecks. However, SU76 isn't an awful unit and its cost effectivness especially with free barrage is quite good. It's just a very squishy unit that falls apart quickly if not thoroughly babysitted. |
I hold that the sole issue with assault guns is that Panther and blitz(for P4 and panther) and ESPECIALLY panther + blitz is so good that assault guns are just way overshadowed.
Germans dont need Stug G because its often just better to tech to the panther because the panther far outclasses the Stug G in every respect. Germans also don't really need an assault gun because of nitro-blitz to get their P4 to the flanks of heavy soviet tanks and a P4 can circle strafe all day while Stug has to fight head on (this could be playstyle/situation dependent on which is better). So in essence germans simply dont really need stug g. It's not that its flawed in itself and is really outclassed by blitzed P4 and Panther.
Soviets SU76 gets MAULED by Panther. A few posts up someone said they had taken out a Tiger with SU-76. Sure, yes, of course you'll take out slow tiger all day. I'd like to see how your SU-76 fair against a Panther, much less a blitzed panther, even much less a blitzed and smoke screened panther. Not to mention SU 76 gets eaten alive by P-Gren shrecks. However, SU76 isn't an awful unit and its cost effectivness especially with free barrage is quite good. It's just a very squishy unit that falls apart quickly if not thoroughly babysitted. |
I've heard that in the next patch late game vehicles are going to be checked out. T34/76 is pretty weird tank IMO. I've played a whole bunch of RTS games in my time and I've gotta say that the T34/76 is one of the more "unique" approaches to tank combat design.
TL DR
-Remove Ram
-Remove Secure mode
-Increase armor/Decrease HP
-Increase penetration/Reduce accuracy
-Decrease damage dealt
-Grant the ability to transport 1 infantry squad
-Ram is a great ability
It is a highly mobile and powerful anti-tank snare. It is a huge boon to soviet tank fighting in COH2. And I hate it. From a game perspective it often makes T34 a suicide unit. While T34 is cheap its not THAT cheap. Second it makes soviet tank combat a bit boring - just ram everything in sight and let the AT guns/call ins finish everything off. Lastly from a historical standpoint its a wierd thing to include. Of the 35000+T34/76s that were built less than 100 were ever recorded ramming a tank, much less a heavy tank.
-Secure mode.
It's just a lulz ability. It's practically useless on anything except for the T70. This ability should be removed from all soviet tanks except the T70.
-Armor
Every german AT weapon from the lowly Ostruppen panzerfaust to the Mighty elephant has guaranteed penetration against T34 frontal armor. It just doesn't 'jive'. Problem is, the way relic designed this game is that most of NON-doctrinal armor is early war (pre 1943) whereas german NON-doctrinal armor is all late war (post 1943). So, well, many of those late war tanks did have guaranteed penetration, but relic shoulder incorporated the P3 into the game. History aside, as game balance goes, a tank in a game with as advanced a combat system as COH 2 has, should have some frontal armor protection - atleast enough that some panzerfausts wont get through. To compensate HP should be reduced.
-Penetration
PTRS-41 AT rifle has 85 penetration. T34/76 has 80 penetration. LOLOLOL!!! T34 should not be all that impressive against armor - especially the armor relic chose to put in for the Germans. But it SHOULD be able to penetrate armor atleast reasonably. To compensate damage delt should be reduced.
-Transport Infantry ability
I was genuinely surprised when I first picked up COH2 that soviet troops could not "ride" T34s into battle. Unlike ram, soviet troops regularly rode tanks into and during combat. It wouldn't be difficult to balance - just 1-2 models would get cover behind the turret while the rest would be exposed. It's one of the more unique things about the soviet army in WW2 as they were the only ones who ever practiced this. It's a MUCH MUCh better unique ability than ram or secure mode. If not a stock ability it should make it into the game at somepoint with a commander.
-Conclusion
Suggested stats:
Armor -160frontal/75rear. Still guaranteed penetrated by just about every german anti-tank except Stug 3, P4 and Panzerfaust.
Hit Points - 480
Penetration - 120 penetration/80 damage
Ram - Remove
Secure mode - Remove
Transport 1 infantry squad - grant (kinda sneaky here because if there was a squad of infantry on the tank it would be able to secure anyway xD)
Chances of relic implementing any of this. Slim to none. |
Soviet sniper > German Sniper
German heavy tank > Soviet tanks
It probably takes about the same amount of frustration combined arms and resource expenditure imbalance to kill german heavy armor as it does for german to kill special soviet infantry like shocks/guards/sniper.
It's the way the game is balanced and frankly its just not going to change. Germans dont have a "perfect" counter for things like shock troops and snipers. On the other hand soviets dont have a perfect counter for things like Elephant, Tiger, Panther...
I'm sure you think the game is perfectly balanced when you are steamrolling every tank the soviets throw at your heavy armor... and you would be right. |
Aside from MP connection/matchmaking issues... Commanders are the #1 thing relic needs to fix about this game. Relic made a huge mistake when they decided to sell individual commanders as DLC, then they got greedy with it.
Now we have what... 32? 34? commanders between the two factions. That's just ridiculous. There are far too many overlaps, and to make it worse each commander only has 5 abilities and many commanders have atleast 1 useless/over priced ability.
Not only has this reduced the strategic value at the core, it just makes the game confusing. It's so hard, especially when you just picked up the game, to have a good scouting and project if you're going to be up against heavy tanks or strafing runs - or both.
The catch-22 is that Relic made people PAY for this awful horribly designed system. So all the fools that actual bought commanders will be unhappy if relic was to redesign the system.
Mostly just a rant. I have no suggestions for how to fix commanders. Situation is kinda impossible. I did read post about after CP1 each next CP unlock could choose between two options... |
I love the SU 76. Especially in 1v1. I use it in nearly every game except for fast tech 3v3-4v4. It fits with my overall aggressive strat that Germans usually counter with light vehicles. It fits in very well with a conscript/shock/MG/ZiS type of build.
However, if you run the numbers. It is actually the best value unit in the game for armor penetration. You really have to babysit it from any kind of AT though.
Pros
-Low pop cost
-Very low MP/Fuel cost
-Fast build time
-Fast movement
-60 range (same as SU 85)
-Fast rotation
-Can engage all types of units
Cons
-made out of paper spit wads. |
I know there are probably more pressing issues and so relic will never get around to this. However, both of these are relatively simple changes that would greatly increase immersion factor.
1. Colors - Since there are only ever two teams and two factions... why are the colors Red and Blue and generated randomly? Soviets should always be Red and Germans should always be black or grey team colors and territory on the minimap. I really can't figure out why Relic didn't do this.
2. Artillery - While rocket artillery was used by both faction in WWII, the dominate artillery was by far conventional artillery. Katyusha should swap with 152mm as non-doctrinal to commander specific. Same with Werfer and LEFH18. Rockets should be the specialized commander ability and static arty should be the non doctrinal unit. |