Wednesday, February 27, 2008
How I learnt to stop worrying and love the Bomb
"Gentlemen you can't fight in here, this is the War Room!"
CoH: On Tier 1 Infantry: Panzergrenadiers
Since more people might be starting to play COH, I'll do some expositories every now and then. Today's review is the Panzergrenadier (abbv. PG), from the Panzer Elite faction. Requires Opposing Fronts.
Panzergrenadiers:
At a cost of about 250 MP, these would be the cheapest tier 1 infantry COH offers. But don't be fooled by their cost, I reckon they're at most as tough as Grenadiers (Wehrmacht) health-wise, which is pretty decent. Only they come in 3-man squads, which makes them more vulnerable to snipers, since snipers do take down a head per shot which is 1/3 the squad. Damage-wise un-upgraded, ok in the early game, enough to present a threat to a jeep, though they won't massacre jeeps. Which is why one should keep them in the vicinity of your kettenkrads, to prevent clever Allied players from killing them with an early jeep.
They're probably the most multi-purpose infantry units around, since they fight, build and repair all in one neat little package. They may be upgraded with G43s (50mun), which can actually be quite painful (sort of like better rifles) as well as suppress enemy infantry for a munitions cost.
They can also be upgraded with MP44s (75mun), which are basically close-range weapons. These are very good at their job, and were/are abused regularly prior to the first OF patch. They still are very useful now. They don't have to be upgraded with munitions, as PGs pre-equipped with MP44s can be bought from the Panzer Jager Command. PGs upgraded in this fashion excel at close combat and are called Assault Grenadiers or Ass Grens.
And what's the German Army without Panzerschrecks? This is the third weapon upgrade from PGs: the Panzerschreck (75mun). When upgraded with these, PGs are called Tank Busters. Arguably the best infantry wielded anti-tank weapon, they do plenty of damage to any vehicle (including AT guns) and should be a high priority target for any Allied armour. TBs should be used in a mobile fashion, flanking armour and hitting them in the side or rear for the extra damage.
PGs can also use 2 types of grenades (though these have to be researched). The Incendiary Grenade and the Anti-Tank Grenade. The incendiay grenade is, not worth its munitions cost when used against troops in the open, unless one's desperate. However, they're good against infantry in trenches, buildings or big bunches. It does damage over time, and the longer the unit stays on the flaming spot, the more damage it takes duh. In general, Incendiary grenades suck against stuff that runs around, like riflemen. But they aren't bad against MGs or AT-guns since it forces them to move, or die a nice warm death. Forcing these support weapons to move can be a very good thing. This is a good ability for ass grens, since things in buildings or trenches generally beat them in a firefight. Throw in a flame grenade, make them get out, and hose them down with the lethal MP44s. Either that or they burn. Note that however, these abilities have a very very long cooldown, unless there's a Munitions Halftrack nearby, in which case cooldown is almost instant.
The Anti-tank grenade is well, usually not as high a priority on my research list, sometimes not at all. Sure they do damage against tanks, but not that much. I reckon they'd be more useful against light vehicles, which tend to run around more. Not to say that they're useless. With the Tank Buster doctrine, the passive power "double AT efforts" gives it more teeth, since it allows PGs to throw 2 grenades for the price of 1, simultaneously. Again, long cooldown.
There's a research for PGs called "Increased Squad Sizes". As its name suggests, it increases squad size, to 4-man. It's a good upgrade, as it gives the squad more survivability, especially for Tank Busters, who're spending much time getting hit by the tanks and infantry of a player who realizes the importance of Panzerschrecks. Good for ass grens, since they're charging around and well, assaulting stuff. Actually its good in general; the real question is when you need it, which is a matter of priorities really.
A common feature of PGs is the tendency for human players to group them together. This is called "the PG blob". The research "Group Zeal" probably encourages this behaviour. It isn't a very good tactic against experienced players, who will know how to counter it, but against noobs it has a high chance of success in general, since they might panic and do all the wrong things against it. Details on its exact nature and how to beat it will come in a separate article.
Also, PGs repair stuff. This is good, because after a battle, the infantry can be useful, and repair damaged vehicles as well as reinforce the squad from say an Infantry Halftrack. A research: "Super Repair", makes them repair much faster; it's a really good upgrade if you're using plenty of vehicles. Note that units repairing under fire take extra damage.
There are a few other researches pertaining to PGs, but I don't know very much about them and their effectiveness since I haven't used them a lot.
That's the end for the PG unit description.
Panzergrenadiers:
At a cost of about 250 MP, these would be the cheapest tier 1 infantry COH offers. But don't be fooled by their cost, I reckon they're at most as tough as Grenadiers (Wehrmacht) health-wise, which is pretty decent. Only they come in 3-man squads, which makes them more vulnerable to snipers, since snipers do take down a head per shot which is 1/3 the squad. Damage-wise un-upgraded, ok in the early game, enough to present a threat to a jeep, though they won't massacre jeeps. Which is why one should keep them in the vicinity of your kettenkrads, to prevent clever Allied players from killing them with an early jeep.
They're probably the most multi-purpose infantry units around, since they fight, build and repair all in one neat little package. They may be upgraded with G43s (50mun), which can actually be quite painful (sort of like better rifles) as well as suppress enemy infantry for a munitions cost.
They can also be upgraded with MP44s (75mun), which are basically close-range weapons. These are very good at their job, and were/are abused regularly prior to the first OF patch. They still are very useful now. They don't have to be upgraded with munitions, as PGs pre-equipped with MP44s can be bought from the Panzer Jager Command. PGs upgraded in this fashion excel at close combat and are called Assault Grenadiers or Ass Grens.
And what's the German Army without Panzerschrecks? This is the third weapon upgrade from PGs: the Panzerschreck (75mun). When upgraded with these, PGs are called Tank Busters. Arguably the best infantry wielded anti-tank weapon, they do plenty of damage to any vehicle (including AT guns) and should be a high priority target for any Allied armour. TBs should be used in a mobile fashion, flanking armour and hitting them in the side or rear for the extra damage.
PGs can also use 2 types of grenades (though these have to be researched). The Incendiary Grenade and the Anti-Tank Grenade. The incendiay grenade is, not worth its munitions cost when used against troops in the open, unless one's desperate. However, they're good against infantry in trenches, buildings or big bunches. It does damage over time, and the longer the unit stays on the flaming spot, the more damage it takes duh. In general, Incendiary grenades suck against stuff that runs around, like riflemen. But they aren't bad against MGs or AT-guns since it forces them to move, or die a nice warm death. Forcing these support weapons to move can be a very good thing. This is a good ability for ass grens, since things in buildings or trenches generally beat them in a firefight. Throw in a flame grenade, make them get out, and hose them down with the lethal MP44s. Either that or they burn. Note that however, these abilities have a very very long cooldown, unless there's a Munitions Halftrack nearby, in which case cooldown is almost instant.
The Anti-tank grenade is well, usually not as high a priority on my research list, sometimes not at all. Sure they do damage against tanks, but not that much. I reckon they'd be more useful against light vehicles, which tend to run around more. Not to say that they're useless. With the Tank Buster doctrine, the passive power "double AT efforts" gives it more teeth, since it allows PGs to throw 2 grenades for the price of 1, simultaneously. Again, long cooldown.
There's a research for PGs called "Increased Squad Sizes". As its name suggests, it increases squad size, to 4-man. It's a good upgrade, as it gives the squad more survivability, especially for Tank Busters, who're spending much time getting hit by the tanks and infantry of a player who realizes the importance of Panzerschrecks. Good for ass grens, since they're charging around and well, assaulting stuff. Actually its good in general; the real question is when you need it, which is a matter of priorities really.
A common feature of PGs is the tendency for human players to group them together. This is called "the PG blob". The research "Group Zeal" probably encourages this behaviour. It isn't a very good tactic against experienced players, who will know how to counter it, but against noobs it has a high chance of success in general, since they might panic and do all the wrong things against it. Details on its exact nature and how to beat it will come in a separate article.
Also, PGs repair stuff. This is good, because after a battle, the infantry can be useful, and repair damaged vehicles as well as reinforce the squad from say an Infantry Halftrack. A research: "Super Repair", makes them repair much faster; it's a really good upgrade if you're using plenty of vehicles. Note that units repairing under fire take extra damage.
There are a few other researches pertaining to PGs, but I don't know very much about them and their effectiveness since I haven't used them a lot.
That's the end for the PG unit description.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
aroma
I found a petal on my desk one day. Considering that date, it might not have taken much imagination to deduce where it came from.
It was still fresh, had a faint smell, a little moist, and rather flaccid.
But oh, it's time to learn some of the more technical aspects of it. I pick up and leave.
When I return, it's gone. Oh well, I suppose it'll have shrivelled up left there. A deep breath, and I notice for the first time; the room is filled with a whiff
of its Aroma.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
A Variation on Murphy's Law
Friendly fire isn't, foolproof plans and recoilless rifles aren't, and suppressive fires won't.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Windows
The windows in my class open out sideways. They used to open upwards, for the past 2 years, along with a sometimes interesting view of the rear carpark in the mornings. The cool air would blow in, and on a rare day, the Batmobile would drive by, which it really did once. I have the same view once again, just from a different angle. The same cool air blows in. Perhaps I'll return to my habits later in the year, and stop crashing the classes of my old classmates in the morning.
Last year, when I sat on someone else's table, opened the window and watched what happened on the road below, I felt a little lonely, especially early in the morning, when most people haven't arrived and those who have are sleeping or in a similar state. Then someone else comes along and joins me (sometimes I am that someone else). Eventually, a merry party gathers and we talk about random things or stone together, which brings a warm feeling all of its own to me. But, the bell's got to ring some time and it does.
I'd rather not be alone this year when I watch through the windows. Yet I can't possibly be crashing others' classes or making them crash mine all year can I? Ok, maybe I might be able to, but I'm not persistent enough at 7am for that everyday. And besides, what message would that send to my new classmates? To do that might be like looking out the window on a fresh, cool morning without opening the pane.
The question once more presents itself. But the perceived choice to be made bolts the windows to their pane. What should one do? Use a screwdriver of course. There's probably another option for those who start the answer with the outcome in mind, think of the method a little later and have the strong enough will to carry it out. The true and meaningful ending, for the corresponding solution.
Last year, when I sat on someone else's table, opened the window and watched what happened on the road below, I felt a little lonely, especially early in the morning, when most people haven't arrived and those who have are sleeping or in a similar state. Then someone else comes along and joins me (sometimes I am that someone else). Eventually, a merry party gathers and we talk about random things or stone together, which brings a warm feeling all of its own to me. But, the bell's got to ring some time and it does.
I'd rather not be alone this year when I watch through the windows. Yet I can't possibly be crashing others' classes or making them crash mine all year can I? Ok, maybe I might be able to, but I'm not persistent enough at 7am for that everyday. And besides, what message would that send to my new classmates? To do that might be like looking out the window on a fresh, cool morning without opening the pane.
The question once more presents itself. But the perceived choice to be made bolts the windows to their pane. What should one do? Use a screwdriver of course. There's probably another option for those who start the answer with the outcome in mind, think of the method a little later and have the strong enough will to carry it out. The true and meaningful ending, for the corresponding solution.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
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