New PITF mod in progress, looking for input.

[jochenheiden]

So here are some screenshots from my mod changes thusfar. Please note, this isn't necessarily based on reality but playability. I have figured out how to get all 21 slots working on any battlegroup, so it'll be academic at this point creating companies and platoons. (Click on all photos for larger!)



Here is a picture of what I think is a great combined-arms platoon for a Panzergrenadier platoon. It has a Zugtruppe (officer), 4 panzergrenadier teams, a heavy MG42 team and a panzerschreck team. I have removed the MG42 from the panzergrenadier teams because I felt there was simply too much power available to each team. In exchange, I have added two G43s, a grenade launcher K98, and a couple panzerfausts. I have slightly increased the rate of fire and base accuracy of the K98s to help improve the void left by taking out the MG. Now, each panzergrenadier team has one SMG and nothing but an assortment of rifles, but improved AT capability for close-range. The schweres MG42 will be the platoon's heavy hitter and I have made sure to increase its burst size and base accuracy very slightly. The platoon will support the MG42. I have also added a larger panzerschreck team to give the platoon a very nice AT capability. The panzerschreck's base accuracy has been slightly increased to give it better standoff capability against large armor forces. Because the only way I have found to increase the BG's slot alotment was to add "companies" my intention is to vary the type of companies and leaving only one platoon in each company so a player can rotate different platoons in and out of combat to simulate combat rotation of depleted units.



I am still looking for suggestions/opinions on how I am doing with this. Also, if you have some suggestions as to what sort of support units I should be including, please help! My intention is to work off of what the basic BGs have, and adjusting the quantities accordingly. I do, of course, want maximum infantry slots used. I will adjust and make different companies for the different types of units as well, again looking for input.

[jochenheiden]

So far I have completed two german Battlegroups. I am doing my best to leave the vehicle selection as-is regarding the support options, but I am reorganizing the infantry platoons. Right now, I have made changes so that the first platoon will have a company commander, and the second platoon will have just a platoon commander. We'll get more officers on the map and higher ranked.. gives you something to "protect."

Another change I have made thusfar is dramatically increasing the mobility of AT guns, so they can be quickly and effectively repositioned. Obviously they will not move at the same speed of a tank, but when a gun is on wheels and has a crew of 5 there's no reason why it can't be pushed at a walking pace. Initial experiments with this change have had outstanding results. I had a 2cm flak gun on the map and it was poorly positioned, and I was able to bring its gun to bear on an enemy in a couple minutes without much hastle! It might entice people to use AT guns as an option again.

[jochenheiden]

Hey guys, more progress!

As I am going through the battlegroups/KGs, I am trying to take some of the indigenous units and improving them. I found KG Knittel today, and while going through its available units and support units, I noticed what appeared to be platoons of pioniers and aufklärers that were only available as support units, so I basically reassigned them as pionier and recon platoon/companies. Now, instead of rocking two entire PzGrenadier platoons for your first 14 units, you can select in PzGrenadier platoons, Aufklärer, or Pionier platoons. Each platoon/company type has its own indigenous support.

For example, the pionier platoon now has one Zugtrupp (platoon commander), 4 full-strength pionier fire teams equipped with an assortment of rifles, SMGs, demo charges and panzerfausts, a LIGHT MG-42 team, and a plussed-up flammenwerfer team. The Aufklärer platoon has the ZugTrupp, 4 full-strength recon teams with rifles, SMGs and panzerfausts, a LIGHT MG-42 and a small-but-powerful Panzerjäger team armed to the teeth with panzerfausts, demo charges and SMGs. You can mix-match these platoons however you see fit if the BG/KG supports those companies.

How does all this sound so far?