Well after the heavy nerf to artillery in the last updates, the entire radio operator class and, especially the (5-man) radio operator squads, have been made nearly useless - as it’s now much harder to get kills from artillery strikes. This practically removed a very fun gameplay mode that I had enjoyed a lot playing from the game, which was to play as a radio operator.
To make playing as radio operator a viable gameplay option again (rather removing it entirely from the game - as it has more or less currently been done) maybe new unlockable options should be given to the radio operator squads. Some suggestions would be:
make radio operator squads able to call artillery strikes even when the team is already using one (i.e call in a 2nd artillery strike) - maybe a radio operator squad should have dedicated artillery…
Though the main issue is not being able to call artillery per se (after the nerfs, few people seem to use it anyway as it is so weak, so I had no problem calling in strikes whenever I wanted), the issue, really, is the lethality of artillery (which was the main source of casualties in ww2, as one should remember), so another suggestion would be:
make radio operator squads able to unlock a level-ability to call “heavier” artillery strikes (that would attack with the same power as before the updates) or even custom artillery strikes (such as katyushas, etc.).
That would kind of even things out and make playing as a radio operator squad a fun (and viable, in terms of kills) option again, because right now, it is just a weaker 5-man squad that can call strikes that maybe kill 1 or 2 enemies - if they get lucky. The nerfs were too harsh and artillery has been more-or-less nullified from the game, while bomber planes rake up hundreds of kills (more than 10 per average bombing run, compared to 1 or 2 dead at most - in fact less than 1 on average - from artillery strikes nowadays) and they (bomber planes) ALWAYS finish first of their teams. This is not realistic and it is not good for the game’s balance.
They could give them a smoke barrage, on a different cool down to arty. That would put them more firmly in a support role, and currently we have no way to lay down thick smoke, without carrying four smoke grenades.
The Radio Operator is pretty pointless atm with the limit on how many can be called in at a time combined with the increasingly long wait between artillery calls. Something does need to change and a simple fix would be allowing a difference in artillery strikes. It isn’t exactly an op thing to begin with since you have radar that literally tells you “don’t be here or be in hard cover”. Most of the issues I notice when people think it’s op is they tunnel vision and don’t pay attention to minimap.
IMO i feel that right now artillery density on map is just perfect. Not too little not too much. Endless spam wasn’t realistic at all (e.g. 5-6 red circles on one objective at the same time). I doubt anywhere on Moscow or Normandy one 1000 soldier regiment was supported with 5-6 batteries (30-40 artillery guns). So right now realism is there and hope they don’t hassle with it anymore.
Whether Radio squad is still useful that’s debatable question, but Radio squad still have option to call in new strike every 30 seconds, correct? I don’t think artillery damage has decreased either, it can still wipe out your whole squad on open field, 2 months ago arty was even weaker but with more screen shake. I think it just becomes problem when player thinks artillery strikes should be main staple of their killcount.
Agree, this would be cool addition to make Radioman more useful without returning arty spam in the game. Of course smoke barrages should also be super limited, to not nerf tanks, snipers and mg gunners too much.
My idea for another solution - make arty barrages by radiosquads last 5 seconds longer.
Its not even 1000 soldiers. If you combine all kills its close 300-400.
Edit: Actually they could buff radio squad a bit. Those guys got radios after all… There should be option to play some music. Just imagine what kind morale boost it would be.
EEEERIKA… PAM PAM PAM…
or guardiang song. Enemies would just get crushed
My opinion is that the radio operator role is being support for the team rather than being top killer. I think they did great job with the current patch. They could add smoke barrages and other tools for the role to make it “more” fun. The amount of artillery spam before the patch was really ridiculous. Most of the radio operators just stayed behind safe zones and spammed artillery strike and waited cooldowns.
It was very annoying to attack a point because of the constant screen shake and amount of damage you take in that small capture zone. I wish they would expand the capture zones more so the explosions would not be such a problem when staying on the point.
the targeting system with the artillery plays also a very passive role. you just mark target on map and thats it. I dont think this is very fun gameplay. There has been games where you have to “scout” the area with binoculars and target locations to call the strike. This way atleast the operator would have to move from the safe zone to being more active role.
I have to test this patch more and see if its so broken like some people complain.
Or just stop relying on artillery for kills and you’ll realize everything is perfectly where it should be.
Maybe the devs should remove the single strike at a time limitation. If that happens, the squad is absolutely gold. 2 auto gunners, an engineer, 2 radiomen. Or just stop using radio squad altogether and bring in another squad that has the ability to call strikes.
There is no greater pleasure here than watching people complain when an easy/broken mechanic to get kills is taken away. This was a great update.
I find artillery as a whole to be pretty well balanced right now.
A lot of people say, that the radio squad is pretty useless now compared to normal radiomen in any other squad. I still don’t really agree. I’m playing that squad right now (gotta level the garand) and it still does its job. But since so many people are saying it, I’m willing to entertain the thought to give them something extra. Not a stronger artillery barrage or anything of that anture, that would just be going backwards. No, an extra ability, like the AT and AA guns for engineers.
Smoke barrage was a damn good idea already. I have another one. Radiomen are all about communication and coordination. So why not do something in that direction? Give them improved mapmarkers. Just like we have right now for everyone but with a greater selection of icons like sniper, mg-nest, lots of infantry, rally point, mine field etc. And give them a longer duration, perhaps indefinetely until removed. This way, radio squads can be used in an active scouting role and give useful information not only to CAS, but to the entire team.
But before radio squads get some love, I think bombers have a more dire need.
