The Royal Marines Commando issue

I see.  Well I guess in a perfect world it would be nice to see the "Desert Rat" faction included along with the German Afrika Corps.  If this meant replacing the RMC then so be it.  But again the idea would be to alleviate the programming burden on you and the rest of the EF crew by piggybacking off of the work of the Afrika Corps group.  This would potentially add two additional factions without nearly the amount of work required to develop them from scratch.  Again my perspective is that the more units/factions/maps the better.  Anyway to get there easily would, I believe, be helpful.

All that said I am very pleased with EF and the amount of time and effort that has gone into it as is.  I would not want to ask something of group of volunteers who have graciously provided their work for our enjoyment.  Please feel free to continue as best you see fit.  I look forward to any future additions!

Just to echo what was stated, i commend the developers for all their work in making this great EF mod. I agree with what wiselebron stated. I feel the more options the better and believe the vanilla brits are pretty weak against every armor. Also, quite frankly I think the RMC are much more fun to play. Splitting them into a new faction would be fine, I would just prefer the option to choose the RMC or a modified brit faction. 

Keep them as a standalone. I loved playing them as it made Brits interesting since their uber nerf.

Having them removed actually makes going over to CoH 2 slightly more appealing.

@prilladog
Yeah, specially because CoH2 has brits ::).

I'll like to suggest an alternative solution to the Royal Marine Commando issue. Create a new faction modeled after 1st Canadian Army and make the Royal Marines one of their 3 optional supports. There are a number of advantages to this approach:

1) Historically 1st Canadian Army was responsible to clearing the North-West European coast (Northern France, West Belgium, Netherlands) and frequently fought with the support of the real Royal Marines (cf. Battle of the Scheldt on Wikipedia).
2) 1st Canadian Army used predominantly British equipment (which players want to use in a more aggressive manner), but were responsible for the creation of some interesting equipment of their own (eg Wasp IIC, Ram Kangaroo, Sexton) which could be highlighted in the Canadian Faction.
3) It doesn't involve modifying the existing British Army (which the mod creators have no interest in doing)
4) 1st Canadian Army included Canadian, British and Polish units (as well as American, Belgian, Dutch and Czech units at different times) giving it a multinational feel similar to the Ostheer faction
5) It avoids the issue of having a "Commando Faction" which would seem imbalanced compared to the other factions.

Ideas for Canadian units could include:
2-inch mortars (A common piece among British infantry: lighter and handier than other mortars, but with less range and less power)
Bren carrier with Wasp IIC upgrade (This flamethrower equiped Bren carrier had a fuel tank on the rear allowing the vehicle to still be used as a troop carrier)
Ram Kangaroo (Heavy infantry transport)
Humber Armoured Car (Humber II had a HMG and a LMG, upgrade to Humber IV for a 37mm gun)
Sherman V (Upgrade to Sherman IC [more commonly called the Firefly]
Archer (A defensive AT vehicle that featured a 17pdr firing over the rear of the vehicle)
Sexton (A SP 25pdr on a modified Ram tank chassis)
Royal Marines could function as a form of elite infantry for the Canadian base faction, with the option for more Royal Marine equipment if one chooses Royal Marine Support.

Obviously this would all be a ton of work, but I hope the idea of a Canadian Army might give some inspiration.

demon_llama wrote:
I'll like to suggest an alternative solution to the Royal Marine Commando issue. Create a new faction modeled after 1st Canadian Army and make the Royal Marines one of their 3 optional supports. There are a number of advantages to this approach:

1) Historically 1st Canadian Army was responsible to clearing the North-West European coast (Northern France, West Belgium, Netherlands) and frequently fought with the support of the real Royal Marines (cf. Battle of the Scheldt on Wikipedia).
2) 1st Canadian Army used predominantly British equipment (which players want to use in a more aggressive manner), but were responsible for the creation of some interesting equipment of their own (eg Wasp IIC, Ram Kangaroo, Sexton) which could be highlighted in the Canadian Faction.
3) It doesn't involve modifying the existing British Army (which the mod creators have no interest in doing)
4) 1st Canadian Army included Canadian, British and Polish units (as well as American, Belgian, Dutch and Czech units at different times) giving it a multinational feel similar to the Ostheer faction
5) It avoids the issue of having a "Commando Faction" which would seem imbalanced compared to the other factions.

Ideas for Canadian units could include:
2-inch mortars (A common piece among British infantry: lighter and handier than other mortars, but with less range and less power)
Bren carrier with Wasp IIC upgrade (This flamethrower equiped Bren carrier had a fuel tank on the rear allowing the vehicle to still be used as a troop carrier)
Ram Kangaroo (Heavy infantry transport)
Humber Armoured Car (Humber II had a HMG and a LMG, upgrade to Humber IV for a 37mm gun)
Sherman V (Upgrade to Sherman IC [more commonly called the Firefly]
Archer (A defensive AT vehicle that featured a 17pdr firing over the rear of the vehicle)
Sexton (A SP 25pdr on a modified Ram tank chassis)
Royal Marines could function as a form of elite infantry for the Canadian base faction, with the option for more Royal Marine equipment if one chooses Royal Marine Support.

Obviously this would all be a ton of work, but I hope the idea of a Canadian Army might give some inspiration.

I really like the sound of that ;D

Although I've missed the vote I would still like to get in my opinion. I'm not sure exactly how it is unbalanced, I don't know if they are over-powered, but I assume they are simply under-powered. It is my opinion that things shouldn't be removed, only changed or added to. The removal of the RMC would really turn me off of the eastern front mod.

Ceteris Paribus, if they are under-powered, you can ignore them. They are really only an issue to the people who choose to play them. Usually the people who choose to play a specific faction, choose to do so because they enjoy the character and or the specific tactics/strategies of that faction. It is more about the journey, rather than the destination. Removing it would remove a lot of fun for a lot of people.

I don't think that it is important that this is an 'Eastern Front' mod. The overall objective of this mod is to make CoH more fun!

Quoteand frequently fought with the support of the real Royal Marines (cf. Battle of the Scheldt on Wikipedia)

Were they responsible for fortifying the centre island with the high fuel and ammunition and then spamming 25 pounders to bombard the German positions?

Magyar wrote:

Quoteand frequently fought with the support of the real Royal Marines (cf. Battle of the Scheldt on Wikipedia)

Were they responsible for fortifying the centre island with the high fuel and ammunition and then spamming 25 pounders to bombard the German positions?

;) That wasn't exactly the approach taken during the Battle of the Scheldt, but the 25 pdr was an important piece of equipment for Commonwealth forces. Artillery was generally the only area in which German soldiers thought that the Allies had an edge on a piece for piece basis. I've read a lot of accounts from both perspectives concerning the devastating nature of 25 pdr artillery fire.

Hey Hey, in response to BlackBishop.
Perhaps if you were to negotiate with that other modding group you could find a mix style of Britain that satisfies not only the Eastern Front community but also the Afrika Modders. I'm saying here you have an opportunity to easily exceed and go up and beyond of what people thought possible. Creating a balanced Mod with 8 Factions! 8! And it wouldn't take much effort at all because the Afrika Modders have already basically assembled and designed 95% of the mod.

Even if the Desert Rats don't answer the RMC question maybe you could design your Eastern Front Brits, while adding the Desert Rats. So there could be Northern British troops and Southern British Troops adding a whole new diversity/angle to British military. You could input the maps designed by Afrika Mod into EF making it, OH EF and AK.
Combining the two communities could also bring much publicity and popularity to the Eastern Front mod along with bedazzled VCOH founds who just learned that there's a mod with 8 Factions in Company of Heroes.

I just don't understand why two great Modding groups wouldn't try to combine to completely top off the diversity of World War II.
In my eyes most work would come from balancing the newly added factions.

Can I get some feedback here? C'mon guys, let's bring us 8 factions

You guys don't understand some basic things here. Create a faction are hard and time consuming, so do the stuffs make a faction. Adding a faction also add loading time and chance to crash. Play desert rats and afrika korps in another mod is better choice. I lost my interest so I stop here.

I do wish to keep and re-balance them, but i have another idea. What if instead of a whole new faction the Brits could be offered up in this mod as having lend-lease reward units that could replace soviet vehicles. Wouldn't it be cool to see various British vehicles that are new to the game and that are offered to vcoh Brits repainted with that delightful olive green and red star combo? This idea would have more relevance to the Eastern Front than simply adding a re-balanced RMC back into the game. What do you guys think about this?

Just put it.  ;D

After having played with the Ostheer several times, I have faith that the team could deliver a phenomenal British faction.

I am very pleasantly surprised by what the mod team has achieved. To say that the Soviets as a faction were rather rough around the edges upon the mod's original release would be an understatement, but the faction has since come a long way, and with all the experience that the team gained from working on the Soviets, they have managed to deliver a remarkable Ostheer. Naturally it is not perfect, but I am of the opinion that it feels very good to play as - I would go so far as to say that the Ostheer plays not only better than the British, but even better than the Panzer Elite. It is a phenomenal achievement to say the least that this mod has delivered two such quality factions, which surpass anything Relic has produced since the original.

With that in mind, I am genuinely curious as to what the team could craft for a British faction with their experience. Of course, I have no delusions that creating a new faction is simple, but with such a stunning success of the Ostheer and newer versions of the Soviets, I must ask: if they have the will to do so, why not?

Last edited August 31, 2013 at 12:08 PM by Magyar

should do it, add some unique units from commonwealth countries NZ, AUS, Canada, Ghurkas.... specialized infantry units

after alittle bit of thinking i got the idea. You plan to release new reward doctrines right? The brits as is now has only one available doctrine choice in 1v1 and that is the commandos. Engie can be used as a desperate attemt at saving the game but still. 95% of pro brit games was commandos. The fact of having no real strat choices and only tactical ones with brits are some of what makes me like them. diversity over everything.

but at the same time, as said. Much of what is in the brit arsenal is only usable in 2v2 and up. So, reward tech trees?

The Marine faction as it used to be was all to random and well... messy. didn't really feel it.
so the trees could include more units with lots of abilities. Still few options basewise, but huge options doctrine and unit upgrade wise. your tech choice will be the doctrine instead of T1 to T3 buldings. Also if both sides of the two new trees was equally viable to pick early. or if the trees chad a pyramid type form. that if u choose one ability you could not get the other. that would also be different (if possible)

anyways, lots of ideas. Think about it.

Last edited December 19, 2013 at 6:57 AM by Monos

Good idea comrade. Reward trees for Brits is something we could try later. It would be better than trying reward factions :).