Soviet Guards/Command Squad PPS 43 Drum Magazine Upgrade

[krupp steel]

I was thinking if we could give an additional upgrade to Guards/Command Squad after they purchased the PPS 43 upgrade.  That upgrade will change their SMG magazines into a drum, which would let them fire more often and basically reload less often 2X more.  It would require 'The Armoury' upgrade known as 'Weapon Reserves' for them to be able to purchase.  So the plan:

*Name of upgrade is 'Drum Magazines'
*Munitions cost is 60 for Command Squad, and 45 for Guards
*Requires PPS 43 upgrade
*Requires 'Weapon Reserves' upgrade from 'The Armoury'
*Requires 'Shock Guards' upgrade from 'The Armoury' (even for the Command Squad)
*New Drum Magazine model replaces the regular version
*Reduces Reloading frequency by 2X
*Reduces accuracy by 25%

Basically it helps in combat more by reloading a lot less and firing more at a cost of accuracy.  The high munitions price encourages the player to get the PPS upgrade first, before the drum magazines, plus these won't be that easy to obtain since you need a whole ton of upgrades to do so.  Suddenly the upgraded Command Squad/Guards will stand up to everything a whole lot better to help them against the late-game Tough Axis Vetted Infantry, at the same time not being as accurate as before so it makes this upgrade a bit more tactical trade-off upgrade.  What do you guys think?  Anything you would change or what not?

[Dann88]

I will not change their PPS like this. Soviet Guards already can steamrolling late-vetted Axis with current PPS.

[krupp steel]

So it is more of an issue of balance?  Note unless you have chosen breakthrough doctrine, the only squad that receives the PPS upgrade is the Command Squad, which I think would be great since you only have one squad of it, and you need to make the best of it.  With the Guards only being able to get the PPS through breakthrough doctrine, I think what is nerfed in availability is made up in said upgrade to increase power, it's not like the upgrade doubles the damage of the weapon, just lets it shoots more often that's all if you think about it.  And plus, reload times are pretty short anyways for SMG, so it's more of making the damage output much more consistent since they can fire for longer periods of time.

[Otto Halfhand]

Interesting idea. I don't know if it will fly but here is a twist to it. Make the drum magazine an upgrade that becomes is researched for free, (IE still squad upgrade costs), when Stormovie, RBS Shock Guards and Weapons Reserves have all been researched. Any squad with SMGs would be allowed to upgrade to drum magazines.

I want to see All Guards upgradeable to SMGs again. The doctrinal restriction is totally out of line IMO.

[Pac-Fish]

You guys haven't given a justification as to why the CS even needs this. CS is already powerful enough. You should not just give things to units just because it seems fun. vCOH doesnt give extended mags to MP40 volks in any scenario because they don't need it.

If if the argument i only that certain units can get PPSH, well only certain units can get MP40s. Volks, Pios (but they suck), and thats it AFAIK.

[neosdark]

In case anyone cares, historically, there were no drum magazine designs that worked with the PPS-43 of WWII. Later, Vietnamese copies had that option, but even then it was unwieldy....

EDIT: I apologize, I was speaking of the K-50M, which mechanically is more a PPSh-41 with some features of the MAT-49 and PPS-43.

[Otto Halfhand]

Some of us do care about historical relevance. I am not aware of any 50 round magazine that ever worked to its potential. The focus in EF and CoH in general is fun and playability. As such historical accuracy plays second or third fiddle here. I think if something is historically plausible, that is probably the best we can hope for.

[krupp steel]

In case anyone cares, historically, there were no drum magazine designs that worked with the PPS-43 of WWII.

Your damn right