The lvl 5 rumors are too expensive and not very useful otherwise, except for a few levels... They are Dowding and Rundstedt after all, and have very limited uses in daily naval(yes. I use Dowding in naval invasions. Don't judge me) and infantry invasions. I would normally just grind medals and get Guderian/Graziani(or possibly both) and max out tank tech but it takes too much time.
1. Lvl 5 Rumour is an important generalist skill useful in most of the game. You NEED them, especially if you plan to consistently grind for Medals in 8- and 12-Medal invasions, and to win higher difficulty battles like the UN series.
At lvl 5, they trigger quite frequently.
2. "They are Dowding and Rundstedt after all" isn't a good way to look at this. I've only bought Dowding just recently as my 9th gen, without selling anyone and buying Rundstedt has not even crossed my mind so far.
I used to use Messe with his 1* to fight the easier naval invasions, until I bought Nimitz (my first admiral) AFTER Rommel. You'll soon run out of battles in which an aircraft carrier can dominate just like hoe Messe's 1* will become too weak. Nimitz should be on your agenda before or after Rommel.
As for inf Invasions, I use Konev. His only inf-exclusive skill is his starting skill of Raider. With Crowd Tactics (debatable) and Rumour, he, an inf-arty hybrid, won even 12-Medal invasions. You don't need Runstedt, but selling him now may be a waste.
3. You'll need patience to clear the main content or lots of money. Those Medals don't come quickly, so any option will require time. Be patient.
I currently do not face much of a problem with Konev's rumour... It's just that Rundstedt is not triggering rumour when needed. Why I need Rundstedt? He is my second tank gen. Not Bock, he is useless except for tasks and being a guy to drop for medals by now... going to use him as 8th gen in conquest. Also Dowding is my 2nd arty gen, upgraded his arty ability. His explosives ability is quite good too. Leeb is facing health problems and so is Konev, they're dying too fast to produce any major effects except for the short devastation that they wreak. SHould I upgrade Konev's health first or max out his rumour? Or possibly even try to save up for Guderian, maybe even swap Fletcher for Nimitz? Also Graziani will 100% be the 3rd tank gen that I will be using instead of Rundstedt(I should have Guderian, Rommel by swapping Messe, Bock). Also Rundstedt is OP in inf invasions, he annihilates the enemy on his own without even losing 1/2 health(except for 12 medal ones, I use all units in such cases). I am currently just grinding medals and resources as my gens are incapable of winning this battle.
4. "Rundstedt is my second tank gen." Respectfully, Messe is a better tank gen (my fourth after investing in Guderian, Rommel and Rokossovsky in this order) out of the box than even Rundstedt, except in HP.
5. Why is Dowding your 2nd arty gen? That should go to Leeb, an objectively better 2nd arty gen save his ability to crack cities and forts.
6. Are you talking about Invasions, Exercises/Battles, Scenarios or Conquest? Even in any given case, they shouldn't go down quickly as arty gens in arty units. Are you sending them ahead of tank gens without support? This is how arty units are flattened.
They also die more quickly because Dowding's rank provides him with just enough extra HP to take another hit or two.
7. Konev's Rumour is more important. Leaving him as a Colonel or M General (whichever is his starting rank) doesn't doom him outright. If he cannot send enemies into chaos in time, they'll keep firing at Konev.
8. Judging by the fact that you failed badly in Rommel 40%, you'll need Guderian. I think I used him as well.
Swap Fletcher for Nimitz, assuming that you have cleared Nimitz 40%. Losing Fletcher's first two skills are lamentable, but Nimitz can bring Rumour and Wolfpack to the table as well as his superior *s. But do not do this at the expense of Guderian.
9. I personally don't recommend Graziani, but you can pick him if you want. Rundstedt is capable of such feats partly because he has Guerilla, but Konev with Raider lvl 5 and Rumour lvl 5 is enough if you fight extremely hard and skillfully.
Are Rokossovsky, Montgomery and Patton really worth it? I've seen their skills when they're my allies, not very fond of em(except Monty, he is pretty good). I'm prob biased against Roko as I play only WTO missions in Cold War and not NATO as I can't get past Korean War. (Believe me, I try. Even checked the guide. My allies really kill me by taking key cities and depriving me of tech, not my enemies). I think Patton is way worse here than in WC3 and, very honestly, a waste of medals if at a price above 2100.
10. Rokossovsky has the best potential as a 3rd tank gen between the three. However worse Tide of Iron has become, it is still a tank skill. He can possess the most important two skills of Panzer Leader and Armoured Assault and either Rumour (I recommend this) or Blitzkrieg, something the other two cannot accomplish once they use their free slots for the two tank skills.
His potential combination of Panzer Leader (fixed), Rumour and Armoured Assault (both free skills) make him a better 3rd tank gen than Graziani who has to pick two of the three. Graziani's Mechanist at lvl 5 and the right Medal may allow him to take another punch, but Rokossovsky's Rumour can disable a powerful enemy until it falls, saving at least he and others from relatiatory attacks assuming you don't choose Rumour for Graziani.
11. Patton is worse. And if not for Elastic Defence taking up a free slot / a fixed slot in lieu of a better generalist / tank skill, and Monty's total cost for a 6* tank gen, Monty would've been outright better.
