This is why you might not want to get Konev anymore
Feb 18, 2022 8:58:09 GMT
Gerd von Rundstedt, Just One Bite, and 1 more like this
Post by Erich von Manstein on Feb 18, 2022 8:58:09 GMT
Back in 2015, I wrote this about Konev:
"Artillery-infantry general. He can be like Yamashita on motorized infantry, and better than Bai on artillery(although only 2). BTW I really hope he has 1 more movement, it will really make him a Yamashita+Bai!
A choice third artillery and also the infantry slot."
We appreciated Konev because he is one of the contenders for the second-best non-IAP artillery generals, along with Bai. As I observed the boards these years, the trend in EFC seems to favor Bai.
And now I will drop the last straw.
Why do we think Konev is good?
We buy Konev primarily for his artillery damage, in addition to his infantry hybrid ability, which makes him much cheaper than his competitor, the Bai-Vasilevsky duo. His 5 stars in artillery give him 28 damage and level 3 Artillery Barrage grants another 18 when his HP drops below half. Only Govorov and Crerar can outperform Konev on artillery damage-wise, but we will buy Govorov anyway and Crerar loses to Konev both in survivability and speed. On infantry, he is essentially a slightly slower Yamashita (given that we usually have commando against aliens), not Vasilevsky level but still good enough. For all that Konev offers, he costs us 3110 medals, whereas the Bai-Vasilevsky duo costs 1860+2080=3940 medals. Quite a difference.
What's his problem?
In general, EFC prefers Bai nowadays mainly because of his lower cost and higher speed. Although the duo costs more than Konev, Bai alone is cheaper. Also, Bai is the only top non-IAP artillery general that can move 3 grids on field artillery. However, I am not here to assert Bai's advantage. I write this thread to introduce a more deadly competitor.
And that is the EC.
Why EC? Aren't they super expensive?
If we are trying to replace Guderian or Govorov, then we do need a large budget. Konev, not so much. Konev's cost efficiency is severely hampered by his 5-star artillery and level 4 Artillery Leader. They don't offer too much but cost a lot of medals. If we are putting him on battalion artillery (what we get for alien campaigns 7 and 8), he will give an additional 28+0.16*(28/2)=30.24 damage on average when above half of his max HP and 30.24*0.75+18=40.68 when below half. For reference, Bai gives 16+10=26 when above half and 16*0.75+10+12=34 when below.
To match Konev's damage, speed, and HP, we need to build an EC with M General rank, 3 stars in artillery and movement, level 3 Plain Fighting, and level 2 Artillery Barrage. This will cost us 1420+350+340+690+310=3110. That's right. The same as Konev. He will give 16+15=31 when above half and 16*0.75+15+12=39 when below.
Let's make some changes. We want him to crack cities, so let's give him level 2 Explosives, which will cost 240. Instead of M General's 400 medals, we use level 2 Ace Forces which will cost us only 150 (this is for price control purposes, I recommend keeping the M General rank). With these additions, our EC now has the same speed, better overall damage output, and similar survivability compared to Konev.
But what about infantry? Just give him another 2 infantry stars that will cost 240. Konev on infantry deals 20 above half and 20*0.75+12=27 when below, whereas our EC will give 31 above half and 16*0.75+15=27 when below. Of course, he won't last as long as Konev since Konev has level 3 Raider, but if we're choosing Vasilevsky over Mannerheim for his damage, then why not our EC over Konev for the same reason?
After these changes, our EC boy's price tag lands at 3110+240-400+150+240=3340 medals (3590 if you retain the M General rank). He's even cheaper than Guderian! Although the cost is slightly more than Konev's, there's still a 600-medal gap from the Bai-Vasilevsky duo.
How about Bai?
No worries. Bai still has his advantages. The fourth movement star does cost quite a fortune. If you want to be faster and don't mind sacrificing some damage, Bai is still the best choice. After all, this thread is about Konev.
"Artillery-infantry general. He can be like Yamashita on motorized infantry, and better than Bai on artillery(although only 2). BTW I really hope he has 1 more movement, it will really make him a Yamashita+Bai!
A choice third artillery and also the infantry slot."
We appreciated Konev because he is one of the contenders for the second-best non-IAP artillery generals, along with Bai. As I observed the boards these years, the trend in EFC seems to favor Bai.
And now I will drop the last straw.
Why do we think Konev is good?
We buy Konev primarily for his artillery damage, in addition to his infantry hybrid ability, which makes him much cheaper than his competitor, the Bai-Vasilevsky duo. His 5 stars in artillery give him 28 damage and level 3 Artillery Barrage grants another 18 when his HP drops below half. Only Govorov and Crerar can outperform Konev on artillery damage-wise, but we will buy Govorov anyway and Crerar loses to Konev both in survivability and speed. On infantry, he is essentially a slightly slower Yamashita (given that we usually have commando against aliens), not Vasilevsky level but still good enough. For all that Konev offers, he costs us 3110 medals, whereas the Bai-Vasilevsky duo costs 1860+2080=3940 medals. Quite a difference.
What's his problem?
In general, EFC prefers Bai nowadays mainly because of his lower cost and higher speed. Although the duo costs more than Konev, Bai alone is cheaper. Also, Bai is the only top non-IAP artillery general that can move 3 grids on field artillery. However, I am not here to assert Bai's advantage. I write this thread to introduce a more deadly competitor.
And that is the EC.
Why EC? Aren't they super expensive?
If we are trying to replace Guderian or Govorov, then we do need a large budget. Konev, not so much. Konev's cost efficiency is severely hampered by his 5-star artillery and level 4 Artillery Leader. They don't offer too much but cost a lot of medals. If we are putting him on battalion artillery (what we get for alien campaigns 7 and 8), he will give an additional 28+0.16*(28/2)=30.24 damage on average when above half of his max HP and 30.24*0.75+18=40.68 when below half. For reference, Bai gives 16+10=26 when above half and 16*0.75+10+12=34 when below.
To match Konev's damage, speed, and HP, we need to build an EC with M General rank, 3 stars in artillery and movement, level 3 Plain Fighting, and level 2 Artillery Barrage. This will cost us 1420+350+340+690+310=3110. That's right. The same as Konev. He will give 16+15=31 when above half and 16*0.75+15+12=39 when below.
Let's make some changes. We want him to crack cities, so let's give him level 2 Explosives, which will cost 240. Instead of M General's 400 medals, we use level 2 Ace Forces which will cost us only 150 (this is for price control purposes, I recommend keeping the M General rank). With these additions, our EC now has the same speed, better overall damage output, and similar survivability compared to Konev.
But what about infantry? Just give him another 2 infantry stars that will cost 240. Konev on infantry deals 20 above half and 20*0.75+12=27 when below, whereas our EC will give 31 above half and 16*0.75+15=27 when below. Of course, he won't last as long as Konev since Konev has level 3 Raider, but if we're choosing Vasilevsky over Mannerheim for his damage, then why not our EC over Konev for the same reason?
After these changes, our EC boy's price tag lands at 3110+240-400+150+240=3340 medals (3590 if you retain the M General rank). He's even cheaper than Guderian! Although the cost is slightly more than Konev's, there's still a 600-medal gap from the Bai-Vasilevsky duo.
How about Bai?
No worries. Bai still has his advantages. The fourth movement star does cost quite a fortune. If you want to be faster and don't mind sacrificing some damage, Bai is still the best choice. After all, this thread is about Konev.
