1 reply to this topic

[Marcin Zgiernicki]

This one is bothering me since I started playing MP. Why is the soviet Katyuscha's cost so low?It has a very high ROF, incredible OV/FP values (as it should have) and strangely low BPV. Let's compare soviet BM-28 with german Stuka zu Fuss - both have the same OV/FP.Stuka has ROF=2 and ammo limit - Katyusha has ROF=5 and unlimited ammo.And yet Stuka's BPV is more than 3 times higher!!!I understand that the SdKfz 251 used as a basis for german vehicle makes a slight difference however taking into account the effectiveness of soviet launchers it seems that their BPV might need a correction.BTW, does the Katyuscha's BPV include the cost of the crew?Marcin

[Bob Benge]

Hey Marcin,Let me give you a little explaination on the BPV formula. The formula for calculating BPVs does apply equally to ALL vehicles in the table as the formula rates them. The BPV is only as good as the formula and the current formula was bred after 6 months of discussion with Ragozd, whom is still, and I believe will never be, satisfied with it since something always crops up to skew the formula in a different direction for him. ;) The formula we have now is the best it has ever been mostly due to Ragozd's help. My thanks to him. Could it be better? I am sure it could, but frankly after spending 6 months toiling over this with him was taking ALL of my free time and did not allow me to work on other ODGW projects that I was suppose to be working on. So I had to draw the line and move on.Now on to the the specifics. First, comparing the Stuka Zu Fuss to the BM-28 Katyuscha, both having 280mm rockets, the Stuka zu Fuss is armored, has a carry and passenger capacity, has a lower rate of fire (2/1 which equates to a ROF of 1 as opposed to the 5/1 which equates to a ROF of 2.5) and has a 320mm incendiary rocket which adds approximately 40% over 60 points to the BPV alone. I would say that a more comparable match would be be the BM-8 Katyuscha with 82mm Rockets to the S303Souma(F) R-Vfw with 88mm rockets or the BM-13 Katyushca with 132mm rockets to the S303Souma(F) PzWr40 with 150mm rockets. The comparisons are:..............BM-8 Katyuscha.....S303Souma(F) R-VfwBPV:....................25...................47ROF:...................5/1..................4/1Armored:..............no...................yesRocket HEAT:........no...................yesDirect fire only:.....no...................yesThis is what makes the difference in the BPVs for these to vehicles. The armor alone goes to survivability. The German Rocket with a HEAT value adds much punch to the vehicle. The ROF is a minor difference of 2.5 per turn (5/1 is basically 2.5 rockets a turn counting the reload time) for the BM-8 to the 2 per turn (4/1 is basically 2 rockets a turn counting the reload time of 1) for the S303 Souma.Now the comparison for the BM-13 Katyushca with 132mm rockets to the S303Souma(F) PzWr40 with 150mm rockets...............BM-13 Katyuscha.....S303Souma(F) PzWr40BPV:.....................36....................71ROF:....................5/1...................4/1Armored:..............no...................yesHE Value:...........12/4..................13/5Direct fire only:.....no....................noAgain the Armor increases the BPV for the Somua as does the slight differece in HE OV/FP values. This is enough to warrant the difference in the BPVs as per the formula.With all of this said, understand there is some subjectivity in BPVs. What I rate one way you and anyone else may rate 2 other ways. The current BPV rates the Combat capability of all vehicles from the tank to the lowly truck, to the mortar, to the flamethrower. The formula applies equally to all accounting for specific circumstances. Is this an absolute. No. If you don't like the numbers change them to fit your style of play these BPVs are like any part of our game, guidelines. You can change what you don't like. I don't plan on changing the formula anytime in the near future as this seems to open a big can of worms anytime anything is even mentioned of this. If someone wants to take a crack at it then they are welcome to try. :evil: