Molotov price

SaS TrooP · #1 November 28th, 2016, 07:16 PM

This applies to SPMBT too.

I am the only one who believes that units equipped with Molotov cocktails are extremely expensive. Shouldn't it be cheap unit with simple bottle and some petrol?

I believe molotov is qualified as flamethrowing weapon. Shouldn't it be kinda fixed?

scorpio_rocks · #2 November 28th, 2016, 08:27 PM

The "points cost" is based on combat effectiveness not how expensive the "money cost" of the weapon is.

It doesn't matter whether it's a few pennies for a bottle of petrol, or millions of dollars/pounds/whatever for a super expensive but rubbish bit of kit (looking at you leclerc...) in real world currency - how many points it "costs" in game to "buy" the stuff is unconnected.

The reason Molotov cocktails are so commonly used historically is their "bank-per-buck". In game terms if available there are probably more cost efficient solutions...

SaS TrooP · #3 November 28th, 2016, 09:16 PM

I know that. But still, given the Soviet example, it is more cost effective to invest into traditional Rifle Company rather than Conscript Company with Molotovs. This formula simply leads to very strange results.

Imp · #4 November 28th, 2016, 10:19 PM

For good reason I would say especially at the start of the war, the Russian infantry had zero AT capability apart from perhaps engineers or ski troop.
Pretty safe to run armour adjacent to troops therefore especially with tank panic for the age. I would risk running through woods or an urban enviroment. Give them Molotovs though & its a diffrent story clearing those woods is going to hurt a lot more.
Even a modern MBT needs to take care round a Molotov, would not count on it killing it but coud easily allow the attack that does.
Its a good all round weapon its "fault" being its unpredictability due to its nature, thats also why you treat it with respect.
In urban or woods if I was buying a force to win would go mol over grenade any day its worth the cost.

zastava128 · #5 November 29th, 2016, 04:50 AM

One point - the prevalence of strong but expensive Molotovs in the guerilla-type OOBs is a good thing from a game-play standpoint. On the one hand, it gives you the ability to blow up practically any tank if you get close to it (therefore rewarding you for successfully ambushing them), but on the other hand it makes your units more expensive and thus discourages human wave attacks.

Mobhack · #6 November 29th, 2016, 06:05 AM

Its a flame weapon, a one-shot infantry flame thrower. Flame weapons are expensive because they have the ability to effectively bypass armour. They also tend to fill the impact hex with flame (less so over the original game though). They also have a healthy negative morale effect on the target.

So deliberately not cheap in the cost calculator.

jp10 · #7 November 29th, 2016, 05:37 PM

I think the cost is Ok, keeps them from being too common. It really should be a defensive weapon IMO, they are difficult to move with and a hazard to have if you take fire. You can cork/seal them till employment but then you have to 'prime,insert,ignite' them when needed.
They also smell of gasoline everywhere you go. I you are using vodka bottles, just don't have the guy who emptied the bottle do the throwing.

Pibwl · #8 December 8th, 2016, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp10

I you are using vodka bottles, just don't have the guy who emptied the bottle do the throwing.

He usually must have been drunk with vodka, to dare to rush with a bottle against a tank...

gila · #9 December 12th, 2016, 10:27 PM

That's right of course,no russian comrade worth his salt would waste good vodka on an attacking tank.

Griefbringer · #10 December 13th, 2016, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp10

You can cork/seal them till employment but then you have to 'prime,insert,ignite' them when needed.

Actually, there were Molotov Cocktail variants that did not need to be opened before throwing. One of these featured a sort of big match on the side, that would be lighted before throwing.

Most advanced versions featured small bottles of chemicals taped to the side of the main bottle - when hitting a target both bottles would break and when the components ended up mixing they would self-ignite. Handle with care...

In Finland during the Winter War Molotovs were mass-produced in a governmental booze factory. Curiously enough, in the original pre-war Finnish anti-tank doctrine they were intended primarily for blinding tanks in close quarters by producing smoke, until it was figured out that could also be chucked at the engine deck.