I would think the Wehrmacht AI would build at least a Panzer IV first, but the AI stays unpredictable.

The Panther is indeed a strong tank, mainly because it can be used against most targets. Although it does cost much more than the average tank. Tanks like the SU-85/Jackson/Fire Fly are all cheaper and have a larger range. Combine those with support of an infantry squad to spot and perhaps throw an AT grenade for engine damage should help you.

Its veterancy requirements are also higher than other tanks, so I do not think it is over powered.

It seems fair. It just mobilises a bit too much ressources to bring one down than I'm confortable with on maps where the entire diagonal is basically a frontline.

But yes, i've never had an issue with panther on maps less opened (inline with vanilla maps).

Thanks for the quick answer, and thanks for the mod, it really is the thing that keeps this game relevant for me.

It has weak side/rear armor, and indeed the range is nothing special on the panther. Mines/AT nades work great for destroying/damaging it's engine, then it's a sitting duck so you can shoot it from the side. As it's bad vs infantry you can easily get close with AT infantry.

Yeah I Know the issue I'm having with it is not armor, it's HP. I had 2 Fireflies against one Panther and the Panther still got out with over a third of it's life. The Fireflies were consistantly penetrating but it was taking them 6-8 shots to kill the Panther whereas it was penetrating just as consistently but killing in 2-3 shots.

I tend to be a more turtle guy, so I've never had too much of an issue with them, given that they were immediately peppered with all the ♥♥♥♥ I had entrenched. But in big open-maps were you can neither rely on twin 17-pounders emplacements nor on firepower concentration, it's a different story. I thought twin fireflies would be the rapide-response equivalent to twin 17-pdr emplacement. It clearly is NOT.

But I agree that it's not too bad, and you can't nerf the Panther without nuking it. Especially since I already tend to find it slightly sub-par when I play Werhmacht.