I've been a big fan of this game so far, played 434 hours, been over lvl 150 in the beta and something around lvl 120 now in the full game.
But at this point, I am SHOCKED how little is done to fix some of the most critical gameplay issues/bugs und unbalanced settings in this game. I simply do not understand how some of the problems I am going to list are still a thing after all this time. It seems that NWI lacks someone to make the decisions on what to fix and when.
Note that like alot of people I only play coop, so whatever I say will focus on that particular mode only. Although beside AI issues, most issues should affect both modes.
AI still cheating on any aspect
The xray vision is still present, AI shoots you through smoke and knows your exact position behind walls (getting one-shot'ed by technicals). How have you not fixed this yet? And why do you even allow smoke grenades/launchers in Coop at this current state?! All it does is that experienced players get frustrated with teammates who use smoke, because it only affects the players but barely the AI.
And whats with the insane accuracy some of the AI have on long range?! I get SNIPED by machine gunners and those "pistol runners" across the map by a single bullet shot at me! How are you even supposed to set up as a supportive class like gunner or marksman?
This brings me to the next point regarding the godlike AI - their eagle eyes and "quick turn kills". There isn't even a point in setting up in great hiding spots because no matter how far you are away, and how little you show yourself, the AI will INSTANTLY see you across the map. Alright, so we cannot use logical cover, so maybe we try to ambush them? Nope, no matter if you hit them from above or behind, they instantly turn towards you and one-shot you. Element of surprise? Not existant, they fire at you without any simulated "reaction time".
On a side note, with the recent update, some players are invisible to the AI. I only see this happening to others when spectating them during defenses, but I can't speculate when/how they turn invisible to the AI.
Volumes, hitboxes and blasts/explosions
This one is just as frustrating and kills the game fun completely. How is it, that even though we are in full cover (I got a roof, 4 walls, no openings like doors or windows around me) we still get blown up by support calls like artillery/mortars and rocket strikes? What exactly are we supposed to do, when you want us to stay in one small building during a defense? Either fix the explosions going through hard cover or stop the AI from calling in artillery during defenses (since we cannot leave the targeted area).
In this category I also need to mention how often rockets and explosives will be stopped by some invisible (or not reasonable) "obstacle". E.g. I have free sight on a weapons cache, but my rocket doesnt hit it. Another one, I throw C4 right next to a weapons cache, but the detonation doesn't even do ANY damage. What the hell is going on, did the plastic bottle on the ground stop the blast?
Machine guns are useless
What is the point of having machine guns, when the AI does not simulate being suppressed, when I cannot set up in any good overwatch position (as I mentioned in the AI section above) aaaand, half of the reasonable positions to set up my bipod will NOT allow me to deploy it?! Also since the last update the bipod (atleast for me) stops working after some time. E.g. I have it deployed, but after turning around or reloading it wont let me deploy it on the same/exact position, sometimes using the underbarrel button twice to remove and redeploying the bipod fixes it.
So why exactly did you add an insane amount of recoil to all machine guns, knowing that often the bipod doesn't work at all?!
Sector zones
Whoever designed the capture/defend zones in this game clearly has a desire to tortue players There is no tactical logic behind these zones, none at all!!
Why is it that I cannot be upstairs on the building as the zone only covers the downstairs area? Why is it that you force us to sit around in the damn OPEN AREA like the center of a marketplace or some open plaza instead of the walls around the plaza that are part of the same building?! Forcing players into the open without any hard cover.
Hey buddy, stay on the objective, its all in the open and there is HE shells or rockets incoming, but make sure to stay out in the open, otherwise we determine that you gave up your position!
SERIOUSLY, what's the tactical idea behind this madness?
Honestly and without exaggeration, every single player I know absolutely HATES the objective zones in these maps. So, maybe listen to the community?
Reflected team damage
This one... It has been pointed out so many times by your community that this simply does not work. I get punished for incompetent team mates who run into my line of fire, who run into a burning molotov/incendiary, and who stand next to weapons caches even though you called out multiple times via radio that you are going to blow it up.
Does it stop trolls from being trolls? Nope, instead of killing you they will just injure you, throw grenades in front of you or block your view/path, or other very creative trolling methods like wandering off hoping that everyone else dies so that we all get to spectate the troll...
You don't have a votekick system ready yet? Fine, but atleast free us from this horrible damage reflection system!
Btw. most team killing SOBs will just wait until the defense of the last objective to kill you. That way they get away with it since you cannot respawn anymore until the match is over. Maybe you can try to come up with something for that.
Matchmaking options
I mentioned this months ago but apparently it hasn't been considered important enough so far. What's the point of making me join a game that is on the last objective, thus has no respawns left for me?
About 7 out of 10 matches I join thru matchmaking are already on the last 1-3 objectives. Please give us the option for the matchmaking preferences to not join games that are close to be over.
Oh and - surprisingly, players want to be able to join their friends during ongoing matches.
AI spawn killing and during resupplying
The spawn killing is still an issue. It usually happens 10-20 seconds after the respawn. Not sure if some of the AI doesn't fall back or some are spawning too close to the player area. There has been many times me or my team mates get killed while they try to resupply or change their gear. Ffs, can we please get a moment to change our sights or resupply without having some AI rush into the sector that we already cleared? Simply give players spawn protection and around the ammobox.
Loadout/Gear
Mosin Nagant, M870 and the RPG don't come with full ammo on spawn/respawn (tested with heavy carrier kit), more specific:
Mosin Nagant - Pick up one extra clip from ammobox
M870 - Reload 1 shell and pick up 8 extra shells from ammobox
RPG - Pick up one extra rocket from ammobox
And I still think its unbalanced/unfair that you don't get extra HE rounds for the underbarrel grenade launcher with the heavy carrier, as you did in the old version and old games.
I also think its unbalanced that the extended magazine for the MP5 (30 to 40) costs 3 supply points, the same amount as a drum magazine (which has more bullets, 30 to 50). 2 supply points seem fair to me.
Another point for balancing reasons, I think the 100 round machine guns should get one extra box versus the 200 round M249. The higher caliber of the 100 round ones does not make up for the fact that the M249 gets DOUBLE the amount of rounds. Plus, the reload animations could be a bit quicker, it looks like my character is reloading his gun on a peaceful firing range instead of heated combat.
Misc bugs
Only since last update - At some points during my game sessions, all ingame sounds including VOIP stop working for a few seconds, then everything is back to normal.
And the reticle on the C79 4x scope is shaking a little bit, no matter what weapon I equip it on. Don't know about the other 4x scopes as I only use this one most of the time.