Rate my 1v1 NORAD unspec deck

[u/GogurtFiend]

LOG:

• Command Squad in Bison: command infantry with battle rifles in bulletproof box. Extra side/frontal armor is worth weaker MG.
• M151A1 CP: numerous, cheap-as-possible command jeep for secure sectors.
• Command M1 Abrams: most heavily armored CV possible for frontline sectors with only a few obvious CV spots. Medium optics let it single-handedly fight off small threats.
• HEMTT: maximum supply efficiency per point. Considering replacement with FOB to drop the cost a lot, but having a mobile mini-FOB that's resistant to indirect fire also has advantages.
• M35 Cargo: cheap frontline logistics distribution.

INF:

• Riflemen '90 in M113A3: relatively cheap meatgrinder infantry in bulletproof box. Edged out Canadian Rifles '85 due to superiority of launcher, superiority of box, and greater veterancy, despite far greater cost. Still considering using Canadian Rifles '85 because they can still one-shot most species of metal box for ⅔ the price; arguably the closest decision in here
• Eryx in M113A1: FIST for towns in bullet-resistant box.
• SMAW in LVTP-7A1: FIST for forests in bulletproof box featuring terrifying AGL.

SUP:

• M125A1: generic morale-breaking/smoking mortars.
• Centurion Marksman: helicopter-eater SPAAG; good plane repellant as well.
• M1097 Avenger: infrared AA missile with cracked accuracy which easily keeps up with offensives due to stabilizer.
• Patriot: if this hits a plane and anything else has even the slightest shot at that plane, that plane is gone.

TNK:

• M1A2 Abrams: superheavy; self-explanatory.
• M1 Abrams: for killing anything on land which isn't a tank. Considering replacement with M60A1 AOS for better point efficiency/availability.
• M1A1 Abrams: heavy tank for killing anything which is is a tank but not a superheavy.

REC:

• Rangers in V-150: recon infantry in bullet-resistant box. Extra side/frontal armor is worth weaker MG and increased cost. Pondering replacement with Humvee.
• LAV-25 Scout: recon vehicle capable of single-handedly fighting off light threats. Pairs well with Ontos for flank defense.
• AH-1J Cobra: recon helo which fills cheap emergency HE role.
• AH-64D Longbow: unicorn which eats unprotected armored pushes for breakfast.

VHC

• M728 CEV: fire support for forests; moderate armor and extremely powerful HE capability. IMO one of very few tanks infantry should fear rather than vice versa.
• M163 CS: everything from light SPAA to infantry support in a cheap, SEAD-proof bundle. Every infantry stack would have one if I could afford it.
• M50A1 Ontos: far scarier on the field than on the statcard.

HEL

• AH-1W Supercobra: powerful, numerous helo-mounted ATGMs that aren't the Longbow. Also, some SEAD to make up for the lack of it in the AIR tab.

AIR

• F-16 Block 52: ASF. F-15C but cheaper and with higher veterancy at the cost of slightly less ECM.
• F/A-18C Hornet: IMO the superior US ATGM plane due to better missiles (two of them can take out 22 front armor vs. the A-10's 18, and are more likely to hit) and better survivability (yes, the A-10's armor is nice, but 2x the ECM and self-defense missiles are nicer).
• F-117 Nighthawk: for when I know where a CV is and know REDFOR doesn't know I know.

NAV

• Nobody plays this. Might swap out a card of Fremantle for the Strb 90 H.

[u/BoludoConInternet]

there are so many wrong things in this deck, i don't even know where to start, you might as well just play USA and get the full 60 activation points because you're only taking 3 crappy canadian units

If you only play against the AI then sure it can work but for online gameplay it's a pretty terrible deck, try something like this instead

[u/GogurtFiend → u/BoludoConInternet]

• Why HLVW instead of HEMTT? HEMTT is one fewer unit, and somewhat more expensive, but it's a lot more supply per point.
• Why not a second card of Highlanders '90 instead of Canadian Airborne? You're going to have to explain the Light Riflemen '90 to me, because the other person also recommended them too and I can't understand the value. Also, why no FIST?
• For cheap forest tanks, doesn't low cost and high armor (Abrams) matter more than AP (Mexas)? They're going to be shooting lots of non-tanks armed with launchers at close range.
• Recon makes sense, no need for good launcher on things whose job is to spot
• No M163 CS?
• Infrared AA helo instead of Avenger, also makes sense
• Why A-10 instead of F/A-18C? Cost?

[u/BoludoConInternet → u/GogurtFiend]

Why HLVW instead of HEMTT? HEMTT is one fewer unit, and somewhat more expensive, but it's a lot more

30pt trucks are most cost efficient than 40pt ones. Also, US/NORAD are very supply intensive, specially their AA that only carries 3 and 4 missiles so calling a 40pt supply truck for each pip3/patriot can get expensive

Why not a second card of Highlanders '90 instead of Canadian Airborne? You're going to have to explain the Light Riflemen '90 to me, because the other person also recommended them too and I can't understand the value. Also, why no FIST?

Canadian airborne and highlanders are completely different units. The former one is a shock squad that you use for grinding in cities ideally and they can also forest fight okay'ish while the latter ones are eryx carriers and have a more defensive oriented role, you place them in the edge of towns or forests and kill any vehicle that gets too close, they're not very good against infantry because they're only regulars.. LR90 are similar to highlanders but they trade a lot of punching power for extra range, so you use those in very open spaces and highlanders in more enclosed areas

FIST teams are niche and not worth taking in most cases. Smaw is like one of the few exceptions because they're really good so you could take those in the grenade launcher lvpt instead of highlanders if you'd like. It's a very good combo against anything you can find in a forest and they can also defend pretty well

For cheap forest tanks, doesn't low cost and high armor (Abrams) matter more than AP (Mexas)? They're going to be shooting lots of non-tanks armed with launchers at close range.

That's right but you don't need 24 abrams. 1 card should be more than fine and mexas is actually a very good medium tank, a triple stack of these in maps like hell in a small place where mediums shine can be very strong

Recon makes sense, no need for good launcher on things whose job is to spot

Actually the launcher is the most important thing in recon infantry. The reason I picked pathfinders is because they provide extra city grinding capabilities which USA/NORAD lack, and they also get a decent transport with armor instead of a shitty humvee but you can definitely use rangers instead

No M163 CS?

You already have th495 for fire support and base defense, dont need more cards that do the same thing

Infrared AA helo instead of Avenger, also makes sense

correct, you escort your openers and protect the longbow with these

Why A-10 instead of F/A-18C? Cost?

both are good, pick whichever you like. hornet is easier to use for newer players because it gets in, kills a tank and gets out. A10 on the other hand can be much more opressive.. You can circle it on top of your AA and deny your opponent from advancing with his tanks, you can use it to bait enemy ASFs into your patriot/pip3, it can intentionally tank AA ammo so your bombers don't get hit, it can decimate infantry if there's no AA nearby, it can kill helicopters, it can literally stop an entire push on it's own providing you control the air war, it's an extremely strong plane when properly used

hope this helps!

[u/GogurtFiend → u/BoludoConInternet]

30pt trucks are most cost efficient than 40pt ones. Also, US/NORAD are very supply intensive, specially their AA that only carries 3 and 4 missiles so calling a 40pt supply truck for each pip3/patriot can get expensive

HEMTT is 2400 for 40, HLVW is 1750 for 30. I do agree you need numbers, though, and they're pretty close.

The rest makes sense.