Since update 3.8 dropped, everyone is pissed about the timers, spare parts, nerfs to certain equipment, etc. But one thing that really pissed me off was what WG did to spotting equipment, such as optics, binocs, and camo net.
Before update 3.8, many medium tanks didn't mount coated optics, and heavy tanks NEVER equipped them. Meds usually used rammer, vents, and when available, VSTABs. Probably only about 25% of equipped mediums ran coated optics, as afterall, the scouting role befell the light tanks. This meant light tanks that mounted coated optics had a tangible advantage over their medium tank counterparts, as they could provide vision for the team and out-spot their opponents, which made up for their typically weaker guns. Sniping tank destroyers with no armour, like the Nashorn, Borsig, or Grille 15 used to have monster view range and concealment when running binocs and a camo net, which made up for their non-existent armour and usually mediocre mobility.
Then 3.8 hit. Now, all tanks that were fully equipped pre-3.8 have the same loadout options: rammer or increased pen, decreased module damage or decreased crew damage, optics or camo net. This means that ALL tanks are almost required to mount optics, meaning the view range advantage that lights once had is only by 5-10m at most, and since mediums have better firepower and usually better protection, mediums can now fulfill the scouting role just as well as their light tank counterparts, and are not as screwed if they get caught in the open. Furthermore, heavy tanks, now that they all run optics, can spot for themselves, making sneaking up on them or flanking them extremely risky, or even impossible.
What about paper TDs? Well, now, paper TDs can either mount optics, and have the same view range as everyone else, or mount camo-net, and have garbage view range and good concealment. This means TDs will NEED to have others spot for them (which never happens, because teams have fewer braincells between them than a single celled organism) if they want to run camo-net, or if they run optics, they will be completely obliterated when they attempt to snipe, as their camo ratings will be mediocre at best. This is a huge nerf to both light tanks and sniping TDs, while buffing mediums and heavies considerably.
Now, while I do agree that some lights (coughLTTBcoughT-54LTcough) and some TDs (coughBorsigcough) do need re-evaluation, taking a blanket nerf hammer to ALL sniping tanks and light tanks is completely moronic. Now, some underpowered lights, like the T21 or T71 are simply useless, as their scouting ability was the main advantage they had over mediums. Furthermore, some sniping tanks, like the Nashorn (or to a degree, the Sturer Emil) are absolutely wrecked, and now find it difficult to survive on the battlefield, let alone thrive.
Now how do we fix this? Well, it is a really bloody simple fix, that requires only a couple small changes to the equipment choices available.
First, remove camo-net from the Level 1 Specialization equipment spot. In its place, put binocs. This will allow tanks to mount either coated optics or binocs, depending on what type of tank they are, or what role they want to play. Also, I would recommend to change binocs from +25% view range when stationary, to +2.5% view range when moving, and +20% view range when stationary, so that tanks who use binocs can't simply spot half the map once they stop, and so that they aren't completely screwed when they enter a city map or corridor fight where long lanes of spotting aren't possible. Now sniping TDs can get their binocs back, and light tanks who want to fulfill the scout role have access to equipment that will give them a clear advantage in view range over other vehicles.
Secondly, change the equipment options for Level 1 Vitality. Condense both pieces of equipment currently available down into one (Improved Internal Layout), and with the free spot left, add back camo-net. This way, sniping vehicles who rely on not being spotted as their "protection" can mount a piece of equipment that is actually useful for them, and vehicles who don't require a camo-net can get a useful piece of equipment as well.
Thoughts on this?