Hey, I wanted to share a few quick thoughts in response to some of the questions and comments I've seen in this thread. I'm producing this patch so I've been playing with the changes quite a bit.
-That bug that causes units to stop moving if a structure is placed in their path is fixed in this patch, though it isn't highlighted specifically in the patch notes.
-Those of you hoping for arranged-teams options for Automatch, we hear you. Sorry that addition didn't make it into this particular update.
-There are some nuanced changes in this patch that aren't mentioned in the patch notes. For example, the Nod Avatar's collision box has been increased. This means Avatars will be physically larger in the gameworld even though they appear the same size; specifically, their health bars will appear bigger and they'll have an easier time stomping on enemy units. They also won't line up so closely together when using Formation Move. I know some of you will appreciate these types of changes, so stay tuned for undocumented stuff like this in the patch.
-Nod's Black Hand and Flame Tank both feel much better now. They're powerful and scary (and fun to use).
-GDI Missile Squads and Nod Rocket Militants are very useful throughout a battle now, though they're not invincible by any means. Meanwhile, Scrin Buzzers feel a lot better now and will be more effective at cutting down the improved infantry on the other sides.
-GDI Riflemen Squads' Dig In ability is a lot more fun to use and effective now.
-Don't be too worried about the changes to the GDI Sniper Team. With the improvements to other infantry, the Sniper Team has become much more valuable overall.
-Don't be too worried about the changes to the Nod Scorpion Tank. It's still a very effective and fast unit that makes a solid addition to any Nod combat group. However, you'll now want to use it alongside units like the Avatar, the Flame Tank, and the Attack Bike more than before. Attack Bikes feel a lot better now.
-The Scrin Gun Walker and Corrupter may not seem like they've changed much on paper, but they're definitely more valuable now than before. Devastator Warships are also more valuable now than before, because infantry will be used more often...and Devastators eat infantry for breakfast.
-Don't be too worried about power plants and barracks no longer giving additional ground control for building placement. Improvements to building placement will make you feel like you've got more space to work with than before when laying out your base.
-I'm a big fan of the changes to the Repair Drones. You now get a more-noticeable advantage when defending your own turf, since Repair Drones will heal your units as they take damage. It's not enough to save you against vastly superior forces, but it'll give you an edge against a similarly sized force.
-I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how the artificial intelligence adapts to all of the balance changes. As tempted as you may be to dive right into the multiplayer once the patch comes out, don't hesitate to give the campaign or skirmish another shot.
-I think you'll like all four of the new maps added in this patch, as well as some of the tweaks to the interface.
Thanks for all your patience in anticipation of this patch. I'll be checking this thread often and logging into the online lobbies from time to time to address some of the questions and concerns that come up before and after, though my main goal now is to get this thing out to you as quickly as possible.