Source
r/WorldofTanks•
Windchild

Improving as a New Player - Update

My IGN is Windchild. This is an update after asking for help 26 days ago. I've gotten to an overall WN8 of 530, with an average WN8 of ~1k over the past 2 weeks. The past two weeks has had a survival rate of ~26% and a win rate of ~55%. Over this period of time, my daily WN8 has moved between ~800 and ~1,500.

The Cromwell is the main reason my WN8 is as high as it is, as my most consistent tank in terms of damage and WN8. I've also been playing a significant portion of my games in it (getting my first crew skill is my current goal, which will help for skirmishes).

I've also been skirmishing with my clan [C_W_G], where I've tried calling (mixed, probably 45%-50% winrate), and got my first unicum kill (5.1k WN8 player on [BULBA]).

I've got a bunch of credits saved up (just under 3m), plus some equipment to use as needed (mixed types, probably over 4m credits worth). All garage slots are filled currently. Not sure what I can use this on other than continue to save.

My current tanks are:

Tier VI:

  • Cromwell: Elite, Currently at 95% towards my first set of crew skills/perks (Sixth, Smooth Ride, Snap Shot, Camo, Repairs)

  • VK 30.01 (P): New addition. I'm not sure if I should put equipment on it, and which equipment to use

Tier V:

  • KV-1: Love this tank. Not sure about the equipment I should put on it (plan on keeping it)

  • KV-1S: Derp gun

  • T-34: Grinding towards the T-34-85.

  • Churchill I

  • Sherman III: Grinding towards the Firefly (plan on keeping the Firefly, and stopping there)

  • Pz. IV H: very undecided on whether I will keep this tank or grind another tank. Likely sell it, and buy back after the next garage slot sale (bought at 50%, so I'll sell it for the same I bought it for)

  • ELC AMX: I'm really unsure of the direction to head with regarding this tank after I elite it. I've set a limit of tier 8 games until I improve (tier 5 Scouts, tier 6 other tanks)

Tier IV:

  • M3 Lee: just grinding it...

Tier III:

  • M3 Stuart

Missions:

  • LT-10

  • MT-13

  • HT-7

  • TD-10

  • SPG-1

I'm not sure how to play Sand River in a heavy. I've had one good game on that map in a heavy (surprisingly a tier 7 game in the KV-1), but that spot would normally not work (very easy to hit with arty, but not for tanks)

I've learned how to damage a majority of tanks that I face in my Cromwell (some of the tier 8's I face I haven't learned yet). I'm an aggressive player, which tends to do well for me (my recent survival rate would be much higher if I didn't get destroyed by arty very late in the game when cleaning up the enemy team)

Have I been heading in the correct tank lines? I've unlocked the Comet, but have stopped increasing tiers until I get better (I don't want to be a complete burden in a tier 9 or 10 game, where I could cost others credits).

I apologize for not taking any platoon offers from my previous post. I've been playing alongside clan members when I can platoon, and skirmishing quite a bit. (had a lot of spare time recently)

Is there any other help you can offer an ~1k recent, in addition to the advice offered in this thread

Thanks again!

Posted Apr 28, 2015, 12:06 AM UTC

013
TheOnlyQueue•

Sand river is great for a heavy with solid turret armor. The depression at E0 and F0 is spectacular for tanks either defending or assaulting, as you can push up and gets spots across the open area in front on assault, while defenders can hide their hull on the ridgeline above (see this video or this one of me on how to do this while defending).

There are other places to go, such as this awesome spot, over by G3, and of course there is the ridgeline before the hills (standard mode usually) around C7 and F2.

Tanks such as T29s and T32s work great on sand river, but as you can see from QB's video, other tanks work well too. Sniper heavies can use normal TD locations quite effectively, and the bottom left hand corner of the map can be a real isolated brawl. This said, I've made games with my AMX M4 45 where I go hulldown and fight off 6-8 enemy tanks in the E0 dip, by simply snapshotting and pulling back quickly. Yes, even the AMX M4 can play the role of a T32.

For right now, your KV-1, KV-1S would be best suited for flatter areas highlighted above, so they can utilize their guns with shitty gun depression. Use the 1S's speed to get up to the ridge that the WZ 111 was on in QB's video. Stay back in high tier games, hidden behind the rocks up north and to the west.

--

For your tanks, I suggest American heavies. Are you using the Lee for the American meds or for the T1 heavy? I also suggest French heavies, if you want to dabble in autoloaders. Move on from the ELC and the M3 Stuart until you hit autoloaders (AMX 12t, one of my favorite tanks, is a great vehicle to learn how to autoload). If you like em (think T71, Bulldog, AMX 12t/13 75/13 90), go for the French.

3
WindchildOP[RDTT2]•

Thanks for the help regarding my least favorite map right now (I've only been getting it in heavies, whereas I have a strategy for my mediums).

On the Lee, I'm going to unlock both lines. I'm planning on going up the Heavy line, as I'm currently grinding the Sherman III and will have the Firefly soon (14k xp).

I've been thinking about grinding the B1 after eliting the AMX ELC bis, but I'm not sure (in game, I have all of the German tier 4 tanks unlocked, along with most of the tier 5's [not including TD's and Arty])

1
TheOnlyQueue•

Good Germans to go for: Leopard 1, E50M, E100

2
WindchildOP[RDTT2]•

The only one of these tanks I've actually gone towards is the Leopard 1 (at the VK 30.01 (D), but haven't started to grind it). I'm on track to unlock the VK 36.01 (H), but it is to elite the Pz IV H.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
Dae314•

You seem to be on track for steady improvement, so I have no general advice for you (unless you have a specific area you want advice on).

As far as moving up tiers though, you aren't expected to do much in a heavily tier 9 game as a tier 7. Given what you said, you'd probably be fine getting tanks up to tier 8. You don't want to rush, but at the same time you improve faster if you push yourself so don't be too afraid to advance.

However, consider that the British mediums are generally considered to be lower performers after the Comet. Instead of pushing the Brit line, I'd push your KV-1S and T-34 lines as they will net you strong high tier tanks.

Regarding sand river, heavies tend to struggle more on open maps due to open maps favoring view range games as well as dynamic play. Try to stick with your support and only push in areas where you can control your angles of exposure (as in keep all enemy fire coming into the front of your tank). Be careful about over extending because it's very easy to find yourself isolated and surrounded.

2
WindchildOP[RDTT2]•

I'm not sure about how to use equipment (as in, which I should use)

I've got to work on the last point (getting surrounded). Keep losing my support and getting isolated in slow tanks.

1
Dae314•

There are some pretty standard equipments that just about every tank uses:

  1. Rammer
  2. VStab
  3. Optics
  4. Vents
  5. GLD

On special cases, you may see spall liner or wet ammo rack, but if you have to think "does my tank really need this?" the answer is probably no because one of the above will be more useful. You might also substitute one equip for some type of enhanced suspension if you're doing a stock grind. You'd take this off and replace it with whatever final item once you get the tracks.

For the big 5, Rammer is duh. Firing 10% faster benefits pretty much every tank in the game. Unless you're a pure scout or you know what you're doing, this should be a given.

VStab is pretty universally considered better than GLD, but you can't mount it till later tiers. Usually just this piece is sufficient, but you might run across a tank that REALLY needs to limit its exposure in which case you'd combine it with GLD and get a rammer/vstab/gld build. Rammer/vstab is a very common pairing at higher tiers.

Vents and optics are usually the last item in the rammer/vstab build. Your pick depends on what kind of work you expect to be doing. You might see optics more often on mediums and lights and vents more often on heavies, but it's not a hard and fast rule.

GLD I mentioned earlier. You find this replacing vstab on the lower tiers when you can't mount a vstab, and occasionally augmenting a vstab on the higher tiers.

Other equipment is rarely seen or only seen on specialty builds. The ones I listed should get you through the majority of cases in the game.

Now in general, if you're still having trouble on what to use on your last 2 slots (assuming rammer is a given), think about the following: for your tank, is it more important to cover weaknesses or buff strengths? You should know the strengths and weaknesses of your tank, so consider how you play it and gauge whether covering weaknesses or buffing strengths will be most beneficial.

Also whenever they go on sale, try to buy as many of those 5 items as you can. It'll save you a lot of silver down the line.

--edit--

LOL I totally forgot camo net and binocs

These equips show up SOMETIMES on tanks that are prone to camping or simply are not meant to play dynamically. In most cases, you don't want to use these because it requires you to be too static, and that's not the type of gameplay that tends to win games. However, on certain tanks these equips can be useful, usually TDs, arty, or some low tier scouts who want to be 100% invisible behind a bush. Usually by tier 6 or so scouts have enough power that sitting behind a bush all game is not beneficial anymore.

2
Brandon658•

I use vents, rammer, and optics on my VK30P.

Keep in mind this tank is almost unplayable until you get through the stock grind. Run with the 8.8 gun. Its pen is slightly lower than the 7.5 offered to you but the 8.8 has the alpha and knowing weak spots solves the loss of some pen. (Or just spam gold and call it a day.)

This isn't a good close quarters tank. It's too slow turning wise and large to work well that way. It excels in its good view range and the 8.8 gun. Hang back and drill people all day. Your turret is also pretty well armored for tier 6 allowing it to tank a good amount of hits. It also has pretty good armor for the medium class but don't rely on it. It'll shine when it needs to.

Your top speed is great but just average acceleration. So when you need to move to a new location keep in mind it'll take time to get up to speed so don't just waltz out into the open.

It's also a pretty heavy tank and can withstand being rammed by most anything other than some heavies.

Anything else hit me up. I love this tank. (PS. yes there are better tanks than it. But this thing can hold its own once you learn it.)

2
Threadoflength•

I just sold this tank and moved the crew to the VK3002M and kinda miss it. Obviously comparing a mostly stock tank to an elited one is dumb but i miss the nice alpha hit of the 88 while the 75 seems so anemic (can't imagine how lame 135 alpha is at tier 7 with the Panther).

2
Brandon658•

Getting near a 3 skill crew in my VK30P. So pumped to get brothers in arms for the little boost to everything.

I am really torn right now if I should keep the crew in it or move them to the tier 10 leopard once I get there. (Almost have the RU251 so I've some time)

2
Sarzan[NARWL]•

For some additional reading, there is a pleathora of knowlege pinned at the top of these WoTLabs.Net Forum areas:

Ask A Purple Poster has great questions and anwers from very skilled players. Garbad has a good article on crew skills, equiptment and consumables pinned at the top.

Core Skills & Mechanics Discussion has a few great pinned items at the top with dozens of links to information.

2
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
WeaponsGradeHumanitySPG Apologist•

If you want meaningful answers, you need to ask specific questions.

-1
WindchildOP[RDTT2]•

There were a few specific questions, but I did ramble in the overall post.

I'll make sure to have more concise questions next time.

2