Manual Secondries Worth It on the Scharnhorst?

[pongping2002]

I've been playing with the idea of a secondary build on the Scharnhorst since it will get the larger 60% dispersion bonus with Manual Fire. However, I know I'll lose out on both sides firing simultaneously, as I like to brawl and almost knife fight in her. Just wondering on opinions as to if players think the manual secondary fire is worth the 5 points or not.

[legoboy0401]

I've been playing with the idea of a secondary build on the Scharnhorst since it will get the larger 60% dispersion bonus with Manual Fire. However, I know I'll lose out on both sides firing simultaneously, as I like to brawl and almost knife fight in her. Just wondering on opinions as to if players think the manual secondary fire is worth the 5 points or not.

 

Do it. If she's your primary line captain, you'll need Manual Fire Control for Secondaries for for Bismarck.

 

#madeingerman

[ckupf]

Manual secondaries should be used on your German line captain. Assuming this is the same captain then yes, but if not then you don't need it.

[Jim_Byrnes]

Yes! nothing like duking it out with another BB and swatting a pesky DD with your secondaries at the same time..."

[StrykerNC]

Works for me...  This is my F. der Grobe Captain,  with manual secondaries, on the Shiny Horse...

[Kapitan_Wuff]

If the captain is exclusively for the Scharnhorst...then its debatable wether thats the way to go  (definitely not a bad choice), if the captain is also going to be used in any KM BB T8+...then ABSOLUTELY use Manual Secondary Skill.

[RedSeaBear]

If you plan to take the Scharnhorst into brawling range than Manual Secondaries is the way to go. 

I get so much enjoyment out of my Hybrid Shinyhorse build, half main guns and half secondary armament, that I'm almost said when I can't get to brawling range. 

 

 

We call it Kill Secure not Kill Stealing  

 

 

[DerKrampus]

It helps.  Nothing like putting fish into an enemy ship, after they've burned their repair to deal with the fires set by your secondaries.

 

Of watching them let those fires burn, because they're afraid you're going to torp them.

[noobmaster29]

Do you want to be a good German BB captain? If yes, get Manual secondaries.

 

Do you plan to go past the Bayern on the German BB line? If yes, get Manual secondaries. 

[Sir_Godz]

If you go for a full spec build on the hull and captain then yes.

 

I tried it with good results but I find that CVs focus my gnies and sharn everytime so I wen full AA build which also works decent but with no mid range AA worth a damn it is limited.

[A_Horde_of_Sharks]

Although I agree manual secondaries are viable on the scharn.  I eventually made a dedicated scharnhorst captain that opted it out for a collection of low point skills.  I did this shortly after fully training my bismarck's secondaries captain.  This was to emphasize the sharn's unique main armament, instead of giving it a secondary boost.

[dbs1701]

I agree it depends on A) your playstyle and B) what the "official" assignment of your captain will be. Mine is for Bismarck (where I'm stopping on the tree because I don't like paper ships too much). I actually trained up a second Bismarck captain so I can swap between secondaries and concealment. That said, I haven't really tried the concealment build on Bismarck so I can't really offer expert advice. Not that that'll stop me from pontificating:

 

I like concealment for my Scharnhorst because I tend to play her (and Dunkerque for that matter) more like a cruiser and every so often I am alone and need to disappear. It is NOT how I would fit out a BB captain for Bismarck or better, though. I usually try the concealment captain on my Tirpitz too because sneaking around is more fun in that ship.

 

However, I REALLY like the secondary build for the Bismarck. My BB playstyle is very much be in the fight: if you aren't putting shells on target you aren't doing any good for your team. I don't like skulking around looking for "the shot" or "getting the drop" on the enemy. To borrow an idea from Jingles, you'll know where I am, come have a go if you think you're hard enough! In all seriousness though, I think about how often I'm going to use the skills. How often do you need that concealment in a BB? unless you're in a "stay alive to win" situation, you're just gonna get one free shot every so often, and how often does that really make the difference versus the sheer intimidation factor of Bismarck secondaries?

 

You do give up firing from both sides as well as the "secondary warning" so you need to be VERY aware of the situation and keep a target designated. In Bismarck that's not too tough but in Scharnhorst you are more often switching between AP, HE, and even torpedoes so you do have to stay on top of it.

 

TL,DR version: I like manual secondaries for typical BB's at Tier VII and up (Nagato, Bismarck, etc). BUT if you play the ship like a cruiser (Scharnhorst, Dunkerque, sometimes Tirpitz), I go concealment, or even just get extra low tier skills. Also I don't think Scharnhorst can get the concealment module so you won't be able to stack the skill. Anyhoo, you can't go wrong the ships are a blast either way.

[pongping2002]

Thanks for the opinions. I plan on making a dedictated captain for her as well as going up the German BB line. 

[TenguBlade]

Yes.  Manual Secondaries is the best T5 skill you can use; Jack of All Trades will give you the ability to absorb more punishment in a brawl, but that doesn't mean anything if you're up against a DD or BB that will wipe out upwards of a third of your HP in one fell swoop.  The extra damage and especially fires that they set are extremely useful.