To Bismarck..... and Beyond!

[BRailfanH]

I'm about 100k XP from the Bismarck right now, and was wondering: what would be the best setup?  I just think it'd be such a waste to put Concealment Systems Mod. 1 on her, given her huge detection range, as would giving her captain Concealment Expert.  Thus, Steering Gears Mod. 3 would be the best choice, given her rudder shift time, but what should I do for a Level 5 captain skill?  Would it be better to go w/ JoaT, MFCSB or Preventive Maintenance?

[awiggin]

Is this a joke? 

 

[The_first_harbinger]

Er, Bismarck don't have Steering Gears Mod.3... you must be joking...

Personally since Bismarck have hydro I feel no need for Target acquisition upgrade, having 14.2km detec is decent after Concealment upgrade and is enough for her.

Always go Manual secondary, having four Kolbergs strapped two on each side is nicely handy.

[BRailfanH]

Seriously?  I thought it was available starting w/ Tier 8 ships..... or do only certain nations' ships get it?

[The_first_harbinger]

Seriously?  I thought it was available starting w/ Tier 8 ships..... or do only certain nations' ships get it?

 

W Tier 8 and up CRUISERS and DESTROYERS only.

dude can you imagine bbs with both hydro and 8 sec ruddar shift time?

[BRailfanH]

My mistake.... sorry, I didn't get that part of the memo.

 

Anyway, now that that's cleared up, I just so happen to have a free Target Acquisition Mod. 1 from last month's Arpeggio Takao event, so that's 2 million credits saved right there.

 

As I read the forums, the general consensus seems to favor Manual Secondaries for the level 5 skill as part of a secondary-based build.  Is this true?  Or is Jack of all Trades a better bet?

[SergeantHop]

 

W Tier 8 and up CRUISERS and DESTROYERS only.

dude can you imagine bbs with both hydro and 8 sec ruddar shift time?

 

Yes, yes I can imagine that.

 

And it's glorious.

[SergeantHop]

My mistake.... sorry, I didn't get that part of the memo.

 

Anyway, now that that's cleared up, I just so happen to have a free Target Acquisition Mod. 1 from last month's Arpeggio Takao event, so that's 2 million credits saved right there.

 

As I read the forums, the general consensus seems to favor Manual Secondaries for the level 5 skill as part of a secondary-based build.  Is this true?  Or is Jack of all Trades a better bet?

 

Yes, manual secondaries. Basically, the only two level 5 skills worth getting are that and concealment. Jack of all trades is super meh.

[The_first_harbinger]

My mistake.... sorry, I didn't get that part of the memo.

 

Anyway, now that that's cleared up, I just so happen to have a free Target Acquisition Mod. 1 from last month's Arpeggio Takao event, so that's 2 million credits saved right there.

 

As I read the forums, the general consensus seems to favor Manual Secondaries for the level 5 skill as part of a secondary-based build.  Is this true?  Or is Jack of all Trades a better bet?

 

XD apparently you don't meet high tier german bbs enough.

With Manual Secondaries you can now actually hit targets at secondaries' maximum range which is 10.6km, CONSTANTLY, and set devastating fires very quickly against bbs and give impressive HE alpha damage against Cruisers and Destroyers. Effectively setting up a "No-sail zone". Imagine the teamplay potential.

[Creepershark77]

 

XD apparently you don't meet high tier german bbs enough.

With Manual Secondaries you can now actually hit targets at secondaries' maximum range which is 10.6km, CONSTANTLY, and set devastating fires very quickly against bbs and give impressive HE alpha damage against Cruisers and Destroyers. Effectively setting up a "No-sail zone". Imagine the teamplay potential.

 

Problem is, you can only focus on one ship at a time, which creates problems when facing 2 destroyers at once.

[Ice_King]

Okay so here's my take on this. As someone who has been driving the Bismarck almost to the Frederick.

 

Don't go secondaries. I know that sounds wild, but the bulk of your damage is still going to come from your big guns, and they have bad accuracy. Secondaries build was fun but I still wasn't getting good damage out of them, not enough to justify losing so much more accuracy on the main guns.

 

I don't want to be a salty dog, but once you get to Bismarck, you're going to run into the situation where your team consists of nothing but cowards who turn and flee the moment enemy ships are spotted. This will leave you alone and dead if you do what is natural and attack the enemy. This is every single battle by the way. Since you're tough as hell bow-on, turning your ship to run away like the rest of your weak and pathetic team will only expose your vulnerable broadside and also get you sunk. This is not a fun ship to play. I'm only 40k xp away from the Frederick but high tier play is so predictable and boring I'm not sure I even want to progress.

 

[centarina]

bismarck is my strongest t8 BB.  I don't even have manual secondary and it still can rock.  its gun is accurate enough at mid range, it has tough armor and it is strong ship.  I  love getting to 10km  or so and  light em up.    I don't yolo wiht it, but I do get closer rather than farther.      

[_Doc_Holliday]

I'm kinda seeing a similar play style between the Bismarck and the Colorado.  Both have good guns that can be inaccurate at times and because of that, they both excel at mid-short range.  However, you also need to know when to roll up your sleeves and get right up into their face OR get in close enough to let your secondaries start pelting them to the point of annoyance while you start falling back and kiting them.  They will either keep moving forward into your hail of secondaries or fall back.  Don't be afraid to use your hydros when you think there is an enemy DD up ahead.  A few seconds of early warning on incoming torps will always help.  Also, try to NEVER go in alone.  You will be focused quickly, especially if your secondaries start pelting them.

 

I do have a question though.  My Bismarck captain is close to getting the 18th point.  Should I get Vigilance, High Alert, or save for something else?

[centarina]

well, they are redoing the skill tree, so  I would use the point for whatever you want for now and reset when it happens.      I have TAM and I use my hydro when DDs are around.  saved my butt bunch of times.   I tend to lead the charge in my bismarck most of the time.  (like today )  really helps the team when the time comes where you need to push hard  . my favorite BB currently.