RPF first impressions

[Cruiser_CleveAniki]

 

I've played a couple battles with it so far, finding to my great discomfort that using it didn't cut into my previous endgame skill builds.

 

First battle, I did as promised in a different thread, and took out my Kuma, loaded for bear (puns, I'm sorry) to seal club some hapless players who have no idea what RPF is in all likelihood. Ran down a T-22 like a dog at the start, and harassed a Mutsuki into the waiting arms of my own team's DDs to it's death, then hunted down stragglers with it. I could have done those things without RPF, but I only had to half think tbh while using it.

 

Second battle: Sims, Trap, DD heavy match, with RPF present on one enemy DD, again, no captain skills lost to use RPF. Moved into B at the start, was getting picked up by RPF, but also knew there was at least one enemy DD in the cap circle behind the island, with a bias towards the right side of the rock as approaching from the north. Called out the RPF report with the pertinent details, then moved in with a Shiratsuyu and NorCarl, both I suspect had RPF also. Ended up being a short, very violent fight in the smoke against 3 of the 4 enemy DDs, a Shinome, a Mahan, and a Benson, with all 3 DDs being driven out of their smoke by torps directed into specific puffs of smoke aimed by RPF. The Shiratsuyu and I both finished the fight with around 1/3 health remaining, the NorCarl was scratched, and all 3 of the enemy DDs were dead. Then used RPF to hunt down an enemy Sims near A in the midgame, giving updates on his bearing, and letting the main push in the north know they could close in for the kill and not worry about stealth torps of any kind. I fired off a spread of Sims water mines, aimed with RPF, and scored a hit with them. End of the match came with the enemy Sims pinned behind an island by the NorCarl with preaimed guns.

 

Third match: Kamikaze, New Dawn, RPF on my team only, south side start, single DD on my team, a KamiR and a Nicholas on theirs, *no captain skills sacrificed in order to have RPF*. Made life hell for the enemy DDs at match start, scoring opening high alpha hits with guns in the KamiR who also got pounded by preaimed cruiser guns who had picked up on my bearing call outs. The Kami4 got away with less than 1/4 health left. Scored torp hits on BB after that (same old same old), then midgame got an RPF bearing which brought me to the Nicholas which had been unspotted since the start. Scored some brutal salvoes and a bunch of critical and fires that left him on low health and he was finished off later. From then on the game played as usual.

 

Three matched don't make a conclusive answer to the RPF question, but I can say it's leaving a sour taste in my mouth. My performance with it has improved, which makes me uncomfortable because I wasn't even try-harding as much as usual. I don't think it bodes well.

 

[Hangoverhomey]

Good job WG......

 

Here's hoping you come to your senses down the road.

[DirtyDiggler]

If their goal was to make the game more newb friendly how does giving a commander skill that makes seal clubbing so much easier a smart move?

 

I can't imagine how new players are going to feel when they are getting rekted so badly due to such a skill being in game. . I imagine a newb CV, a DD hunter with this skill can very easy find the enemy CV so easy now.

[CapnCappy]

Sounds like a good skill to have in a DD to make them -more- effective.

[EngineerAJ]

If their goal was to make the game more newb friendly how does giving a commander skill that makes seal clubbing so much easier a smart move?

 

I can't imagine how new players are going to feel when they are getting rekted so badly due to such a skill being in game. . I imagine a newb CV, a DD hunter with this skill can very easy find the enemy CV so easy now.

 

Skill dont work on CVs from what it says in the skill description

[DirtyDiggler]

 

Skill dont work on CVs from what it says in the skill description

 

well that is good to know, I have not been home yet to mess with the thing yet

[Cruiser_CleveAniki]

 

well that is good to know, I have not been home yet to mess with the thing yet

 

the description is less vague in game IMO. It says "doesn't work on CV captains", so unless WG made a grammar error, it means you can find CVs with it, while CVs can't find DDs moving towards except with the usual mix of map awareness and SA.

[Skuggsja]

I think is the intent of how it is to be used. In the Q&A thread someone asked about destoryers being nerfed, IJN Destoryers post split/nerf, to which they responded that people were playing them wrong by launching torpedoes at max range while staying concealed. I do believe that RDFA was intended to help nerf concealment across the board.

 

I, however, question one of your statements in you saying that you fired torpedoes into smoke guided by RPF. I honestly have a hard time believing you need RPF to torpedoe a smoke cloud. Especially because that's something people have always done. I would think the smoke cloud and any shots coming from it would have been what guided you to do so. No offense, your statement just makes RDF sound like it does more than it should.

[Canadatron]

It works ON CV, but does not work FOR a CV.

[NoZoupForYou]

40 ships and I only had room to place it on three or four of them.  All DDs, and a Belfast.  Too many other important skills for my other ships though to waste it on RFP.

[DirtyDiggler]

the skill sucks and should be removed from the game.

 

Jap DDs need a buff, revert the torp nerfs if this stays in the game and give them their torps back

[Cruiser_CleveAniki]

I think is the intent of how it is to be used. In the Q&A thread someone asked about destoryers being nerfed, IJN Destoryers post split/nerf, to which they responded that people were playing them wrong by launching torpedoes at max range while staying concealed. I do believe that RDFA was intended to help nerf concealment across the board.

 

I, however, question one of your statements in you saying that you fired torpedoes into smoke guided by RPF. I honestly have a hard time believing you need RPF to torpedoe a smoke cloud. Especially because that's something people have always done. I would think the smoke cloud and any shots coming from it would have been what guided you to do so. No offense, your statement just makes RDF sound like it does more than it should.

 

one of the things any DD player with a brain can do and realizes is that smoke attracts attention, so lay it, and then move away and watch the enemy waste their time trying to torp you and shoot you in smoke you aren't in, while you set up a better torp launch angle. RPF told me and others they were sitting in their smoke, and once the range closed, we knew which part of the smoke to torp to drive them out.

[Skuggsja]

 

one of the things any DD player with a brain can do and realizes is that smoke attracts attention, so lay it, and then move away and watch the enemy waste their time trying to torp you and shoot you in smoke you aren't in, while you set up a better torp launch angle. RPF told me and others they were sitting in their smoke, and once the range closed, we knew which part of the smoke to torp to drive them out.

 

A valid point. I didn't think of it like that at all. I suppose I'm just used to people sitting in smoke. Like I said, no offense I was just questioning how RPF helped but your explanation clarified. Thank you for the info.

[sbcptnitro]

40 ships and I only had room to place it on three or four of them.  All DDs, and a Belfast.  Too many other important skills for my other ships though to waste it on RFP.

 

I'm curious as to your Belfast build. Care to share?

[TheKrimzonDemon]

I'm only using it on ships that are expressly hunting DD's, all cruisers. I think, maybe, I have one DD using it.

[scruffycavetroll]

I think is the intent of how it is to be used. In the Q&A thread someone asked about destoryers being nerfed, IJN Destoryers post split/nerf, to which they responded that people were playing them wrong by launching torpedoes at max range while staying concealed. I do believe that RDFA was intended to help nerf concealment across the board.

 

I, however, question one of your statements in you saying that you fired torpedoes into smoke guided by RPF. I honestly have a hard time believing you need RPF to torpedoe a smoke cloud. Especially because that's something people have always done. I would think the smoke cloud and any shots coming from it would have been what guided you to do so. No offense, your statement just makes RDF sound like it does more than it should.

 

RDF is giving the bearing, pretty much guiding you where you fire the torpedo's instead of just sending them in blindly. 

 

I know what you're saying, but this could just make firing those torps a little more accurate or clue you in if someone else is there if the 'main' target left and another is closer. 

[awildseaking]

Sounds like a good skill to have in a DD to make them -more- effective.

 

If you take it, you're more effective against people who didn't take it. That's why this skill is so [edited]cancer. It's too valuable not to have on IJN DD simply for the fact that you too can know where the DD hunting you is. It's a massive nerf regardless because even if you take it on IJN DD, you still have to play more passively to avoid DD hunters, can no longer use that ~.3km concealment window advantage you have on USN DD to spot them, and lose all ability to use stealth, attack a weak side, or surprise someone with torpedoes unless you ironically do what Octavian claims we were all doing; firing our torpedoes from max range.

 

What WG doesn't realize is that the current IJN meta revolved around closing in to your max concealment range, ~6km down the line, and torp walling with the expectation that the first salvo will not hit a good player and forcing him to turn into the second or third. RPF is a misdirected nerf based on a flawed assumption about basic core mechanics. WG has proven in this case that they fundamentally do not understand how players play their game. And even if they were correct, how would a stealth nerf encourage these max range players to go closer?

[Skpstr]

Well, at least it seems now that RPF is no longer the fault of the "BBabies".

 

That's something I guess....

[Megrim3]

I think is the intent of how it is to be used. In the Q&A thread someone asked about destoryers being nerfed, IJN Destoryers post split/nerf, to which they responded that people were playing them wrong by launching torpedoes at max range while staying concealed. I do believe that RDFA was intended to help nerf concealment across the board.

 

I, however, question one of your statements in you saying that you fired torpedoes into smoke guided by RPF. I honestly have a hard time believing you need RPF to torpedoe a smoke cloud. Especially because that's something people have always done. I would think the smoke cloud and any shots coming from it would have been what guided you to do so. No offense, your statement just makes RDF sound like it does more than it should.

 

 no it makes perfect sense, a smoke cloud can be 5 to 7 or 8 puffs long, can be stretch out over nearly 5 km, and that's with just one smoke. Combine with another can be enormous. Your torp spread can maybe cover I third of it without spreading the torps out too thin making them easily dodgeable. Knowing where to direct that spread is knowing how to sink dogs in the smoke.

[Wombatmetal]

Well, at least it seems now that RPF is no longer the fault of the "BBabies".

 

That's something I guess....

 

That's open for debate.  Sub_Octavion said on reddit RPF was looked at so that players would not feel helpless 1v1 with a DD

[_BloodHawk_]

 

 no it makes perfect sense, a smoke cloud can be 5 to 7 or 8 puffs long, can be stretch out over nearly 5 km, and that's with just one smoke. Combine with another can be enormous. Your torp spread can maybe cover I third of it without spreading the torps out too thin making them easily dodgeable. Knowing where to direct that spread is knowing how to sink dogs in the smoke.

Gee wiz, a semi counter to some dolt sitting in smoke. Drat! 

 

Or IF you are lit by rpf, as you would know, you could make the brilliant tactical decision to not sit still and..... move.

[Hangoverhomey]

 

That's open for debate.  Sub_Octavion said on reddit RPF was looked at so that players would not feel helpless 1v1 with a DD

 

ugh.....!!!

 

[Skpstr]

 

That's open for debate.  Sub_Octavion said on reddit RPF was looked at so that players would not feel helpless 1v1 with a DD

 

That's different. "BBabies" only exist here, whining about how UP BBs are. Many have said previously that whining is the reason for RFP.

 

Sub_Octavian saying it in an official capacity means that any whining is irrelevant, that WG is seeing a need for it in their own data.

[_Spade_]

Gee wiz, a semi counter to some dolt sitting in smoke. Drat! 

 

Or IF you are lit by rpf, as you would know, you could make the brilliant tactical decision to not sit still and..... move.

 

I thought the counters to smoke were hydro and radar? Exactly how many counters are needed against the worst performing class in the game?

[giovybez]

^^^ I love the gif in your signature!