Do you have to go full stealth on cruisers?

[Ersahi]

I play mostly cruisers, and it seems like they just get helicopter dicked by the 5 bb's every game if you don't go full stealth and try to stealth fire the first half of the game.

 

I've been trying to build around the ship I'm playing, but it just seems like you either go stealth cruiser meta or you're going to get steamrolled by every bb on the opposing team focusing you.

[Morpheous]

I stealth most CAs, but not the big ones like Donski...just doesn't matter lol.  Some of the light CAs like the Perth can get lower than a Tashkent...thats pretty cool!

[PrairiePlayer]

Going full stealth for a CA seems to cut down on those mysterious, long-range deletions from a BB you didn't know about.  

[klymar8]

In my opinion concealment is a good thing for most cruisers . However I am not sure what you mean by "stealth fire" . Open water stealth fire is no longer possible as the detection range of a ship is now the same as it's maximum range whenever it fires it's guns ; for about 20 seconds unless you fire again during that time .

[Nimitz_1701]

If you can WASD then you don't have to go full stealth. That said I still recommend taking the concealment expert skill.

[HazeGrayUnderway]

There are only a very few core of Cruisers that get away with poor stealth.  Namely the super long range gunner that is exemplified by Moskva.  Most every other Cruiser benefits from better stealth.

 

A detected Cruiser is a random BB salvo from getting deleted.  You could be playing your Hindenburg just fine but you get detected by some super stealthy Destroyer, then some random Yamato from 18km away nails you and rips away almost all your HP with multiple citadel hits.

 

Concealment is a huge Quality of Life issue for a Cruiser.  There are many times you do not want to be seen at all because Cruisers do not have the armor and HP of a BB, they do not get hull repairs in general until Tier IX, they are bigger and easier to hit than a Destroyer, they are way easier to detect than a Destroyer, and numerous Cruisers have Citadels as tall as skyscrapers.

 

There are also times when you need to stop shooting and "go dark" / go back into concealment.  If your concealment / detection range sucks, then good luck.  You will just be under constant focus fire by every BB on the map because they all know, that 1 lucky shot will instantly end you no matter what you are trying to do.  A Cruiser is more prone to focus fire, HE spam, etc. than a BB, because you do not have the repairs and HP of a BB.

 

A great example was Pensacola before her concealment range buff.  Before, Pensacola had concealment range that was as bad as a Battleship's.  You'd spawn, start sailing, and I SWEAR TO GOD ALMIGHTY, ONE MINUTE AFTER SAILING YOU WERE DETECTED.  Then every a$$hole on the map is shooting at you, and eventually one of those a$$holes do hit you and end you.

[Exciton8964]

Concealment expert skill is pretty much needed on every cruiser.

 

Less so for concealment mod, the steering mod 3 works great on some ships.

[VannKraken]

There are also times when you need to stop shooting and "go dark" / go back into concealment.  If your concealment / detection range sucks, then good luck.  You will just be under constant focus fire by every BB on the map because they all know, that 1 lucky shot will instantly end you no matter what you are trying to do.  A Cruiser is more prone to focus fire, HE spam, etc. than a BB, because you do not have the repairs and HP of a BB.

 

I think my cruiser play is improving because I have learned the hard way that concealment only works when you have the patience to close in for your first shot or discipline to go dark when you are a popular target.  That said, I am running CE plus Priority Target on all of my cruisers now.

[Zim_Xero]

On the French cruiser line I'm running  Incoming Fire Alert,  Adrenaline Rush,  Demolition Expert,  and  Inertial Fuse High Explosive.  These cruisers have awful concealment  and their long range makes CE not as useful  which is why I went IFHE first.     I will add Concealment Expert,  Survival Expert,  and  Expert Marksman with my final nine points.

[Simuo]

Cruiser needs concealment the most - more than DD, BB, and CV. If you are new to the game then I recommend you max all your cruiser concealment options until you know better. If you are a seasoned player then I wonder why are you asking this question?

 

Many players replied the thread with their reasons and they are all good reasons. I would add one:

 

When enemy ships see a DD within 10km range, the DD would be the primary target due to strategic importance and torpedo threat. That means if you are a detected DD, draw a 10km circle, everyone within this circle would likely to aim on you.

 

However beyond 10km it's a different game. The reward of shooting DD 10+km range is smaller. For a BB seeing a cruiser and destroyer in 15km range, most BB tune their gun to the cruiser. This is especially important in the beginning. Although DD is theorically the primary target in the game, the situation often make DD a less attractive target than CA/CL.

 

So the take away is: If you are seen, you are the primary target most of the time. Get concealment.

 

[MrDeaf]

depends on the ship.

 

Some cruisers, you take CE, but combine it with SGM3, because they have awful rudder speeds and rudder speed is what lets you WASD.

[crzyhawk]

discipline to go dark when you are a popular target

 

Molotov taught me this.