Need Help: Iowa

[supernovabn]

Hello!

Yes it's me again, asking for help on yet another ship! (I suck, I know lol)

This time, it's the Iowa. I mean, this is even worse than the slight struggles I had in the Khaba. Way worse.

I found the NorCal fine, in fact very good. 

Some problems I've been having with the Iowa:

1. Bad rudder shift. It's no longer what I was used to in the NorCal, the ship turns like a hippo. (Disclaimer: I'm at Hull B)

2. VEEEEEEEEERY long ship profile, making it hard to turn and rendering my shoot-turn-shoot-turn strat in mah NorCal useless.

3. Supposedly better gun dispersion, but seems like a small upgrade at best? Not sure if I should spend the credits on the reload mod instead of accuracy (I got 5 overpens on a full broadside Neptune at 10km.... maybe I just suck at aiming?)

4. I probably ****ed up by using an AA spec captain (from my NorCal, of course)

Here is what my Build is:

Captain: Steven Seagal (15pt)

1pt - PT

2pt - EM

3pt - BFT

4pt - AFT, Manual AA

(P.S. I do not have the dubs/elite XP to respec)

Ship Upgrades:

Propulsion (maybe I should take rudder shift XD)

Arty mod 2 (the aiming mod)

everything else is usual for a BB

Finally, here are my NorCal and Iowa stats

WOW! Under 40% winrate! only 816WTR!!!! I really need help......... (Although I guess my NorCal stats are not impressive anyways, so give me all the tips you got!)

 

Thanks in advance!!!!!

-supernovabn

 

[poeticmotion]

40 minutes ago, supernovabn said:

1. Bad rudder shift. It's no longer what I was used to in the NorCal, the ship turns like a hippo. (Disclaimer: I'm at Hull B)

2. VEEEEEEEEERY long ship profile, making it hard to turn and rendering my shoot-turn-shoot-turn strat in mah NorCal useless.

3. Supposedly better gun dispersion, but seems like a small upgrade at best? Not sure if I should spend the credits on the reload mod instead of accuracy (I got 5 overpens on a full broadside Neptune at 10km.... maybe I just suck at aiming?)

4. I probably ****ed up by using an AA spec captain (from my NorCal, of course)

Here is what my Build is:

Captain: Steven Seagal (15pt)

1pt - PT

2pt - EM

3pt - BFT

4pt - AFT, Manual AA

(P.S. I do not have the dubs/elite XP to respec)

Ship Upgrades:

Propulsion (maybe I should take rudder shift XD)

Arty mod 2 (the aiming mod)

everything else is usual for a BB

Finally, here are my NorCal and Iowa stats

WOW! Under 40% winrate! only 816WTR!!!! I really need help......... (Although I guess my NorCal stats are not impressive anyways, so give me all the tips you got!)

 

Thanks in advance!!!!!

-supernovabn

 

First off, I wouldnt stress about your win rate at only 23 games...small sample size. 

I have NorCar and Missouri, not Iowa, but Mizzou is basically Iowa and I have a few hundred games in her. I use the rudder shift mod...propulsion mod is not really worth it. It only works at low speed and basically just helps you get moving faster. So it's VERY situational, especially for a BB. Rudder shift comes in handy constantly. 

I use reload over accuracy mod, but I also tend to brawl so I am rarely shooting from long distance after the opening salvoes. I prefer to engage from mid or close range; if I'm unspotted I'll often close in rather than  fire unless I have a very good target. I prefer a faster ROF and higher DPS to the potentially higher accuracy. 

Given that you see VERY few CVs at t9, I would use CE over manual AA. BFT and AFT are defensible, since they also give you a slight boost to your secondaries (although your secondaries are weak enough that you shouldn't spec for them.) My AA works fine even without ManAA. CE gives me the flexibility to go dark when I need to, either to reposition or buy time to heal. 

As far as the overpens on Neptune, her armor is so light that you're going to overpen her often if you hit her anywhere but her belt. Sounds like you had an unlucky salvo where everything hit her bow, stern, or superstructure. It happens to the best of us. :( Sometimes you hit for 5 overpens and minimal damage, sometimes you hit her belt with all 5 and devstrike her. RNG is a [edited]. 

Good luck. If you were good in NorCar, I think you'll eventually be fine in Iowa...just get that rudder shift mod and CE on her and you'll find her to be much more survivable and nimble. Her strengths are the same; bow-tanking while keeping 6 guns on target. Just forget you have a rear turret until you get a good handle on her as you're very strong when bow-on. 

[supernovabn]

6 minutes ago, poeticmotion said:

Good luck. If you were good in NorCar, I think you'll eventually be fine in Iowa...just get that rudder shift mod and CE on her and you'll find her to be much more survivable and nimble. Her strengths are the same; bow-tanking while keeping 6 guns on target. Just forget you have a rear turret until you get a good handle on her as you're very strong when bow-on. 

Thank you so much for the tips! I really appreciate it :)

[PcolaTy_1]

3 hours ago, supernovabn said:

Hello!

Yes it's me again, asking for help on yet another ship! (I suck, I know lol)

This time, it's the Iowa. I mean, this is even worse than the slight struggles I had in the Khaba. Way worse.

I found the NorCal fine, in fact very good. 

Some problems I've been having with the Iowa:

1. Bad rudder shift. It's no longer what I was used to in the NorCal, the ship turns like a hippo. (Disclaimer: I'm at Hull B)

2. VEEEEEEEEERY long ship profile, making it hard to turn and rendering my shoot-turn-shoot-turn strat in mah NorCal useless.

3. Supposedly better gun dispersion, but seems like a small upgrade at best? Not sure if I should spend the credits on the reload mod instead of accuracy (I got 5 overpens on a full broadside Neptune at 10km.... maybe I just suck at aiming?)

4. I probably ****ed up by using an AA spec captain (from my NorCal, of course)

Here is what my Build is:

Captain: Steven Seagal (15pt)

1pt - PT

2pt - EM

3pt - BFT

4pt - AFT, Manual AA

(P.S. I do not have the dubs/elite XP to respec)

Ship Upgrades:

Propulsion (maybe I should take rudder shift XD)

Arty mod 2 (the aiming mod)

everything else is usual for a BB

Finally, here are my NorCal and Iowa stats

WOW! Under 40% winrate! only 816WTR!!!! I really need help......... (Although I guess my NorCal stats are not impressive anyways, so give me all the tips you got!)

 

Thanks in advance!!!!!

-supernovabn

 

I played through the Iowa and experienced what you are currently experiencing and developed a strategy to somewhat combat that. First and fore most, never sail at full power until you have DD's a decent ways from you as you'll be discovered really quickly. By nature, the long profile of the ship makes it have a long turning radious so be sure to plan your turning for when you are not spotted; furthermore, if you have to turn during combat, try and bait the enemy ships into firing at you. The guns on the Iowa are excellent, you just need to learn to use them; the guns have a higher velocity and flatter trajectory which makes landing hits at range much easier than in the North Carolina. 

 

Captain skills: This is what I went with, though I am not running Steven Seagal.

Tier 1: Priority Target

Tier 2: Expert Marksman

Tier 3: Basic Firing Training; Superintendent

Tier 4: Advanced Firing Training

*Once I get the last four points, I will go for concealment expert.

Upgrades:

-Main armament mod. 1 (May change to auxiliary armament mod. 1)

-Damage Control mod. 1

-AA mod. 2

-Damage control mod. 2

-Concealment systems mod. 1

-AA mod. 3

 

[HazeGrayUnderway]

For surviving in Iowa / Missouri, the most common sin I see committed is flashing your sides.  It's not getting citadeled through the bow by Yamato, Musashi.  It's not Conqueror trying to burn you.  It's showing your sides so that you get crucified.

 

Turning in the face of gunfire is dangerous for Iowa & Missouri because their sides are poorly protected and they have long hulls, and a tendency for wide, lazy turns.

 

Preferably, to help in this regard there's 2 general things to do:

1.  Do not position yourself so close to the enemy that you cannot hold your fire and "go dark" back into concealment.  If enemy DDs are operating in the area in front of you, then that means you may need to be back a little further.

2.  If the situation looks dangerous, "go dark" into stealth and THEN make your turn.

 

Stealth Builds are very important for US BBs.  They let you disengage more easily and then reposition as you see fit without exposing yourself to the risk of citadels.

 

"What about bow on reversing?"  It may work but it depends on the amount of gunfire you'll eat and if time is an issue.  Bow on reversing with a lot of attackers means you simply die to a constant, super-accurate stream of AP & HE gunfire, a non-stop chain of fires.  Bow on reversing with enemy DDs in the area is also super dangerous:  You are a torpedo magnet and they know your ability to maneuver is degraded.  Bow on reversing in a CV match is SUICIDE, even for a high AA BB like Iowa, Montana.  You are moving so slow that you are a super easy target.  More torpedoes will hit.  More bombs will hit.  If you had a good stealth build and managed your engagement ranges right, then you would not have to worry about this.

[supernovabn]

Thanks for the great tips everyone!!! :)

[HazeGrayUnderway]

Oh, and on a related note, because I am seeing a lot of new Missouri owners, don't camp broadside to the enemy.  Also, you aren't bow tanking 460mm shells from Musashi and Yamato.  The lesson applies to Iowa.  I know this sounds like, "Well gee this is obvious" but these simple low tier mistakes are happening at high tier.

[Yamato_Rekka_ProjektA150]

21 hours ago, PcolaTy_1 said:

I played through the Iowa and experienced what you are currently experiencing and developed a strategy to somewhat combat that. First and fore most, never sail at full power until you have DD's a decent ways from you as you'll be discovered really quickly. By nature, the long profile of the ship makes it have a long turning radious so be sure to plan your turning for when you are not spotted; furthermore, if you have to turn during combat, try and bait the enemy ships into firing at you. The guns on the Iowa are excellent, you just need to learn to use them; the guns have a higher velocity and flatter trajectory which makes landing hits at range much easier than in the North Carolina. 

 

Captain skills: This is what I went with, though I am not running Steven Seagal.

Tier 1: Priority Target

Tier 2: Expert Marksman

Tier 3: Basic Firing Training; Superintendent

Tier 4: Advanced Firing Training

*Once I get the last four points, I will go for concealment expert.

Upgrades:

-Main armament mod. 1 (May change to auxiliary armament mod. 1)

-Damage Control mod. 1

-AA mod. 2

-Damage control mod. 2

-Concealment systems mod. 1

-AA mod. 3

 

^That is a really questionable build since CVs are rare in this case and there is HE spamming Royal Navy BBs, and you actually sacrificed most of you survivability for that.  

For Captain skills: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: 

1)Priority targeting 

2)Adrenaline Rush (45 second is ok, don't complain) -

3) superintendent 

4) Concealment expert 

Next train for

4) Fire Prevention (VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS CURRENT META STATE, again what I said, HE spamming is everywhere, and it can also protect you from dive bombers as well) 

3) Vigilance or Basics of Surv (depends on you) and

2) Jack of all trade or High alert (both are good for longevity) or Expert marksman (for snap shotting like a pro)

Module wise:

~Aux armament mod 1. (your main battery is well armored enough and you want to keep you AA armaments alive as much as possible),

~Damage control mod 1,

~AA guns mod 2 (AFT is kinda pointless and other modules in this slot are horrifyingly useless as crap)

~Rudder shift mod or more tankiness (Damage control mod 2) (I highly recommend "Rudder shift mod" for more agility)

~CONCEALMENT mod

~Artillery Plotting room (Its the best module ever if you don't want RNG to fool you)

[UPDATE]if you have good amount of manpants:
for your captain skill for cancer AA stealth

1) Priority Targeting and prev. maint.

2) Adrenaline Rush

3) Superintendent

4) Manual fire control for AA, Advanced firing training, AND CONCEALMENT EXPERT (CE IS A MUST HAVE) (three tier 4 skills required)

 

Spoiler

Believe me, I averaged 136k dmg on the Iowa for 14 games and I quit because she felt like a downgrade from North Carolina, primarily on her AGILITY.  She is not that agile compared to NC (I avg'ed 101k in that)