74 [F-N-S] ArnoldSchoenberg Members 567 posts 19,533 battles Report post #1 Posted December 30, 2018 Did you notice that? But I didn't see a big increase in USS Flint yet. Is USS Black better than USS Fletcher? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
3,358 [BFBTW] enderland07 Members 4,181 posts 9,568 battles Report post #2 Posted December 30, 2018 A lot of people think that radar is an auto-win button. I'm unsurprised a bunch of people bought it. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1,099 [EQRN] FrodoFraggin Members 2,114 posts 18,542 battles Report post #3 Posted December 30, 2018 I've seen more Flints than Blacks myself, could as easily be explained that the Flint is cheaper. I'm happily surprised people are spending their Steel instead of hoarding it for another year (or two!) for the Soviet unicorn. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2,830 [BASIN] shadowsrmine [BASIN] Members 4,326 posts 16,707 battles Report post #4 Posted December 30, 2018 Nope Radar isn't Auto Win nor is anything else 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1,109 [90THV] Saetre Members 1,912 posts 8,057 battles Report post #5 Posted December 30, 2018 Ship goes from being exceedingly difficult to acquire to being fairly cheap. People surprised when they see it more often. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
266 Cruiser_Chicago ∞ Members 806 posts 7,027 battles Report post #6 Posted December 30, 2018 (edited) If you don't have the coordination from your team to make the 20/24 sec radar valuable, she's arguably a worse version of the Fletcher. The Black has a top speed of 35 kts, which is very slow for a USN DD. The torpedoes can be hit or miss due to how slow they are. However, they reload so quickly that you can have multiple salvos of torpedoes in the water at once. More of a fear and area denial weapon than a consistent damage dealer. That being said, I can see the radar paying dividends in the upcoming Ranked Battles season, particularly in the upper echelons, and in coordinated division play. Edited December 30, 2018 by Cruiser_Chicago Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
275 [ALWC] wstugamd Members 1,188 posts 14,857 battles Report post #7 Posted December 30, 2018 Black offers imo the biggest change in playstyle from the other steel ships. Well unless you run radar on Chung Mu but you have to give up smoke. Flint is Atlanta minus two main batteries and radar for smoke. Meh. Stalingrad is a Moscva with bigger guns Frenchy is the old Alsace with MBB and Republic secondaries. That’s a high price to pay in steel. Im curious about the new IJN battle cruiser but the AP doesn’t hit like the Stalingrad and reload is to slow to sling HE. Right now Stalingrad is a huge addition to a CB team and Black is fun. If I can gather enough steel I’d get Flint. Not sure I want the other two at the step cost in steel Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
3,759 [SQUAD] TheKrimzonDemon Members 9,172 posts 11,680 battles Report post #8 Posted December 30, 2018 People chose Black over Flint because the next season of Ranked is T9. I got them both, Flint more or less requires a div to work out well, Black is a DD, DD's do fine solo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
4,146 [TBW] Sovereigndawg Members 10,560 posts 18,052 battles Report post #9 Posted December 30, 2018 7 minutes ago, Th3KrimzonD3mon said: People chose Black over Flint because the next season of Ranked is T9. I got them both, Flint more or less requires a div to work out well, Black is a DD, DD's do fine solo. This right here, I however am torn, get the Black or wait for the extra steel for Stalingrad. It seems Stalingrad might be gone soon, which creates more value for it from a collectors standpoint. I can always still get Flint or Black at another time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
200 [DRB] Mainerd [DRB] Beta Testers 915 posts 5,530 battles Report post #10 Posted December 30, 2018 Since I'm working up all the DD lines right now the Black makes sense to get over the Flint. I also own the Atlanta and Boise so another tier VII cruiser isn't really that novel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
786 [TOG] Bill_Halsey Members 4,213 posts 25,104 battles Report post #11 Posted December 30, 2018 (edited) 48 minutes ago, Sovereigndawg said: This right here, I however am torn, get the Black or wait for the extra steel for Stalingrad. It seems Stalingrad might be gone soon, which creates more value for it from a collectors standpoint. I can always still get Flint or Black at another time. The Azuma is going to replace Stalingrad when 8.0 rolls around in all likelihood. So if you don't have the steel to get her when Jan 22 rolls around, it's going to be extremely low odds of getting her. Not so much noticeable increase in the Stalingrad population. I normally find myself the only one. And find myself receiving 1.5 -2.0 mil of potential damage. Also char abuse from angry folks who live in their paren't's basement who don't have one. Edited December 30, 2018 by Bill_Halsey more content 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
9,710 [SALVO] Crucis Members 25,414 posts 27,317 battles Report post #12 Posted December 30, 2018 1 hour ago, wstugamd said: Black offers imo the biggest change in playstyle from the other steel ships. Well unless you run radar on Chung Mu but you have to give up smoke. Flint is Atlanta minus two main batteries and radar for smoke. Meh. Stalingrad is a Moscva with bigger guns Frenchy is the old Alsace with MBB and Republic secondaries. That’s a high price to pay in steel. Im curious about the new IJN battle cruiser but the AP doesn’t hit like the Stalingrad and reload is to slow to sling HE. Right now Stalingrad is a huge addition to a CB team and Black is fun. If I can gather enough steel I’d get Flint. Not sure I want the other two at the step cost in steel You forgot that the Flint has vastly better torpedoes. According to the Wiki, their range is 9.2km. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
786 [TOG] Bill_Halsey Members 4,213 posts 25,104 battles Report post #13 Posted December 30, 2018 (edited) 6 minutes ago, Crucis said: You forgot that the Flint has vastly better torpedoes. According to the Wiki, their range is 9.2km. It's 55 km speed though. Benson sea mines. You'd need the torpedo acceleration skill to make it usable. Edited December 30, 2018 by Bill_Halsey 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
4,146 [TBW] Sovereigndawg Members 10,560 posts 18,052 battles Report post #14 Posted December 30, 2018 16 minutes ago, Bill_Halsey said: The Azuma is going to replace Stalingrad when 8.0 rolls around in all likelihood. This would be a travesty for all ship collectors that do not have it already. Can I put my coupon and steel down and pay the rest in installments. I hate it when WG decides to get rid of a ship suddenly. I want to own every ship and if I can't accomplish my goals for this game, then why should I continue playing it? Oh well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
786 [TOG] Bill_Halsey Members 4,213 posts 25,104 battles Report post #15 Posted December 30, 2018 9 minutes ago, Sovereigndawg said: This would be a travesty for all ship collectors that do not have it already. I'm not sure if you're being serious or not. Dammed internet. There's a skill/time/pay wall behind the ship. 9 minutes ago, Sovereigndawg said: Can I put my coupon and steel down and pay the rest in installments. We talking dinero or steel here? 9 minutes ago, Sovereigndawg said: . I hate it when WG decides to get rid of a ship suddenly. I want to own every ship and if I can't accomplish my goals for this game, then why should I continue playing it? Oh well. They've done it before and will do it again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
4,146 [TBW] Sovereigndawg Members 10,560 posts 18,052 battles Report post #16 Posted December 30, 2018 2 minutes ago, Bill_Halsey said: We talking dinero or steel here? Steel, no matter how I get it. 4 minutes ago, Bill_Halsey said: They've done it before and will do it again. I have managed to skate by the previous ones. If there is a Ranked season before the Stalingrad goes away, I will probably make it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
3,508 [RKLES] Admiral_Thrawn_1 Members 12,557 posts 14,317 battles Report post #17 Posted December 30, 2018 1 hour ago, enderland07 said: A lot of people think that radar is an auto-win button. I'm unsurprised a bunch of people bought it. Let’s not forget @LittleWhiteMouse Has the Black rated as “Overpowered” which would help sway some people’s opinion on getting the Black as well. Plus with how effective Radar equipped DDs have been in regular Ranked seasons and the fact we have tier 9 as next regular Ranked, I would imagine that is contributing to the Black sales dramatically increasing as well. Other reasons for getting it are it’s a premium ship with economic bonuses, it was only for Elite Ranked players only until it hit the Arsenal so some people feel like its an “easy” shortcut fir them. Honestly have contemplated if I should possibly get Black myself for tier IX Ranked, but I have some other contenders that might serve me better. There is also the matter of X Steel ships being available. So if I got the Black it would only be after careful consideration of all its capabilities and if the ship is one I genuinely needed and could use more effectively than my other options. 3rd option would be my getting Flint if the CV rework makes it clear that I need Flint, but I have plenty of time to wait and see how things work out with the update before spending Steel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1,258 [XBRTC] LT_Rusty_SWO Members 3,154 posts 10,065 battles Report post #18 Posted December 30, 2018 2 hours ago, FrodoFraggin said: I've seen more Flints than Blacks myself, could as easily be explained that the Flint is cheaper. I'm happily surprised people are spending their Steel instead of hoarding it for another year (or two!) for the Soviet unicorn. I'm seeing a lot more Stalins than I ever used to. Fortunately, they're not (usually) well handled, though last night we got our [donkeys] handed to us in clan battles by a pair of them in one fight. That entire team was good, though, so I can't really say it was just the Stalingrads that made a difference. 57 minutes ago, Bill_Halsey said: The Azuma is going to replace Stalingrad when 8.0 rolls around in all likelihood. So if you don't have the steel to get her when Jan 22 rolls around, it's going to be extremely low odds of getting her. Not so much noticeable increase in the Stalingrad population. I normally find myself the only one. And find myself receiving 1.5 -2.0 mil of potential damage. Also char abuse from angry folks who live in their paren't's basement who don't have one. We must be playing at different times, then... I'd say at least 30% of my battles these days have a Stalingrad other than mine, though I haven't actually run the numbers on it yet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2,830 [BASIN] shadowsrmine [BASIN] Members 4,326 posts 16,707 battles Report post #19 Posted December 30, 2018 (edited) 3 hours ago, enderland07 said: A lot of people think that radar is an auto-win button. I'm unsurprised a bunch of people bought it. There is One Other Advantage to the Black VS Fletcher or any other Tier 9 Tech Tree DD just like one Fujin,Kami,Gremy VS their Tier 5Tech Tree Counterparts (This despite various claims otherwise)That's that you can take any high level commander with an appropriate build and drop him in without having to retrain him and that is KEY I've seen many players in Tier 5 ranked who didn't even have CE much less many of the other skills needed Edited December 30, 2018 by shadowsrmine Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
275 [ALWC] wstugamd Members 1,188 posts 14,857 battles Report post #20 Posted December 31, 2018 7 hours ago, Bill_Halsey said: The Azuma is going to replace Stalingrad when 8.0 rolls around in all likelihood. Has WG stated this? 7 hours ago, Crucis said: You forgot that the Flint has vastly better torpedoes. According to the Wiki, their range is 9.2km. Forgot that. Range is certainly nice upgrade from Atlanta. Still very similar ships and game play Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
786 [TOG] Bill_Halsey Members 4,213 posts 25,104 battles Report post #21 Posted December 31, 2018 8 hours ago, Bill_Halsey said: The Azuma is going to replace Stalingrad when 8.0 rolls around in all likelihood. 1 hour ago, wstugamd said: Has WG stated this? Not yet, but you can see the signs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
9,710 [SALVO] Crucis Members 25,414 posts 27,317 battles Report post #22 Posted December 31, 2018 2 hours ago, wstugamd said: Forgot that. Range is certainly nice upgrade from Atlanta. Still very similar ships and game play The game play is similar, depending on how much you use the smoke. If you use the smoke heavily, the Flint becomes more like an HE spamming RN CL. Still, both are squishy, HE spamming CLs. Honestly, I wish that the Atlanta got better torps. It's nearly suicidal to use the current ones between their short range and very narrow firing arcs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
32 robotdaddy Members 106 posts 12,043 battles Report post #23 Posted December 31, 2018 How are people getting enough steel to buy a Black? I’ve seen such complete trash play from Blacks out there - people who can barely play DD, let alone a ship that used to be given to the best players. Just finished a game where I gunned down a full-health Black in my half-health Shima. How??? They hid behind an island and radared me but had no gun angles on me...really? I’ve actually checked the stats and some of these players have never ranked out.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2,830 [BASIN] shadowsrmine [BASIN] Members 4,326 posts 16,707 battles Report post #24 Posted December 31, 2018 30 minutes ago, robotdaddy said: How are people getting enough steel to buy a Black? I’ve seen such complete trash play from Blacks out there - people who can barely play DD, let alone a ship that used to be given to the best players. Just finished a game where I gunned down a full-health Black in my half-health Shima. How??? They hid behind an island and radared me but had no gun angles on me...really? I’ve actually checked the stats and some of these players have never ranked out.... Latest missions 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
10,387 [INTEL] Taichunger Members 13,459 posts 37,252 battles Report post #25 Posted December 31, 2018 On 12/30/2018 at 10:14 AM, FrodoFraggin said: I've seen more Flints than Blacks myself, could as easily be explained that the Flint is cheaper. I'm happily surprised people are spending their Steel instead of hoarding it for another year (or two!) for the Soviet unicorn. I selflessly bought Flint instead of increasing the radar meta at the high tiers. The sacrifices I make for my fellow players... Lovely ship, very happy with it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites