Priority Target mechanics

[blackwing9494]

Trying to understand when I'm sneaking up and when I'm not.

I'm in a DD with torpedo's selected. My torpedo range is 10km. My ships detect range is 7km.

1) I come around an island and see a BB 12km away. I have him spotted but I'm not aiming torps at him, does his priority target register anything? He does register as detected now correct?

2) I come within 7.5km of him, still not aiming torpedoes at him, does his priority target register anything?

3) Now I target the BB with my torpedoes, does his priority target register anything?

                -I shoot torpedoes-

4) Now I switch to guns but don't aim at the BB, does his priority target register anything?

5) Now I aim my guns at him and get ready to shoot, does his priority target register anything (I assume it says 1)?

6) Go back to case 1. If I were to switch to guns and aim my guns at him from 12km away, would his priority target register (I assume it says 1)?

Thanks. Trying to put the puzzle pieces together to understand the big picture.

[ArIskandir]

PT only registers being targeted by main guns. If you are in torpedo view, your target won't register your lock, never ever. If you change to main gun, if you have a lock on a target, such target will register your lock and indicate a +1 on its PT counter. If you are on main gun view but have no target locked, No one will register you on PT. 

Back to your example, you'll only get registered on PT at step 5.

[z9_]

If you're not aiming at him, it shouldn't show up. But I can't verify torp aiming.
(looks like  Arlskandir just did.)

One thing I know for sure, If the enemy is aiming at your teammate, and your close to him,
your Priority Target will light up as if they are aiming at you.

[Estimated_Prophet]

2 hours ago, ArIskandir said:

If you are in torpedo view, your target won't register your lock, never ever.

Then maybe WG should fix that.

Then they wouldn’t have to use the stupid ping mechanics to warn players they’re being targeted by a sub.

That way, not taking PT, or not using the WASD hax with or without it would be totally on the player.

[eviltane]

2 hours ago, blackwing9494 said:

1) I come around an island and see a BB 12km away. I have him spotted but I'm not aiming torps at him, does his priority target register anything? He does register as detected now correct?

Correct he only knows he is spotted. 

2 hours ago, blackwing9494 said:

2) I come within 7.5km of him, still not aiming torpedoes at him, does his priority target register anything?

Negative he still only knows he is spotted .

2 hours ago, blackwing9494 said:

3) Now I target the BB with my torpedoes, does his priority target register anything?

Negative, He only knows he is spotted.

2 hours ago, blackwing9494 said:

4) Now I switch to guns but don't aim at the BB, does his priority target register anything?

Depends on whether your boat has locked onto him.  If its locked on then yes it will register. 

2 hours ago, blackwing9494 said:

5) Now I aim my guns at him and get ready to shoot, does his priority target register anything (I assume it says 1)?

Correct, again assuming your guns are locked onto him and assuming your guns are in range. 

2 hours ago, blackwing9494 said:

6) Go back to case 1. If I were to switch to guns and aim my guns at him from 12km away, would his priority target register (I assume it says 1)?

Correct.

 

 

The important distinguishing thing is this:  If you have your guns selected AND they are locked onto a ship (target icon appears above ship). Then his priority target will display 1.   If you have torpedoes selected it does not matter whether you are locked onto him or not. 

There are quite a number of ways to game with this. These are examples that I do however many others do this too. 

Examples:

1. When I run in a torpedo destroyer like Shimakaze I default to always having torpedoes selected as my weapon. This way it doesn't matter what my ship locks on to.

2. When being gunned down by a DD. Pay attention to priority target. If the priority target number drops by 1. Then the DD is most likely firing torpedoes. So a change of course is in order. 

3. Flip side to 2 When I run  a DD while gunning down a ship. I periodically deselect the target (by pressing X)  for a few moments then reselect the target. This is done in order to mask when I am switching to launch torpedoes. 

4. Noticed this while playing BBs.  Good players will automatically dodge cross map shots because they change course / turn out  as soon as their priority target goes up by one. 

5. Some people take 4 a step further. When targeting someone across  the map  they will deselect the target and wait for their guns to line up. Then only reselect the target the moment before shooting then deselect again immediately. If lucky the target ship does not notice their priority target going up by 1 then going down again. 

  

  

[Dr_Powderfinger]

1 hour ago, eviltane said:

 

4. Noticed this while playing BBs.  Good players will automatically dodge cross map shots because they change course / turn out  as soon as their priority target goes up by one. 

5. Some people take 4 a step further. When targeting someone across  the map  they will deselect the target and wait for their guns to line up. Then only reselect the target the moment before shooting then deselect again immediately. If lucky the target ship does not notice their priority target going up by 1 then going down again. 

 

 

These are good bits of info here.

Priority Target is a great defensive tool when used properly, but there are things you can do to counter it.

Many ships will sail in straight lines until PT lights up, then start taking evasive maneuvers/angling/looking for cover.

This is why (in BBs especially) I will often withhold targeting to the last second or deselect my current target in between 30 second reloads so my intended target does not get spooked. Wait for your guns to be fully loaded and lined up, THEN lock on target....you are more likely to find them in compromised defensive positions and ready to be dev struck..

[Edgecase]

4 hours ago, blackwing9494 said:

Trying to understand when I'm sneaking up and when I'm not.

I'm in a DD with torpedo's selected.

As far as Priority Target is concerned, this is actually enough information. Torpedoes never trigger PT, so if you have them selected, you are not changing his PT count.

This is because torpedoes can target significantly beyond their effective range (so you can still get the white line on a target that will move into range by the time the torpedoes arrive). But that would allow people to spam PT on targets they're nowhere near, so torpedo targeting just doesn't show ever.