Tips for solo CA play?

[DokturProfesur]

Hey all, more shippy discussion time. I decided to give North Carolina the bird and go further down the german cruiser line, now the proud owner of a Nurnberg.

 

At least I would have been if Makaay didn't make me feel like a dickless scrublord the moment he found out I bought it.

 

Anyway, it's pretty hard for me to muster the testicular fortitude to play cruisers on my own, as I usually reserve them for group play and stick to BBs when doing solo outings. That being said, is there anything I should do to make my life a little bit easier as I try to play Kriegsmarine solo?

[MrDeaf]

With N-burg, fill gaps in your team's line, but don't get too close.

Learn to anticipate and turn around before getting detected.

[meat2]

Do not trust anyone, cv players might want your protection but do nothing, bbs want you to tank for them. Try to do the best for your team at your own accord.

[MnemonScarlet]

Kberg and Nberg are nice, I don't have the latter yet, but generally be a second line cruiser. They are great targets for BBs so don't expose broadside/slight angles to them for very long, they just get deleted so much. Back up a Cleveland or Aoba, you have better range and can support them. Sometimes I tag along with BBs and wait for DDs to come close - the improved sonar is great for spotting torps and DDs. Just make sure the BB is closer to the enemy than you till you suspect DDs are around/are entering a likely DD area, then dart out in front with the sonar. I played BB-escort-Taco similarly, but with Nberg/Kberg you have much better range.

 

Generally I found the ships don't make great solo hero ships from limited practice and observation, but that's just me. A good player can rack up damage and kills with anything.

[HARDCORE_BR]

Nberg is a CL , not CA . Dont take BB shells ,you wont live much . Hunt other CLs and DDs , but , you can deal lots of damage with AP shells , but , isnt the best brawler , the best fight is maintaining some safe distance. Solo Nberg is pretty weak , you should use other ships as meatshield , like BBs or heavier armored cruisers.

[QuantumEntropy]

Don't yolo. don't show broadside , if you see a Cleveland at under 10km just run. use the back guns for your advantage, stay away from battleships

And always stick with some ships that are in front of you to take the fire  + use your range for the advantage because not even T8  cruisers have your range

 

NC is good if you drive backwards and shoot HE

[FlashTX]

Well, I live by a different philosophy and I guess that is proved out by my low survivor rates in my ships.  I lead from the front, if a DD goes out to cap, I'm close behind to provide support.  If a BB is headed out with no ship in front I will go out front to hunt the DD's.  I will go and protect a flank that is left exposed meaning I get in a lot of duels with other Cruisers and some BB's, I guess that's because of how I play, but I can win most cruiser duels and I can inflict damage on a BB while waiting for help, but one good BB salvo and it's over.

[CapnCappy]

(Mid-level) German cruisers are best played heavily angled and running away from the enemy. You have 6 sweet guns in the back.

 

So head toward the enemy to around 13km, quit firing, go undetected, turn around, start firing again. Reduce speed and wiggle a little. Keep pumping out AP rounds untl you get to 16.5km away. Rinse and repeat. You might end up with no damage at the end of the game.

[Khafni]

(Mid-level) German cruisers are best played heavily angled and running away from the enemy. You have 6 sweat guns in the back.

 

So head toward the enemy to around 13km, quit firing, go undetected, turn around, start firing again. Reduce speed and wiggle a little. Keep pumping out AP rounds untl you get to 16.5km away. Rinse and repeat. You might end up with no damage at the end of the game.

 

Well said! Don't yolo. Don't be solo. CL's require a lot of maneuvering. With the German CL's don't show broadside and support from the second line.

[Brofisticus]

I have been playing cruisers wrong this whole time... Why didn't anyone tell me? Now, Ill never be a fuzzy purple unicorn! 

[QuantumEntropy]

I have been playing cruisers wrong this whole time... Why didn't anyone tell me? Now, Ill never be a fuzzy purple unicorn! 

 

You can have my fuzzy purple unicorn magic cruiser powder

[Seraphil]

Kite kite kite kite kite kite kite kite kite

[Neltak]

Dodge all the time, be unpredictable, kite, always be VERY cautious and picky as to when you decide to show broadside while detected.

[Soshi_Sone]

CA have too many mission to go solo.  Support DDs.  Support BBs.  Hunt DDs.  Screen (against Air and DD).  Cap Defender.  Scout/Spot.  

 

As a CA captain, I seldom can determine ahead of time which I'm going to do.  I can't go into battle thinking "I'm going to play DD support today" or "I'm going to escort BBs today".  Every game is different.  The initial forces, force positions, map, and objectives tend to suggest the best mission.  The actions of the players often solidify the choice.

 

I see a DD head toward a cap, I'll trail to provide fire support.  No DD on my side, I'll move ahead and try to give the BBs some spots; if I pick up BB support I'll push some  more.  If two enemy CVs are in play, I'll position myself on likely attack vectors; sometimes in conjunction with DD support.

 

Bottom Line: CAs have the widest range of support roles.  You really can't (shouldn't) solo in CA; at least not as a going-in objective.

 

 

[Hammeric]

German cruisers aren't good for solo They have some of the longest range for CAs but they have weak armor so getting into knife fights you will be at a disadvantage.

IJN are probably the best solo ships, they have some of the largest guns (slow reload) and some nice armor when angled properly.

(even the most hated Furutaka I really don't understand why, I think its kinda OP for the tier)

 

[1nv4d3rZ1m]

I would say, damage may not always carry games, sometimes you have to look for other opportunities. CAs have the ability to disengage if say you are points ahead and get a victory by objectives or help the dds control the objectives. They also are mobile enough to go back to base if it is threatened. To often I see people to busy spamming HE at a BB to do what really needs to be done to win a game, damage != victory. 

[WhiteRecon]

Well, a lot of good advice from names that I recognize from youtube replays.  

Two things,

1) not all cruisers are equal or identical, so the answers above vary wildly between general cruiser and specific Nurnberg.  You play to your ship's strengths and protect your weaknesses right?  I am very comfortable pumping damage solo in my Zao or Atago, but I think the Germans need to be in a pack until you get to Roon (I don't play the german line).

2) solo can be the crappy part of this game, we all tend to look out for ourselves.  Random battle gives you random outcomes.  I try to find teammates in chat, when I can't I just play objectives and to the strengths of the ship - hope for the best.

[LadyJess]

You have a wonderful ship in the Nurnberg I love that ship smaller guns but, fast rate of fire and torps can't go wrong there. Depending on the map i often run the solo CA for the team and head out on my own and if things feel strange i turn tail and head back. It is more of a feel on the map than seeing what is actually out there in front. Shoot your torps and regroup. Have fun with this great ship. Never fear the destroyers in this ship. Hunt them down and sink them for the team. 

[Hyyena]

Its a TEAM game, so dont play solo. 

[VG_Kairos]

Its a TEAM game, so dont play solo. 

 

teach me how to control my teammates

[Hyyena]

 

teach me how to control my teammates

 

Its a TEAM game not "i'm-control-you all-game".

 

Use the commands F3 to mark targers or click on map to point directions. 

[VG_Kairos]

 

Its a TEAM game not "i'm-control-you all-game".

 

Use the commands F3 to mark targers or click on map to point directions. 

 

 

So you can't control team. Man, it's not that hard to admit it.

 

Now teach me what's the point to discuss about team play when your teammates are dumb and stubborn?

[Hyyena]

 

 

So you can't control team. Man, it's not that hard to admit it.

 

Now teach me what's the point to discuss about team play when your teammates are dumb and stubborn?

 

Your teammates are dumb = you lose.

 

Just that.

 

You cant be 'rambo' in this game, you cant win alone. 

[MnemonScarlet]

So you can't control team. Man, it's not that hard to admit it.

 

Now teach me what's the point to discuss about team play when your teammates are dumb and stubborn?

 

Marking targets for fire actually gets the team to fire at stuff a lot of the time.

[1nv4d3rZ1m]

 

Your teammates are dumb = you lose.

 

Just that.

 

You cant be 'rambo' in this game, you cant win alone. 

If that was true you wouldn't see people solo punning to 65% win rates.