Battleships are cool, but...

[Mahrs]

What does the transition from low tier to high tier really look like in terms of game play?  My low tier experience is, unsurprisingly, that people don't really employ any sort of tactics in low tier matches.  Best case is a bunch of ships in the same general part of the map, but not usually focusing targets (unless they see one at low health and want to "steal" that frag) or selecting targets according to threat.  In a game that works out mostly as a math problem with variation for gunnery and maneuver ability of the players, this is a big deal.  I'm curious as to whether the natural and spontaneous team work improves as the experience of the players increases.  It seems like the transition to high tier sees a natural transition as BB are able to really reach out and touch...but, obviously, I have no idea.  I suppose I'll keep my fingers crossed that my AA and secondaries get much, much better (or, gasp, need to play a dirty, smelly cruiser or something...) too.  

[Stratego89]

Nothing gets better high tier. Nothing.

 

[pmgaudio]

Low tier game play.....

 

 

 

High Tier Game Play.....

 

[Lert]

This is a 'team' game only in that there are a number of ships you shouldn't shoot and can reasonably expect not to shoot you. There is no magical tier where everybody suddenly knows how to play. Great players aren't great because they play well in a team, but because they know how to work with pubbies instead of despite them.

[CAPTMUDDXX]

Having almost 6k battles from 1 to 8 and few of the 8s were 10s I have only seen a few instances where a random team clicked and did very well and of those few most were the enemy team

[Francois424]

Low-tier gameplay (T2-t4):  Overpen's galore against all cruisers (especially CL's), ultra-crappy dispersion that will make you miss <5km, well aligned shots, lots of burning to your ship.  Shorter range than most cruisers does not help.

Med-tier gameplay: (T5-T7): Solid performance from penetration, good HE damage in other case, Dispersion gets noticeably more reliable and good aim rewards you.  Bad agility needs to be taken into account BEFORE encounter. still fires.

High-tier gameplay (T8+): Amazing main gun performances, FINALLY decent range on secondaries, good aim will delete cruisers if they show broadsides.  Fire problem still, same as above for agility, insane repair costs (even with current % off)

 

All tiers :

 -> HE fires are OP (regardless of anyone might think, this is MY opinion), Invisi-fire is starting to become quite an issue with many introduction of more ships capable of doing that and almost no counter (barring carriers).

 -> Carriers not an issue, they can hurt and kill you but rarely able to pull cross-drops anymore and unfortunately their numbers are too few

 -> Too many DD really ruins the fun (for BBs heh)

 

That's about it for me, and IMHO.  As usual, YMMV, of course.

Happy hunting !

[Hifumin]

This is mostly sarcasm, but

 

Low tier: W-W-W-W

 

High tier: S-S-S-S

 

Overall though at higher tiers BB gameplay is still pretty similar, just more range and somewhat less dispersion issues.

[chewonit]

High Tier Game Play.....

 

Those are DD's. BB's are bow-on reversing 20km back and CA's are all behind islands.

[aether_tech]

This is a 'team' game only in that there are a number of ships you shouldn't shoot and can reasonably expect not to shoot you. There is no magical tier where everybody suddenly knows how to play. Great players aren't great because they play well in a team, but because they know how to work with pubbies instead of despite them.

 

but we still despite them.

[Stauffenberg44]

On average there are 1 in 10, sometimes 1 in 20 battles, where I will find myself typing in near the end of the battle (win or lose), "Wow what a great team may I keep you???"

[Bloodstone28]

Low-tier gameplay (T2-t4):  Overpen's galore against all cruisers (especially CL's), ultra-crappy dispersion that will make you miss <5km, well aligned shots, lots of burning to your ship.  Shorter range than most cruisers does not help.

Med-tier gameplay: (T5-T7): Solid performance from penetration, good HE damage in other case, Dispersion gets noticeably more reliable and good aim rewards you.  Bad agility needs to be taken into account BEFORE encounter. still fires.

High-tier gameplay (T8+): Amazing main gun performances, FINALLY decent range on secondaries, good aim will delete cruisers if they show broadsides.  Fire problem still, same as above for agility, insane repair costs (even with current % off)

 

 

All tiers :

 -> HE fires are OP (regardless of anyone might think, this is MY opinion), Invisi-fire is starting to become quite an issue with many introduction of more ships capable of doing that and almost no counter (barring carriers).

 -> Carriers not an issue, they can hurt and kill you but rarely able to pull cross-drops anymore and unfortunately their numbers are too few

 -> Too many DD really ruins the fun (for BBs heh)

 

 

That's about it for me, and IMHO.  As usual, YMMV, of course.

Happy hunting !

 

Couldn't have said how I feel about the current state of the game better myself.

[LordSiege]

Low tier game play.....

 

 

 

High Tier Game Play.....

 

 

Post of the day, you good sir, made me snort, have my +1 

[Unholy_Phoenix]

Low tier game play.....

 

 

 

High Tier Game Play.....

 

 

Love this post.

[Mahrs]

Totally worth it just for the pictures...but, the comments are appreciated as well.

 

ETA:

Hilariously, and ironically, right after this post I played a game in my Wyoming where I was utterly annihilated by a DD.  I knew he was there, because SA told me I was spotted from minute two and not a ship anywhere in sight.  However, when he "uncloaked" at 3.5 km, I knew I was utterly boned.  Definitely makes me want to look at the visibility mechanics more closely because it was super, duper sucky to finish a match that way.  I think that must be the...hmm, not sure, but I've lost every match I've played in the Wyoming today and I think it's been torpedoes for me in every one (mostly from CV).

[ADM_Zakk_Zero]

Low tier game play.....

 

 

 

High Tier Game Play.....

 

This is an awesome and accurate description/depiction! I'm laughing so hard I can barely type this.

This is a 'team' game only in that there are a number of ships you shouldn't shoot and can reasonably expect not to shoot you. There is no magical tier where everybody suddenly knows how to play. Great players aren't great because they play well in a team, but because they know how to work with pubbies instead of despite them.

^^....and a mic drop.  Whoa. Well said. Some serious knowledge just got dropped on us there. I think we all need a moment to reflect on this. I'd humbly add that great players aren't always successful and win every game, but rather they develop and consistently use skills and strategies that maximize their success and chance of victory in any given game.

[Battleship_Vanguard]

I have never seen any cogent argument for playing above tier 6.

[Sir_Davos_Seaworth]

Huh...I've been thinking along similar lines to several people here. Tiers 4 to 7 seem to be the sweet spot, at least as far as I can tell. After that the drama seems to pick WAAAAYY up. I used to want to max out, but I think I'll hang out here...

[Francois424]

Huh...I've been thinking along similar lines to several people here. Tiers 4 to 7 seem to be the sweet spot, at least as far as I can tell. After that the drama seems to pick WAAAAYY up. I used to want to max out, but I think I'll hang out here...

 

I just want my Yamato as a trophy.  I'll probably take her out every now and then, but she eats too much and I guess she'll be historically accurate in this game as the Hotel Yamato... Who knows, I might like her more than I think.

After I get Yamato, I need to get Iowa for a Trophy too and stop that line.

After that, Bismarck time (secondaries will be glorious for tier 8).

 

 

Nothing much in the high-tiers is enticing to me at the moment.  If ppl are like me, they don't bother going to T8+ (or T9+) once they have their "Trophies"/

That's also why I was never against a premium t9 or t10.  Probably never going to happen, but I'd be fine with it (Premium Musashi comes to mind).

[Stauffenberg44]

I have never seen any cogent argument for playing above tier 6.

 

Let's all flood tier II - VI for the rest of the summer. Let the sharks on the upper tiers eat cake!

[Sir_Davos_Seaworth]

 

Let's all flood tier II - VI for the rest of the summer. Let the sharks on the upper tiers eat cake!

 

LOL..I just bought back the Wakatake today... No captain skills, got one kill, and was working on another when I got detonated. Fun fun!

[Stauffenberg44]

 

LOL..I just bought back the Wakatake today... No captain skills, got one kill, and was working on another when I got detonated. Fun fun!

 

Oh thanks now you have me curious and maybe re-getting her. I can\t even remember playing it at this point.

At least you got some detonation flags. ;)

[ryuukei8569]

I have never seen any cogent argument for playing above tier 6.

 

Actually there is one good reason. If you have a crapton of Papa Papa flags, usually through the store, high tiers are really good at grinding out Free XP, and its a hell of a lot cheaper way of getting Free XP compared to using doubloons to convert it.

[Sir_Davos_Seaworth]

 

Oh thanks now you have me curious and maybe re-getting her. I can\t even remember playing it at this point.

At least you got some detonation flags. ;)

 

I skipped her the first time. What was I thinking? Angry little trouble maker. The detonations are out of control, LOL.