Stealth or secondaries?

[TheBlackWind]

This post is perhaps a bit premature as I've not fully tested stealth build yet myself, but since WG was so nice as to let me respec my 17 pt Montana captain over and over for only 17 doubloons, I've been experimenting with my build.

 

I've found secondaries to be pretty satisfactory if somewhat less than stellar. The deal is, her secondaries are not really all that bad. In fact if it wasn't for the fact that they have 1.5 km less range than Yamato once mod'd out, they'd probably be better. They fire MUCH faster. Almost twice as fast. Her AA is undoubtedly the best way to go if it was actually going to be used but there's two problems here. Problem 1 is that hardly anyone is playing CV's at top tier. Problem 2 is that CV's are already scared of Montana with good reason and USUALLY don't attack her if there is any other worthwhile targets. Another note is that I seem to have about a 75% chance of entering a battle with a Yamato. Any CV worth his/her salt will attack the Yamato before a Montana any day. A Montana with weakened AA could easily skate by on her imaginary 'no fly' dome. And let's face it, even non upgraded 'Tana's AA is not exactly weak.

 

This brings me to a real question. Target Acquisition System Mod 1 and how it relates to Montana.

 

The +50% to range of assured acquisition is something I find useless on this ship.

Now +20% to spotting range. Now what is this exactly? How far away does 'Tana "see" with or without? I can never tell what I'm lighting up and what other ships are lighting up. I can't find anywhere that gives me the spotting range. Then that spotting range must be affected by Concealment System Mod 1 and captain skills, right?  So if I run Concealment will I be missing anything critical other than the +20% fish acquisition? Which is always good.. but by itself, not sure it's worth it for that slot if you know how to WASD.

 

TL;DR I've given up AA build as it is a waste of effort in the game currently. Do I lose anything major by dropping Target Acquisition mod 1?

[1Sherman]

I'd go with secondaries. Go for a brawler and go 1v1 against the Yamatos up close where their armour can be beaten.

[Personator]

You lose the ability to detect torps farther out and get a decrease in minimum spotting distance. the +50% to assured acquisition is basically similar to Hydroacoustic Search - it extends from 2km to 3km. Hydro assuredly will increase to a specified distance (i.e. 3.5km on Karlsruhe).

[aethervox]

Personally, I'm going to take stealth as soon as I can for all my Captains.

[Amogussy]

Go for secondaries to shred sneaky DDs and to go toe-to-toe with close range Yamatos

[TheBlackWind]

Thanks for all the input guys. Can anyone tell me how I can tell my spotting distance though? As in how far away I spot ships? Or is that one of the wonders of the universe that WG doesn't want us to know about it? Kinda how we get XP and credits....

[Gaishu_Isshoku]

Spotting range is misleading. It actually refers to the draw distance of ships, where they will be rendered on your screen instead of being hollow icons on the minimap. 

 

EDIT: I personally run concealment Montana and find it very effective. The concealment modification is very worth.

[Big_Spud]

Secondary builds are borderline useless unless you want to sail in and die as quickly as possible. Do concealment.

[HazardDrake]

Secondary builds are borderline useless unless you want to sail in and die as quickly as possible. Do concealment.

 

They are more valuable late game. Early game they're less than stellar. In a Cyclone they can do very well.

[Big_Spud]

 

They are more valuable late game. Early game they're less than stellar. In a Cyclone they can do very well.

 

Late game you are still reliant on people wanting to be close to you, and on having enough batteries still intact to actually plink ineffectually at the enemy.

 

They ONLY really come into their own at extreme close range in islands, or as you said, when you get the jump on someone in a cyclone. Two very infrequent and unpredictable situations.

[LOVESOCK307]

Acquisition mod is a waste. If most dd's and cruisers are ahead of you they'll spot for you. And if you're following the force they should spot torps for you too. Plus, even if you see the fish, you're fat [edited]most likely isn't nimble enough to squeeze between them. Concealment all the way. You gain more from concealment, because if you can't be seen you can't be shot.

[TheBlackWind]

Thanks folks. Decision made. Going concealment. I've now tried it and like it.