18 Point US BB Captain

[Aeries1]

Curious for those that have high point captains in their USN BBs, how do you have them spec'd.  I stopped the USN BB grind at Colorado and have NC researched (stopped the line pre-buff), but for now just plan to keep using my New Mex as one of my credit grinders.  I already have a 15 pt captain in her with 1 pt free.

 

I currently have BFT, BoS, EM, HA, SI, and AFT.  I know people want to spec for stealth for some odd reason, but have no plans for CE.  Thinking of going with Maunal AA as she sees plenty of CVs.  Boosting the AAA from 70 to 140 DPS would be nice for a few plane kills before the bofors open up and any chance I have at sh?!@ing on CV's is always a good time.

 

Thoughts?

[GensuiHime]

1 - BoS

2 - Expert Marksman

3 - Superintendent

4 - AFT

5 - CE or Manual Secondaries (CE preferred, depends on build)

 

Then either choose BFT + Fire Prevention (less dying from massfires) or Vigilance (for torpedobeats). There's your 18 point build!

 

-Gen

[GensuiHime]

Reason I say CE is preferred is because Montana is, and it's sad but very much the truth, closer to a XII CA than a X BB. If you do not stay well hidden Yamato will bowpen citadel you, Zaos will burn you, etc.

[alexf24]

I don't think I would take CE in a BB. You can't hide them no matter what you do. I would take Manual Secondaries. The rest I agree.

[Aeries1]

1 - BoS

2 - Expert Marksman

3 - Superintendent

4 - AFT

5 - CE or Manual Secondaries (CE preferred, depends on build)

 

Then either choose BFT + Fire Prevention (less dying from massfires) or Vigilance (for torpedobeats). There's your 18 point build!

 

-Gen

 

​Fire prevention is a useless skill, doesn't work how it sounds.  Mesrith made a very compelling write-up on why concealment is a waste for BBs and I agree.  In short if you are staying hidden and "stealthy" you are not doing your 2 primary jobs as a BB, tanking damage your cruisers and DDs don't have to and you are not firing therefore not dealing as much damage as you should compounding the issue of your team getting slaughtered.  Not going the concealment route. 

 

 

 

[Aeries1]

There are only a few useful skills left, AAA skill for 18 pts, could go JoaT for massive middle finger effect to HE spammers coupled with premium repair and HA would be powerful, but at 19 pts a LONG way away.  Maunal Secondary's is a no go, waste for a T6, only -16% dispersion, she doesn't have that great of secondary's anyway.  Could always nab vigilance, but torp spam is manageable as NM is pretty nimble for a BB, but an option none the less.  That would leave me at 17 though.  Leaning on AAA Boost, then if I ever get to 19 could always respec for JoaT. 

[ckupf]

I went with JOAT in my Montana, with the flag I can heal and repair every 64.6 seconds.

[1Sherman]

Curious for those that have high point captains in their USN BBs, how do you have them spec'd.  I stopped the USN BB grind at Colorado and have NC researched (stopped the line pre-buff), but for now just plan to keep using my New Mex as one of my credit grinders.  I already have a 15 pt captain in her with 1 pt free.

 

I currently have BFT, BoS, EM, HA, SI, and AFT.  I know people want to spec for stealth for some odd reason, but have no plans for CE.  Thinking of going with Maunal AA as she sees plenty of CVs.  Boosting the AAA from 70 to 140 DPS would be nice for a few plane kills before the bofors open up and any chance I have at sh?!@ing on CV's is always a good time.

 

Thoughts?

 

Tier 1: BFT for better AA and secondaries and BoS if you're a pyrophobe.

Tier 2: EM for better turret traverse and Fire Prevention if you're a pyrophobe.

Tier 3: Superintendent for extra health pack and scout plane and/or Vigilance if you're a torpedophobe.

Tier 4: AFT for better AA and secondaries and/or SE to farm Dreadnought medals with your incredibly tough armour.

Tier 5: CE if you're scared of other BBs or Manual Secondaries to keep enemy DDs from yolo-rushing you or Jack of All Trades to get your health packs up sooner or Preventative Maintenance if you're scared of having your turrets knocked out. 

[My_Other_Car_Is_A_Tank]

From what I read, I still think that Fire Prevention (I do know how it works) is worth the pickup, but only after you've got your 5th tier skill pickup. Burning sucks. Despite the fact it's a small addon, what else are you going to take? And I think that CE is a worthy pickup versus manual secondaries, the Montana has a pretty spooky detection range with CE and the Montana is not designed to tank against Yamatos, the armor, all things considered, isn't great. The Montana is a massive cruiser killer and that extra concealment makes it easier to get better firing angles on your targets without getting burned down to the waterline by Zaos or frontally citpenned by Yamatos.

[PelicanHazard]

I agree with a manual secondaries build, but not for New Mexico. If OP intends to keep the captain on New Mex and not move it up to Colorado, Manual Secondaries isn't optimal because as a Tier 6, New Mex falls below the cutoff for -60% dispersion, and I don't see -15% dispersion being worth 5 points.

[slags83]

I don't think I would take CE in a BB. You can't hide them no matter what you do. I would take Manual Secondaries. The rest I agree.

 

I couldn't agree anymore. CE on a US BB is like a 1.6 km benefit. Totally not worth it. If you plan on climbing the US BB tree at least up to Iowa, the manual secondary skill is what you're going to want.

[Aeries1]

I agree with a manual secondaries build, but not for New Mexico. If OP intends to keep the captain on New Mex and not move it up to Colorado, Manual Secondaries isn't optimal because as a Tier 6, New Mex falls below the cutoff for -60% dispersion, and I don't see -15% dispersion being worth 5 points.

 

​Yes I have no intention of going higher with US BBs at the moment, have already ground Colorado and have NC unlocked.  With German BBs coming will start that then so my NM captain is dedicated to that ship.  If in the future I choose to pick back up with NC have another 12 pt BB captain I can tailor more for high tier.