World of Tanks

[kildorn]

I'm apparently at 1481, which is hilarious considering I think I suck and die playing tanks I'm terrible at half the time. My current desire for a KV4 (I'm a TERRIBLE heavy) has got to be tanking my rating while my kv3 sucks and dies it's way through life.

I'm more amused at how many stats the game keeps track of in an apparently easy to use API. It actually cares about my spots per battle and records it?

[Merusk]

Mine sucks, as I expected. 917 with 2100 battles.  I'm terrible!

[Abagadro]

With capture points, defense points, and spotted tanks being so prominent in the calculation of the ratings I think it overvalues medium tank play and undervalues arty play. It's a useful tool but not finely tuned IMO.

[apocrypha]

Fuck WG... here's the European D-Day special:

D-Day ― Phase One

This phase will last from June 4th at 7:30 h CEST (5:30am GMT) until June 8th at 7:00 h CEST (5:00am GMT).

    50% discount on the cost of the following vehicles:
        Tier VI Medium tank: M4A3E2
        Tier VI Medium tank: M4A3E8
        Tier IV Light Tank: M5 Stuart
        Tier V Tank Destroyer: M10 Wolverine
        Tier V Medium Tank:  PzKpfw IV
        Tier VII Heavy Tank: PxKpfw VI Tiger
        Tier V SPG: Hummel
        Tier VII Medium Tank: PzKpfw V Panther
        Tier VII Tank Destroyer: Jagdpanther
     50% discount on barracks slots

That's it. No credit bonus at all.

[kildorn]

With capture points, defense points, and spotted tanks being so prominent in the calculation of the ratings I think it overvalues medium tank play and undervalues arty play. It's a useful tool but not finely tuned IMO.

This is possible, I spend a lot of time being a spotting medium and tracking things in the open for other tanks to kill.

.. and then getting sadface when my team opens up at the front of an E-100 in cover instead of taking side shots at the thing I tracked.

[Amarr HM]

I've always been of the mind that you should get bonus XP for resultant damage from tracking someone. In a lot of situations a well placed track shot can make a huge difference, especially if it's a rampaging T-50-2 or similar.

[Ginaz]

I've always been of the mind that you should get bonus XP for resultant damage from tracking someone. In a lot of situations a well placed track shot can make a huge difference, especially if it's a rampaging T-50-2 or similar.

Tracking higher tier tanks is something lower tier tanks can do that can influence the outcome of a game.  I was continually tracked for a good 2 mins or so in my IS-7 last night by 2 French lights and I was hit a few times by an E-75 that brought my HP to under half.  I was protected from arty by a building but if I wasn't I would have been destroyed, all because 2 little tanks kept me tracked.  I mananged to eventually pop both lights and the E-75 but it was very frustrating being stuck there for so long.

[WayAbvPar]

I am finally learning to track bigger tanks better- even though I (thought I) knew where to shoot, it took some practice before I was able to do it consistently. Now my favorite trick is to track someone so half his tank is sticking out from behind a building but his gun isn't 

[Amarr HM]

Anything that can ramp up the XP of lower tier tanks is a good thing imo.

[Pendan]

On a side note, I'm almost at 1500 efficiency (1498, and 99.99% solo pubs), which supposedly means I'm "great" and puts me in the top 3% of players.  I hardly feel that I'm anything other than slightly above average (due mostly to experience with the game) but after seeing people with 10k, 15k and 20k+ games having ratings below 900, or "below average", it makes me wonder.  How does anyone play that many games and still be so bad???

The top 3% is only true when they count all the players that have quite low games played count. 36.45% on the US servers and 29% on EU server have played at least one game but under 10 games. It is often stated that the average win ratio is around 48% but if you look at only those with 5000 or more games played the numbers rise to 50.94% on the US server and 51.75% on the EU server.

http://forum.worldoftanks.com/index.php?/topic/91764-unofficial-na-server-statistics/
http://forum.worldoftanks.eu/index.php?/topic/65256-unofficial-eu-server-statistics/

I don't have a link with true stats but I do have a somewhat reliable source that says if you look at only players with 5000 or more games and who have also played at least 1 game in the last 2 weeks a 1350 efficiency puts you at the 75 percentile and a 1620 at the 95 percentile.

Although are a lot of "legitimate" bad players with a lot of games played, I would also note that a good chunk of the players with 20k games are players that are blitzing games making no real attempt to win or do anything but just get through as many game as they can quickly or while doing as little possible while really afk but not caught by the auto afk detector.

[Engels]

This is sadly true. Go to the contact finder and type in a common name like 'joe' and then look at the stats for the dozens, sometimes hundreds of accounts that show up. Most of them have no battles whatsoever and you have to wonder if they're in the stat pool.

[Pendan]

Well I was guessing that accounts with 0 games played are not included in the stats for efficiency because the efficiency would be 0 for all of them. 51.6% of NA server and 45.36% on EU server accounts have 0 games played and would seriously skew the numbers if they were counted. I do however think the accounts with 1 to 10 games played are included which is still a high percentage of accounts. I think all those accounts have an average low efficiency but don't skew the numbers as bad as a 0 would.

[Engels]

Oh, sure, I didn't mean to imply that the accounts with zero games played were counted, but if there are that many of -them-, imagine how many there are of people that tried it out for 3 battles and gave up after a discouraging loltractor fracas.

[Abagadro]

They should really do it based on the tank you are playing in the match and tweak the calculation based on the type of vehicle. The data is there if WoT wanted to bring it in-game rather than a mod.

[Ginaz]

They should really do it based on the tank you are playing in the match and tweak the calculation based on the type of vehicle. The data is there if WoT wanted to bring it in-game rather than a mod.

I agree.  Lower tiers doing something useful in battle should be given more weight to reflect the fact that they will generally do less damage and can be destroyed much quicker.

[Nebu]

Played off and on for two hours last night on several different tanks and tiers.  Didn't get a single win.  Grrr. 

If I didn't AFK all the time and play while working, I'd toon up with you guys more. 

[WayAbvPar]

I have noticed my efficiency rating climbing as I drive bigger tanks (which obviously do more damage), so that is definitely a flawed stat when judging players with < 2000 matches played.

In other news, I ground my T1 up to elite status last night, then got up this morning and bought my M6 and 4 extra garage slots. Didn't spring for the full 100% crew, so I will make do with 75%ers for now. Good news is it looks like I have most of the components already researched, so I won't be playing a totally stock tank. Think I will keep my T1 around for awhile even after the promotion- have a good crew in it, and it is fun as hell to play when it gets in as top tank. Maybe I will get the crew started on their 2nd set of skills and then bounce them into the T29 or something.

e- Nebu- get on TS if you can. Even if you can't toon up and play a lot, you could at least count down with us when you ARE available and maybe get into the same matches. Listening to the guys on TS and watching them play after my inevitable demise has taught me tons about how to play, and it is fun too!

[Nebu]

e- Nebu- get on TS if you can. Even if you can't toon up and play a lot, you could at least count down with us when you ARE available and maybe get into the same matches. Listening to the guys on TS and watching them play after my inevitable demise has taught me tons about how to play, and it is fun too!

I don't have TS permission any more, so someone has to drag me into the channel.  By the time I get in, it's usually time for me to leave.  I'll keep trying.  

I only have up to tier 7 tanks as well.  Not sure how that affects things.

[WayAbvPar]

My constant bitching about being a lowbie has resulted in us running tiers V-VIII a lot more often. I think Engels is a TS admin, so he can get your permssions sorted for you if/when you catch him online (he is on most evenings Pacific time). Pick a few tanks you want to play and most folks have something to match it.

[ezrast]

I reinstalled on a whim last night and played a few matches (haven't in a year), and now it's telling me I'm in the top 1% of PJ1 drivers. It's my favorite vehicle by far, and I have a 61% win rate with it, but I'm quite certain I'm not that good at this game. Average XP with it is only around 250. Am I just the only person who ever uses that thing?

[WayAbvPar]

61% WR is pretty high. Might be a low played tank too. Or you just might be a savant!

[kildorn]

I think the ranking is based on XP/match averages. I know the rankings seem to try to stroke my ego constantly, so I also assume it's a toy that over-ranks you a bit to make you feel better about all those times you managed to miss a stationary target at 200m.

[Kageru]

Got my PzIV and happily sold the Pz38 na. The stock tank is average but I can see the goodies further down the tree.

Also made me wonder if you can split tanks by optimal play-style and organize your garage that way. So for me, focusing in tier 5-6, I can see:

Artillery: (Hummel) basically has it's own gameplay niche.
TD: (SU-85) is basically like a sniper tank but geeze that top gun is nice.
Scout: (VK2801) Though the T-50-2 seems crazy fast and might be better.
Sniper: (PzIV) Accurate and powerful gun, slow traverse, medium armor.
Tank: (KV-1?) Big gun and heavy armor so you can play the midfield.

... it almost seems like there's another possible role for a fast movement and traverse medium tank to do close range "drive by" shooting and pick at the edges of the main melee. But the heavy tanks are so accurate I'm not sure it would be a long lived hobby.

[Ginaz]

First game after re-buying the T-29.  






Horrible picture quality.  4046xp(2x xp), 110966 credits, Mastery Badge: Ace Tanker, Steel Wall.

[Sheepherder]

... it almost seems like there's another possible role for a fast movement and traverse medium tank to do close range "drive by" shooting and pick at the edges of the main melee. But the heavy tanks are so accurate I'm not sure it would be a long lived hobby.

So, sort of like trying to engage mediums or heavies in a light.

[apocrypha]

Sniper: (PzIV) Accurate and powerful gun, slow traverse, medium armor.

I see where you're coming from there but the PzIV is capable of a lot more than just sniping. Great mid-tier medium tank, can be played very aggressively (depending on the matchmaker ofc). With the 10.5cm derp gun in a low-tier match it's hilarious! You can overcome a lot of the slow turret traverse of the top turret with movement - turn your hull in the same direction as you're trying to turn your turret and your effective traverse increases greatly.

I haven't played WoT for a few days because I've been playing Diablo 3. EU D3 servers are down this morning for maintenance so I thought I'd pop on and blow some shit up.. except the EU WoT server is down for maintenance at the same time. 

[Kageru]

I just got the PzIV and I'm already enjoying it and can only imagine how much fun it will be kitted out. It's not all that fast though, but half the fun of being in a tank over a TD is the flexibility.

I think the other approach is flanking. Being fast enough to peep around buildings and grab a shot, maneuver to get rear shots at engaged tanks or going for the rear to look for opportunistic kills. The T-35 and the Pz III/IV looks promising, and that way I can fit the PzIV out for sniping.

So, sort of like trying to engage mediums or heavies in a light.

The lights are pretty much constantly forced by the match-maker into a purely scout role. My leopard spends a lot of time hiding from tier 8 tanks in which shooting them just gives your position away. I was wondering if the Tier 5+ french lights got better match making but they're still considered scouts.

[Merusk]

I'm earning so much money in my M-6 and Type 29. Woo!

[Nebu]

I'm in my tier 7 playing matches last night and notice the same thing happening to me over and over.  People in Tier 8-9 tanks that are faster than mine will spot me, rush me, ram me, and then just shoot me with impunity.  I do my best to defend myself, but my rounds bounce and I seem to lack the quickness to outmaneuver them.  I'm playing a German 3002 btw. 

Is there anything I can do but sit there and take it?  My teammates in random matches seem to enjoy watching me die rather than helping. 

[Bandit]

First game after re-buying the T-29.  






Horrible picture quality.  4046xp(2x xp), 110966 credits, Mastery Badge: Ace Tanker, Steel Wall.

Aye, I am saving up to pick up my T29 again on the cheap while it lasts - along with M6/T1.  Shouldn't have sold the T29 in the first place, but needed quick cash.   Picked up the Tiger last night as I have an interest in getting the Tiger II - wow, is the stock tiger ever woeful! My Tiger P seems like a dream in comparison right now.

[apocrypha]

Edit: in response to Nebu's post.

Don't get spotted by them!  

Medium tanks generally need to be played very cautiously in high-tier games I find. Never go anywhere alone, consider your role as support for the heavies - a large scout in many ways. I'm a big fan of binocs and camo nets (only help when stationary in the open, but that happens a surprising amount) and always training Camouflage first on any crews. If you can spot them before they spot you then you can survive a lot longer.

What gun have you got on the 3002? AP in the top gun (8.8cm) has 132 pen which should be able to get through a lot of tier 8 heavies if you aim at the right places. You can always install a hitzones skin pack for a while (the RedStar contour pack is good) and learn some of the less obvious weak spots on tanks.

[veredus]

If you're getting rammed and shot without the other tank getting hit by your team chances are you are too far out in front and need to back off so you have more support. Also if in higher matches pick a t8 or t9 tank and stay with them and just give them support.

[Abagadro]

Ya, unless I am going for a specific strategic positional objective early in a game I won't advance more than half way up the map until I can at least see how the opposing team is distributed. If I go that far and don't run into anything and still haven't seen all the red dots I will just stop in cover and wait.

[Nebu]

Thanks for the input gentlemen.  I'll just have to learn to be more patient.

[UnsGub]

I'll just have to learn to be more patient.

That is the single most important thing to playing this game.

I like to play the wait game and most people do not.  They lose as a result.