Lessons Learned
Purpose: First of all this is not a post to tell you how to play, the purpose to to provide information that may be helpful to you, if not, so be it. But, it will be of benefit to others to get your comments or you additional lessons learned. Others will find tidbits of knowledge in these posts and hopefully improve their play.
Background: As I approached 10,000 battles in WoT, I had a winning percentage of 48%, not great, but about average. After that milestone, I decided to take a long look at my playstyle and see where I could improve. Since then, I am approaching 12,000 games, my winning percentage is now 49%, 49% defeats, and 2% draw. To increase my winning percentage buy even 1 point with the number of games I have is significant. Over the last 600-800 games, I have a 2 to 1 winning ratio. My survival rate is still low 25%, but like Mauadib said in one of his posts, my efficiency rating is up and I hope that while I am alive I am contributing more to the team win. Here are some of the lessons I have been applying..
Military Intelligence (Knowledge) for lack of a better term, here is what I mean
- Know your mission. The mission for each type of tank is different. A brief summary is heavy, absorb and deal damage, lead the push, be the rock to defend. Medium, attack the flanks and rear, light, scout and kill arty, TD, support, add firepower to attack or defense, spg, deal death from the air. You get the idea. Know what your supposed to do in regards to you team mates and the enemy. Mission my change due to team composition, be aware…
- Know your tank and the tanks above and below you. Know the specifications of your tank, the strengths and weaknesses, what its good at and what its not. Know the same info about the tanks on your team and the enemy. Know where to hit a specific tank for damage, when to switch to he, etc. For me HitZone training was a great starting point. I actually go to fire into a bigger target and see if I was doing damage. But you must review hitzone material and have the knowledge ingrained in you. In battle it’s the difference between living and dying. If you can’t pen them, don’t attack them.
- Know the maps. Know where to hide for cover and concealment, know the arty save locations. Know the avenues of approach and where to go to seal them off. This is information learned in tactics training. When we are planning for a CW match remember why we sent various tanks to different locations. Although pub matches, people don’t cooperate as much, that knowledge can help you be of assistance to the team.
Situational Awareness, don’t lose it. For me, keeping track of where the danger is is difficult. I get too focused on “finding, fixing, and killing” the enemy. But keeping track of the situation around you is important.
- Click in and out of sniper. I know its easier to just stay in sniper and plug the guy… but you don’t always see the other one that is going to get you. If you click in and out, but don’t move your turret, your dispersion ring will stay small, thus you don’t have to wait on it to refocus. But you’ll see a lot more stuff that is happening in your area.
- Check your minimap often. Best instrument you have next to crosshairs. Be Alert, the clan needs more lerts.
- When you get the new tank found alert, check the map to see where.
- Check the score, while your out killing the enemy, you may look up to find you’re the only tank left on your team.
- Check your ammo and tank indicator for damage often. Watch your damage indicator to see where your being hit and what your HP remaining is. Just because it doesn’t “feel” like a hard hit, doesn’t mean it isn’t.
Patience, Patience, Patience – or have a plan
- Don’t be a lemming, nor do the same tactic over and over on a map. Think about where you are going, why you are going there, what you think you will meet up with, etc.. In pub matches, varying your approach and learn from it. Look for new places for cover and concealment. Places to defend avenues of approach. You may not win more, but you will learn more and make you play time worthwhile.
- Don’t rush off to “kill them all”. Wait a few seconds, see what your teammates are doing and determine how you can be of assistance. Can you add your fire to a strong point or help defend a weak point, which option best suits your tank and style of play. Then do your best…
- Its OK to back off, really… before charging, think about where you hope to end up. Rushing into the open to kill a tank you know you can handle may be OK, but while your out there a couple of his buddies may smack you good, so think about cover and concealment. Give a situation time to develop. A 300 yard kill from cover counts just the same as a “run and gun” kill from 50 yards, and may cost a lot less in repair costs.
As I stated, these tips are not gospel, just what I have learned to apply to help my play. Took me about 10,000 games, most normal people probably learned the same thing in about 100 games. The intent is not to teach you, its to provide information you may find useful. But mostly it is designed to generate commentary. Let us all know what lessons you are applying that may help others.
We each have our on play style and learn different things from it. sharing can help others not to make the same mistakes or take away tidbits that will help.
