The Hard Headed Communist Improvement Thread

[Garbad 10,517]

As discussed in an earlier thread, a sponsor has asked me to play some mid tier tanks with an eye towards improving in the T-62A.  The sponsor picked 50 games in the T-34-1 with the 85mm APCR spamming and 50 games in the T-34-2.  He also set the gold limits (full APCR T-34-1, 60/40 on T-34-2) and asked me to run food.

 

I've reviewed both of these tanks several times, but here is my tank:

 

Notes:

 

- I will probably do a more in depth review later.  At this point, let's just say the T-34-2 has similar agility/camo/scoutiness/flexisexuality, similar hardness, but vastly inferior firepower.

- No repair skill, because i think others are more important.  That's also been part of my long term goal to grind a 5th skill, which takes a stupid amount of grind.

- I ran the T-34-2 25 games with the 100mm in an earlier review, and then switched to the 122mm.

- The 100mm is hella inaccurate.  With high bloom and high aim time, its distressingly inaccurate at snap shots.  This is the complete opposite of the T-62A.

- The tank also felt slightly more sluggish than I remembered.  This may be caused by other factors though (see below)

- Honestly trying to find a tank similar to the T-62A shows how stupidly OP that thing is.  Even if you took the T-54 light, gave it only t8 matchmaking, gave it 3k DPM, gave it APCR as a base round...it would STILL be less OP relatively than the T-62A.  Stronk russians are stronkerer, just like real life.

 

METHODOLOGY:

 

I am considering doing this differently than past challenges.  I am considering not poasting my stats, including win rate, at all.  I am doing this because I doubt anyone cares what my results are at this point, and I think some people get so caught up in dick measuring and ego padding that it becomes a distraction to discussing the actual gameplay.  I have saved my before stats in case the sponsor disagrees, and of course, all replays will be hosted and public record so if you actually care I'm sure it won't be too hard to figure out my stats.  But if its not in your face so much, perhaps it won't be the focus of the thread/challenge so much.

 

Instead, I am considering simply writing a bit about each game after I play them.  2-3 sentences, outlining my goals and thoughts early on.  Then you can see for yourself the results and changes to that, and mistakes I make or glorious carries I pull off.

 

Comments welcome.

[Garbad 10,517]

First set:

http://www.fileswap.com/dl/z6DS3y3/

 

Game 1:  Tier 10, ensk.

 

Against such massive firepower on a map with little to no camo snipe/scout potential, I was purely in a support and harassment role.  I moved mid early, looking for a cheap shot, but avoided the rail line (its common for greenies to camp there, and I don't want to peekaboom against a T-62A, thanks).  A friendly E3 waddled middle, so I hung around near him to protect him and light for him (he was blind in bushes, so I lit for him with another angle).  Mostly stalling, waiting for the kessen...which I knew would come right as their fatties broke through the middle of town, directly to my left.  The moment came, I opened up a crossfire, then gloriously rushed to my doom during the scrap, if for no other reason to get my HP into the meat grinder and save some better tank's lives.

 

Game 2:  Tier 9, prokh

 

My team has skilled but blind IS-6s/Wz-111, the hostile team had only a T-71 to resist me and no cancer.  The strategy is obvious -- I hull down troll scouted/sniped them mid.  Note my position to the right of the rock to avoid draw range from the hill. 

 

Game 3:  Tier 9, serene

 

My 9.3 mods/graphics settings aren't quite working perfectly, so I stopped several times to adjust settings.  I do this next game as well.  I did little -- I lit mid early, protected cap from the derp, and was generally useless.

 

Game 4:  Tier 8, Redshire.

 

Early on it was apparent that my pubbies were going to mass and derp, with a good chance of breakthrough without my assistance.  I let the derp happen, and basically harassed mid and stalled and blunted their tanks as they waddled into my base.  They ran out of steam right about the time my lemming train pulled into their station.

 

Game 5:  Tier 8, Northwest.

 

They had a lot of quick scouts and heavies, we had unskilled mediums.  Its obvious my pubs were going to go peekaboom with t8 meds vs roombas/IS-6, so it was essential to clear middle and establish a crossfire.  However, corridor map = get the fuck out purple.  There was a heavy mass of lights and I had to overpower them all before forming a small wolfpack to encircle the advancing heavy/tds.

 

P.S.  I also lost 200k in 5 games.  >.<

[Shade421 2,952]

i actually just started playing this thing myself, since i skipped it on the way to the 121 (did the lights). With the 122, i found it derpy and unreliable, whereas with the 100mm, I found it suited my playstyle better, even with the bad gun handling, and I was able to use it pretty much like a 62A at tier 8, with excellent turret armor and meh depression. Even though the DPM is still shitty with the 100mm, the more reliable damage suited me better. All that said, I'm the kind of idiot that's better at the 430 than the 62A or 140.

[SFC_Storm 58]

Can yopu please put a W or L by the games so we dont have to download to know the W/R.

 

Also please play a few on West. IMO if you maintain 65% on west solo it is a way bigger feat than Pip`s solo challenge

 

West is nothing but Reds and G/Badgr/Otter/Relic Plats

[Panzer9Supertiger 365]

 

 

Game 3:  Tier 9, serene

 

My 9.3 mods/graphics settings aren't quite working perfectly, so I stopped several times to adjust settings.  I do this next game as well.  I did little -- I lit mid early, protected cap from the derp, and was generally useless.

 

 

You did manage to ammo rack my E-50 if that's any consolation :/. Probably shouldn't have rushed that ridge at the start.

[kunjuro 277]

I'm currently grinding this tank (T-34-2) after a few months of letting it gather dust at my garage. I'm also kinda hoping that I'll be able to apply knowledge gained from grinding it to playing my two RU meds (140 and 62). I have a question though - what gun did you find suited the T-34-2 more? I've read all your guides before and you sort of alternated between the 100 and the 122. Now that you're doing the challenge again, what gun do you feel matches the vehicle more?

[W1zzar3 6]

Nice!

Though I´m a bit sad that Your puppetmaster demands using 85mm on T-34-1 since I´ve been waiting for some tips on how to play it properly and obviously won´t run 85 with full APCR.

Though it might be good for some lols, has stupid RoF

GL

[Garbad 10,517]

I'm currently grinding this tank (T-34-3) after a few months of letting it gather dust at my garage. I'm also kinda hoping that I'll be able to apply knowledge gained from grinding it to playing my two RU meds (140 and 62). I have a question though - what gun did you find suited the T-34-3 more? I've read all your guides before and you sort of alternated between the 100 and the 122. Now that you're doing the challenge again, what gun do you feel matches the vehicle more?

 

122.  With the 100mm I think its just an inferior T-44.

 

 

Can yopu please put a W or L by the games so we dont have to download to know the W/R.

No, that's kind of the point.

 

 

[SFC_Storm 58]

122.  With the 100mm I think its just an inferior T-44.

 

 

No, that's kind of the point.

Wait whats the point?

 

I mean I download your pack but I cant watch all 50 battles. I read descripts and watch 2 or 3 out of 5.

[SFC_Storm 58]

I got an idea. If you still want peeps to D/L it can you put a overall W/R over each group and we would still have to DL and watch to see which you won or not.

 

I am interested though in your W/R but like I said I cant watch 5/5 replays as just loading it takes me 2 mins a pop.

[ProxyCentauri 86]

Interesting to view, Garbad.

I find it hard to accept any similarities other than the wagon's similar appearance/looks

and stronk turret/weak hull combo when comparing T-62A/T-34-2.

The gun bloom, horrible aim time(it gets even worse with the 122)and non-existent gun depression

outs for totally different play.

I struggle hard to find any useful role with this tank on the battlefield.

The more than acceptable by my standards win rate of 57%(although only ca 100 battles)

is merely coincidencial, I feel I have no influence on the match whatsoever-apart from

the occasional pervert lusty feeling of derping a gold round in the side of a

particularly sloppy tier X enemy.

Neh- a T-44 feels like OP-heaven compared to this BS tank

[CBPeckles 1]

No, that's kind of the point.

 

I don't give a shit what your overall win rate is but it would be nice to know the result of your short summary of the game if for no other reason than seeing how the tank does on various maps.

[Garbad 10,517]

First set:

http://www.fileswap.com/dl/z6DS3y3/

 

Game 1:  Tier 10, ensk.

 

Against such massive firepower on a map with little to no camo snipe/scout potential, I was purely in a support and harassment role.  I moved mid early, looking for a cheap shot, but avoided the rail line (its common for greenies to camp there, and I don't want to peekaboom against a T-62A, thanks).  A friendly E3 waddled middle, so I hung around near him to protect him and light for him (he was blind in bushes, so I lit for him with another angle).  Mostly stalling, waiting for the kessen...which I knew would come right as their fatties broke through the middle of town, directly to my left.  The moment came, I opened up a crossfire, then gloriously rushed to my doom during the scrap, if for no other reason to get my HP into the meat grinder and save some better tank's lives.

 

Game 2:  Tier 9, prokh

 

My team has skilled but blind IS-6s/Wz-111, the hostile team had only a T-71 to resist me and no cancer.  The strategy is obvious -- I hull down troll scouted/sniped them mid.  Note my position to the right of the rock to avoid draw range from the hill. 

 

Game 3:  Tier 9, serene

 

My 9.3 mods/graphics settings aren't quite working perfectly, so I stopped several times to adjust settings.  I do this next game as well.  I did little -- I lit mid early, protected cap from the derp, and was generally useless.

 

Game 4:  Tier 8, Redshire.

 

Early on it was apparent that my pubbies were going to mass and derp, with a good chance of breakthrough without my assistance.  I let the derp happen, and basically harassed mid and stalled and blunted their tanks as they waddled into my base.  They ran out of steam right about the time my lemming train pulled into their station.

 

Game 5:  Tier 8, Northwest.

 

They had a lot of quick scouts and heavies, we had unskilled mediums.  Its obvious my pubs were going to go peekaboom with t8 meds vs roombas/IS-6, so it was essential to clear middle and establish a crossfire.  However, corridor map = get the fuck out purple.  There was a heavy mass of lights and I had to overpower them all before forming a small wolfpack to encircle the advancing heavy/tds.

 

P.S.  I also lost 200k in 5 games.  >.<

W

W

W

W

L

[SFC_Storm 58]

W

W

W

W

L

OMG, redic.

 

Please oh please play West. Seriously West is worst esp solo. Your ping is 100 on West and not bad at all.

 

Also is this a solo challenge? I saw plats which make it much easier to win in the Types as it makes perfect scout and your a ball`a scout anyways

 

If you wont, what are the reqs to have you do a Challenge? I want to see what it would take for me to sponsor one.

 

I truly from the bottom of my soul want to see you soley on West. West is much much harder to be Garbadic as its only reds and purple platoons.

[Garbad 10,517]

OMG, redic.

 

Please oh please play West. Seriously West is worst esp solo. Your ping is 100 on West and not bad at all.

 

Also is this a solo challenge? I saw plats which make it much easier to win in the Types as it makes perfect scout and your a ball`a scout anyways

 

If you wont, what are the reqs to have you do a Challenge? I want to see what it would take for me to sponsor one.

 

I truly from the bottom of my soul want to see you soley on West. West is much much harder to be Garbadic as its only reds and purple platoons.

This is all solo, although I guess technically my sponsor never said he wanted it solo.  I assume he did though.

 

I usually ask 6500 gold or my cost of paying for the challenge, or something similar.  Or pay me in eve isk or gw2 golds. 

 

I don't believe west is worse at all.  At the end of the day, your pubs = their pubs so it doesn't really matter.  I will have less ping, and its possible platoons or time zones might have an impact, but I don't believe for a second one server is harder than another.

[Ollie Tabooger 614]

Garbad, have you considered poasting your challenges on EU to curb the rampant denial?

[Garbad 10,517]

Tonight I played only stronks, but the T-54 Light is worth a look I think.  Although its still quite a lot weaker than the T-62A relatively, even when only fighting t8s + full premium spam, its probably the closet to the mix of raingun precision + hard hat.  I used it as a scout in this set of games, but even still I thought people might like it.

 

http://www.fileswap.com/dl/sFExyKD0ZS/

[SFC_Storm 58]

This is all solo, although I guess technically my sponsor never said he wanted it solo.  I assume he did though.

 

I usually ask 6500 gold or my cost of paying for the challenge, or something similar.  Or pay me in eve isk or gw2 golds. 

 

I don't believe west is worse at all.  At the end of the day, your pubs = their pubs so it doesn't really matter.  I will have less ping, and its possible platoons or time zones might have an impact, but I don't believe for a second one server is harder than another.

You play Eve? What Aliance where you in ? I was PL and NCDOT.

 

I play on both and im telling you West is worse IMO. Yes its your pubs vs theres, but half the pubs are literally reds....not Yellows straight up 250-400 reds. Also  you get about 2 Bots a game at night.

 

So my theory is when you solo and you have 3 Greens+5 Yellows+Orange+Red on East, if you hand off a win that is so far lets say 8 to 5 and 4k HP difference you expect most times to win. On West the Reds are sooooo bad unless you survive till the end there is never a guarantee and this means not bering able to sacrifice yourself for the win a lot of times.

 

Then you literally run into Voidray+2 Purps, Harkonen+2 Blues or Jacg+2 Purps, Crabs+ Purps etc and since on East you have a team of Most likely a few blue and greens to at least somewhat help share the load, on west it means literally you vs them.

 

So while I dont doubt you can win there 65%, I am 100% sure its much worse, ask any real West player who is stuxck there and we rather be in East if Ping allowed.

 

East is like a steamroll every 3-6 games. West is a steamroll one way or another every other game.

 

If you still blow ships up we should do some. I still have my Mom and all my old Cry Havoc buddies who will Titan Bridge our SC`s anywhere you want....Maybe ill trade yo ua Eve toon.

[Garbad 10,517]

You play Eve? What Aliance where you in ? I was PL and NCDOT.

 

I play on both and im telling you West is worse IMO. Yes its your pubs vs theres, but half the pubs are literally reds....not Yellows straight up 250-400 reds. Also  you get about 2 Bots a game at night.

 

So my theory is when you solo and you have 3 Greens+5 Yellows+Orange+Red on East, if you hand off a win that is so far lets say 8 to 5 and 4k HP difference you expect most times to win. On West the Reds are sooooo bad unless you survive till the end there is never a guarantee and this means not bering able to sacrifice yourself for the win a lot of times.

 

Then you literally run into Voidray+2 Purps, Harkonen+2 Blues or Jacg+2 Purps, Crabs+ Purps etc and since on East you have a team of Most likely a few blue and greens to at least somewhat help share the load, on west it means literally you vs them.

 

So while I dont doubt you can win there 65%, I am 100% sure its much worse, ask any real West player who is stuxck there and we rather be in East if Ping allowed.

 

East is like a steamroll every 3-6 games. West is a steamroll one way or another every other game.

 

If you still blow ships up we should do some. I still have my Mom and all my old Cry Havoc buddies who will Titan Bridge our SC`s anywhere you want....Maybe ill trade yo ua Eve toon.

On occasion I platoon west, and I don't think its that bad.  I fly for PL now.

 

http://eve.battleclinic.com/killboard/combat_record.php?type=player&name=Garbad+theWeak

 

Well, I suppose "fly" is kind of a stretch since I go afk for literally years sometimes.

[W1zzar3 6]

Sorry for an OT, but since You played EVE, did You ever try AO ? Many american players played did, considering it´s a oldschool "hardcore" (or maybe used to be) MMORPG, I´d not be suprised if You did.

It was such a good game (and you needed much skill), when it had 100k players online at the time, but devs had similar attitude towards players like WG does and it slowly dies, having around 1000 online players at the top after servers merged, that´s not even enough for a player to find a team to roll and level up a new toon, unless u got few of the remaining active orgs. I do, but havent logged in a while to see if theyre stille that active, guess not.

[Garbad 10,517]

Sorry for an OT, but since You played EVE, did You ever try AO ? Many american players played did, considering it´s a oldschool "hardcore" (or maybe used to be) MMORPG, I´d not be suprised if You did.

It was such a good game (and you needed much skill), when it had 100k players online at the time, but devs had similar attitude towards players like WG does and it slowly dies, having around 1000 online players at the top after servers merged, that´s not even enough for a player to find a team to roll and level up a new toon, unless u got few of the remaining active orgs. I do, but havent logged in a while to see if theyre stille that active, guess not.

Nope.

[Gromstorm 22]

 

 

I don't believe west is worse at all.  At the end of the day, your pubs = their pubs so it doesn't really matter.  I will have less ping, and its possible platoons or time zones might have an impact, but I don't believe for a second one server is harder than another.

 

• GARBAD  -> "but I don't believe for a second one server is harder than another"

 

Now it gets interesting. Garbad who has proved beyond doubt via stats, various challenges, who has used an evidence and fact based approach with statistics to back it up suddenly comes back with his evidence based findings for west server which is......

 

• Garbad "I Don't believe"

 

Garbad denying stat deniers since 2014.... :-)

 

Storm Stated 

• On West the Reds are sooooo bad unless you survive till the end there is never a guarantee and this means not being able to sacrifice yourself for the win a lot of times.

I Give Storm +2 for this comment.

 

I have a terrible win rate as I only play West server and yet my WN8 is now over 1800+ overall (2350 more recent).  There is a real disconnect between my Damage / kill contribution vs Win Rate.  Everyone puts it down to empty damage which I disagree with.

 

 

I don't doubt for a minute that you, Garbad would do better, Much much better. But I would be interested in seeing Garbads thoughts and stats between the 2 x servers.  Does he see a noticeable difference between the 2 servers and its impact on his win rate?

 

Whats the motto of the WOTLABS Forum? again?  Oh Yeah

 

Denying stat deniers...... :-)

[Garbad 10,517]

Whats the motto of the WOTLABS Forum? again?  Oh Yeah

 

Denying stat deniers...... :-)

 

Welp, the motto of garbad is "pay me bitches."  I accept isks or gw2 gold.  Besides, 100 games would hardly prove one server is better than another.  Regardless, if this is something you care about make another thread or PM.

[Garbad 10,517]

Next set:

http://www.fileswap.com/dl/YicjuT4mW/

 

Game 1:  tier 9, Lakeville

 

I lit early middle and massacred a 251 and a caught them in the open.  Unusually, I got good fire and lights so I stuck around middle, but I got kind of boxed in for a bit.  Valley collapsed, so I went to cut off a T95 and escort, and then moved into engage a E-75 at brawling range, with 6 cancers clicking at me.

 

Game 2:  tier 8, Erlenberg

 

I got an early scout/hit, then started to hull down...and my shitlords impaled themselves in the dick.  7 died before I fired my second shot.  Other than me, not a single green did his HP in damage, and 10 tanks did one shot or less.

 

Game 3:  tier 10, Mt Pass

 

I got an early scout and ripped into several of their fatties, but got counter clicked.  I decided the best use of my tank was to plug a hole and let the now weakened hostiles lose to my pubs.  I distracted and weakened their base camping td whores, then saved our arty from a suiscout, then saved a TD from a LTTB that got behind it.  Basically bailing my pubs out, changing their diapers, and letting them keep plugging.

 

Game 4:  tier 9, Artic Circle

 

I got good early spots (why do I type this every game), killing all their fast movers and boxing in their fatties.  As their weakened and confused pubs staggered into brawls with mine, I went mid, cut off two more tier 10s with elite hull down action, and close off the encirclement.

 

Game 5:  tier 8, fisherman's bay

 

I got good...fuck it, I'm not saying it.  After my scout, I got good crossfire while lighting/bushing to murder their heavy blob.  However, we lost a lot of tanks as well, so I extracted and moved mid again to provide some crossfire.  Many more tanks died, but we maintained good contact on the enemy and decent crossfire, leaving it close at the end.

 

Results:

 

Ok, so maybe I'm being a bit more scouty than people want to see.  But the T-34-2 is both slower and far, far less railguny than I thought.  Its not really the best damage dealer.  ~2k a game is pretty solid (2nd best NA) but in the end 2k damage in a tier 8/9/10 game is fairly unimportant from a carry perspective.  I certainly can't just buzzsaw out people and DPM my way to a win like a T-62A.

[Garbad 10,517]

Replays:

http://www.fileswap.com/dl/5JLdo5ouq/

 

1:  Redshire, T8

 

They had mass heavies, we had junk. I went mid, crucified all their lights and meds, then put in a little crossfire.  We broke through easily on both sides, and we converged on the predictable campers.

 

2.  Erlenberg, T9

 

In a near repeat of yesterday, I got early lights and hits on several targets, then burned down a few tanks.  As my pubs moved in I moved to provide crossfire to good effect, but got a bit peek happy and was killed.  Although my team was up a good bit, without me to carry them they started to slip around in their own drool.  We had a large block of camping, sniping tdards, a big lead, and no one doing anything.  The hostiles had a platoon of centurions.  It came down to the wire.

 

3.  South Beach, T10

 

I lit mid, my team camped base, blah blah blah.  Why I am ALWAYS the only one who does anything?  I easily outscouted all their fat tanks, then played whackamole in the middle with their suiscouts.  Eventually, their blob smashed through the north and another stream was flowing into our cap on my right, so I moved in to attempt to defend the cap with the help of a few taters.

 

4.  Swamp, T10

 

Pretty routine early scouting consumed several of their fat tanks before they had a chance to think.  I skirmished and peekalit the middle some, then point blank range brawled a T57 platoon.

 

5.  Tundra, T8

 

They were slow and dumb; I am fast and crafty.  Although there were no relevant options for an early light, I nevertheless was able to manufacture some early fire on their tanks.  I next moved to the tank brawling and provided a few little taps to shatter their blob.  However, they massacred the other side of the map and had multiple heavies rushing for cap.  We had two AT15s on defense, so I figured base was safe for a few minutes, plus I was worried our tomatos would derp if I let them advance alone, so I made a judgement call to push to have a cap race.

 

Results:

Game 1 Replay:

http://wotreplays.com/site/1204912#team

 

 

As you can see, pretty much every game has a similar pattern.

 

1.  If available, I do an early scout run.  First, I look for shots for our cancer or competent players.  If that's not available, I take a little for myself.  Rarely more than 2 shots.

2.  I eliminate any and all hostile scouts.  As needed, I plug holes.

3.  In urban maps, I secure our flank first, then look for opportunities to encircle.  On open maps, I either continue scouting or find a way to crossfire.  I'm looking not for a place, but a situation that needs the garbadic magic to tip our way.  I throw my dpm/hp into the mix, and frequently die there.

4.  By ~5 minutes in, chances are either we have a major lead and can just attrition them out, or my drooling retards have failed so badly that Atlas couldn't lift them.

 

The end.

 

P.S.  I got my first mark -- took 2064 dpg.