I'm Not A Noob!

[PDX_Dragon 7]

Hello Folks:

 

   TL;DR At 18,000 battles I suck, can you help me get better?

 

   I've lerked among these forums occasionally, but here dwell Unicums, and I've felt too intimidated to even show my presence among this justifiably honored group. 

 

   This particular forum is for introductions, so I'll tell you about myself, and why I'm here, so I don't feel I need to repeat this in subsequent posts. 

 

   I've gone down the US medium and heavy lines to the Pershing and M103, and the French lights to the AMX 13 90.  Later I went down the American auto-loaders to the T69.  I've only played one TD, an E25 a friend gifted me a couple of months ago that I've grown to love.  I've  dabbled in some low tier German, and medium tier Chinese, but these aren't my real interests.  I've never played a single battle in an SPG. 

 

   My career is an approximately even split between lights, mediums and heavies. 

 

   Here are my NoobMeter stats: 

 

      http://www.noobmeter.com/player/na/PDX_Dragon/1003560207/

 

   May I direct you attention to the win rate % graph?

 

   I was a Newbie at 2,600 battles, with a 43% win rate. 

 

   One day I posted a dozen or so battle replays, every one I'd done the previous evening, on the WoT forum and asked for help. 

 

   With their patient guidance, at 6,000 battles, I was able to drag my win rate up to 46%.  Nothing to brag about, but I had become a Noob. 

 

   As I approach 18,000 battles I'm still at a 46% win rate. 

 

   I believe somewhere in the last 11,000 battles I've earned the title, with all the respect it commands, of SHITLORD! 

 

   At no time have I blamed my teams, the MM, or anybody except the one element each of these 18,000 battles had in common.  Of course I've had good battles lost to the failure of the team, but these strangers have carried me to many victories where I did nothing to contribute to the win. 

 

   I've found the WoT community to be quite understanding and kind.  It's surprising how few abusive, or even insulting, comments I'm noticed in the two and a half years I've been playing. 

 

   One comment I've heard repeatedly about player skill, not always directed toward me, does resonate.  "How can playing that bad be fun?"

 

   You know, it's not that much fun.  In a session I often have two or three 2000 - 3000 WN8 battles, a lot of battles in what WoTLabs says are "Average" (650 - 899), and too many in various shades of red. 

 

   It's the 3000-5000 WN8 battles that keep me going, rare though they may be.  Nothing feels like that. 

 

   In these 18,000 battles I've managed only 7 Aces and 12 Top Guns.  I kicked ass for some of those Aces, an example of one of the others left me wondering, "Why isn't anybody shooting at me?"  Getting the right opponents can help.  

 

   I've been uploading stats and replays to VBAddict for probably 13,000 battles and I've checked whatever I can in the settings to make these public.  So you should have something to look at when I post my first request for assistance. 

 

   I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture.  I've been around the block, there's a lot I understand, but I still roll off the base and get one-shotted 15 seconds after the bell goes off.  Too many zero damage delivered battles.  Where do I go and what do I do?  What can I see that should make me go somewhere else and do something else? 

 

   I'll never have good overall stats, but I'd like to become a strong player with good recent stats and great XVM camo. 

 

      Thanks.

[waga100 353]

good to see you trying to get better

I'd say the first thing you want to do is make sure  you know all the mechanics of the game, camo, pen, tracking while still doing damage, armour zones and generally where to go on each map depending on your tank. Then I'd say watch a few streams, Zeven's a great way to start because he explains almost everything he does- his twitch youtube , Anfield and are sela also good

Wotlabs articles (rip RBS) are great, especially the theory

[Golem501 173]

Oh wow... I looked at your noobmeter link and my mind got blown...

 

Okay let's start here: Welcome to the Forums! 

Good that you are looking to improve.

 

I have a question -> what's your ping?

Don't take any offense please but 2.7k battles in the T29 at 48.75% winrate... (there are some more tanks in there where I feel the same btw). I just don't see how you manage to do that. I am not a very good player, hell I am average (or a little above) but a T29 you should be able to get closer to 60% than any other tank in the game.

 

Do you use the right crew skills?

 

Where to go is different on each map -> watching streams and youtube video's can really help. Highflyer15 (aka theriisingsun {yes double i there}) had some series where he explained basics. Jingles (aka bohemian eagle) has his "how not to suck" vids which are good to start with. Wargaming's tank academy video's are worth a watch.

 

VBA is epic, I love that system as well.

[Sidus_Preclarum 381]

Do you use the right crew skills?

Why do you ask ?

 

Seems ok. Except for the E25 commander.

[Golem501 173]

Why do you ask ?

 

Seems ok. Except for the E25 commander.

 

Because I am stupid and didn't think to look him up on VBA. 

[PDX_Dragon 7]

good to see you trying to get better

I'd say the first thing you want to do is make sure  you know all the mechanics of the game, camo, pen, tracking while still doing damage, armour zones and generally where to go on each map depending on your tank. Then I'd say watch a few streams, Zeven's a great way to start because he explains almost everything he does- his twitch youtube , Anfield and are sela also good

Wotlabs articles (rip RBS) are great, especially the theory

 

Thanks Waga100:

   Three people respond and nobody's told me to uninstall yet? 

   Long ago, perhaps at about 5000 battles, I read the mechanics page.  I suppose I should take another look at it.  I'm confused on how view range can cut into camo, and the actual effects of camo paint and net when no bushes are available. 

   The only stat I have that isn't terrible is my hit rate, 72%.  Although I'm starting to wonder if that's in indication that I'm spending too much time aiming. 

   I don't know the weak points on each of the dozens of tanks I'm likely to meet on the battlefield.  Yes, I do try to hit the IS-3 on the side of the pike nose that's facing me, but I get a lot of bounces when driving the T29.  I try to flick the nipple on top of the AT-whatever.  I've yet to see anything to hit on the front of a Lowe.  Has the cupola of the T29 been buffed?  I've been bouncing off a lot of those lately.   I don't have any "Brawler" tanks, so I usually take longer shots.  I understand the generic weak spots, like the cupolas, "features" like machine gun ports, lower glacis, sides and back of hull and turret. 

   I watch maybe 5 or 6 hours of streamers in a week, Quickybaby, Junkers, Rita, Circom, Jacqueline, Anfield and Zeven, in that order.  I know it's fashionable to hate Quickybaby, but I think he does explain what he'd doing better than the others.  

   I do read map guides, but the one's I've seen don't seem to be current.  I've recently started reading some guides on WoTLabs that appear to be up do date.  Yesterday, in a "Don't Go Here" article on WoTLabs, I saw a recommendation that everybody go up with the heavies on Westfield.  I've tried that once or twice.

[PDX_Dragon 7]

Oh wow... I looked at your noobmeter link and my mind got blown...

 

Okay let's start here: Welcome to the Forums! 

Good that you are looking to improve.

 

I have a question -> what's your ping?

Don't take any offense please but 2.7k battles in the T29 at 48.75% winrate... (there are some more tanks in there where I feel the same btw). I just don't see how you manage to do that. I am not a very good player, hell I am average (or a little above) but a T29 you should be able to get closer to 60% than any other tank in the game.

 

Do you use the right crew skills?

 

Where to go is different on each map -> watching streams and youtube video's can really help. Highflyer15 (aka theriisingsun {yes double i there}) had some series where he explained basics. Jingles (aka bohemian eagle) has his "how not to suck" vids which are good to start with. Wargaming's tank academy video's are worth a watch.

 

VBA is epic, I love that system as well.

 

Thanks Golem501:

 

   Yea, my stats blow my mind too.  I actually do have what I think are a few well played games every session. 

 

   My ping is fine, about 30ms on Comcast to the NA West server from Portland. 

 

   My FPS is ok too.  About 40 to 50 if I don't have too much other stuff going on.  I play while my PC is busy doing other things.  The foliage and smoke graphics are turned off, because they can obstruct my view of the enemy, but I like the pretty pictures so I'm reluctant to turn off much else. 

 

   I realize that if I'm ever going to get better I need to accept criticism.  I know I suck and I'm not trying to deflect your valid points. 

 

   I like my T29, as you can see by how much I play it.  I think the 48% win rate is just a reflection of my general lack of tactical skill.  Except for the second loader that crew has 2.4 skills, repair and BIA with 6th sense and BIA on the commander.  I moved the crew out of it a few months ago to another tank, probably my T32 or M103.  I don't remember what tank I pulled the current T29 crew from, but today the silver trained second loader finally received his Brothers In Arms, so I think they should do better.   Also, according to NoobMeter, in the last month the 156 battles I've had in that tank have yielded a 54% win rate. 

 

   I'd like to keep this an intro thread.  I don't know if you can get at all of my stats and replays on VBAddict.  As I said, I've unlocked them all for public viewing.  I'm planning on posting the links when I'm ready to kick this into gear in a different forum here at WoTLabs.  Perhaps you can already access them.

[waga100 353]

yeah with weakpoints generally hit coupolas, lower plates an just flat spots in general, you'll get used to what pen and what doesn't. I haven't seen any replays but maybe you are taking to long to aim your shots and are exposing yourself too much, i know most of my shots a auto aimed or snap shot because 200 ping will miss a lot anyway. You want to ideally not only be alive for the end game but also have enough hp to trade when it matters, even if you miss a few shots because they aren't aimed in it's better than taking lots of return fire especially on soft tanks. That being said don't be afraid to eat a shot or two to get to an advantages position where you will be able to influence the battle more e.g mines hill or when you have an overmatch on a flank you might need to lead a push no matter what tank your driving just to get people moving.

[Golem501 173]

Yeah your VBA stats are open (the link in the post above works well enough).

 

I think your T29 can also hit the IS-3 in that small triangle on top of the pike noze but generally the flat of the pike that is aimed towards you is a good idea. 

 

Maybe you need to try watching your own replays. Personally I don't like doing that and I don't do it often but -> checking where you get hit may help you bounce shots in the future.

 

Posting replays here will give you some feedback as well, there's usually a few people who'll point out "points of opportunity for improvement"...

[Sidus_Preclarum 381]

I think your T29 can also hit the IS-3 in that small triangle on top of the pike noze

 

Not unless the T29 has a slight elevation advantage. But pike plane facing ou (or either, if the IS is directly facing you) should be ok.

[PDX_Dragon 7]

Thanks to all three of you:

 

   I've finished off a long day.  Time to call it. 

 

   As stated, I'd like to keep this an intro thread in an intro forum. 

 

   Which forum should I go to in order to present the stats and replays VBAddict has for assistance?

[IAmA_Tank_AMA 106]

I can mentor you if you are interested, link is in my sig

[UnusualMedic 1,472]

Better later than never!

[TKmebrah 17]

GL getting better, I did notice your recent win-rate is 53%, which is not too bad. While playing just try not to overthink, and look for targets you know you can engage. If you have any trouble with weak spots on certain tanks, you could install Tank Inspector and look them up there (Really helpful). Well, have fun tanking.

[PDX_Dragon 7]

Why do you ask ?

 

Seems ok. Except for the E25 commander.

 

Thanks Sidus:

 

   I was fading away last night and didn't respond to your comment about my E 25 crew skills. 

 

   Please don't interpret this as me defending my choice.  When people offer criticism of my play I'll try to explain what I'm thinking so they can help me see the error of my ways. 

 

   My win rate in the E 25 is low even by my standards.  I'm still learning to drive a light tank destroyer. 

 

   As stated, I've never driven a destroyer before.  I see them concealed, shooting without reveling their position.  I used to be as annoyed by the "invisi-destroyers" as the arty.  Now that I have a premium destroyer, it's kind of cool.  

    I find it so cool, in fact, that I've decided that stealth is more important than knowing when I've been seen.  I've gone with camo training for everybody on the tank.  I decided on BIA for everybody's second skill, letting 6th sense wait until the third skill.  

 

   I'm placing a higher premium on not being seen than knowing when I've been seen. 

 

   As I've also stated, I've attained only 12 Top Guns in 18,000 battles.  Two of those have come in the 329 battles I've fought in the E 25.  

 

   I've always made 6th sense the first commander perk, until the E25. 

 

   My limited time in the E 25 has rewarded me with such generous complements from the enemy team as "Cheating, fucking cunt".  Similar high praise comes from both foe and friend.  It makes me think I might be on the right track. 

 

   Am I correct in assuming you would have gone with 6th Sense for your first skill?

 

   I'd appreciate your thoughts on my skill selection.

[PDX_Dragon 7]

GL getting better, I did notice your recent win-rate is 53%, which is not too bad. While playing just try not to overthink, and look for targets you know you can engage. If you have any trouble with weak spots on certain tanks, you could install Tank Inspector and look them up there (Really helpful). Well, have fun tanking.

 

Thanks TKmebrah:

 

   I quesiton that recent 53% win rate.  Nothing in my memory, or NoobMeter, makes me think I've had a 53% win rate for any more than a day or two.

[Golem501 173]

Yes 6th over camo, partial camo over inactive bia. If you use gold retrain for gold. I go 6th first and when going bia I may retrain commanders with gold while the rat goes with credits.

Camo is strong but 6th is op.

Also E25 can do nasty spot runs. Next time you find yourself on malinovka encounter... don't hide run straight up the middle of the field to that ridge and make a turn just cresting that ridge, then run back and hide... those spots can change the battle and the ridge covers the retreat of low talks like a E25 or ELC AMX.

[SONOFABENCH 210]

Welcome aboard. You got a good attitude. I hope you turn things around. Some people take longer for things to click.

[TNTGibbon 33]

Welcome and don't be surprised by the lack of "uninstall noob!" comments, they save their insults for esoteric arguments about stuff that normal people don't even notice. I came here when it started, realised how crap I was (still am just less so ) and asked for help with heavy driving. It got me over a hump and set me on the path where I can buy a bat chat and trundle around in it, happy that I am rarely the cretinous halfwit that dies in the first two minutes.

 

A few basic point's that distill what I learned that improved my play:

 

Look at the minimap

Don't go alone any where in a heavy

Have an escape route planned from your current position

Read tank specific threads on here in the vehicle section for crew skill and equipment advice.

Stop dying like a bitch in the first two minutes and rarely go for just one more shot (you know, the 3rd one where you poke out and get shot by three tanks that didn't notice your first one, missed on your second and are now fully aimed in and ready to rape you.), exercise patience.

 

Most importantly, find tanks you love playing. Don't feel so bad about being shit, if you apply a bit of thought you will improve rapidly. Accept that you will potato, understand your mistake and move on. My NA account is on VB, check out the last few days. I still potato in some OP tanks for the tier. It happens, normally when I have been playing too long. Though I deny any responsibility for my ELC games. Tanks without turrets are abomination.

 

Enjoy and I get about 160 ping on the west coast server so if you want to toon I can chuck you our TS details on PM here and if playing times match up I'll happily trundle around with you. You do have a headset right?

 

Gibbon

[PDX_Dragon 7]

Welcome and don't be surprised by the lack of "uninstall noob!" comments, they save their insults for esoteric arguments about stuff that normal people don't even notice. I came here when it started, realised how crap I was (still am just less so ) and asked for help with heavy driving. It got me over a hump and set me on the path where I can buy a bat chat and trundle around in it, happy that I am rarely the cretinous halfwit that dies in the first two minutes.

 

Thanks Gibbon:

 

   One of my goals is to become a "Cretinous halfwit".  It's going to take a lot of hard work and I'll need to become a much stronger player.  But every Shitlord needs to have a dream. 

 

 

A few basic point's that distill what I learned that improved my play:

 

Look at the minimap

 

   This is so basic, but there's something mesmerizing about watching that aim circle close on a target, as their silhouette flickers on and off while they attempt to find cover.   "That Nashorn just went invisible.  5 seconds.  Can I light him up by targeting that upper right corner?  Yes.  4 seconds.  Is there enough there to hit?  I think so.  3 seconds.  Tiny movements, keep that aim circle small.  2 seconds.   Small enough, I have a chance.  1 second.  BOOM!  FUCK!  How long has that Bat-Chat been there, 10 meters behind me?"

 

   I haven't found a way to pull my attention off of the targeting to watch my own ass. 

 

   Suggestions on how to deal with this, in particular, are appreciated. 

 

 

Don't go alone any where in a heavy

 

    This has taken me a long time to appreciate, but I'm now prepared to join the lemming train if the team chooses to leave an entire flank unprotected.  Sometimes I'm in the front to roll through the opponents as fast as possible, sometimes toward the back in order to return to base,

 

    Like anything else, this is situational, and I might react differently to a lemming train in a particular battle. 

 

 

Have an escape route planned from your current position

 

 

   I've been working on this for my auto-loaders, but it makes sense that I need to do this for every tank. 

 

   I guess my philosophy in this situation, which I see that I need to adjust, is "The battle only lasts 15 minutes max, do your damage, trade shots so you can try to die with more damage than your tank has hitpoints, move on to the next battle". 

 

   But I always look in wonder at those who deal 4000 HP of damage in a battle.  I need a different attitude if I'm going to do that, don't I? 

 

 

Read tank specific threads on here in the vehicle section for crew skill and equipment advice.

 

 

   I think my crew skill is pretty conventional.  Sometimes I go for BIA for the second skill, and leave the crew at 1 skill, camo for lights or repair.  I do favor camo over 6th sense for both my lights and the E 25, something I've been advised to reconsider in this thread.

 

   My default loadout is vents, vertical stabilizer and gun laying drive. 

 

   Different tanks, of course, get different equipment.  With its agonizingly slow load time of my ARL 44, my strongholds tank, gets a gun rammer. 

 

 

 

Stop dying like a bitch in the first two minutes and rarely go for just one more shot (you know, the 3rd one where you poke out and get shot by three tanks that didn't notice your first one, missed on your second and are now fully aimed in and ready to rape you.), exercise patience.

 

   "Stop dying line a bitch in the first two minutes".  Dude!  That is an assault on the very core of my WoT fighting style. 

 

   One of the things that fascinate me the most about the Unicum streamers is how often, when popping up from behind a hill or out of a depression, all they seem to see is the backs or flanks of the enemy tanks, each with its gun barrel pointing at nothing in particular.  I pop up in the same spot, in what I'm thinking is more or less the same situation, and I'm hit 5 times by 5 tanks before I can tap the "S" key. 

 

   I've seen Quickybaby, with a South spawn at Serene Coast, pop up all by himself from the North end of the rock garden and wreck a couple of enemy tanks in the houses to the NorthEast.  Then turn left to tear apart another enemy that just didn't seem to give a shit about what had just happened to his teammates, and was about to happen to him. 

 

   I know there are many fundamental principles I need to work on, but I suspect there's also some 3 dimensional chess being played that separates the Unicums from every body else. 

 

 

 

Most importantly, find tanks you love playing. Don't feel so bad about being shit, if you apply a bit of thought you will improve rapidly. Accept that you will potato, understand your mistake and move on. My NA account is on VB, check out the last few days. I still potato in some OP tanks for the tier. It happens, normally when I have been playing too long. Though I deny any responsibility for my ELC games. Tanks without turrets are abomination.

 

Enjoy and I get about 160 ping on the west coast server so if you want to toon I can chuck you our TS details on PM here and if playing times match up I'll happily trundle around with you. You do have a headset right?

 

Gibbon

 

   Loving your tanks is an important part of WoT.  For me that feeling, like the first warm day as a long, dark, cold and wet Oregon winter begins to yield to spring, came at tier 7, with my T20 and T29.  I witnessed a friend feel that joy last night when he tossed his T28 Prototype in the garbage and took his first drive in his shiny new T30. 

 

   I'm not sure how to look at another player's stats on VBAddict. 

 

   I can't play the ELC for shit, but I'm keeping it and I'm going to learn to play it.  I've seen too many people have too good a time, and 2000 HP battles, in that go-cart to sell it. 

 

   I get 90ms ping on the East, so I'm happy to take that 60ms hit to platoon with you on that server.

 

   I'll add you to my friends list and watch for you. 

 

   I've spent too much time with WoT in the last week, today needs to be about work.  

 

   My clan has strongholds scheduled for tonight at 7:00 Pacific.  I'll probably start my WoT session then. 

 

   I'm a programmer, so my work and play take place on the same computer.  Often I give my PC a task that will take 5 or 10 minutes, and I'll take this time to knock out a battle or two.

 

   You'll find me logged in for many hours a day.  I'm often AFK at work, so I might not respond to private channels.  But we'll get something going.  Thanks for the offer to platoon. 

[PDX_Dragon 7]

Thanks Everybody:

 

   I appreciate the welcome. 

   I'm a self employed programmer, so I'm busy but my schedule is flexible.  I'm usually online with WoT all day, running a solo battle every now and then.   It is work though, so for many hour's I'm AFK. 

 

   In the evenings, Pacific time, I'm usually not AFK when I'm online. 

 

   If you're willing to platoon with a Shitlord please open a private channel and maybe we can sych up. 

 

   I do have TeamSpeak and we can set up a channel on their public servers if that's easiest. 

 

   Invitations to training rooms are also appreciated. 

 

   I need to catch up on work, but sometime in the next week I'll start posting some specific questions in appropriate forums. 

 

   I appreciate the time you've all spent to help me. 

[Zefod42 2]

I wish you the best of luck on the journey to get better. It took me longer than it should as well, so I like to think I how you feel to some extend.

It's great to see you are very honest with yourself on this, and are here to get better. If you were on EU I would have liked to play with you to see if there is anything I could do to help, but unfortunately that's not the case. 

 

With your attitude and willingness to take critisism, I'm sure you will find the help you need.

 

Biggest tips I can give you:

 

Know what your tank is good at, and exploit it (gun depression --> ridges, high alpha --> poking etc.)

The first ~20 seconds of loading in can give you just the time you need to check both teamlists and decide your position. If the enemy has a top tier E-75 platoon, maybe you shouldn't take that agressive position in the town after all.

[waga100 353]

ile be happy to platoon with you, ile see if i can catch you on or if you want send me an invite

[IAmA_Tank_AMA 106]

I messaged you

[climbinguy 6]

Hello Folks:

 

   TL;DR At 18,000 battles I suck, can you help me get better?

 

   I've lerked among these forums occasionally, but here dwell Unicums, and I've felt too intimidated to even show my presence among this justifiably honored group. 

 

Welcome! Don't be afraid to post here, I know its intimidating, but most of the people here are really cool and helpful. 

 

   One comment I've heard repeatedly about player skill, not always directed toward me, does resonate.  "How can playing that bad be fun?"

 

I've felt this way when I was first starting, and I was fortunate to have friends who were much better than me and willing to teach me. Within a few months I was up 300 points part in thanks to my last clan with a bunch of really good players. They were surprised I was there for a while but soon came to realize I was improving a lot when playing with them and became just another guy in the clan, wn8 not being an issue anymore.

 

   I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture.  I've been around the block, there's a lot I understand, but I still roll off the base and get one-shotted 15 seconds after the bell goes off.  Too many zero damage delivered battles.  Where do I go and what do I do?  What can I see that should make me go somewhere else and do something else? 

 

   I'll never have good overall stats, but I'd like to become a strong player with good recent stats and great XVM camo. 

 

      Thanks.

It happens to everyone. I remember one night I crashed while playing my T34 on prokhorovka and by the time I got back in-game and started moving to my spot, I had 4-5 mediums on the middle focusing me out. I was dead in no more than 30 seconds after logging back in. Then theres the one shot arties.... As much as I hate them, I can't do anything about it but move on. If I get too upset then usually I go on tilt and play like crap for the rest of the night.

 

All in all, we're glad youre here. It gives me hope for this game to see people wanting to get better so they can fully enjoy this game. A phrase I like to say is "I play to have fun and winning is fun; therefore, I play to win." 

 

Make sure to visit the Purple Poaster forum section as well as Vehicles, metagame discussion, and Looking for platoonies. The guys you find in the last one will (hopefully) gladly invite you, and just by playing with them, youll start to see immediate improvement if you follow their directions.