Verblonde

This. In spades (and I mainly play DDs, so should hate storms - on paper anyway).

This was the clinching reason why I didn't lobby my clan to take part...

Alas, it now appears to have run out/expired... Thanks OP though.

From my perspective there are a couple: Asashio is a much more reliable generator of silver and xp; if you are time-poor (I often am), and want to get missions done, but don't have the time to mess about, there is a very strong temptation to reach for Asashio. That said, it is largely *because* of its characteristics as a very effective BB killer, that it's so good for missions/silver... Personally, I would kill (well, okay - use harsh language) for a premium Kagero though - I kept my regular silver one, and run it with TRB rather than smoke, simply because it's fun; Kagero is my fun 'torp' T8, and Harekaze is my fun generalist.

I rather think @tajj7 has hit the nail on the head: the 'Tao' of DD play has changed (even in the year or so that I've been playing), mainly due to radar, but things like RPF also have an impact; people who don't play DDs much (at least those that see T7+) may not have fully realised the extent to which things have changed yet - if you play other classes much of the time, why would you? Short version: most DDs have to be a *lot* more cautious in the early game than previously (assuming they don't want to get killed); more established players of other classes now need to adjust their play style in turn, to operate optimally in this 'new' environment. The crucial changes will probably involve: less early capping (a cap changing colour often triggers radar and deletion), and less *consistent* early spotting (a sensible DD player will expose themselves less than previously, so early spotting will tend to be more on-off than before); if someone has tagged you with RPF, you also have to be a bit more mindful of where you're heading etc., so as to avoid speculative torpedo spreads/radar.

As a filthy player-of-Asashio, there are a couple of reasons I play it so much (in no particular order): Unless MM hates you, it's straightforward earning plenty of silver (this matters when you want to buy new high tier silver ships). A number of missions call for 'do x damage', or 'earn x xp' - both of these are similarly straightforward (and there is often a tier requirement). Every so often it is simply necessary to punish BB players for their life choices (this reason will evapourate if the typical randoms BB player ever learns to do their job)! It's not the most relaxing ship to play though, as you have to spend a lot of time getting past the BB's screen (assuming the enemy DDs/cruisers are awake); I suppose you could hide on the borders and spam 20 km torps (I run TA on mine, so not an option), but that would be terribly dull...

As a matter of curiosity: when did it become the DD's role to tank for BBs? This is what the OP seems to be implying we (DD players) should be doing...?

I agree wholeheartedly - I think she may be my most played ship; that said, she is distinctly peculiar though - each line, in my view, should ideally have at least one premium that is reasonably typical, so as to be a useful trainer, and ideally, it should be around T8. Asashio tends to perform best with a slightly eccentric captain set-up...

It would be a great shame if Harekaze (or a non-HSF version of some sort) never returned - the IJN DD line needs a sensible, well-balanced T8 premium, and I think it's fair to say that Asashio isn't it.

I don't actively steer into friendly torps, but I usually don't try and evade them either - any blithering idiot (including me) who fires torps stupidly deserves everything they get. Your torps; your responsibility. Always.

WOT Blitz sometimes gives you tokens for premium time that you can activate at your leisure (I've occasionally wished they'd introduce a similar mechanic to the proper versions of WOT/WOWS too)...

This. I have Belfast, but am still learning to play her, so my opinion isn't hugely well informed - perhaps, stick hydro and radar in the same slot, and give her some sort of heal; that might work? As others have said, it's a shame that no-one can buy one of the more well-known UK ships. (I still want a three-turret Dido though)

Have a quick butchers at the anniversary stuff - I'm not sure how it relates to the ships you already have (I think you need at least T5), but it might be worth a brief look for some quick silver and other bits, if you have a suitable ship: https://worldofwarships.com/en/news/deals/september-missions/ That said, I'll be having a go at the WOT grind as well...

Oooo, shiny...!

IFHE is essential (well, pretty much) on some ships, and a waste of points on others; in general, if the pen increase takes your HE pen over a commonly encountered armour thickness at your tier, then it is probably worthwhile. It does take four captain points though, so it's not a skill to take 'for the hell of it'. This video is often cited as a good starting point: As others have said, check out the ship entries in the wiki (http://wiki.wargaming.net/en/World_of_Warships); nearer the bottom of the page for each ship is an expandable section showing the various captain skills, and an indication of their utility on the ship in question; these aren't gospel, but they're usually a good place to start. The wiki also has write-ups on all the premium ships in the game, as well as links to Little White Mouse's reviews of same; the latter are worth reading as they provide a valuable alternative view to the wiki on premiums, and she also provides some pointers on captain builds (which don't always agree with the wiki). I would suggest playing a bunch of regular ships before paying real money for premiums though (unless they're laughably cheap ones on special offer), to get a better sense of which ship types you like - a premium can be as awesome as anything, but isn't worth buying if you hate the play style.

Nah, but she is a Tribal (plus, I have a bit of a soft-spot for Haida, as she's parked half an hour down the road from me)...

Splendid - thanks! Means I can mess about with the WOT grind this weekend, and then move onto something a bit more interesting with ships next week... I was thinking I'd do the first three(ish) stages, and see if the tank is sufficiently fun to buy the missing tokens; I did something similar with Progetto, but then FL was in play then - T8 MM, as you say, is not terribly attractive at the moment. Hoping that Cossack doesn't suck, but I won't be inconsolable if it does - I have Haida to keep me happy if Cossack turns out to blow goats...

Here's the news item for the EU version of WOT: https://worldoftanks.eu/en/news/general-news/british-challenge/ Although the WOT thing is shorter, the WOWS thing is time limited i.e. all of the missions aren't available for the entire run, so there is a clash. Only matters if you like WOT (and British heavies) of course.

If the RN thing starts next week (or later), I'm thinking I'll do the earlier easy stages for the Caern AX (which allegedly start on Friday), and buy tokens to finish, once the RN event kicks in...

Looks promising; do we happen to know when it goes live - next week, perhaps? Presents a bit of a dilemma for the WOT players: there's a grind for a freebie T8 premium going on at roughly the same time, I think...

Likewise! :)

HMS Sirius has turned up in the Blitz version of the game; do we know if there is any chance of getting this thing in the full version of the game? I see there's been some discussion in the past, but not recently... I would definitely like a Dido in the 'proper' game...

@xxNihilanxx just witnessed this evening's installment of "Verblonde's spectacular meltdown when a forum member is in battle"...!

Yes - use a version of the WOT system.