ST - Balance changes

[Tanatoy]

European destroyer Błyskawica, tier VII:

 

• Main battery reload time was reduced from 6.5 to 6 seconds.

 

Błyskawica — one of the first premium ships in our game. Since her release, many game tactics have changed and there are new ships played in a similar style. The new reload time will increase damage and strengthen the role of the destroyer in the current meta.

 

Japanese aircraft carrier Hosho, tier IV:

 

• New torpedoes Type 91 mod. 0 have been installed instead of the old Type 91 mod. 1. The new torpedoes speed will be 40 knots instead of 50.
• Reduced the returning speed of torpedo bombers to the aircraft carrier by 40%.

 

Due to a high cruising and returning speed for Torpedo Bombers, experienced players that avoided aircraft losses could solely use Torpedo Bombers. Both changes listed above will increase the amount of damage taken by Torpedo Bombers (the climb after the attack will be slower, and to effectively attack Torpedo Bombers will have to fly closer to their target). The new speed will also reduce the effectiveness of Torpedo Bombers against destroyers as it gives them the opportunity to manoeuvre and evade.

 

Strong Torpedo Bombers is one of the main features of the Japanese aircraft carriers, which we would like to preserve. With these changes, we plan to balance the performance of tier IV carriers, but will also continue to monitor the situation and, if necessary, make further changes.

 

French destroyer Enseigne Gabolde, tier II:

 

• Torpedo speed was reduced from 57 to 52 knots;
• Main battery reload time was increased from 4.8 to 5.2 seconds.

 

French destroyer Fusilier, tier III:

 

• Torpedo speed was reduced from 57 to 52 knots;
• Main battery reload time was increased from 6 to 6.6 seconds.

 

French destroyer Bourrasque, tier IV:

 

• Main battery reload time was increased from 6 to 6.6 seconds.

 

Unlike their higher tier counterparts, these lower-tier French destroyers do not yet have the explicit gameplay of gunboats and therefore their damage output is roughly divided equally between torpedoes and main battery.

 

The proposed changes are designed to reduce the total damage and do not change the ratio of damage dealt by torpedoes and the main battery. The torpedoes were also too fast for these tiers when taking into account their range.

 

Soviet battleship Vladivostok, tier VIII:

 

• Sigma parameter was changed from 1.7 to 1.6.

 

The battleship's main battery had excessive precision. The parameter change will reduce precision at all ranges of combat, without changing specific settings of the accuracy of Soviet battleships.

 

Soviet battleship Kremlin, tier X:

 

• Reduced max damage of AP shells from 15500 to 14500 and changed other related parameters (Krupp parameter and the mass of the projectile).
• To match AP shells, we also reduced the maximum damage of HE shells from 6600 to 6500, the chance of fire from 48% to 45% and other related parameters (weight of shells, splash damage).

 

The efficiency of Kremlin was higher than other battleships of tier X. To balance the ship and at the same time have a minimal impact on the defining features of the battleship, we have changed the characteristics of her shells. Along with the above changes, we slightly changed the armor penetration and ballistics.

 

Please note that the information in the Development Blog is preliminary and subject to change.

[principat121]

15 minutes ago, Tanatoy said:

The efficiency of Kremlin was higher than other battleships of tier X.

Your changes will not affect the efficiency of the Kremlin, which lies more in its insane survivability. 

[Filipin00]

Hosho torpedo bombers nerf is very welcome. Glad that something is being done about that seal-clubbing dream CV.

 

But looks like still no signs of graf zeppelin dive bombers change

[HaachamaShipping]

Blysca gets a buff. Finally.

[ColonelPete]

I suggest to reduce the sigma of Kremlin to 1.7.

Her accuracy makes her stand out in the whole line.

[affie]

1 hour ago, Tanatoy said:

European destroyer Błyskawica, tier VII:

 

• Main battery reload time was reduced from 6.5 to 6 seconds.

 

Błyskawica — one of the first premium ships in our game. Since her release, many game tactics have changed and there are new ships played in a similar style. The new reload time will increase damage and strengthen the role of the destroyer in the current meta.

About time for the Blyskawica to get some love, if we are to believe this buff as well as values for Friesland I guess the Pan-European destroyers will have gunfocus with rather high detection similar to the premium ships we have. 

[Aragathor]

2 hours ago, Tanatoy said:

European destroyer Błyskawica, tier VII:

 

• Main battery reload time was reduced from 6.5 to 6 seconds.

 

Błyskawica — one of the first premium ships in our game. Since her release, many game tactics have changed and there are new ships played in a similar style. The new reload time will increase damage and strengthen the role of the destroyer in the current meta.

Ok. On the surface this looks like a really small buff. But the more I look at the numbers the more I see the net gain for the ship. Here's a breakdown, for anyone not speaking numbers (base stats, no captain skills):

 

Currently Blyska has an HE Alpha of 11900, eclipsed only by Akatsuki's 12900, and this was always a big selling point. The HE DPM is 109837, which is better only than Shiratsuyu, Yudachi, Akatsuki, Z-39. Quite bad for a gunboat.

With the change the HE DPM becomes 119000, making it only inferior to USN and RN-type DDs, which can't hit anything over long range. And only Haida, Mahan, and Sims are much better. Even Leningrad/Minsk will have a worse DPM by exactly 5000.

 

With BFT it gets even better, with a HE DPM of 132209, making it only worse in DPM against Mahan and Haida. And we are talking high alpha strikes here with good velocity.

 

I'm cautiously optimistic.

 

PS: Forgot to compare Blyska with Vauquelin. With the buff the ships will be comparable, with Blyskawica profiting from the smoke and Vaquelin from the MBRB.

[affie]

1 minute ago, Aragathor said:

Ok. On the surface this looks like a really small buff. But the more I look at the numbers the more I see the net gain for the ship. Here's a breakdown, for anyone not speaking numbers (base stats, no captain skills):

 

Currently Blyska has an HE Alpha of 11900, eclipsed only by Akatsuki's 12900, and this was always a big selling point. The HE DPM is 109837, which is better than only Shiratsuyu, Yudachi, Akatsuki, Z-39. Quite bad for a gunboat.

With the change the HE DPM becomes 119000, making it only inferior to USN and RN DDs, which can't hit anything over long range. And only Haida, Mahan, and Sims are much better. Even Leningrad/Minsk will have a worse DPM by exactly 5000.

 

With BFT it gets even better, with a HE DPM of 132209, making it only worse in DPM against Mahan and Haida. And we are talking high alpha strikes here with good velocity.

 

I'm cautiously optimistic.

Yes, this will bring Blyskawica to the same DPM as Haida, with balance lying in Blyskawica getting worse detection, better torpedoes, better alpha strike, no hydro but higher speed. Making her even more of a supporting destroyer rather than an objective focused one. 

[Aragathor]

1 minute ago, affie said:

Yes, this will bring Blyskawica to the same DPM as Haida

No, it won't be anywhere near Haida. Unbuffed Haida has an HE DPM of 136800, which is still higher than Blyskawica. And with Haida you are better served picking SI and IFHE over BFT.

But these are apples and oranges, as Haida is a cap brawler, while Blyskawica is not.

[VanD4rk]

1 hour ago, Tanatoy said:

Reduced max damage of AP shells from 15500 to 14500 and changed other related parameters (Krupp parameter and the mass of the projectile).

@Tanatoy will the changes to the related parameter "projectile mass" be included in the travel time formula of projectile which will lead to slower shells ?

[mcboernester]

Why do you change Damage related Values on Kremlin when the biggest Issue is her over the top Toughness? if shes only angled for like 7 Degrees you would already have huge isses with 406mm on most ranges. 

[affie]

10 minutes ago, Aragathor said:

No, it won't be anywhere near Haida. Unbuffed Haida has an HE DPM of 136800, which is still higher than Blyskawica. And with Haida you are better served picking SI and IFHE over BFT.

But these are apples and oranges, as Haida is a cap brawler, while Blyskawica is not.

My bad, thought they had the same HE damage but now I saw the Haida got +200 damage per shell. But the number of shells per minute will be roughly the same (70 vs 72), my bad. 

 

I wouldn't complain if she got the +50 damage from the Friesland as well, but guess we shall be happy she gets something to allow to compete against newer ships. 

[Datz68]

Maybe I will start to think to buy Blyskawica with 25% coupon in Armory... 3825 dubloons... looks good, but I will need at least 10 points captain...

 

Thanks WG to buff some old stuff. 

[Benser33]

4 hours ago, Tanatoy said:

European destroyer Błyskawica, tier VII:

 

• Main battery reload time was reduced from 6.5 to 6 seconds.

 

Błyskawica — one of the first premium ships in our game. Since her release, many game tactics have changed and there are new ships played in a similar style. The new reload time will increase damage and strengthen the role of the destroyer in the current meta. 

Nice to see Blyska getting some attention.

 

4 hours ago, Tanatoy said:

Japanese aircraft carrier Hosho, tier IV:

 

• New torpedoes Type 91 mod. 0 have been installed instead of the old Type 91 mod. 1. The new torpedoes speed will be 40 knots instead of 50.
• Reduced the returning speed of torpedo bombers to the aircraft carrier by 40%.

This has certainly appeared necessary recently.

 

4 hours ago, Tanatoy said:

Soviet battleship Vladivostok, tier VIII:

 

• Sigma parameter was changed from 1.7 to 1.6. 

 

Soviet battleship Kremlin, tier X:

 

• Reduced max damage of AP shells from 15500 to 14500 and changed other related parameters (Krupp parameter and the mass of the projectile).
• To match AP shells, we also reduced the maximum damage of HE shells from 6600 to 6500, the chance of fire from 48% to 45% and other related parameters (weight of shells, splash damage).

Why is Kremlin not sustaining a sigma nerf on top of these changes? Kremlins accuracy is far too reliable for guns that produce such constistent results and I highly doubt the damage and penetration changes listed will do of anything to alleviate that.

Why are Sinop and Pyotr Velkiy still unchanged? Both were more in need of nerfing than Vladivostok and if anything reducing Vlads sigma down to 1.6 makes Kremlins 1.9 seem even more questionable.

[Toivia]

Vlad and Hosho nerfs were needed. Kremlin nerf is kinda pointless. It will still be hard to dislodge and it will still wreck you. Only the total DMG per battle will be marginally lower...

 

Blyskawica buff is welcome (I singlehandedly deleted it in my Gadjah Mada while dodging his torps and being shot at by his Belfast - that was very questionnable).

 

No idea about the low tier french DDs. Haven't played those, haven't played against them either...

[invicta2012]

The low tier French DDs were great fun, not sure they needed such a nerf with the low damage torps, but we'll see. 

 

Blyska buff sounds decent. The ship is still fine now, you just have to get in to position to use all your guns... 

[MAD_3R_Marauder]

I know I'm late to the party, but can someone please explain where the actual nerf for Hosho is here?

 

Slower torps:

Arming distance is a function of time, as far as I know, so you can now drop them closer to target, giving said target exactly the same time to evade changing exactly nothing (and before you say, "but the planes have to stay longer in AA range", yeah, a whooping 0.5 seconds or so - big deal (oh, and what AA? There is virtually none on most T3/4 ships).

 

Longer return time for the torp bombers:

So T3/T4 ships will now be attacked by DB - TB - DB - TB instead of by DB - TB - DB - TB 

Can someone point out where the change is?

 

You want to know what the real problem with T4 carriers on the whole is?

 

1. T3/T4 has virtually no AA - and no, you can't dodge a f***ing thing, not in a BB (tested this in my Arkansas Beta, concentrating _fully_ on maneuvering to planes (sorry team)). Vs. DB/FB you can just forget about maneuvering. Only time they will miss is when the CV player messes up. Vs. TB, you can, at best, avoid one of the two torps per drop.

 

2. Re-gen rate for T4 is too high

I got my König worked over by a Langley/Hosho team yesterday. I shot down 33 planes (and that was just me, unfortunately, I didn't save the team results). Effect: At the very end of the fight, their DB squads were 1 plane short and they generally did 2 strikes per attack.

 

Both of this leads to

 

3. You feel absolutely helpless, because nothing you do has the slightest impact on those air attacks, and especially in the later stages of a battle, you are under _constant_ air attack

In my König mentioned above, during the last 5 minutes I was afloat, the longest period of not being under air attack, was perhaps 10 seconds.

 

Suggestion:

Everyone at WG, responsible for balancing low-tier CV (and this includes everyone in management too) is handed the task of playing 24 games in No-AA T3/T4 BB/CA on Monday. That's 8 hours x 3 games per hour, should be easily doable

And then come back to me and tell me that only little tweaks are needed to balance them

 

P.s. Your spreadsheet might tell you that CVs aren't too badly over-performing (and yes, in both of my above games, the CVs weren't the top scorers). What it doesn't tell you is the gaming experience one has down there.

 

Now, I entered those games (Ark-B and König) with the intend to see for myself how things are in T4 and knew what I was getting into. Now imagine a new player experiencing this... 

Yeah.