PENSACOLA... Advice needed!

[Ghallahad]

Hi all, here is the problem: PENSACOLA

I've had just two games with it, results: HORRIBLE... Even playing conservatively (hiding among other ships) got citadel'ed 4 times by lower tier ships, didnt even start a fire with my salvos... It feels like a tremendous slump after the Cleveland... Do you guys have any references, videos, any play-style that help me with this ship... even more, is it worth the time playing it to get to the New Orleans, or is the New Orleans the same s*... Thanks!

[Spruty]

Sorry that i dont have any advice for you since I got the same problem bro...

 

Most people here will tell you to upgrade the modules, but that doesn´t cut it, because it just improves her offensive dmg potential (which is already pretty good imo). The fire chance with the 203mm is good and the higher velocity shells make it easier doing citadels. The real problem is the abysmal concealment and the fact that AP shells cause citadel penetrations, no matter at which angle they are shot from. People will tell you to take a slow approach and avoid being spotted first but often I find myself being focussed even though I position myself in the 2nd line. Even wIth low hp battleships all around me I still seem to be target nr.1 for the enemy team....

 

 

 

[fruitnveg]

Pepsicola is made of paper but its still nice once you get used to it. Use its narrow profile to your advantage, attack and retreat at very tight angles. Even if you find yourself in a situation where you can only fire fore or aft guns, don't worry about it. For the survivability it brings, it's worth it. If you need to turn away (or towards), try to do it once the last (or nastiest, depending on how many people are shooting at you) volley have landed so you minimise the number you take in the side. Bear in mind that even with a ridiculously tight angle, you still don't want to be clobbered by 14 and 16 inch guns of battleships so use the ship's decent rudder shift to your advantage.

[mike_864]

Only played 2 games in my Pepsicola before i bought the New Orleans, hated the playing style after my Cleveland spam shooting tactics, however this was probably a mistake as i should have got used to the 8" guns first, some people say with upgraded hull Pepsi is a good ship,! New Orleans is giving me headaches at the mo, which is a shame as i really like the ship, accurate guns, low detectability ( with the 8k cammo only 12km ) descent turning ability and ok AA. I also really like the look of her ( personal opinion ) this shouldn't matter but for some reason it does..!

 

I am now of the opinion that the way forward is to division up with somebody using team speak or curse and hunt as a pack, i see others doing this all the time at tier 8 and it seems a really good tactic. I have probably reached the limit of what i can do as a solo player in a US cruiser.

 

Good luck

[Panocek]

Pepsi stock is terrible. Period.

 

But after hull and gun upgrades, is actually nice ship, although fragile. 203 at tier 7 are pretty good, against lower tier BBs AP can be surprisingly effective, demolishes cruisers as well. The issue is, the same guns on all next ships are increasingly ineffective against vessels you will be meeting, so if you can't get along with Pepsi after upgrades, I'd suggest dropping USN CA line altogether.

[Gatt]

I've unlocked the Pepsi but just to let the Cleveland make available XP. I've seen the Pepsi specs and ... thanks, not my cup of tea.

 

BTW, there will always be someone coming here and showing his best Pepsi (change the ship with Furutaka or Colorado) game telling you that, properly used, its a great ship.

[Aldramelech]

You need to learn to move around a bit more, as has been said the side armor is garbage, you cannot sail side on or straight head on between shots. I know you can't always avoid the situation, sometimes you've got ships in positions that make it nearly impossible but when it is possible, angle.

[Historynerd]

Hi all, here is the problem: PENSACOLA

I've had just two games with it, results: HORRIBLE... Even playing conservatively (hiding among other ships) got citadel'ed 4 times by lower tier ships, didnt even start a fire with my salvos... It feels like a tremendous slump after the Cleveland... Do you guys have any references, videos, any play-style that help me with this ship... even more, is it worth the time playing it to get to the New Orleans, or is the New Orleans the same s*... Thanks!

 

Compared to the Cleveland, it can appear a real letdown; and the playstile is different, too.

 

However, if you grit your teeth and carry on, when you'll upgrade it you might find that it's not so bad after all. The key to appreciate a ship is always to use its strong point, and in the Pensacola's case is her firepower. Ten 203 mm guns can be devastating.

[Turnipsi]

I think the core of the problem (other than it being paper) is that after the excellent cleveland, you're given a ship that has a huge difference in stock configuration to its fully upgraded one, even more so than most other ships in the game. Everything becomes much better (again, the armour not so much) as you upgrade the modules. And as has been said, pensacola's offensive capabilities are its strong point. You just need to adapt to a playstyle that befits a literal glass cannon.

[beercrazy]

its a awful ship when its stock

when its upgraded its not that bad a ship but don't go broadside to anything or you will get killed quick

use ap whenever possible even against lower tier bb because those guns do a lot of damage (against higher tier bb its he)

[SailingDutchy]

The problem of the pepsi is thy have a little to long reload 

[beercrazy]

The problem of the pepsi is thy have a little to long reload

 

I don't have a problem with the reload of the guns with the pepsi

I find the guns are a damn fine good accurate gun and the only problem I have is the armour is near non existent to the point where you dare not turn and show even a small amount of your broadside or its instant citadel you get hit with

 

 

only thing I can think to make the ship feel as though it belongs to tier 7 is to increase the range due to fact a Cleveland with a captain who has the 20% gun range increase will out range you and that seems wrong to me

[Nefczi]

Pensacola is awfull when stock but Its noticably better when fully upgraded.

 

That being said, if you still wont like her when fully upgraded, then I wouldnt bother with US cruiser line if I were you.

 

Ships after Pensacola have similiar playstyle(Des Moines is a bit more Clevelandish, with its high rof and crappy shell travel time). Additionally, in the current state all tier 7-10 US cruisers are underperforming in compare to IJN cruisers (and battleships in general). Tier 8 New Orleans and tier 9 Baltimore are barely an upgrade over Pepsi. Tier 10 Des Moines gets a massive DPS boost, but its still the worst performing tier 10 ship in game, statistically.

 

[GulvkluderGuld]

If you look at the stats damage output for EU, Des Moines is currently the worst tier X ship in the game. Even Destroyers (both lines) do more damage.

Baltimore at tier 9 is worse still, and NO and Pensa are not pretty (although better than DDs).

XP and Credit earnings are much closer than damage, but those are gathered from aircraft kills. 

 

If you like being an AA bot, US cruisers are probably a thing. Unfortunately CVs are rare in the current meta.

Me, I (barely) survived the Pensacola grind and have unlocked the New Orleans, but sure aint playing it.

Started on BBs instead and are planning to play german CA's once they're out. Much better ships for this meta.

 

I think the core of the problem (other than it being paper) is that after the excellent cleveland, you're given a ship that has a huge difference in stock configuration to its fully upgraded one, even more so than most other ships in the game. Everything becomes much better (again, the armour not so much) as you upgrade the modules. And as has been said, pensacola's offensive capabilities are its strong point. You just need to adapt to a playstyle that befits a literal glass cannon.

 

Got to agree. Stock pensa and fully upgraded pensa are two completely different ships. Unfortunately, it only takes the ship from terrible to mediocre, because nobody bothered to armor its citadel.

If any BB so much at sneezes at the Citacola, it gets instantly sunk with multiple citadels - even from 19 km away!

Now look at the concealment rating (15,8 km) and compare with a Colorado Battleship (less than 15,8 km).

 

It is literally, the easiest ship to sink at tiers 6-8. It doesnt matter how you angle or what distance you stay at, this ship is made out of citadels.

[Hanszeehock]

I actually enjoyed the Pepsicola grind. As others have said it has a totally different playstyle to the Cleveland. It is not a HE spammer, use AP against other cruisers and lower tier BBs. Always try to avoid exposing your broadside, a challenging but good ship. Now about the New Orleans......groan

[Admiral_noodle]

The problem isn't the ship once you get used to it. I even like the New Orleans. However when half the team in high tier games is bbs and planes have learned to stay away from you... Well there isn't much to *do* in game apart from set bbs on fire and dodge shells.

 

To many battleships at tier 8-10 I feel. And not just because of tirpitz. We need something to attract people to high tier cruiser gameplay. I don't think they need a buff, but rewards for shooting down planes and capping need upping.

[anonym_gCiyicUsNYGl]

well pensacola is a heavy cruiser with 203 guns, its time to aim and shoot instead of holding down the right mouse button

[ShockPirat]

What I'll write is true for all high tier cruisers.

 

Make yourself a hard target. Always be angled to the enemy line, you will be harder to aim at and might bounce some of the shells. If you're being shot at, try to dodge. Wiggle your ship left and right and try not to expose broadside if enemy guns are loaded. You're a cruiser, you can dodge most of the enemy long range fire just by pressing A or D.

American cruisers are actually better at dodging enemy fire because they turn a bit faster and gun traverse rates are better so they can keep guns on target.

 

Also, don't judge Pensacola by its stock loadout. Stock it is truly horrible, mostly because guns can't keep up with turning. Upgraded it is a much better ship, evwn though it is still very fragile.

[Arctic_enchilada]

I'd also recommended the rudder upgrade, expensive but makes the ship very nimble, zig-zagging is more or less compulsory. make sure you've got the aa consumable too. Has to be said that there are serious balance issues all over this game which really doesn't help. Something that I find very annoying is  the change in play styles between tiers. (clev to Pepsi being a very good example) You see this in most lines except the CV's (which I don't play) IJN BB's seem to the one of the few lines that fairly consistent.

[indycar]

I actually enjoyed the Pepsicola grind. As others have said it has a totally different playstyle to the Cleveland. It is not a HE spammer, use AP against other cruisers and lower tier BBs. Always try to avoid exposing your broadside, a challenging but good ship. Now about the New Orleans......groan

 

this

What I'll write is true for all high tier cruisers.

 

Make yourself a hard target. Always be angled to the enemy line, you will be harder to aim at and might bounce some of the shells. If you're being shot at, try to dodge. Wiggle your ship left and right and try not to expose broadside if enemy guns are loaded. You're a cruiser, you can dodge most of the enemy long range fire just by pressing A or D.

American cruisers are actually better at dodging enemy fire because they turn a bit faster and gun traverse rates are better so they can keep guns on target.

 

Also, don't judge Pensacola by its stock loadout. Stock it is truly horrible, mostly because guns can't keep up with turning. Upgraded it is a much better ship, evwn though it is still very fragile.

and this

[viceadmiral123]

Cleveland is overpowered for her tier. Pepsi is mediocre for her tier. Nobody cares apparently.

[beercrazy]

Cleveland is overpowered for her tier. Pepsi is mediocre for her tier. Nobody cares apparently.

 

they do care

in beta testing we pointed out these problems and Cleveland has had some small nerfs and the armour actually works now unlike in cbt

wg changed the mogami and myoko around in tier places and if they needed to do the same with Cleveland and pepsicola they would

[Admiral_noodle]

I'd also recommended the rudder upgrade, expensive but makes the ship very nimble, zig-zagging is more or less compulsory. make sure you've got the aa consumable too. Has to be said that there are serious balance issues all over this game which really doesn't help. Something that I find very annoying is  the change in play styles between tiers. (clev to Pepsi being a very good example) You see this in most lines except the CV's (which I don't play) IJN BB's seem to the one of the few lines that fairly consistent.

 

I think the plan is to split lines into heavy cruiser/light cruiser and battleship/battle cruiser. That would fix this (and I agree). So we need more ships!!

[beercrazy]

 

I think the plan is to split lines into heavy cruiser/light cruiser and battleship/battle cruiser. That would fix this (and I agree). So we need more ships!!

 

all we get is more premium ships

[Arctic_enchilada]

 

all we get is more premium ships

 

I think the problem is that bringing out a new line is a lot of work, TBH they released it too soon, with too few ships. They're also trying to add new nations. They have a lot of work huge expectations and i suspect not enough resources