The CV Captains Cabin

[El2aZeR]

2 hours ago, pra3y said:

Man this AP bombs are wierd, against a Prinz Eugen I barely did any damage despite numerous drops but against a Saint Louis and the Mino above it can deal fairly decent damage. 

 

LWM tested Enterprise AP bombs against various targets and for the most part I agree with the results:

 

Quote

The performance of the AP bombs varies.  I spent hours upon hours (upon hours and hours and hours and hours) testing the first iteration of the AP bomb against ALL techtree ships Enterprise could encounter from tiers 6 through 10.  There were a lot of surprises, but generally it worked out like this:

• All Destroyers:  Over penetrations only.
   
• USN Cruisers:  Des Moines and Baltimore are vulnerable.  No more than penetrations and over penetrations against most other targets.
• Soviet Cruisers:  Dmitri Donskoi and Moskva are highly vulnerable.  Mostly over penetrations against others.
• Japanese Cruisers:  Inconsistent.  Some penetrations possible, but citadel hits were rare until Zao and Ibuki which were a little more frequent.  I still wouldn't count on it though.
• British Cruisers:  Rare penetrations, mostly over penetrations.
• French Cruisers:  Vulnerable Tier 7+.  Citadel hits were not uncommon.
• German Cruisers:  Rare penetrations, mostly over penetrations. This one surprised me, but I couldn't get the bombs to reliably arm.
   
• Aircraft Carriers:  Mostly over penetrations.  Rare penetrations on ships like Shokaku and Taiho.
   
• Battleships:  All Battleships are vulnerable, with German Battleships seemingly especially keen to hoover up citadel hits.

 

Against BBs I found that AP bombs are somewhat ineffective against

- all USN BBs (not that you would want to drop those anyway)

- Bayern (never got a drop above 10k so far, mostly 3-7k)

- RN BBs T7+ (QE seems strangely susceptible to AP bombs, you CAN get big hits against the rest but it's incredibly inconsistent)

- Izumo & Yamato (also depends on the generosity of RNGesus)

 

Against the rest you can either expect hits around 20k or a outright nuke. FdG and GK also aren't nearly as vulnerable as Gneisenau/Scharnhorst/Tirpitz/Bismarck, but I do ~30k hits fairly regularly which is usually enough to ruin their day. 

[pra3y]

21 minutes ago, El2aZeR said:

 

LWM tested Enterprise AP bombs against various targets and for the most part I agree with the results:

 

 

Against BBs I found that AP bombs are somewhat ineffective against

- all USN BBs (not that you would want to drop those anyway)

- Bayern (never got a drop above 10k so far, mostly 3-7k)

- RN BBs T7+ (QE seems strangely susceptible to AP bombs, you CAN get big hits against the rest but it's incredibly inconsistent)

- Izumo & Yamato (also depends on the generosity of RNGesus)

 

Against the rest you can either expect hits around 20k or a outright nuke. FdG and GK also aren't nearly as vulnerable as Gneisenau/Scharnhorst/Tirpitz/Bismarck, but I do ~30k hits fairly regularly which is usually enough to ruin their day. 

 

Indeed, it seems exactly like the test she conducted. I wonder though, why the bombs do nothing against German CAs. The wierd thing was in my first Lexi game on the PT, the other CV player told me he got 2 citadels worth of damage off a Prinz Eugen. So super RNG on the arming?

[pra3y]

41 minutes ago, LongJohn_ said:

 

What about plane reserves. Hangars are the same but for example is 2-2-2 Midway splitted up equally between three plane types?

 

This is with the AS skill active:

Fighters: 31

DBs: 32

TBs: 33

[pra3y]

Well just had a game where the TBs had to go through the AA aura of a Conqueror which was probably AA built. You can be assured that it will shred your TBs no matter what you do as long as you're within it's AA range. Probably can get off about 2/3 torps out of 12.

[El2aZeR]

18 minutes ago, pra3y said:

So super RNG on the arming?

 

Technically speaking as long as RNGesus is generous you can nuke anything but DDs. The whole arming/penetration/whatever of AP bombs is really weird in that regard.

[pra3y]

6 minutes ago, El2aZeR said:

 

Technically speaking as long as RNGesus is generous you can nuke anything but DDs. The whole arming/penetration/whatever of AP bombs is really weird in that regard.

 

Well, another WG weird game mechanic  I'll stick to troping them then.

[LongJohn_]

38 minutes ago, pra3y said:

Well just had a game where the TBs had to go through the AA aura of a Conqueror which was probably AA built. You can be assured that it will shred your TBs no matter what you do as long as you're within it's AA range. Probably can get off about 2/3 torps out of 12.

 

Is that like 2-3 torps or two thirds of 12?

[LongJohn_]

1 hour ago, pra3y said:

 

This is with the AS skill active:

Fighters: 31

DBs: 32

TBs: 33

 

Ok. Thanks.

 

Notser showed some Midway action in his rant video. DBs seemed pretty solid and hit some big numbers against Zao. TBs dropped like flies after Zao activated Def AA...

[LongJohn_]

I actually realized I dont like the plan for Essex. I really like the ship in its present state. 1-1-3 strike fits the bill and suits my gamestyle. Fighters get nerf but you get more of then. Ok. Then you get weaker and slower TBs and also lose one whole DB squad. I bet my average damage is going to drop from this. 

 

Luckyly that Midway is unlocked so I can go there if Essex goes spoil. 2-2-2 loadout also takes same number commands as Hiryu-Shokaku so its less confusing to learn. 

[aidenthedestroyer]

Honestly 222 Midway is a good and bad Idea, One the fact than TBs can tank a little more damage than the IJN Ones, Second The AP Bombers.

imo 2 squads of AP bombs is a little too much, Especially if theyre aimed against German BBs AND they are tier 10. What I think they should have done is either make the Bombers tier 8 or put one squad AP, and the other HE, then they are at least balanced but 2 AP Squads imo is too strong, and also 7 planes per....... Too much

 

[unsinkable_sam_]

8 minutes ago, LongJohn_ said:

I actually realized I dont like the plan for Essex. I really like the ship in its present state. 1-1-3 strike fits the bill and suits my gamestyle. Fighters get nerf but you get more of then. Ok. Then you get weaker and slower TBs and also lose one whole DB squad. I bet my average damage is going to drop from this. 

 

Luckyly that Midway is unlocked so I can go there if Essex goes spoil. 2-2-2 loadout also takes same number commands as Hiryu-Shokaku so its less confusing to learn. 

Yes.  I think so too. I love the 1-1-3 setup. New setup is not really balanced against Taiho..  Nerfed torp bombers and just 2 DB squadrons.. I have better idea, need to + 1 fighter squadron for 1-1-3 setup.

[LongJohn_]

1 hour ago, longley89 said:

Yes.  I think so too. I love the 1-1-3 setup. New setup is not really balanced against Taiho..  Nerfed torp bombers and just 2 DB squadrons.. I have better idea, need to + 1 fighter squadron for 1-1-3 setup.

 

Even with nerfed fighters you should be able to dominate Taihos for sky control. No problem there. At least if you spice captain with dogfighting expert skill. 

 

But quite lot hangs on those DBs. Even with AP bombs. Single T8 torp squad with even less replacements than now (since there is 2 fighters). Whats the function of this squad? Finish off weak ships? What a waste. Against DDs its total gamble with single squad. 

 

With Midway you can at least use the TBs to harass DDs with success and dedicate TBs to heavier targets.

[veslingr]

can somebody explan how LEX bombers with max 8000 k dmg can do 8001 dmg to cruiser.....btw looks like it was citadel on SL with AP from lex :)

[veslingr]

And AP really really need nerf......7 hit on "prefered" BBs and epic 11k dmg :=)

[RUSSIANBlAS]

4 hours ago, LongJohn_ said:

 

Do I remember correctly that Big E has little different torp pattern than the usual? In this regard flat drop pattern with Midway is even more powerful. Ships are also big so its possible to score 12/12...

Big E torp drop pattern is awful although you can still cross drop DDs with a bit of luck.

 

The Midway will be lol as she gets full fat T10 AP bombs too. I don't worry about the 2x6 TB being T8 as you have the HP modules and you shouldn't be yolo brute force striking stuff anyway...

[RUSSIANBlAS]

5 hours ago, LongJohn_ said:

 

I used strike with Lex. Its was actually pretty rare that enemy CV could shut me down completely. Some of them dont know what they are doing so that is easy. Some games just are high AA games, T10, and there strike Lex rules. You can use friendly AA and strike from its cover and while you have plenty of strikeplanes you can pile them up for nice damage. Or you can schedule your strikes to enemy CV. As you know micromanaging IJN CVs is massive task. So when he is striking you can just fly past fighters and do your business. He is way too busy with his manual drops elsewhere. Of course you meet AS Lexis or some smuck Shokas that just focus dealing your planes but then even they cant deal damage. And its been useful to learn striking without fighter escort. They are not always around even when you have them. Some are shot down, reloading etc. 

 

 

 

Lol I'm one those smucks who focus on air defence before bombing the enemy. It's usually easier to defend than to attack and I'll do so until the enemy has lost their wave or is rearming. Drag a game out like that long enough and you can have late game freedom to bomb/scout anywhere you want.

 

My mentality makes the Enterprise with her AS focus one of my favourite CVs so far.

[LongJohn_]

1 minute ago, Negativvv said:

 

Lol I'm one those smucks who focus on air defence before bombing the enemy. It's usually easier to defend than to attack and I'll do so until the enemy has lost their wave or is rearming. Drag a game out like that long enough and you can have late game freedom to bomb/scout anywhere you want.

 

My mentality makes the Enterprise with her AS focus one of my favourite CVs so far.

 

Both ways have their ups and downs. If you lay low long enough battle might be over and CV always needs time to fix things even if you have free reign. 

 

Personally I'd need to change some of my normal tricks. For example its not smart to get straight in with Essex TBs early in game. Its pretty rare to get initial drop on some DD. Sure it can be rewarding but also in mant cases I run out of TBs during game. 

[RUSSIANBlAS]

Just now, LongJohn_ said:

 

Both ways have their ups and downs. If you lay low long enough battle might be over and CV always needs time to fix things even if you have free reign. 

 

Personally I'd need to change some of my normal tricks. For example its not smart to get straight in with Essex TBs early in game. Its pretty rare to get initial drop on some DD. Sure it can be rewarding but also in mant cases I run out of TBs during game. 

Yah my approach means that poor teams will simply melt before you can do anything. Although in a hard T10 game you're pretty stuck for targets anyway. I'm not a believer in brute force strikes and anyways try to look after my planes.

 

Now just to grind Midway... I'm only at the Ranger lol

[LongJohn_]

7 minutes ago, Negativvv said:

Yah my approach means that poor teams will simply melt before you can do anything. Although in a hard T10 game you're pretty stuck for targets anyway. I'm not a believer in brute force strikes and anyways try to look after my planes.

 

Now just to grind Midway... I'm only at the Ranger lol

 

Yep. I was in same game few weeks ago, you were in Ranger, I was in my Akatsuki. Didnt go well for me but we won that one. 

 

Its a pretty long way from Ranger to Midway. Remember its also part of the journey, not just the result (Midway). Played some 180 something games with Lex and about the same with Essex to break Midway. 

 

I think you might reconsider brute force thing after you get your hands on Lex 1000 pounders. Three squads of those...  Whole new ballgame compared to Ranger fireworks. 

 

Actually my original idea was to play balanced 1-1-1 with Lex but changed my mind pretty quick. Liked that 1-1-1 with Ranger. 

 

Essex is actually getting old Midway stock setup. 2-1-2. And Midway goes actually past its old strike which once (op time) was 1-2-2. 

[RUSSIANBlAS]

1 minute ago, LongJohn_ said:

 

Yep. I was in same game few weeks ago, you were in Ranger, I was in my Akatsuki. Didnt go well for me but we won that one. 

 

Its a pretty long way from Ranger to Midway. Remember its also part of the journey, not just the result (Midway). Played some 180 something games with Lex and about the same with Essex to break Midway. 

 

I think you might reconsider brute force thing after you get your hands on Lex 1000 pounders. Three squads of those...  Whole new ballgame compared to Ranger fireworks. 

 

Actually my original idea was to play balanced 1-1-1 with Lex but changed my mind pretty quick. Liked that 1-1-1 with Ranger. 

 

Essex is actually getting old Midway stock setup. 2-1-2. And Midway goes actually past its old strike which once (op time) was 1-2-2. 

Nice, you remember stuff like that? 

 

My defence first mindset gets me plenty of 1+s after games.

 

I think I'll enjoy 1/1/2 Lex, guess I'll push the final 8k XP to her but I'm not using a no fighter deck. It'll drive me mad lol.

 

I still remember the old brutal Midway, jet fighter and double T10 TB...

[LongJohn_]

13 minutes ago, Negativvv said:

Nice, you remember stuff like that? 

 

My defence first mindset gets me plenty of 1+s after games.

 

I think I'll enjoy 1/1/2 Lex, guess I'll push the final 8k XP to her but I'm not using a no fighter deck. It'll drive me mad lol.

 

I still remember the old brutal Midway, jet fighter and double T10 TB...

 

Not always. Just remembered your nick from forum and I try to check out teams before battle. You know, any celebs around etc. For example SailingRobin has been in my games multiple times. I prefer on the same side though. 

 

Grinds are all about xp. I am not so familiar how present meta handles different things in CV gameplay. Spotting, direct damage, planekills...

 

I guess new loadout makes Lex grind way easier than before. 

[RUSSIANBlAS]

Lex is the most frustrating PoS ever...

 

Strike seems to be the only real viable deck but no fighters has me tearing my hair out. Yeah the damage output is nice but the enemy probably does the same damage which I can do nothing about. The rework gives Lex a chance at shooting down enemy planes...

[LongJohn_]

5 hours ago, Negativvv said:

Lex is the most frustrating PoS ever...

 

Strike seems to be the only real viable deck but no fighters has me tearing my hair out. Yeah the damage output is nice but the enemy probably does the same damage which I can do nothing about. The rework gives Lex a chance at shooting down enemy planes...

 

Well it should be better after this change. But its not as terrible astou may think. There are plenty of enemy CVs that dont handle their squads that well. They dont hunt your planes in the first place or just point and click. In such case just fly your squad to friendly AA (Cleveland works just fine even at T8) or if no such around (T6-8 game) just fly them home but dont land. Just fly them around your ship and focusfire. Lex AA is pure murder even without Def AA. 

 

I managed decent 77k or something average on it. Some 20-30k games but also plenty of +200k games. But overall winratio is something its going to lag. And thats purely because you cant protect your DDs and scout caps with fighters.

 

As worst piece of junk of the whole line. I dont know. I would propably vote for Bogue these days. No strafing and manual drops, crappy decks and the speed. 15-16 knots. Even if you start moving right at the start and manage to pick the right direction those DDs still hunt you dont and teammates dont care less.

 

When I played Bogue strafing and manuals were in use. So used the stock deck 1-1-0 which has nice replacements for both squads. So just manual drop to some big target and spend TB reload time strafing every red plane out of the sky. In 2CV T4-5 (Hosho, Lang, Bogue, Zuiho) games it was massmurder. 

 

But still pulled more hair off everytime the map required some movement. 

 

Oh.. One straight warm recommendation for Lex: Get CE for the captain if it doesnt already have. Loadout change is not going to help when you fight in small maps and your detection range at 18,1km covers +60% of the entire map. There just isnt a place to hide.

[RUSSIANBlAS]

1 hour ago, LongJohn_ said:

 

Well it should be better after this change. But its not as terrible astou may think. There are plenty of enemy CVs that dont handle their squads that well. They dont hunt your planes in the first place or just point and click. In such case just fly your squad to friendly AA (Cleveland works just fine even at T8) or if no such around (T6-8 game) just fly them home but dont land. Just fly them around your ship and focusfire. Lex AA is pure murder even without Def AA. 

 

I managed decent 77k or something average on it. Some 20-30k games but also plenty of +200k games. But overall winratio is something its going to lag. And thats purely because you cant protect your DDs and scout caps with fighters.

 

As worst piece of junk of the whole line. I dont know. I would propably vote for Bogue these days. No strafing and manual drops, crappy decks and the speed. 15-16 knots. Even if you start moving right at the start and manage to pick the right direction those DDs still hunt you dont and teammates dont care less.

 

When I played Bogue strafing and manuals were in use. So used the stock deck 1-1-0 which has nice replacements for both squads. So just manual drop to some big target and spend TB reload time strafing every red plane out of the sky. In 2CV T4-5 (Hosho, Lang, Bogue, Zuiho) games it was massmurder. 

 

But still pulled more hair off everytime the map required some movement. 

 

Oh.. One straight warm recommendation for Lex: Get CE for the captain if it doesnt already have. Loadout change is not going to help when you fight in small maps and your detection range at 18,1km covers +60% of the entire map. There just isnt a place to hide.

Yah I'm currently averaging about the same damage but WR suffers as you give the map to the enemy CV.

 

Bogue was ok as you can power through it pretty quickly.

 

Lex DB derp has me swearing at the screen, you actually need 3 to get fires to stick as often 1 group will just miss completely.

 

Good job I had a spare 15 pt captain for higher tier CVs as it drops Lex concealment to something like 12km. I love spotting non CE Lex in my Sho with DBs, usually the BBs will oblige and nuke him for me 

[LongJohn_]

1 hour ago, Negativvv said:

Yah I'm currently averaging about the same damage but WR suffers as you give the map to the enemy CV.

 

Bogue was ok as you can power through it pretty quickly.

 

Lex DB derp has me swearing at the screen, you actually need 3 to get fires to stick as often 1 group will just miss completely.

 

Good job I had a spare 15 pt captain for higher tier CVs as it drops Lex concealment to something like 12km. I love spotting non CE Lex in my Sho with DBs, usually the BBs will oblige and nuke him for me 

 

I got winrate over 50% but not that much. Essex has way higher wr. I've found Lex/Essex DBs pretty consistent. Sure they time to time troll but it happens both ways. You can have one squad strike and get 3 hits with few thousand damage or 6 hits with 20k and 3 fires. But overall ok.

 

I've noticed even statistically unicum players sometime fail to evade. Spot with planes and friendlies kill it off. Its good to see even the "best" ones mess it up time to time. Allthough you dont know from plain CV PR how good that player is with that ship or has he being sealclubbing with lower tiers.

 

You can actually kill enemy CV with single swing with strike Lex. Even while they have Def AA on. Those DB manage to land few hits even under heavy AA and get pretty consistent 10-15k per squad done. Plus fires. Theb just fly last DB squad away from AA but so the enemy can see it. Hover it there and let it burn. They dont damacon and burn to death or damacon so weak your remaining DB can finish it off.

 

Naturally real fun begins when you at the last states of the battle pull man pants on, hit Def AA on, swing everything you got at enemy CV and rush towards with secondaries blazing. 

 

Did one such battle some time ago with Essex. Superbly satisfying. Just finished off their Hindenburg with torps, won fighter dogfight on the other side of map, used fighters to spot enemy Shima and its torps for our Shima (later noticed our Shima won that battle). On my side closed in to enemy Essex, last ship in their team (they had clear points lead), pushed three DBs at it, turned ship to charge, pointed secondaries... Two DB strikes caused some +30k damage to it, pulled last one away for damacon and prepared to handle enemies full strike. That damn ship burned away before it struck and I didnt get that many secondary hits in. But nice vic.