Baltiless - Des Moines. Your advice please

[S4h3L]

I personaly dont think RoF is problem in Baltimore, you can get 11,3s for the cost of slower turrets (180°/32s with expert marskman) and it isnt better than Baltimore without that upgrade (maybe for DD hunting) 

 

[T_H_0_R]

I personaly dont think RoF is problem in Baltimore, you can get 11,3s for the cost of slower turrets (180°/32s with expert marskman) and it isnt better than Baltimore without that upgrade (maybe for DD hunting) 

 

 

Your buff suggestions?

 

I too tried that upgrade although without EM. And it was painfull. 36s rotation made me miss a DD sailing past me while I was stationary - turrets couldn't keep up. The rotation penalty is too big.

 

So I reverted to range upgrade which unlike on Des allows for somewhat usable stealth fire.

[piritskenyer]

I personaly dont think RoF is problem in Baltimore, you can get 11,3s for the cost of slower turrets (180°/32s with expert marskman) and it isnt better than Baltimore without that upgrade (maybe for DD hunting) 

 

 

Yeah, but problem seems to be that you either buff your RoF for the cost of traverse AND range, or you buff your range for the cost of RoF only. I for one will be taking the rangeboost despite the bad ballistics on the shells, as stealthfiring will probably allow me to land hits on enemy BB's even so, and IMO 13s rld is nothing to frown at (sure it's not Roon levels of continous fire, but still not bad). 

[Poster_2015]

Well one thing that keeps coming back is the "bad ballistics" of Baltimore. Its not good, but its not some abysmal balistics like Atlanta or Cleveland. In fact if you slap on range upgrades it kinda evens out with Ibuki. Des Moines is a different beast, because 2 out of 3 other cruiser lines get upgrades to "laser cannons" - Zao and Moskva, so indeed DM ballistics are more prominently bad. But at tier 9, Baltimore ballistics are worst , but definitely not far worse then others. 

[Trainspite]

IIRC she has 4.6 with the last upgrade. 13 second reload compared to 14 on NO. Thus should be buffed to 10-11 seconds IMHO or in the ballpark of +5.5 RPM.

 

Dunno if any of this is historical or not, but I see no point in holding on to historical values when she is battling with fictional T9 cruisers (well except Ibuki, to some extent).

 

You are right, I am getting a little confused with New Orleans. /derp

 

The historical Rate of fire is 3-4. 

 

To compete, 5 should really do, maybe 5.5, but anything else seems a little over the top, given that Baltimore is probably the best hull at tier 9 for a cruiser.

[S4h3L]

 

Your buff suggestions?

Hell no, its T IX cruisers, so it needs range, but I ve tried it of curiosity

[Kamikazesushi]

This cruiser became one of my favorite ships. You need concealment expert....after that all the DDs are screwed. Detection 9,8 and radar 9,45 km. When you dont meet any DDs you just get close to cruisers do surprise attack with AP. Its pretty fun ship. Just pls dont buy the range upgrade and dont spam HE on the first BB you see.....the strenght of this ship is getting close and brawling.

[Sille]

Both the balit and the des has never been any good they are too situational and never been good at anything.

[T_H_0_R]

This cruiser became one of my favorite ships. You need concealment expert....after that all the DDs are screwed. Detection 9,8 and radar 9,45 km. When you dont meet any DDs you just get close to cruisers do surprise attack with AP. Its pretty fun ship. Just pls dont buy the range upgrade and dont spam HE on the first BB you see.....the strenght of this ship is getting close and brawling.

 

IMHO in T9 and T10 battles range is everything. What will you do when there are no more DDs or CAs to shoot at, or in range?

 

Burning BBs is always an option, but I agree should not be the priority for Balmer. Instead hunting DDs. And that is 9.7 km concelament. Vs. 9.45km radar the smallest gap of all radar equipped cruisers - 0.25 km.

 

Both the balit and the des has never been any good they are too situational and never been good at anything.

 

Like OP, why didn't you try another line if you can't or don't have fun in playing them? In spite of sub 50% WR on almost all your USN CA's (those that I checked at least), you went to TX.

[Sille]

 

IMHO in T9 and T10 battles range is everything. What will you do when there are no more DDs or CAs to shoot at, or in range?

 

Burning BBs is always an option, but I agree should not be the priority for Balmer. Instead hunting DDs. And that is 9.7 km concelament. Vs. 9.45km radar the smallest gap of all radar equipped cruisers - 0.25 km.

 

 

Like OP, why didn't you try another line if you can't or don't have fun in playing them? In spite of sub 50% WR on almost all your USN CA's (those that I checked at least), you went to TX.

Well i quited the game and now i am back and saw nothing has really changed on the us cruisers. I am doing german cruiser now, i will most likly end up quiting again couse i dont think thats a good statement to things that just needs a buff or a replacement,

[Ferry_25]

You know.... I've been thinking in this matter (give me a like for that activity alone please. Ferry can THINK!! ). There's always that 1 ship in a line in which you suck. But an entire line? Can all the T4+ USN cruisers be that bad? It must be me. I guess I've not listened to my own advice to new players: start low, go slow. I've been grinding too fast. Granted: St Louis put me on the "wrong path." That ship acts like a BB (it was historically classified as a BB AFAIK). So armor angling and taking pounderings obviously doesn't work anymore from Phoenix on. I'm doing fairly well in Murmansk. And it can't be that different from an Omaha. So... Since I'm a shipkeeper anyway (I still have all the ships), it's back to basics for Ferry. I'll "start over" with Phoenix and up. Going on untill the captains are at least 10 points. May take a long while and I won't be playing those ships solely. But I cannot believe I am that stupid to not make any ship function more or less in an entire line.... If you'd like, hit me a reply and I'll keep you posted in my "back to Kindergarden" progress...

[Panocek]

You know.... I've been thinking in this matter (give me a like for that activity alone please. Ferry can THINK!! ). There's always that 1 ship in a line in which you suck. But an entire line? Can all the T4+ USN cruisers be that bad? It must be me. I guess I've not listened to my own advice to new players: start low, go slow. I've been grinding too fast. Granted: St Louis put me on the "wrong path." That ship acts like a BB (it was historically classified as a BB AFAIK). So armor angling and taking pounderings obviously doesn't work anymore from Phoenix on. I'm doing fairly well in Murmansk. And it can't be that different from an Omaha. So... Since I'm a shipkeeper anyway (I still have all the ships), it's back to basics for Ferry. I'll "start over" with Phoenix and up. Going on untill the captains are at least 10 points. May take a long while and I won't be playing those ships solely. But I cannot believe I am that stupid to not make any ship function more or less in an entire line.... If you'd like, hit me a reply and I'll keep you posted in my "back to Kindergarden" progress...

 

Still, USN CA line is most underwhelming in game.

[C4PT41N_0BV10US]

 Still, USN CA line is most underwhelming in game. 

Ok, I recently got Zao, so I got 3 tier X CA's, and I find Des to be the best. He's tough, versatile, with huge dps. It's very skill dependent, but I feel my impact on the flow of the game is the biggest in Des. Now, I can't be 100% sure, since I might be biased, I admit it. Tier VIII and IX are underwhelming, that I also admit. But overall, I think it's really fine line, with no big issues, although not overpowered also. But, since it depends on skill so much (mainly cause you don't have "rescue from sticky situation tool" - torpedoes), the stats are below average. It's easy to do damage in Zao, it's so so easy. It's tough to do the same in Des, but when you learn it - Zao pales in comparison. 

 

[Ferry_25]

So... I started in Phoenix today. Actually had awesome battles in it! Detectability is worst in the tier (I guess I'm visible from outer space). But I did manage well. It's a WWP (weekend win-prohibition) day of course but did excellent games anyway. Applied tactics I learned in the higher tiers and it's working... Kicked the captain to 6 points (granted it's a Xp action period and I got the aye aye quite a few times so I am doing something right. Took vigilance as 3rd lvl skill since the other ones didn't seem adequate for this ship. Did you ever hear the joke of the Phoenix with armor? When being focussed down it's the quickest way for fire immunity. Other than that: I really start to like it!

[22cm]

^ Phoenix is a beast, used properly. Use the maneuvrability to the max. After each salvo, turn.

[KaraMon]

Zao good at doing damage? Yesterday i meet Des Moines that got Witherer 4 minutes after battle began

 

 

 

[Ferry_25]

I have neglected my own thread too long. My "regrind" is really paying off: I start to like Phoenix and Omaha! Still have to replay some Cleveland matches. In the mean time I also did some baltiless matches. I'm afraid I've given up. I absolutely completely loath that shi*. No matter what I do: agression, pasive, support, DD cover, AA setup the matches always have the same boring outcome: a BB looks funny at me and it's -90% HP in the most extreme optimistic situations, regardless what angle or what cover. AA build up? For that 1 out of 100 matches there's actually a CV present? anti Dd build up? Yeah! Radar: hunt the DD. In my case the Baltimore has Gilles de la Tourette: "enemy heavil.... *Boom*"

Playing this in my case is even making the RN cruiser line look good. Thanks for your input but I'm afraid this ship is the end of the US cruiserline for me.

[Lin3]

Yep, Phoenix is a great ship. Easy to carry a high proportion of your battles in it.

 

Omaha is good too. Can be fun dodging tier 7 BB shells at 13 to 14.8 kms range. It's a shame you can't get over 14 kms range with the B hull.

Omaha is a great DD hunter.

 

Cleveland is a marmite ship. Some will like her high DPM. Some will dislike the Cow Jumped Over The Moon shell arcs.

 

Pepsi. Horrible stock. Pretty good with all the bits on. But still not as good as the Shchors.

[IsKor06]

For me, the US cruiser line has really blowed hot and cold: I really enjoyed grinding St Louis, Phoenix and Omaha, somewhat disliked the Cleveland (despite having a decent average dmg with her, I had a hard time landing shells with this terrible shell arc), somewhat enjoyed the Pensacola (once fully upgraded), had a terrible time going through the New Orleans, and found myself really enjoying the Baltimore (AND having an above average dmg output with her).

As for the DesMoines, read my tearful posts in the dedicated thread

[deadly_if_swallowed]

I started the USN CL/CA line quite early (as most of us did) but I remained a foolish noob for quite some time as I rushed the IJN BB tiers. Started learning the game when I already got Nagato. Hence, my view changed a lot over time.

St. Louis: guns, guns, guns. Was fun back then but today I prefer Bogatyr.

Phoenix and Omaha: I hate them wholeheartedly. Murmansk as well. These are not my ships.

Cleveland: I played her when she got bonus range from AFT so I spammed a lot of HE. Re-purchased her again later but sold her to get Yorck. Nice ship though.

Pensacola: bad concealment issue but once fully upgraded she is a fine ship that packs a punch.

New Orleans: Well, I hated her at first. Less guns than Pepsi, stronger opposition... Meh. I stopped playing her for a couple of months and started again around December. Radar was a good addition to her, and you just gotta love that AP.

Baltimore: I got her recently and by now I got all upgrades. Still I cannot decide if I like the gun upgrade. I love her stock arcs but I see the penetration capabilities of the super heavy shells. 8k volleys on a Friedrich from 14 km? No problem. Just need to get used to the target lead again as the stock shells were super fast with flat arcs.

Judging from what I see and learn with the Baltimore I cannot wait for Des Moines.

[Ferry_25]

Pfffff. I am STILL struggling with this IMO POS ship... Only very reluctantly taking it into combat, only to have the next disaster game. I know: it must be me. But I have no clue what I'm doing wrong... I'm not rushing in, not yolosolo-ing but screen the DD's and BB's. I specked the ship in an anti DD way. But the results are always (nearly) the same: either I start "chasing" a DD and get 1 shot by a BB, looking funny at me, regardless what angle or I support fire on the BB's and eat a fistfull of torps coming from nowhere.

[Viktor_Lima]

Baltimore does best when you team with a dedicated US DD captain and he smoke carpets for you ahead of the caps.

 

Spot and radar enemy DDs, but don't expect to kill them yourself. Never chase a kill and let the frag come to you instead. Baltimore just doesn't have enough firepower to nuke down a DD even at 8km in one go. Don't forget to place fires on enemy BB, but do not get into sustained gun fights. If you have to fight, make it bow on and his 90° for your superior AP. My stats on the Baltimore were good, mostly because I helped the team snowball on DD superiority and then stayed alive as an extra target and source of DPS.

As a rule of thumb, Baltimore never commits completely. Des Moines can do that, because she has almost twice the firepower and can wreck all comers at 10km. It's literally like playing Baltimore with Bullet Time.

[FloRead]

 

NoZoupForYou agrees on the Baltimore.

[Ferry_25]

On the verge of giving up. I'm obviously too dumb for this vessel. Doesn't matter what tactic: aggressive, cautious, support dd' or BB's...Hit, boom, gone. I noticed a seemingly reflux of cv's since .6. I'll respec it AA and give it 1 more try. I'm afraid it's the end of my US cruiserline though.

[Ferry_25]

End of the line for me. Re-specced it fully AA. No CV's. May you RIP (rust in peace) POS! I did do a staggering amount of 40k damage though. I actually hit AND damaged a ship (full BS Tirpitz not looking funny at me). No I'm done with the US cruiserline. They are even making the RN cruisers look good. Not curious whatsoever to a slightly faster shooting New Orleans/ Pensacola/ Baltimore wretched piece of garbage. This is defnitely proving Wow's has got nothing to do with reality (otherwise the global languages would have been German and Japanese).