Guide: British Cruisers

[tajj7]

 

And I say almost because I feel tier 7, even tier 6 and up work well. 

 

 

Do they? Or are they just more effective at exploiting their 'niche', mainly because they have more guns than the 3-6 so will spam some damage? (throw enough crap against a wall and some of it will stick) 

 

I've watched Flamu post games of the 7,8 and 10.  All really high damage, but all basically the same process -

 

1. Sail somewhere, maybe near an island for extra protection.

 

2. Wait for stuff to come withing about 12km.

 

3. Slow, down, smoke up.

 

4. Shoot anything not angled, change targets if something angles.

 

5. Move about in the smoke to avoid blind fire.

 

6. Hope nothing rushes the smoke bow in, especially say a US Cruiser with radar or German BB with hydro.

 

7. Smoke runs out, move somewhere else, shoot anything that is isn't looking your way and isn't angled (so targets of opportunity) 

 

8. Rinse and repeat smoke trick.

 

9. As a plus hope some long range torps hit (again relying more on enemy bad play)

 

Now sure, it's a neat trick but really it relies on the enemies to let you do damage, in those games as soon as he either didn't have the smoke safety or someone rushed him down, he died. Most of his targets also when they started getting hit just angled and bounced for days. 

 

So I'm wondering how long their niche trick will even work, more and more people will start blind firing the smoke because they know these ships are way bigger than destroyers and can be easily citadelled whatever the angle, more people will realise the 'special' AP is poor against angles and more and more people will know they can rush these things down bow on and easily beat them if they can avoid the torps.

 

Be interesting to see how even the better players do with the higher tiers when people are more used to them and know their weaknesses, and know that really they rely on their enemies inability more on the users ability. 

 

Dunno, maybe there is a playstyle I am missing here, I'm not particularly good at the game so I might be over simplifying it or missing something. Maybe there is a different way to play these ships, but at the moment to me they seem like bigger, easier to hit US DDs, that have citadels, more guns but no HE. 

 

I suppose the tier 10 can get it's concealment right down with the 5th Captain skill so it could stealth torp and just play like a really big Fletcher or Gearing. 

[Xevious_Red]

The question I have about the "high skill cap" is are the super-unicums getting better results with these than they can achieve with other nations cruisers, because if they're not and it takes a top 5% player to get adequate results out of them, then they're not high skill cap, they're bad ships.

 

Tiers 1 and 2  I have better results with the RN. Not exactly a conclusive study though, since I only played 1 game in each.

Tier 3 I have lower av damage than other nations, but that isn't helped by detonating after 4k on 1/4 of the games which drags the average down.

 

Tonight I should be playing Tier 4, and I was quite comfortable with phoenix/kuma so I'll see how I do with the Danae.

[Chiledip]

The RN line debacle is one thing. The way WG have dealt with the outcry is something much more serious. The last 24 hours has been pretty enlightening for me, this game is not worth investing money into on many levels.

[Leepants]

 

If you like Mortars on a ship and not guns then yes it does work in concept, but they are guns so no, the concept is a complete fail.

 

Now I understand! They aren't mortars compared to Atlanta for sure, and not so bad compared to other US CAs / DDs, so I still am not quite understanding what the issue is. Sorry! 

To me, plunging works reasonably well - definately got to watch where you're aiming (obviously RNG doesn't really help). I've just had my second game and 55k+ damage at tier 4. I lost out to a well wiggling GE CA (fires, and I'm not good at "knife fighting") but it went ok, tbh. Torps ARE useful - I did a fair bit of torp damage, although admittedly some was against an AFK BB. 

 

Again, but only after 2 games at tier 4, I'm quite enjoying the experience. But if we were all the same, life would be terribly boring!! ;)

[Leepants]

 

Tiers 1 and 2  I have better results with the RN. Not exactly a conclusive study though, since I only played 1 game in each.

Tier 3 I have lower av damage than other nations, but that isn't helped by detonating after 4k on 1/4 of the games which drags the average down.

 

Tonight I should be playing Tier 4, and I was quite comfortable with phoenix/kuma so I'll see how I do with the Danae.

 

The only tip I can give you is to go alongside BBs early game. Try to survive, then see if there's a sole BB, bow on, repairs reset so are charged, attack, wiggle and torp, whilst shooting the superstructure. DDs aren't a worry (hydro), HE equipped CAs are - if you have one available, perhaps try to equip the flag for 20% quicker extinguishing. As above, though I've only had 2 games so am hardly an expert!!!

[Admiral_noodle]

The question I have about the "high skill cap" is are the super-unicums getting better results with these than they can achieve with other nations cruisers, because if they're not and it takes a top 5% player to get adequate results out of them, then they're not high skill cap, they're bad ships.

 

I don't quite agree with the reasoning, but I can understand the logic (just don't agree).

 

High Skill cap: Unicums should be able to achieve *roughly the same* as they do in other ships, not *better*, otherwise the ships are "OP but difficult". Average players struggle. E.G unicum 50k dmg vs. 25k average. Bad player gets 10k

 

Low skill cap: Unicums should be able to achieve *roughly the same* as they do in other ships, not *better*, otherwise the ships are "OP but difficult". Average players do better than in other ships. E.G unicum 50k dmg vs. 30k average. Bad player gets 20k

 

If unicums are wrecking face in a set of "High Skill Cap" then the ships are OP. COnversley if unicums can't do well in a set of ships that are "low skill cap" then the ships are a bit weak, but forgiving... 

 

Another way of looking at it is the amount of skill required to unlock a certain maximum amount of potential. Hard to unlock - high skill. Easy to unlock - low skill... However the maximum potential should be balanced by tier and class. Not scientific to achieve mind  

 

From testing my stats were in line or ABOVE my other cruisers (after a while) for tier 7+. 6 pretty much the same... 4 and 5 - worse, but not by much. I am not a unicum by any stretch, but I know I'm not average.

 

I would say most of the RNCL fulfil the "high skill cap" - play them well and be rewarded with good results. The tier 4 and 5 are in my view. UP

 

 - People are uninstalling WoWs because they don't like the new content. Interesting strategy (!). Forgetting that the worse ships may well be buffed (please please improve the damage output of Danae and Emerald ) uninstalling is... odd. Its not like everything else has gone... or were you waiting for the RN only? In which case what were you playing up till now?? Also mr Yaffle, you appear to have: Bought Belfast and uninstalled WoT... Which is not WoWs?

[Eternus_Damnatio]

Been on a looooong break from the game and was thinking of coming back for the RN cruisers but after a lot of reading and watching YT vids sod that good job WG you really are specialists at screwing things up.

I see the comment from Mr Conway stating they have a high skill ceiling sorry but that's just laughable as it just translates to these ships are crap compared to the rest so you have to be amazing to get anything out of it.

No HE rounds or def AA these ships are just target practice for everyone else and consequently I will not be returning to wow's and spending any of my hard earned money.

Keep up the good work WG (pls note this is sarcasm) 

[SeaMonsterUK]

This the results of just one game with the Emerald, the only good point about the cruiser? Torpedoes! They are amazing

 

The ship is still crap mind you.

 

[SeaMonsterUK]

The one thing I do really hate about British ships, is the ease you can Citadel them, took the Belfast out, and got hit by a Salvo that took me from over 35000 HP to under a 1000 HP.... If it's not for the fact that you rarely get Citadels in them they are definitely underpowered.

[matty92]

First time post been playing wg games since start and I must vent my disappointment waited so long for rn and what to we get. Paper ships with massive citadels no he smoke u need stop to use. I'm just an average player and people saying "I can make them work" basically means there crap. You should need a massive guide to play a cruiser.  Think I will go have cup tea n play something else. Disappointed wg. 

[Imryn]

 

I am not saying that you shouldn't play them, I just said that I would not recommend it to someone asking for advice on what to pick.

 

Try them out, practice and get good with them. I honestly really like them and especially the fact that they are not just re-skinned US cruisers. They have a unique playstyle that is challenging but can also be very rewarding.

 

 

No, the answer is game balance. The higher arc actually enables you to hit heavily armored targets from range with plunging fire at an angle that your AP will be effective at.

 

And I can just reiterate what someone else here said - if we see that the ships are under performing, we will buff them. So far all that we can say is that they are different, so go play and give us actual feedback based on experience playing the ships!

 

 

 

 

I cannot believe that you thought that it would be ok to release these ships as the first line for the RN - at the time this game is set the most famous and respected navy in the world.

 

 

You freely admit that they are not easy to play, that they need practice and an expert touch to get the best out of them, and from the feedback you are getting here it is clear that without that expert touch they are complete crap.

 

 

The first ship line for the RN should have been a minor variation on the existing lines; just enough different to give flavour but familiar enough that anyone could jump in and enjoy them from the start - just like every other nation has had. You must have realised that this release would generate a lot of interest and bring a lot of new players in and old lapsed players back, and you gave us this elitist crap that seems to have been specifically designed to drive all those people away again.

 

 

I am not saying that these ships shouldn't be in the game, just not as the first line for the RN. If they were an additional line for one of the established nations alongside a standard cruiser line they would be fine.

 

 

Specifically addressing the third line of the post I have quoted, exactly what "heavily armored targets" are they supposed to be firing at? everything that has been said, including the OP to this thread makes it clear that these ships are designed as destroyer hunters. I have not come across many heavily armored destroyers in the game. I call BS on your "game balance" argument. These guns are completely unsuitable for firing at small fast moving targets, so what is the real reason for them?

 

 

You might be able to buff the ships; and I am sure there are people already buffing away in the back ground; but you can't buff the credibility you have lost with this debacle.

 

[Charger76]

 

I am not saying that you shouldn't play them, I just said that I would not recommend it to someone asking for advice on what to pick.

 

Try them out, practice and get good with them. I honestly really like them and especially the fact that they are not just re-skinned US cruisers. They have a unique playstyle that is challenging but can also be very rewarding.

 

 

No, the answer is game balance. The higher arc actually enables you to hit heavily armored targets from range with plunging fire at an angle that your AP will be effective at.

 

And I can just reiterate what someone else here said - if we see that the ships are under performing, we will buff them. So far all that we can say is that they are different, so go play and give us actual feedback based on experience playing the ships!

 

Sorry, but this is tosh.

 

"The higher arc actually enables you to hit heavilly armoured targets from range"

 

What range? Inaccurate guns with short range and virtually no chance of damaging much less hitting. Thats a daft remark to make.

 

This is the line your OP described as a key feature of the RN CL line:

 

"Against Destroyers:
Fun. No destroyer is a foe for British cruisers, with great turret traverse time and rate of fire wrecking destroyers is very easy, especially when you are close enough."

 

So that means close in fighting. Not at plunging fire range. That means treat them like Russian DD's: mini cruisers with short but nasty punch, hard hitting high velocity rounds. Less speed, more HP. Fair trade I say.

 

There is ONE thing you must do to save this line from broad hatred from your customers: give them guns that work for the purpose these ships are intended. They should have similar rounds to Russian DD's or German T5 /T6 CL: minimum 950 m/s velocity, low trajectories.

 

If I am forced to fight a BB I need to make sure I do so at close range, preferrably on his "blind side". I accept I cannot pen his hull. I accept I don't have HE. So let me hit and reliably penetrate his superstrcture. At 6Km I cannot reliably do this - I tried against several BB's coming around an island where I torpeoded them and tried to get finishing shot in. Nothing but squished rounds.

 

OK, I have driven T4 & T6 only, but not acceptable WG. Fix this fast to restore faith. A lot of people weere really looking forward to this, you have royally buggered it up.

 

[BlueMoon51]

 

The RN cruisers have a very high skill-cap and we would absolutely not recommend them for new or very casual players. 

 

Thankfully I have had time to chill out since reading this and I have quite a lot to say about it.............

 

However I will start with a story

 

When leaks started in regards to the type of ships we would end up with. I made the point that it was my belief that there are people connected to WG who had a vested interest in seeing let me say "a cap on the popularity" of this line. A senior member of the supertest team rounded on me in no uncertain terms.

 

Given the above statement, will I be receiving an apology from him/her? ..................... doubtful

 

All that being said here is the interesting thing...........

 

WG attitude

 

The introduction of the RN line was in my view a wonderful opportunity to generate some new players and perhaps bring back some of the people that it might have lost over the last 14 months or so.................. all good things one would assume.

 

However what we get is a line thats not recommended to all players............... We can argue all day about the rights and wrongs of that but here is the key point in my mind. Did WG believe that there is limited interest or scope for game development??? because surely if you believe that a new nation will generate new players having a line that isn't suited for them is either incompetence of the highest order  OR WG simply don't believe there is much interest in the RN.................................... I for one hope that it was the latter.............

 

I should point out that I would feel the same way when the first Italian or French lines are added too, this is not some kind of the RN must be best, its more you should at least be competent in terms of your introduction plans.

[Imryn]

 

While this is probably a very unpopular point of view right now, this is exactly one of the points here. However, the question is rather: can we integrate both of these "philosophies" (i think the word is too big in this context) into the same framework, but with different content.

From our point of view the answer is yes. There is no strict rule that says content has to be equally easy to play - the only requirement is that its balanced in terms of effectiveness. Of course at first it may seem unfair that an average Joe Potato can just show up and be effective on average with other ships of a similar type while you have to endure to get good and harvest the potential. However, i believe this is acceptable, as those players who do put in that effort and skill will eventually start getting above average results in the long run.

 

Now, whether this approach should have been taken with this particular piece of content is an entirely different question - this one purely philosophical.

 

I guess we'll just make sure that British Battleships don't require any effort and are as boring as afternoon tea. 

 

 

 

 

I disagree, the question of whether this approach should have been taken with this particular piece of content is not a philosophical question it is a straight up business question.

 

 

You had a release that you knew was going to generate a lot of interest both from current players, lapsed players and from the wider gaming community. You knew that you had the chance to bring a lot of new players in and lapsed players back. if you had released a line of RN cruisers that were more or less equivalent to the existing lines with a few changes for flavour you had a good chance of expanding you player base, and therefore your profits.

 

 

Instead you chose to release a line of ships that were in no way friendly for new players, or returning lapsed players; ships that even most of your existing players complain are hard to use. In a week or two (or more likely a month or two) when you have corrected this debacle and buffed the ships to where they should have been from the start the opportunity will have passed you by.

 

 

Congratulations on wasting a fine opportunity to make a profit.

 

 

I assume your last line was intended as humour, but please don't even joke about screwing up the RN battleships!

[Admiral_noodle]

I think the general view is that "high skill" line of ships is fine. But can we not have it with the RN. Like how about the Italian navy. No one will mind.

 

[Lordeh]

Quick get a moderator

This RN Topic has people saying bad things about The terrible RN line that just got shoved down our throats. Surely after deleting , locking or hiding every other thread this one has only seconds left.

[Tuccy]

Was about to write how I yet have to use Danae's torpedoes, when...

 

It seems that a lot of attention goes on the ammunition and lack of HE, however... About the only scenario where I would mind it is going after carrier (as he can launch planes all the time) - however even against battleship, compared to testing the HE setup I get more damage (though not the psychologic effect of "OMG I'm on fireeee!").

 

However one mistake... And you are a toast. On the other hand... You are generally immune to ship-based torpedoes and you can even wiggle your way out of battleship fire - as long as you are not really close. Use terrain for cover, keep distance according to target: Anything smaller: Get in closer to hit reliably, anything bigger: Keep distance and use plunging fire if you can. If you cannot or target is distracted, go for torpedoes.

 

Wanted to do a bit of philosophical/historical article about the complaints about the ships themselves (basically "do not blame us, blame designers, RN always built for budget and numbers") - maybe I would, later, but generally... Royal Navy cruisers are not usually renowned because of their technical qualities, but because of the feats of their crews - represented in game for example by the repair ability or by the ship handling. And, of course, by the players themselves.

 

[Carnivore81]

Was about to write how I yet have to use Danae's torpedoes, when...

 

It seems that a lot of attention goes on the ammunition and lack of HE, however... About the only scenario where I would mind it is going after carrier (as he can launch planes all the time) - however even against battleship, compared to testing the HE setup I get more damage (though not the psychologic effect of "OMG I'm on fireeee!").

 

However one mistake... And you are a toast. On the other hand... You are generally immune to ship-based torpedoes and you can even wiggle your way out of battleship fire - as long as you are not really close. Use terrain for cover, keep distance according to target: Anything smaller: Get in closer to hit reliably, anything bigger: Keep distance and use plunging fire if you can. If you cannot or target is distracted, go for torpedoes.

 

Wanted to do a bit of philosophical/historical article about the complaints about the ships themselves (basically "do not blame us, blame designers, RN always built for budget and numbers") - maybe I would, later, but generally... Royal Navy cruisers are not usually renowned because of their technical qualities, but because of the feats of their crews - represented in game for example by the repair ability or by the ship handling. And, of course, by the players themselves.

 

So British could'nt afford HE Shells 

[damo74]

Wanted to do a bit of philosophical/historical article about the complaints about the ships themselves (basically "do not blame us, blame designers, RN always built for budget and numbers") - maybe I would, later, but generally... Royal Navy cruisers are not usually renowned because of their technical qualities, but because of the feats of their crews - represented in game for example by the repair ability or by the ship handling. And, of course, by the players themselves.

 

 

What? This looks to me like an admission that there was a deliberate policy to make this line uncompetetive. 

 

 

[BlueMoon51]

Wanted to do a bit of philosophical/historical article about the complaints about the ships themselves (basically "do not blame us, blame designers, RN always built for budget and numbers") - maybe I would, later, but generally... Royal Navy cruisers are not usually renowned because of their technical qualities, but because of the feats of their crews - represented in game for example by the repair ability or by the ship handling. And, of course, by the players themselves.

 

And quite what where Russian cruisers renowned for??????????????????

[Akula971]

I've been playing a few games in my Leander class, not doing too badly (10 battles 70%WR), because I avoid combat in cases where I would normally duke it out. I then took out my Gremy, and had heaps of fun. Now call me an old cynic if you will, as I am one. But I play games like WoWs to have fun. It should not feel like hard work at all. FUN not WORK. If its work YOU pay me!!!!!!

 

Its also interesting that the game balance has changed. Destroyer numbers are decreasing, battleship numbers remain the majority, especially German ones, and very few carriers.

 

The supertesters defend them, well they would wouldn't they, as their feedback helped shape the crapwe've ended up with. I've seen supertesters (pre release) sail alone into a cap circle and get evaporated in seconds. If Wargaming are using these peoples' feedback and performance as a guide, god help us. Igor did you get a brain? Yes its from Abby.....Abynormal. The Wargaming staff tell us we need to learn how to play them. So you've made a product that your customers hate?  Congratulation on making  the equivalent of a 2G phone with a 30 second battery life, that sometimes explodes. Well done, have a potato.

 

Is it us here in the UK? or the Europeans? Well I've looked on the other forums NA, SEA, and we all agree, they are weak rubbish. Congratulations, again, on uniting the world on this issue. Have another potato. (Turnip next time....oh joy)

 

I bought the Belfast, and I'm not that impressed really with the very few games I've had. Yes I can spot targets and hit them, but rack up good damage? Not yet, and that is the problem with the whole line, they can't deal real damage for the average player. Other lines can. Why play these ships? Damage=credits. Its the same crapas British Tanks in WoT, you have to be skilled to play them. So by insinuation you've just called your player base unskilled idiots because you made a bad product? Here have a turnip.

 

Lets face it you panicked, you tried to make a silk purse out of a pigs ear, by giving a few extra things, spotter, fighter, smoke, radar, hydo, but you can put lipstick on pig but its still not a high class hooker (some eastern European and central Asian states excepted).

 

I can only wonder what unique features these people will think up for RN battleships and carriers. I despair.

[soramirez]

Wanted to do a bit of philosophical/historical article about the complaints about the ships themselves (basically "do not blame us, blame designers, RN always built for budget and numbers") - maybe I would, later, but generally... Royal Navy cruisers are not usually renowned because of their technical qualities, but because of the feats of their crews - represented in game for example by the repair ability or by the ship handling. And, of course, by the players themselves.

 

 

I was entertaining the theory that this line was designed for the best players to brag about. Apparently I was right...

 

Jokes aside, this kinda reminds me what happened when the T-54 was launched in WOT, but in reverse: players complained that the T-54 was OP; WG made a guide on how to defeat it; problem persisted; ended up realizing it was really OP.

[rancidpunk]

We RN chaps weren't so technically restricted that we couldn't switch shell types!

 

Way back to the time of King Alfred founding the first standing Royal Navy we could choose between fire arrows, armour piercing arrows and even spears for close range

[damo74]

 

And quite what where Russian cruisers renowned for??????????????????

 

Never leaving port.

[_GrimLock__]

Well brexit couldnt happen during ww2 so ,they could had he shells ,they could afford them.

The ships have a really high skill cap,basically blink once ,youre dead.

A cruiser without He ,is meh.Btw have u seen even high tiers bbs players are shooting he nowadays)

The point is until t7 as i stated in other situation is like being in 50 shades of grey..you being the girl.

Was that hard to give an hibrid he ammo without fire chance.No fires from he.....really good .Now i can effect both heavy angled targets and broadside one.I dont need a pitifull fire raging onboard ,i just want the ability to deny a solid push ,if the bb charge bow on is quite hard to discourage them when all u get are bounces.U have torps ..nice ,nowadays german bbs with hydro are quite effective.

The point being they are ok and quite strong in the good hands of capable players,but neither i want to carry every single match because of players that maybe they just want to play the RN cruisers,they are fans etc.

Maybe listening to the players could help.The more the better after all whats competition is competition ,but lets not make all the ships mlg360 skill cap.