British Cruiser pain

[killminster]

I'm back after a long break and I'm playing RN cruisers because they're new and a novelty.

 

Up to the Emerald so far and I'm finding the AP terribly ineffectual against everything but lower tier and other RN ships. I'm failing to see any benefits to the design choice of not having HE other than ammo choice being one less thing to think about.

 

Also the MM does really suck but that seems like a new thing from whats already been said. There seems to be vastly more people playing BBs than I remember and this also adds to the frustration of the shell limitations.

 

I do like the Torpedoes and the individual firing, the speed and range are nice as well. The ships are quite maneuverable and fast but the lack of armour is killer, very unforgiving of any positional mistakes as turning and running usually requires showing your side to the enemy long enough for them to citadel you to ****.

 

I'll give it till tier 6 and see how it compares with the Cleveland.

[anonym_MfZ6T7iwWpUC]

I finally got fed up with Emerald and free-XPed the last 13k for Leander. That ship is just hopeless at current tier 5, with all the tier 6-7 battles and the BB invasion.

 

​It took me 20 games to go from the Emerald to the Leander (using flags, camo from crates etc), and I really enjoyed it. Didn't get stella stats in it but I had fun in it. 47% WR, almost a kill a game. Didn't survive many games I will grant you that. But a lot of fun (and some frustration) never the less. Only a couple of goes in the Leander so far, but it feels pretty nimble. Looks like it will float my boat (no pun intended). But I do understand why folks really don't like them.

[anonym_MfZ6T7iwWpUC]

Up to the Emerald so far and I'm finding the AP terribly ineffectual against everything but lower tier and other RN ships. I'm failing to see any benefits to the design choice of not having HE other than ammo choice being one less thing to think about.

 

I do like the Torpedoes and the individual firing, the speed and range are nice as well. The ships are quite maneuverable and fast but the lack of armour is killer, very unforgiving of any positional mistakes as turning and running usually requires showing your side to the enemy long enough for them to citadel you to ****.

 

The AP are pretty effective against DD's, and surprisingly against CA's (occasionally). I have sunk more DD's while in RN CL's than I ever have. And you are right about the Torps. But you do have to get a little too close to use them on anything big. But I have managed in a couple of times (Purely by accident, being in the wrong place at the wrong time).

[G01ngToxicCommand0]

 

​It took me 20 games to go from the Emerald to the Leander, and I really enjoyed it. Didn't get stella stats in it but I had fun in it. 47% WR, almost a kill a game. Didn't survive many games I will grant you that. But a lot of fun (and some frustration) never the less. Only a couple of goes in the Leander so far, but it feels pretty nimble. Looks like it will float my boat (no pun intended). But I do understand why folks really don't like them.

 

Leander is great just wait till you get to the Fiji, it is like it is detached from the ordinary gameplay it is that good.

[anonym_MfZ6T7iwWpUC]

 

Leander is great just wait till you get to the Fiji, it is like it is detached from the ordinary gameplay it is that good.

 

I suspect I will really like the Leander.

[voltaicgrunt]

 

I wish I could Don, but I cannot. But in previous threads I've made my position clear on what I think. The devs do not have to listen to Supertesters, they have their own agenda and make their own decisions, they take into account various factors, not just our feedback.

 

Hopefully, once they have stats on how these new ships are performing they will make some balancing changes

 

I hope they do not change anything. Danae playable. Emerald a total piece of rubbish. Only got Leander cos supercrate gave me 50K free XP or I would have abandoned it completely. Do not see why later players get to have an easy grind. Emerald is total dog turd, but I had to suffer it, so everyone else should also.

 

Change the RN cruisers now is

A- Admission they got it totally wrong and

B- A massive F@@K YOU to everyone who suffered through the line.

 

RN plays differently. If you don't like it play something else, plenty of variety.

 

If you do play RN, then every 12km citadel from a Gvevny reminds you that in the RN you need to keep a stiff upper lip, old chap.

 

 

[Kiwi1960]

Did not bother to read all the replies. To the OP I say this...

 

Harden up man!

 

Adapt or die... I drive the HMS Emerald, she is a nice boat, and routinely, on average, I sink three battleships per game if I'm lucky...

 

Never sail towards a battleship from the side, they will bring all guns to bear and decimate you. Use your brains...

 

Either do a sneak attack and fire torpedoes...  or charge it head on, at the last minute, turn and fire torpedoes.

 

The guns should only be used on fellow cruisers or destroyers.... and carriers, of course.

 

My number one complaint is total n00bs firing torpedoes from maximum plus range while I'm lining up a shot, I sink the target but get sunk by n00bs on my own team...

 

WORSE...they ram ME.... and I get fined... how hard is it for the server to tell who hit who and ONLY fine them?

 

Oh well, I hope this advice helps... in the mean time, I'm planning on videoing all my battles and shaming the culprit TKers on youtube.

 

The fines are pathetic.... the REAL Tkers who do it on purpose don;t care because they KNOW they won;t ever get banned.

 

[JapLance]

I drive the HMS Emerald, she is a nice boat, and routinely, on average, I sink three battleships per game if I'm lucky...

 

LOL... Prove it or I say this is [edited].

[mikelight1805]

Did not bother to read all the replies. To the OP I say this...

 

Harden up man!

 

Adapt or die... I drive the HMS Emerald, she is a nice boat, and routinely, on average, I sink three battleships per game if I'm lucky...

 

Never sail towards a battleship from the side, they will bring all guns to bear and decimate you. Use your brains...

 

Either do a sneak attack and fire torpedoes...  or charge it head on, at the last minute, turn and fire torpedoes.

 

The guns should only be used on fellow cruisers or destroyers.... and carriers, of course.

 

My number one complaint is total n00bs firing torpedoes from maximum plus range while I'm lining up a shot, I sink the target but get sunk by n00bs on my own team...

 

WORSE...they ram ME.... and I get fined... how hard is it for the server to tell who hit who and ONLY fine them?

 

Oh well, I hope this advice helps... in the mean time, I'm planning on videoing all my battles and shaming the culprit TKers on youtube.

 

The fines are pathetic.... the REAL Tkers who do it on purpose don;t care because they KNOW they won;t ever get banned.

 

 

PVE or PVP?

 

The reason i ask is that im an ok cruiser captain, and i could only sink multiple ships playing the Emerald on Co-Op whilst trying to work off a Pink from an Aoba coming between my torps and a close range Kongo, I found in Random battles people see the Emerald as a XP Pinata!

[ZandersMcGrooby]

@ kiwi1960. . . .like HELL you routinely sink 3 bbs in your Emerald games. I've just checked your stats bro, you're just straight up lying. I just don't understand your motivation for posting such an obvious piece of nonsense?  I'm actually genuinely intrigued. 

[daki]

 

PVE or PVP?

 

The reason i ask is that im an ok cruiser captain, and i could only sink multiple ships playing the Emerald on Co-Op whilst trying to work off a Pink from an Aoba coming between my torps and a close range Kongo, I found in Random battles people see the Emerald as a XP Pinata!

 

Indeed a lot of people do that (mistake).

However Emerald is strong enough to prove them wrong

The biggest issue of a lot of low tier RN captains (T1-T5) is that due to "expert feedback" from forums, reddit... (usually from those who have not even played RN) they:

1. Do not expect to do well

2. Due to above point usually do not even try to do well and make the necessary playstyle adjustment - just grind it as quickly as possible

3. Fail to do well thanks to self-fulfilling prophecy

4. Hence feel the grind as painful and unrewarding

 

Emerald, while far from being a top ship, imho is definitely not the worst one.

Its job is not to have most kills, most damage... it is rather to fight for objectives and control of cap points - and it can shine in that role.

 

Unfortunately, large part of WoWs community still cannot grow over the misconceptions that the most important things are damage, kills and survival (I call that WoT mentality ).

So my best advice is to fight close to caps, use any opportunity to cap/decap and do whatever damage and kills in the process (which can become significant depending on the situation).

As an example, while playing Emerald I managed to have on average 22% Contribution to Capture and 23% Contribution to Defense (i.e. % of cap/decap points out of the total for matches played).

By far it is the main reason why I managed to have a 60% WR in it, and still enjoyed the ride while it lasted, irrespective of definitely tough MM that T5s are facing

[daki]

@ kiwi1960. . . .like HELL you routinely sink 3 bbs in your Emerald games. I've just checked your stats bro, you're just straight up lying. I just don't understand your motivation for posting such an obvious piece of nonsense?  I'm actually genuinely intrigued. 

 

To play the devil's advocate here, he did point out "I sink three battleships per game if I'm lucky...".

When you look at it that way, I can even safely say for myself that when I am extremely lucky, I get in such games Krakens most of the time, more than 2k base XP....

[ZandersMcGrooby]

 

To play the devil's advocate here, he did point out "I sink three battleships per game if I'm lucky...".

When you look at it that way, I can even safely say for myself that when I am extremely lucky, I get in such games Krakens most of the time, more than 2k base XP....

 

No, he said 'routinely' ie repetitively. 

 

But the bottom line is he doesn't even own the Emerald. He has no stats on the RN cruisers. So he's just flat out talking shite. 

[anonym_MfZ6T7iwWpUC]

 

No, he said 'routinely' ie repetitively. 

 

But the bottom line is he doesn't even own the Emerald. He has no stats on the RN cruisers. So he's just flat out talking shite. 

Well lets face it, he wouldnt be the first person to come on these forums and spout BS, trying to make themselves out to be the god of naval warfare.

[killminster]

 

The AP are pretty effective against DD's, and surprisingly against CA's (occasionally). I have sunk more DD's while in RN CL's than I ever have. And you are right about the Torps. But you do have to get a little too close to use them on anything big. But I have managed in a couple of times (Purely by accident, being in the wrong place at the wrong time).

 

Yes, I think up until the Emerald the AP was fine but facing tier 6 and 7 ships just nope, garbage. Like i already said there seems to be a crazy amount of German BBs at the moment.

 

However I've just unlocked the Leander and it seem like a massive improvement, the AP is much more satisfactory, feels like a much more competitive ship after just a couple of battles.

 

Looks like the Emerald is the proverbial turd in the punch bowl of the RN cruiser line.

[CPL_Sivi]

I'm almost done with Emerald and I do have decent and terrible battles with it.

Destroyer/Cruiser heavy MM and I'm quite reliabley pumping out 40-55k damage and couple kills.

Battleship heavy MM I'm pretty happy if I get 15k damage, assuming I have decided to try to stay alive.

How ever there has been few relatively successfull "Kamikaze" attacks, where I dish out +60K damage, but have failed to escape from the strike, as only reliable way to get reasonable damage is torpedo strike from relatively close range.

Then again I have died more often on these kamikaze runs, than successfully killed the ship I'm going for, so I have decided to go on those runs only when the situation is really desperate.

 

So far the "excellent rocochet angle" seems to be that if I shoot my full broadside at Dunkerque sailing broadside towards me, my full salvo results more often than not with less than 1000 damage done and 4 bounces, (For this example is was me shooting over an island and it was not exactly plunging fire but still relatively steeply falling, (Dont remember exact distance but around 9-10 km)

I put at least 16 salvos on it, and the result was 6-7k damage. and at the time it was only target I could shoot withuot moving, and exposing my self to 3-4 other enemy ships, or showing my broadside to the said BB.

With Furutaka, Omaha, or Koenigsberg I would have dished out at least 15k on that Dunkerque, + it would most likely have been left burning due HE ammo, Kirov might hve had issues due it's very flat shell arc.

 

How ever still dont like to call it a "bad" ship, And I'm not really tecnicly calling out HE ammo either,

How about adding HE damage to the current ammo, with 0 fire chance, and no way to rise it from there (Demo expert does not affect)

Therefore we would have an ammo that would damage if it happens to hit, The damage would be very minor, but at least it's damage, and has a chance of penetration on light armor (We know that you can allready citadel with HE ammo on some ships)

 

By comparoson of my ships how ever, My survival chance, and win rate among the T5 cruisers is higest on emerald, How ever damage is lowest excluding Omaha, but Omaha was 5th ship that I ever had, so I'd guess my experience here is helping me. and at the same time "showing" Emerald as superior ship. How ever compared to the Omaha for example, That's experience from 3000 battles that is talking, not superior ship.

 

I dont exactly understand Emerald trashing in earlier posts and i seem to be a minority here. Danae was a hard grind but i find emerald much more playable than danae. My stats are not amazing at all but i manage to play that ship effectivly in more than 50% of fights. 52% to be exact. She kills BBs, DDs and CAs. I just have 20 something games with it but it shows a lot of promise. Just last game i found myself badly out of position vs 3 enemy ships. Myoko Colorado and Nurny came all after me seeing an easy kill i guess. Popped smoke and waited them out, Colorado i saw first and let him come to 3km and then i dashed forward already switched to torps. Sailed right between them launching starboard side at Colo, port at Myoko and firing guns at Nurn. 16 torps launched and 11 hits killing both tier7s and sustaining 15k dmg myself. Myoko did it, colo never had a chance tracking me. Kept firing guns at nurn but his single shell killed my engines and i was left dead in a watter. A bit of luck on his part. He torped me but i got 15k dmg on him aswell and got his engines too. My teammates finished him off but emerald actualy broke entire flank, cleared a path for a dd to brake behind enemy lines killing CV and a BB and the game was over. 85k dmg in 60 seconds of actual fighting. Not many cruisers can do that. The way i play this thing is actualy like a torp platform. I use guns only when my tubes are reloading or if i have a soft broadside target. Keeping outta sight to survive long enough to deliver torp runs. 8 torps per side is Hindenburg strong, u can oneshot any t7 BB at full HP just dont launch them too early. Even Colo with OP torp protection sinks if u hit him well. Nagato i also oneshoted the game before that. Smoke is great asset when u have no land cover. Just use it smart. I also got deleted in emerald more than once from salvos accross the map but it was my fault not ships. Every time i was in tunnel vision chasing dds away and got instakilled. But if she can take on two tier7 boats and not just win it but survive to tell the tale i must call her a good ship. No matter what other ppl say. I did notice that all of complaints come about her guns. I guess that those ppl dont use much torps because they are "situational" weapons or "defense" weapons. By the angles of the tubes u can conclude that they are designed as attack weapons. Use them that way. Dont go suicide, but choose the time of attack, make enemy play under ur terms and Emerald can realy shine. 

[Pete_SB]

The British cruisers are like marmite, love or hate. After the awesome Black Swan, things went a bit down hill. started spending free exp to get through them, then grinding the Emerald to the Leander.

The Leander at first I didn't like, then it clicked, the playstyle became at one with me. The Leander is a keeper and the mighty Fiji will for ever be in my dock.

 

You know them awful British cruisers at lower tiers? Well, I also have an NA account and decided to play through them knowing what I know now. They are great ships, it's just so far outside the box for your normal HE cruiser spam that they are almost a different class.

 

Play them, and get into the mindset of them, you will really enjoy them.

[Admiral_H_Nelson]

The British cruisers are like marmite, love or hate. After the awesome Black Swan, things went a bit down hill. started spending free exp to get through them, then grinding the Emerald to the Leander.

The Leander at first I didn't like, then it clicked, the playstyle became at one with me. The Leander is a keeper and the mighty Fiji will for ever be in my dock.

 

You know them awful British cruisers at lower tiers? Well, I also have an NA account and decided to play through them knowing what I know now. They are great ships, it's just so far outside the box for your normal HE cruiser spam that they are almost a different class.

 

Play them, and get into the mindset of them, you will really enjoy them.

 

"Love or hate" is a bit strong IMHO. I would rather say "The British cruisers are like marmite, you will either enjoy them a lot or not enjoy them at all".

 

I am only at Leander but already feel that it is a strong ship. I feel that Danae and Emerald are maligned ships and strong in the right hands (not mine).

 

You are absolutely right that "they are almost a different class". Many have remarked upon them being almost a hybrid DD/Cruiser ship.

 

"Play them, and get into the mindset of them, you will really enjoy them." I am 100% sure that you are right. Problem is that i can't. It's probably because I don't like destroyers, and the similarity of much of the play, quite frankly, grates on me.

 

But respect to you for your success in RN cruisers , and I am pleased that after my initial fears about the RN cruiser line that it appears to be a good one - just not one that i personally like to play.

 

EDIT. Here's a weird thing. I bought the Belfast and mess around in co-op with this ship. I am pretty mediocre TBH ....but LOVE playing the ship! (Go figure, as the Americans say)

[NightLord_Talos]

I'm really enjoying the Royal Navy Cruisers. Having now HE was strange at first, but once you get used to it, it's fine.

Tier 1-5 are nothing special, but was able to have some nice games in them.

 

Tier 6 is certainly where things start to get good with the Leander. Recently unlocked the FIJI and well, I think I'm in love. The ships is awesome. I'd much rather be in my FIJI going up against a BB, then in my York, Pensacola, Myoko, or even my Mogami. I've found it's much easier not to get hit in the Royal Navy cruisers over cruisers from other nations. Rapid course adjustments and changes in speed, both of which the British Cruisers do better than anyone. Just requires a different play style that's all. No point having Vanilla ships which are all the same from one Nation to the other.

 

Worth remembering that a BB's repair party will heal most of the damage done by HE fires, but it doesn't get as much health back from AP damage. Keep the BB's outside your detection circle, then open fire and just keep firing. If they take an interest in you, stop firing, dodge and drop out of detection, rinse and repeat. If you can't keep them out of your detection circle or being spotted by aircraft of other ship, pop smoke, get behind island, or just keep dodging, weaving while also making speed adjustments.

 

I've had some epic games in the FIJI since I've had it. Got a Kraken unleashed last night, and very next game got myself 4 kills, including an ambush kill on an Atago who thought he was going to take out our Carrier. Oh you think you are going to come around this island and kill a helpless Carrier.... well have some torpedoes and numerous rapid firing volleys, which will get the odd citadel... oh I appear to have sunk your ship, so sad. Yeah I'm a bit battered now but repair parties are patching me up, and Ruling the waves I shall go. Rule Brittania!!!

[Blitzkrieguk]

Pair of spicy games.

 

[killminster]

HOly crap, the Fiji is amazing.

 

For anyone going through the pain, this makes it all worth it. The guns utterly beast any destroyers and lower tier cruisers. I deleted an Emerald at close range, about 7.5 km, in 3 broadside salvos, felt quite guilty. There's now enough guns to also start racking up decent amounts of damage against BB superstructures.

 

My best advice for anyone playing up this line is not to be first in, always let your team makes spot and get shot at first, then take your chances while the enemy is distracted.

 

 

[CPL_Sivi]

Hardly wait to get the fiji. I have Leander now and it comes a bit dissapointing after that crazy emerald. Main complain is crippled torp power on which i relied very much with emerald. 4 torps per side is weak for my gameplay. Guns are much better than Emmy but i miss my torps so much it doesnt compensate. Guess i will have to go in guns blazing with Leander which i kinda avoided on early tiers cause of long range instant death from a bb. I do hope they fixed torps with Fiji. Otherwise i kinda enjoy new line. Its different, refreshing and fun when u have just a bit of RNG luck to avoid getting cited. And i am generaly Kriegsmarine fan.