Battleship players: what is your problem? Why won't you tank?

[Kazeshiki]

had a game today where the enemy capped 3 points and the BBs refused to move, while we died 1 by 1. game ended in less than 10 mins.

[Nightdare]

 

Gneisenau doesn't have hydro, why would it be better vs DD's then a Colorado? Colorado turns good and has a heavier broadside, it's not really worse then Gneisenau at close range...

 

more HP, torpedoes for area denial/forcing heading, faster reload, faster turret rotation, less overpens, better secondaries and though not more manoeuvrable, at least able to try and get away from an engagement

[mtm78]

 

more HP, torpedoes for area denial/forcing heading, faster reload, faster turret rotation, less overpens, better secondaries and though not more manoeuvrable, at least able to try and get away from an engagement

 

That's a bit ' broad ' when the initial claim was that it's only better vs dd's

[Nightdare]

 

That's a bit ' broad ' when the initial claim was that it's only better vs dd's

 

Are you saying these aren't advantages when facing a DD threat?

(I already left out the turtle armor better fit for close range engagements since DD's guns aren't the biggest problem at close range)

[mtm78]

 

Are you saying these aren't advantages when facing a DD threat?

(I already left out the turtle armor better fit for close range engagements since DD's guns aren't the biggest problem at close range)

 

Running away as benefit for engaging DD's I meant  

 

Also, I maybe been torped by a German BB three or four times... so imho that's a mute point. DD getting torped is either yolo or naab ( I been both so meh ). But you can can lock headings and do area denial stuff which makes it easier to hit. Secondaries are also more powerful. But that bearing lock and stuff is for suicide rush DD's, I don't need to be in 6km to torp a Gneisenau which doesn't have hydro and might not have vigilance either. 

 

Turret traverse might be quicker but Gneisenau has six guns. Colorado has a lot more. I can dodge Gneisenau salvo a lot easier ( Trolorado having lol spread actually works in it's favor in these engagements ). 

 

It's those guns I fear, not the secondaries. Close range USN BB with it's turret pointing the right way is often direct way to port. But, yeah if his turrets are in the wrong direction even if I get spotted it's not a big deal as his sec.

 

Either way, you're talking like BB's to go in and actually spot the enemy DD's. That's not a BB's job, certainly not those without hydro. Gneisenau is the odd duck in the line imo, if you said Bis or Scharn I think no one would object

[MadMac392]

I had 6 games in the Iowa yesterday and lost them all, I was on the Front line with DD and CL but as soon as the fighting started they ran away and left me to tank with no support. That's why BB don't like to help out. You ask BB to help on the front line but will not give support. I have 3 Tier 8 BB's US/IJN/Ger and 1 Tier 9 Iowa and only need the cash for the German tier 9 all setup for close range (The NC/Iowa is AA). I'm wrong if I do help and wrong if I camp So I give up helping and play my game now.

[rising_uk]

I think there are a couple of major problems.

1) Many still don't appear to understand the roles of their ships. Can't be bothered to read the forums or watch the innumerable videos about such stuff.

2) Many appear to think themselves naval strategists of high repute as such they don't do the obvious when spawned, i.e. go where their squadron has placed them and stick with the squad they've been assigned with. Now I'm not saying one shouldn't show some brains but at the start you should initially do the obvious task that you've been assigned and make contact with the enemy, then and only then do you alter your strategy based upon the info from the mini-map which if all the other squads have done the same will give a fairly complete picture of the battlefield and relative enemy positions.

3) Many don't seem to understand the basic churn/circle pattern of engagement - so dd's lead, cruisers behind for cover, bbs follow covering them, given the relative speeds it seems obvious that all should adjust to keep sane distances. If dds enage and its too hot then peel off backwards, cruisers take the brunt then do the same, bbs follow-up and take the brunt which by this time the dd's should be back up with them to take over again, rinse and repeat. Simple tactics that no-one follows.

4) Follow your dds. They might be idiots going to the wrong place but you need them.

 

I well understand how this is difficult to do given the individualistic nature of Random. I guess this is why despite the complaints about Ranked most reasonable players look forward to it as in general most appear to understand the idea of team-play and their respective roles.

 

With respect to the OP - I tank when I know my dds and cruisers will support me and that's obvious right from the beginning by their initial movements. Otherwise it's just a hiding for nothing and high tier bbs cost. Although I agree in the lower tiers theres too much sniping but that because of 1).

 

Just my two cents.

 

[Todger_Fairmile]

Torpedoes.

[mtm78]

Torpedoes. lack off skill

 

ftfy

 

edit: ^^ doesn't only apply to the BB player but also to the guys who should support him  

[Culiacan_Mexico]

...You ask BB to help on the front line but will not give support...  ...That's why BB don't like to help out...

Do you find camping fun?

[rising_uk]

Do you find camping fun?

 

Only slightly more than finding yourself alone and getting trashed.

[MadMac392]

Do you find camping fun?

 

Yes now. when you see CL and DD run as soon as they see a DD or BB and at tier 9 its no skill torp walls

[Culiacan_Mexico]

 

Only slightly more than finding yourself alone and getting trashed.

So why play BBs?

[Culiacan_Mexico]

 

Yes now. when you see CL and DD run as soon as they see a DD or BB and at tier 9 its no skill torp walls

 

Why are the DDs running?

[mtm78]

 

Yes now. when you see CL and DD run as soon as they see a DD or BB and at tier 9 its no skill torp walls

 

Show us your tier 9 no skill torp walls ships?

[BillydSquid]

I had 6 games in the Iowa yesterday and lost them all, I was on the Front line with DD and CL but as soon as the fighting started they ran away and left me to tank with no support. That's why BB don't like to help out. You ask BB to help on the front line but will not give support. I have 3 Tier 8 BB's US/IJN/Ger and 1 Tier 9 Iowa and only need the cash for the German tier 9 all setup for close range (The NC/Iowa is AA). I'm wrong if I do help and wrong if I camp So I give up helping and play my game now.

 

The impetus is on you knowing when to pull back and slowdown, so you don't get isolated and sunk, that's the difference between the good BB players and the bad ones, the good ones know when and where to commit, the bad sit at the back being useless or yolo charge every game and get wrecked then rage about no support. Of course, everyone gets it wrong from time to time, but by and large you can predict the tide of battle in one area and position yourself to prevent over exposure or cross torping. 

 

CAs. CLs aren't suicidal, I've had games where BBs have pissed and moaned that I should stop hiding in smoke or dodging behind islands and fight, yeah, I'm going to engage a t10 BB in open water in a Neptune with no cover at 9km, kek, bloody ridiculous. 

[rising_uk]

So why play BBs?

 

I play most classes but I like BBs and generally have no issue with tanking and getting sunk, just not when I have no support. Not fun being thrashed when you can't see enemy due to DD not spotting for you.

[rising_uk]

 

CAs. CLs aren't suicidal, I've had games where BBs have pissed and moaned that I should stop hiding in smoke or dodging behind islands and fight, yeah, I'm going to engage a t10 BB in open water in a Neptune with no cover at 9km, kek, bloody ridiculous. 

 

They are idiots and that's from a BB player who is on the RN CL grind(pain!!)

[Nightdare]

The impetus is on you knowing when to pull back and slowdown, so you don't get isolated and sunk, that's the difference between the good BB players and the bad ones, the good ones know when and where to commit, the bad sit at the back being useless or yolo charge every game and get wrecked then rage about no support. Of course, everyone gets it wrong from time to time, but by and large you can predict the tide of battle in one area and position yourself to prevent over exposure or cross torping. 

 

CAs. CLs aren't suicidal, I've had games where BBs have pissed and moaned that I should stop hiding in smoke or dodging behind islands and fight, yeah, I'm going to engage a t10 BB in open water in a Neptune with no cover at 9km, kek, bloody ridiculous. 

 

So, BB's should learn to play so you can hide behind islands and make more credits than them?

"yeah, keep them busy and do 15k damage, while I'm farming credits with 90K torpedo hits"

[Zathras_Grimm]

 

So, BB's should learn to play so you can hide behind islands and make more credits than them?

"yeah, keep them busy and do 15k damage, while I'm farming credits with 90K torpedo hits"

 

Don't think he said that! He's pretty much saying 'use your head and read the battle'. What's the point of him showing himself if he dies quickly?

 

 

He stated he used smoke or dodged behind islands both indicating he is doing this because he is under fire from the enemy or at the least engaging the enemy. Remember the other classes don't have the pool of HP and numerous health buttons to keep them alive; they have to use their brains. If you use yours I'm sure you would last longer too.

[mtm78]

 

So, BB's should learn to play so you can hide behind islands and make more credits than them?

"yeah, keep them busy and do 15k damage, while I'm farming credits with 90K torpedo hits"

 

Are you Thinder's alt account?

[BillydSquid]

 

So, BB's should learn to play so you can hide behind islands and make more credits than them?

"yeah, keep them busy and do 15k damage, while I'm farming credits with 90K torpedo hits"

 

If you play your class well you should have no trouble earning enough credits. The Kurfurst and Yamato have absolutely no trouble wrecking anything which comes in range of their secondaries and bouncing 75% of the shells aimed at them when angled. I have both, I know this is the case. 

 

I take it you've never played RN CLs before? They're made of tissue paper and children's tears, if you give any opening and the enemy takes advantage, you die. Over exposed, you die, get spotted at close range with no cover or smoke, you die. 

 

They are possibly the hardest, but most satisfying cruiser line I've played as your entire game play is balanced on the edge of a knife, screw up and you're likely going to die, be over cautious your 15km range and high arcing shells means you'll do nothing at all. 

[Culiacan_Mexico]

 

I play most classes but I like BBs and generally have no issue with tanking and getting sunk, just not when I have no support. Not fun being thrashed when you can't see enemy due to DD not spotting for you.

 

Can I infer that while you may not get support you desire, it doesn't happen often enough that you wish to stop playing BBs?

[BillydSquid]

 

They are idiots and that's from a BB player who is on the RN CL grind(pain!!)

 

They get better, a lot better and the grind is worth it.  The first few tiers are really bad, but once you hit the Leander they get better, the Fiji is good, and the Emerald is even better. The Neptune is more fragile than the Emerald, but the sheer volume of AP shells you can unleash with the reload mod is insane. They have even better torpedoes and great AA. The Neptune and Minotaur are absolutely terrifying when played well and can stack a crazy amount of damage on BBs or melt DDs in seconds, have excellent maneuverability, fast turret traverse and an incredibly rate of fire, good concealment and decent speed. The skill changes has also made it easier to get concealment and survivability expert which is very important to survive. 

 

But, playing them you're always on the edge of your seat,  it's like dancing on the edge of a knife, one mistake is likely to get you killed.

[rising_uk]

 

Can I infer that while you may not get support you desire, it doesn't happen often enough that you wish to stop playing BBs?

 

Not really, what you can infer is that I love sinking cruisers and battling with other bbs regardless of support or if I get sunk. Most of all I love winning over everything else so I frequently get trashed and have low damage score but think in my own modest way I generally play for the team. Can't tell you the amount of times I'm the flank defender with maybe one cruiser or dd in support - a thankless task but often saves the game for the win I think. So thanks to those who stay with me.