RDF is double edged sword

[FaceFisted]

Take care if you take RDF because it may not be as "good" as people are whining that it is. I am considering removing it from all but RU and possibly US DD's. This is why: when you stalk a target, even if they don't have RDF, you will alert them of your presence. 

 

Exactly this happened to me today - AS soon as I got near to enemies where nearest one changed, he was alerted to me and immediately started to change direction. He didn't have RDF.

 

So, in a sense, RDF ruins stealth DD play if you have it as a skill. 

 

It seems that only DD hunters should use this skill. 

[EsaTuunanen]

So, in a sense, RDF ruins stealth DD play if you have it as a skill. 

 

It seems that only DD hunters should use this skill. 

It was never meant as buff to DDs against BBs.

It's purpose is to mess all that stealthy flanking/capping action...

Effectively buffing BBs because DDs spend more time fighting each others/running from someone with it and less time putting torps into sides of BBs.

[FaceFisted]

You misunderstood me - I was talking about situation where you as a DD have RDF and opponent doesn't. Your skill will alert them that you are near them, which will in turn influence them to respond somehow.

 

This is ultimate trolling skill. Somehow, it just made a mess out of the game, without improving anything. Maybe I am wrong, but we'll see soon enough.

[Aotearas]

 

It seems that only DD hunters should use this skill. 

 

RU DDs in particular are most likely to profit from using that skill.

 

Previously the major balancing factor against their superiour gun DPM was the poor detectability which gave other DDs the chance to evade them, or at least discourage them from trying to find you since it means exposing themselves to the enemy in the time it takes them to try and sniff you out.

 

Now though ... use 'Radio Location' in your captain, slap on those Sierra Mike signal flags, hit that Engine Boost and just beeline it towards the nearest ship (which is almost guaranteed to be a DD once the game has progressed enough to account for other ship classes in the immediate vicinity) at ~50 knots speed. Even with much worse detectability (assuming the RU DD is not using CE skill, but rather AFT for better utility in ranged fights against cruisers and harassing BBs), it doesn't take you more than a couple seconds to close the difference in detectability if you can just steer straight for the bearing indicator at ludicrous speed. And once you barreled right into spotting range, you simply murderize the living daylights out of the poor sod, then speeddemon your way out of the hotzone away from any hostile onlookers with your ludicrous speed.

 

Might be a bit of a gamble if that prospective target can be another RU DD or a US DD player who knows how to lead his freedom mortars to a RU DD going at Warp 9, but IJN DDs? They just get steamrolled. Not sure how KM DDs would fare since I have pretty limited experience with and against them yet.

 

 

Which is about the only positive thing I could say about that RL captain skill. Then again I would also argue this could serve better in the game as a RU DD exclusive consumable (like IJN gets the torpedo reload booster).

[malaquey]

You misunderstood me - I was talking about situation where you as a DD have RDF and opponent doesn't. Your skill will alert them that you are near them, which will in turn influence them to respond somehow.

 

This is ultimate trolling skill. Somehow, it just made a mess out of the game, without improving anything. Maybe I am wrong, but we'll see soon enough.

 

It doesn't tell you who is detecting you though. Maybe you could work it out sometimes but most players wont do that so beyond an "I'm spotted" sense they won't be able to counter play you. They could easily run into you by accident as much as they run away. I think this will depend on how popular it is though. If ONLY DDs take it then it could be quite give away but if everyone and their mother is using it then it won't have an effect.

[Akula971]

I've put it on my Kamikaze, and it has proved very useful in finding other destroyers, and yes it has screwed up a few stealth torpedo attacks, as my target knew that he was detected by an unseen ship and changed course rapidly. it has happened quite a few times with ships turning tail and running, making it impossible to torpedo them. But it does spook a lot of destroyers, who seem to be concerned that they are "detected" when in actual fact they are not, just that a ship with RDF is close by. As a result it seems to pre-occupy them in trying to get un detected. 

[Babykim]

But I guess you can also try to use this skill to hide from enemy in 1-1 or end-game scenarios. Just drive in the opposite direction.

[The_Great_SCH]

I've tested it, and got to the same coclusion. The only DD i kept it on is the Shiratsuyu, because 16 torps in the right direction early game can hit the enemy hard. I am experimenting with different sills (note that not a single captain has 19 points) but Adrenaline Rush an USN DD's... dayum. Torp, flood, spam, repeat. Now how will a BB feel more 'helped' if he has RL and knows i'm in a smoke? 

 

And another thing, RL helps more when in open water. But using the torps in the right time at the right island, no skill will help them. 

 

Also, I try not to knife fight DD's early game, rather than keep them spotted so they flee or get rekt and i can go and move on with my business.

[AndyTheCupid]

I put it on my Fletcher and has been immensely useful (in 3 battles). On my Shima it's been useless. So yes, agree, and will most likely remove it from IJN DDs.

[FaceFisted]

Some of you got it.

 

Good IJN captain will always come danger close to enemies in order to torp them. Those are usually lemming trains where nearest target can change a lot. If you are playing in Kamikaze or Shinonome, on that tiers rarely anyone has RDF skill, which will result in alerting those players that something is not right. This is the situation where having this skill is counterproductive since they will be like "OMG I'm spotted!  I better change direction." 

 

So in order to enjoy mid tier game, it is better not to have this skill on your IJN captain. If enemy DD captain has that skill, you will be notified that you are located if he is near, so you can correct your course. If he was spotted earlier, you will know from which direction he may come because of map marker. Either way, you will see them before they see you, so you can again smoke up, lure them in smoke to  torp them etc.

 

As I said - this skill is not that great.

[Dropman12]

Take care if you take RDF because it may not be as "good" as people are whining that it is. I am considering removing it from all but RU and possibly US DD's. This is why: when you stalk a target, even if they don't have RDF, you will alert them of your presence.

 

Exactly this happened to me today - AS soon as I got near to enemies where nearest one changed, he was alerted to me and immediately started to change direction. He didn't have RDF.

 

So, in a sense, RDF ruins stealth DD play if you have it as a skill.

 

It seems that only DD hunters should use this skill.

 

There is something Im missing - if BB is alerted, what does it mean to him? Given the fact it has cca 15km spoting range it means any CA/CL/DD is present...which is same information you have from sixth sence. You always know if there is something around even prior this patch...you dont know if it isnt ship 14 km away, right? So whats the difference? Im trying to use WASD hack regulary when spoted, this changes nothing...

[FaceFisted]

Dropman, if you have to ask this it seems that you are not experinced DD captain. ;) read again what I just wrote in message #10

[Lieut_Gruber]

Dropman, if you have to ask this it seems that you are not experinced DD captain. ;) read again what I just wrote in message #10

 

Seems to me he has a point, RL doesnt say anything about the distance. So seeing you are RL'd might as well be by a BB far in the back, or a CA halfway. Only if the DD flanks it will be obvious.

[Eviscerador]

I'm testing it in the Benson, and I think I will scrap it. It never gave me any information that I didn't know already.

 

It is a waste of 4 points to be honest. SI or BFT are still much more useful.

 

Concerning that Russian DD going warp 9 chasing you, in case that happens it is easy, just smoke up and let him close. Then it is all about skill. Russian DD don't want to be close.

[FaceFisted]

 

Seems to me he has a point, RL doesnt say anything about the distance. So seeing you are RL'd might as well be by a BB far in the back, or a CA halfway. Only if the DD flanks it will be obvious.

 

In a general sense - no, it doesn't. But anyone from a lemming train, who is not completely retarded, will see that he is located and not the ship in front of him who is closer to general direction of enemy fleet. All of this happened to me already. As soon as I get so close that they become located, they start to turn. Because of it, now I can't rely on that torp aim direction, but instead I have to use my crystal ball and fire torps there in order to hit turning ship.

 

This skill is pure BS. It should be turned into a time limited consumable for everyone that has unlocked it.

[Raziel_Walker]

The only captains I have with enough points to take this skill are my IJN DD, took this skill so I knew what direction to flee in.

[moomoo2]

 

In a general sense - no, it doesn't. But anyone from a lemming train, who is not completely retarded, will see that he is located and not the ship in front of him who is closer to general direction of enemy fleet. All of this happened to me already. As soon as I get so close that they become located, they start to turn. Because of it, now I can't rely on that torp aim direction, but instead I have to use my crystal ball and fire torps there in order to hit turning ship.

 

This skill is pure BS. It should be turned into a time limited consumable for everyone that has unlocked it.

You're upset that people can now avoid your walls of torps, causing you to think about what you're doing? Don't really see a problem with it in that sense.

[Spellfire40]

Exactly this happened to me today - AS soon as I got near to enemies where nearest one changed, he was alerted to me and immediately started to change direction. He didn't have RDF.

And what impact does he have to the game as soon as he is marked If he just run away? Can he cap or torp especally when all but shima and Gearing cat hit anything beond 10km? 

[albinbino]

RDF is waste of 4 valuable points. Much better skills out there to take.

[Eviscerador]

RDF is waste of 4 valuable points. Much better skills out there to take.

 

Exactly my thoughts.

[FaceFisted]

RDF is waste of 4 valuable points. Much better skills out there to take.

 

We all know that, but let's stick to the topic which is - RDF can be used against you if you have it.

[Hedgehog1963]

You misunderstood me - I was talking about situation where you as a DD have RDF and opponent doesn't. Your skill will alert them that you are near them, which will in turn influence them to respond somehow.

 

This is ultimate trolling skill. Somehow, it just made a mess out of the game, without improving anything. Maybe I am wrong, but we'll see soon enough.

 

It is still better to know, even though they know you know.

 

Hunted down two IJN DDS in Gremyashchiy last night in the same game. Knew exactly where to sail into a large smoke cloud.  Their knowing doesn't save them because of my speed - they can't escape. Neither were pointing their guns at me as I discovered them.

[Panocek]

I test skill on Benson, as "benchmark" for USN DDs and frankly, only useful part is dumping torps into smoke, when owner of said smoke isn't moving out. I guess I'll eventually dump it in favor of 4 tier 3 skills - BFT, TAE, SE and Vigilance.

 

On receiving end, it was hilarious to "block" someone RPF by sailing in front of the fleet in Kiev, with guns blazing

[Dropman12]

Dropman, if you have to ask this it seems that you are not experinced DD captain. ;) read again what I just wrote in message #10

 

lWell honestly I dont care how do I look like. All im trying to do is to be constructive and use brain before making conclusion. Which is kinda rare here, especially during past few days.

 

And I understood your point. You maybe missed mine - yes, In case of convoy formation first ship is able to estimate position of nearest enemy ship. Which basically means you have 180° area of potential danger. If there are more ships, you can get better guess. But still - what does it mean? Would you run away? Enemy ship win. Would you stay at course? Nothing changed. Would you change your course randomly? Well thats what you should do anyway. So what changed to me?

 

 

So yes, Im mainly CA skipper. But lets be objective here - it gives you some information. Any information is valuable, no doubt. But how important is it? If I meet competent BB skipper in my DD I have very little chance to torp him anyway. If he knows about me, he can easily avoid torps. He knows my position after seeing where torps come from. He should expect approtiate position of enemy DD, its not like DD jump on you from nowhere. He knows danger is present very soon - if he is spoted but enemy ship doesnt open fire, it must be DD...so...

[creamgravy]

It was hilarious to "block" someone RPF by sailing in front of the fleet in Kiev, with guns blazing

 

Your just telling them there's no hidden ships close by, critical information for any stealthy ship.

 

I feel a bit naked when sailing a ship without this new wall hack now. Just use it for information and don't try and force the whole 'it's good for DD hunting' aspect, it'll save you a ton of HP.

Still practising the art of the blind torp, most sets are massively underestimated. Although I completely wrecked a DD Spee sneaking into a cap and a DD shinny horse trying to flank around some islands.