RPF - anyone using it?

[loppantorkel]

After the whole uproar over this skill.. I see it now and then, but infrequently. It doesn't appear to make much of a difference. I think I perform better without it in Fletcher and Benson, but I'm undecided on Gearing.

 

Who uses it? On which ships is it a clear benefit? Are you still very upset over its inclusion? Which ships can't you perform well in anymore due to RPF? Does it need to go? Are there any improvements in the current meta due to it? If the game could be expanded - larger maps or new gametypes - would you reconsider your position on it?

 

Posting in this thread won't count as a signature for any petitions, but can and will be used against you in the court of law, if necessary.

[tenacious_torps]

IJN DDs pretty much have to take it, because you're toast, when whatever's hunting you has it. High tier US DDs will probably get the most out of the skill, because of their hybrid nature it works for them on offense and defense. Where's my IJN breakfast and is there somebody potentially spoiling my torp run? Nerfs the line that could have done with a buff, buffs the line that surely didn't need it. 

 

Switching to BBs and cruisers counters the whole mess pretty hard though. You'd barely notice it's even in the game, if not for the reduced amount of DDs around and the timid behavior of the remaining ones. 

[Sarmanil]

Only have it on Gearing and NO currently, rest of my USN captains are to low level. Will get it on Benson and Fletcher and every damn radar boat (maybe not des moin when I can get myself to grind through baltimore when the buffs hit) I get.

 

Don't really want to use wallhack's, but I feel kinda pushed into it. It never should have been implemented in the first place. Feels dirty and cheap everytime you screw someone over just by having this perk.

 

Sad panda

[RUSSIANBlAS]

It might just be me but there feels like there are far less DDs around at mid tiers these days. It's about the same at higher ones.

 

With USN and IJN DDs, RDF is my second 4th level skill. It's not really something i feel i can pass up. Pointless trying to stealth when you've already been figured out by another. You need to at least level the playing field.

 

Annoying thing is without RDF the new skill tree would have been nice, things like CE and that CV 1+ plane would no longer be skills only an exclusive few had...

[Mayv]

Mostly use it on RU DDs. Making them great DD hunters.

[Unintentional_submarine]

It might just be me but there feels like there are far less DDs around at mid tiers these days. It's about the same at higher ones.

 

With USN and IJN DDs, RDF is my second 4th level skill. It's not really something i feel i can pass up. Pointless trying to stealth when you've already been figured out by another. You need to at least level the playing field.

 

Annoying thing is without RDF the new skill tree would have been nice, things like CE and that CV 1+ plane would no longer be skills only an exclusive few had...

 

Pretty much my conclusion too. It just seems like a DD captain skill tax to me.

If only DDs have to take it, it is hard to claim it isn't a nerf to DDs.

[RUSSIANBlAS]

 

Pretty much my conclusion too. It just seems like a DD captain skill tax to me.

If only DDs have to take it, it is hard to claim it isn't a nerf to DDs.

 

I laugh at WGs claims they wanted to move away from essential skills.

 

So for DDs they've made 14 point captains compulsory rather than the old 15.

 

Thanks guys 

[FallenOrchid]

Since the patch I didn't play that much DD (not because of RPF); around 20-30 matches with DD and not all using RPF so my sample size is small.

My feeling is it (sometimes) gives information players shouldn't have that easy. Example: Map with four caps (can't remember the name) where D is cut off by two island with a small way to C. I was at C (Mahan), enemies visible on map at A/B, RPF shows nearest enemy at B. Easy cap (without RPF I might get surprised by a DD with better conceilment or a CA sneaking around the corner) and even more easy to cap also D. And, bonus, I told my team to concentrate on A/B because no enemy was close to C/D. Of course, only one example which won't happen too often but I think even this is too much.

For US DD hunting other more stealth DD it is very useful (I think too useful, for me it seems to brake the balance between them), you know where to expect torps from and where to aim your guns when going after them. It is no "auto kill" but it makes it much easier to get IJN DD into a corner and kill them. Therefor RPF is also useful for stealth DD so they can see where a hunter come from to be able to get out early enough.

[dasCKD]

It's on my Zao. No real point on my other ships.

[RenamedUser_92906789]

I dont take it. Did have it ... forgot to even look at it 80% of all times.

[tenacious_torps]

Just realized I didn't really answer OP's question: Yes, I use the skill on most IJN and US DDs, just that I very quickly felt inclined to not use those ships anymore. Just not that much fun anymore. 

[RUSSIANBlAS]

Let's see how this season of Ranked goes shall we?

 

Previous seasons you'd see a lone DD running rings around remaining enemies and cappping/torping. But now they'll be hunted down. Not even sure if that's a good thing, quite a jarring way to close the DD Ranked meta. But I'll wait and see.

[Mayv]

Let's see how this season of Ranked goes shall we?

 

Previous seasons you'd see a lone DD running rings around remaining enemies and cappping/torping. But now they'll be hunted down. Not even sure if that's a good thing, quite a jarring way to close the DD Ranked meta. But I'll wait and see.

 

DDs will probably be a lot more cautious this ranked season anyway if the forecasted amount of Belfasts show up.

[Ubertron_X]

Use it on my German DD captain (currently Z-23, later Z-46), one of my US DD captains (currently Farragut but will move to Fletcher or Gearing once I have the T6 premium IJN DD) and my RN CL captain (Neptune, later Minotaur). Don't use it on Khabarovsk (not a dedicated captain and I need other skills in order to fully utilize Gremy and Lenin), Shimakaze and Benson.

 

Conclusion so far:

 

Its not auto-win game breaking (in random!) as often the information provided does not help you much (for example you cant solo chase an enemy DD into a cruiser or battleship even if you know where he is). It is annoying to play against in a DD (but not the end of the world). I found it a good synergy to hydro capable and/or fast ships.

 

RDF can help enforce wins, but I only had a couple of games so far where RPF notably caused the win. For the last one I was teamed up with a cruiser who had it and who could point my 48kt Lenin in the direction of several 'lone-wolf' IJN DD who tried to flank / out-cap us.

[tenacious_torps]

 

DDs will probably be a lot more cautious this ranked season anyway if the forecasted amount of Belfasts show up.

 

... plus Atlanta and Indi. In order of threat to DDs, but still. The combination of in general worse concealment and more ships with radar compared to last season on top of RDF will have an effect. More cautious and probably also fewer DDs, despite there being so many to choose from at tier 7, is my prediction.  In randoms it's already the case - if confirmation bias isn't playing some trick on me. I've had quite a few games in RN cruisers at tier 7, where I basically ended up doing a DDs job, because either there weren't any to begin with or the few still bothering were rather quickly disposed of. Again, maybe a bit of distorted perception due to being seriously p.o.ed about the whole mess, but... well... 

[Ferry_25]

Tried it twice then got rid of it forever. Waste of points IMO. Got into 1 situation so far when I was flanked and ate a wall of skill. Which was my own fault. If I'd bother to check the MM I could easily have avoided that.

[JaiFoh]

I only have it on my Cleveland Cpt as during the secret santa in december i got the Indianapolis so took her out for a few battles and TBH hated her so stopped grinding the US cruisers, but loving the Cleveland i have kept her. 

Questioning the value of it TBH as i have only gotten use once when i ambushed a DD in the A cap on fault line and then turned my guns to AP along the broadside of 3 cruisers pushing past A, Citadel city. 

 

I see it once every half a dozen battles or so 

[loppantorkel]

Use it on my German DD captain (currently Z-23, later Z-46), one of my US DD captains (currently Farragut but will move to Fletcher or Gearing once I have the T6 premium IJN DD) and my RN CL captain (Neptune, later Minotaur). Don't use it on Khabarovsk (not a dedicated captain and I need other skills in order to fully utilize Gremy and Lenin), Shimakaze and Benson.

 

Conclusion so far:

 

Its not auto-win game breaking (in random!) as often the information provided does not help you much (for example you cant solo chase an enemy DD into a cruiser or battleship even if you know where he is). It is annoying to play against in a DD (but not the end of the world). I found it a good synergy to hydro capable and/or fast ships.

 

RDF can help enforce wins, but I only had a couple of games so far where RPF notably caused the win. For the last one I was teamed up with a cruiser who had it and who could point my 48kt Lenin in the direction of several 'lone-wolf' IJN DD who tried to flank / out-cap us.

I wonder if the German dds aren't the ones who benefit the most from RPF. RPF with the combination of reasonably low detectability, smoke and hydro seems suited for them.

Just realized I didn't really answer OP's question: Yes, I use the skill on most IJN and US DDs, just that I very quickly felt inclined to not use those ships anymore. Just not that much fun anymore. 

US dds seem viable without RPF... Some may find it useful, but they're perfectly good without. ..andmore fun without, I think.

[Altsak]

On all of my t7+ DDs. IJN, RU and US. Would use it at lower tier but their captains aren't skilled enough.

 

Invaluable during early cap contests. Somewhat loses and/or changes utility later in the game.

[tenacious_torps]

I wonder if the German dds aren't the ones who benefit the most from RPF. RPF with the combination of reasonably low detectability, smoke and hydro seems suited for them.

US dds seem viable without RPF... Some may find it useful, but they're perfectly good without. ..andmore fun without, I think.

 

Probably valid point on German DDs there, yet I'm unlikely to ever find out. I simply don't see the attraction of the line past the low tiers. 

 

As for US, probably depends a lot on what role you're prioritizing. For a DD hunter it's just too much valuable information, if you emphasize the general damage dealing capabilities you're probably right. Anyway, for me it was just one nerf too many, for the moment I've fallen out of love with DDs a bit and will continue to largely take a break from them. Well, apart from the Clemson for some innocent seal-clubbing, but I'm even somewhat fed up with the Fujin right now. Yes, I could slap some high tier captain on her and just abuse the crap out of the ship, but it's just not the same anymore. 

[Iron_Gekko]

stopped playing aggressive DDs since the patch, now my entire DD play centers more around support where there is lower risk.

[loppantorkel]

 

Probably valid point on German DDs there, yet I'm unlikely to ever find out. I simply don't see the attraction of the line past the low tiers. 

 

As for US, probably depends a lot on what role you're prioritizing. For a DD hunter it's just too much valuable information, if you emphasize the general damage dealing capabilities you're probably right. Anyway, for me it was just one nerf too many, for the moment I've fallen out of love with DDs a bit and will continue to largely take a break from them. Well, apart from the Clemson for some innocent seal-clubbing, but I'm even somewhat fed up with the Fujin right now. Yes, I could slap some high tier captain on her and just abuse the crap out of the ship, but it's just not the same anymore. 

I'm not sure dd hunting is more effective with RPF. The best thing to happen upon early in the game is an IJN dd. With RPF those are likely to run away, without it - not so much.

[tenacious_torps]

I'm not sure dd hunting is more effective with RPF. The best thing to happen upon early in the game is an IJN dd. With RPF those are likely to run away, without it - not so much.

 

Which likely results in an uncontested cap, nothing to scoff at from a playing the objectives perspective. Maybe I shouldn't have used the term DD hunter there, DD counter is probably more to the point. No fun also is. But since I must assume the same skill on the prey... If he knows from where I'm coming for him, I need to know where he's running to. Vicious circle, pointless exercise. And quite the same from the other perspective. Anyway, one part of the OP's question was if we notice any change in the meta and that is something we seem to agree on: DDs tend to run away a lot more, if and when the skills around. Yay, more passive play. I dare say people in general tend to fall into habits. And there's your change to the meta. 

[loppantorkel]

 

...

Anyway, one part of the OP's question was if we notice any change in the meta and that is something we seem to agree on: DDs tend to run away a lot more, if and when the skills around. Yay, more passive play. I dare say people in general tend to fall into habits. And there's your change to the meta. 

But I barely see RPF in the game and when I do, I'm usually located because I'm the closest. I don't know who's got it but if it's a khaba or a cruiser, I'll see them. If it's a IJD dd or a US dd, I may have to pay a bit more attention to torp walls, but that's usually something you need to look out for anyway, otherwise it's the same routine as it used to be when spotting eachother.

I don't see much change in the meta of high tier. As many dds around as it used to be. All nations. I haven't noticed people are more passive than before. IJN dds and RU dds refused to cap fairly often before RPF also.

 

I didn't enjoy using RPF that much, it felt like it drew attention from more fun elements. I'm not sure if it's worth 4p. For some it may be. I'm still saving points on my captains if I decide it's worth the 4 points. I'd like to see it removed, unless WG is planning something where it's needed, but it doesn't affect me much if I just don't use it.

[NoirLotus]

I have RPF on Yugumo, Zao, Benson & Fiji.

 

On DDs, it's really mandatory to defend yourself against enemy DDs with RPF. It also have some nice advantages, like allowing you to make some moves that would be normally risky but the skill allows you to know that there will be no opposition where you will go.

 

Sometimes, I notice that enemy DDs don't dare to contest cap with me and stay away just because they have the indication that they are located.

 

On my Fiji, I managed to kill some T8 DDs that did no mistakes but I could predict their moves thanks to the skill (and even warn my platoonmates of where torps will be coming).

 

So yeah, the skill is not a killer in random, but it gives a real advantage and is really mandatory on a lot of ships. In RB, I fear it will give something ugly, especially in Epicenter. And let's just not talk about future clan wars or Team Battles, as this skill just removes any interest in these modes ...