Wallet Warrior's Christmas Quandary: Which tier VII BB for upcoming Operation Narai?

[FixCVs_Nautical_Metaphor]

Hi,

I'm not a very good player and have accepted the fact I'll have to blow some coin to be able to play the upcoming tier VII Operation Narai more often. But I don't want to overdo it. But still.

 

Currently, I have an Atlanta (which always got blowed up immediately in "Ultimate Frontier" ;-) and recently a Yorck.

So three (battleship) options:

- Buy a Scharnhorst;

- Convert doubloons and get a Gneisenau;

- Convert doubloons and get a Nelson.

 

OR I could buy an Indianapolis, which could use my spare American 10-point captain, and have some change left for an Akatsuki, Błyskawica, or even a Leningrad which could use my spare 8- or 10-point Soviet captain. But I already have two tier-VII cruisers, no BBs, and although I generally like playing DDs in random battles, I didn't really enjoy the last two tier-VI operations in them.

So...?

[rvfharrier]

I would say to buy a ship for random battles, not just for operations, since they're what you'll spend almost all of your time doing ingame.

 

However, I could never in good conscience recommend someone against buying a Scharnhorst!

[philjd]

If you are committed to 'spending something' - then you should go for the Scharnhorst - it offers a much more flexible play style and in the right hands is very effective (even the lesser skilled hands also).

 

Edit - you can also use the Scharn' to train your KM BB drivers, so not a stand alone purchase, but a supportive one.

[__Helmut_Kohl__]

Battleships are easier to play in Scenarios, so don't go cruiser or destroyer. 

 

Nagato and Gneisenau would be good picks, but before you convert XP for silver ships, you can just get the Scharnhorst, which is a good premium ship. 

Nelson is supposed to be fun, but a bit expensive when converting. 

[Exocet6951]

I found on the PT server that the KGV works beautifully.

The guns are perfect for the mass of lower tier ships you have to fight, the speed is enough to get ahead of the convoy, and more importantly, the heal allows you to survive ridiculous amounts of enemy fire. The AA is also enough to keep you somewhat afe from DBs.
Bonus points, if you're going brawling, which you should, the secondaries work pretty well against the unarmored auxillary ships.

[FixCVs_Nautical_Metaphor]

Vor 13 Minuten, Exocet6951 sagte:

I found on the PT server that the KGV works beautifully.

 

No doubt, but that would mean crawling up all the way through the RN tech tree, which I've not even begun, whereas in the German branch, I'm already up at tier-VI Bayern.

 

Haven't done the sums but it feels like that would be even more expensive than the Nelson, which would come to some 50 Euros.

[__Helmut_Kohl__]

Just grind the Gneisenau then, it is not that hard. Or use FXP if you don't like the Bayern. 

[FallOutBoi]

If you just need a ship for this Operation, take your Yorck. It is extreme strong in this Mission. Just press W and shoot HE at DD, AP at cruisers and yolo the Missouri with your torps and your AA is not bad either. It was great fun with this ship on PTS. 3 games and 227k avergae damage and two times 5 stars. And if you just want a T VII BB why not wait ? Chances are high that we can get KGV clone for free. BUt if I had to choose, I would take the Scharnhorst. No doubt.

[Exocet6951]

1 minute ago, Nautical_Metaphor said:

 

No doubt, but that would mean crawling up all the way through the RN tech tree, which I've not even begun, whereas in the German branch, I'm already up at tier-VI Bayern.

 

Haven't done the sums but it feels like that would be even more expensive than the Nelson, which would come to some 50 Euros.

Of course, it really depends on what you currently have.

The Nelson might work, but it's really a hit or miss ship in terms of taste, which is the reason I haven't gotten her yet, as the Missouri is a safer (and more lucrative) ship.
Back on topic though, what really sets the RN BBs above all else in operations is that heal and forgiving armor scheme.

Having a Scharnhorst is very probably as very safe bet as well, judging by the Gneisenau's performance in the operation, but it really lacks that staying power.


But a others said, the Yorck's multipurpose weapons on this operation is a solid pick, and the anemic shell velocity doesn't come in play when most targets are within poking distance of a somewhat long stick.

[bushwacker001]

Don't buy a ship if it's just for the scenario....a lot of money wasted just to win probably few flags, a module or two and a premium day. Just grind the Gneisenau.

 

edit - and possibly just one battle!

[T0byJug]

3 minutes ago, bushwacker001 said:

Don't buy a ship if it's just for the scenario....a lot of money wasted just to win probably few flags, a module or two and a premium day. 

This

However...... It looks like you are grinding up the German BB lines. As others have said Scharnhorst is a very strong ship. A captain trainer for German BBs as you are playing them is not a bad idea. Scharnhorst is cheaper and has lower tier MM than the Tirpitz..

 

BUT don't be silly and buy now.. Wait till next week there is always a chance of some sort of sale over Xmas. After all Operation Narai wont be active before Thursday at the Earliest anyway. If there is an offer on tier 7 prems its normaly 30% off. I think Scharnhorst can be bought in game... (I have had  her  since she was first released so cant tell)

[Miessa3]

Don't rush out to buy a ship just for the scenario. It won't go anywhere. Even if you don't have people to division with to manualy slot that mission, the "operation of the week" just keep on rotating. You can just wait for the next week Narai is operation of the week again when you have a fitting ship and complete it then.

I found Gneisenau a strong pick for Narai in PTS as you can give monstrous AAA cover for the escorted fleet.

Though if you are really interested in grinding the KM BBs Scharnhorst is a strong pick for a new Premium ship. She is on of the best premium BBs Tier for Tier you can pick up when it comes to versatility.

And like Toby said I would wait for the inevitable discount on Tier VII premiumships near xmas.

[principat121]

[creamgravy]

Free grind to Gneisenau or DoY!

[lup3s]

6 hours ago, _Helmut_Kohl_ said:

Battleships are easier to play in Scenarios, so don't go cruiser or destroyer. 

 

Nagato and Gneisenau would be good picks, but before you convert XP for silver ships, you can just get the Scharnhorst, which is a good premium ship. 

Nelson is supposed to be fun, but a bit expensive when converting. 

 

Cruisers have the most impact though (after CVs).

[Spunyarn]

Nelson might work well in "Operation Narai"; has a superheal, her 16" guns would be good against the Battleships, and her slower top speed doesn't matter as much when you need to stay fairly close to the transports. Her AA is not great though and there are quite a lot of air attacks to repel.

 

So I'd say Scharnhorst, especially if my guess that she'll be the required ship for the "easy" tasks in the North Cape Campaign (rather than Tirpitz as on the PTS) is correct. That way you'll get a fun ship that is also excellent for killing the AA cruisers in operation "Ultimate Frontier" and more easily earn the Duke of York (which was shown and stated as the reward for North Cape), which will give you a KGV class ship without going up the Royal Navy Battleship line.

 

[__Helmut_Kohl__]

59 minutes ago, lup3s said:

Cruisers have the most impact though (after CVs).

 

Well that depends on the mission I guess.

It can be really useful to have a BB flank and quickly delete a certain group of ships. 

Also BBs are more durable.

 

But I am not that keen on the whole scenario thing anyway.

[pzkpfwv1d]

I generally play a battleship for the Scenarios, Dunkerque for T6 and probably a British Battleship for T7, (I have a choice, Nelson, Hood or KGV in British)

[FixCVs_Nautical_Metaphor]

Am 15.12.2017 um 23:06, pzkpfwv1d sagte:

I generally play a battleship for the Scenarios, Dunkerque for T6 and probably a British Battleship for T7, (I have a choice, Nelson, Hood or KGV in British)

Yeah I wonder why nobody brought up HMS Hood before, which I completely forgot about since she's not available in the premium shop. Somehow I had it stuck in the back of my head she was classed as a cruiser ;-)

 

I've ground the Bayern and unlocked Gneisenau by now, and am definitely gonna get her, but she doesn't seem to be the best choice for my lack of skill playstyle... unwieldy, with the longest rudder shift time and second-largest turning circle of the conceivable alternatives. (I am probably never going any further up the German BB tech tree than Bismarck. Anything after that seems plain ridiculously oversized.)

Also, few guns. I'm a terrible shot and usually fare better with something more shotgunny.

Somehow, Hood seems basically like a fast Bayern on steroids, and after that grind, the Bayern  at least feels fairly comfortable.

But Nelson has even more guns and it seems you don't need to give so much broadside to get all of them on target. And she may be slow but otherwise seems to handle great.

So the main reason Gneisenau currently looks good is because she's 'free'. Which she isn't, she costs time, which is the most valuable resource of all.

Still and all, some great advice in this thread, so thank you all!

[aboomination]

This operation can be 5 star'd with any ship...it's all about awareness and positioning.

(1) Atlanta is a great ship cause of the immediate CV threat and all the cover you can lob shells over.

(2) Also your team will appreciate the radar from time to time cause those bot DD actually use their smoke.

(3) Ofc going balls deep early will achieve little. Be close to your brawlers but don't be the center of attention.

(4) Profit

 

On PTR I 5 star'd this operation with Nagato (2nd line), full AA Gneisenau (controlled aggression), full secondary Gneisenau (full ham).

Keep in mind that there's not much sailing involved in this scenario. So US BB are also a viable option.

[Ryouzanpakku]

36 minutes ago, Nautical_Metaphor said:

So the main reason Gneisenau currently looks good is because she's 'free'. Which she isn't, she costs time, which is the most valuable resource of all.

Still and all, some great advice in this thread, so thank you all!

 

Why are you planning to use Gneisenau in stock configuration? :D

 

Anyway - for scenarios I seems to be most successful with cruisers - versatility is quite rewarded in these. I have however not tried Narai yet.

[FixCVs_Nautical_Metaphor]

Vor 14 Minuten, Ryouzanpakku sagte:

 

Why are you planning to use Gneisenau in stock configuration? :D

A fair point, I totally overlooked the steering gear upgrade. Something must be wrong with my brain. I also constantly keep forgetting I have torpedoes when driving certain cruisers...

 

Also added length. Turns out Hood is the biggest target and Nelson the smallest.

 

 

[triumphgt6]

You are basically where I was 7000 battles ago. My advice looking at your stats would be:

 

1. Stop playing the Atlanta - it is not easy and is difficult to hit things at any range at all even for someone who is a good shot. It is also made from paper and as soon as you shoot, everyone shoots you. Hold onto it and wait till you get better (and you will!)

2. You do better in battleships and cruisers than destroyers so play something you are good at and enjoy yourself. At your stage, I had similar rotten stats - I too had an Atlanta in which I truly stank, and although hilarious to play, I let myself and my team down. I went back to the St Louis, a forgiving cruiser with lots of guns and learned how to aim. It lets you make mistakes and not die, and this is very helpful. And once you can aim, the game becomes a lt better!

I played 1000 games in her and although I am no unicum, I have a 54.5% win rate and rising. I play Tier 7 mainly as it is the most fun.

3. If you must get a premium Tier 7, the Scharnhorst is very good - I do have her by mistake - I actually meant to buy her for a friend but accidentally got her for myself and then had to buy one for him too! Don't like battleships really so don't play her.

[Gojuadorai]

Whatever you do DO NOT BUY the Indianapolis

[FixCVs_Nautical_Metaphor]

I can't stop playing Atlanta as she is my cash cow m) more or less the only ship that regularly yields upwards of 100k credits, no matter how much I suck.

Also on most days, I enjoy playing destroyers the most in random battles. I do basically always die, maybe because I started out in German destroyers which reward suicidal tactics. But more often than not, before dying, I do two to three times my own hitpoints' worth of damage in them.