Absentee Advancement

I haven't been spending too much time with Armored Warfare recently, since another game I am playing is also currently running a mission, but with a much smaller window for completion (or the attempt to do so). As for Storyline Campaign Part 2, I still have a surplus of time (compared to the other game) to achieve the 1000 Gold reward for the PvE Hard portion.

Over the past few days and on the side, I have been collecting the login bonus and catching up on any news that interests me from the main portal (and nothing much to speak of there).

However, I did squeeze in one battle, but the volume of the captured gameplay is incredibly quiet. Not sure what happened during the latest Nvidia ShadowPlay update and I tried every adjustment I could think of to improve the sound levels during editing.

Still, it's watchable, if you lean in close, or turn your volume up....

Solo in the Sand

No sooner does my son return to Armored Warfare that he is gone, again.

This time, it's Summer Camp to blame, so I hope that he is looking forward to playing with his "old man" when he returns, after telling the family about his adventures and good times.

In his absence, I am getting myself back on track to collect the forty PvE Hard victories in the tier VII M1A1 Abrams for the Storyline Campaign reward of 1,000 Gold.

Out Tiered and Out Gunned

Another adventure with me and my son in Armored Warfare. This time, I am platooned in a tier IV Puma at the bottom of the list, while a tier VIII C1 Ariete takes the top spot. Add to that, the deadly encounter all happens on Erebos....

A Dynamic Duo Returns?

Quite some time ago, my son came to the conclusion that he lost enough interest in Armored Warfare to uninstall it from his computer, despite my short spending spree on him during the Christmas season. Now, many months later, he made the decision to give it another try, after all the updates and changes that have come since then.

Here is our first battle together....

Going for Gold, I Suposse

Episode 2 of the Storyline Campaign, named "Monsters," has been launched in Armored Warfare!

First, I got an email about the event, then I checked out the details on the main website. Even with some truly rare prizes (namely the premiums tier V T-64AV Hunter and the tier IX B1 Centauro 120 Wolf Tank Destroyer, or the Gold payout for those who already own one/both of them), I wonder if PvP and Global Operations will be revitalized enough for players to stand a chance at collecting those.

Not to sound like I am taking the "easy road," but I think I will pass on the first two (recently got the T-72AV Ice which covers me at tier V and already have the Centauro 120 Wolf from a while back) and make my attempt with the 40 battles in PvE. My decision is based on real world timing (work, family time, alien invasions, etc) and realistic completion potential (PvE has been a lot more stable with having people in the NA queue than the other two game modes, but even those numbers have been dropping this past while).

However, just like Part 1 of the Storyline Campaign, this next chapter has restrictions on the assets that have be used before those actions are counted for progress towards the prizes. Since I used the tier VI M1 Abrams last time, might as well put other things on hold and make the attempt with the next vehicle inline.

How quickly I forgot Hard was much different than Medium, especially without upgrades....

Much Ado about Nothing

Noting really much to say about Armored Warfare. Other than slowly progressing up (when there are enough people on to join a battle, even PvE numbers in queue have been going down), I managed to collect all the extra bonus rewards for this week. Despite some issues others posted about on the forums, I experienced no problems redeeming the new daily prizes.

No Russian the Progress

Progress through the tier VIII T-90A has been a very slow venture. 

Armored Warfare, much like other games that use a similar model for advancement, allows for fairly rapid gains in the lower tiers/levels, headway slows slightly in the mid tiers/levels, then becomes a snail race in the upper tiers/levels.

While bonus events do help speed things up a little, it's still going to be a long tour to my goal. It was once said "it's not so much the destination, but the journey" and while this is mostly true, things have gotten a wee bit stale.

It has been quite a while since there was new progression vehicles added to the game and the last two maps, Watchdog and Raiding Party, are already "old news." Events, like Mercenary Showdown and the current Storyline Campaign do add a little something in an attempt to spice things up, but technical issues and slow support to correct these measures overshadow the original intent of the ideas.

Still, I load up and bang out a battle or two, continuing up the line towards my original goal....

Port d'appel

Last year on Bastille Day, Armored Warfare offered a special bundle package. This year, not so much.

In the year between, the tier VIII premium AMX 10 RCR French Tank Destroyer was added to the game as an everyday available Gold purchase. The blue livery, special occasion variant, has made sporadic appearances along the way.

Previous to Update 0.19, this was my top tiered, premium machine and I was having a lot of fun with it. It didn't drive like any other wheeled vehicle and the cannon was a delight, when it made contact with enemy forces. After Update 0.19, the Terminator Reaper was moved up from tier VI to VIII and slowly replaced this French offering as my new "go to" vehicle for bigger reputation and credit payout potential. Plus, the Terminator had more weapons options and could take a lot more punishment over the thin skinned AMX.

However, I decided to take my old French favorite out for a spin, been a while since the last round of changes....

A Quick Blurb about Bastille Day

Not much going on today on my end (at least, with the tracked/wheeled variety), however there is a Bastille Day bonus taking place in Armored Warfare, read more here.

A Bonus to the Bonus

Starting today and for a limited time, Armored Warfare has substantially increased the login bonus rewards. Offered as a prelude to upcoming Update 0.21, be sure to check out the specifics here.

With the Day 6 reward being the premium tier III Type 59-IIA Legend (or 500 Gold if already collected from a previous opportunity), I thought I would load up mine and see just how well I would fare.

This is how it all went down....

Resort Resistance

Of all the tier VI premiums I own in Armored Warfare, the Chinese WZ-1224 is at the top of my list.

This prototype, never mass produced vehicle, has proven it's worth time and time again, with very good reputation and credit returns. Tough, surprisingly agile for it's class and tier and fairly dependable damage output against targets. In comparison to my top tier VII pick, the Challenger 1 Wolf, the WZ-1224 is slightly faster all round, giving up some armor to accomplish this.

Couple this vehicle with the map Watchdog, I decided to change up things, breaking an old developed pattern on how I usually deploy and engage....

The Seven Contender

There are some that don't like Armored Warfare's introduction of certain edition premium vehicles, since all they really are repackaged dealer tree assets with increased reputation and credit modifiers. Some have even posted about how they have flooded the market this past while, with their wild liveries and high bundle prices.

Honestly, I don't mind some of them (others, I have no interesting in acquiring), since I know there are a cost/time saving way to get a quick batch of assets into the game, without the long development and testing periods required to create something from scratch.

Another benefit to this option is testing them, before laying out real world money to buy one. Because they are clones of the very same dealer tree vehicles, one could take a non-premium version into a live battle and get a much better feel on how they perform and their battle returns. Sure, some might make the case about being available on test servers, but those same folks could forget to mention the "subject to change" clause, before being released to the public. And others don't like the Battle Hardened option, wanting to stand out in the crowd.

For example, if I was interested in picking up the gawdly decorated, premium tier VII T-80U Shark Edition, how would I know what it performed like, short of reading a review written by somebody else, or watch a gameplay video or two?

The answer is pretty simple....

The Seven Benchmark

Aside from the continuing Campaign Storyline in Armored Warfare, one of my plans going forward is to collect up all the Gold I can, through the daily logins and other opportunities, for a big purchase around Christmas. Parking another tier VII premium Main Battle Tank in my garage will be the result of that lengthy venture.

Although I already have the formidable Challenger 1 Wolf, having a stablemate could come in handy for extra credit generation, or even a special mission calling on something I would like to use for some mid-tier action. I have scratched the Merkava IID from my list, I don't think that is the vehicle I am looking for.

I haven't never hidden the fact I like the Soviet/Russian T-Series tanks. I cut my teeth with the T-72, as interpreted in other games and the version in Armored Warfare carries on my expectations on how I believe this vehicle can and should perform.

As of right now, there are two candidates that have piqued my interest, the gawdly decorated T-80U Shark (identical to the dealer tree offering, with a boost to reputation and credit earnings) and the recently added Object 187 (which nearly mirrors the current attributes of the dealer version T-90). In reality, both vehicles are decedents of the T-72 design and in the game itself, both are special, limited time purchases.

Based on current and sporadic availability, one of these two will be the best choice for me, unless something else comes along to beat the praises I have read concerning these vehicles, or top this recent performance....

Collection on the Campaign Day

With Episode 1 of Armored Warfare's Storyline Campaign now over, the results of those who completed the offered tasks have been posted here. On the upside, for those who didn't have the time or other issues on recruiting Fyodor Sokolov, there is a way to buy him (and a certain female Irish commander) through this limited time offer. And, for a little bonus action (albeit with restrictions) check this out.

Despite not sitting down and playing for countless hours on end and putting my own personal/professional life unnecessarily on hold, I am pleased with the results and rewards I have earned from this event. Although I will not do so well with the Main Event activities and collect the mysterious, high tiered reward vehicle at the very end, I can more than live with these side events and claim those prizes instead.

At any rate, time to start the training of the new commander....

Tipping the hat to the American neighbors

If you live in the lower 48, north in Alaska, enjoying the sun in Hawaii or other places of business and/or pleasure, Happy Independence Day!

Considering I haven't advanced very far up an American line (except for the tier VIII M3A2 Bradley, but I wasn't getting a good vibe to use that), I went with the tier VI XM1 Abrams prototype, originally built by Chrysler Defense, as my vehicle of choice for this pseudo-special Armored Warfare battle....

As a bonus, I get to have my own little celebratory event, by completing the last battle required for the newest commander to be added to the game, Fyodor Sokolov.

The Dragon's Last Breath....For Now

It's the end of the Chinese road in Armored Warfare with this final battle in the tier VII Type 98 Main Battle Tank. Other than some future sorties with the premium tier VI WZ-1224, nothing more than a long wait for new/previously announced vehicles to be added to Zhang Feng's offerings.

Sand Cat (wrong time of year for Snow)

To those of you who were born and still live north of the 49th parallel, or moved on to other lands around the world, Happy Canada Day!

Currently, Armored Warfare is running a little special in celebration of Canada's Birthday (turning 150 years old!) and America's Independence Day (coming in at 241 years old, still looking good!). Read more of those details here.

In my own celebratory way, I hauled the storage covers off my tier X Leopard 2AX, applied my free Canada flag and queued up for a battle. Although I had hopped for a snowscape map, I guess a little summer sand wouldn't be so bad....