I was a little surprised when I checked out the Armored Warfare portal this morning....
....seems my little project here got noticed https://aw.my.com/us/news/general/community-highlight-pt5
Thanks!
Monday, 14 December 2015
Fifteen minutes of fame
....seems my little project here got noticed https://aw.my.com/us/news/general/community-highlight-pt5
Sunday, 13 December 2015
That welcome gift that keeps on giving
One accepted business practice has been to give new customers a little token incentive to try their product or service out. Like opening a bank account for a free calendar or receiving a discount, just because you are a first timer.
As I have stated before elsewhere, I had been on the fence about trying Armored Warfare, for the longest time. I read the reviews and saw the odd video, but with two other tank games on the go, I just couldn't justify adding a third one to my gaming rotation. Although I did put my name in, on a whim, for early access during the Closed Beta period in May, I never did follow it up and forgot about it. Then, just a short while ago, during the Remember Our Veterans event https://aw.my.com/us/news/general/remember-our-veterans involving the tier III T-62 Veteran giveaway, I paused and reconsidered my decision.
I figured, why not, downloaded the client and the fun has never stopped. Sure, there have been some real frustrating events happen, from time to time, but the rest of this adventure has been a pure blast. All in part to my little carrot that brought me here.
While I have stuck mostly in the PvE mode, I have ventured out into the PvP arena. There, is where most of the frustration lies. I see names from World of Tanks, both players and certain clans I remember, prowling around, establishing themselves for when the time is right. I have watched how they play, looking for exploits and advantages, testing out strategies based on maps and assets. They are gearing up for the end game content.
Honestly, that's what the more competitive players due, especially when they are organized in clans, groups, clubs, battalions, etc. However, as a more of a causal player myself, I can spot what they are up to, since in PvP, I have been on the receiving end of this more organized teamplay as few times now.
However, back in the more carefree PvE environment, the good times continue, building up credits, testing out assets, honing my virtual tanking skills against varying levels of difficulty from my artificial opponents. Most importantly, I am having fun. Sadly, it would seem this concept has either been lost or forcibly denied by those who are choosing to play on a different level.
The upside, I still see some out there that haven't allowed that to happen to them, yet.
I figured, why not, downloaded the client and the fun has never stopped. Sure, there have been some real frustrating events happen, from time to time, but the rest of this adventure has been a pure blast. All in part to my little carrot that brought me here.
While I have stuck mostly in the PvE mode, I have ventured out into the PvP arena. There, is where most of the frustration lies. I see names from World of Tanks, both players and certain clans I remember, prowling around, establishing themselves for when the time is right. I have watched how they play, looking for exploits and advantages, testing out strategies based on maps and assets. They are gearing up for the end game content.
Honestly, that's what the more competitive players due, especially when they are organized in clans, groups, clubs, battalions, etc. However, as a more of a causal player myself, I can spot what they are up to, since in PvP, I have been on the receiving end of this more organized teamplay as few times now.
However, back in the more carefree PvE environment, the good times continue, building up credits, testing out assets, honing my virtual tanking skills against varying levels of difficulty from my artificial opponents. Most importantly, I am having fun. Sadly, it would seem this concept has either been lost or forcibly denied by those who are choosing to play on a different level.
The upside, I still see some out there that haven't allowed that to happen to them, yet.
Saturday, 12 December 2015
That old saying of a few bad apples
Some would say it's human nature to judge a Community as whole, based on the negative actions of a few individuals. Perhaps, this could be true and become the accepted norm these days, but it doesn't have to be this way. The same could be said for magnifying a person's mistakes and/or poor choices, ridiculing them into shame based on ignorance or the circumstance behind their decision.
I can remember, long ago when the World of Tanks forums was a much friendlier place. New and established players could ask questions and get reasonable answers. Sure, there might be a few playful jabs thrown back in forth, but there was a certain degree of esprit de corps among the virtual tankers there. I am not exactly sure where this was lost over the years....
Case in point....
On the WOT/NA forums, I came across this topic http://forum.worldoftanks.com/index.php?/topic/476643-kv-5-i-hear-is-really-bad-true/ and took a chance to take part in the conversation. I posted the above picture, with the intent of showing a player's rage of getting removed from the game, thanks to a below average player in a KV-5. I was trying to show the tank is mostly hit-and-miss in my hands, but hoped it might start a thinking process for much better players to consider picking one up for themselves.
Then, it started. Some players looked past the intent of the screenshot and went looking for what they wanted to find; ammunition for shame and ridicule. I have seen this before, players have posted screenshots and/or replays, in the past and up to modern times, asking for help, advice or have their gameplay critiqued. More often than not, that question is ignored, by some and door gets opened for other things to get discussed, usually not in the players best positive interest.
This has lead to the reputation the forum has earned, from around this real and virtual world. Sad really, that so few have ruined it for so many, for so long and it still continues.
Just like the example above.
Despite the fact, seen very clearly in the screenshot, I collected two kills, the most for the team I was on at the time, certain people became focused on the fact I had a camouflage net and binoculars equipped on this heavy tank. My elephant picture and caption was my response to that, but it was mostly ignored and no doubt, the ridicule will continue in my absence.
To be perfectly fair, I can still spot those good apples in the barrel, who can see the picture, for what it's worth and the intent behind it.
Thanks, no really, thanks.
I can remember, long ago when the World of Tanks forums was a much friendlier place. New and established players could ask questions and get reasonable answers. Sure, there might be a few playful jabs thrown back in forth, but there was a certain degree of esprit de corps among the virtual tankers there. I am not exactly sure where this was lost over the years....
Case in point....
Then, it started. Some players looked past the intent of the screenshot and went looking for what they wanted to find; ammunition for shame and ridicule. I have seen this before, players have posted screenshots and/or replays, in the past and up to modern times, asking for help, advice or have their gameplay critiqued. More often than not, that question is ignored, by some and door gets opened for other things to get discussed, usually not in the players best positive interest.
This has lead to the reputation the forum has earned, from around this real and virtual world. Sad really, that so few have ruined it for so many, for so long and it still continues.
Just like the example above.
Despite the fact, seen very clearly in the screenshot, I collected two kills, the most for the team I was on at the time, certain people became focused on the fact I had a camouflage net and binoculars equipped on this heavy tank. My elephant picture and caption was my response to that, but it was mostly ignored and no doubt, the ridicule will continue in my absence.
To be perfectly fair, I can still spot those good apples in the barrel, who can see the picture, for what it's worth and the intent behind it.
Thanks, no really, thanks.
Friday, 11 December 2015
A smooth surprise
With this time of year, comes a tradition from the two established tank titles of acquiring a vehicle that won't become available too often afterwards.
Last year, World of Tanks put this, tier II German Light Tank, Pz II D, in my garage, if I logged in http://worldoftanks.com/en/news/pc-browser/22/new-year-marathon-wz-111/ during a certain time period. They did the same thing in previous years too, but for those that missed out, WarGaming has sold those limited time Christmas tanks in off-season bundles since. Weren't around to collect that Tetrarch and/or T1E6? No problem! Just wait around long enough and they will be back in the Gift Shop, sometime. I haven't seen the British Light Mk. VIC offered, yet....
War Thunder likes to do things a little different. Last year was their first foray with tanks, so in keeping with their unique philosophy of making their playerbase earn a seasonal reward, they produced a butt numbing series of missions for the rank I M8A1 American Tank Destroyer. Nineteen days I would had to have login and make an attempt to meet the requirements, with a slim chance along the way of just winning one at random. I got the plane, rank I Soviet Fighter, I-301, but was too worn out to go any further for the tank.
However, Gaijin relented a little, partly from the outcry of the playerbase and slipped in a token mission for a seasonal tank. From 31 December 2014 to 2 January 2015 http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/201962-winter-holiday-specials/ , all I had to do was login, win a single battle using any American tank and collect a rank I premium M2A4 (1st Armored Division)for my efforts. To me, this seemed to be a better alternative then investing in nineteen days or the off chance of receiving the M8A1.
Now, it's Armored Warfare's first kick at the Christmas can and what a shot from the dark they took. The screenshot is from their teaser video and....well....check it out for yourself....
Yeah, the overwhelming consensus is this will be the Type 59 as their first Christmas tank. For WOT players in AW, this could very well be the only time/way to get this mythical tank. However, let's put it into perspective here.
In World of Tanks, the tier VIII premium Chinese Medium Tank,Type 59, enjoyed being sold from September 2011 http://forum.worldoftanks.com/index.php?/topic/58908-world-of-tanks-v67-update/ to January 2012 http://worldoftanks.com/en/news/pc-browser/19/type-59-game-store-removal/ Although the controversy of why it was removed has been muddied over time, here is my memory of this tank and why it got pulled.
I came to World of Tanks in October, about one month after the Type 59 was put into the game. As I slowly climbed up through the tiers, I discovered a nightmare was waiting for me when I hit tier V. Between running my M4 Sherman, KV (there wasn't a KV-1 or KV-2 back then, just the one tank) and my then recently acquired Ram II premium tank, I became nothing more than a snack to mass platoons of Type 59 players.
Sadly, I don't have any screenshots from back then, but this picture will give a basic idea of what I am talking about. Simply put, WarGaming created a tank that was slightly above any same tier tech tree counterpart, players bought them based on that discussed fact and with the price of only 7200 Gold, if I remember right, proceeded to create mass platoons, known as Wolfpacks. The claim of this breaking the game from the playerbase helped to bring about the tank being pulled.
Then, over the years and through many opportunities as a prize in contests and other events, people have had chances to add one to their garage ever since. The hype has never gone away, despite owners of this tank trying to downplay the qualities of this vehicle to the masses, convinced it is some kind of super machine.
In Armored Warfare, the Type 59 will be either a tier II or III Main Battle Tank, separate from the dealers, much like the T-62 Veteran is. It won't be a premium tank (I am lead to believe this, but if I am wrong....) but another another vehicle to have some fun with. Who knows, there could be a resurgance in the Wolfpacks with this tank here....
On a side note, the results from the second Black Friday Lottery came in https://aw.my.com/en/forum/showthread.php?50868-Black-Friday-Lottery-Results-Round-2 seems my last attempt came up empty, just like the first. Meh, oh well, moving on....
*UPDATE* Seems the Type 59 for Christmas from Armored Warfare will indeed be a premium tank, sourced from here http://armoredtalk.com/2015/12/11/armored-warfares-upcoming-mystery-tank-is-a-premium-vehicle/
Last year, World of Tanks put this, tier II German Light Tank, Pz II D, in my garage, if I logged in http://worldoftanks.com/en/news/pc-browser/22/new-year-marathon-wz-111/ during a certain time period. They did the same thing in previous years too, but for those that missed out, WarGaming has sold those limited time Christmas tanks in off-season bundles since. Weren't around to collect that Tetrarch and/or T1E6? No problem! Just wait around long enough and they will be back in the Gift Shop, sometime. I haven't seen the British Light Mk. VIC offered, yet....
War Thunder likes to do things a little different. Last year was their first foray with tanks, so in keeping with their unique philosophy of making their playerbase earn a seasonal reward, they produced a butt numbing series of missions for the rank I M8A1 American Tank Destroyer. Nineteen days I would had to have login and make an attempt to meet the requirements, with a slim chance along the way of just winning one at random. I got the plane, rank I Soviet Fighter, I-301, but was too worn out to go any further for the tank.
However, Gaijin relented a little, partly from the outcry of the playerbase and slipped in a token mission for a seasonal tank. From 31 December 2014 to 2 January 2015 http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/201962-winter-holiday-specials/ , all I had to do was login, win a single battle using any American tank and collect a rank I premium M2A4 (1st Armored Division)for my efforts. To me, this seemed to be a better alternative then investing in nineteen days or the off chance of receiving the M8A1.
Now, it's Armored Warfare's first kick at the Christmas can and what a shot from the dark they took. The screenshot is from their teaser video and....well....check it out for yourself....
Yeah, the overwhelming consensus is this will be the Type 59 as their first Christmas tank. For WOT players in AW, this could very well be the only time/way to get this mythical tank. However, let's put it into perspective here.
In World of Tanks, the tier VIII premium Chinese Medium Tank,Type 59, enjoyed being sold from September 2011 http://forum.worldoftanks.com/index.php?/topic/58908-world-of-tanks-v67-update/ to January 2012 http://worldoftanks.com/en/news/pc-browser/19/type-59-game-store-removal/ Although the controversy of why it was removed has been muddied over time, here is my memory of this tank and why it got pulled.
I came to World of Tanks in October, about one month after the Type 59 was put into the game. As I slowly climbed up through the tiers, I discovered a nightmare was waiting for me when I hit tier V. Between running my M4 Sherman, KV (there wasn't a KV-1 or KV-2 back then, just the one tank) and my then recently acquired Ram II premium tank, I became nothing more than a snack to mass platoons of Type 59 players.
Sadly, I don't have any screenshots from back then, but this picture will give a basic idea of what I am talking about. Simply put, WarGaming created a tank that was slightly above any same tier tech tree counterpart, players bought them based on that discussed fact and with the price of only 7200 Gold, if I remember right, proceeded to create mass platoons, known as Wolfpacks. The claim of this breaking the game from the playerbase helped to bring about the tank being pulled.
Then, over the years and through many opportunities as a prize in contests and other events, people have had chances to add one to their garage ever since. The hype has never gone away, despite owners of this tank trying to downplay the qualities of this vehicle to the masses, convinced it is some kind of super machine.
In Armored Warfare, the Type 59 will be either a tier II or III Main Battle Tank, separate from the dealers, much like the T-62 Veteran is. It won't be a premium tank (I am lead to believe this, but if I am wrong....) but another another vehicle to have some fun with. Who knows, there could be a resurgance in the Wolfpacks with this tank here....
On a side note, the results from the second Black Friday Lottery came in https://aw.my.com/en/forum/showthread.php?50868-Black-Friday-Lottery-Results-Round-2 seems my last attempt came up empty, just like the first. Meh, oh well, moving on....
*UPDATE* Seems the Type 59 for Christmas from Armored Warfare will indeed be a premium tank, sourced from here http://armoredtalk.com/2015/12/11/armored-warfares-upcoming-mystery-tank-is-a-premium-vehicle/
Thursday, 10 December 2015
And, the first round is over
With the first third of December out of the way, so are the initial round of specials and sales. Here is a recap at what was offered and I didn't buy, followed with what is going on now/soon for the second third....
World of Tanks. Titled as Tanksmas, WarGamings first seasonal sale http://worldoftanks.com/en/news/pc-browser/22/december-2015/ put this in my garage....
....a purchase I am having a little buyer's remorse over. I fell for some of the hype surrounding this tank and have pulled off a few good results, on occasion. While it does have a fantastic gun for it's tier, the lack of armor (yes, it does have more, where it counts, over the same tiered tech tree version) hasn't worked out so well for me. Perhaps, it's too early to tell and I need more time to get over the eagerness of initial ownership http://tankingtalesquesnel.blogspot.ca/2015/12/caving-part-1.html and focus on learning how to use it properly, giving it and myself a more fair of a chance.
Then, WarGaming pulls a fast one http://worldoftanks.com/en/news/pc-browser/31/last-chance-reindeer-games/ just so those out there who missed the first round, have a chance at an encore. The most hype generated from the first and now, second offerings has come from this....
Armored Warfare. The first offerings from Obsidian, starting 7 December through 10 December https://aw.my.com/us/news/general/december-armored-warfare-discounts didn't have anything that interested me. However, it's the second round that has me sitting up a little straighter in my chair....
....a twenty fiver percent discount https://aw.my.com/us/news/general/december-discounts-continue on owning a second tier VI MBT-70 (no, not a MERC edition this time)? Yeah, right after when I find out if I am on the winners list for the last Black Friday Lottery draw (announcement pending at the time of this posting).
War Thunder. The sales news from Gaijin is....nothing. This doesn't surprise me, if I remember last year right http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/201962-winter-holiday-specials/ they like to come to the party a little on the late side. However, there was something of noteworthiness and slightly of topic, that caught my eyes when I was looking through their portal....
It seems wheeled vehicles are planned to make their appearance in a future update http://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/854 Very interesting, I wonder what inspired them to do this....
Wednesday, 9 December 2015
A king with obvious weaknesses
I can remember, with absolute clarity, how I got my first tier VIII premium vehicle in World of Tanks....
....because it will take me years, if I ever complete this task, to correct the damage to my publicly perceived stats in attaining it. However, a small, ongoing price to pay for my prize.
With my second tier VIII vehicle, the Soviet Heavy Tank, KV-5, the details are somewhat cloudy. If my failing memory serves me right, I believe there was a sale before WarGaming pulled it from both the Gift Shop and ingame store, before the 7.5 update http://worldoftanks.com/en/news/pc-browser/17/changes-game-shop/
I also remember I did a pile of research before I handed over the real world money to pick one up. I read tons of reviews, some even through Google Translate, watched numerious videos on Youtube and other sources. Having gone done the KV line and putting both an IS-4 and IS-7 in my garage, I had gotten used to the armor-dependent playstyle. The KV-5 would be the crown of my Soviet Heavy lines, more so then the tempting purchase of it's replacement....
....the IS-6. Even with better armor and a gun that packed much more of a punch, the KV-5 presented itself as a challenge I wanted to take on, a glaring point of venerability that more experienced players could and would exploit over the years....
Nicknamed R2D2, this was the very Achilles Heel of this tank (not really shown like this in game, just putting this out there), right out front for all to shoot at. From the time I put mine into service and right up to this very day, I have practiced techniques to mitigate this weakness and improved on my contribution factor when I queue up with the KV-5.
Sometimes, nothing I do makes any difference for my team. I take out or damage the wrong opponents, go the wrong spot on the map, slowly lumbering down the wrong route to get there and a bunch of other terrible stuff....
....only to end the battle in a glorious defeat. Then, on those rare moments when the stairs line up....
....I collect on a lackluster victory. It's funny how those Random Battles can go, despite being the only constant between these two example, back to back games.
I guess what I am trying to say is this, despite the ongoing mixed results from playing my KV-5, I have no regrets of ever putting this into my garage. The only reason I bring all of this up is the fact there will be an opportunity for other players to pick one up themselves http://worldoftanks.com/en/news/pc-browser/22/december-2015/
Or, if you so choose, the newest Soviet tier VIII premium Heavy Tank, IS-3A....
....should be available, through the Gift Shop and/or ingame store, in the very near future. Not a sales plug, just a suggestion for your consideration, from the old guard.
....because it will take me years, if I ever complete this task, to correct the damage to my publicly perceived stats in attaining it. However, a small, ongoing price to pay for my prize.
With my second tier VIII vehicle, the Soviet Heavy Tank, KV-5, the details are somewhat cloudy. If my failing memory serves me right, I believe there was a sale before WarGaming pulled it from both the Gift Shop and ingame store, before the 7.5 update http://worldoftanks.com/en/news/pc-browser/17/changes-game-shop/
I also remember I did a pile of research before I handed over the real world money to pick one up. I read tons of reviews, some even through Google Translate, watched numerious videos on Youtube and other sources. Having gone done the KV line and putting both an IS-4 and IS-7 in my garage, I had gotten used to the armor-dependent playstyle. The KV-5 would be the crown of my Soviet Heavy lines, more so then the tempting purchase of it's replacement....
....the IS-6. Even with better armor and a gun that packed much more of a punch, the KV-5 presented itself as a challenge I wanted to take on, a glaring point of venerability that more experienced players could and would exploit over the years....
Nicknamed R2D2, this was the very Achilles Heel of this tank (not really shown like this in game, just putting this out there), right out front for all to shoot at. From the time I put mine into service and right up to this very day, I have practiced techniques to mitigate this weakness and improved on my contribution factor when I queue up with the KV-5.
Sometimes, nothing I do makes any difference for my team. I take out or damage the wrong opponents, go the wrong spot on the map, slowly lumbering down the wrong route to get there and a bunch of other terrible stuff....
....only to end the battle in a glorious defeat. Then, on those rare moments when the stairs line up....
....I collect on a lackluster victory. It's funny how those Random Battles can go, despite being the only constant between these two example, back to back games.
I guess what I am trying to say is this, despite the ongoing mixed results from playing my KV-5, I have no regrets of ever putting this into my garage. The only reason I bring all of this up is the fact there will be an opportunity for other players to pick one up themselves http://worldoftanks.com/en/news/pc-browser/22/december-2015/
Or, if you so choose, the newest Soviet tier VIII premium Heavy Tank, IS-3A....
....should be available, through the Gift Shop and/or ingame store, in the very near future. Not a sales plug, just a suggestion for your consideration, from the old guard.
Tuesday, 8 December 2015
Something strange indeed
So, after a few adventures in Wat Thunder Ground Forces, I turn my attention back to Armored Warfare, collect on some experience for training up Sabrina Washington, my need-to-use-a-little-more-often Commander.
So, I put her into my T-62 Veteran and queued up for a PvE match. My eyes wandered to the bootom of the screen and noticed something rather odd, seems I had some extra tanks. I will come back to that in a minute or two.
The battle was a disaster, in my own opinion. While I was dealing out the shots, the damage I was inflicting didn't really look to significant, nor could I get a kill to save my life. I was already chalking it up as another mundane-waste-of-time battle, then the results came back....
What? Even with the bonus modifiers, it didn't and still doesn't make any sense to me. I have played harder with worse results than this, so perhaps, I should just say thanks and move on.
So, here is a screenshot I took at random, on 6 December....
....and the one I took just now, two days later. Seems I picked up a Patton 48 and a LAV-150, without knowing it? By now, if I had made any plans of the sort, I would have gone as far as making a post about this, laying out my grand plan designs. Now, just to be sure of things, I took another look at the tier I M113 in the Wolfli dealer show room....
....and, what? Okay, Not only have I unlocked and purchased both preceding tier II's, but have built up progress on the next tier III in line?
I don't know what is going on, but it would seem to me, the ghost in my machine is playing games, when nobody else is noticing.
So, I put her into my T-62 Veteran and queued up for a PvE match. My eyes wandered to the bootom of the screen and noticed something rather odd, seems I had some extra tanks. I will come back to that in a minute or two.
The battle was a disaster, in my own opinion. While I was dealing out the shots, the damage I was inflicting didn't really look to significant, nor could I get a kill to save my life. I was already chalking it up as another mundane-waste-of-time battle, then the results came back....
What? Even with the bonus modifiers, it didn't and still doesn't make any sense to me. I have played harder with worse results than this, so perhaps, I should just say thanks and move on.
So, here is a screenshot I took at random, on 6 December....
....and the one I took just now, two days later. Seems I picked up a Patton 48 and a LAV-150, without knowing it? By now, if I had made any plans of the sort, I would have gone as far as making a post about this, laying out my grand plan designs. Now, just to be sure of things, I took another look at the tier I M113 in the Wolfli dealer show room....
....and, what? Okay, Not only have I unlocked and purchased both preceding tier II's, but have built up progress on the next tier III in line?
I don't know what is going on, but it would seem to me, the ghost in my machine is playing games, when nobody else is noticing.
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