World of Tanks - Free to play Panzer MMO

[Graphic]

The only mods I use are that icon mod, custom skins and sometimes voice mods.

Speaking of skins, I've got a pretty nice set of them right now.

This PzIV skin is very good: http://mirtankov.net/german/germed/p...askalanor.html

There's a lot more detail on it than you can see in the screenshot. I recommend you use the swapped turret models so you can be fully upgraded and still look like a REAL Panzer IV.

Use these instructions to do it (copied from official forums):

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

FIRST DO A BACKUP OF THE TANK FILES YOU ARE GOING TO MODIFY!!!, in the Pz4 case: G01_Pz_IV_AusfG

THIS IS ONLY A "COSMETIC" CHANGE!!!, it won't affect the tank performance or stats or whatever

go to the game folder WOT --> res --> vehicles --> german --> G01_Pz_IV_AusfG --> noraml --> lod0

copy the files turret_01.model , turret_01.primitive , turret_01.visual and replace the _01 in the 3 files with a _02, then paste in lod0 folder replacing turret_02.model, etc

This way the shmalturm will look like the standard turret, you also have to do a similar procedure with the guns so the 75mm l/70 looks like the 75mm l/48

I also did this with the Panther to keep the real turret. I'm just really tired of looking at the stupid schmalturm.



Here's the Panther skin I'm using. It says Panther II but its just an error they made.

http://mirtankov.net/german/germed/p...kamutator.html

Again, way more impressive in-game.



As for the Tiger I this skin is pretty darn superb in game:

http://wotskins.wordpress.com/2010/1...nd-camo-decal/

[Sigurd]

The IS3 is more expensive than I remember. I was ready to buy it, and then noticed that it costs 2 500 000 not 1 500 000...
I need another 1 000 000...

[Husar]

I think it always cost that much, Tier 8s are expensive.

I'm working three lines towards Tier 8 but have nowhere near the money required to buy even one.

[Veho Nex]

Fools dun know about my 105

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Husar]

33 shots and 8 hits with a 105mm? Sounds to me like someone made a big loss, money-wise.

[Sigurd]

Important part in Veo Nex' post is that he took out a tier 10 with a tier 3 tank. Good job.
33 shots suggests a fast reloading SPG and the shells are probably not that expensive, am I right?

My Hummel (which has just turned Elite) has a maximum of 18 shells (150 mm 3.24 rate of fire) which costs 1120 pr shell (20160 cr for a full re-supply).

There is no info about top armour on the tanks in WoT and I wonder what armour type is affected when I hit a tank right on its planet.
Tier 9/10 heavy tanks are "near impossible" to take out with my Hummel (except IS7..?) and I usually just chip off 20% with each hit.
The Tank Destroyers are another matter. The German top TDs are hard, but the Russians I can take out with one hit. Especially if I aim at their flat backsides ((I)SUs and Object 704).
All tanks from tier 5 and down are either taken out with one shot or two

[Husar]

Oh yes, it says M37, I was thinking german or US heavy tank where each shell costs 1k+. Though firing 33 shots with those is rather unusual.

[Graphic]

The difference in player skill in the lower tiers is shocking. You don't notice it when you're starting out because you suck too, but now that I've went back down into tier 3 and 4 to get a Sherman and a M10 Wolverine, its really noticeable.

Funny sometimes, but it can get frustrating.

I find it funny that my T40 stats are 23 battles and 32 destroyed, but only 35% won. The amount of times I've gotten like 3-5 kills and my team still loses makes me a sad panda.

[Veho Nex]

It cost me just shy of 12k to rearm my M37. It carries 128 rounds or around that and reloads in about 8 seconds. I don't have the patience that most arty does, I still normally use my Tiger P and Wolverine.

[Husar]

Yesterday the cries of many unfortunate souls could be heard as the IosifStalin triumvirate of Sigurd, LeetEriksson and Husar roamed the servers.

Just wanted to say that platooning up can be a lot of fun and whoever else is on the european servers can add me, same nickname as here, if yours differs it may help to tell me who you are of course.

[Graphic]

and anyone on the NA servers can add Horrorsh0w

[Veho Nex]

and anyone on the NA servers can add Horrorsh0w

Im NA, you guys can add me under VehoNex

[Graphic]

added

[Ja'chyra]

Added you Hus, I'm Aeil

[Graphic]

KV-13, once it has the tracks, turret and 85mm, is pretty badass. Super thick armor and scout-like speed.

Even so I will probably sell it to buy a T-43 once I research that and the IS.

[Sigurd]

I had the toughest game in a long while yesterday. Both teams were good and we barely were able to secure the win.
The opponents nearly had us with a sneaky Slugger who sat in our camp. A lucky shot from our arty got splash damage enough to reduce the cap count from 95% to 50% and I was able to get back to spot it for a flanking TD who took it out. It was a well executed save. I worked well with our two tank destroyers.

A good tactic, if you know the TDs are there is to do the round dance with bigger tier tanks to expose its weak spots to the TDs.
I was just outside the walls in the Sigrfried line just by the "gate" and a Tiger II decided to rush me from the town, I had the TDs in my back in the three lines across the field. I got in a shot before it was able to turn its front glacier towards me. And the TDs would face the same problem with the tough front armour. I started my dance from its right side (my left) and proceeded to circle it. It followed suit keeping its strong front towards my 122mm D-25T. I had it turning its backside to our TDs who shot it to smithereens.

When I was VERY low on HP I seemed not to be able to hit anything. It was quite funny, I had a few near death experiences because of that. I think it is the imminent threat of death that makes the game so fun.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

At times I am shaking with adrenalin after a good match, especially those where my team is totally dependent on my success.
The funnest map IMO is the Himmelsdorf. I was the top gun in my Iossif Stalin. I did not perform well in the early game. I had to leave a crucial block to go back to save our camp from being capped. My team was not appreciative of this and called me a useless IS. I had only one kill to show for when all my team mates were dead. There were 7 enemies left including 2 arties 2 KV, a IS, a TD and a KV-13. I was lucky... they never did a coordinated attack. I put the tracks in motion and basically drove around in the small streets around my base. I first encountered the IS with his TD backup. the TD was behind me and the IS was weary of me. He only had the 100mm. I took out the TD with a lucky one shot and proceeded to attack the IS. He got stuck in a building in a very narrow street and I just encircled him and blew out his engine which caused it to burn and die. The KVs were also a tandem team, but they were wounded. I took one out with a shell and the other I just ran over. the KV-13 was at full health but sadly no match. 5 down and only the two arties. I drove around a little without seeing them and started on the long journey towards their base. I was half way when I noticed that our base was being capped. I promptly turned and chose the route where I knew there were a lot of wreckage tanks to hide behind. The clock was running against me and I had to just get into their view at full speed and try for luck. They were smart and had chosen two different locations. I released a shell at one of them and my luck had ran out. I reduced it to 1% from 100 (what is up with that anyway?) but I got two arty shells in my planet. I was however praised by those who had thought me useless. It was a near win and I got the top-gun medal. If I hadn't gone for their base, I would have singlehandedly won the game for my team with 8 kills to my name.
When the defeat screen came up, I literally shook. I had to walk around the house to calm down. NEVER before have a game affected me like that. It was not rage, but a shear thrill. Like when you ride a motorcycle and you troll a BMW on the highway and it nearly goes bad.

[Graphic]

I beat my previous record last night. In a Sherman of all things.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The enemy team ignored the mountain so I was free to hang out up there scouting and taking pot shots. Most of the XP had to have come from other people's damage.

[Sigurd]

I was sooooo close to buy gold last night...

I had just saved enough credits to get the D-25T for my IS3 and train my IS crew to drive it, and took it for a spin. Utter failure... All though I did pawn a Panther II, the bill was more than I had earned and I got in the red money-wise. *sigh*
I spent a little gold (from the IGN trick) to get a premium account for a day to see what the difference was. Yes.. the tank was making money, but not so much as e.g. my PzIV.
I guess running it as near stock (don't have money enough to buy the already researched upgrades through the IS) will make it hard for your success.
That tank just needs the new turret and the BL-9 gun.

Sooo, I started playing my PzIV again. I think I might try the German Medium line. I unlocked the VK3601 but lack both the money and the garage slot for it.
The plan is to move to the VK3002 and then Panther. The Tiger is also close when I get the VK3002 (only 20k'ish experience). I plan to get rid of the VK36 as soon as I am able to get the VK3002.

I know I will sooner than later reach a point where I can't play without a premium account.
Should I then just play lower tiered tanks?
Should I bite the bitter apple and support this game with money?
Maybe I am sick and tired of the game and just move on?

I really want the Type-59, but I saw 4 of them in a game last night on the same team and they were mocked... MOCKED!!!

[LeftEyeNine]

I was tempted and just downladed and installed this one.

What now ? (EU servers)

[Sigurd]

I was tempted and just downladed and installed this one.

What now ? (EU servers)

Go Russian m8...

[Graphic]

I was tempted and just downladed and installed this one.

What now ? (EU servers)

Go Russian if you want to brawl (more powerful guns, less accurate), German if you want to snipe (less powerful guns, very accurate) and American is like a mix.

But that doesn't really help, does it?

Just set your sights on a tank you think is cool and that you want and go for it. I set my sights on the Panther.

But I can personally vouch for the fun-ness of each nation's trees. There are only a handful of truly horrible tanks in the game, the rest is a lot of nitpicking.

[Veho Nex]

Go Russian if you want to brawl (more powerful guns, less accurate), German if you want to snipe (less powerful guns, very accurate) and American is like a mix.

But that doesn't really help, does it?

Just set your sights on a tank you think is cool and that you want and go for it. I set my sights on the Panther.

But I can personally vouch for the fun-ness of each nation's trees. There are only a handful of truly horrible tanks in the game, the rest is a lot of nitpicking.

I set my sights on four tanks, all within reach and Ive obtained 2 of them so far.

Ausuf B

Wolverine (There is no check mark smiley)

Tiger I (There is no check mark smiley)

Maus

[Sigurd]

I must admit....

Yeah, I succumbed to the evil trap of wargames.net. I found myself in a position where patience had ended. The long games that yielded mere scraps were a toll.
I have one thing to show for... I was able to buy an IS3, crew it and take it for a spin once or twice without spending an ounce of gold.
I spent my first gold on a slot for the VK3601... and then a slot for the Type 59

Having a premium tank is a blessing in disguise. It seldom rakes in less than 30k pr game (even if you lose) and the norm is around 50k.
Yeah, you have to spend money to get one and you will be treated as dirt by some players. Using it when you lack funding is the way to go. It is a very good tank, but it is only a side kick to your real goals - advancing to the tanks you can't buy for money. It has been invaluable to me the few days that I have played it. I was able to buy the 700k+ VK36, buy the rest of the already researched modules for the IS3 (stock IS3 is as crap as any other stock tanks) and it has great fun factor.

I felt like I had betrayed our little group of "stick it to the man", and found it quite amusing that my friend Husar had done the same. (yeah, I am outing you Hus)
We are now under the yoke of paying for games...

[Veho Nex]

Dang you guys really make that much with premium tanks? This blows, I get lucky if I make 50k on a good game when I kill 3-6 tanks, live, and take 0 damage.

[Husar]

I have to say the whole premium tank hate is getting a bit worse lately.

I've had several games where people insulted premium tank users in the most colourful ways, way beyond the occasional "Löwe noob".

One game some guy was hating me for playing the Type 59, another was a german guy who was insulting us Type 59 players in the most colourful ways and then switched to german to become even more vulgar, the funny thing was he even annoyed his own team with his insults and they started to make fun of him for camping with his T28 at spawn and getting 0 kills, hehe.
But since then I've come across several other instances where people would hate on premium tank users just because, with one we had a little discussion as well and he ended up quiet when I asked him whether he always used other peoples' hard work for free and it turned out there were many premium account users on the server, heh.

I think everyone should spend as much as they can and think the game is worth, no need to hate either side. I decided to get a premium so I wouldn't need to pay monthly for a premium account to maintain some high tier tanks.
It's not like the hatred touched me a lot but I thought it's worth mentioning.

That said, the Type 59 has so far helped me greatly in financing both my Ferdinand and my IS-3, which I just bought. People complaining about it being too good should be happy there isn't a Tiger II in it's place, although they often end up on the opposite side instead...

Something that I have noticed is that (non-premium) mediums are almost completely absent in high tier matches, probably because there isn't really any point in going up against a heavy in a medium, you may be able to circle him, which is you only way to really hurt him, but in 90% of the cases his heavy buddies will be waiting behind him and crush you before you can get your second shot him, something needs to be done about it. something like limiting the amount of heavies per match or so.

[LeftEyeNine]

Hey, somebody get me under your wings/ranks/platoon. |:

[Husar]

Hey, somebody get me under your wings/ranks/platoon. |:

Did you add Husar to your friends list? If yes, what is your nickname in the game? I suppose you chose the EU servers.

[LeftEyeNine]

If it's Husar, not some Husarz1929191 of the lot there, then I just added you.

[Veho Nex]

One of my better games with my Tiger P

[Sigurd]

Good job Veho...

This is how the Type 59 do its job... being on the front line harassing the enemy;