Keep your Buddies Loltraktor in the Garage

So I have been noticing an alarming trend lately that is occurring in matches in World of Tanks. More and more often a Leichtraktor, MS-1 or Cunningham is populating the lower ranks of my team’s roster. I suppose the problem isn’t so bad if it is only one tier-one tank in a fight with tier 7 and up opponents, but what about 3 or 4? Just recently I started a match that included no less than 3 tier 1 tanks in a fight with a tier 7 low end.

This is becoming more and more prevalent lately as many of my matches now include this instant handicap to a team. Most players laugh it off with comments in chat like “nuke carrying Cunningham” or calling out dibs for shooting the Loltraktor, but the reality is in a game where every tank counts losing several worthy teammates to ineffective target practice drones makes the game a little frustrating at times. 

This is most likely happening because newer players are brought into the game by friends who are already many tiers above them. These friends in a desire to play together and advance the new player as fast as possible create a platoon and join the queue together. The games mechanic awards them an overall score when placing them and thus you get lower tier tanks in high tier battles.

            There is nothing that says “you lose” more than starting out with only twelve worth while teammates against an opposing team of 15 properly tiered tanks. Is this a major problem in the grand scheme of tank battles? No not really, but if left alone it could become worse. Imagine when that 3 tank disadvantage becomes 5 or maybe even 6, is it still not a problem? Keep in mind the recent patch that now allows two people to join a platoon without a premium account. Could this increase the frequency that we see lower tier tanks in a fight? I imagine that it will and not only will we get the privilege of fighting along side tier 1 tanks but all the subsequent tiers that player must climb.

            I think its time for the developers to institute a tier restriction on the type of tanks that can platoon and until then I only ask that my fellow tankers play down the tier tree if running with friends is their desire.   

First Trailer for World of Warplanes released

Wargamming.net has released the first game trailer for the upcoming game World of Warplanes that was aired at Gamescom. No in game footage yet, but a nice little trailer none the less. Also included in the release was some game information including that it will launch with 60 airplanes from Russia, Germany, USA, Britton and Japan. Check out the post here.

World of Warcraft - Tanking without Threat

            Tanking in World of Warcraft has always been about getting the bad guys attention, keeping it and then absorbing their rage filled blows until your team mates can kill him off. Now with the recent announcement and hot fix by Blizzard to in essence eliminate threat from the equation, this basically removes the biggest component of tanking in the worlds most popular game and leaves the role to become nothing more than armored meat shields.

           

            I have never been a fan of the threat tanking mechanism from an immersion stand point. It never made sense to me why a dangerous being with planet ruling ambitions would become so single focused that a trash talking, shield slamming gnat would garner all of their hated blows even while other gnats slowly killed them with fireballs, shadow bolts and arrows from behind. However I also understand its need as a game mechanic and therefore I didn’t mind its inclusion in tanking.

            Blizzard has finally thrown in the towel and has given up on the balance issues inherently derived with trying to maintain a game mechanic vs. the desires and demands of its player base to help them with aggro control.  Now without the need to watch aggro or worry about the incoming insults from over zealous DPS when a wipe occurs, a tank needs only to get the baddies attention and then proceed to take hits from them. So is this the end of tanking specs in WoW? If a DPS geared Paladin or Warrior garner enough health to survive the onslaught will they be all that is necessary to win a fight? I guess we will find out, but one thing is certain tanking guides have just become a lot easier and so has tanking.

Tanks, Planes and now Battleships

Wargamming.net is showing no signs of slowing down after their success with World of Tanks as they have now announced a new game World of Battleships. Wargamming has stated that they ultimately want a "World of" trilogy with World of Tanks, World of Warplanes and now World of Battleships. So just to keep everyone up to date we now have WoT, WoW (2nd) and now WoB.



             Anyone who has been following WoT's success could have seen this one coming as it makes sense to create a ship warfare game that is based on the same game model as WoT. Warship play style can be very similar to tanks as they move along 1 dimension and are usually able to take more than one hit. I am still curious to see how they are going to make airplanes work in this gaming model, but I have faith that Wargamming will be able to pull it off.

To date they haven't released any details about the new game, but the ships will use a similar economic system as WoT and ships will have the following traits - firepower, speed, armor and endurance. Sounds likes tanks on the water to me, but that's probably the best route to make this a good game. I will do my best to keep you guys up to date on any developments.

There and Back Again - A Hobbits Tale...and Back Again...and Back....Again

Being that I am a big fan of the literary works of J.R.R. Tolkien, making my way in and around the shire has been an enjoyable trip...the first time.

Sprigleys farm, The Hunting Lodge and Archet are all really neat and fun to visit, I'm just not sure they need to see me so often. One thing that holds true to all MMO's that I have played is the constant back and forth the Quests tend to make you do. I sometimes think that NPC quest givers are quietly chuckling to themselfs after watching us run off yet again to the place they just sent us to a minute ago.

"Ah hello again brave adventurer, so glad to see you made it back safely. Here ya go.. as promised ninety copper coins."

"Phew damn that farm is far...Thanks...(Cough)... It was tough but I seem to have managed alright...just a tab bit winded is all."

"Yes, yes very well done indeed ...there's just one more thing."

"What's that? You have further need of me? Is it something that can wait till the morning?"

"Oh no, I'm afraid it is of dire concern and requires immediate attention...BEFORE IT'S TO LATE."

"Really? (sigh) ok how can I help?"

"There seems to be a small spider infestation that has sprung up and I think your just the man for the job."

"Hmmm I see well no rest for the weary I guess, where to?"

"Sprigleys farm."

"WHAT??...for the love of god man I just came from there."

As characters we take such abuse from our quest givers that I wonder how many we would gladly cut down if given the chance.