13Disciple | 5-Dec-19
Updated 13-Jan-20
Updated 13-Jan-20
Data was supplied by the WoT Wiki Page and various game mechanics experts from the WoT Discord
Map images provided by wottactic.com
Map images provided by wottactic.com
In a previous course we addressed trading efficiently. This lesson extends beyond trades with direct fire vehicles. This also means anticipating HP loss from indirect fire. During the 30 second count in, one of the observations you need to make is how many Self Propelled Guns (SPGs) are on the enemy team. The amount of indirect fire you expect to receive should be accounted for when making your initial map choices. In this lesson we will continue to communicate the importance of map positioning, and one of the factors that should influence your macro positioning is SPGs.
Self Propelled Guns, SPGs, Artillery, Arty, Arta, etc... all refer to the tank class that offers indirect fire as their primary game mechanic and purpose.
Self Propelled Guns, SPGs, Artillery, Arty, Arta, etc... all refer to the tank class that offers indirect fire as their primary game mechanic and purpose.
Positions That are Exposed to SPGs
At this point in your training, you should have a general idea of where you should take the vehicle that you’ve queued into on every map. There are primary locations you’ll want to take your vehicle to be most effective, but make sure you consider the indirect fire that position will expose you to. Perhaps you’ll be in camo, outside most spotting range. Maybe you are planning to head to a ridge that you plan to brawl over. In both cases you will be exposed to SPG fire. One of those positions carries a much higher risk. Keep in mind you may never be totally safe, as evidenced by this clip from German_intelligence.
When you analyze the map you are in and note the best 2 or 3 locations for you to have an impact in the match. You'll then want to determine your risk level to SPG damage, and weigh that against the value of the map location. The value of map positioning can be subjective, and can differ depending on the tank line up, but we will talk about what sort of map positions are valuable and why in another article. The value of your tank is pretty easy to determine, are you top, mid, or bottom tier? Knowing how much of a priority target you will be when enemy SPGs are looking at the map, should be considered when deciding where to go, and when to make a play.
Some players will run the extended visualization mod (XVM) and target players that have accrued an account with high statistics, or top clan tags. Some SPG drivers will specifically target them, believing that removing the most skilled players will have the greatest impact on the match regardless of what tank or tier the player is driving in. The truth in that belief is hotly debated among players. The released anonymizer has helped reduce this impact in my experience.
There is no easy or direct answer to how you can adjust your play. I'm trying to give you the tools to consider, in order to develop your skill in battle. You need to modify your play based on anticipated SPG focus. If you ask yourself the questions above through out a match and you end up under more SPG fire than you anticipated you should review the match and make mental notes. Was an alternate position you could have played that may have allowed you to have a greater impact on the match? I still recommend the observation of skilled players on twitch, or youtube videos. Many times these players will unconsciously have done all of the above steps and chosen a position to best utilize their vehicles. I recommend you watch these and try to figure out what lead them to those positions, and how successful they were. In the end your hitpoints are a resource you must spend wisely, and SPG loss is just another factor when considering the trade you make for map control, damaging enemy tanks, spotting etc...
Example SPG Dependent Positions
Many Positions can become unsuitable in matches with one or more SPGs. Below are just a couple examples of exposed positions, that can be really difficult to play in if there are a lot of SPGs focusing fire in those areas.
There are map positions or vehicles that have a preferred location that will be peppered by SPG fire, and there simply isn’t an alternate location that offers the same influence on the battle. The two spots on the maps below tend to be rather important heavy tank battles, and can greatly influence the outcome of the match. These maps offer few other locations to bring your heavy tank influence.
When engaging in a position that you know will have SPG fire, there are still a couple strategies you should try to employ.
Timing Your Exposure
This is achieved by sharing your HP pool as a whole and not allowing the enemy to focus a single gun out of the game.
Never be the first tank spotted unless you have a reason to be spotted (or if you are in a location that is generally safe from SPGs). The first tank spotted (unless its a light tank doing an active spotting run) is usually the first target of SPGs. If you are planning to take your tank into a position to extend view range, or take important map locations, while not using soft cover to conceal yourself from being spotted then you are priming yourself to be targeted by SPGs. Make sure if you are exposing yourself to the vision of the enemy you are gaining something for your team. Generally at the start of the match this is your choice:
- Be the first one spotted. Get the first spotted enemy tank experience, and some assisted damage from friendly SPGs, and sometimes 1 shot of damage. At the expense of being the first tank spotted on your team and receiving all or most of the incoming fire from opposing SPGs.
- Let an ally be the first spotted and wait for that tank to be fired upon by at least 1 SPG and then engage the enemy yourself.
One map this is extremely prevalent on is West Field (pictured above). The first heavy tank over the ridge will generally spot most of the opposing team's heavy tanks, get 1 shot of damage, and get assisted damage for friendly SPG fire. At the cost of being the first tank targeted by opposing SPGs.
I have practiced both in many maps. I naturally tend to choose 1 if I’m top tier, or 2 if I’m bottom tier.
The point is that in the initial spotting phase of the game if you know or expect to be lit, by the action of lighting your opponents, this trade off will exist and you should take into account the HP it will cost you to get that battlefield information, and if it will be worth it.
I have practiced both in many maps. I naturally tend to choose 1 if I’m top tier, or 2 if I’m bottom tier.
The point is that in the initial spotting phase of the game if you know or expect to be lit, by the action of lighting your opponents, this trade off will exist and you should take into account the HP it will cost you to get that battlefield information, and if it will be worth it.
After that initial engagement all bets are off, and SPGs will fire on the targets they believe are going to influence the battle the most. Whether its based on map position, tank tier, tank clusters, or statistics, for better or worse they do their best to make an impact.
If you are being targeted with consecutive stuns from SPGs then you can try and practice timing your exposure. If you can manage it, you should go dark in your tank and move into a position that SPGs are unlikely to guess; then wait. When you do that either a team member will enjoy the SPG compliments, or that particular SPG will wait for you to come back. If your team member takes the splash then you have effectively enabled your team to better share HP as a whole. A tank on 1hp has the same DPM as a tank on 100% (ignoring modifiers). The longer you can keep yourself, and your allies alive the better your odds are for winning. This is achieved by sharing your HP pool as a whole and not allowing the enemy to focus a single gun out of the game. If instead the SPG waits for you, then you have given your allied SPGs a DPM advantage over the enemy, at the sacrifice of silencing your own gun (another decision you’ll have to make).
If you are being targeted with consecutive stuns from SPGs then you can try and practice timing your exposure. If you can manage it, you should go dark in your tank and move into a position that SPGs are unlikely to guess; then wait. When you do that either a team member will enjoy the SPG compliments, or that particular SPG will wait for you to come back. If your team member takes the splash then you have effectively enabled your team to better share HP as a whole. A tank on 1hp has the same DPM as a tank on 100% (ignoring modifiers). The longer you can keep yourself, and your allies alive the better your odds are for winning. This is achieved by sharing your HP pool as a whole and not allowing the enemy to focus a single gun out of the game. If instead the SPG waits for you, then you have given your allied SPGs a DPM advantage over the enemy, at the sacrifice of silencing your own gun (another decision you’ll have to make).
Avoid Sharing the SPG Splash
...space your tank as far away from allied tanks as you can without sacrificing your ability to engage in that particular map location.
Another tactic that is relatively easy to implement that I rarely see in public random matches is spreading out to avoid SPG splash. My recommendation is to space your tank as far away from allied tanks as you can without sacrificing your ability to engage in that particular map location. In a large brawl that SPGs are attempting to influence they expand their influence by stunning as many vehicles as possible. Whether I’m targeted or not I try my best to separate my tank from groupings of allied vehicles This forces the enemy SPG to make the choice of stunning and damaging my tank alone, leaving all of my allies free of stun and fighting efficiently. Or stunning my allies leaving me fighting at full efficiency. The importance of this tactic goes up when you are top tier (high priority target). In either case, simply forcing this choice can be the advantage you need to win a brawl. The hill on Westfield is easily one of the best examples of being able to play effectively while being able to spread out. Below are a few other examples where you can try and do this.
You can put together both 'timing your exposure' and 'avoiding sharing SPG splash" points together. Waiting for a shell to stun an ally (or you). Move in to fire off your shot(s), and then spread out again before the next shell is anticipated to be on its way.
You can put together both 'timing your exposure' and 'avoiding sharing SPG splash" points together. Waiting for a shell to stun an ally (or you). Move in to fire off your shot(s), and then spread out again before the next shell is anticipated to be on its way.
Evasive Maneuvers
Be unpredictable in the locations you allow yourself to be spotted in, and don’t sit in bushes that are easy to blind fire. If you are in a reasonably mobile tank and you get spotted while engaging the enemy you can move and relocate to a new position after or before the SPGs get a bead on where you were fighting from. When you appear in a new position the enemy SPGs now need to move and settle their aim again.
Be unpredictable with your driving. With enough experience you’ll begin to have your own sixth sense on when artillery units are targeting you. When you feel the eye of the pig is upon you and you sense a shell will be coming down in the next 5-6 seconds, you can still do something to throw off the shell. Remember that for every little meter of distance you put between you and the splash, the lower damage and less stun you’ll end up suffering.
Many players have practiced different methods for shaking artillery fire. You can try my method, modify it, or come up with your own. When it's likely that I am spotted, I try to assume that I am and let sixth sense confirm it (since 6th sense is delayed by 3s), and usually begin to assume artillery is nearly targeted are switching to my tank. Especially if I’m the only one visible on the map. What I will do is begin driving (reversing or forward) in a very predictable path. SPGs need a lot of lead time to both settle their reticle and account for shell travel. After a few seconds of traveling predictably, I execute a random maneuver. If my tank is fast I stop suddenly and reverse to a new direction. If my tank is slow (reversing) then I drive forward in a new direction or keep going in my current direction veering off from the original path. This gives the SPG player confidence while I’m in my easy to predict path and they allow their gun to settle in for an easy shot. I attempt to time my unpredictable movement either right when they are about to fire or after I’ve gone dark. Its reasonably successful but your experience may vary. Its less useful the larger your tank is and the slower your tank is. Just remember every small amount that you send that shell wide is less damage, and less stun time.
Be unpredictable with your driving. With enough experience you’ll begin to have your own sixth sense on when artillery units are targeting you. When you feel the eye of the pig is upon you and you sense a shell will be coming down in the next 5-6 seconds, you can still do something to throw off the shell. Remember that for every little meter of distance you put between you and the splash, the lower damage and less stun you’ll end up suffering.
Many players have practiced different methods for shaking artillery fire. You can try my method, modify it, or come up with your own. When it's likely that I am spotted, I try to assume that I am and let sixth sense confirm it (since 6th sense is delayed by 3s), and usually begin to assume artillery is nearly targeted are switching to my tank. Especially if I’m the only one visible on the map. What I will do is begin driving (reversing or forward) in a very predictable path. SPGs need a lot of lead time to both settle their reticle and account for shell travel. After a few seconds of traveling predictably, I execute a random maneuver. If my tank is fast I stop suddenly and reverse to a new direction. If my tank is slow (reversing) then I drive forward in a new direction or keep going in my current direction veering off from the original path. This gives the SPG player confidence while I’m in my easy to predict path and they allow their gun to settle in for an easy shot. I attempt to time my unpredictable movement either right when they are about to fire or after I’ve gone dark. Its reasonably successful but your experience may vary. Its less useful the larger your tank is and the slower your tank is. Just remember every small amount that you send that shell wide is less damage, and less stun time.
Don't Sit in Obvious Spots and Push Down Extra Trees
It's extremely common for light tanks, sniping TD's and mediums to sit behind a tree they knocked over for additional concealment. SPG players that get bored in a match with nothing spotted will begin to fire on areas that are obvious passive scouting and camping spots. If you knock over a single tree, it's easy for the SPG to just fire at the area behind the tree. If you really want to play mind games with enemy SPGs push down extra trees to make a big nest, or push down trees in multiple areas you aren't sitting in to keep them guessing. If an SPG is blind firing your position - leave. Or back into a spot to avoid splash, and only approach the bush occasionally, when loaded or spotting.
TL;DR Summary:
- If you expose yourself to SPG fire make sure your team gains something in return
- Time your exposure to take advantage of SPG reload times
- Move your tank away from allies, without compromising your ability to engage
- Be unpredictable in the places you expose yourself to spotting
- Be unpredictable in your driving path after being spotted (while you avoid being near allies)
- Be unpredictable in the places that are camping