World of Tanks: 3D and Tactics

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Earning experience and credits in World of Tanks isn't about kills, it's actually about dealing out damage and claiming victory. You wouldn't know this by playing the game, because the scoreboard only displays the number of tanks destroyed beside your name and not your actual earnings. Don't get caught up in bragging about a kill, because according to the Battle Mechanics section on the WoT wiki site it's worth more to damage an enemy tank for 300 hit points than to destroy a tank with only 100 HP remaining. You earn the most points by inflicting critical crew/module/armor damage to higher-tier tanks, spotting enemy vehicles, and capturing an enemy base (if your tank is inside the circle). Destroying a tank, close combat with the enemy, surviving the battle, and defending the base during capture will also add a small bonus to your experience. Again, and I can't stress this enough, the wiki is a goldmine of helpful information regarding experience and credits.

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Tactics will never be the same, and change depending on each map and which side of the map you start from. The initial deployment is critical, and often overlooked by inexperienced players. One of the most annoying things you'll experience is having teammates who deploy to places on the map that won't intercept the enemy, essentially hiding from the battle and leaving fewer tanks to fight. Another tactic that regularly fails is when most the tanks on your team go in one direction, which leaves those few remaining defenders to be rolled over by greater enemy forces. My point here is simple: displace to where you're needed most. It's a good idea to be near to other tanks, as they lend support and their radios relay positions down the line, but don't get it set in your mind that one spot is prime because World of Tanks is a game where you must relocate often.

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Setting up your controls is critical to performing well in a virtual tank. Some people adapt to the default game settings, but even the best players custom tune the settings in their favor. Although WoT is a very flexible game that can run on even the most under-powered computer, frame rate performance is still very important. Ideally you want to enjoy 30 FPS at a minimum, denoted at the upper left corner of the screen during battle. The graphic quality settings that affect this most are Post Processing, Shadows, Water, Foliage and Flora. If your system runs below 30 FPS it's a good idea to turn off Advanced Post Processing/Post Processing, Shadow Quality/Enhanced Shadows, Water Simulation/Water Quality, and Foliage Quality/Flora Density.

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NVIDIA 3D Vision wasn't originally part of WarGaming's plan when they developed World of Tanks, but it seems to work flawlessly. In fact, NVIDIA gives WoT a 3D Vision rating of 'Good', but after playing many matches in 3D I would consider it closer to great. There are only a few times you'll see out-of-screen effects, namely when you're in the garage or free-looking around the tank, but all of the other 3D effects really bring World of Tanks to life. Playing in 3D can take some getting used-to however, as artillery and sniper mode work fine but zoomed in views make the depth of a target seem very far away compared to the 2D world. Of course, players can toggle 3D on and off with the CTRL+T hotkey.

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Of the many pearls of wisdom I've shared, my most important is to never rush a shot. World of Tanks depends on randomly generated variables to determine the outcome of actions within battle, and the last thing you want is an added factor working against you. Always face your tank towards the target and make patient, focused shots directed at sides and rear of enemy tanks. Armor is thickest in the front, so if you're forced to fire head-on aim carefully to hit for the underbelly. If you're engaged in battle out in open space where SPGs can rain down supporting artillery fire, hit the tank track for critical damage to make that enemy tank into a stationary target.

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Concealment helps a camouflaged tank ambush an approaching enemy, but once that first shot is fired you're exposed in all directions to the opposing team. Cover is your friend, and by using buildings, rocks, the slope of land, or even a destroyed tank to block enemy fire, you're guaranteed to survive much longer into the battle. In the image below you can see that a windowless building allows for peep-hole shots at the enemy, and by using sniper mode from a distance a skilled tanker can effectively fire through the window and hit enemy tanks from a distance. Be forewarned that when using cover your tank must move out beyond protection to take shots, and suffer a delay to focus sights on the target that your enemy won't have to wait for. It's a good idea to move your sights in the general direction of the enemy tank beforehand, and lock sights/turret in place by holding down the right-mouse button.

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World of Tanks utilizes physics mechanics that calculate how effective a round can penetrate armor. Tanks wear thick armor in front, and by facing the enemy there's less chance their attack will penetrate your armor. As in real life, angles matter and even the thickest armor can be penetrated with a direct shot. Ricochet shots are very common in WoT, and while they create a frustration for the attacker they can also become a survival tool for the veteran tanker. Rather than facing directly forward, angle the tank slightly away from the enemy. This will create an increased chance that their attacks will bounce off your armor with little more than a scratch. Alternatively, when in battle against other veteran tankers it's wise to search out the most perpendicular panel of armor to increase your odds of penetration with each shot.

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As I said in the beginning of this article: World of Tanks isn't a game for everyone. It's free to play (register at worldoftanks.com), but since premium tanks and players enjoy much larger rewards it makes sense to invest as your reach beyond tier 7 tanks. Patient players will enjoy the intricate challenges required to master each tank, while impatient players will be easily frustrated and regret they've downloaded the game. Teamwork is critical in WoT, and no amount of individual skill will compensate for the lack of coordinated comrades. If you're a run-and-gun style player then every round in World of Tanks will end in frustration, so I urge you to either change your strategy or reconsider your expectations. If you're comfortable with patiently waiting out the enemy and making strategic decisions, World of Tanks is a game that will reward your efforts.

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