Balance Changes to in-Game Ships - Public Test 14.3
WG are applying balance changes to a large number of ships based on an analysis of both their combat statistics and player feedback.
This time WG are focusing on higher-tier American light cruisers, Soviet tech tree destroyers, and Pan-American battleships, among others.
Changes to American Tech Tree Cruisers:
WG have decided to look back at one of the oldest tech tree branches in our game, aiming to increase the level of comfort when helming these cruisers, which boast some of the highest risk/reward playstyles of this class. While being mindful to not disturb the quite acceptable combat effectiveness of these ships, WG have decided to expand the turning angles of some of their turrets, enabling them to bring guns to bear more easily when taking evasive action, or facing an opponent suddenly approaching from an unexpected angle.
VII Helena
- The first and second main battery gun turrets (counting from the bow) can now turn 360 degrees
- Widened angles of the first, second, and third main battery gun turrets (counting from the bow)
VIII Cleveland
- All main battery gun turrets can now turn 360 degrees
- Widened angles of all main battery gun turrets
IX Seattle
- The first, third, and fourth main battery gun turrets (counting from the bow) can now turn 360 degrees
- Widened angles of the third and fourth main battery gun turrets (counting from the bow)
X Worcester
- The first, second, fifth, and sixth main battery gun turrets (counting from the bow) can now turn 360 degrees
★ Jacksonville
- The first and second main battery gun turrets (counting from the bow) can now turn 360 degrees. Please note that the fourth and fifth main battery gun turrets (counting from the bow) already have that capability
- Main battery range reduced: 17.2 to 16.9km
Changes to Soviet Tech Tree Destroyers:
Another entry in our set of changes to existing branches. Soviet destroyers have evolved a lot since their initial release, including the addition of the sub-branch culminating in Grozovoi and the replacement of the Tier X ship of the original branch with Delny. With the following changes, WG aim to address some issues compiled over the years, make the playstyle of these ships more flexible, and increase the viability of alternative builds.
Firstly, WG improved the comfort and usability of the main armament and torpedoes of the ships, allowing for smoother overall gameplay and especially the transition to the Grozovoi sub-branch if that is the path that appeals to the player more.
Furthermore, WG have introduced changes to the consumable set of the main branch. Here, the improvement to Smoke Generator is aimed at supporting the skirmish/positional style gameplay incentivized by this consumable. Starting with Kiev and up along the branch, the destroyers get further improved versions of Smoke Generator, allowing for more competitive alternative build options to the highly sought-after Repair Party that is available in the same slot.
Speaking of Repair Party, WG have also extended its availability to the lower tier ships of the branch, allowing players the ability to experiment and try out both and select their preferred playstyle, or perhaps opt for going after the Grozovoi sub-branch to have both consumables.
Last but not least, as part of these changes, WG wish to address some inconsistencies within the progression across the branches themselves, the main culprit being Ognevoi. Based on player feedback and our own evaluation, WG have determined that the gameplay of Ognevoi is too close to that of a torpedo-focused ship, which makes for an awkward transition from the obviously artillery-oriented preceding ships and Udaloi/Grozovoi, which boast a well-balanced toolkit of formidable guns and torpedoes.
II Storozhevoi
- Researchable Torpedo parameters changed:
- Range increased: 4 to 5km
- Reload time increased: 33 to 38s
- Main battery turret traverse time reduced: 18.6 to 12.9s
- Smoke Generator consumable parameters changed. The consumable now has the following characteristics:
- Action time: 20s
- Smoke dispersion time: 85s
- Reload time: 120s
- Number of Charges: 3
III Derzki
- Torpedo parameters changed:
- Range increased: 4 to 5km
- Reload time increased: 22 to 35s
- Main battery turret traverse time reduced: 18.6 to 12.9s
- Repair Party added in the same slot as Smoke generator. Parameters are similar to those found on Ognevoi
- Smoke Generator consumable parameters changed. The consumable now has the following characteristics:
- Action time: 20s
- Smoke dispersion time: 85s
- Reload time: 120s
- Number of Charges: 3
IV Izyaslav
- Stock Torpedo parameters changed:
- Range increased: 4 to 5km
- Reload time increased: 33 to 41s
- Researchable torpedo parameters changed:
- Range increased from 5 to 6km
- Reload time increased: 39 to 56s
- Main battery turret traverse time reduced: 18.6 to 12.9s
- Repair Party added in the same slot as Smoke generator. Parameters are similar to those found on Ognevoi
- Smoke Generator consumable parameters changed. The consumable now has the following characteristics:
- Action time: 20s
- Smoke dispersion time: 85s
- Reload time: 120s
- Number of Charges: 3
V Podvoisky
- Stock Torpedo parameters changed:
- Range increased: 4 to 6km
- Maximum damage reduced: 14400 to 11233
- Reload time decreased: 70 to 67s
- Speed reduced: 64 to 55 knots
- Detection range reduced: 1.3to 1.1km
- Researchable torpedo parameters changed:
- Range increased: 4 to 6km
- Damage reduced: 14400 to 11233
- Speed reduced: 65 to 59 knots
- Detection range reduced: 1.3 to 1.2km
- Main battery turret traverse time reduced: 18.6 to 12.9s
- Repair Party added in the same slot as Smoke generator. Parameters are similar to those found on Ognevoi
- Smoke Generator consumable parameters changed. The consumable now has the following characteristics:
- Action time: 20s
- Smoke dispersion time: 85s
- Reload time: 120s
- Number of Charges: 3
VI Gnevny
- Stock Torpedo parameters changed:
- Range increased: 4 to 6km
- Maximum damage reduced: 14400 to 11233
- Reload time increased: 70 to 66s
- Speed reduced: 65 to 59 knots
- Detection range reduced: 1.3 to 1.2km
- Researchable torpedo parameters changed:
- Range increased: 4 to 7km
- Maximum damage reduced: 15100 to 14400
- Speed reduced: 70 to 60 knots
- Detection range reduced: 1.4 to 1.2km
- Main battery turret traverse time reduced: 18.6 to 12.0s
- Repair Party added in the same slot as Smoke generator. Parameters are similar to those found on Ognevoi
- Smoke Generator consumable parameters changed. The consumable now has the following characteristics:
- Action time: 20s
- Smoke dispersion time: 85s
- Reload time: 120s
- Number of Charges: 3
VII Minsk
- Stock Torpedo parameters changed:
- Range increased: 4 to 7km
- Maximum damage reduced: 15100 to 14400
- Reload time reduced: 101 to 93s
- Speed reduced: 70 to 60 knots
- Detection range reduced: 1.4 to 1.2km
- Researchable torpedo parameters changed:
- Range increased: 4 to 7km
- Maximum damage reduced: 17933 to 14400
- Speed reduced: 65 to 60 knots
- Detection range reduced: 1.4 to 1.2km
- Reload time decreased: 98 to 80s
- Main battery turret traverse time reduced: 18.6 to 12.0s
- Repair Party added in the same slot as Smoke generator. Parameters are similar to those found on Ognevoi
- Smoke Generator consumable parameters changed. The consumable now has the following characteristics:
- Action time: 20s
- Smoke dispersion time: 85s
- Reload time: 120s
- Number of Charges: 3
VIII Ognevoi
- Main battery reload time reduced: 5 to 3.8s
- Torpedo parameters changed:
- Range reduced: 10 to 8km
- Speed increased: 57 to 63 knots
- Detectability range increased: 1.1 to 1.2km
VIII Kiev
- Main battery turret traverse time reduced: 18.6 to 12.0s
- Stock torpedo parameters changed:
- Range increased: 4 to 7km
- Maximum damage reduced: 17933 to 14400
- Speed reduced: 65 to 60 knots
- Detection range reduced: 1.4 to 1.2km
- Smoke Generator consumable parameters changed. The consumable now has the following characteristics:
- Action time: 30s
- Smoke dispersion time: 100s
- Reload time: 120s
- Number of Charges: 4
IX Tashkent
- Stock torpedoes removed. Current researchable torpedoes will now become the stock option
- New researchable torpedoes added with the following characteristics:
- Range: 10km
- Damage: 14400
- Reload time: 117s
- Speed: 55 knots
- Detectability: 1.1km
- Rudder shift time reduced:
- Stock hull: 8.5 to 7s
- Researchable hull: 6.1 to 5s
- Smoke Generator consumable parameters changed. The consumable now has the following characteristics:
- Action time: 30s
- Smoke dispersion time: 100s
- Reload time: 120s
- Number of Charges: 4
X Delny
- Smoke Generator consumable parameters changed. The consumable now has the following characteristics:
- Action time: 30s
- Smoke dispersion time: 100s
- Reload time: 120s
- Number of Charges: 4
★ Zorkiy
- Smoke Generator consumable parameters changed. The consumable now has the following characteristics:
- Action time: 30s
- Smoke dispersion time: 100s
- Reload time: 120s
- Number of Charges: 4
Japanese Cruisers VII Myōkō (and her replicas/analogous ships), VIII Mogami and IX Ibuki
- Torpedo Tube firing angles forward widened by 15 degrees
The changes to Myōkō, Mogami, and Ibuki are aimed at increasing the level of comfort when using torpedoes. Similar changes were introduced to Zao, and have shown to be a welcome addition, therefore, WG have decided to extend a similar widening of torpedo angles to lower-tier cruisers of the branch. Nevertheless, the goal of these changes is not to significantly increase the combat effectiveness of these ships nor to invalidate the identity of the sister branch of Japanese light cruisers, therefore it was limited to a relatively small angle and applied to a select few ships. WG will monitor the efficiency of the changed ships going forward and apply further balance changes if necessary.
VIII Ipiranga
- Fixed an issue where researchable hull upper belt was thicker than that of the stock hull.
- Engine parameters changed. The ship will retain enhanced acceleration parameters but will no longer be able to sustain high speed during turns.
IX Los Andes
- 127mm secondary battery armament reload time increased: 5.0s to 6.4s
- 234mm secondary battery armament reload time increased: 11 to 14s
- Engine parameters changed. The ship will retain enhanced acceleration parameters but will no longer be able to sustain high speed during turns.
X Libertad
- Engine parameters changed. The ship will retain enhanced acceleration parameters but will no longer be able to sustain high speed during turns.
VI Almirante Cochrane
- Main Battery Reload time increased: 7 to 7.4s
VI Orion '44
- Main Battery Reload time increased: 9.5 to 9.8s
- Detectability by Sea range increased: 10.5 to 11.1km
- All other detectability ranges changed accordingly
VI London
- Main Battery range increased: 13.4 to 14.5km
- Main Battery Reload time reduced: 15 to 14s
VIII Vanguard
- Repair Party replaced with Specialized Repair Teams with the following parameters:
- HP per second increased: 430 to 1075
- Action time decreased: 28 to 14s
- Number of Consumables: 3
This change has been applied in order to refresh the ship's gameplay and add to the quality of life when playing on Vanguard. WG have opted to reduce the risk of using the main guns by improving her healing capabilities. With these changes, Vanguard will be able to heal back a larger portion of her HP than before in a fraction of the time, allowing her commander wider flexibility in taking calculated risks when choosing whether to bring all guns to bear.
VII Leningrad
- Torpedo Reload Booster consumable added with the following parameters:
- Torpedo reload: 8s
- Cooldown: 300s
- Number of Charges: 2
X Kremlin
- Reverted previous changes that reduced AA mount survivability
VII Uganda
- Main Battery reload time reduced 6.6 to 6s
VII Hyūga
- Sigma value reduced: 1.8 to 1.7
VIII HSF Harekaze II
- HE shell penetration increased: 25 to 30mm
V Texas
- Added Defensive AA Fire consumable with the following parameters:
- Number of Charges: 4
- Reload time: 80s
- Duration: 40s
- Continuous AA damage: +50%
- AA shell explosion damage: +300%
VI Dupleix
- Main Battery Reload Booster consumable duration increased: 15 to 25s
VIII Vrijheid
- Number of depth charge bombs increased: 6 to 8
