11 replies to this topic

[Highlighter]

Hello all.  I'm looking for some tips and help with the Cougar.  I've read Tazilon's very impressive guide (nearly 100 pages!), and while it's helped, I'm finding it difficult to put it into practice.  For whatever reason, I just can't seem to get the tank to perform how I want it to.  I'll try to explain how I play the tank, and I'll post some questions.  If anyone could give me tips, I'd be greatly appreciative.

1)  I run a standard account because I am doing my hardest not to spend anymore money on this game.  While I've been a supporter in the past, I just don't want to toss anymore money at Wargaming.  

2)  I currently play the VK2801 like I play my M18 Hellcat, but more aggressively because of the superior acceleration.  I'll try to get into position near the front to act as a screen, and hopefully relocate somewhere else.  Is that where I'm going wrong?  Should I not be placing myself in the frontlines except only when I'm trying to break through and nail their arty?  Is that being too aggressive? (Most of my WoT career has been playing the German heavies and mediums, where I can rely on their superior armor/HP to effectively brawl and "tank" the enemy.)

I mean, I know the Cougar is a light tank and isn't durable, but it just seems like a waste not to be able to employ the 105mm...  Or, again, maybe I'm doing it wrong, and I need to focus on getting around the enemy.

3)  Do I need Camo to be at 100% across the board to even see a significant effect?  

4)  I read a lot of people getting tons of kills, experience, etc.  I'd like to know just how common are those games?  Are more typical games the kind where you lose money, have few kills, etc.?  I mean I've had a few games recently where I've gotten 10k profits with a standard account, but that's certainly not the norm.  The credit earning ability (or lack thereof) is really what's bothering me, to be honest. I wouldn't mind playing the tank and not seeing incredible awesome successes, if I could just break even, but it seems like every game I lose 5k or so.  It's frustrating that I can't continue playing the tank without running a premium account or tank.  /shrug

So, yeah, any tips?  Do you need more information?  Am I just a terrible player?  lol

[Satans_Choice]

I have used the 2801 with the 105 on my buddies account a few times.
Its a great light with costly repair bill.
The trick is stay with Meds or Heavies to support them & when there targeted you rush out and flank the attackers.
The 105 is most affective when shooting sides & rear of other tanks. Providing you can Pen there Armor!
As for Camo it only lessens your chance of being spotted while hiding behind bushes by -25% to detection. And if your moving your turret Camo is not working.
I have seen my buddy average 4 to 5 kills per game & make 20K+. But then again he's been playing this game for a Year.
As for paying to play I agree by not spending money on this game. Although I have recieved Gold as a gift & purchased a Ram ll & Matilda.
I find this game has too many bug issue's to be pumping in money into War Gaming's pocket.
I admitt It is a addictive game though.

[Tazilon]

Highlighter, on Apr 07 2012 - 20:28, said:

Hello all.  I'm looking for some tips and help with the Cougar.  I've read Tazilon's very impressive guide (nearly 100 pages!), and while it's helped, I'm finding it difficult to put it into practice.  For whatever reason, I just can't seem to get the tank to perform how I want it to.  I'll try to explain how I play the tank, and I'll post some questions.  If anyone could give me tips, I'd be greatly appreciative.

1)  I run a standard account because I am doing my hardest not to spend anymore money on this game.  While I've been a supporter in the past, I just don't want to toss anymore money at Wargaming.  

2)  I currently play the VK2801 like I play my M18 Hellcat, but more aggressively because of the superior acceleration.  I'll try to get into position near the front to act as a screen, and hopefully relocate somewhere else.  Is that where I'm going wrong?  Should I not be placing myself in the frontlines except only when I'm trying to break through and nail their arty?  Is that being too aggressive? (Most of my WoT career has been playing the German heavies and mediums, where I can rely on their superior armor/HP to effectively brawl and "tank" the enemy.)

I mean, I know the Cougar is a light tank and isn't durable, but it just seems like a waste not to be able to employ the 105mm...  Or, again, maybe I'm doing it wrong, and I need to focus on getting around the enemy.

3)  Do I need Camo to be at 100% across the board to even see a significant effect?  

4)  I read a lot of people getting tons of kills, experience, etc.  I'd like to know just how common are those games?  Are more typical games the kind where you lose money, have few kills, etc.?  I mean I've had a few games recently where I've gotten 10k profits with a standard account, but that's certainly not the norm.  The credit earning ability (or lack thereof) is really what's bothering me, to be honest. I wouldn't mind playing the tank and not seeing incredible awesome successes, if I could just break even, but it seems like every game I lose 5k or so.  It's frustrating that I can't continue playing the tank without running a premium account or tank.  /shrug

So, yeah, any tips?  Do you need more information?  Am I just a terrible player?  lol

Brawling is your weakest Battle Style.  Scout from a distance unless hidden and kill from a distance unless you are full speed and not heavily outnumbered.  Going into 1v2s, 1v3s, etc is fine if you have cover to escape to or run around or weave in and out of.  If you keep playing it like a medium or heavy you will always be disappointed with it.  Usually your best bet is to Half Court Scout, Anti-scout,  or Ninja Scout until you see a hole in the defense, then squirt through and go as nuts as you can without getting yourself into something so bad you die.

[Highlighter]

Hrm... So it appears it's really learning to hold yourself back in the early game and then going for the mid- and end-games.  And I just need to break my medium/heavy mentality.

[Tazilon]

Satans_Choice, on Apr 07 2012 - 20:54, said:

I have used the 2801 with the 105 on my buddies account a few times.
Its a great light with costly repair bill.
The trick is stay with Meds or Heavies to support them & when there targeted you rush out and flank the attackers.
The 105 is most affective when shooting sides & rear of other tanks. Providing you can Pen there Armor!
As for Camo it only lessens your chance of being spotted while hiding behind bushes by -25% to detection. And if your moving your turret Camo is not working.
I have seen my buddy average 4 to 5 kills per game & make 20K+. But then again he's been playing this game for a Year.
As for paying to play I agree by not spending money on this game. Although I have recieved Gold as a gift & purchased a Ram ll & Matilda.
I find this game has too many bug issue's to be pumping in money into War Gaming's pocket.
I admitt It is a addictive game though.

1) You do not need to Pen with HE.
2)  He is referring to Camo Skill which works no matter whether you are still or moving.  The amount of effect is equal to the average skill of your crew.  so if 4 are 100% and 1 is 50% you wold receive 450/500 = 90% benefit.
3)  I think you are referring to Camo Nets - their effect is NOT cancelled out by moving the turret.  Moving your turret never cancels Camo benefit unless rotating it exposes it to view.  PS:  your gun barrel does not count.  Your gun barrel is basically invisible in terms of determining being spotted.

[Gelidusanima]

with my VK2801 i drive it in an rather aggressive scouting style. rarely will i hide in a bush, preferring to keep moving so that if i am spotted i can get away very quickly. I've built this style on quick reaction (and decision making). often i will take the risk and dive a heavy and pop a HE into them to open up a chance for my heavy tanks to hit him... and generaly to be a pest   .

the idea with this tank style is to pay attention to enemy tank positions. I try to predict what tanks will go where and take a look from a safe spot or far distance. often as the game nears the end or if I notice that most of the tanks are on the flanks, the middle will be open for an arty hunt. Often on particular maps i wont even bother to scout very far because it would almost always lead to death (like mountain pass).

Tazilon's guide is a very consistent style for the VK. the guide should not be a end all be all for your style, in stead, you should take from his guide the things that fit with your style and start to adapt to some of the ideas in the guide that are with out a doubt good ideas.

in the end though, what it comes down to is that this tank is extremely versatile, so keep expirimenting with different styles and find one that is the most fun for you, and your credit income   .

[Tazilon]

Gelidusanima, on Apr 08 2012 - 00:17, said:

with my VK2801 i drive it in an rather aggressive scouting style. rarely will i hide in a bush, preferring to keep moving so that if i am spotted i can get away very quickly. I've built this style on quick reaction (and decision making). often i will take the risk and dive a heavy and pop a HE into them to open up a chance for my heavy tanks to hit him... and generaly to be a pest   .

the idea with this tank style is to pay attention to enemy tank positions. I try to predict what tanks will go where and take a look from a safe spot or far distance. often as the game nears the end or if I notice that most of the tanks are on the flanks, the middle will be open for an arty hunt. Often on particular maps i wont even bother to scout very far because it would almost always lead to death (like mountain pass).

Tazilon's guide is a very consistent style for the VK. the guide should not be a end all be all for your style, in stead, you should take from his guide the things that fit with your style and start to adapt to some of the ideas in the guide that are with out a doubt good ideas.

in the end though, what it comes down to is that this tank is extremely versatile, so keep expirimenting with different styles and find one that is the most fun for you, and your credit income   .

I actually do the same a lot.   I usually tend to be a bit passive in terms of engaging the enemy until I get a feel for where many of them are, then I will use a lot of Drive-bys and harassment techniques to try to get them distracted from their main problem.  It can backfire when you go around a corner and discover a previously unaccounted for tank but if you always leave yourself an escape route you can pay fairly aggressive with good results.  But, generally speaking, you can't flank and sit or brawl and sit.  unless you are ninja scouting or sniping at range you should stay moving.

Geli is right about personal style, though.  I try to emphasize that in the Preface to my Guide.  There is no singular "correct" way to outfit your tank, train your crew or play your tank.  Learn as much as you can from others and use what feels right to you.  Develop your own way of playing based on what works for you and what doesn't.

[Corheyla]

Most importantly, get this skin!
http://forum.worldof..._teethhappy.gif
https://lh4.googleus...40/shot_014.jpg

[Atum]

Corheyla, on Apr 09 2012 - 05:22, said:

Most importantly, get this skin!
http://forum.worldof..._teethhappy.gif
https://lh4.googleus...40/shot_014.jpg

damn, i wish that would show up on the players screen as well, i'd have that on in a snap! awesome skin.

[Atum]

Taz has this tank down too a science. The big variable here is the battle MM throws at you. If they are all tanks that can 2 shot/one shot you, then stay back (unless you want to actively scout, I prefer my t-50-2 but that's me, I save my vk2801 for going for kills)Slip in once you have an idea how the enemy is set up, paying attention to where the TD's are set up if your team's scout lights them up. TD's can ruin your day really fast. try to flank enemies that are engaged in battle and fire into their rears/sides. Slip in and kill arty, if your shot doesn't quite finish him, ram him if you think he might get a shot off before you get loaded again. However, if you are low on health, don't ram him then fire while still against him. Your HE splash will damage your own tank, even finish you off. I came over a hill scouting once, ran smack into the front end of an  is-7, he fired a glancing shot that left me low on HP, before trying to back up I fired and my splash killed me. I was the first tank dead in the match, yet nobody got the credit for the kill. The other team were scratching their heads and asking how no-one got credit .

You have probably seen Taz's great vids, here is one of mine showing the "flank the enemy already engaged" strategy. I lucked out and found 3 enemies side by side engaged with my teammates. Surpise, you just got derped flanking

[Atum]

Corheyla, on Apr 09 2012 - 05:22, said:

Most importantly, get this skin!
http://forum.worldof..._teethhappy.gif
https://lh4.googleus...40/shot_014.jpg

Screw the camo, i'm going to load this skin for my replays thanks a lot!

[Balue]

Generally.....Other than TD's ....one is most successful when bobbing and weaving...

Sitting still only makes you the next target.