26 replies to this topic

[asp69]

Never in this game have I been so utterly let down by a tank.  105mm gun is totally worthless as it has the worst penetration EVER. HE , AP, or otherwise.  I've givin this thing every opportunity and it just fails completely.  Long range sniping: fail.   Might as well forget getting up close as the pen for the 105 at close range is pathetic.  Fighting at middle ranges:  slow re-loading time of the 105 even with a rammer = death sentence.  Not to mention the absolute screwing this thing gets from matchmaker.  Feel free to flame but my opinion stands.  Avoid this thing like the plague.

[Axiom2]

Have you have ever about the so-called 'derp-guns' ? These guns are Howitzers only truly effective with HE ammo equipped. With that in mind, circle-strafe the enemy tank and put one of those HE shells in his ass to make him go ouch.

[Mad_Marine]

You're doing it wrong. If you're going to sit still, don't fire. Pick your moment and keep moving. I've 1 shot a KV and killed plenty of top tier tanks. You should be able to take out T-50-2's and Chaffee's all day long, and still have something left for an arty run.

Nothing wrong with this tank.

[Tazilon]

[dingsdaleus]

Refer your complaint to Tazilion. His kill ratio is proof this tank can do some amazing things. This tank needs a competent driver to be effective.

[dingsdaleus]

Tazilon, on Apr 13 2012 - 07:21, said:

Speak of the devil.

[asp69]

I guess expressing my honest opinion of this vehicle has givin offense to the 2801 fanboys and garnered myself the almighty "troll" tag.  You guys are quite the budding politicians trying to discredit the opposition.  Well done!

[meatycus]

Hey Asp its cool, I was also upset with it when I first got it

I have a VK2801 and I love it, I think you need to play it carefully though, more like a AMX1390, an opportunist to be correct, not a scout/brawler/sniper, hide a bit then make dashes though weak spots and cause havoc from behind

The Derp gun needs HE, get behind things and you will have fun, it is after all one of the artys most feared tanks (up there with batchats/t50-2s so on) due to its derp+72kpm speed, its even know as the arty-bane

Make sure you have 100% crew, pick all the skills that increase your acc, reload, speed and repairs, I wouldn't bother with camo as the tank is too tall to hide properly like other smaller scouts

Eqip:
- Vents
- Rammer
- Spall liner (with this you can ram things which is really fun, I do sometimes up to 300 damage to a stationary arty unit, after which you unload a derp shell and finish the job

One more time: play it as an opportunist   its a top tier scout tank and gets put in with tough OPFOR, and dont expect to make silver with it...

[Tazilon]

Read my guide and note what I say in the section on equipping your tank.  You will not like the 2801 until you get it fully outfitted.   Even so, I find it hilarious a Leopard driver (you have your most missions by far in your Leopard) is complaining about the firepower of a 2801.

[Shaftronics]

Among all the end Tier 5 scouts, guess which of the 3 makes a french mid/high tier yhink twice of engaging.

Chaffee? Nah. T-50-2? Not really.

Vk 2801 with the derp? HM.

[philjd]

I enjoy my 2801, hard tank to play given it's MM profile, just have to be patient for those battles where you will make both a difference and a significant contribution.

[Gelidusanima]

Not going to lie. The vk2801 is not an "easy tank" like you get with an is-4 or E75. Like almost all light tanks (that don't defy physics) they are fairly easy to hit, low hit point go-carts with guns. personally, I stay a quite far away from things i need to spot in the early game, leave the "Herp-Derp arty rush weeeeeee" to the t-50-2.

Wile to be honest, The 10,5 could use a little love(a little more penn/ to be honest, maybe even load time reduction too). This gun is totally capable of conjuring tears of rage from the following: arty, hull-gunned Tank destroyers, nearly every french tank in the game, hellcats (13mm armor lolol   ), and anything with around 100hp left.

the most fun i have ever had in this tank is when i surprised a Batchat just starting a reload. my first shot was a stroke of luck as it tracked him. And, interestingly, when you penn with a HE round not only does it do OMFG amounts of damage it also basically screws up every crew member/equipment bit in the tank if your lucky.

Also note that the 60mm armor the tank sports in the front wont bounce bother-all unless angled to the point on silliness. (bounced a jagtiger shot from around 300m  at an angle of around 170 degrees)

[timwahoo]

Gelidusanima, on Apr 15 2012 - 00:23, said:

Also note that the 60mm armor the tank sports in the front wont bounce bother-all unless angled to the point on silliness. (bounced a jagtiger shot from around 300m  at an angle of around 170 degrees)

Thats funny cos did you know everytime this happens a post goes up on the TD forum saying jt gun sucks

[Tazilon]

asp69, on Apr 13 2012 - 06:50, said:

Never in this game have I been so utterly let down by a tank.  105mm gun is totally worthless as it has the worst penetration EVER. HE , AP, or otherwise.  I've givin this thing every opportunity and it just fails completely.  Long range sniping: fail.   Might as well forget getting up close as the pen for the 105 at close range is pathetic.  Fighting at middle ranges:  slow re-loading time of the 105 even with a rammer = death sentence.  Not to mention the absolute screwing this thing gets from matchmaker.  Feel free to flame but my opinion stands.  Avoid this thing like the plague.

My worthless 105 with no pen just killed a Maus.

[xthetenth]

I've got to say, I've seen the replay of a friend's 3421 xp game in one, and it's hiliarious. He just about ate two T110s from full health. Good positioning is a godsend, but it's real hard to get there. I don't drive one so I don't feel confident giving advice, but it can be done and it can be hilarious.

[Mephto]

I would like to expand the discussion on the VK2801 to how it is treated in repairs.  I think I could fall in love with this tank except it seems like a luxury.  I make money on every tank I run EXCEPT this one.  With a repair cost of 9,500 I certainly cannot afford to lose a game with it, and the wins don't make enough credits to make up for the losses.  WHY does this tank seem like a high maintenance woman?  I know the easy answer is to win more often...maybe I am just venting...I do think this is a fun tank.

[Tazilon]

Mephto, on Apr 16 2012 - 15:28, said:

I would like to expand the discussion on the VK2801 to how it is treated in repairs.  I think I could fall in love with this tank except it seems like a luxury.  I make money on every tank I run EXCEPT this one.  With a repair cost of 9,500 I certainly cannot afford to lose a game with it, and the wins don't make enough credits to make up for the losses.  WHY does this tank seem like a high maintenance woman?  I know the easy answer is to win more often...maybe I am just venting...I do think this is a fun tank.

It got a 14% income boost in 7.2

[Mephto]

Yes, I know about the increase...but it still is a net loss...imho.  I was curious on why or thoughts on it.  I have begun to change the way I play based on your success and ideas, but (1) VK2801 does not make or break a game where I am in the lowest third of the list.  I will continue driver this unique vehicle and try and get better.

[Mephto]

BTW Tazilon, I am watching your vids...I am learning a lot. Thank you for posting them.

[gameplay]

dingsdaleus, on Apr 13 2012 - 07:25, said:

Refer your complaint to Tazilion. His kill ratio is proof this tank can do some amazing things. This tank needs a competent driver to be effective.

You need to take taz out of the equation when evaluating this tank. If you look at the preponderance of posts on this tank, you will find he alone stands as a master of this tank, and the fact that he has 5 skills on top for his crew, skews the figure in evaluating this tank for others.

It is a special tank and takes skill to use effectively, and while taz has the tank fitting his style of play and has benefited from the intricacies of the tank, does not mean that the tank is wonderful. On a whole it does not play well as others and needs to be "grown into".

Increase your  skill level and try this tank again, but do not, as rushing through the German Light Tank line to get to the VK2801, think you will "dominate" the game. I have played against taz (once, I always check to see if he is playing the VK2801 if one appears on the screen). His team lost and I watched how he played. Very effective light tank player, he got 3 kills and was the last one standing on his team.

DO NOT measure yourself against his accolades, for you will fall short....and I believe THAT is the reason that others have difficulty with this tank.