WoT Newsletter Volume #24
SiberianExpress
May 06 2011
Welcome to the World of Tanks!
For all the new players joining us this week we welcome you!
To get acquainted with the game please you may want to check out the Tutorial Videos, WIKI, Tankopedia and Newcomers Forum Section
If you are colorblind, check out this mod by SmVueno: Colorblind Mod
From the Reconnaissance Department
JagdTiger
History and renders now available on the official site for the JagdTiger
Revised and Improved Tech Trees
American, Soviet and German full tech trees have been revised, see the main article for more details here You can discus the coming changes here
Maintenance Works
Maintenance works, due to special event organization is scheduled for May 7 11:00-12:00 UTC, May 8 11:00-13:00 UTC, May 10 11:00-12:00 UTC
From the Research and Development Department
Sneak Peak at a new map in development "Redshire":
Changelog 0.6.3.11 -> 0.6.4.5 (not finalized)
Spoiler
From the Special Operations Department
Historical Battles organized by ZorinWarfield, BazookaDre and Alamode
Find out more here
Elbe Day Contest Open
World of Tanks warriors should make images in the style of historical photos on the basis of in-game screenshots. The rules of the contest are given in the special forum topic.
The contest will close on the 8th of May 8:00 UTC.
1st place: 12 500 gold
2nd place: 8 500 gold
3rd place: 5 000 gold
Clan Parade Contest Open
Use this unique chance to frighten the enemy with your carefully honed coordination and discipline! Make a video of your Clan as if you are on Parade! Your 1 to 5 minutes long videos should contain at least 10 Clan tanks. The rules of the contest are given in the special forum topic.
The contest will over on the 8th of May 8:00 UTC.
1st place: 30 000 gold
2nd place: 20 000 gold
3rd place: 10 000 gold
Kill the Mod: The Return of Tank Company Competition Open
May 15 starting 5:00 PM UTC and up to 7:00 PM UTC the team of WoT developers and moderators will unite again to fight against players. If the players’ team wins, each warrior will be granted 1,000 in-game gold. In case of defeat each participating player will get 500 in-game gold. And 750 in-game gold will be your reward for a draw. More information on the event is given in the special forum topic.
The Cunning Matryoshka Quest Results
The winner are: Xerxes17, Elenar, Belrick, Urbanowicz, TheMagister, Mastertaco, nut123456789 who are each awarded 5000 gold
You can find out more about the contest here
The Drill Boot Camp Tournament
The teams have been accepted, with 1678 players participating in 91 teams. The times for the matches have been set, the first match being May 10 at 00:30 UTC, to find out when your team is playing go here.
For the full schedule go here
Prizes:
1st Place: 10 000 gold for each team member
2nd Place: 5 000 gold for each team member
3rd Place: 2 500 gold for each team member
1st Place(Oceania): 5000 gold for each team member
2nd Place(Oceania): 2500 gold for each team member
V-E Day! event
For V-E Day, from May 7th to May 10th we will have:
- 50% discount of all additional equipment for your vehicles
- 5x experience for the first victory of the day
- 3 day Premium account will cost only 250 gold
Keep on the lookout for new events, contests and competitions.
From the High Command
Q: When is the current ballpark estimate of British tanks? By this I mean are we talking 2011, 2012, Christmas time, Summer time, etc?
A: I think they may be added as a Christmas present, this timeline looks rather credible.
Q: Is it likely that the Panther will keep the Long 88? I would hate have to have another German medium confined to using the 88mm L/56 or 75mm L/70 (Like the VK3002DB).
A: 75mm L/100 won't be added, however Panther might keep the long 88mm.
Q: Accelerate Crew Training: Some are saying this is not working at this time is this true or is it working like it suppose to.
A: It's working. When acceleration is on:
6.3 - every tankman from the crew gets extra xp. extra_xp = xp_for_the_battle / crew_size.
6.4 - least skilled tankman gets double xp.
Q: Will you fix matchmaking to not stack heavy tanks in one team and mediums or TDs to another? Mostly only top 6 tanks determine upon win or loose so tanks down in the list are not important.
A: Significant improvement will come along with adjusted match making values in 0.6.4.
Q: For clans, any ETA on the possibility to promote recruits to other positions ? (deputy...)
A: At launch of CWs.
Q: As it is now, people aren't awarded for tracking an opponent to help others destroy him, do you think it's good as it is ? Couldn't it be changed ?
A: De-tracking counts as critical damage and is paid in experience and credits.
From the Front Lines
Tank Review by Diastant
S-51
History: A random search might not turn up anything special but in depth at less common websites will yield you plenty. In the end of 1943, the GAU began looking for a heavy mobile artillery system. The solution was simple. Mount a 203/152mm gun on a KV-1S chassis. It expressed some interest, but the timeline was exceeded and so production never happened.
Firepower: The firepower of the S-51 isn't the best when you have a stock 152. It's worst than an SU-8 in terms of accuracy but you will get used to it as it prepares you for the playing style of the next gun. However, faster reload than the 203 as well as some accuracy give this a punch. Although the damage is average-excellent, accuracy seems to be the tricky thing so always try to get the aiming circle fully closed in on a tank to ensure a hit or at least some splash damage. The 203 will get much, much better. Once you get the 203 you now only have 12 shells, but the splash alone should be plenty enough to kill Tier 5 and under. Any direct hit can one-shot some heavy tanks.
Armor: Armor is great for an SPG, but 90% of the tank is open, and that makes it very vulnerable to the back. While A-20's and Leopard's may even bounce its frontal armor,they can still circle you so be aware of that. For SPG's, there's not much to say about armor except that you should always face front to any scout, and hope that they bounce. The fact that it has an open chassis makes it worse, as module damage and fires will occur so much more often so always keep your back protected.
Mobility: It will feel, quite literally, like a stock KV when you first buy it. It's horrible. So get the tracks, and then it's your choice of engine/gun. Radio should be last. The S-51 is known to be better than the SU-14 for one reason, and that's mobility. It has a 19 degree turn angle (upgraded), and a 600 HP engine once you upgrade the engine itself. This allows for a very versatile mobile heavy artillery piece. Use it to re-locate quickly, and to get out of situations faster. It might just save your life.
Fear Factor: S-51's are quite rare on the battlefield as most people don't bother to grind the 120,000 exp+ needed for this thing on a KV. But it's worth it. People are more scared than an S-51 than by a bus. The splash damage alone is enough to kill both an S-51 and a GW-Panther (confirmed) on the 203. Scouts will find themselves bouncing the frontal armor and the mobility, it' better than normal for such a high tier SPG. This is the fear-inducing S-51. Watch out.
Overall Value: Any S-51 is a major force because even if it has the 152 stock gun, it still is lethal, capable of one-shotting Tier 5 and under, even ammo racking often. Losing your S-51 is a valuable loss. Protect it, hide it, just don't ever lose it. It's your main source of firepower. It can turn the tide of the battle.
This is a historical photo
From the Diplomacy Department
Calm Down Tom reviews World of Tanks
ThinkComupters reviews World of Tanks
GamePro reviews World of Tanks
Game Trailers reviews World of Tanks
MMOBOMB reviews World of Tanks
Dedicated to Gamers reviews World of Tanks
MMORPG.co.uk reviews World of Tanks
BlogCritics reviews World of Tanks
From the Propaganda Department
Fan Art of the week:
"Good Game" by Akitsu Taira
Artist's Note said:
■World of tanksの戦車■吹き出しはゲーム内で見た単語の羅列で他意はないです。
Translated Artist's Note said:
■A tank from World of tanks■The speech bubbles are a collection of terms I saw in the game, so there's no double meaning to them.
MemoryReborn's Note said:
This was found on Pixiv (A Japanese websites where artists can upload their work for display) by player Mini_Bolo in mid-April, and surprisingly enough the original picture was uploaded in late February, establishing the World of Tanks tag on the site. Since then a few other fan images have been uploaded, including various images of the artists' favorite vehicles done in various styles, and even including a pixel art version of an M4A3E8 (think Advance Wars style) . So slowly but surely, our little World of Tanks is expanding in popularity across the globe.
Artist's Note said:
World of tanks より米重戦車T29 アメリカ戦車ではこれが一番格好良いと思います 砲塔かっちかちやぞ！
Translated Artist's Note said:
The Heavy Tank T29 from World of Tanks. I think that of the American tanks, this tank is the coolest.
MemoryReborn's Note said:
This was also found on Pixiv, uploaded March 25. Just a nice high-quality image from another T29 fan, done in mechanical pencil and touched up with Photoshop.
Tank Skins of the week:
PzKpfw V-IV by nafnist from his post
From the Editors
If you are interested in helping with the newsletter, please contact Mediahead
Editors: Diastant, MemoryReborn, SiberianExpress
Diastant
May 06 2011
Yup, I loved the fan art section, very creative. Good job on the newsletter this week guys.
alyksandyr
May 06 2011
Loved the back story on the S-51. I know alot about the actual production models in game, but know very little about the protopypes and development projects.
Cool that you mentioned the Historical Battles as well. I'm hoping to try one out in the future.
Cool that you mentioned the Historical Battles as well. I'm hoping to try one out in the future.
DJ18
May 06 2011
No more news on American TD's.
Want some update. Like pictures or information on stats or when we can expect them.
Want some update. Like pictures or information on stats or when we can expect them.
SiberianExpress
May 07 2011
F34rmen00bz, on May 07 2011 - 02:52, said:
Siberia, the VE day thing is from the 7th to the 10th, not the 9th
xen3000
May 07 2011
Excellent work as always! 
I am a bit concerned about the layout of that new map though... reminds me of Komarin too much.
I am a bit concerned about the layout of that new map though... reminds me of Komarin too much.
F34rmen00bz
May 07 2011
xen3000, on May 07 2011 - 04:36, said:
Excellent work as always!
I am a bit concerned about the layout of that new map though... reminds me of Komarin too much.
I am a bit concerned about the layout of that new map though... reminds me of Komarin too much.
New map looks interesting, considering the fact that there is only one bridge
xen3000
May 07 2011
F34rmen00bz, on May 07 2011 - 05:44, said:
New map looks interesting, considering the fact that there is only one bridge
Wouldn't that be worse than Komarin? I am hoping parts of the river are shallow and allow crossing, otherwise it will be setup and camp. South side looks like it may be at an advantage at that.
@cipher12
May 07 2011
"Fixed the inability to use Armor Piercing rounds for the SPGs: GW-Tiger, GW-E, T92"
So wait does mean they will get to use AP rounds after the patch?
So wait does mean they will get to use AP rounds after the patch?
Diastant
May 07 2011
Probably.
If there is no shallow water for us to cross, it's either 30 tank slug fest at the bridge or it's going to be worse than Campinovka.
If there is no shallow water for us to cross, it's either 30 tank slug fest at the bridge or it's going to be worse than Campinovka.
F34rmen00bz
May 07 2011
xen3000, on May 07 2011 - 05:52, said:
Wouldn't that be worse than Komarin? I am hoping parts of the river are shallow and allow crossing, otherwise it will be setup and camp. South side looks like it may be at an advantage at that.
Yes, but remember that in 6.4, we're going to be able to move wreaks so the bridge won't be able to be blocked for long
Erwin_Fox
May 08 2011
I hate to ask, but any date for 6.4? If it is in the newsletter seems like it would be this week.
P.S If i missed the date written somewhere I am sorry. Please inform me.
P.S If i missed the date written somewhere I am sorry. Please inform me.
Shackram
May 08 2011
xen3000, on May 07 2011 - 05:52, said:
Wouldn't that be worse than Komarin? I am hoping parts of the river are shallow and allow crossing, otherwise it will be setup and camp. South side looks like it may be at an advantage at that.
Yep, they need to make maps with less choke-points and more areas to maneuver and flank. I don't like the design on that map at all unless you can ford the river.
Being able to push wrecks won't help because: pushing a wreck while under fire = more wrecks.
