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M103 Timeline Thus Far

This is very long and has the events that are relevant to the M103 chronologically written out as best I could.  There is also an image at the end the summarizes the events around the M103 in case this wall of text is too much.

I hope this thread will help people see what the M103 has been through - and what news was is actually legitimacy and not part of the rumor mill.  I aim to provide a solid record on the M103 - what patches it was withdrawn from and from when the M103 first saw light.  I hope you find this useful and objective

Image spoiler right here in case you don’t want to scroll

• During the spring, the Devs felt that the T34 Heavy wasn't performing well and needed a replacement.  In fact, a large portion of the trees needed some rearranging.  So Overlord posted on his blog about the tech tree revisions and the replacements of a number of tanks.  
  
  

  Quote

  T34 will be substituted for M103.
  
  Date stamp: April 30, 2011
  
  http://overlord-wot....d-improved.html
  
  
  
• Excellent development.  Now people are excited…
  
  
• Model of the M103 along with a number of other tanks posted on a developer live journal account adding credence to the fact that the M103 is under development.  Date Stamp: April 30th.
  http://world-of-tank...om/1490231.html
  
  
• Patch 6.4 hit May 11th which  consisted mostly of balance changes (and the introduction of the Lowe)
  
  
• Overlord released a tentative In Development for patch 6.6.  6.5 wasn’t even finalized or release at this point
  
  

  Quote

  Preliminary patch notes of v.6.6 update planned for release after v.6.5:
  
  New map Fishing Bay (working title, subject to change)
  New map Siegfried Line (working title, subject to change)
  New German heavy tanks line: Pz.VI Tiger (P), VK 4502 (P) Ausf A, Е-75, Е-100.
  New US heavy tank М103, a substitution to Т34 as tier 9 US heavy tank.
  Soviet heavy tank IS-4 shift to tier 10 and introduction of Object 252 as new tier 9 Soviet heavy tank.  
  New US premium light tank M22 Locust.
  New Soviet premium light tank Т-127.
  The introduction of German medium tank Е-50 in v.6.6 update is under consideration.
  
  ETA -  July 2011.
  
  http://overlord-wot....ment-vol-2.html
  
  Date stamp: May 18th
  
  
  
• Kruzenshtern copied and translated a Q&A on the Russian Forums echoing what was said in the preliminary patch notes.
  
  

  Quote

  Q: Will the M103 replace the T34 at the same time as the T30 switch to TD and the introduction of the T110 – or earlier, in 6.5?
  A: At the same time, in 6.6.
  
  Date Stamp: May 18th
  
  http://forum.worldof...post__p__551981
  
  
  
• Patch 6.5 hit June 14th and it included the American TDs and the Patton
  
  
• June 30th, Overlord posted a third In Development for patch 6.6.  These patch notes however did not have the M103 included in them.  
  http://overlord-wot....ment-vol-3.html
  
  This might be considered a delay to the M103.  But one has to admit that they released the tentative notes a month before their final patch notes – there was a lot of time between that where circumstances could have changed.  Either way – M103 might have been ready for 6.6, but the Devs must have decided that it needed more work (coding the switch and what not).   This is why I don’t trust Q&As either as the T110 wasn’t mentioned in the preliminary patch notes anyways.
  
  
• Q&A on the EU forums referencing the M103 being in Patch 6.7 posted on July 17th
  

  Quote

  Q: Is it possible for you to announce some preliminary patch-notes for 6.7?
  
  A: The below is more or less confirmed:
  - 1-2 new maps
  - M103
  - Sherman Jumbo (M4A3E2)
  - VK2801
  
  post #123
  http://forum.worldof...884#entry775884
  
  date stamp: July 17th
  
  
  
• However that position was quickly reversed 11 days later - probably because Overlord got his information wrong and the devs yelled at him.  M103 to be in 7.x.
  

  Quote

  I have few questions about american heavy tank line:
  - is replacement for T34 by M103 and T30 by T110 still planed as 0.6.7?
  - how you will address "historical accuracy" of M103 having lower paramenters than of T34 existing in game? Will M103 be buffed to match VK45/E-75/IS4/other tier 9 heavies?
  - there is clearly observable trend of revamping maps by adding significant amount of cover, mostly anti-artillery cover (Erlenberg and Karelia) - when can we see such adjustments for other maps?
  
  
  1. Nope. Moreover we are not sure about 6.7 at all. Might switch to 7.x series.
  2. M103 won't get "lower paramenters than of T34 existing in game" and will fit tier 9 decently.
  3. We are going to rework old maps in parallel with adding new ones.
  
  post #139
  http://forum.worldof...884#entry775884
  
  Date stamp: July 28th
  
  
  
• Personal opinion note: This rapid flip flop is the reason why I DON'T trust Q&A answers.  I only trust actual blog posts or patch notes as these Q&A sessions are always full of off the cuff answers that aren't fully discussed by the Dev team which result in the spread of misinformation.
  
  
• Patch 6.6 hit August 4th.  This had the German medium and heavy tank revisions.  
  This patch was the  first patch where the Devs missed their deadline.  6.6 was slated for late July.  There was also no M103 included as expected from their final patch notes.
  
  
• Then we had radio silence for a long time.  No word on the M103 and people speculated that it would be in the 6.7 patch.  However nothing official came from the Devs.
  
  
• Overlord released official Screenshots on the M103 September 8th.  M103 date still TBA.
  
  
• Probably due to the nagging to the US heavy player base and their incessant asking of “when’s the M103 coming” on each and every blog post he made no matter what the topic is was, Overlord release the Holy Grail.  
  
  
• September 12th, Overlord said that the M103 change was going to happen in Quarter 1 2012
  
  

  Quote

  heavy tanks M103, T110, tank destroyer T25-2 Q1 2012
  
  Date stamp: September 12th
  
  http://overlord-wot....y-revealed.html
  
  
• Patch 6.7 hit September 13th.  Of course the M103 wasn't in this one - it was planned for Q1 2012
  
  
• Patch 7.0 was stated to be the next patch - so no M103 in patch 6.8 or 6.9 because they don't exist.  Patch 7.0 might have the M103, but the 7.0 was slated for this year, 2011, and that just didn’t fit with the timeline Overlord gave.  There was no chance the M103 would have been in 7.0
  
  
• So, between September and now, we harped Overlord for an earlier release of the M103.  Since 7.0 wasn’t going to contain French tanks – as we learned that it was mainly a performance/server/balance  update, we assumed that 7.1 would have the M103 along with the French.
  
  
• There was no way in hell the M103 would have been ready for 7.0 and Overlord knew it.  We knew this since late October.  The M103 was slated for 7.1 or latter.  This was stated before even patch 6.7 hit.
  
  

  Quote

  Overlord said...
  Q: No answer about the M103 coming with the French tanks, since French isn't coming till the end of December. Breaking your promise again Overlord and afraid to have to bring it up?
  
  A: M103 will come along with French stuff.
  
  October 20, 2011 11:02 AM
  
  http://overlord-wot....ench-tanks.html
  
  
• We got them to push the M103 ahead of their planned schedule (from Q1 2012 to Q4 2011) with Overlord to promising us that it would come with the French tanks (7.1).
  
  
• But Overlord was still asked why M103 was not in 7.0 and clarifies that the M103 was not delayed.  They had no intention of having the M103 in 7.0.
  
  

  Quote

  Overlord said...
  Q: Would this make the dev team adjust their priorities? I.E. pushing release dates of M103 earlier than planned or bring it along with 7.0, USSR in early February, etc.?
  
  A: The conversion procedure which is required for introduction of M103 is rather complex and won't be ready for 7.0. Feature list for this update is finalized.
  
  October 28, 2011 11:48 AM
  
  http://overlord-wot....ll-results.html

  Quote

  Overlord said...
  Q: Delayed again? ><facepalm:
  
  A: M103 WAS NOT scheduled for 7.0. It will come in 7.x update.
  
  October 28, 2011 11:58 AM
  
  http://overlord-wot....ll-results.html
  
  
• Concerns were brought up about the status of the M103 as it was nearing the end of the year
  
  

  Quote

  Overlord said...
  Q: Is 7.1 still expected in December as you had previously said also, or does the delay with 7.0 push it back?
  
  A: 7.1 hasn't been affected much, if there are no more delays with 7.0, French tanks and M103 will arrive this year.
  
  November 8, 2011 10:38 PM
  
  http://overlord-wot....-70-vol-20.html
  
  
• 7.0 Test server goes up on November 18th
  
  
• Then Test 7.0_2, 7.0_3, 7.0_4 happened.  Bug fixes took priority and the Test remained up more than the standard 2 weeks.
  
  
• 7.0 Test server finally closes on December 12th.  The test server was almost up for an entire month pushing everything behind schedule.
  
  
• Overlord answers questions on the EU Q&A on December 13th.  Confirms M103 to be in 7.2 along with some new tanks
  

  Quote

  Q:
  Ever since we got the new rep on the NA forums our Q&A has gotten even less informative.
  Will the NA server be getting 7.0 before next year?
  What exactly is planned for 7.2, since the M103 apparently won't even be in 7.1?
  
  A:
  1. Yes, definitely.
  2. The content for 7.2 hasn't been finalized yet. Definitely it will include M103, IS-6, premium JT, 1-2 new maps.
  
  Post 1766
  
  http://forum.worldof...ost__p__1144557
  
  Date Stamp: December 13th
  
  
  
• 7.1 preliminary patch notes released on Overlord’s blog December 14th
  http://overlord-wot....-notes-v71.html
  No mention of the M103
  
  
• Overlord admits to the delay.  This would be the second delay if you include the tentative patch notes for 6.6
  
  

  Quote

  Overlord said...
  Q: Overlord, wasn't the M103 switch supposed to be in this 7.1 as well?
  
  A: Yup, it was. However we badly need to release 7.1 this year. With M103 in, it won't make it.
  
  December 14, 2011 6:07 PM
  
  http://overlord-wot....-notes-v71.html
  
  
  
• This implies the French tanks are now delayed compared to what they were supposed to be (Q4 2011).  But if they cut out the M103, they might get the French tree released on time and they stay true to their Q4 2011 original goal stated in September.
  
  
• 7.0 is released December 18th,containing a lot of armour changes, balance fixes, UI, and server side updates.
  
  
• US heavy sub forums suffers from angst, rage, victimization and depression.
  
  
• M103 mentioned in Q&A, echoed on EU forums.  Slated to come out in patch 7.2
  

  Quote

  The content for 7.2 hasn't been finalized yet. Definitely it will include M103, IS-6, premium JT, 1-2 new maps.
  
  http://forum.worldof...d-for-72-patch/
  
  Date Stamp: December 13th
  
  
  
• A lot of Overlord answers to Questions on his blog post on December 14th.  (http://overlord-wot....-notes-v71.html)
  Things to note -  The tank was ready but the conversion process was not, and the T34 will not be rebalanced in the interim because the Devs would rather work on the French.  Also, no more timelines being released as they know they cannot meet their own the deadlines
  
  Spoiler

  
  

  • Overlord gives reasons as to why the M103 still isn't out
    

    Quote

    Overlord said...
    Q:overlord, was the M103 not finished ages ago and just waiting for the second american TD line to be done?
    
    A: The tank itself is ready, but the required conversion procedure for it is still not. The conversion procedure hasn't been finished for M103. The one that would check if the player qualifies for the new tank and carries out the necessary changes (deciding on modules, giving tanks).
    
    
    
  • Devs are are not considering a T34 interim buff because of French tanks.  The T34 itself is very low priority.
    

    Quote

    Q: Is there any chance of some sort of T34 buff until 7.2 to hold us over? This would take but a moment to change, unlike a whole new tech tree layout, as with the new tanks
    Anything... RoF, damage, HP, sight range.
    
    A: Pretty busy with French tanks, guess it will just wait for the revision.
    
    
    
  • No more timelines like the September "mystery revealed" post will be posted by Overlord as they don't like being yelled at for not meeting their own deadlines
    

    Quote

    Q: Overlord, can you or WG release a road map for 2012? Thanks.
    
    A: These roadmaps have been proved wrong so many times, that I won't even try.
    
  
  
• More answers from Overlord on M103 on December 15th in the 7.1 preliminary patch notes thread.  Most important thing to note is that due to the second M103 delay, the T110 and the M103 may be released at the same time
  
  Spoiler

  
  

  • T34/M103 switch code has been worked on - just not quickly or efficiently
    

    Quote

    Q: No T34->M103 in 6 months? Almost any programmer could write a procedure for this in 6 hours.
    
    A: It's not that it has been the highest priority since it was announced. And it's not that we has been working on it since then.
    
    
    
  • M103 and T110 may be released at the same time
    

    Quote

    Q: I know how much you love answering questions about the M103/T110 (/sarcasm), so: Will the M103 and T110 be released simultaneously? Or will the M103 come first, and the T110 later?
    
    A: Since the release date of M103 was pushed back, there is a chance of a simulataneous release.
    
  
  
• M103 confirmed for 7.2 by Overlord.  No date given.  Seems like T110 and USA TDs are included in the patch
  

   Overlord, on Dec 27 2011 - 12:20, said:

   Decept1on, on Dec 27 2011 - 00:09, said:

  Q: what can we expect in the "near" future, after 7.1, no dates, just content, if not "patch defined", maybe just a brief order, since the plan changes everyday ;D
  
  7.2 : USA revision with new TD line + M103 & T110, correct ?
  7.3 : ?
  

  
  7.2 - correct.
  
  7.3 - Soviet heavy line revision.
  
  Post #1203
  http://forum.worldof.../page__st__1200
  
  
  
• 7.1 Released in Russia December 28th
  
  
• 7.1 Released on EU and NA severs on January 5, 2012
  
  
• Supposedly Confirmed again for 7.2 by Overlord.  Posted on January 9th, 2012
  

   Overlord, on Jan 09 2012 - 14:27, said:

   burny1, on Jan 09 2012 - 10:47, said:

  Tried to search, but couldn't find any (up to date) info, so:
  
  Q1: What will be in the 0.7.2 patch?
  Q2: When will the ussr tree changes (kv, is4) happen (date or patch number)?
  

  
  1. Supposedly: clan logos, basic tutorial, new crew skills, M103, T110, secondary US TD line, probably some premiums.
  
  2. In the update that comes are after 7.2.
  
  Post #1899
  http://forum.worldof.../page__st__1898
  
  
  
• 7.2 Patch notes released on January 23rd, 2012.  T110E5 and M103 pretty much confirmed for the patch – though granted, these are tentative patch notes.   Patch Scheduled for release in February.
  

  Quote

  T30 moved to alternate branch as a tier IX Tank Destroyer
  T30 replaced by Т110E5
  T34 moved to Premium Tanks
  Т34 replaced by М103
  Spoiler

  
  
  
• 7.2 was not released on February but was delayed
  
  
• February ends without any patch
  
  
• Patch 7.1.1 is released March 13th involving the compression of game files as well as the addition of a modding folder.
  http://worldoftanks....lease-13-march/
  
  
• 7.2 Test 1 server is opened on  March 14th.  However the EU/NA split caused a large portion of the US population from accessing the server.  American TD and US heavy lines are in the test patch – confirmed
  http://worldoftanks....test-update-72/
  
  
• 7.2 Test 2 server goes up on March 17th
  
  
• 7.2 Test 3 server goes up on March 23rd
  
  
• 7.2 patch released for Russian Server on March 29th

EITHER WAY, the M103 is back to its semi-original release date of Q1 2012.  Either it will be released on its own and the French tree comes out on time, or they drag the French tree out of schedule also.

Since that April post, the M103 has been delayed four times – 1 was a tentative patch note released 1 month prior to the actual patch notes, another was Overlord replying in a Q&A without talking with his superiors, another was a delay to an "ahead of schedule push." And the final delay was the rather surprising 7.1.1 patch.  Now there is a lot more things contributing to the anger within the US heavies forums, but that's for another topic.  This is specifically about what happened to the M103 with accurate dating.

The timeline in image form again
I plan to keep this updated as more news comes out.

EDIT
Latest information from Mar 29, 2012

Please let me know if there are links that don't work or if there is any announcements on the M103 that I missed.

i know it makes me sad    they can add all these new tanks  but cannot replace ones needing replacing in-game    good post BTW

Nice.  +1

Putting all the information in one place makes it a lot easier to wrap our brains around it.

It also makes one fairly suspicious about the way the M103 tank has been handled.

I haven't bought the T34 yet because I'm spending my credits on other things atm (Tiger II, lots of equipment at 50%, etc.) and it seems like I still have plenty of time.

Don't get me wrong, I'm with everyone else in looking forward to the M103. From what I hear, the T34 needs to go away as a tier 9.

But with all this anticipation and build-up (on both WG and the players' sides), I fear that everyone's going to expect the M103 to be a savior tank. If it's "merely" a good, serviceable tank (as opposed to being supremely OP), I wonder how the server will react?

In other words, what will it take for people to actually be happy with it when it does arrive?

EDIT: forgot to mention, great job hiroshi compiling all this!

An excellent post. This should probably be stickied.

 Mow_Mow, on Dec 16 2011 - 20:48, said:

Seconded.

Also, I'm linking the US Heavies guide to this for M103 release info.  

It wouldn't be so bad, if we would just be provided with a reasonable explanation for the constant delays.

 JDCollie, on Dec 16 2011 - 20:56, said:

Haha, in other words: "thank you for saving me the trouble of updating my guide every time this information changes, now make sure you keep this updated!".

Well played.

So, just to summarize, Devs announce a tank, and in the intervening 12 months release 15 other tanks, plan to release 18 more (french), and still have trouble getting the M103 out.  

Also, in the 10 months since the announcement have never bothered to even tweak the T34 in any way, even though they have adjusted multiple other tanks for balance several times in the patches from 6.6-7.0.

And they wonder why US players are dissatisfied?

You forgot to mention Overlord on his blog saying that the M103 would definitely come out this year, November or December, and more than likely in December.

the M103 just might be the most neglected tank in the game, and it isn't even in the game

 markrimn, on Dec 16 2011 - 21:47, said:

it's in the post.  

Quote

 Drive_Me_Closer, on Dec 16 2011 - 21:34, said:

Your summary is incorrect because it skips on several facts and embellishes others

• Devs announce a tank
  The Devs announcing a tank isn't the same as them saying it's ready.  Kinda like how World of planes is announced but they're not even close to releasing it.  To consider an announcement as they saying it will be out soon is simply distorting reality.  
  It's just letting us know of upcoming content.
  
  
• and in the intervening 12 months release 15 other tanks
  Let's count.  April 30th, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December 16th.  That's 7.5ish months.
  
  
• plan to release 18 more (french)
  They were working on the french tanks concurrently with the M103.  In fact, the french were announced in early beta sometime in January 2011.  The M103 was announced April.  The French were on the itinerary long before the T34 even was considered under-powered by the Devs.  Since September, the French were scheduled to come before the M103 anyways.
  
  
• and still have trouble getting the M103 out.
  Between the 6.6 preliminary announcement and the final patch version, there was 45 days.  In those 45 days, they decided that they couldn't get the M103 in.  So to get more breathing time and make sure they got the code for the switch correct they removed it from 6.6 and scheduled it for Q1 2012.  We don't know what problems they're having but we know that there are problems.  So yeah, let's get mad at them for slowly coding something that's different.  Rawr.
  
  
• Also, in the 10 months since the announcement have never bothered to even tweak the T34 in any way, even though they have adjusted multiple other tanks for balance several times in the patches from 6.6-7.0.
  It's been 7.5 months.  If it were 10 months, we'd be in February.  And yeah, I don't like the fact that they haven't buffed the T34 in the mean time.  They have no excuse for that part.  This is my main gripe against the Devs.
  
  
• And they wonder why US players are dissatisfied?
  Well because not everyone knows the facts or is willing to consider them.  If 7.0 wasn't bugged all to hell, then we would have gotten the M103 earlier than expected (with regards to the September release schedule).  But getting mad solely these 2 delays (6.6 delay and this one) just seems beyond me.  

Do I think that the T34 should have been buffed in the mean time?  Hell yes and I don't know why the Devs didn't.  We should be mad at them for that.
We should be mad at them for trying to Nerf gun depression in the first place.  We should be angry that the T32 alpha damage got reduced.  Everyone should be pissed at the traverse nerfs in 6.4.  

But all this anger is getting mixed together and objectivity is lost.  We've turned into the old German heavy tanks sub forum

All this is null though since they promised a T34 fix, and decided to replace the tank.

We didnt want a new tank, we wanted a fix and soon, but they kept acting like it was right around the corner, Skip ahead 9-12 months and we will finally get it.

Also the "old" German Forums got the E100 E75 and E50 which are 3 best tanks in class so really if we keep bitching maybe they will fix it...

If bitching gets us a E100 equiv +75+50 equiv then I will bitch till my hands explode from typing.

Thank you for attempting to put together a timeline of events regarding the M103. Seems obvious WG would rather release new tanks than fixing preexisting tanks.

I like this thread. Bookmarking, will come in useful.

 Cmd_Storm, on Dec 16 2011 - 22:39, said:

How did they act like it was around the corner?  Did they go, "oh, it will be in the next patch every time a patch came out without it?"  Because there is nothing that implies that from what I dug up.  They said 6.6 and then dropped it.  Then nothing until September where they said Q1 2012.  Late October we saw that they would have the M103 earlier than they expected but then legitimate delays happened

However I do have a lot of threads in on record where the people in this forum speculated the this patch - next patch M103 that never referred to the final timeline posted on September.  So who was doing the hyping?  Because it certainly wasn't the Devs.

Wow I don't think Ive ever waited this long for anything game related before, well I waited this long I guess a little longer wont make much difference since theres the old republic to help me keep busy in the mean time.

 Cmd_Storm, on Dec 16 2011 - 22:39, said:

As far as I know, a T34 "fix" was never promised.  It's always been the M103.

Everyone wanted a new tank.  Largely because there is no way to fit the T34 into tier 9 (or 10, for that matter in the T30).  The only thing they could do was replace the T34, because the tank just wasn't designed to go up against the tanks this game puts it up against, and unless you heavily destroy the historical numbers beyond what is logical or recognizable, it cannot be forced into the spot and stay as just the T34.

The debate that the E-100, E-75, and E-50 are the best in class tanks is subjective at best.  These tanks are great in their own way, but suffer heavily in other categories.  For instance, I tear apart the E-50 in my Patton because once I get in close, which is trivial in the Patton, they cannot fight me due to their slow traverse, both hull and turret.  I can take on IS-4s, IS-7s, Maus, etc in the Patton, while it's much harder to do in the E-50.  The E-75 suffers from having poor side armor and the same bad hull/turret traverse, and I can take these on with little issue in my T34, nevermind other such tanks as the IS-4, Maus, E-100 and a bunch of other tanks including mediums, which the E-series suffers heavily against.  I would easily argue that the IS-4 and Patton are better than the E-50 and E-75.  I can't speak for the E-100 since I don't have a tier 10 tank to compare them directly against, but I've destroyed them in the T34.


And your complaining  isn't going to give us the equivalent of the E-50, E-75, or E-100.  The statistics and dev tuning will.  The Patton already is the equivalent of the E-50.  I've heard the T-54 is as well from someone who actually drives the tank and the E-50.  The M103 and T110 already are likely to be the equivalent of the E-75 and E-100 once they get finished testing.

In reality, all I can really see, cmd_storm, is that you have a penchant to want to love the US Heavy tanks, which I can certainly understand, but you want them to be mirrors of other tanks in the game, incapable of seeing how they can have a completely different playstyle while still being equal to the E and IS series of tanks.

There is a reason I bring up my T34 statistics when I do.  I can roll enemy teams with my T34 with a "DPM" gun with "no armor".  I am just fine with a low alpha high DPM gun.  I have killed E-75s from 80% health to death with the 105mm T5E1 from the front as well.  The tank is fine except that it cannot take a hit from enemy tanks.  If my T34 even had 190 effective front armor, I'd be in heaven on the darn thing.  But it doesn't, so I make due with that.


The only thing the devs have done wrong is their desire to get the M103 out sooner rather than later, which was likely due to an arrogance on assuming they can get the M103 out in 6.6, and then having to focus on 7.0 and trying to force the M103 into 7.1 ahead of the new schedule without giving a temporary buff to the T34 in the interim.  That is the only thing the devs have truly done wrong in this case, and that is the one thing we should get mad at the devs over.