2-month break from WoT and...
...i was so happy but my stress level and rage is coming back faster than ever after 2 gaming sessions. the game is giving me ulcer again -_- i may yet still quit...
but aside from that. my skill level, however meager it was,has gone down the drain it seems. here aresomerecaps of recentgames:
woah, sea of reds. still the same.
ok. maps seem different.
ok, i still got aiming down, i can hold my own.
oh yeah baby, i still got it. take that! i'm gonna own you as soon as...
BOOOM! uh what?
oh, when did that happen over there?
ok, next game.
oh yeah, i'm kicking [edited]here! we're gonna win this easy!
oh wait, we're getting flanked...
god #*$&##@! @#@!@! team!! can't even hold their own flank.
next game
oh when did that scout get through
*pinging map* come on team!!!!!
oh, our guys are at their cap... guess we win..
next game
it's a complete mess! where is everyone! wthdo i do!!!!
next game
10, 9, 8, 7....0. oops... wrong place to cross the river... (true story)
result:
sub 60%win rate.
low shot count + low dpg
low survival rate
low spot rate
slightly lower kpg
horrible feeling
so what has changed from before and now?
my engagement skills still seem about the same and i still win many of the hard pressed fights on the local field. but i'm losing a lot more of the battleswhether platooned or solo. Before, platooning regularly netted70-80% w/r and soloing 60-65%, give or take a few. but now, combined, my wins werebelow 60% in the last 2 gaming sessions. i used to consider 65% a fail night...
the biggest problem i found - map awareness.
at first, i was totally oblivious to the minimap. i was tunneled into my local area and couldn't keep up with the minimap. i wasn't processing anything from the minimap to any usefuldegree. i couldn't believe the degree to which i couldn't process this information within just 2 months of no play. and then i realized - i used to process ALOT of information!
not being able to handle the minimap only means one thing. i can't formulate a strategy before things start unfolding. i'm back to reacting to everything that's already happening.
not only that, lack of awareness also leads to lower damage output, taking more damage, not flexing,not being able to anticipate enemy tanksand not being able to manage risk. it becomes a really bad cascading effect!
i've always known how important situational awareness was to being a good player. now, i can actually measure the impact to my gameplay since i can't do it well at the moment. i'm probably losing a good 5-10% more battles due to loss of this skill. i'm back to the way i used to play when i was winning around 55%-60%. (Conversely, this also means you can easily win 50%+ without even paying attention to the minimap) My sphere of influence onthe battlefield has significantly decreased.
so in summary, this post is for those who are stuck around 55% or so and can't seem to improve measurably. Map and situational awareness(and making correctdecisions based on that)is probably the most important skill you need to work on to hit solid purple. If you can predict the outcome of 90% of games correctly and understand why it turned out that way, then you will always understand what it is needed for you to win.
map/situational awareness:
1. see line up, make assessment (win chance, threats, predict how both teams will move)
2.see where you are needed to make the game into a win
3. execute plan
4. watch the map, mark who's headed where
5. continuously respond to changing conditions, amend plan as needed
6. anticipate who will fail, don't expect miracles. plan accordingly! (you'd be even more stupid to expect a fail to NOT fail)
7. always think ahead
This is a measurable skill that can be improved - or lost. 60%+ and purple WN8isn't some magic number that can only be attained by people with one horns. It's something that is attained with experience and skill, and therefore, doable.
gonna crawl back to pubbies now so i can scream about fail teams...
