Source: EU Portal
SPGs, also known as artillery, are a unique vehicle type which many players have mixed feelings about. Their role in battle, influence on gameplay, and individual technical characteristics are constantly discussed and often become a topic of hot dispute. SPGs have always had their own place in the World of Tanks ecosystem, and we are all interested in how their effective actions can benefit their own team. At the same time, players on the opposing team should have some alerts that allow for reducing the potential damage and influence of SPGs on their own performance in battle.
The third Sandbox iteration will be entirely devoted to testing important, complex changes that we suggest for both SPGs and other vehicle types. Check out the new alert features—Sound Detection (aka “Sixth Sense for Arty”), brighter shell tracers, markers of SPG shots on the minimap, and the reworked “Intuition” skill to see how much easier it has become to counteract SPGs and how their influence on gameplay has changed. We are also eagerly awaiting your feedback on the SPG rebalance which will reduce the total stun duration in the game, as well as providing SPGs with shell types that are suitable for specific situations. Together, we will decide the future of SPGs in World of Tanks!
Sandbox: SPG Rebalance Test
March 09 at 14:00 CET through March 16 at 10:00 CET (UTC+1)
About the Sandbox
This server is a testing ground where we test hypotheses, new mechanics, and possible changes to the game together with you. Each test on the Sandbox server should be treated as an experiment; all your feedback, suggestions, and answers in the questionnaires are of great importance in helping us understand if we are moving in the right direction.
The Current Situation
SPGs in World of Tanks have seen many changes over time, developing from damage-dealers into fire support vehicles. They play an important role in influencing positional combat and controlling the battlefield, and many players enjoy the unusual strategic gameplay they offer. Artillery can be treated in different ways, but it is popular among players. This is shown by the large number of battles that are played daily using this vehicle type. Our statistics show that about half of all commanders occasionally choose SPGs when going into battle.
SPG gameplay has its own unique features. On the one hand, it is rather unhurried and strategic. When compared to other vehicle types, SPGs are also easier to master.
On the other hand, SPGs often irritate many non-SPG commanders. At the moment, players do not have effective tools to actively counteract SPGs. Opposing actions which you cannot effectively counteract cause negative emotions due to both the consequences and the inability to do anything about them.
SPGs not only cause direct damage, but also damage modules and injure and stun the crew. According to player feedback, stun is the most contradictory aspect. The prospect of staying stunned for a long time and being unable to perform effective actions is something that many players dislike. Therefore, one of our goals is to reduce the total stun duration caused by SPGs (more on that later). Moreover, we want to give non-SPG commanders more information and new tools to allow them to counteract artillery more effectively.
But fans of SPGs should not be worried—you will not be left empty-handed. We will provide SPGs with more tactical options so that they can better adapt to changes on the battlefield. To do this, we suggest changing the set of shells that are available to SPGs, as well as adding some new interface features. As a result, SPGs will have a wider selection of shells. Two of these shell types will not cause stun, which will significantly reduce the total stun duration in battles.
Now let’s take a closer look at the suggestions that need to be tested.
Counteracting SPGs
While it is possible to try to predict the direction of potential incoming SPG damage, it can be a difficult task, even for the most experienced players. To help commanders avoid artillery fire, we would like to provide you with the following information, which will:
- help you understand where exactly SPGs are shooting at during the battle
- alert you when an SPG has fired a shot at you
- help you better understand where the SPGs are shooting from and where to find cover from their fire.
Let’s start from the top.
Brighter Shell Tracers
Currently, non-SPG players can hardly read the direction of incoming SPG fire. This is one of the reasons why players are restricted in their attempts to find cover from artillery fire—it is unclear which position to take.
During the Sandbox test, SPG shell tracers will become much more noticeable. They will be much brighter and clearer so that they can be easily seen and identified from a distance. Such shell tracers will allow you to understand the approximate positions of SPGs, as well as the direction they are firing. Thus, it will be easier to find a safer position which is not vulnerable to artillery fire.
Bright and noticeable shell tracers will become an important tactical aid for non-SPG players. This information will not only allow players to protect themselves, but also to attack and even plan their actions against SPGs.
- If a vehicle is out of the potential danger zone at the moment when an SPG fires a shot, but moves into the area while the shell is flying, the indicator will not trigger.
- What if two or more SPGs fire at the same time? In this case, the indicator will trigger sequentially, informing players about the shot of each SPG.
Depending on the shell velocity and travel distance, you will have a short time in which to react. These seconds may be enough for you to change the combat situation and reduce the amount of damage taken from SPG shells.
Minimap Shot Markers
The brighter shell tracers and new detection indicator provide visual information, but have a tactical component as well. This third new feature, however, is fundamentally tactical.
Once an artillery shell hits the ground, a vehicle, or any other object, a shot marker will be displayed in that spot on the minimap. It will be visible for 10 seconds, and will then disappear.
Shot markers can provide you with a lot of useful information, such as:
- The approximate area of enemy fire: There are not many positions for SPGs on any map, so combined with the brighter shell tracers, you will get an even clearer idea of the positions and targets of enemy SPGs.
- The approximate enemy reload time: Once a shot marker has appeared, you can be sure that you will not take damage from above for the next 10–20 seconds, giving you time to find cover or plan your next move. You can continue the attack, change your position, or even flank, and then have time to find cover before the SPG fires again.
Forewarned is Forearmed!
Together, these three features will allow players to counteract the artillery more actively and successfully in battle. You will receive important sources of tactical and visual information that enable you to:
- plan your actions better
- reduce the damage taken from SPGs, as well as the stun duration
- take appropriate actions against SPGs.
But that’s not all! We also have some important changes to suggest that will provide SPG players with more tactical options and reduce the total stun duration in the game while increasing the survivability of other vehicle types in battles in which SPGs are present.
Read on to find out how we plan to achieve this!
More SPG Shell Types
Last year, during the test of New Balance on the Sandbox server, we already conducted an experiment by increasing the number of shell types for SPGs. At that time, in addition to the existing shell types, we added Armor-Piercing shells.
The new system performed well, but it also had drawbacks. In particular, players complained about the ineffectiveness of AP shells, and about their high cost. The time to swap the shell type was also too long. The hypothesis needed to be improved, so we continued working on it, because one of its results was a decrease of the total stun duration in the game by more than half.
In the current system, SPG players are very limited in their choice of shells. SPGs have standard and special shells, which differ in cost and burst radius. At the same time, the burst radius of the special shell is only a little larger than that of the standard shell, but its cost is significantly higher. Players sometimes do not understand why they need to pay more, because the effectiveness of both shells is similar.
In the current round of tests, SPGs will again receive the third shell type—Armor-Piercing. We will also adjust the parameters of the existing HE shells used by SPGs.
Each of the available shell types will have its own trajectory and velocity. Let’s take a closer look.
1. HE shells with stun (standard shells): The easiest shell type to use, causing low damage and stunning the crews of several targets with a single shot. Its armor penetration value will remain unchanged, but the base damage value will decrease in relation to the current parameters by 10%. However, shots that do not penetrate will no longer damage internal modules and injure the crew. It will also have the lowest velocity of all three shell types, but a more comfortable, high-angle trajectory. As a result, it will be easier for SPG players to hit targets behind small hills and other obstacles.
2. HE shells without stun (alternative shells): The optimal choice for shooting at light and medium armored vehicles. Its burst radius will be half that of the standard shell, and the area of effect will be 75% smaller. At the same time, its armor penetration will be 50% higher than its current value, and its damage will be 10% higher. Unlike standard ammo, the alternative shell will be able to damage internal modules and injure the crew, and will have a higher velocity but a lower angle trajectory. Here are some examples of comparative armor penetration values for the standard and alternative shells:
| Vehicle | Armor penetration of standard shells (mm) | Armor penetration of alternative shellS (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Object 261 | 45 | 68 |
| G.W. E 100 | 53 | 80 |
| T92 HMC | 60 | 90 |
| Bat.-Châtillon 155 58 | 48 | 78 |
| Conqueror Gun Carriage | 59 | 89 |
| G.W. Panther (top configuration) | 39 | 59 |
3. AP shells (tactical shells): This shell is effective against slow and well-armored vehicles that are difficult to damage with HE shells. It will not have a burst radius and stun. AP rounds will be able to hit only one target and are designed to be fired over short distances. At the same time, their penetration value will be 4–6 times higher than that of HE shells, and their shell velocity will be the highest of all three shell types, so you can cause some serious damage with them. However, when choosing this shell type, players will have to take into account that the travel trajectory of this shell type is the flattest (it travels at the lowest angle to the ground).
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Penetration
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Damage
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Burst Radius
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Damage to Modules
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Stun
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Penetration
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Damage
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Burst Radius
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Damage to Modules
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Stun
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Penetration
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Damage
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Burst Radius
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Damage to Modules
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Stun
We expect that SPG players will use AP shells infrequently—in about 10–15% of all cases— but will do so on a regular basis in specific combat situations. This is quite enough for such a niche shell that is designed for specific tasks.
As a result, the new system simply will not have such a thing as a “special shell”. Instead, SPG players will have three types of shells for different purposes, and switching between the shell types will be relatively quick, allowing them to better adapt to various combat situations. Using the right shells at the right time will be the key to success in battle.
IMPORTANT
In the new system, it will be impossible to play effectively by using only one shell type, but it won’t be necessary. SPG players will now have three different ammo types, each one suitable for a specific purpose. Learn to use them appropriately and secure your victory!
Changes to the SPG Ammo Interface
After expanding the set of shell types that will be available to SPGs, we decided to improve the ammo interface so that you can quickly master them.
You will now be able to easily see which shell type is currently loaded, and each shell type will have colored indicators that will inform you whether this shell can reach what you’re aiming at:
- If the indicator is green, it means that there are no obstacles in the path of the shell.
- If the indicator is red, the shell will not be able to reach the target.
In addition, a zoom scale will be displayed on the interface. By scrolling the mouse wheel, you can switch from the regular top-down view of Artillery mode to Trajectory View. You can also continue using the G key to do this if you prefer.
As the velocity and trajectory of all three shell types are different in the new system, we decided to add one more feature to make SPG players’ lives easier: an estimated shell travel time indicator next to the crosshair. It will help players understand when to make a shot to increase their chance of hitting a moving target.
Changing Shell Types Quickly
The expanded set of shell types offers new tactical opportunities, but with the long reload times of SPGs, what should you do if the situation on the battlefield suddenly changes and the shell you have already loaded does not match a specific target?
Introducing the reworked Intuition perk. It will become a skill that changes the shell type in a loaded gun more quickly with each new level! When fully trained, it will speed up reloading by 70%, and bonuses from Brothers in Arms, Improved Ventilation, and Extra Combat Rations can further increase this value up to 84%.
Gameplay Specifics Under the New Conditions
If the new features are released, battles will significantly change for both SPGs and their opponents, as both sides will have more tactical options.
SPG players will have to observe the course of the battle and respond to changes on the battlefield, keeping in mind that the enemy team will receive more information about them than they do now.
Commanders facing SPGs in battle will receive much more strategic information than they do now, and will be able to use it to counteract SPGs actively. Brighter shell tracers, minimap shot markers, and the new alert detection indicators will help players read the combat situation better and reduce the amount of damage they take from artillery fire.
Rewards for Participating in the Test
Considering the high importance of the Sandbox tests, we would like to thank all of the players who will actively take part in the test. We really appreciate the time you devote to World of Tanks.
During the test, you will have access to a chain of 5 simple daily missions. Completing each mission will reward you with 2 Tokens. Once all five missions are complete, the sixth and final mission in the chain will become available to you. To complete it, you only need to play one battle to be rewarded with 20 Tokens. You can complete the entire chain of missions three times during the test. The rewards for completed missions will be added together if all the conditions and restrictions are met.
Tokens will be transferred to the live servers sometime after the end of the test. You can exchange Tokens for rewards before the start of the next Sandbox stage. All unused Tokens will be compensated at the rate of 10,000 per Token.
How to Participate
Anyone can participate in the test!
- Download the Sandbox launcher
- Install the Sandbox client by launching the downloaded file. If you’re running the Game Center for the first time, you’ll have to authorize and restart the downloaded installation file.
- Wait until the Sandbox client is downloaded and installed.
- Open the World of Tanks tab, select World of Tanks Sandbox, and click Play.
Join the test and share your thoughts on the reworked mechanics. Your feedback is essential in helping us improve World of Tanks!
The only people with “mixed feelings” are wargaming and their stans.
but but but its actually a very good system, wow.. this looks like a very good change! After the first 2 Sandbox-Servers my expectations were very low but this look… somehow fine!
its as alwas with WG a totally different view of what the people have been asking:
– remove stun
– limit arty to 1-2 depending on map, and even 0 on maps like enks, mines, etc
to compensate the lack of assit damage the spg would get with the removal of stun, give more damage on DIRECT HIT
there, fixed for you wg. easy
Lol aengis, arty player spotted!
You want less arta per team, so you can farm more hp when you’re clicking from the red line, and less arty from your team can take part of that dmg… You want more dmg per shot to compensate the lack of assisted dmg for less stun! And you want to not see city maps LOL!
Why 0 arta on Ensk, you dirty clicker? No, let it be no limit for number of arty on Ensk, and all city maps, so there can be 10 arty per team or all 15, that would be a good change. Btw, don’t you know that you can block 1 or 2 maps, so when you want to shit on people you can block Ensk, and you’ll have your 0 arty battles on that map.
Like wtf is that request, it’s like saying that there should be no heavies on Prokhorovka or no lights on Ensk… That’s not good at all. Plus it’s already there, if people ban those maps when playing those tanks.
yes i am a proud arty player, like every1 should be
the difference os that heavys are still usefull at open maps, while artas are useless at closed small maps;
if you would stop crying, you could play some arty and learn how to cover from them
Don’t tell me what to do, pls. Why don’t you start from yourself and tell yourself that if you would stop crying about these changes, you could play some real tanks and learn how to play WoT in a 3D environment.
👍🏻
how about no arty on open maps like malinovka or prokorovka? 🙂
Thats a bad idea, in fact you have the option to block more 2 maps, You can do that with malinovka and prokorovka.
Airfield is in fact worst to get cover from arty. At least in malinovka and prokorovka u can play with mediums and lights
but I WANT to play malinovka and especially prokorovka. even with heavy. without getting clicked.
It wont happen anyway, (u can get lucky MM sometimes with this maps and no artys). This maps are great for lights, mediums and TDs mostly.
If you have only 1 arty; it will fuck the heavies anyway.
i was mocking aengis , he wanted to not play his arty on maps like ensk, but wanted to make it like he was giving the normal tank players a concession . so please, spare me, and go bother other people. and don’t tell me what map should i ban.
Stun is okey, i like it, and i does not play arty.
You are absolutely right, that would be the right solutions. But it is WG, it always has to be overdone.
(And yes, I admitt that I like to play arty once in a while, too) 😀
All these absolute shite changes to not do the only and the most simple and reasonable thing to do about arty players wanking in bushes: limit their number per team.
Its limited maximum 3 and thats okey
Should be limited even more, there is no fun in being nuked constantly by 3 bush wankers.
Play TDs or lights
how about go fuck yourself and don’t tell other people what tanks should play
Per the video “The statistics show that artillery is popular with players. One way or another more than half of players join playing SPGs from time to time.”
That doesn’t make them popular. Remove their missions from personal missions and watch what happens to those stats. I’m willing to bet that they number drops to about 40% and that’s going to be due to people trying to grind all lines, grinding for CW use, because they are new/er and want to pay back for getting artied, etc.
I wouldn’t play arta if I didn’t have to do the stupid campaign missions.
I am a tomato, so free feel to ignore me and call me an idiot.
But I think WG is approaching the Arta problem from an angle that will never fix them.
This changes still circle around the idea of damage and only damage, I think WG needs to see Arta more as a debuff/support class, stun was, imo, a good idea (rather have a debuff that get clicked to the garage) and in the good direction, something like smoke/ilumination rounds to play with the vision system would be better.
Other common problem with arta is the cover, WG always said Arta is to counter campers, but campers usually camp in area protected from artillery, making the whole thing moot. This makes me wonder if a special type of DoT shell could work. No direct damage, but causes damage if tanks stay in the hit area, so they will be forced to move.
If they could deploy minefields or some other type of map hazard/area denial it might work but I am sure that would take a whole redesign of the class. Greatly increasing map size would also help.
Agree about that the one click and go to garage was complete broken system.
60 000 games played and I don’t worry about arty much. I’ve learned how to exist and avoid arties and still enjoy the game. The problem is the dumbasses that haven’t learned this. So quit the endless nerfs to please the whiny bitches who are too stupid to figure this out. Tds are easily if not more annoying than art.