What tricks to see tanks better?

[InspGadgt 174]

I've been getting frustrated in RB tank battles due to not being able to see enemy tanks.  Often times I am looking right at one in my gun site or binocs and see the muzzle flash but don't see the tank until after I get hit and killed.  I've got a GTX980Ti graphics card easily running the game at max settings so I know it isn't a problem with my video.  I recall in other games people used to do stuff like intentionally run on lower resolutions, or lower the settings for things like foliage and smoke all to make the enemy easier to hit.  Do those help in this game?  What tricks do you use to make it easier to see enemy tanks?

 

Thank you

[Rougarou65 0]

How are your crew skills for keen vision?

 

SlickBee/ Slick Plays has a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S5kelP3cxo

[InspGadgt 174]

My crew is maxed out on keen vision

[[email protected] 1,316]

So you want a trick to gain an advantage?

Remove large portions of that nasty environment which is blocking your view. Gaijin even wants you to for they added this in the settings, just turn every graphic setting to minimum or even choose ‘old graphics support’.

Have fun on that new moon without hardly any vegetation....

 

Further discussion under the ULQ topic...

[PointyPuffin 4,985]

There is something called "ULQ" (ultra low quality) for old video cards. Most of the foliage and objects will not be rendered.

 

The game will look like from the year 2000, but enemies are a lot easier to spot from the ground and the air.

 

Lots of people who do not need this because of their hardware still abuse it to make the game easier for  them.

For them it is a legal cheat to buff their stats.

 

I prefer my game to look nice though.

[xrzfff 3,301]

1 hour ago, InspGadgt said:

Often times I am looking right at one in my gun site or binocs and see the muzzle flash but don't see the tank until after I get hit and killed

Shoot at flash.
Seriously. I know sometimes ammo can be costly, but you can easily farm SL in air RB (or Pacific event, if you fly sim), but don't limit yourself. Just shoot. This bush looks strange? Shoot. Some unexpected shadow? Shoot. Different colour somewhere in bushes? Shoot. Whatever is not like you expect it to be, shoot. Maybe you won't hit, but if there is someone, he'll start moving. And then you can adjust your aim.
With some more time spent on looking through bushes (and now I can suggest you trying SB, it's way slower than RB), you will "feel" how this certain bush on this certain map should look like. And many times you will just see that this bush is not what it used to be last time.

[BrigGPrice 30]

Maybe improve your game graphics?  Like I was playing at medium graphics but now that I play in high, it's easier to sight out tanks.

[B4Z00K4 2,224]

Clenn your screen with bleach. 

 

Srsly OP, do it. It made me EnHansEd as hell.

[BrigGPrice 30]

Lol I think it's gunna break

[Serpiko82 7,873]

There's plenty of ways to spot enemies in RB while still enjoying Max graphics. 

 

First, with experience in various maps, you learn to know where enemies are more likely to go at match start. 

 

Then, as you said, pay attention to tracers, muzzle flashes and gun smoke, but also listen to their gunfire and (at close range) engine sounds. 

 

You should have noticed that hitting an enemy with a bullet marks his approximate position with an arrow for a few seconds. If you need to locate an enemy tank hidden in trees and bushes, a good tactic (if you don't mind being spotted yourself, since you'll be making a lot of noise) is:

- spray machine gun fire in the location of the hidden enemy. At least one bullet will likely hit and pop up an arrow. 

- repeat: a second arrow will pop up, usually a few meters aside. 

- the more MG burst you fire, the better you can estimate the exact location of the enemy in the middle of the span where arrows appear. 

- when you think you have it, fire your main gun: ANY impact on the enemy, even the slightest bounce, will trigger the hitcam, so you will know how to adjust your aim for your next shot.

- At worst, by then the enemy will have moved and stepped back, so you have scared and pinned him at the very least. 

- With a bit of luck, instead, you can score a kill through all his concealment, and then enjoy his rage, accuses of cheating and report threats in chat. 

 

Also, sometimes, you can even stalk a running enemy by following his tracks marks on the ground. 

 

Oh, and of course, rolling into a tree taking it down reveals your position up to miles away. So pay attention to falling trees, and avoid doing it yourself. 

Edited March 17, 2017 by Serpiko82

[PointyPuffin 4,985]

You can also use your binoculars for aiming long range shots for example when your gunner's view is obstructed by grass or other soft objects. 

 

Just point your binoculars at the enemy (estimate the drop of the projectile for the distance), hold the fire-button and switch from binoculars to the gunner view while holding the button. I got several kills that couldn't have looked remotely legit.

It's an easy way to keep a low profile.

 

EDIT: you can also use the zoomed out 3rd person view to look around obstacles without exposing yourself.

Edited March 17, 2017 by PointyPuffin

[Delfigrey 520]

14 hours ago, PointyPuffin said:

EDIT: you can also use the zoomed out 3rd person view to look around obstacles without exposing yourself.

This is not always guaranteed to work. A smart enemy will just back so far off you might not be able to see him this way. Buildings and corners should be approached with extreme caution. Tanks don't really like urban combat even though it's fun. Also bushes don't render much beyond 200 meters so spotting distant tanks in forests and tree lines is easier than it should be. 

[Raven_Slayer 258]

Simply put until gaijoob decides to revert the WoT-like game changes from the whimsically pathetic detection system they in my opinion flat out either stole or bought from failgaming.nerfs World of tonks to an actual balanced and more realistic one that does NOT rely on a persons internet connection which is what you currently have in Wot Thunder, you're pretty much screwed and like the rest of us just have to deal with what gaijoob shoves mercilessly down our throats no matter how much we don't want or need it.

 

In other words if you want a bigger advantage get the best internet connection which surpasses everyone elses on the planet and buy a place that's next door to the games server.

Edited March 17, 2017 by Raven_Slayer

[Lofi_Z34 1,068]

I'm used to playing Battlefield 1942 for all these years so running ULQ feels like home. Don't feel bad for using it. It reduces eye strain and helps you find the enemies. You can be like me and run max settings in custom matches when winning doesn't really matter.

 

[FreelancerMG 84]

2 hours ago, Raven_Slayer said:

Simply put until gaijoob decides to revert the WoT-like game changes from the whimsically pathetic detection system they in my opinion flat out either stole or bought from failgaming.nerfs World of tonks to an actual balanced and more realistic one that does NOT rely on a persons internet connection which is what you currently have in Wot Thunder, you're pretty much screwed and like the rest of us just have to deal with what gaijoob shoves mercilessly down our throats no matter how much we don't want or need it.

 

In other words if you want a bigger advantage get the best internet connection which surpasses everyone elses on the planet and buy a place that's next door to the games server.

Actually the irony is that War Thunder uses a fairly forgiving lag compensation algorithm so the person with worse ping generally has the advantage.  I often die to tanks that I shoot well before they did, getting the kill instead of me because they're from Asia or Russia playing on the US servers while my round mysteriously disappears.  

 

What I've found for spotting enemies is to slow down a bit and take your time.  When you approach a brush line or looking at one from range, focus down low and look for the tracks.  Many of the small trees and bushes are a bit thin down low and medium tanks and larger can't put bushes on or near the tracks so the tracks are usually the fist things you can spot if you're being diligent and paying attention.  Also, those that put bushes on the turret of the tank to cover up their turret silhouette, look for moving bushes when they're hull down and tracking another target.  The bushes plastered onto their turret will move with the turret and give them away.  It's why more experienced tankers will preset their gun at the most likely location and use binoculars to search/spot.  While the mg is a good way to spot a tank, don't do it all the time.  Nothing ruins a flank quicker than someone range finding with their mg giving away the group's position.  But also, when you do get hit and repairing and stuck, spot the other guy if you can with your own mg to bring awareness up for your team.  I've saved my own hide a few times by spotting a flanker who knocked my driver out and I was on a reload but the little red arrow making him the only spotted tank meant he was gunned down very quickly by the rest of the team hungry for kills.      

[Old_lronsides 657]

70", 4k screen on your desk.  No need for ULQ then.

[Raven_Slayer 258]

On 3/17/2017 at 10:41 PM, Old_lronsides said:

70", 4k screen on your desk.  No need for ULQ then.

 

I like your style!

[Raven_Slayer 258]

On 3/17/2017 at 10:27 PM, FreelancerMG said:

Actually the irony is that War Thunder uses a fairly forgiving lag compensation algorithm so the person with worse ping generally has the advantage.  I often die to tanks that I shoot well before they did, getting the kill instead of me because they're from Asia or Russia playing on the US servers while my round mysteriously disappears.  

 

What I've found for spotting enemies is to slow down a bit and take your time.  When you approach a brush line or looking at one from range, focus down low and look for the tracks.  Many of the small trees and bushes are a bit thin down low and medium tanks and larger can't put bushes on or near the tracks so the tracks are usually the fist things you can spot if you're being diligent and paying attention.  Also, those that put bushes on the turret of the tank to cover up their turret silhouette, look for moving bushes when they're hull down and tracking another target.  The bushes plastered onto their turret will move with the turret and give them away.  It's why more experienced tankers will preset their gun at the most likely location and use binoculars to search/spot.  While the mg is a good way to spot a tank, don't do it all the time.  Nothing ruins a flank quicker than someone range finding with their mg giving away the group's position.  But also, when you do get hit and repairing and stuck, spot the other guy if you can with your own mg to bring awareness up for your team.  I've saved my own hide a few times by spotting a flanker who knocked my driver out and I was on a reload but the little red arrow making him the only spotted tank meant he was gunned down very quickly by the rest of the team hungry for kills.      

 

I'll give you an up vote for the Good tips for RB, and SB... But explain how more times then i care to count i am pratically no scratch that literally run over by enemy tanks with romulan cloaking devices when the devs have even stated that the person with the better ping will detect enemies before someone with a worse ping then that of an enemy team? It was the same exact damn thing in world of tanks, now while it USED to be forgiving which i will give you it really isn't any more to the point of being too damn reliant on a persons "ping". That's why everyone has a problem with it and bashes the changes to no end, and that is why it is completely screwed up. It's been a few months since the changes to the detection system were implemented and honestly i for one find myself playing less and less because this game is going in the WoT direction rather then the right one in my opinion.

Edited March 19, 2017 by Raven_Slayer

[AtomicPope 3,953]

Don't just watch for tanks, but their side effects too. Watch for movement. Tanks can give themselves away by knocking over shrubbery or trees. If something moves in a forest patch it's probably a tank. As someone else said if something looks weird shoot it just to be sure.

 

Also watch the minimap and your team mates, if someone near you gets hit or destroyed there's an enemy somewhere. Watch for tracer fire, muzzle flashes or smoke clouds. Personally disappearing tanks aren't as much of a problem as some people make it out to be, but it's sometimes hard to spot tanks that are already visible.

[InspGadgt 174]

Thanks for the suggestions guys...now give me a few minutes to respond.

On ‎3‎/‎16‎/‎2017 at 8:58 PM, xrzfff said:

Shoot at flash.
Seriously. I know sometimes ammo can be costly, but you can easily farm SL in air RB (or Pacific event, if you fly sim), but don't limit yourself. Just shoot. This bush looks strange? Shoot. Some unexpected shadow? Shoot. Different colour somewhere in bushes? Shoot. Whatever is not like you expect it to be, shoot. Maybe you won't hit, but if there is someone, he'll start moving. And then you can adjust your aim.
With some more time spent on looking through bushes (and now I can suggest you trying SB, it's way slower than RB), you will "feel" how this certain bush on this certain map should look like. And many times you will just see that this bush is not what it used to be last time.

 

Problem is that 1 shot from that flash kills me so there is no chance to shoot at the flash.

[InspGadgt 174]

On ‎3‎/‎16‎/‎2017 at 9:02 PM, BrigGPrice said:

Maybe improve your game graphics?  Like I was playing at medium graphics but now that I play in high, it's easier to sight out tanks.

 

With a 980ti I can play it up to maximum graphics and was...still couldn't see them

[DestroyDaDa 193]

On 3/17/2017 at 6:08 AM, InspGadgt said:

I've been getting frustrated in RB tank battles due to not being able to see enemy tanks.

Then, support this suggestion: 

 

[InspGadgt 174]

On ‎3‎/‎16‎/‎2017 at 9:29 PM, PointyPuffin said:

You can also use your binoculars for aiming long range shots for example when your gunner's view is obstructed by grass or other soft objects. 

 

Just point your binoculars at the enemy (estimate the drop of the projectile for the distance), hold the fire-button and switch from binoculars to the gunner view while holding the button. I got several kills that couldn't have looked remotely legit.

It's an easy way to keep a low profile.

 

EDIT: you can also use the zoomed out 3rd person view to look around obstacles without exposing yourself.

 

I do use binoculars a lot...some of the times this happens to me I'm looking right at the spot where the enemy tank is in binocular view and only see the muzzle flash.

On ‎3‎/‎17‎/‎2017 at 4:27 PM, FreelancerMG said:

Actually the irony is that War Thunder uses a fairly forgiving lag compensation algorithm so the person with worse ping generally has the advantage.  I often die to tanks that I shoot well before they did, getting the kill instead of me because they're from Asia or Russia playing on the US servers while my round mysteriously disappears.  

 

What I've found for spotting enemies is to slow down a bit and take your time.  When you approach a brush line or looking at one from range, focus down low and look for the tracks.  Many of the small trees and bushes are a bit thin down low and medium tanks and larger can't put bushes on or near the tracks so the tracks are usually the fist things you can spot if you're being diligent and paying attention.  Also, those that put bushes on the turret of the tank to cover up their turret silhouette, look for moving bushes when they're hull down and tracking another target.  The bushes plastered onto their turret will move with the turret and give them away.  It's why more experienced tankers will preset their gun at the most likely location and use binoculars to search/spot.  While the mg is a good way to spot a tank, don't do it all the time.  Nothing ruins a flank quicker than someone range finding with their mg giving away the group's position.  But also, when you do get hit and repairing and stuck, spot the other guy if you can with your own mg to bring awareness up for your team.  I've saved my own hide a few times by spotting a flanker who knocked my driver out and I was on a reload but the little red arrow making him the only spotted tank meant he was gunned down very quickly by the rest of the team hungry for kills.      

 

For me this is usually happening from too far away to see the enemies track prints.

[InspGadgt 174]

37 minutes ago, DestroyDaDa said:

Then, support this suggestion: 

 

 

I hadn't seen or known about this change...will go read up on it now thank you.

[Old_lronsides 657]

On 3/17/2017 at 2:29 AM, PointyPuffin said:

You can also use your binoculars for aiming long range shots for example when your gunner's view is obstructed by grass or other soft objects. 

 

Just point your binoculars at the enemy (estimate the drop of the projectile for the distance), hold the fire-button and switch from binoculars to the gunner view while holding the button. I got several kills that couldn't have looked remotely legit.

It's an easy way to keep a low profile.

 

EDIT: you can also use the zoomed out 3rd person view to look around obstacles without exposing yourself.

 

I do something very close to this.  What I do is aim in with binoculars as you stated.  But what I do then is a little different.  I tap the "B" button 2x very quickly.  This takes me out of Binno view, shot is fired, and I return to binno view so quickly that I see where my shot went.  This way I know if I'm overshooting, undershooting or got a good hit.  I also leaves me ready to line up my next shot.

On 3/17/2017 at 5:13 PM, Delfigrey said:

This is not always guaranteed to work. A smart enemy will just back so far off you might not be able to see him this way. Buildings and corners should be approached with extreme caution. Tanks don't really like urban combat even though it's fun. Also bushes don't render much beyond 200 meters so spotting distant tanks in forests and tree lines is easier than it should be. 

 

I thought it as 300 meters?  And the pieing off the corner via 3rd pov is why many hug the walls when approaching a corner.