March Digest #3

World of Warships (PC Gaming)

Upskilled my Seasoned Japanese commander to 21-points yesterday (Thursday). Helped across the finish line by expending some Elite Commander XP (ECXP). Played him exclusively on the Eastern Dragon, a Mogami-class heavy cruiser that's been fun to play. And which is probably one of my favourite Japanese cruisers to play at the moment. With that done, I'm now transferring in my Kitakaze commander who's on 17-points to continue its commander upskill grind on this fun ship.

With the special bonus missions for Narai and M. Colonna over, I will be substituting other premium ships for the commanders to slow grind. For the Italian 18-point commander, therefore, his new ship will be Optio. Not yet decided on what Pan-Asian ship I will transfer the Rong brother to but I may employ a battleship this time.

Update 15.whatever. Sabaton-themed. Heard the name but don't follow the music. Will adopt a wait-and-see approach. A lot of other "new and fun things" happening that frankly I can't be blowed explaining in depth. If interested, read the Devblog. 

The European battleship line (Thor) is now out of Early Access. Yay. More new ships for the port fleet.

Next Lunar tokens mission activated yesterday. And the slow grind to Tempesta Nera resumes. 

New Event Pass with Fiume the halfway reward. From all indications by a couple of WOWS YT streamers I've viewed, the ship is worthwhile. Really? Like the other worthwhile ships of that ilk? Unfortunately you have to unlock Level 2 to access it. Costing 3000 doubloons now. Previous Event Passes cost 2500 doubloons so this is a price hike. Still no final reward apart from continually foisting useless camo. Come on, WOW! Two ships are better than one ship and a couple of camo.

Changes to Battle settings. Incorporating what were formerly mods into the game now. Wow! (mock surprise).

More carrier changes being introduced. They don't affect me nor do I care. Only play carriers when specific event missions require it, and only at the lower tiers. 

Ship rotations. Doesn't affect me as I have all of them except Belfast '43. Incoming lot I also have. 

For one week, commander skill redistribution will cost nothing. Nada. Zip. Free. Open till 18 March. This will be appreciated. Congratulations WOWS on providing something useful. POST EDIT: Offer expired because I was too slow to join in time.

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With the European battleships coming out of Early Access I was settling down to grind out the remaining four (already acquired Yavuz, Tegetthoff, Chios through Early Access) today. Took me only a few games to realise it was easier to just outright buy them and save me a few hours. So I paid the requisite Free XP and credits to acquire the T6 Laudon, the T8 Enigheten, T9 Gustav Den Store, and the T10 Thor. 

Played each ship a couple of times. Liking the Swedish GDS. Wanting to play Thor if I can in Asymmetrics because I think she will go well. But then the wait time is quite long so I dropped a couple of tiers, switched to a cruiser, and got in pretty quick. 

As for the others from this new addition, for now they'll join the rest of the port princesses as they're all tech tree line and not premiums. Which means I can't captain upskill grind in them. Unfortunate.

Spending 3000 doubloons for Fiume seems a reasonable price. So I will do that. Anything else is a bonus I guess but not worth caring about. It's the ship that's got my attention.

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Last night I saw a noted YT streamer raving on the new Sabaton camo. Had to agree but it's all the better if the player is a good one. It just looks sad when the player is not.

Anyway, pulled out a couple of ships with awesome-looking (to me at least) camo - the CLR versions of Zao and North Carolina. I was distracted at times because I kept admiring the camo. Both ships performed well in their individual games.

I can understand why WOWS decided to make perm camo a valued item for purchase and acquisition. Don't agree with their decision but I'm no business man. Preferred the earlier days of yore when camo was tied directly to economic bonuses. Mind you, not all camo released these days are works of art and worthwhile. But with the Sabaton camo - both designs - WOWS did very well.

Took out my Yamato after applying the metallic Sabaton camo earned through one of the gift crates. Forgot how potent this battleship is. Almost shed a tear in appreciated fondness. 

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Today, after a long day grinding, I finally earned the Tempesta Nera, the R.Lauria clone. Was three steps away when I finally decided to exchange my steel for coal to advance two of those steps. Had miscalculated the exchange rate. Hence my aversion to claiming it. But when I realised my error, I gladly spent the steel needed. 

This left me with the last and ultimate step to my reward which I was able to pay for with Lunar tokens once I finished the final mission task. But it was a tough ask (sort of): earn 36 million in Potential HP damage. Up until today, playing exclusively in Co-Op, I had only reached over 16 million. Decided to knuckle down and finish the final 20 million by the end of today. 

Bit of a challenge as I chose to do it mainly in cruisers, two in particular - Mainz and Optio. 

The task itself is simple: become a target magnet for enemy ships who will focus fire your ship. This meant sailing straight into gunfights. Not blindly (because you're in a cruiser after all and you don't get a heal) but learned to carefully pick my approaches. In the end, I managed it but the session ended up taking me eight hours!

Tempesta Nera smacks hard enough. In the two quick "celebratory" games, she did okay enough. Both games scored kills. Played her as recommended: hang back and snipe. 

There are two more missions to go for this event offering around thirteen thousand Lunar tokens. Which means I can, if I want to, pick up one more ship. Problem is which one.

Reached the halfway point in the latest Event Pass. Which means I am now eligible to claim the Tier VII Fiume. However I have to unlock the second level by spending 3000 doubloons. But I am in no hurry for now. 

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SurrounDead (PC gaming)

Finding the wiki the other night really put a dampener on continuing with this game. I may return to it at some point but now it's no longer a focus. Really disappointed with myself for succumbing without thinking.

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After getting over my disappointment (skipped a day), I've returned to the game. In review, the character I've stuck with since discovering the location and setting up of a base in the Pine Road cul-de-sac suffered from a couple of problems:

1. Location. Set in the eastern section of the game map, the base was some distance from the Valley Safe Zone and the stationary traders - Materials, Medical, Bookseller, Equipment, Supplies, Black Market. Sure, there were the occasional mobile traders - Ice Cream man, Military man, and the Wandering trader. But their appearance was randomly determined by the game so they were unreliable. Don't forget the few other static traders such as Trader Joe. Having access to a motor vehicle is therefore essential. 
2. Mobility. Tied to location, it's essential to have wheels when based far from sanctuaries. But wheels require maintenance (knocking over zombies is fun but damages the vehicle) and refuelling. Distances are covered faster though and that's a plus. 

Therefore I've started a new character and he's now placed his base close enough to easy-access the Valley Safe Zone camp AND Buck's Gun shop ON FOOT. He's managed to clear out the infestation at Buck's Gun shop ON FOOT. Now he can return for weapons to use or trade-in.  

Once he's completed his base, he will either go hunting for a suitable vehicle from Mike the Auto trader over at the bridge or scavenge for one. I know the location of the blue Utility truck from my other main character. And it's not far away from my new base.

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Yeah, the blue Utility truck wasn't where I thought it would be. Will try another location, closer this time. 

The Hostile Scavengers are quite hostile. Barely escaped with my life when I thought to take on a group not far from the Police station across from the bridge. Rudely reminded they can shoot. Got two though. Nowhere near ready to take on the Coyote paramilitaries.

Hunt the next few days will be to find a vehicle so I can expand my scavenge range.

Also sorting out appropriate weapons to carry. Opting for a shotgun as my second weapon; that part is fixed. But am needing a high powered semi auto as my primary. One with lots of ammo carrying capacity. Which means either a 60 or 200 round magazine weapon.

As for handgun, the special Glock might suffice. Currently trying out a 9mm 15-round handgun, but am needing lots of magazines. The heavier calibred pistols are fine but not for dealing with hordes. For that, I prefer my machete which does well if I'm attacked simultaneously by three or four. Good thing with a machete: it never runs out of ammo!

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Shottie good but constant reloading means good for small groups, not mass hordes. For larger groups I use my 308 with the 60 round mag attached on semi because I can do head shots. Pistols are useful as a self-defensive weapon but not for assault. For those melee situations where you take the offensive I like using either the machete or tomahawk. Grenades are a good option area cluster weapon. 

Second location for locating a vehicle did not pan out. May have to visit Mike the Auto trader and buy one. 

New base camp on the ridgeline taking shape. Sticks out like dog's balls but thus far no bandits or Coyote assaults. From my location I can access the Valley Safe Zone is one side in a few minutes and Buck's Gun Shop and Cafe on the other. Going to build up from the ground an elevated decking using the modular system of construction. Still awaiting the Tomahawk missile system mod to appear. 

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