Developers posts on forum

Jeremy Taylor: First off, we think there's no a minor country on the globe . There are simply some countries that are very famous for their tank building history, and some that are not that well-known from the same stand point. We will definitely introduce the models of fighting vehicles from such countries but only after the release and when the lines of better known models are over.

ChrisK: Gratz, all!  

Jeremy Taylor: And yes, the ammunition is limited and can be reloaded only after the battle. Shooting at fictious aims is a waste of shells.

Jeremy Taylor: Each model of a fighting vehicle in World of Tanks has the elements in its structure that correspond to the functional parts and mechanisms of its real prototype. Once damaged, this element may be partly (in most cases) or totally disabled; it means that each element has its own health sub-bar ( by the way, the same relates to your crew; e.g. if your radio man is killed this fact will affect your radio functioning). Of course we do some indulgences for the most significant gameplay elements. Once your track is damaged you will be immobilized only for some time, even though the speed of your tank will be decreased afterwards. Damaged gun will also be disabled for a short period of time. The damage of the turret will lead to the decrease of its rotation time.

Jeremy Taylor: Please refer to http://forum.worldof...ank-camouflage/

Jeremy Taylor: The radio range of view doesn't depend only on the class of a tank. Actually, it depends on a specific model's multiple characteristics. That is why I can't name the exact parameters as they vary from a model to model of a tank and the radio itself.

Jeremy Taylor: To tell the truth we are having very hot discussions about this kind of identification. On the one hand this feature would be great because many fights are conducted at long distances; thus this feature would help to identify a "tastier" aim for your specific fighting vehicle. On the other hand we would love it if our players could identify this or that type of a vehicle themselves. We think it is very educating from our tank-lovers' point of view

Jeremy Taylor: 5 vehicles at your garage is a standard set. World of Tanks will give you much options to have different types of fighting vehicles you want badly at your garage. You will be able to sale your vehicles and put them up for auction (it will be interesting to see what price you will set for your beloved heavily upgraded Tiger ). Thus, you will be able to free enough space for other vehicles you desire. Moreover, we will introduce the feature that will extend your garage through special achievements or investments (for most obsessed collectors )

Jeremy Taylor: The presence of a guy on the battlefield who just can't be killed will be much more irritating than the lack of such a "tough" character . Moreover, we believe that introducing such a graphical effect is unnecessary from technology and gameplay standpoints.

Jeremy Taylor: Mini map (it seems to me I never referred to radar) is VERY significant strategic element of the game. Mini map is the easiest and most convenient way of strategic interaction between team mates besides voice chat that will be also included.

Jeremy Taylor: - The feature showing the range to the target will be available in beta.
- We have a voice identifier that corresponds to a gun layer. It informs about how your shot was successful after each fire.
- Armor slope parameter will definitely be included into the parameter board.

Jeremy Taylor: World of Tanks is not a simulator. I assume that many people would like it to be a simulator but we are making an action game that is extremely captivating and fun to play. World of Tanks is being developed within the bounds of historic correctness but we do focus on action and dynamism. That is why we simplified a certain numbers of characteristics that would otherwise hurt the dynamic gameplay. I will repeat myself and I know that you already know it but: we increased the speed of fighting vehicles, we increased the speed of reloading and turret rotation speed to give the real online warfare action. All these features altogether form the game balance. Each component of game balance is examined thoroughly. And at this moment we find vehicle outlining to be an essential part of this balance. Many thanks for your concerns as they are very important for us.

Jeremy Taylor: The vehicle is outlined only when being captured by your gun sight. Enemies or allies are reflected as red and green spots on your mini map if located within the range of your radio view. The top radio range of view parameters are 700-750m.

Jeremy Taylor: At the very first level of customization in World of Tanks you will be able to choose custom features from the list of available custom units introduced by developers (emblems, drawings, clan insignias and so on ). Later on we will introduce the option that will allow you to make your own personal custom features or download them from your PC.

Jeremy Taylor: I'm pretty much sure that you will change your attitude towards Russian tanks in your garage when the Russian tank tree is published (and published very soon )

Jeremy Taylor: It is not necessary to spot the enemy physically to report its coordinates. The enemy may be spotted by your radio and be reflected on your mini map accordingly. Thus, you may inform the team mates about the enemy location cursoring over the sectors where the enemy was captured by your radio. For instance, artillery vehicles are very helpful concerning enemy spotting as they have wider radio range of view than tanks and may report the enemy coordinates without running across it face to face.

Jeremy Taylor: You have the ability to report the enemy position in World of Tanks. Though, you will have to cursor over the certain section on a mini map, not the enemy itself. This will give your team mates the information at what specific sector the enemy was spotted by you (the mini map is divided into sectors similarly to a chess board).

Jeremy Taylor: For that moment we have a 15-minute timer for a standard random battle round. If the time is out the battle ends in a draw. Almost all battles in World of Tanks don't end in a draw, especially considering the city map. We had to introduce the timer due to some concerns ( e.g. freshmen may not know their assignments yet). We believe that rounds ending in a draw will become an exception from the rule when the training mode is launched.

Jeremy Taylor: Guns characteristics in World of Tanks are very close to the reality. However these characteristics have been balanced by us for gameplay purposes. Tiger is not indestructible and has its vulnerabilities (both in real life and in World of Tanks). T-34 commanded by a player knowing about these vulnerabilities is a dangerous enemy for Tiger.

Jeremy Taylor: You will definitely have the possibility to place Mk VI Crusader and M 10 series at your hangar when the British line is out. These glorious vehicles are already in the list.

Jeremy Taylor: Let me finish these off topic discussions by repeating myself: we'll have lots of tank models which existed only as prototypes or were experimental models (like E-series tanks). But no chance for amphibian tanks or P-1000. If you have ideas and content to share about tank experimental models in general, please start the individual topic for that purpose in off topic section.

Jeremy Taylor: You can write the name of your beloved singer on the body of your vehicle. Or sing the GaGa's lyrics to your team mates through in-voice chat . We haven't discussed the megaphone possibility

Jeremy Taylor: You can reload your ammunition establishment and repair your vehicle after each battle. There's an ammo limit for each model of a fighting vehicle dictated by respect to historic correctness. You may load up your tank with different types of ammo: high-explosive shells, composite shells, armor-piercing shells, shaped charge shells and some others.

Jeremy Taylor: Enter the game > get to the lobby (hangar) > choose the tank > press "join" and get to the battle room and wait for other players > the game automatically balances two teams when the battle room is full > fight

Jeremy Taylor: IS-1 and IS-2 have similar top speed rates. The gun weight increases the tank total weight but doesn't affect the top speed characteristics. Still, total weight affects the acceleration rates (the heavier tank is the lower speed of acceleration is).
Now to screenshots: they are simply out of date . Those images of different earlier versions were published by a forum member, not by us so we couldn't control the content of these screenshots. Moreover, as the forewords of the initial post say, that screenshots were taken from the video interview, so I assume those two screenshots from different versions were taken only for this interview purposes. So they can't give an idea of the beta version’s parameters for fighting vehicles.

Jeremy Taylor: Now to balancing. We have a certain balance parameter. To make the long story short let's imagine the situation: there are 60 people in the battle room waiting for a fight. There are 15 light tanks, 25 middle tanks, 10 heavy tanks and 10 artillery vehicles all of different nations (I took those numbers just as examples). The game automatically divides these 60 players in two equal random teams with the same ratio of light, middle, and heavy tanks and artillery vehicles. I believe my explanation is quite straightforward.

Jeremy Taylor: We will publish the so-called "Tank Encyclopedia" on our website. This document will give a detailed description of each fighting vehicle model.

Jeremy Taylor: Your hangar may contain up to 5 vehicles of different nations. Most anxious tank lovers can fill up their hangars with absolutely different military machines of different nations. Moreover, we will introduce the feature that can "expand" your hangar giving more space for more vehicles you want to add to your collection.

Jeremy Taylor: I've already said this 100 times but it looks like I will never get tired of repeating : we have no limitation on nations in teams during random fights. Each team will consist of a mix of nations: US, German, Soviet, Italian, British... The same relates to clans: your clan may consist of any nations you like. BUT! If you want to make a clan that will consist only of Soviet, US, German or tanks of other nations - this is completely up to you and you are able to create a single nation clan.

Jeremy Taylor: I meant that the special event dedicated to the Spanish Civil War will assume mostly light tanks as it reflects the historical facts. Special events and standard random fights are different modes and different types of gaming.

Jeremy Taylor: You will be much happier with this feature when start fighting on the maps with forrest locations

Jeremy Taylor: In standard random fights you can’t be sure to get into the battle with your friends or clan mates. That is why these battles are called random There are actually many reasons why we managed such battles that way (e.g. like cheating preventive one).

Jeremy Taylor: Each model of fighting vehicle in World of Tanks has the elements in its structure that correspond to the functional parts and mechanisms of its real prototype. Once damaged, this element may be partly (in most cases) or totally disabled; it means that each element has its own health sub-bar. The same relates to your crew; e.g. if your radio man is killed this fact will affect your radio functioning. Of course we do some indulgences for the most significant gameplay elements. Once your track is damaged you will be immobilized only for some time, even though the speed of your tank will be decreased afterwards. Just imagine that only two alive but completely immobilized vehicles would be left on opposite sides of the map . The same concerns guns and radio that can't be totally disabled. Still however, the destroyed ammunition load will lead to the vehicle complete destruction just like in real life. The damage of the fuel tank will lead to the fire and so on. Aiming at "proper" vulnerable spots is one of the main possibilities to destroy this or that type of a vehicle.

Jeremy Taylor: * Teams will have mixed nations. This is justifiable from gameplay factors, balance factors and others. At least, this delivers more fun . However, you will be able to arrange the clan consisted only of Soviet, US or German tanks if you're willing to.
* Of course. You will be able to choose the tanks in your garage you want to drive for the battle.
* We have a certain balance parameter but we have no right to expose it. You can be sure that the game will divide teams in two equally balanced teams. In the end, the result of each battle will depend on team cooperation and commanders’ individual skills.
* Of course. Your hangar may include several nationalities.

Jeremy Taylor: We will not limit World of Tanks clans on choosing units for a battle as this would hurt many gameplay factors such as unexpectedness and others. Still however, this kind of limitation will apply to some special historic events. The good example is Civil War in Spain where mostly light tanks can take part in regarding the historic correctness.

Jeremy Taylor: Regarding the game balance Karl-Gerat with its 600mm calibre would be able to produce 1 or 2 fires in a minute. We really doubt that Karl-Gerat players would be excited about this fact . World of Tanks is an action game, Karl-Gerat with its extremely low speed of reloading would be a black sheep and very vulnerable aim on the battlefield.

Jeremy Taylor: This B model is a heavier, better armored and more powerful thing than Tiger II (consulting with tank building experts is not a waste of time )

Jeremy Taylor: This is already done in World of Tanks. Scouting plays a very big role in the game tactics (just likewise in a real battle).

Jeremy Taylor: Radio upgrades increase the radio range of view of your specific fighting vehicle which is very important both for tanks and artillery (radio upgrading for artillery is naturally more important). Scouts usually break through the defense lines of the enemy directing straight to the rear and expose the enemy location. This gives very important information for the team and especially artillery. The enemy captured by the scout's radio is reflected on the artillery mini map. Most dexterous scouts are even able to cause a lot of fuss and damage at the enemy’s rear and destroy some howitzers. We know the cases when the heavy "clumsy" tanks became victims of such agile light tanks-scouts. In the end, everything depends on a light tank commander’s skills.

Jeremy Taylor: Fighting with computer-controlled enemies.