WoT Newsletter Volume #6

Welcome to the World of Tanks Newsletter! said: Our goal is to weekly update with news events, new information on current issues, and interesting articles!
If you think you have a story or article that would fit in well submit the article to MrVic via PM on the WoT boards.
We plan to add some reporters/writers so submit your entries and how you might like to contribute!


Poll for the community from the Devs! said: The Developers have put together a series of questions for the community!
Please take a moment and fill out the Survey
Link to Survey Click Here!


News Headlines said: Preview from OUTPOSTGAMEZ.COM News Link Details
T-30 Renders Available! News Link Details
Official Clans Registration Launch News Link Details
WORLD OF TANKS - CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR VIDEO News Link Details
Tankopedia!!! News Link Details


Main Discussions on the Forums said: Have thoughts or concerns? The following Threads are the main threads for discussing changes or feedback.
Official Tracks - Tracked - Tracking Thread Link to Main Topic
Match Making Thread Link to Main Topic
Post Patch SPG Thread Link to Main Topic
Official Tank View Range / Spotting Thread Link to Main Topic
General Discussion Of v.0.6.2.7 Link to Main Topic


Hot Topic of the Week said: General Discussion Of v.0.6.2.7!
Link the Main Disucssion
Latest Patch Notes for V0.6.2.7 and V0.6.2.8
World of Tanks Closed Beta v.0.6.1.5 - v.0.6.2.7 patch notes

General:
- Added new medium tanks: Т-54, Panther II, Pershing.
- Added new TD "Object" 704.
- Added new SPGs: "Object" 212, G-Tiger, G-Panther, M12, M40/M43.
- Added new maps: "Ruinberg" and "El Halluf".
- Added new battle mode: the "Tank Company Battle". A company of tanks with sum of tiers from 70 to 90 gets into a company waiting queue where it is randomly assigned an opposing company.
- Added voice chat based on the Vivox technology. It works for platoons in random battle, for companies in tank company battles and for training battle. The feature is still in testing hence is implemented with minimal settings. In order to use voice chat, enable it in game settings. Press and hold Q button to activate voice transmit mode.
- Added achievements: "Reaper", "Invincible", "Survivor", "Raider", "Master Gunner", "Kamikaze".
- Added medals: Kolobanov's medal, Billotte's medal, Fadin's medal, Wittmann's medal, Orlik's medal, Oskin's medal, Halonen's medal, Burda's medal.
- Added full dynamic shadows. The option is available through "Enhanced shadows" settings. The shadows are in the testing mode so there is a possibility of artifacts.
- Added new interface for repair and resupply of consumables - "Service": added possibility to automatically resupply consumables and to repair the tank after the battle, possibility to quickly replenish consumables, ability to change the sequence of shells.
- Added customizable game controls.
Gameplay:
- Doubled experience for the first battle per day on each tank now is given not for the first battle, but for the first victory on the tank.
- Training battle does not count as the first battle anymore for the purposes of doubled experience.
- The chance of hitting the following modules engine, radio, traverse mechanism, observation device increased from 33% to 50%.
- The chance of hitting ammo rack increased from 20% to 27%.
- The chance of hitting gun and crew members remains the same (33%).
- Removed possibility when any HE that explodes near a tank to damage internal modules, except crew members.
- The damage to internal modules from an HE that exploded on the tank armor is reduced by 50%, exception - crew members.
- Changed experience transfer from a group of tanks. The experience from all tanks is collected so all tanks left with zero experience and then it is transferred. The remaining under 25 experience is placed on the last tank on the list.
- "Scout" is now awarded only if the team won.
- "Sniper" is now awarded if during the battle there was no friendly damage.
- The top tanks in the battle roster are now balanced not by tier but by the match-making "value", which considers type of the tank.
- The coefficient of heavy tanks for the match-making purposes is increased from 1.3 to 1.45.
- Improved match-making system for random battles.
- Fixed ability of lifting fallen trees with tank.
- Removed possibility of driving beyond the map during lag spikes.
- Fixed tank spawn locations on the basis of type of the tank (SPGs in Malinovka, etc.).
System:
- Fixed FPS drops during rendering track prints.
- Fixed lags when destroying objects.
- Improved auto-detect of graphic settings.
- Experimental feature. Limited rendering speed in the loading screen, this should improve loading time for slow computers.
- Added some optimizations which are supposed to end single sharp FPS drops.
Content:
- Multiple fixes of tanks' models and textures.
- Set a normal speed of track rotation for all tanks.
- Reworked and added destruction of some objects.
- Fixed some spots on the maps where tanks would get stuck or couldn't pass.
- Modified base flagpoles and flag animation.
- Added disabling of rendering for some small objects at long distances.
- Reworked shot sounds of some guns.
- Regenerated static shadows for all maps, according to a new algorithm that provides better quality.
Interface:
- Changed interface of system messages in the hangar.
- Fixed changing music volume which worked only for battles.
- Added hints-tooltips on interface elements in hangar.
- Fixed purchasing a tank with a slot in hangar without warning.
- Fixed bug when filter "Location" in barracks switches by itself.
- Fixed invite notification, if the player is in the battle at that moment.
- "Not ready" button now unlocked for platoon leaded in waiting line before battle.
- Added display of User Agreement when the client is launched first time after the patch.
- Added turning on/off of "post mortem" post-effect in settings.
- Removed ability to lower camera beneath the waterline.
- Now after purchasing premium, hangar immediately updates to premium.
- Fixed "delay" UI bug when researching several vehicles and/or modules in a row using free experience.
- Howitzer mode: when firing beyond the max. firing range, shell trajectory turns grey.
- Expanded descriptions of medals and achievements.
- Fixed incorrect display of tank's tier in the tank purchase window.
- Fixed unwarranted disappearing of sections of statistics without a possibility to open it up in the statistics window.
- Fixed tupos and mistakes in UI texts.
- Multiple minor interface fixes.
Vehicle characteristics:
General changes of v.0.6.2.7 patch:
- Rebalanced characteristics of all SPGs:
- Hull traverse speed decreased by 1-3 deg/sec.
- Aiming time increased by 1-3 seconds.
- Shell dispersion increased by 2-10%.
- The infuelnce of gun horizontal motion on dispersion increased by 100% increased on the average.
- Radius of splash damage for HE shells decreased by 6-8%.
- Increased hit points for tier 7, 8, 9 medium tanks.
- By 20-25% increased reverse speed for tier 6-8 medium tanks.
- Increased visibility for tier 8-10 heavy tanks by 25% during movement and at rest
- Increased visibility for all guns after firing by 20%.
- Increased view range for tier 9 TDs.
Detailed list of vehicle characteristics changes, v.0.6.2.0 - 0.6.2.6 patches:
Germany:
Gun 75mm_KwK_40_L43: dispersion 0.41->0.4.
Gun 75mm_StuK_40_L43: dispersion 0.39->0.38.
Gun 75mm_KwK_40_L48: dispersion 0.4->0.39.
Gun 75mm_PaK_39_L48: dispersion 0.38->0.37.
Gun 75mm_PaK_40: dispersion 0.38->0.37.
Gun 128mm_PaK44_L61: reduced visibility after firing, +20 damage to all shells.
Gun 128mm_PaK44_L55: reduced visibility after firing.
PzII Luchs: reduced visibility during movement.
VK 1602: reduced visibility during movement.
PzIII: reduced visibility during movement, -5% influence on accuracy during movement and traverse.
Pz III/IV: by 5% improved pass-ability on medium terrains, -8% influence on accuracy during movement and traverse.
Pz V-IV: chassis rotation is matched with Panther's.
Tiger II: mantlet armor for top turret 65->100.
JagdTiger: 128mm_PaK44_L55 reload (in seconds) 10.4 ->10.36, 128mm_PaK44_2_L61 reload (in seconds) 10.6->10.5.
VK 4502: mantlet armor for stock turret 120->160, mantlet armor for top turret 120->180.
Maus: hull hit points increased by 440, suspension and ammor rack hit points increased by 25%.
USA:
Gun 37mm_M-6_L53: price in credits 8350->2500.
Gun QF_6_pounder_Mk_III: penetration: AP 89->110, APCR 145->180, accuracy 0.4->0.38.
Gun 75mm_Gun_M3_L37: dispersion 0.38->0.4.
Gun 75mm_Gun_M2_L28: dispersion 0.39->0.41.
Gun 76mm_Gun_M1A1: reload (in seconds) 3.2->2.85, dispersion 0.37->0.38.
Gun 76mm_Gun_M1A2: dispersion 0.34->0.35.
Gun 90mm_Gun_T15E2M2: dispersion 0.33->0.32, reduced dispersion during turret traverse.
Gun 105mm_Howitzer_M2A: reduced aiming time by 15%.
Gun 105mm_Howitzer_M4: reduced aiming time by 15%, HE penetration 60->53.
Gun 120mm_Gun_T53: aiming 3.0->2.4, reduced dispersion during turret traverse.
Gun 155mm_Gun_T7: aiming 3.0->2.7, significantly reduced dispersion during turret traverse.
Engine Wright_G200_m_781C9GC1 level 8->7, price in credits 72380->47600, chance of fire 0.2->0.25.
T29, Т32, Т34, Т30: fixed error with discrepancy between displayed and actual hull armor. Actual armor decreased by 20%.
M6, T1: reduced research cost Wright_G200_m_781C9GC1 19800->10900.
Т-57: pass-ability reduced by 10%, reduced traverse speed by 2 deg/sec, +3 influence on accuracy during movement and turning.
Т2 lt: reduced repair cost by 30%, increased ammunition load for 20mm gun.
M7 Priest: 105mm_Howitzer_M - reloading time decreased 13.95->11.76 (in seconds).
RamII: reduced repair cost by 20%.
Т14: reduced repair price by 5%.
T29: increased visibility of the tank, +5% influence on accuracy during movement and traverse, 105mm_Gun_T5E1 - reload (in seconds) 9.5->10, by 10% reduced traverse speed for top turret, fixed display of frontal armor for both turrets, changed guns ammunition load.
Т32: by 5% reduced pass-ability on medium grounds, +8% influence on accuracy during movement and traverse, traverse speed for stock suspension reduced by 6 deg/sec, by 2 deg/sec - for top one, 105mm_Gun_T5E1 reload (in seconds) 9.38->9.4, changed guns ammunition load.
Т34: changed guns ammunition load.
Т30: changed ammunition load.
USSR:
Engine V-2-54: increased horsepower by 20 h.p.
Gun QF_6_pounder_Mk_III: AP penetration 89->110, APCR penetration 145->180.
Gun 76mm_S-54: dispersion 0.4->0.36.
Gun 76mm_S-54_S: dispersion 0.37->0.34.
А-20: reduced visibility during movement and rest, improved pass-ability for top suspensipn on medium and hard terrains.
А-32: reduced visibility during movement and rest.
BT-2: reduced visibility during movement, -6% influence on accuracy during movement and traverse.
BT-7: reduced visibility during movement and rest, improved pass-ability on medium grounds, -4% influence on accuracy during movement and traverse, view range for top turret increased by 15 meters.
Т-26: reduced visibility during movement.
KV: fixed bug with armor of 152mm gun.
Т-34-85: by 20% improved pass-ability on medium and good terrains.
Т-43: -9% influence on accuracy during movement and traverse.
Т-44: -5% influence on accuracy during movement and traverse, suspension hit points increased by 25%.
IS-4: armor: hull-upper plate 120->140, driver's lug 120->160, rear-upper plate 120->100.
v.0.6.2.8 patch notes:
- Added holiday-like appearance for premium and standard hangars.
- Added Christmas trees instead of flags on spawn locations for all maps.
- Maximum battle tier for Т2 lt reduced by 1.
- Minimum and maximum battle tiers for tier 9 mediums increased by 1.
- Fixed bug when not getting invites for platoons and companies if using UTC-X time zone standard.
- Changed progress bar for the number of shells in Service window.
- Fixed display of "0" (zero) in nonzero player statistics.
- Returned old sound message when destroying street lamps and posts.


Fake Tip of the Week said: Tip: If you drive around the enemy base Xmas Tree 50 times without being shot, you get a special present!


Post of the Week: (Post by Overlord) said: Link to Thread
Amending and revising tech tress require much time and effort from several departments, including history tank experts, game design, artists, 3d modelling, programming, tech writing.
That's why before making any changes we think twice. The current US tech tree is not perfect, especially this aplies to top heavy line from T-29 to T-30. Some of the suggestions posted in this thread are very likely to be implemented in future as well as some of our own ideas.
All 3 current tech tress are going to modified and improved, the changes affect vehicle tier, type, specs etc, moreover some completely new models are going to be added. US tree will undergo the most substantial changes.
Can't reveal much at the moment, apart form the following:
- Super Pershing. Might be added as a separate tank or as a set of upgrades for Pershing itself.
- M103. Likely to be added.
- T58, M47, M48. Have some ideas on them.


A Look to the Future said: Some of the frequent questions and things to come. (Following List are changes in testing and Subject to Change)
Keep in mind this is early information, updates will follow as details are finalized
Note: More info to come, holidays and last patches, the look to the future this week is being assessed still!
- In the works, US TDs along with some German and Soviet tanks from full tech trees (KV-13).
- Finally, French tanks (end of Q1 2011)
- Likely that US TDs will be added after the game goes live (Ferbuary-March 2011). Regarding E-series, can't give you any rough dates at this time.
- Initial (going on now) and clan registration systems implemented in game


Pictures of the Week said: Note: Many of these images are from projects in progress. They should be considered Alpha images and not final
Preview of Maps in Progress!


Pictures from last week! Archive
These are Alpha images and subject to more work and more changes!
T-18 US Tank Destroyer

T-82 US Tank Destroyer

T-24 US Tank Destroyer

T-40 US Tank Destroyer

M-10 US Tank Destroyer

M-36 US Tank Destroyer

T-28 US Tank Destroyer

Geschutzenwagen E-Series

Lowe Premium German Heavy Tank

KV-5 Russian Heavy Tank



Weekly Web Comics said: The Loltraktor Chronicles by: Wallachia (1st Armored Division) Link to the Authors site.


By amade (1st Place Comic Contest)


By jeremsoft (2nd Place Comic Contest)

By mugenjohncel (3rd Place Comic Contest)



Tank Skin of the Week said: This weeks random featured Tank skin is by "Dr_Nooooo" Thread Link
Panther II Summer 1946




Cropped Tank only photos of the finished skin are preferred for those hoping to see yours chosen for Tank Skin of the Week!


Tourist Guide to Maps of WoT said: Written By: Ripper753 "Division Acorazada 250"
Prokhorovka tourist guide

Prokhorovka, very nice place to visit, with its road and its railroad, and its bushes and so. Many many bushes. ¿I mentioned the road? Yeah it is great, visit it.
1.- "The oops level crossing". It is great because you never know what is at the other side (except with the x-ray bug), and many surprises can emerge if you look from the top. It is the only spot that it is easier to go up than down.
2.- "The threatening mom island". It have its name because of its silhouette. It seems an angry mom/wife coming for you. Recreation below.

Recreation: "¿¿!!!What are you doing playing this late!!!??"
3.- "The scary woods". Many people go there, and just stay. Very good place for stay a while if the only you want is to stand there. The kind of people that open the christmas gifts the last day go there, patient people.
4.- "The not so forest". It wanted to be a forest, but got stuck in some bushes and a few trees. A bit sad, but many people go there. Rumors say that if you go there you turn yourself invincible, but it is not confirmed.
5.- "The funny hill". You can go up there and then down, very funny. Double fun if you do it twice. That's all, it is just funny. It have bushes too.
6.- "The long and bushy road". It is funny to ask yourself why there is so many bushes at the sides of the road. They make a screen and you only see the landscape intermittent, now yes, not now, now yes...Well maybe prokhohobbits are shy, or they have something to hide!
7.- "The middle of nowhere". Strange hills with the form of an "H". Prokhohobbits wanted to do a "K" but they took wrong measures. Now is the place to go if you don't know where to go. It is typical to see people up there asking themselves "Ok i'm here, ¿why i am here?" and then eventually die.
8.- "Town of Prokhorovka". The population of Prokhorovka got mad with the railroad builder and now he is living separate (see between numbers 7 and 8, on the other side of rails). They suffer the noise of the trains and they have no station. Nice town to visit if you hate bushes and like to break things.
9.- "The little and annoying hill". Many people wait there with the hope of scare you if you come by the road. Very annoying. Not everyone have sense of humor.
Recreation:
-Buh!!
-What the...
-Hahaha i scared you...Wait wait, it was a joke WAIT!
10.- "The omg level crossing". It is like "The oops level crossing" but with less surprises, due to "The not so forest". Most of times the surprises are good.


Community Driven Content said: Historical Battles!
Historical Battles, Organizer ZorinWarfield. Link to current battle being setup. Historic Battle - Event No.10 - Ruhr Pocket 9th. January
Color Blind? Check this out!
Color Blind (Mod) by:SmVueno Right now in game options are not complete, but the following thread created by SmVueno provides some help. Link to Thread


Help Wanted said: Currently were seeking members to right articles or submit entries for the "World of Tanks Newsletter" If you would like to submit an entry or article please send it Via PM to MrVic. Applying to help with the news letter will be done through submissions of articles ect. Benefits for Writers/Reporters may be involved in the future.