You Ask, We Reply #12

What changes are coming in 7.3 for the Soviet Tank Tree?

• KV-3 will be moved to Tier 7 from Tier 6
• IS-4 will be moved to Tier 10 from Tier 9
• IS-8 will take place of IS-4 on the Tier 9
• Tier 6 T-150 tank will be added
• Tier 8 KV-4 tank will be added
• Tier 9 ST-1 tank will be added

KV will be split on 2 tanks. The KV and the KV-2  The Kv-2 will be tier 6

At the end the Tank Tree will be more or less similar to this one:
http://worldoftanks.ru/dcont/fb/media/art_techtree/ussr/ussr__full.jpg

The only difference will be that the KV-2 will be a Tier 6 tank.

How will the American T30 be rebalanced once you move it to the TD line?

It will lose some movement speed, as well as HP, but will receive bonuses of all TD’s (accuracy and increased camouflage) The full rebalance will be done on the Common Test and details will be released in update notes.

When will you add the JagdPanzer E-100 (StuG E-100)?

In late Q2 or early Q3, 2012

Have you totally cancelled the idea of 5 men platoon?

Yes, we firmly decided not to add them.

When you will add the captured vehicles? I would like to have a German variant of T-34!

There is no plan for any captured tanks in the near future. We are working on other vehicles that have not been in the game before and also want to concentrate on the British tree. We’ve already started the work on the British models, For example:

British Tortoise Tank Destroyer

It about time they did something with matchmaker. We just have to wait till 7.2. Who knows how long that will be?

Actually it will be released separately from 7.2 and most likely before the 7.2 release. The time frame for 7.2 depends on how smoothing things go in test. The patch is in internal testing, and then will go to a public test. Once in public test there may be even more revisions and then it will be released. Giving you a target date isn’t as helpful letting you know what the process is. Once it goes to public test everyone will be able to track the remaining progress needed for the patch to be released.

Where do we ask questions for the next one?

Please, ask them in the Q&A thread of forums.  There will be a new thread put in place. I will answer your questions and ask my liaison Valter to gather any more information we need from the designers on anything we don’t know off hand. Together we should be able to make the NA Questions and Answers something to look forward to each week.  We will then select questions from those asked to expand on and give you as detailed answers as possible.

@Jinxx: can we get a more solid answer on what happens with the T30 crew, particularly if they will all go to the T30TD and say they have 100% with 100 in repair and firefighting... will we be able to get 200% in extra skills on the T110's crew or will they just be 100% base skill?

Basically all of that in the posts from the RU forum that i've mentioned (and possibly things i don't know about) is things we want to know here about the T34&T30 changes. Is that "official sources" or compiled from "official sources" or is it hearsay? If it's valid, can we get that info here in english?

Valter did a great job in compiling a lot of information on this topic:

The work variant for T30 -> T110:

If T30 was researched, but not purchased at the moment of change:

• T30 Heavy Tank Tech Tree slot will be replaced by T110 Heavy Tank Tech Tree slot

•  All stock modules on T30 will be changed on similar modules for T110, if necessary
•  All the undistributed XP from T30 will be passed to the T110
•  Commander, gunner and driver: all these crew members receive T110 specialization instead of T30 specialization without any further bonuses or penalties
•  Radioman receive T30 specialization (9 tier TD) without any further bonuses and penalties
•  Loader: the one with the highest amount of XP receive the T110 specialization without any following bonuses or penalties, the rest receive T30 specialization (9 tier TD) without any following bonuses or penalties.
•  Statistics from T30 will pass on T110 without any additional bonuses or penalties.
•  In the T30 branch should have all researched modules, if the T30 is in top. The following should be researched: 120mm_AT_Gun_T53 и 155mm_AT_Gun_T7 guns, T84E38 second suspensions, Continental_AV-1790-5, SCR_528.

If T30 was researched and purchased, everything from the previous variant, plus:

• T30 Heavy Tank will be replaced by T110 Heavy Tank
• Ammo from T30 will be moved to Depot
• Consumables mounted on T30 will be passed to T110
• Additional equipment, mounted on T30, will be moved to player’s depot without additional expenses from player side
• Player receive a Tier 9 TD T30 without additional equipment or consumables and also receive an additional slot in the hangar (will be occupied by T30)
• The crew will be distributed between vehicles according to the points from the above described variant
• Player will receive new not full crew (commander, gunner, loader, driver) for T30 TD with 100% of BASE skill
• Tier 9 US TD T30, should be in Top: 155mm_AT_Gun_T7 gun, T84E38 suspension, Continental_AV-1790-5 engine, SCR_528 radio
• Camouflage installed on T30 Heavy Tank will be moved to T110 heavy tank and also remain on T30 Tank Destroyer. In case of credit camo, the usage term on the T110 and new T30 will be the same as one on the old T30 just before the update.

If T34 was researched, but not purchased at the moment of change:

• T34 Heavy Tank Tech Tree slot will be replaced by M103 Heavy Tank Tech Tree slot
• All stock modules on T4 will be changed on similar modules for M103, if necessary
• If the Continental_AV-1790-5 engine in the T34 research tree was researched, then M103 will receive researched Continental_AV-1790-7C engine
• If the T34T7 turret in the T34 research tree was researched, then M103 will receive researched Turret_2_M103 turret
• If the T80E3 suspension in the T34 research tree was researched, then M103 will receive researched Chassis_M103_2 suspension
• If the 105mm_Gun_T5E1 gun in the T34 research tree was researched, then M103 will receive researched 120mm_Gun_T122 gun
•  If the 120mm_Gun_T53 gun in the T34 research tree was researched, then M103 will receive researched 120mm_Gun_M58 gun
• If the SCR_528 radio in the T34 research tree was researched, then M103 will receive researched AN-ARC-27 radio
• All undistributed XP from T34 will be moved on M103
• All modules, which won’t be any more compatible with other vehicles (for example, the 120mm_Gun_T53 gun) will be sold by the nominal price of purchase and the credits will be moved to players account
• All modules and ammo, which will be compatible with other vehicles, will be moved to depot
• All crew members with T34 Heavy Tank specialization receive a T34 Premium Heavy Tank specialization without any further penalties or bonuses
• Statistics from T34 tank will be moved to M103 without any penalties or bonuses.

If T34 was researched and purchased, everything from the previous variant, plus:

•  T34 vehicle will be replaced by M103, all researchable modules will on T34 will be replaced by similar for M103
• Ammo from T34 will be moved to players depot
• Consumables, mounted on T34, will be moved to M103
• Additional equipment mounted on T34 will be moved to player’s depot without additional expenses from player side
• Player receive a T34 Premium Tank without additional equipment or consumables and also receive an additional slot in the hangar (will be occupied by T34)
• Player receive a M103 crew with 100% learned BASE skill
• All crew from T34 Tier 9 Heavy Tank will stay on T34 Tier 8 Premium Heavy Tank according with above described variant
• Camouflage installed on T34 Heavy Tank will be moved to M103 heavy tank and also remain on T34 Tier 8 Premium Heavy Tank. In case of credit camo, the usage term on the M103 and new T34 will be the same as one on the old T34 just before the update.
  
  

Will the T34 premium have similar credit making ability to the KV5 and Lowe or will it be significantly less?

It will have approximately the same earning potential. 

Why is it so hard to change the Russian tree to reflect the upcoming changes?

The one in the Art Gallery reflects almost all upcoming changes.

Regarding Clanwars and east Asia regions.
1. When the east Asia regions are introduced?
2. Will timezones of such regions fit to the "core" hours of KR, JP and TW? (* 21:00~24:00 +8~9 GMT, = 12:00~16:00 GMT)

1. After the NA and Asian maps are ready.
2. These time zones will be released along with servers in that region. Stay tuned and follow the news.

You'll be implementing Day/Night versions of maps, how about fog or other similar effects?

Night versions of the maps would be introduced with other environmental effects such as rain and snow. Fog could also be introduced at a later time, especially for maps that could benefit from the atmospheric effect. What we are really discussing here is a fully capable rendering engine that could include any effect you have seen in other games; it will just be a matter of time and imagination to use the rendering engine to its full effect. Reflections, luminosity, and volumetric effects would all be available to be introduced and used.

The experience that you collect on any tank cannot be redistributed without the use of gold. I was wondering, if we pay for our premium days, can converting experience be eliminated, and can you allow all experience that we collect during game play to be counted as Free Experience? Any experience you gain from playing, in my opinion should be automatically free experience to research your current tank and fully upgrade it or any other tank you wish to pursue in game. Is there any consideration on making this change real and possible?

First I would like to point out that 5-10% of XP you earn for a battle you also receive as a Free XP bonus. Having Premium gives you ability to receive you more XP for each battle and that equals more Free Xp for each battle.
To answer your question, we have no plans to change the current system of XP conversion.

When will you update the Overlord’s blog?

NA team is not responsible for Overlord’s blog. Moreover, it’s not an official source, but just a hobby blog of one of Developers. Now that Overlord is concentrating on the work with World of Warplanes, he is very busy and may no time to update things.

We are here to step up and fill that void with official news and to answer your questions.

With Tier 7 scouts out now, can we please get a MM weight reduction on tier 4 lights?

Tier 7 light tanks are intended to be kind of hybrid of Light Tanks and Medium tanks, while Tier 4 and 5 light tanks are dedicated scouts. There will be some news on how dedicated scouts are handled with the new Match Maker so stay tuned.

If you are considering adding night battles into the game would you also considering adding an upgrade module for the Panther, and maybe higher tier German mediums, that allows the fitting of infra-red sights as the Germans actually did during the war? I would for-see this adding a bonus to either gun accuracy and/or view range at night only. Any thoughts?

This is a very interesting idea; I would direct you to use the suggestion forum to make sure your suggestions are seen.

Is the German tech tree ever going to get a tier 5- tier 6 heavy tanks?

According to current plans VK 3601 (H) will be converted into Heavy Tank in a future patch.

I heard the Stug e100 has very low speed and has a rate of fire like some high tier artillery is that true?

This is still in testing but it will most likely be slow to reload but pack a very powerful punch.

Are you guys planning in the future that the machine guns on the tanks will become useable?]

There are no such plans as most machineguns were used in an anti-personnel role which is not the focus of World of Tanks.

I guess this is the right place to ask this question: I'm curious about the logic of Premium Tanks acquiring experience points since they are fully upgraded at the start. The only reason I can see is to entice players to buy more gold so these points can be converted to Free Experience so they are not wasted. I see the same thing with the Elite tanks, once fully upgraded the there is nowhere to spend the points other than paying to convert them. My question is: Is there any chance the distribution of experience may be changed in the future to send more of the gained experience into the Free experience once the tank becomes elite or premium?
Thanks.

It is a benefit for those who wish to take advantage of stored XP. Remember you may also set your crew to “accelerate training” mode to acquire skills faster if you do not want to convert XP. This will be a much bigger advantage when we introduce more skills in 7.2