It is my favorite...on smaller boards however it is a liability due to the decrease in fire rate. Stick with larger and medium large boards for the alteration to really shine.

I did buy it and it was a change that I think was necessary for game balance. If the increase in rate of heating was doubled on the normal turret and then tripled on the alteration, the firebird would cook a mammoth/titan in a few seconds. It is still incredibly solid...barring the dreaded RK use by folks;(

I see the magnum as more of a support turret...think artillery thinning out the enemy defenses as hammer/hornet screams in for the flag finishing off the lucky remnant;) On several boards it is ridiculously hard to stop the magnum...can't locate, can't hunt, can't kill;( I personally like the challenge and think it adds a dimension to the game that demands a different skill set from me than before.

Since the viking re-make, the new Hunter is the better choice for smoky. It is much more stable and has more power than the Viking. It is a hair slower, but it is worth it for the added stability.

I tend to MU to halfway and save...it seems the most bang for the crystals ("bucks"). Just my thoughts. You'll love that kit!

I will confirm this. I don't play with it, but since the last update they are kicking my tail. Now I hate to see one locked on (as well as the new improved isida). Fun, fun, fun! :)

Depending on the map when I get DD on thunder I normally go in for the flag. On the smoky front have you tried either alteration? If so, what are your thoughts?

Wow! You dominated!!! Very impressed

Since you have the m3 thunder...go with the paladin. If you are more defensively minded the Guardian (I think that's the name) is a strong Titan/Smoky combo.

I love both turrets. They both play their role. Overall, you will find lots more tanks with thunder protection however. If you like both, then I'd go with Smoky simply because of the higher percentage of protections against thunder. Personally, I love the thunder for its abilities stated multiple times above. Do you prefer an attacking role, defensive role, or midfielding role?

With the m2 alteration it is a much better performer at midrange, but at long range it is anemic at best.

Truthteller, I looked at your profile and didn't see a lot of thunder usage. Do you have an alt account? Just curious.

Another tip for using the thunder...once an enemy closes in on you (assuming you couldn't keep a safe distance between your tank and theirs) look to shoot a wall nearby them (normally behind them a little) and you will finish them off without suffering much damage yourself. Also you can really take advantage of rocking shots on flat terrain so that the shot hits and splashes enemies in an area that are not directly visible. Thought I'd share a little more on strategies with the thunder. My frustration with it is that most (not all) tanks suit up with thunder protection because of its amazing damage potential. My m3 hands out almost 1000 damage per shot at midrange...with DD it is a one-shot kill on all light hulls. Lots of fun. Note: If it doesn't kill the light hulls, I often will flip them over on many boards;) Hope you experiment with it more and discover the flexibility this turret offers.

Completely agree with you here. I bought the alteration almost immediately for twins. Would never consider losing splash damage on thunder though. Way too many benefits;)

I was skeptical at first, but now that I have encountered players who are becoming adept at aiming and powering their shots I am a believer in the usefulness of magnum. This past weekend I played a lot on some larger maps. Playing on Lost Temple CTF, our team was perpetually blasted around our flag by two magnums. It made defending flag highly challenging. It made the game much more competitive and fun for me as a shaft. No more sitting still sniping. I had to move constantly and that was fun! I am already considering protection from this as it begins to increase in use and users increase in skill.

Not to mention the ability to damage tanks indirectly (i.e., around corners, behind barriers, etc.), damage multiple tanks, and damage tanks with slightly off target shots. The benefits are far more important to the thunder than the negative of self damage IMO. Just equip yourself with one of the many thunder protections and you are golden.

Sorry for my mis-information earlier. I stand corrected. The reload is 1/3 sec faster on average for the arcade mode.

As pointed out by DESTRUCKO, there is no comparison (head-to-head) between the shaft at arcade mode and a comparable thunder turret and hull. The shaft will lose every time. Add different protections, MU levels, and drugs and you can throw that statement out however. DESTRUKCO

I regularly use the heavy capacitor alt and love it. It allows me to one shot pretty much any tank if needed. The way I tend to use it however is to be able to quickly snipe multiple targets without losing my energy. It does have a slower recharge, but the trade off is worth it. My recommendation (after buying an alt for a different turret and not liking it) is to rent it and play a few larger boards (e.g., kolhoz, highways, brest, etc.) and see what you think. I am sold on it however. Hope that helps.

I agree! It is an amazing turret with the speed. Aiming is much easier and more precise with it. I am not a big fan of the splash damage alteration, however. I rented it twice and have decided to enjoy the bouncing balls of death;)

I'm a fan of northerner. That being said you have to choose stability and power versus speed and lower profile. I like the latter.

Smoky is a very fun turret that demands high skill and accuracy. I am still learning about it, but enjoy playing with it a ton. You won't be disappointed.

Viking is great for mobile, low-profile sniping. If you grab a DD box, then you can really go forward in arcade mode. As far as the mammy, I hated it until m3. Love it for long-range boards. It's perfect placement of turret near front means a much smaller profile for peek-a-boo sniping. If I need that extra health, but desiring a bit more speed at the expense of larger target area, I shift to titan.

I also think Viking works well with rico...the added rotational speed of the rico allows for quicker adjustments under fire. The added speed of the viking also makes it ideal to combine with circle strafing when mounted with the smoky and rico.

Thanks for the input! I tend to midfield with a Viking or a hornet. I like using the wasp on larger boards to try to get behind enemy snipers and wreak havoc;) I think I will try it and see. Thanks!