Other [Issue 16] Hog's Garage Analysis

[hogree 4,179]

 

Well yeah, hello guys, and this is hogree writing. Since Lham and Raphael have already put their garages out there in previous issues of the newspaper, it's now my turn, and so sit back and relax as you encounter the wonders of my garage. This article is basically a run-through of my personal Tanki gamer history. I'm going to start way back when I created my account in October 2010 - 3 years ago - just after Ricochet and Freeze were introduced, up past the rebalance, to what we know today as the game Tanki Online.

 

Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. I took an early head-start on most players. Having watched my brother play on his account a lot before I really took off on my hogree account, led me to learn some basic skills to win battles. So, when I got into the game, I was definitely prepared to face all that could be thrown at me.

 

Hog: The Pre-Rebalance Story

 

Note: All this information is pre-rebalance. If you want to only read my post-rebalance information, scroll down.

 

I was a lucky kid as I grew up the early ranks, having a couple of early crystal daily bonuses chucked at me, so I could get my M3 Smoky at Staff Sergeant. This was my first proper purchase after growing up early with the combo of M2 Smoky and M1 Hunter. It was incredible at the low ranks. As one of the very few who had it, you hammered many of your opponents in battles. It was very easy to win, especially with the epic power of the hog that I wealded.

 

I ranked up to Master Sergeant and made my first and only purchase of crystals. I bought 1,500 worth of crystals in old currency, and this enabled me to splash out on M3 Hunter, which really gave me a stepping stone to pwning in the low ranks. Taking M3 Hunter was a risky option, as just three ranks later, Viking could be unlocked, which was cheaper and stronger in statistics than Hunter. However, I'm glad I bought my M3 Hunter, as it gave me a very strong foundation to gain crystals at my lower ranks.

 

I ranked to First Sergeant, and bought M0 Isida. Though strong, I preferred my Smoky, and it was around this time that I started to settle into my early rank home – Highland Deathmatches. These battles never went unexciting for me, and especially at a low rank, the gameplay was faster than the majority of battles. But all this would end soon, when I made my next purchase...

 

I had 2000 crystals – very rich for a little First Sergeant, so I decided to splash out on another weapon. Yep, you guessed it, M3 Firebird. Once I started with it, I never looked back. Though Smoky had been amazing, it was dead once I bought this baby. It was domination from the out-set. You who know me from far back may remember my infatuation with this weapon, but lets just say that I was so in love with this weapon that I used it even when I bought M2 Thunder at Warrant Officer Five.

 

I rolled around with this weapon for a long period, running up the ranks as I played. Many of you will remember my favourite map for an age, pre-rebalance – Farm. I just feel sorry now that people can't play it till Third Lieutenant – my “childhood” as a tanker pretty much extended to Farm, and Farm alone.

 

The ranks passed, and my crystal bank grew heavy with crystals. Tanki 2.0 was planned for the next month, and I knew the potential refund coming with it, so when my bank reached 2000 crystals again, I decided to splash out on the paint of my dreams at the rank of Sergeant Major. You guessed it. Hoholama. I never regretted buying this paint, even later in my Tanki career. Though it lacked all forms of protection, the looks made me look and feel like a beast on the battlefield.

 

And so, I progressed up with my beloved set of M3 Firebird, M3 Hunter and Hohloma. I ranked to WO1, and knowing the use of Firebird AND Isida with speed, I bought Hornet to accompany them. To be honest, I only used this hull in a couple of battles. As I generally played compact, small maps, it was rarely useful for me to put the necessary life below the speed Hornet offered.

 

Disappointed with the purchase, I saved up once again, till I reached the cash for what would be my main Tier-2 Tank – Viking. Though barely better than Hunter, my love with the combination of Fire Hunter was enough to convince me that Viking was the way forwards for my Tanki career.

 

For me, it was time to play and save up. Though I bought an M0 Thunder at WO3, I never really got into using it, and stuck with my Firebird. As I ranked up through many Farm and Hill battles and collected crystals from scavenger hunts and runner-up prizes in contests, I finally had my next shopping spree at a discount when I was WO5. My purchases? M2 Isida, M2 Thunder and M1 Viking. For now, I was set.

 

Building ranks slowed down, as I started to take on different combinations. I started to deathmatch more often, and Firebird dropped down my top weapons' list. A new weapon was taking over – Isida.

 

I ranked up to Third Lieutenant, saving up some precious crystals, and with a runners-up prize in the “Deja Vu” contest, I stocked up enough crystals for M3 Isida. I fell in love. It was a beautiful weapon. Not so much of “My Weapon” as Firebird, but it was awesome, especially with my Viking in drug wars.

 

It was time to start spreading my map range a bit more. I started to play maps such as Kungur and Silence more commonly, and I often hit half-hour funds of over 150 (1500 in today's currency) with some drugs. At this point in my career, M3 Isida was super-strong for quite a few reasons. As a low rank with strong equipment, I often played with high ranks – and as this was pre-Update 191.0, people with low ratings got more points killing higher ratings, and higher ratings got much less for killing low ratings. Thus, I often rose to the top of the charts as easily as ever, and won my games easily.

 

This was reverted soon after I got my Isida, but my epic skills helped me keep up my high-scoring rate :P If any of you will remember me back in these days, you'll well remember the “ISI BROS 43V3R” group I was part of, and my use of this unique weapon.

 

At second lieutenant, I upgraded my Viking to M2. This built my much-needed health, and enabled me to have more of an effect in battles. For me, now, it was a matter of saving up – big time. I had M3 Isida, M2 Thunder and M2 Viking – and that was all the weapons and tanks I wanted... so now I wanted them to their full potential. You know what I mean, M3's.

 

It all came in a blast for me. The “Best of...” contest came out, and it immediately caught my eye. I prepared some clips for a Best of Firebird video – only for my movie maker to break at the last minute because it couldn't cope with the video side. I was about to give up, but at the last moment on the last day of entries, I prepared my video and uploaded a 2 minute video with my best clips. With a bit of help from my clan mates in xat spam watching my video, I not only won the developers' prize, but the viewers' too. I snaffled up the cash and splashed out on my next purchase: M3 Viking.

 

It wasn't long before my bank allowed me another big purchase. After winning the Best of guides contest, I was given the opportunity to double my winnings in a battle with the other winners. Yep, thats right, we won, and I did the key capture in the second round. Typical me. :P Cash rolled in, and I got M3 Thunder. Though many people at my rank did own M3 Combo's, I was up there with the marshals now. I was... serious.

 

This combo lasted me up to the rebalance. I bought Lead as a good-looking protection paint closer to the time, but for me, it was M3 Isida, M3 Thunder and M3 Viking as my decent weapons and hull just before the rebalance hit Planet Tanki....

 

Hog: The Post-Rebalance Story

 

MAJOR EVENT WARNING:

REBALANCE. Rank = MAJOR.

 

Rebalance hit, everyone went ballistic, you know the scenario. I was one of the clever brainy people who played with M0 Smoky M0 Wasp for two weeks to save up for a spending spree at the potential New Year's sale. Now we're going to get serious.

 

On the first day of the rebalance, lets just say I was a bit excited, most particularly at the Buying Experience idea for all ranks. So I rashly bought Colonel – mainly because I liked the look of the rank, and was bored. However, it didn't turn out to cost me, as experience wasn't discounted in the New Year's Discount.

 

My first newspaper pay arrived on time for the New Year's Discount, and I prepped up for a big spend. From watching gameplay among the high ranks, and hearing information from my friends (such as reading “The Shopper's Guide to the Rebalance” by ShadowVisions – you can read it here), I judged what I should do carefully.

 

I was hungry for M3's, and so I planned to buy my way up to the lowest rank to get an M3 Combo – Major General. This meant that I was forced into getting Hornet M3 – which I wasn't too happy about. I didn't really like the idea of using Hornet M3 – but it sure was worth it. Versatile, useful, and a good combination with Isida, I'm glad I made that decision, rather than go for M2 Viking and save for M3 Viking at Lieutenant General (my original plan before my clan-mates persuaded me otherwise).

 

Weapon-wise, I had more of a choice. Thunder, isida and Freeze were all on offer at my rank.. but I knew solidly in my mind what to go for. I decided to go for a weapon I could commonly associate myself with – M3 Isida. It had gained a ton of power, and now I thought that at a lower rank, it would be overpowered. This weapon was just... awesome. Isida POWA. Thats the only thing I can say. At a low rank, building up to Marshal, I solely used this weapon, and by the end of it, I would like to think that I was decent with the thing (though my brothers might suggest otherwise.)

 

A paint or another M2 Weapon were the options for me now – and I went for the paint. Am I happy with that choice? Most certainly. I remain to use the paint I bought to this very day. But there was a little dilemma behind it...

 

I had two options, really. Rustle – super-common on the battlefield, at the rank of Major General where only Thunder, Freeze and Isida were on offer at M3. However, not the prettiest paint in the world. In contrast, there was Hoholama. The most beautiful paint in the game by a long way, but poor protection at that point of time. Smokies were very very uncommon at the first days of the rebalance as people weren't ready to accept their power, and preffered the brute force of Thunder. Rico had been so much stronger before the rebalance that people weren't sure whether it would be worth it to buy it again – and though Freeze was very commonly found, I wanted to have protection on weapons that could give me damage from range more. Like... Thunder. You can probably see what I'm driving at here. I decided to chuck the money down on Rustle, and it still is arguably my first-choice paint to this very day. However, I still have second thoughts on whether it was a better paint to choose, particularly when I see hot hohlomas roaming the battlefield.

 

I swam along with my Isida-Hornet combination for a couple of months, till the 50% Smoky Discount hit town. I quickly grabbed a decently-sized fund (with the help of a generallisimo that will go un-named P.S. Its Reiki) and picked up an M2 Smoky. Now, I know loads of you be like “wow smoky m2 is OP” or “M2 is just as good as M3”, but one thing's for sure – dat weapon was NOT for me. With a capital N, a capital O and a capital T. It was probably the most disastrous thing I could have bought. To this very day, I have approximately spent about 2 hours playing with M2 Smoky since I've got it. And its been nearly 8 months. The weapon just didn't fit my gameplay, which was one of running in there, getting stuck into the battle and more often than not, getting killed. Which was pretty much my story with M2 Smoky. Even in deathmatches, I preferred to equip Isida, and that shows you largely my dislike for the weapon.

 

Another small purchase just after my M2 Smoky purchase was to get Electra. Bored chap that I was, I decided to cash out on a paint that I reckon I have used approximately once in my entire tanki career. Reason? I had recently been playing in some maps infested with isidas, and wanted something to protect me from them. However, the only times that I actually did join a map with a lot of Isidas, I decided to equip Rustle, so Electra wasn't my brightest purchase. On the other hand, it was cheap and I enjoyed clicking the “Buy” button whilst the moment lasted.

 

I was Major General for quite a while – four months to be precise, until the news struck in that experience buying was heading out of the window. This was a real pest in my plans, since as a dude who doesnt play much Tanki, it was hard to get experience. Thus, I picked up all my cash and chucked it all at the experience buying feature just before it was deleted. This brought me way into the rank of Lieutenant General, and quickly approaching General.

 

To summarise my opinions on all my pre-rebalance purchases, I would like to do a short summary on all the things worth mentioning that I bought at each rank. Lets start off with my purchases at Major General.

 

Rank: Major General

 

M3 Isida

Rating of a Hog: 9.5/10

Explanation: Super powerful, with a decently fast tank, very versatile, and guaranteed to get you decent points, this was the perfect weapon for me to get at this situation.

Note: If you want to learn some Isida tactics, feel free to read my Isida guide here.

 

M3 Hornet

Rating of a Hog: 8/10

Explanation: Though not my favourite tank in the battlefield by a long shot, there's no doubting that this hull is versatile, very powerful at Major General, and works well with a good Isida. High rating from me here.

 

Rustle

Rating of a Hog: 8.5/10

Explanation: Though low on looks, this paint has been invaluable for me in the game, helping me numerous times to take over against a pile of drugging Thunders, Freezes and Isidas. A fantastic paint at the rank of Major General, and in drug battles.

 

M2 Smoky

Rating of a Hog: 1.5/10

Explanation: Hated this weapon? Nah, I despised this weapon. It wasn't fun, it wasn't good, it just wasn't anything worth mentioning when I had my Isida pocketed. Even though I bought this at a half-price sale, this weapon was a waste of cash – nuff said. I only got it, really, because I felt sorry for the lack of Smokys on the battlefield at that point. Nowadays, that point doesn't stand anymore.

 

Electra

Rating of a Hog: 2.5/10

Explanation: Getting this paint at Major General was useful for only a very small number of games. The Isida protection was high, but it lacked serious protection in anything else, so it really wasn't something worth it for me.

 

_______________________________________________________________________

 

Lieutenant General passed quickly, due to the low amount of experience I needed to get to General, and I ranked up within a month, with no purchases worth mentioning. However, I can't say this wasn't a happy month for me in Tanki, since Update 144 (The raise of funds) was during my time as a Lieutenant General. On top of this came the happy event of the release of the Gold Box notification, one of the best Tanki updates I believe there ever was.

 

Rank: Lieutenant General

 

Nothing #yolo

Rating: 0/10

Explanation: n/a

 

_______________________________________________________________________

 

Generally, I like ranking up. Hehe, geddit? Yup, I'm now a General, but my combo still was exactly the same as it had been five months ago when the rebalance had hit Tanki. It was now May 2013, and it was time to decide my future plans.

A week after my rank-up party, the yearly Victory in Europe Day sale arrived on the scene, and I bought another paint. Addressing a different area of protection. Digital. Now, in the immediate scene after buying it, I can't say it was very useful. It was definitely second-choice when I had Rustle as an option in the majority of maps, but as Railguns appeared more in the battlefield, particularly after the 60% sale in August, Digital became an incredibly useful assett in the battlefield for me. I would argue now that it is my first-choice paint in most situations.

 

Though I now class Digital to be high in use, it wasn't particularly useful for me back then, so my main combo continued as Isida-Hornet-Rustle. Which is what I used when I collected my 3k Gold Box during the V/E holiday. However, this is a garage analysis, so I'm going to address issues more related to the subject.

 

I went crystal-saving mode for a couple of months, till the “Vote for your discount – Weapons” came in August. I saw the opportunity to buy something, and with a 15% discount on Twins, I decided to go for M2 Twins. A rash decision, probably, since I should have waited for a 50% discount in a month's time, but it was cool for the moment I got it. I enjoyed the style of gameplay with Twins, and it gave me a well-earnt break from using Isida.

 

Two weeks later, another discount hit the tracks – and this time it was much more significant. A 50% discount on Firebird gave me a great opportunity to spend crystals early and get Firebird M2, building myself a good platform towards getting M3 Firebird. However, I'm going to be honest that I haven't used in much since my purchase and I haven't particularly enjoyed using it either. But I know that once I get M3 firebird, I'll be very happy with my take on the 50% discount on Firebird, and so now, I'm reasonably happy to keep it there ready for an upgrade when I rank up later to Commander.

 

My rank-up to Marshal will be embedded into my final section regarding my purchases so far at Marshal, and so for a summary of what I bought as a General.

 

Rank: General

 

Digital

Rating: 7.5/10

Explanation: Though I didn't use Digital for quite a while after buying it, Digital has gradually taken over from being a under-par paint to my Number One paint, just scraping past Rustle. Its protection on Railgun and Smoky is particularly invaluable, especially in large maps.

 

M2 Twins

Rating: 5.5/10

Explanation: When you get to General, M2 Weapons aren't normally that effective. However, M2 Twins did give me some successful training for M3 Twins, and I did manage to win a few battles with it. That being said, it was nowhere near the effectiveness of M3, and definitely under M3 Isida in its power.

 

M2 Firebird

Rating: 4/10

Explanation: Firebird was my Number One weapon for a long time back in the day... but when you haven't had practise using it for nearly two years, it does start to show. I haven't really used it much since I got it, and even though I'm happy with my purchase since it will lead me well up to M3 Firebird, I'm going to be honest when I say that M2 Firebird isnt my best weapon. Though I would indefinitely use it over Smoky, when you have two super-strong M3 weapons in your garage, you don't often turn to a weaker option. At least, in my case you don't.

 

_______________________________________________________________________

 

It was already September, and I was fast approaching my rank-up to Marshal. When I heard the news that there was to be a 50% discount for every piece of equipment in the game, I bit my lips and went down to heavy Tanki gaming once again, forcing myself away from the pressing needs of playing Toontown before it closed down. I just made it to Marshal in time, but my pay was late in coming from my newspaper writing for September. I just received it in time to get arguably the most significant purchase of my Tanki career – M3 Twins.

 

Since I got it, nearly a month ago, I rarely have touched my Isida. Twins is a beautiful and epic weapon at M3 that can be super-strong when wealded well, and it suits my gameplay more than Isida. Once I get a heavier tank, I will have power that can be used in many different scenarios, including having a decent ability to play decently in deathmatches too, for the first time in nearly a year.

 

I've only made 10k experience since I ranked up to Marshal, and so M3 Twins is my only purchase, bar a NS pass, but after my final summary, I'll run over my plans for the future so you can see what my aims are.

 

Rank: Marshal (Currently at 1,010,000 Points)

 

M3 Twins

Rating: 9/10

Explanation: Very very happy with this purchase. I love this weapon, and the gameplay and strength it gives me. Though I rate this below Isida, due to the way Isida brought me up the ranks so quickly and so strongly, Twins is a more enjoyable weapon to use... at least, for now.

 

_______________________________________________________________________

 

So what for the future? I currently have M3 Twins, M3 Isida, M2 Smoky, M2 Firebird, M3 Hornet, Digital, Rustle and Electra in my garage. You can definitely see my clear lack there of what I need. A heavy tank, and a good paint. Well, my current shopping list for the future looks like this:

 

My Future M3's List

 

M3 Thunder

M3 Hunter

M3 Firebird

M3 Ricochet*

M3 Mammoth

 

*Not so important

 

Those are the M3's that I'm looking for. However, I am aiming to get M2 Mammoth next, to be able to have more of an effect on drug wars. Then I'll start to focus on my next M3's (Thunder first, since its the only one I can get without ranking up) However, paints will have to come in at some point too – I'll probably look at getting Rock next as a purchase. However, that will have to wait till I rank to Field Marshal.

 

Thanks a lot for reading this garage analysis! If you have any ideas for my future that you believe should be changed, do tell me, and I'll consider your opinions. Hog, Over and Out. 

 

 

All credit for the final picture goes to "gromatom". The first picture was made by me.

 

[unholycloak5 1,814]

Took some time to read this, and again, another awesome article from hogeh.  ^_^

[r_SwagBoy110 421]

Hog's teh best reporter, tbh.

[VectorSierra 199]

Nice! ;) #yolo

[hogree 4,179]

Hog's teh best reporter, tbh.

[r_nobodygood0 2]

shaft... you didnt get it... your choice, but nice, m3 hornet

[tankcalm 324]

Great article. I hope the comments for the smokies are just your personal opinion because smoky is one of the most powerful weapons on the game, almost any map and playable with any tank. And for now, until the new physics came, you must have mammoth if you want to have some serious supplies battles (probably this point won't be valid anymore, they'll make mammoth a slow cow in favor of the horrible dictator :angry: ).

Edited October 8, 2013 by tankcalm

[hogree 4,179]

I hope the comments for the smokies are just your personal opinion because smoky is one of the most powerful weapons on the game, almost any map and playable with any tank. And for now, until the new physics came, you must have mammoth if you want to have some serious supplies battles (probably this point won't be valid anymore, they'll make mammoth a slow cow in favor of the horrible dictator :angry: ).

Of course they are, I understand why Smoky is so popular. But that doesnt change the fact I find it disgusting and useless :P

 

I will actually look forward to the new physics in this aspect, because having only, and literally only Mammoths in Generallisimo drug wars does lose a certain aspect of diversity in the game. I personally may go for Dictator if the new physics prove me that its good.

[Whitee 193]

Nice.. xD i had fun reading. 

[Buggati_The_Best 1,233]

you have a spectacular memory sir,congratz hoggie

you are really a pro..

[hogree 4,179]

you have a spectacular memory sir

Its not so much a spectacular memory, but more of a spectacular amount of screenshots. I can look back over all my battle funds at low ranks and see my crystal count go progressively up, and then when it jumps down, calculate what I got by what my tank uses after that event. So, all in all, its very little down to memory :P

[Buggati_The_Best 1,233]

Its not so much a spectacular memory, but more of a spectacular amount of screenshots. I can look back over all my battle funds at low ranks and see my crystal count go progressively up, and then when it jumps down, calculate what I got by what my tank uses after that event. So, all in all, its very little down to memory :P

you underate yourself to much :o 

be proud B)  

[tankyman12 10]

Its really true

[tankyman12 10]

:o   

 

I got  m3 smoky, then m3 hunter, then m3 firebird before rebalance :o

[Ranger7 75]

Good article - well written. But I must admit you made some big mistakes as far as paints go  :lol: Though of course I did to - buying Cedar instead of Rustle... what was I thinking? GJ hog.  ;)

[AngeIs.And.Demons 1,988]

Nice!

[hogree 4,179]

Now, Rank Field Marshal.

 

Since this article, I have got:
 

M3 Thunder - 7/10

M3 Dictator - 8/10

M3 Railgun - 8.5/10

M3 Shaft - 0.5/10 :lol:

Needle

Taiga

Prodigi

Hohloma

Rock

 

Just an update ~

[Buggati_The_Best 1,233]

What m3 weapon should i buy for my high account?

smoky m3 or twins m3

smoky m3 is hugely popular and if i take it,i will be just another player in the crowd...

twins m3 are cool,very powerfull and some MU at damage and range it will sure kick in the battlefield :)  

[r_omega2450 2]

What m3 weapon should i buy for my high account?

smoky m3 or twins m3

smoky m3 is hugely popular and if i take it,i will be just another player in the crowd...

twins m3 are cool,very powerfull and some MU at damage and range it will sure kick in the battlefield :)  

I thought u had smokey m3.. :P (psssth, get Smokey m3)

[hogree 4,179]

Twins M3 is way more fun than Smoky M3. Serious.

[High 773]

Actually really interesting! Well done!

[Buggati_The_Best 1,233]

Twins M3 is way more fun than Smoky M3. Serious.

smoky is so mainstream these days..

you are right :)

[Superlative 500]

Nice.

[hogree 4,179]

Hey, Bluelight, I appreciate your comments on my articles - however, there is absolutely no way you read that article in about 1 minute (Yes, I know you scrolled over my name, saw what topic I was looking at and then commented on it). So, I would appreciate if your comments were actually legitimate. Thanks.

[I.WalkAlone 548]

Umm.. Isida in DM's?