Guide [Issue 40] How to utilize discounts effectively!

[TriNitroToIuene 4,765]

^{A MAGNITUDE-BASED OPINION}

 

 

Discounts. Everyone loves them, right? Those all-you-can-buy sprees on eBay amazing moments where the prices of all products - or even the prices of prices - get slashed anywhere in the range of 10% to even 90% of the original price!
 
Why do we love discounts? It's because we get a chance to whine for more we're always looking for opportunities to use less crystals while buying something (everyone's a miser here!), or we don't want to use/or don't have that many crystals to purchase a new item.
 
Often, we get stuck in dilemmas as to what to buy, and hence we fail to exploit make use of the fall in prices, or we make a wrong choice out of desperation and end up cursing ourselves for the rest of our career.
 
Otherwise (and many of you would have experienced this in the low ranks), one gets so excited on seeing the words 'X % off on Y for 24 hours' that his adrenaline pumps up, causing him to buy a new item simply for the sake of jumping on the bandwagon, and it could also turn out that one was so excited at the prospect of getting his first M1/M2/M3 that he simply bought whatever fit into his crystal range.
 
And that, is the biggest mistake one could make - resulting in loss of precious crystals as well as the humiliation of owning something one would never use anyway.
 

 
The overview
 
Basically, I'm going to go over the various types of sales and delineate how to go about them, and how differently-ranked tankers can find the item they want! Also, more importantly, I'm going to be advising you about buying items you need - because it is necessity that spawns a new purchase, not a fad.
 
After reading this article, I guess you'll be thorough with the do's and don'ts while there's a discount! Happy reading!
 

 
DISCLAIMER - Please don't mistake this for a buying guide, because I've not exactly repeated the word 'discount' everywhere. Thanks.
 

 

HOW TO PREDICT DISCOUNTS

 

Discounts usually happen for something special within Tanki - it could be a festival (a major one, mind you!), a special in-game occasion or it could even be completely random. However, there is one foolproof way to predict Discounts.
 

Fortune-telling

 

WHAT TO DO WHEN

^{YOU SEE A DISCOUNT}

 

 

Well, I guess the only two things you can do during discounts are - buy something, or ignore the discount. But, again, I repeat - what to buy?
 
The answer, read on for the discount-type-wise guide for buying stuff.
 

 

 
I guess we've all seen discounts like this in the forum, the most recent example being the triple hull/turret sale as dictated by StarSeries champions All In. These are great opportunities to kill two birds with one stone and buy the - or possibly some - item(s) of your dreams. The discounts are usually placed in hierarchical order - no two items will have the same magnitude of discount - some are placed higher over the others.
 
These sales are almost always decided by votes - either of the community, or (see the picture) of a particular clan. If it is decided by the community's vote, then I'm afraid you'll not always get what you want - you will obviously vote for something you need, but your vote is insignificant among thousands of others (unless they're voting for the same thing as you!).
 
Okay, suppose the results are out and you get two unfavourable turrets and one favourable one - what do you do? The answer is obvious - buy the favourable one. However, it's not so simple. Read on to find out.
 
The M0/M1 stage - M0 users will naturally be looking for something new to add to their kitty, therefore they tend to experiment with different combinations. However, how does one utilize this effectively without wasting crystals? The answer is, vote for something that is cheap to buy. That's the biggest factor. Then, if you're comfortable with short range turrets, vote for one. The same goes with hulls, too. As for M1s - first decide: is the discount sufficient to get the thing I want? Will I be able to buy it and still have some stocks of crystals remaining? Do I play well with it? Find the answers to your questions, and choose suitably.
 
The M2 stage - By now, you must have sorted out your priorites, and must know what you want. If you like the M1 you already have, I'd suggest buying the next modification - if it goes on sale. If it doesn't, don't just buy something that is! Chances are, you won't like it and it will sit in your garage collecting rust. So will your hard-earned crystals! Remember, in this stage, you are potentially saving up for the Gissimo phase and you need all the resources you have! If you don't see the item you want on sale, save for the next one. It's useless buying something you're never going to use.
 
The M3 stage - You're typically in a situation wherein you need the latest modification  (i.e., M3) to stay abreast with the rest of the pack. This will kinda be a deja vu situation of the M2 stage, where you need to decide your priorites. If you have an M2 you sparingly use, don't upgrade it for the sake of getting an M3. You're one of the elite now, you need your combo to be at it's kicking best (and you, too!). Therefore, I'd say that it's better to have one good M3 combo than ten other, average M1s or M2s.
 

 

 

 
Although this picture depicts only turrets and micro-upgrades, I've decided to include hulls as well, for the sake of saving space.
 
Plans for these kind of sales are almost the same as the scenario above; it just becomes a lot easier as every single item is on sale and the discount percentage on each is the same - 50%.
 
However, a universal word of advice to all ranks alike - Don't get carried away. I've seen people lose their heads in such a vast sale and make a beeline for their garage, buying every single thing that pops up white instead of red, and immediately regretting wastage of crystals after spending two minutes with their new combos. This causes a lot of embarrassment and jealousy among tankers as they look at other tanks' flashy, sparkling awesome combo with pangs of envy. Thus the main point. Just. Get. What. You. Absolutely. Need.
 
I tell you, 50% sales on everything might be awesome - but their main purpose is not to get everything there is. The idea is that there is a larger variety of hulls and turrets on sale so that every tanker can choose something according to their fancy - or needs.
 
As for MUs, follow the same principle - check out what your turret is really lacking, or what you're uncomfortable with. If the damage of your Railgun is less - upgrade it. If the balance of your Hornet is less - upgrade it. Wanna show off to your friends by doing the Harlem Shake - don't upgrade the turning speed. This is another reason where tankers lose out, they see the word 'MU' and start upgrading everything. Just upgrade the things you need to, and leave the rest.
 
If there is a discount on speedups, only then do you do so. Never speed up an upgrade unless you've got tons of crystals - let it take it's time.
 

 

 

 
Paints- one of the most important aspects of the game - both strategically and aesthetically! Without them, tanks would look transparent!
But I admit, it'd be fun to be transparent. The possibilities.......
 
Anyway, buying a new paint is a very important stage in someone's career. It marks the end of domination by a particular turret, and a new age of pwning. However, if we don't choose our paints correctly, we'll be left with what is practically a shell and the feeling of regret for at least a month. Wrong paints waste valuable crystals, and we'll be forced to play with inferior ones.
 
While buying a paint, however, one should keep in mind that they will soon outrank the paint - it will become useless as we progress to a rank where we need bigger and better paints. Therefore, to prevent wastage, here I am with rank-wise tips on buying paints!
 
The M0/M1 stage - Alrighty. You've just come to know about protective paints at this stage, and you want to get one, simply to gain an advantage over a particular turret. In this case, I'd like to ask you people to refrain from buying the basic coloured paints - unless you're a diehard fan of camo and you want to ruin your account. Choose between the four basic protective paints - Forester, Marine, Swamp and Flora. These rudimentary paints can give you a lot of protection from one turret each, depending upon what you fear in the game. And, if you want, you could go in for a low-costing double protection paint, but don't go to protections above two. You won't need it.
 
The M2 stage - You've now come to know which turrets irritate you the most in the game. You want to place some solid resistance to the turrets that don't let you play properly. You could be a master at negotiating some turrets, but could suck at the others. Therefore, my advice would be to analyze what turrets bother you and look for a paint protecting you from all the said items. If you don't get a paint, get one which protects you from at least two-third of the aforementioned. You need to save up your crystals and can't afford to make a wrong choice, therefore don't go in for an extravagant paint just because it's got high protection.
 
The M3 stage - Chances are, you would have started playing PRO battles, including XP and BP. You could've started to fight duels and some might even be involved in SLTV cups. Therefore, get turret-specific paints and micro-upgrade their protection. Once you're a high-ranker, you're looking for more protection, not more options. Buying flashy and expensive paints is just a sign of showing off (although you are getting it at half-price), therefore don't buy paints protecting from too many turrets unless your need is sincere. I won't go into detail here, please refer a paint guide to make the right paint choices. Overall, I'd just say that the M3 stage is one where you see 'homogenous battles' - almost all the people in the said battles are using only one turret - so, before buying your paint, decide your priorities!
 
A general advice to all would be - buy a paint according to your need, not according to your eyes. Flashy paints are of no use to you unless they actually protect you the way you want. And, as always, the usual - don't buy many paints just because they're on sale!
 

 

 

 
Again, there is no rank-specific advice for this sort of discount. There is no buying limit for a particular rank - anyone can do it. Well, when I say everyone, I mean everyone who can and would do it. Most people don't. However, I do admit that it's a pretty quick way of getting crystals.
 
Just a quick tip - think whether you desperately need the crystals. This can be useful if there is another discount running parallel with this one, or if you are simply saving up for the item of your dreams. If you have sufficient crystals, don't buy crystals. Spend your money on snacks at the nearby convenience store instead.
 
And then, if you are buying crystals - DON'T OVERDO IT. Buy only as much as you need - twice as much, in fact, seeing that there's a sale. A lot of people end up spending their entire month's pocket money (or salary, if you work) on the game, rejoicing in the temporary limelight.
 
However, one does rather have a tendency to blow crystals on the game - yes, on supplies too! If you think you don't blow crystals, note the number of crystals you have now. Now, one month later, check the crystals you have left. No, it's not black magic! I swear you used them yourself!
 
So I guess that's it from the buying point of view (but honestly, I don't buy, so feel free to go broke over this game).
 

 

 

 

Let me tell you this - getting addicted to drugs is BAD. Don't do it.
 
Drugs are those irritating, eye-avertifying boxes which make other people call you 'drugger noob.'
 
Well, I'm kind of neutral towards supplies at the moment, but that could change. All the same, there's no denying that they really give your tank an advantage. And 50% off on them, along with passes? Head over to your garage now! Supplies are good in sparing amounts, but used too often, it often downgrades your status in the game. However, storing them up to use in the future is just about the best thing you can do. DON'T try buying drugs individually - they just waste your money, heh? Fortunately, I happen to have some advice! Wait. The passes are clamouring for their turn in the limelight too. Okay, okay.
 
The M0/M1 Stage - You've just come to know what supplies are, or you're slowly realizing their importance. In your case, you badly need them to get quick crystals to gain access to that M1. Alternatively, you need a lot of them to experiment with them and finding just the right combination. In this case, you can make use of the downfall in prices and buy around thirty of each supply - this is just an estimate. I'm not forcing you to buy them. However, be careful with the repair kits - they cost thrice the amount other supplies do. If you're not satisfied with the drugs you bought once they're over - let the matter rest; don't buy more. Save those extra crystals for some other sale.
 
The M2 Stage - Technically, this is the time when you start experiencing drug wars - however, this does not mean that you exploit your available crystals for the sake of a discount. Get a few supplies in bulk - here I'd recommend buying them if - and only if you're running short. I know my dear readers can do very well without supplies - or can they? Anyway, this is also the time when you unlock format battles - that is, XP, BP, XP/BP and Parkour. These are also a good way to escape from the world of nug battles and just immerse yourselves into some good old, proper and organized battles! A PRO battle pass is a must for you here. I'd also recommend SMPs - especially if you rank very slowly. The new SMPs are more economical than the old ones - with the discount, that's one feather you have to add to your cap!

 

The M3 Stage - You now play more PRO battles and drug wars than ever, and in normal battles, people with three symbols hovering over their tank are a common sight. You need a lot of drugs to ensure your name doesn't grace the bottom of every battle table - at the same time, you need them in bulk, and cheap too, because you have to get a lot of stuff done - obviously, the price will be cheap because of the discount, but not cheap enough. My suggestion? Buy drug kits. Also, don't waste money on SMPs if you're a Generalissimo - if you're just entering the M3 phase and need a lot of XP to reach Generalissimo quickly, then full steam ahead, I say.

 

 

 

 

It doesn't need to strictly be Smoky^. These kind of sales used to occur...well... periodically last year - a 70% sale is announced, but the catch - only for an hour. So, you don't have much to lose in this sale (because 70% is a lot), except for time - there's no knowing when it will go on sale. So, I'm going to be really short with this - 

 

Just decide if spending time is worth it - is the turret something you like? Or need? Never buy stuff like this just for the novelty of a 70% discount - you might regret it.

If it's something you really detest - like, I don't know, you might want to skip the chance. Having good somethings sounds better than having mediocre everythings.

 

And finally, do you have the time? If it doesn't coincide with your comfort zone, don't go out of your way. Just wait for another sale.

 

 

 

Again, not necessarily PRO battle passes... anything could come under the sale. Remember the 90% off on In-Love during Valentines Day?

 

This sale is really profitable, just keep in mind these tips - 

 

The M0/M1 Stage - BUY IT!

 

The M2 Stage - BUY IT!

 

The M3 Stage - BUY IT!

 

 

So that's it from this guide, dear tankers! I hope, that after reading this, you'll cease playing in the spendthrift mode and become a miser. Because, the results you obtain from following this guide are going to be way more satisfying than just simply buying an item - so satisfying that you won't even notice people calling you M0 noob!

 

Such is the power of good advice :lol:

 

 

This was TNT. Follow the advice, save your money, and greet every discount that comes with open arms! Good luck, and have fun using your newly discounted garage equipment!

 

 

 

Edited January 7, 2018 by Hexed

[BuriedSky 1,319]

(thumbs up)..

I hope people read and apply all this...

Great article...

Edited September 18, 2015 by BuriedSky

[Ninja892 50]

Well written!

[Darren4Turbo 4,913]

Sir, this article is awful

 

NO, it's just amazing.

[anuclearbomb 220]

wow, another pretty much error free article, well done! ( i say pretty much cause there may be some grammar errors, but i haven't found any and i don't care to)

[Quarks 2,255]

Well done TNT, the only time I have wasted a sale was teh 90% pro battle, sad right, and buying fire m1 during christmas last year, I never use it, might buy m2 though ;)

Alt+MAlt+N

Edited September 19, 2015 by Quarks

[anuclearbomb 220]

 

Well done TNT, the only time I have wasted a sale was teh 90% pro battle, sad right, and buying fire m1 during christmas last year, I never use it, might buy m2 though ;)

Alt+MAlt+N

 

it's got to you too!

[lukey0 27,543]

Nice guide. ;)

[Hex 11,520]

Impressive, you were born to lead a good life, have a family and enjoy be a reporter in TO!

[r_tanki_09_tanki0 0]

I liked this article. It will surely help me to get Rail M1 in the next sale!

[Hex 11,520]

Good article! Keep it up :D

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

|| PDox ||

Although you could've photoshopped Hulls into the Turret pic ;)

[Dawn.of.Legend 1,432]

Good job bro

[Barra 1,445]

Well done TNT :D

[huddy_2002 81]

[TriNitroToIuene 4,765]

 

Yeah, that's a sale :P

[Quarks 2,255]

The first big sale I used, (Christmas last year) I decided to buy m1 fire instead of m1 smoky.  :o Smoky is now my secondary, after my railgun fetish :wub:. yeah, after legend kit, smoky m2, here I come. BTW, Close rangers don't agree with me, so there goes my paints.