Review [Issue 40] The Tanker Dissected: Inside the Arena

[hogree 4,179]

With most things in life, there's a couple of parts to becoming a success. Take an athlete - he's got to be good at exercising as well as running to reach the top. A politician's got to be good at public speaking as well as doing his job to get people to like him. Even a chicken-shop owner has two essential parts to his job - cooking, not just selling (even though I'd probably eat it anyway). It's pretty much the same in Tanki. In this two part series called "The Perfect Tanker", we'll be looking at the essential parts that form the dream tanker - inside and outside the arena. 
 
A long intro is never fun so I'll get straight to the point. I've always thought dissecting the tanker that lives in each of the vehicles flying around our beloved Tankiverse would be a topic worth exploring. Certain people, and yes I'm looking at you Mr. High-Ranker who thinks he's too pro to read the Newspaper, think that the skill level that they've attained in the game will simply be improved by more and more and more game time. Forget reading, what's the point? Nothing I'll read will improve my playing. I hope you'll be at least slightly stimulated by this article to mull over the parts that compose your game in the arena and work out a way of improving your skills which doesn't just involve sitting at a screen playing Parma XP 2v2 battles. There's got to be more to it. Right, let's get moving. Time to enter the arena.
 
Before I start, I'll outline what the plan is. I've split them up and for me, there are 4 vital components to an individual's game inside the battlefield which need to be separated for a true understanding of what needs to be mastered in the game. We'll take a glance at our plain old-fashioned big hulking Mammoth below and split it up as we investigate what components a tanker needs to shine on all quarters.

 

 

Don't be fooled - there's more to a tank than first meets the eye...

 
I. Skills

We begin with what is most certainly one of the most obvious things that comes to the surface when you're playing that cheeky round of Serpy CTF - Skills. Any player can look at another and tell whether they have skills - it shows immediately and really defines where a player really fits in the grand scheme of things.

 

Skills does sound a bit vague so I'll hone in on what particular I'm looking for in this quarter of our dissected tank. This is the external presentation of the player: the movements; the sniping; the all-round technique. Then of course you have skills more directly linked to the weapon of choice - for example a skilled Railgun might be good at anticipating opponent movements whilst a skilled Vulcan might be able to concentrate both on driving and their gyroscope-affected turret at the same time.

 

Many would say that actually skills are the only thing that it comes down to. Forget a quarter - it'd dominate the whole thing. Don't get me wrong - to an extent skill affects everything. But believe me, there's far more to an accomplished Tanki player than just Skills...
 

II. Control

 
Our second point and perhaps the most important factor do an accomplished Tanki player - Control. Placarded across the front of the Mammoth, it, like Skill, is something quite evident to the watching opponent. Whilst Skill deals primarily with the weaponry and flamboyance of a player, Control takes more of a back seat role in the externals and demonstrates a player's ability at controlling his tank and each of the forms that takes.

 

Control is most obvious in the driving of the hull. We all have had that feeling where we've just gone on a mad run, annihilated the defence and are just about to complete the victory capture and we drive into a house right in front of that bloke who thought we were the bee's knees. The top top players in the game are the ones who never drive into props, never flip over unnecessarily, never mistime their move for that supply box. It encompasses timing, it encompasses understanding. It's all about being in control. Obviously.

 

Control also moves over the keyboard and how good a player is at using each of his different features. A couple of years ago now, I wrote an article about the Tanki keyboard and the different controls that can affect your game - well, one thing's for sure, the players most in control don't struggle with changing their camera. They've definitely mastered it.

 

I'm not going to drive on about this point. I think you all know how crucial Control is to your game.

III. Vision
 

 

Hmm. Vision. Maybe something you might have dropped from this 4-term list. I must admit I chose Vision but another good word here would be Awareness. This shows off a more delicate aspect to a player's performance that certainly takes a back seat but cannot be ignored. Vision shows off a player at his most concentrated, a player who is focused on everything going on around them. Here, even some of the top players fall short - a StarSeries defender caught daydreaming who doesn't spot the Nitro-Wasp run in and grab the flag can change any game, no matter how much skill the fellow has.

 

Vision obviously comes through sight. Here, a big screen with high-graphics comes in useful, but you can't make excuses if you haven't got those provisions. Everyone has flag alerts at the top of their screen, everyone has the ability to see to a pretty decent level. You need to make sure you keep looking around you whilst you're driving to show off a key aspect to your tanking. One really useful tip for this is constantly turning your turret - you'll see a lot more going on around you.

 

I just said Vision came through sight, but you do have to be aware through your ears as well. This is where turning on your sound comes in useful. Listening to battle sounds around the battlefield can give you ideas on enemies' whereabouts and also is invaluable for making sure you're up-to-date on what's going on regarding flags.

 

Don't underestimate this. For me, it's integral to a player. Staying aware of your surroundings is something I think even the best have to keep working on. Don't just rely on your skills - if you don't have good vision, you're in trouble.

 

IV. Positioning
 

 

So this is it - our last component to our most dashing Mammoth. You may notice that Positioning is positioned (Where's that dancing emoticon gone?) at the back of the tank and I think the fact that it is taking the most furthest back role is telling as many people seem to take this aspect of Tanki as just rolled into one with the others. But I'd disagree. Positioning is all about understanding of the game and being in the right place at the right time. And don't think it's luck - believe me, there's far more to it than just that.

 

Having that understanding of position may seem like a difficult thing to master so I'll just briefly run through what it encompasses. Positioning your tank is really built up when you begin to understand where your opponents are placed on the battlefield. This concept is linked to one of the points I did over on the Handbook this issue regarding Guessing Opponents' Minds. You have to be able to see through their eyes and understand where they're going to move to be good at positioning yourself on the field.

 

You may think this is only for defenders getting in the right areas to block off attackers, but trust me, attackers have to do this as well. When you're sprinting in for that flag you've got to be able to position yourself well and enter through the right areas to stay invisible in the enemy base.

 

So don't forget this last point. It's vital to a tanker's game. You may be thriving in the other three areas but if you aren't good at positioning yourself in the right areas then you'll be taken out far more than you would otherwise be. Make sure you're always looking around you to see where other players are going and manoeuvre your tank appropriately. Keep on top of your game.

 

---

Well that's all folks! One of my shortest articles and I do apologize it couldn't be longer - I've been a bit more busy this month. I know you may disagree on the integral points of the tank so I'd really appreciate each of your opinions. You may have picked Knowledge or perhaps another point related to Skill. Hopefully, even if you disagreed with my points, you might have taken something out of this - even a mindset change as to all of the different things you need to think about as a Tanki player. Cheers guys!

Edited January 7, 2018 by Hexed

[tommybau 1,033]

Really, Really, Really, Chicken, Really, Really good article.

 

But there is an issue: a big slice of the tanki cake (or chicken, whatever you like the most) is occupied by the "pros" who think they are well... pro because they have a larger garage or are able once in a while to 360 noscope another tanker in an XP battle like they saw on youtube.

[buddersword 26]

I know it sounds awkward , but could you tell me the name of font used on that mammoth :P ( or Lham made it ? )...Very nice Article

Edited September 19, 2015 by buddersword

[IamKIBI 0]

Very Good article.

 

One really useful tip for this is constantly turning your turret

I always do that,all the time, and also I keep changing camera angle with 'E' and 'Q'.It gives you good vision (as a railer that i am) on what is everyone doing or where they going.

 

Btw I would say, control+vision+positioning=skills

[The-Operator219 1,929]

Don't forget endurance.

As long as I can take a few shells and keep charging, I consider myself a pro.

[Barra 1,445]

Nice article man, i enjoyed reading it.

It helped me to find my missing quarter...

[yoyo360_GTO 265]

This is one of the best articles in this Newspaper because it completely explains all the aspects of the game even the ones that I didn't know we're that useful!

[I3ANNED 1,693]

Wish I had good literature xD

[r_Freeze_tester000 2]

Nice article! I liked it!

[ps90_unbeatable 53]

and ya you guys forget about druggers which can easily make a team lose and win the game with continious doubledamage drugging.

[npc5 3]

Some people dont even rotate their turret. :lol:

[The-Operator219 1,929]

Some people dont even rotate their turret. :lol:

Not saying all druggers or twins are like this, please no hate but...

Mostly druggers and twins do this.

At least at my rank they do.

[Aiastesi 34]

The-Operator219, what are you saying with the shells thing? Unless you're saying you only play against Ricochet players...

[oOsamsaraOo 17]

Thank you, good points.

 

I think you can add something like: Combo choice

 

It means the ability to optimize your choice about the best balancing of your tank:

 

a) in himself

adopting the best combo in terms of right balance of yours tank/hull/paint

 

b) according to the battle

adopting the best combo fit for any specific map and/or specific battle (i mean the mix of enemy's guns and hulls)

 

hope it helps

 

Wii

[The-Operator219 1,929]

The-Operator219, what are you saying with the shells thing? Unless you're saying you only play against Ricochet players...

Tanks fire shells right?

I was just saying shots in general.

[warlord1742 0]

Very-Well Written Topic, makes you think about all they key aspects of tanki. Great Post! :)

[momy950666 960]

nice

[huddy_2002 81]

http://prntscr.com/8jk5qd :p

[The-Operator219 1,929]

All of this is fine and dandy, but we all know wha the REAL strategy is.

The 1-5 keys.

[OPZY 0]

and ya you guys forget about druggers which can easily make a team lose and win the game with continious doubledamage drugging.

i agree with u 

[OPZY 0]

Thank you, good points.

 

I think you can add something like: Combo choice

 

It means the ability to optimize your choice about the best balancing of your tank:

 

a) in himself

adopting the best combo in terms of right balance of yours tank/hull/paint

 

B) according to the battle

adopting the best combo fit for any specific map and/or specific battle (i mean the mix of enemy's guns and hulls)

 

hope it helps

 

Wii

yes i agree becuz u cant go shaft and wasp in sandbox (example)

[The-Operator219 1,929]

Is this what the developers think defines skill in their game?

Or is this a cruel joke?

I have an idea; Pit the developers against ANY drugger, good or bad.

They will see their mistake.