Low Ranked v High Ranked Gameplay

[Jwimmer 2,835]

High rank vs. Low rank gameplay

            Low rank gameplay is vastly different from high rank gameplay. There a number of factors that leads this, and here, I will list out the different factors, and attempt to analyze gameplay around the Warrant Officer (WO) ranks to gameplay above the rank of General. Luckily for me, I have an alt that I just managed to get up to third lieutenant, @jwimmer2, and of course, this account. To minimize variables, I will compare the two levels hypothetically thinking of Polygon CP battles, because those are plentiful at both low and high ranks.

 

Characteristics of low-ranked gameplay

-Comparatively slower

            M1 tanks are simply slower, and M1 turrets reload slower than their M3 counterparts. This means that there is less shooting, and slower driving speeds.

-More clueless people

            While this may not seem like too big of a factor, it actually is. People often do not go to the point, which can really hurt a team. Furthermore, there are also more people who have not figured out the whole turret-rotation thing. If these people are on your team, too bad; if they are on the other team, good for you!

-A large divide between overpowered and underpowered tanks.

            Most players around the WO ranks either are smart and buy kits, sometimes with M2s, while some, as stated before, are clueless, and instead are still using M0s and a few M1s. There is not much of an in-between that has developed here. Unfortunately, alot of the time there is quite a bit of polarization between teams, or one team just has more OP tanks.

-Fewer heavy druggers

            This is due to the fact that people really have not had time to accumulate large amounts of supplies. However, there will almost always be people on their incredibly overpowered alts that seem like they have an infinite supplies pass. This factor really can only be good or neutral to you- if you do not drug, it is good; if you do drug, you will be on top of the game anyways.

-Smaller funds, and fewer gold boxes

            At WO ranks, a good portion of the fund from a 15 minute Poly CP can be as low as 400 crystals, compared to 800 or so at high ranks. The slower growth of the fund (and slower game speed) both contribute to a small amount of golds. ***See spoiler below***

-The ability to take over a game by oneself

            If a person has a good combo (basically anything with twins mounted on it) and plenty of drugs, they have the ability to completely change the way a game goes. This can be quite annoying- say you are playing a game of Noise CTF, and the battle is close, but your team is winning. If just 1 person with viking twins m1 and drugs joins, they will easily be able to cap around your best defensive efforts (unless your team is drugging).

-More little kids

            There is a larger number of younger tankers at low ranks. In most cases, any lengh more than half a year is enough for a game to get boring, and for younger, less commited people, to quit. However, these ranks can easily be reached in less than half a year. This means there can be alot of pointless jibberjabber in chats, and it also is a part of the larger number of clueless people.

 

Characteristics of high ranked gameplay

-Fast gameplay

            M3 tanks are fast, and M3 turrets reload fast. More shooting and faster tanks combine to make gameplay itsself much faster- and more exciting.

-Most people know what they are doing

            While there can be some exceptions, by the time people hit the M3 ranks, they know what to do in a Poly CP. Along with this, there are not as many little kids. Tankers are old enough to know what a team is, and how to be a good help.

-A larger amount of druggers

            People have had time to get large amounts of supplies by this point, so drugging is seen more often. Opposite last time, this can only be neutral or bad for you. If you drug, you will be on top; if you don't drug, you will struggle.

-A wider range of skill levels

            Players can range from Majors with 4 months of experience to Generalissimos with years of playing under their belt. This is really good for newer players (major-ish ranks), because they can both see good tactics, and get taught how to play better. However, in a competitive match, getting a major on your team is not a good thing.

 

 

***Example of fund differences***

 

 

High Ranked:

Low Ranked:

While the top game was a 30 minute game and the bottom was only 15 minutes, the 11k 30 minute fund is nowhere close to as low as the 2k 15 minute fund. There were other differences that aided the different sizes of the funds, but the key difference is rank.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analysis

-In my opinion, gameplay at lower ranks is better. While funds may be smaller, tanks are cheaper as well. I have both Twins and Hammer M1, which are both quite strong, and I prefer to be one of the better players in my game. Along with this, I am not a drugger. At higher ranks, the only way to be at the top of a team (in most cases) is to drug, and I simply do not have the supplies needed to drug heavily.  As I said earlier in the article, lower rank gameplay does not require drugs to be at the top of the team.

-In the case of a heavy drugger/buyer, I would say higher rank gameplay would be preferred. Since a drugger can expect to be at the top of their team in both low and high ranked games, the higher funds, faster gameplay, and ore golds easily tops low-ranked gameplay.

 

Conclusion

-The key difference between low and high ranked gameplay is equipment level. Gameplay speed is something that really drives along the rest of the game, so the vast differences in game speed works to make a vast different in the feel of gameplay.

-Nowadays, you will find me playing on my alt more often than my main. Because I like being on top of the scoreboard, I find it worth the slightly slower gameplay. My combo on my main is, unfortunately, not M4, so I do not have much of a chance of finishing really high up on the scoreboard.

 

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- @Jwimmer

[Quarks 2,255]

Well done my friend. Interesting article idea. I rather like it.

[CJGuitar 23]

At WO Rank, I did not have enough crytles to get a kit or even a M1 hornit or Rail. Some tankers just don't have that much money. Good anyways 

[WoShiNewbie 55]

Aiyo, what's the difference? High ranks and low ranks are both filled with mults & sabo kings. Low ranks = Alt accounts, of course they know what they are doing, just that they do it on purpose! Tanki Online: Who plant the most mults win! 

[Blackdrakon30 2,943]

Good article, and so true.  -_-  I cannot wait until I am past the low ranked battles and can actually have teammates who think straight. A surprisingly small amount of players actually work as a team in the battles beyond having a good Isida, which is odd as quite a few people do claim to have higher ranked accounts.

Edited May 12, 2016 by Blackdrakon30

[Jwimmer 2,835]

Aiyo, what's the difference? High ranks and low ranks are both filled with mults & sabo kings. Low ranks = Alt accounts, of course they know what they are doing, just that they do it on purpose! Tanki Online: Who plant the most mults win! 

Ya see, if you look at the top of the page (the main post), the answer to your question will be described, in detail, with evidence. It helps to actually read stuff...

Edited May 12, 2016 by Jwimmer

[BLASTER872 1,892]

Good article, and so true.  -_-  I cannot wait until I am past the low ranked battles and can actually have teammates who think straight. A surprisingly small amount of players actually work as a team in the battles beyond having a good Isida, which is odd as quite a few people do claim to have higher ranked accounts.

Oh, there's a solution to that. I call it the clans section.

 

Nice article! I'm not sure what high rank combat looks like, but drugging down at our levels... it's annoying. Most of us F2P players have nothing, and one drugger comes in and destroys my entire clan. It's sad.

[WoShiNewbie 55]

Ya see, if you look at the top of the page (the main post), the answer to your question will be described, in detail, with evidence. It helps to actually read stuff...

It's all the same la... 

 

So many rigged battles everywhere, High-Low, no difference! hhhhhhhh.