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Apr 2, 2013

A short introduction

First of all, I would like to thank Frank aka SilentStalker for hosting me as author.
While I'm not a proper tank academic historian I do have a passion for both tanks and historical details.

Over the years I managed to get several good books about german (and other nations as well) tank development and made several threads about historical details in WOT EU forums (Zarax999).

As supertester I tried to persuade Pasholok about some historical mistakes without success and now that the position is closed I can properly write without being in a conflict of interest.

My articles features mostly Jentz, Doyle and Spielberger as sources although sometimes I will delve speculatively on industrial developments meant for other branches of the Heer.
Expect from me WOT tech tree related articles from me with an historical focus, although sometimes controversial.

Oh, and whenever WG is spotted overstretching history (as in making up tanks or glaring mistakes in specs) you'll see WG "batman sign" for their official tank expert:




I would like to thank WG developer cannoneer for the image, it's been priceless for me :)

41 comments:

  1. Welcome ! ;-)

    KTZV_D86

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  2. Welcome!

    BTW: What is written on the red sign?

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  3. "As supertester I tried to persuade Pasholok about some historical mistakes without success..."

    Hahahaha...Good luck with that!

    My Russian is a bit rusty, but doesn't that sign say "Come, Pasholok"?

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    Replies
    1. Got it. Sorry, posted before seeing responses.

      Delete
  4. its so obvious why eurotesters were kicked from tests. not because of the leaks which as we all know mostly came from russian side but because of free tanks for testers. geting free t10 tank from antieuropean company would be unthinkable...

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    1. I don't exactly buy the "Russian Bias" theory, rather the fact that as most known german designs have been implemented this tree got shifted down in priority and more or less is in the business "cash cow" phase.

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    2. Ím also a huge fan of german tanks. I started german tree and also i want end it with leopard 1 and maybe wte e100 but im afraid that whole shitstorm with "leaks" will bring hammer nerf to new medium tanks.

      Pesymistik

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  5. Welcome Zarax, I'll gladly wait your threads.:)

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  6. Hey Zarax , what book would you say is good to start with if you're interested in German Tank Warfare and Technology .
    I haven't read anything except for excerpts on the internet but now i wanna get into it a little more .
    Any Recommendations ?
    Cheers Semmelrogge22(EU server)

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    Replies
    1. Encyclopedia Of German Tanks of World War Two is a great although slightly outdated generalist text, however it's most affordable only used:

      http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-German-Tanks-World-Self-Propelled/dp/1854095188

      Otherwise the Osprey books that have Jentz or Doyle as authors are also good and available for cheap.

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    2. http://www.scribd.com/doc/36907017/Encyclopedia-of-German-Tanks-of-WWII

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  7. - welcome Zarax,expecting good reads about historycal tanks and their specs

    saleTrol EU

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  8. Hi Zarax, good to see you and look forward to your offerings - dont keep us waiting too long :)

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  9. Welcome Zarax, I liked your ideas.
    Wg never listens, do they..

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  10. "As supertester I tried to persuade Pasholok about some historical mistakes without success and now that the position is closed I can properly write without being in a conflict of interest."

    Does this translate to that most EU players tried to correct balance in general with details and also with gameplay where as the 'masses' just rolled on ignorant?

    Or just that those who actually tried to promote accuracy where brushed aside, ignored all together?

    Alas I never thout bought that EU was the true leaking side of the ST leaks... Only small fraction. I think that the amount of good supertesters actually was sacked due to improper behaviour aka applying too much balance and incorrect behaviour about how they should test the tanks... But that is mere my sight without being tester... How it heard like from various sources.

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    1. Well, this is how I summed up my personal experience:
      http://zxhistory.blogspot.it/2013/03/vk-7201-pasholok-history-and-why-wg.html

      I cannot talk for other testers, first of all because that's still under NDA and I like my forum account to be active, second because my supertester time was rather short so it may not be a balanced view and third while I like to pick on Pasholok I'm not starting a crusade against him as his job is not as simple as it looks.

      Delete
    2. Thank you for such quick answer.

      Seems the 'We know it better, because money makes history' is conducted here... Sadly.

      I really would hope that someday the supertest could be conducted with balance... not irratical thumbs up style of approval, without knowledge of said truth from specs vs reality on server. Made up from ground up or not I would like to see balance more than new tanks...

      Delete
  11. privijet Zarax, and lets see how you entertain us with your knowledge :)

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  12. Zarax as an Italian, what is your opinion of Italian tank situation now? Right now it's likely they will end up in the European tech tree but in your opinion are there enough Italian tanks to have it's own tree?

    Okinoshima

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    1. Unfortunately Italian tanks are a bit outside of my expertise, although I'm gathering documentation about them as well.
      The italian community however is doing an excellent job on that side and in the US forums there is also some interesting research.

      IMHO an Italian tree could be possible by reclassifying some heavy tanks into mediums (they were mediums in all respects except for the italian designation) and using some locally produced american tanks for the high tiers, a bit like a reversed chinese tree.

      Ironically the heaviest italian designs are pre-war and low tier premium material at best.

      Delete
    2. posted earlier on SS' announcement of your arrival:

      Hi Zarax, As the prime contributor of the NA Forum Italian Tanks thread. (I'm not an expert by any means, I just want to see an Italian tech tree added) I am looking forward to seeing some Italian tank specific designs and research put forward to hopefully help push on an Italian tech line.
      -Vollketten
      http://forum.worldoftanks.com/index.php?/topic/200193-italian-tanks/page__fromsearch__1

      Delete
    3. Hi Vollketten, I think you're aware about this thread?
      http://forum.worldoftanks.eu/index.php?/topic/58883-albero-tecnologico-italiano/

      If not, google translator should work decently enough, Raptor_Fulcrum research has been excellent so far.

      Delete
  13. Welcome - so 1st and I think obvious question - what do you think about German tanks burning like matches only from frontal transmission hits?

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    1. Germans, shmermans - I've had the H35 flame up on me for the same reason and set a T14 on fire with a shot through the transmission cover. And good Lord the M7, which doesn't even have the Sherman-style thick lower front to keep the shells out...

      Delete
    2. Oh, and don't let me start with the KV-series ;)

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    3. If WG could stop drinking vodka all the time they would realise that shots to transmission would only reduce vehicle speed because gears shatter - gearbox is responsible for tank speed.

      How such shot to gearbox could SET ENGINE ON FIRE?

      Its like if you shoot tracks - driver will die.

      Delete
    4. Give it a rest will you? A lot of things in this game cant happen in the real world. Its just an arcade with very accurate tank models.

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    5. well, if the transmission/gearbox is only damaged, mh, you could buy a whole new tank. :/ Transmissions are complex devices and german tanks were over engineered (many failures) + used gasoline engines(not relly usefull in a heavy machine).

      Mh, maybe OUR new tank expert, Zarax, could write an article about it. :D

      Delete
    6. As annoying as it is, remember that if this particular issue is solved WG will likely balance it out in another way.

      Two quick examples:

      - Fuel tank hits gets 100% fire chance
      - Fire automatically cooks your ammo rack and blows it up if not extinguished fast

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  14. > I would like to thank WG developer cannoneer for the image, it's been priceless for me :)

    You're welcome.

    -cannoneer

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    Replies
    1. If you're cannoneer you can tell Pasholok he still has to answer this:

      http://zxhistory.blogspot.it/2013/03/vk-7201-pasholok-history-and-why-wg.html

      Oh, and that he should use Tiger-Maus instead of VK7201 as he will sorely miss that tank model when dealing with Porsche TDs.
      I'm still willing to help, soon I will have my own copy of Spielberger delivered so that we're even on sources.

      Delete
  15. Zarax, since you know a good amount about German tanks, would you mind telling me what you think of this tree I made? It comes with a chart of modified penetration values that make up for Wargaming's incorrect values for the German guns.

    http://sadpanda.us/images/1507777-CTWDXAN.png (Tree)
    http://sadpanda.us/images/1507776-F68UZ6G.png (Pen. Chart)

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    1. Actually, use this tree. Changed it a bit.

      http://sadpanda.us/images/1507791-0A5VHSQ.png

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    2. It's a nice tree, however I'd avoid using made up tanks for top tiers.
      I have my own tree in the works and I'm waiting for a book to confirm some speculation of mine, I'll publish it when ready.

      Just remember that WG said they have enough material for 4 (5 with making up some tanks) TD lines so we've got to follow that as well.

      I'll just anticipate that out of 33 TD designs 2 needs more historical data to be confirmed while 3 other designs require either splitting an existing tank or using a tank for a different role than historically intended, although their performance is better for the TD role.

      I'm also investigating in a 2nd light tree (without using the Panther chassis) and a 3rd medium one.

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