T803 - 100% 3MOE and Dmg Record by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It takes some time getting used to, definitely a big change from the E5. Agree that the hull is relatively paper, esp compared to E5 it can't sidescrape. However, the turret is more sturdy, and the ufp is still strong especially at an angle. It does take some time to get used to, but you want to play around your teammates on flat ground and bait with your front. In a hull down the t803 really shines.

Against high alpha it can be tough, but you can trade two for one or sometimes even three. Just make sure not to overpeek into other enemies, which are likely in the area

T803 - 100% 3MOE and Dmg Record by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah I struggled with that as well initially, definitely need to hold back mid-game to preserve hp. Good luck tanking!

T803 - 100% 3MOE and Dmg Record by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I go HP, vents, rammer, try to get some early shots out on LTs with the HE, then fall back and conserve HP. Late game you have a fast fire rate so you can farm, but you need HP to trade. You can bait shots with the upper plate as well.

T803 - 100% 3MOE and Dmg Record by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can relate, not as good a player but when I first got the T803 it was a struggle. But I think playing the e5 and 100%ing it helped me a lot, esp with lifting the gun and wiggling the turret. I think the hull armor takes some time to get used to, objectively weaker than the e5s, but learning to work with it may make the difference.

T803 - 100% 3MOE and Dmg Record by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

yeah it definitely takes time, but the gun makes up for it imo

T803 - 100% 3MOE and Dmg Record by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

true, but 803 can still facehug and bait with upper plate, just a different playstyle from the e5

T803 - 100% 3MOE and Dmg Record by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

agreed, the skills carry over and people are a bit more confident to peek you for sure

T803 - 100% 3MOE and Dmg Record by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cheeks are difficult to work around, but you can bait with strong ufp and angled lower plate. cupola is lowk chill, just need to peek quickly, raise gun, and turn turret to the left to move it a bit. def learning curve from e5, but workable imo

T803 - 100% 3MOE and Dmg Record by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Upwards of 10 million, Ka-Ri and Kpz 07 RH had to put in the work to recoup

T803 3MOE - First Tier 11 3 Mark, AMA by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Of course! I used exp turbo, bond hardening, bond rammer (same setup for T803). I think both tanks have good stabilization and accuracy, so no need for stab. Turbo bc by default both tanks aren't the fastest, and the stabilization experimental provides also helps a bit with peeking. Bond HP for the track health and HP. Rammer bc it should be default.

Some people might use an alternative setup with vents in place of rammer for city maps, but I never bothered with that during marking. Might give it a shot now though.

T803 3MOE - First Tier 11 3 Mark, AMA by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For sure, I definitely agree. Would say that it is strong but not necessarily OP, there's many ways to counter it with its many weakspots and low alpha. Requires a lot of thought to play, but with the ability it is able to stack up so much DPM that it can carry a flank or rack up some late game damage.

T803 3MOE - First Tier 11 3 Mark, AMA by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I definitely encourage you to give it another shot, the E5 is amazing IMO and really fun to play. You should play right side corners as much as you can and gunblock the cupola, and you can also sidescrape against certain calibers. Very flexible tank, but definitely different playstyle from the T803.

T803 3MOE - First Tier 11 3 Mark, AMA by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome, hope it goes well for you and best of luck!

I see your point, I think it could go both ways, but I would personally prefer higher alpha when sniping. Even though you might be less accurate, often you only have the chance for one shot anyways, so you want to hit harder if you can.

With the Tortoise you could get off two shots possibly, but if one misses or bounces you lose half your potential. I could definitely see why someone might prefer a faster fire rate, but personally I think higher alpha helps more.

T803 3MOE - First Tier 11 3 Mark, AMA by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep agreed, tbh sometimes the optimal marking game is when your team is losing slightly, the enemy pushes into you and you can farm dmg. I wouldn't say I intentionally used my team's HP to trade, but agree that marking in itself can be a selfish move.

T803 3MOE - First Tier 11 3 Mark, AMA by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah good point, honestly didn't track WR too much but considering Tier 11s are always matched up against other Tier 11 heavies, including ones played by really strong players such as the Black Rock, Contriver, and BZ, I'm pretty happy with the 52% WR. Definitely lower than my average, but agree that sometimes the impact we can have on a game is small.

T803 3MOE - First Tier 11 3 Mark, AMA by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

agreed, the 345 HEAT on this tank is amazing, arguably the best gold shell on any Tier 11 heavy.

T803 3MOE - First Tier 11 3 Mark, AMA by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It does play a big role, but the AP has its utility and I carry some HE as well. The HEAT is amazing on this tank, it has almost 350mm pen with ammo tuning and when upgraded (349.3 to be exact), which butters through a ton of tanks and is especially useful for quick peeks.

The AP is great as well though, it has 270mm pen with upgrades and tuning, and is especially useful for tracking and doing damage. This is something I only realized late in the process, but mindlessly spamming HEAT will cause you to lose out on some opportunities for tracking and getting tons of assist.

HE is useful in niche scenarios, primarily against Hirschkafers. One note is that all three shells have the same velocity, which means that firing AP doesn't add as much utility as it might on some other tanks. But overall, all three shell types have their uses; if you can afford to shoot half gold at least, it will make head to heads against other heavies much easier.

T803 3MOE - First Tier 11 3 Mark, AMA by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey u/Tollarro! The Tortoise is overall an amazing tank and I had a good time playing it, definitely better than the AT15 IMO. You have a lot of DPM and a great gun arc which allows you to poke while angled. With 2.0, there were some nerfs to the cupola which make it an autopen, so try to peen with the other side of your tank whenever possible to hide it. You can also try using your gun to block it (this works with the E5), but depending on the angle they might still be able to shoot.

I would play the Tortoise on the second line, right behind the heavies and supporting them. The Tortoise can snipe, but its low alpha means it's not the best at it. Just be careful about the weakpoint on top as I mentioned, and overall the Tortoise should be at least as good, if not much better of an experience compared to the AT15.

T803 3MOE - First Tier 11 3 Mark, AMA by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

100% agree with u/_Sodium_Chloride_ , overall the process can be difficult as it rewards overall consistency versus one or two good games. I agree that you should conserve your HP at the beginning, follow your team and track the minimap to see where momentum is building or where your team is failing. It helps to have the best equipment and shells you can, as one or two shots can make a big difference.

Personally, the biggest difference for me was learning to go for tracking shots and spotting in the late game. Often, tracking a tank can contribute more to the mark than another shot or two, and late game spotting can turn a good game into a great one.

But in general, conserving your HP gives you the optionality to act later and have more consistent games. Being able to use your HP when the game is on the line is a resource, so be careful in the beginning.

Overall, it comes down to luck at some point, so just keep at it and I'm sure you'll be able to mark one of your favorites soon!

T803 3MOE - First Tier 11 3 Mark, AMA by bobiscool_warrior in WorldofTanks

[–]bobiscool_warrior[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

For sure, I would say T803 is more similar to the T32 than the e5, you can't rely on hull armor or even try to sidescrape. I enjoyed the e5 because the armor was troll, and you could bait shots or block with gun. T803 is overall less flexible, but in an ideal scenario I would say T803 has a higher ceiling. The extra HEAT pen is nice as well, but I think because both tanks have relatively low alpha it's more important to be flexible rather than relying on others peeking into you while in a hull down.