Re-thinking AFT in secondaries build

[sfcgx3]

In the context of German BB, is fire prevention, IFHE or concealment a better investment than AFT? I think manual secondaries is probably sufficient for secondaries. Here’s my logic:

- AFT extend your secondaries from ~9.6 to ~11.3km 

- Most close quarters situation happens within 9.6km, when AFT has no impact

- for those engagement btw 9.6 to 11.3km, distance is so far and hence hits are scarce and ineffective to deal much damage

for this reason I reckon AFT is inferior to IFHE, FP or even concealment on a BB even if my tactics are still close quarter focused.

any thoughts?

 

[Paladinum]

AFT works best when combine with Manual Sec. Which is a heavy investment, no doubt, but it's such a big firework show when it actually goes off. 

If you don't choose CE, are you playing WoWS at all? 

IFHE never crosses my mind unless the ship is Aki/Kita/Haru, not even 113, 127 or 152 mm guns. I think of IFHE that much. 

[dejiko_nyo]

Play CB, get free respec.

[EULA_violator]

22 minutes ago, dejiko_nyo said:

Play CB, get free respec.

too late, it's already gone

[dejiko_nyo]

22 minutes ago, drakon233 said:

too late, it's already gone

The post CB respec is still to come.

[humusz]

CE > Manual > IFHE > AFT

for me that is

[MeglaGnome]

I find that every 2ndry skill taken makes the next one better. The synergy of them just keeps snowballing.
I've tried soft secondary builds, but I always end up wishing I had a full tank build with CE or a full 2ndry build. (with islands..... 🙂  )

Soft 2ndry AA builds use to be better before the CV reeeeework, because AFT made a huge difference to both AA and 2ndry range.

[Mechfori]

AFT is more useful for DD and mid tier German / French BB ; on high tier German BB , the increased range really , well , as OP pointed out , is of little use , and Manual Secondary really only work T7 and beyond , for that 4 point, CE, or FP could be more useful ( if the play style demands ) even if not ; that 4 point ca be used for say SE, or Vigilance or might be even DE and had 1 extra for whatever ... 

However its all a matte of how one play ... AFT might not be so important if you aim to push into close range brawl but it might be useful ( even just as deterrent to enemy light force )  when combat center around that 8 to 12KM or even longer , in the end the best secondary is not  secondary its  formation with team's CL , unfortunately battle line seems rare these days and CL is pretty much neglected by WG and all had been power creeped to be ineffective in close range combat ( so many machine guns, super cruiser, etc etc .... )

[Thyaliad]

2 hours ago, sfcgx3 said:

In the context of German BB, is fire prevention, IFHE or concealment a better investment than AFT?

What is your planned build?

Personally I go all-in on my German BBs, so IFHE, AFT and Mansecs. Only secondary-related skill I don't take is BFT, which I swap for SI.

Imo if you don't want to go for a full Secondary build, then you should go for a survivabilty build + CE.

[sfcgx3]

9 hours ago, Thyaliad said:

What is your planned build?

Personally I go all-in on my German BBs, so IFHE, AFT and Mansecs. Only secondary-related skill I don't take is BFT, which I swap for SI.

Imo if you don't want to go for a full Secondary build, then you should go for a survivabilty build + CE.

The only skill I challenge the value is AFT, with reasons stated above. So I would go MS, FP, IFHE for a 19 pt, and in that order from 10 pt to 19.

[Grygus_Triss]

I put Manual secondaries, IFHE and AFT on my GK. It’s more of a novelty build, ineffective in current randoms.

But since I bought the GK, played a few games in it, and then continued grinding another tech tree, it’s no big deal at the moment.

Will probably reset and pick some more practical skills if I intend to play it more, but in the meantime, the 19pt full secondary captain works well on Sharnhorst in Narai. And well enough on PEF. Earning me good elite captain xp.

[Reinhard_of_Avercland]

AFT can still be worth it since you might find some DDs who get exposed by your teammate's radar to be within your maximized secondary range. And of course you need to pair it with manual secondaries. On the other hand, those 11km secondaries are essentially a pair Nurnberg strapped on your sides which can do wonder at most occasions against almost anything (they can pen up to 38mm without IFHE). But if you have more faith in those drunken main guns, you can forgo it at your discretion.