Yep, that's the scout's role. Either go in deep and scout out the whole opposition (and die in the process) or do an initial recon, pull back, and hide-and-spot for arty.

The main point is that all other scouts can do this without being as expensive as the Chaffee to run.

The role of scouts are more than just artillery spotters. They provide intelligence to higher level HQ, it makes sense in a continuous, ongoing campaign. In an arena style action game, they are pretty much light tanks with some unique ability to call in artillery (but any unit with a radio and assigned indirect fire support should be conceivably capable to do that- it's an artificial conceit if scouts alone have this ability).

That's likely because of the focus of the game- small units, action oriented. Small units likely won't have attached individual scout tanks to do that kind of work. Depending on the national army, scouts are usually available at the battalion, regiment, division level.

Umm, yeah, point taken, but we're not discussing real-world stuff here, just WoT and how different tanks fill different roles, in this case, how the Chaffee does the scout role vs other cheaper-to-run tanks.

Which runs back to my original question- what's the point in a game like this?

Other games such as Red Orchestra would balance out play mechanics- light tanks were usually running around making war against other light tanks.

When the action is mixed like this where action is resolved down to individual units, the conceit of them acting as 'scout tanks' in any way is sort of nonsense. What they are it seems is like a nuisance. Maybe trying to shake up the action and make it interesting to have fast moving opponents.

Re-read my post above as to what scouts do in this game.

True, it may not be "like in real life," and maybe some games does it better, but that's neither there nor here.

Just went up against a Chaffee about 20 minutes ago, damn these things are fast!!

Beltfed, how do you like the American tree? I was going to start that one up as well? Anything that should be avoided? Recommendations or advice?


Quickcord

It's preferable that scouts don't enter combat. The idea isn't that they are fast and to zip around the opposition, the idea is that expendable as though they may be, it's best that they don't make contact. Relying on speed to simply drive around in circles is kind of my point- there to provide a nuisance. When one actually encountered heavy or medium tanks, generally it should get its clock cleaned. For the role they are intended, they would be fearsome against enemy scouts or forward light units and could hold their own. But in an arena style game where there are mixed units all over the place, it's kind of a familiar 'gamey' situation.

Yes, it's not 'real life,' that goes without saying, one could see that WOT hardly resembles anything high fidelity to begin with. That in itself isn't the problem, but perhaps unbalanced or screwy game mechanics.

Keep in mind what another user already posted to see what I mean:



Maybe the repair/replacement costs should be lowered if they are expected to die, and maybe their abilities to drive around like race cars should be throttled back a little.

I currently drive a T-50, working on getting a T-50-2. I frequently engage and live during my scouting run. The trick is that you are fast, so you can get behind the heavy or medium tanks and put a good dent in their armour from the rear. I also take out lots of arty... On average I get about 8500 silver for a battle and maybe spend 500-1000 silver on repairs. Frequently I'll get 10000 silver games. What really stinks though is if a medium or heavy tank makes a lucky shot and detracks me... Them I'm a sitting duck! The good thing about the T-50 though is I can take 2-3 rounds from a medium and I can take a single round from a heavy and live, though just barely... Before I had a T-46 and that thing stank! The gun was accurate but couldn't really ding medium or heavy tanks... And the armour was godawful! I'm about to sell mine.

I like the American tree ok but I am weird about it. I play it because I've always liked the Sherman tank. It ain't pretty but it got the job done. So I played the American line for more of an emotional thing than logical thing I've now got a Sherman M4, an Easy Eight sherman a M5 Stuart, A Chaffee, a M36 Slugger an M3 Lee and an arty piece..

I use the Easy Eight, The Stuart and the Slugger the most.. I do OK in the Easy Eight. I find that with the stabilizer, rammer and gun laying perks I have a fun time with it. I just got the Chaffee and it's expensive so I am not using it as much as I thought I would...
Since I am playing more fer fun than anything else, I intend to just get up to the Pershing and the Hellcat if it is ever introduced. And then just play fer sh*ts n giggles..

It may be silly but I'd rather play with the tanks that were actually used in WW2 rather than the prototypes and drawing board tanks.. It is limiting but that's what I am trying to do... So I like the American line but as I said my reasons are more emotional