Just revising the original post a bit to reflect what we know so far! All credit goes to OP+ info available on the site. Bold Italics denote revised statements. [Revised as of 12/15]



...[Beginning of thread left out]...



Conventions



- Almost all data was sourced from the WOT database. [I had to look up Pz38NA and KV-13 values in-game.]



- The calculations show the absolute minimum XP and credits necessary to unlock a given " freebie " tank.

-- I fully recognize that many players will wish to unlock certain "extra" upgrades - guns, tracks, engines, etc. - along the way. For example, I played both the T29 and the T32 to "Elite" status to make them a part of my "grinding" stable of tanks.

-- However, because there are so many combinations of possible "extra" upgrades and player preferences, that in the interests of time I leave it to others to compute these credit and XP costs over and above the "absolute minimum". [In other words, player choice rules.]



- One semi-exception to the above is that for the KV, I have assumed that players will unlock the KV-2 turret before "moving on" to the KV-3 and the IS-4, both because 95% of KV owners would do that anyway, and because spending the incremental 2,595 XP to get the KV-2 " freebie " tank before continuing the grind looks like an absolute no-brainer.



- German Tech tree changes have already been applied.



- The Russian tech tree has two alternate pathways to the IS-4; one bypassing the KV-3 through the KV-1S, and the other going up the medium branch and switching to the IS from the KV-13. I have included calculations for both methods, although I suspect that very few, if any, players will choose to bypass the KV-3 (in particular as unlocking it leads to one of the " freebie " tanks), probably for "sentimental" reasons. On the other hand, it is very possible to imagine a player choosing to play mostly Russian mediums and no Russian heavies, and switching to the IS via the KV-13 just to pick up an IS-4.



- The American Tech tree has an alternate pathway around the T1 Heavy Tank. M3 Lee-->M4 Sherman-->M4A3E2 Jumbo-->M6. Though the T1 path is shorter and requires less XP, both the shermans are considered by most of the WOT community to be more competent tanks in general. If the T1 Heavy tank is not for you, the shermans offer an enjoyable alternative as well as an entry into the US Medium tank line.



- Obviously all calculations are performed as of the 6.4 build; these are not revised to the 6.7 standard as of yet.



General principles



- A premium account is highly advisable.



- Doing a majority of the grind via free XP transfers is probably more advisable than grinding up through each tank with no free experience whatsoever. For one, the latter method would require considerable "extra" upgrades to be unlocked so as to render certain tanks "playable" (new guns, suspension, engines, etc.).



- The Lowe and the KV-5 and the Type 59 make for excellent credit and XP farmers. Failing that, any Tier 5 premiums (with an emphasis on the Churchill and the T14 as heavy tanks) could substitute, as could "Elite" non-premium tanks, although effective farming on non-premium tanks generally requires higher player skill.



- Seeing that the T34 will be revised the soonest, it is very recommended you go for it. It will become a Tier VIII premium tank with 120mm gun already attached, similar in price and credit-earning potential to the Lowe, KV-5, and Type 59. It will give you a means of grinding out the credits you'll need to make those purchases.



- Taking advantage of nightly "victory" bonuses is advisable.



Timing considerations



Based on the information provided here as well as the developer Q&A thread on the Russian forums as well as Overlord's Blog and Dev Q&A on these forums:



- 6.5 has gone live.



- 6.6 has gone live, and so has the Panther/ Panther II revision.



- T34 change may occur on patch 7.1 along with the arrival of the French Tanks, December 2011 or January 2011. Barring that, check back in some patch 7.x





- IS-4, KV-1/2 and KV-3 are planned post 7.1, Q1 2012.



- T30 change will occur after 7.1, Q1 2012.



As such, the "optimal" unlock order would seem to be:



- Panther has already been revised



- Grind up to the T34 [Target date - late December 2011; possibly mid January 2012.]



- Grind up to IS-4 [Target date - January 2012 at the earliest, probably closer to March 2012.]



- Grind up from the T34 to the T30. [Target date - January 2012 at the earliest, probably closer to March 2012.]



- If the KV and the KV-3 were bypassed on the way to the IS-4, unlock them. [Target date - January 2012 at the earliest, probably closer to March 2012.]



All dates and sequencing subject to change without warning.



I hope that the OP will eventually update the original post. I am doing this in thanks to the original message, which has helped me plan my grinds accordingly.

