View Range/Spotting Vehicles

How do I shoot at something I don't see?


You don't... (unless you're good.  Then you know how to blind shot effectively)

How then do I spot enemies to shoot at?

Within World of Tanks, there is a view range mechanic.  Technically, a tank's view range is the maximum distance at which it is able to spot an enemy tank.  

For example...
An image showing the place between two tank and listing their respective stats
^^Chart 1^^
In the instance above, there are two vehicles.  The enemy vehicle, an E100, and your tank, an Elc Even 90. The distance between the two vehicles is 500 meters.  Assuming that both vehicles have a 0% camo rating and there is no cover between the vehicles, you would spot the enemy E100 as they are within your spherical 500-meter view range radius.  
example of what view range radius looks like from a bird's eye view
^^ Chart 2 ^^
(The chart above is a 2-D visual representation of how the view range behaves)  

Chart 2 is a bird's eye view of how the view range would play out from the stats provided in chart 1.  However, because World of Tanks is a three-dimensional game, the most realistic way to conceptualize view range would be to think of it in terms of a spherical area, rather than a two-dimensional plane.


Spotting and Getting Spotted

Something that you should consider is that your view range extends from the cupola/gun mantlet of your tank. 

A diagram of a tank with the spotting point illustrated in the form of blue dots
^^Chart 3^^

   
Chart 3 shows a diagram of an IS, an in-game, Russian, tier 7 heavy tank.  All the blue points, the ones with the red outline included, represent points on a tank that if exposed within an enemy's view range will get you spotted and vice versa.  These six points are applicable to all tanks within the game and are located in generally the same areas.  What makes the blue dots w the red outline special is that they are the points from which your view range starts.


^^As demonstrated in the video above when peaking the corner with only the hull of a tank, you got spotted and aren't able to lay eyes on the enemy.^^


However, when I peaked the corner with my cupola/gun mantlet exposed, I was able to spot the enemy.

I believe that it is important to understand that the cupola and gun mantlet are mutually exclusive when it comes to spotting.  They behave independently of each other.  Meaning, that only exposing one is going to get the job done just as well, if not better, than having to expose both. 

(the light-bulb that kept appearing every time I got spotted is a crew skill called 6th sense.  This skill lets you know that you have been spotted.  Additional information about crew skills will be written about in-depth in a later post)     

The Reality of Spotting...

While it is possible to have your tank decked out with 500+ meters of view range, you are limited to a maximum spotting distance of 445 meters.  Not only that but now you have to also take concealment, direct line of sight, and camo rating into consideration.

No need to fret, however.  Even though this adds more variables to the equation, eventually it will grow into an appreciation for the game.  Before taking all the additional variables into consideration, you have simple view range.  After taking everything in, you'll have an understanding of the effective spotting range.  It's a little like understanding the difference between gross and net.  In this case, the gross would be simple view range.  After adding some variability and deductions into the mix, you are left with the net, the effective spotting range.  

Another exception of the spotting mechanic is the 50m exception.  When you are within 50m of an enemy tank that has not been destroyed, you are automatically spotted.  This is regardless of having a direct line of sight.

Should I be using my tank for active spotting/scouting?

Because the topic of active scouting takes a dive past the basics of view range, it will be receiving its own post altogether.  

When is Effective Spotting Range going to be broken down?

Giving a full rundown on the concept of effective spotting range will only make sense after breaking down all the variables that come into play.  Because direct line of sight is a factor that is self-explanatory, only after camo values and concealment have been explored and understood does it make sense to address all the factors as a whole.  

Summary:

View range is a numerical value, in meters, representative of your tank's capacity to spot enemy vehicles.

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