Value of Kiting

Kiting is technique in which a player uses his ship in a hit and run fashion. While the player giving chase is at a disadvantage the runner gains the advantage due to continually slipping out of gun range during every firing cycle.

This is a sound tactic especially if a player is alone and knows he will get sunk by the combined fire of his opponents.

Two keys factors in nf2 are the speed and size of your ship. In relation to incoming shells kiting becomes easier with a faster and smaller ship (CA, CL & DD's). Smaller ships are also much more agile and can turn to avoid shells.

Kiting is an effective method that can discourage  aggressors from pursuing you. Kiting can work in many 1v1 situations regardless of what ship you are in, but it is much more effective if your ship is quicker.

Kiting is an integral part of the game, especially when it comes to ship to ship combat and fleet actions.

Effective fleets will draw a ship towards them, forcing them to miss their salvo, whilst the rest of the team will hit the ship that advances with a barrage of shells.

First Battle Gameplay Tips

The initial battle screen can be a little daunting but relax it isn't so bad.

 Across the top is your ships' HP/DP bar (health), damage points you have dished out. Along the bottom is you ship direction (compass) and speed gauge. Available weapons and ammos.

 TIP: Always travel fast. A fast moving ship is harder to hit. DD's are small fast ships and should always be moving.

 At first you will want to engage with your guns, but don't rush in and bring too much attention to yourself.

 TIP: If you are getting shot at too much, retreat behind your team mates.

 TIP: Lead your target the further away your target is. Shells travel slowly, you will miss unless you aim in front of your target.

 TIP: Don't travel in straight lines. Keep spinning and turning. Make yourself a hard target to hit.

 TIP: When firing, bring all guns to bear on the target by turning to your broadside (or partly broadside). When the enemy are reloading turn your ship away form them. Give them the smallest target to shoot at.

Use auto aiming (clicking on the target) until you get into later Battleships. This is especially helpful as manual aiming in small ships is extremely tricky because of such fast-moving ships.

Target ships of similar level and line up a torpedo run. Torpedoes are your strongest weapon in early ships. But remember, they are slow and easy to avoid unless your target is very close. Always watch for torpedoes and listen out for torpedo warnings.

Be smart: learn to run away from, dodge, or steer between incoming waves of torpedoes. If you cant avoid being hit by torpedoes, take as few direct impacts as possible.

Surviving until the end, doing damage, sinking ships and capturing islands yield better result.

All of these tips are the key components of becoming a strong DD player. Many of the skills translate to almost all other ship types.