World of Warships - Learn to Play: Tier IX German Cruiser Roon

Back in early December, I joined NA Community Managers Boggzy and Ahskance for a bit of time on the official World of Warships stream to talk through the basics of playing some of the German cruiser line. The result turned out pretty well, but we didn't cover the odd-numbered ships at the top of the line. As such, I've created this video for Tier IX's Roon from scratch.
Roon is a ship that confounds most players as they work their way up the German cruiser line. They learn heavy cruiser play with Yorck at Tier VII, adapt those lessons in Admiral Hipper at Tier VIII, and are then handed Roon, a ship VERY different from her immediate predecessors. Roon blends the heavy cruiser armament of Hipper with the turret layout of Nürnberg, which makes her a bit confusing and challenging to adjust to. In this video I'll talk about how I build my Roon, why I fit her out that way, how I recommend playing her, and follow all of that up with a game demonstrating the ship in action.
Enjoy!
UPGRADES EQUIPPED:
Upgrade Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1
Upgrade Slot 2: Defensive AA Fire Modification 1
Upgrade Slot 3: Aiming Systems Modification 1
Upgrade Slot 4: Steering Gears Modification 1
Upgrade Slot 5: Concealment System Modification 1
Upgrade Slot 6: Main Battery Modification 3
SIGNALS EQUIPPED:
November Echo Setteseven, Victor Lima, India X-Ray, November Foxtrot, Sierra Mike, India Delta, Juliet Charlie, Sierra Bravo, Equal Speed Charlie London, Zulu Hotel, Papa Papa, Red Dragon, Dragon, Ouroboros, Scylla, Basilisk
COMMANDER SKILLS:
Grease the Gears, Gun Feeder, Priority Target, Focus Fire Training, Superintendent, Adrenaline Rush, Heavy AP Shells, Concealment Expert
FIND ME ON:
Facebook - / searaptorna
Twitter - / searaptor
Twitch Channel - / searaptor00
KZbin - / searaptor
#WorldOfWarships

[@dahogi7118]

Dear SeaRaptor, I stopped following your KZbin channel, because a lot of video content is more than X-times available on KZbin. This 'new' series is NOT. Well done Sir! A great KZbin Video with a huge amount of Information. I push the follow button again. Thank you for uploading and sharing this entertaining video. I hope for more of this high quality content. All the best Sir.

[@SeaRaptor]

Welcome back! I'm glad you enjoyed these. I am planning to do more, probably starting with the American destroyers.

[@dahogi7118]

@@SeaRaptor It is an outstanding series and I hope for more, of course :-) They are needed for a lot of player not knowing "How to ..." Thank you for your work helping the commnity. All the best Sir

[@SeaRaptor]

@@dahogi7118 Appreciate the kind words. I talk a bit more about my plans for this series and Warships on the channel in tomorrow's "Channel Update" video.

[@stravag6528]

Excellent guide. I have been struggling with my Roon, will take your advices into consideration. Thax again!

[@SeaRaptor]

Glad it was helpful!

[@richardr6410]

Just about to pull the trigger on getting this ship. Needed to see how she played first. Good points, well made.

[@brysonstevens1431]

Really struggled with this ship at first, now it is fun to play. Thanks.

[@charakiga]

I’ve just got this ship, my first tier IX in the game. Just did 3 games, and I don’t know how to play this thing lmao. I hope your video will help me. Edit: it did.

[@captbumbler5356]

Great review / tuition video, thanks for sharing. really enjoying these video on German Cruisers

[@SeaRaptor]

Glad you like them!

[@Jordan-yb7zp]

Just got to the Roon tonight, so far I have yet to lose a game, im in love with this ship

[@DerkaGames]

Great breakdown. I think she will be on her way to Legends soon, very excited to see how she plays!

[@kryce4640]

Researching too I see

[@DerkaGames]

@@kryce4640 indeed 😁

[@kimmikxgaming5010]

Same my first boat to get

[@old_guard2431]

Legends = no submarines. Almost worth the price of a game console to switch over. . .

[@old_guard2431]

Re-watching this a year later, since I might actually want to add to my very small Tier X fleet in case Airship Escort comes back or for other events. Hindenburg is a prime candidate. Your advice ages very well, but a couple of comments: Just in general: Achtung! Alarm! Hans, you built the ship backwards! 360 degree rear turrets were an epic upgrade for the Nurnberg. Too bad Roon could not hitch a ride on that train, but controlling power creep on the older ships is not a priority, it seems. Hydro. Submarines are getting more popular as players learn how overpowered they are, played competently. I think I am seeing more games with subs and no carriers. My first reaction is that your advice, building for defensive AA is preferable to hydro, still holds true. Hunting subs with a depth charge cruiser is a losing proposition. However, there is another side to the coin. I am starting to see more players are taking the advice of certain rogue CCs/Streamers/KZbinrs, to abandon the ping and rely on conventional rather than homing torpedoes. With the lightning torpedo reload this is tough to counter. My default mode against subs is to track where they are and go somewhere else entirely. But sometimes late game they have to be dealt with. So my inclination is to stick with hydro, but there isn’t a clear-cut best choice.

[@crispysilicon3625]

Excellent guide. I honestly played Roon way too defensively - I would choose a cap to defend, getting as close the edge of my detection splitting the cap in half. Then, I would turn around and play back and forth speed games with the aft facing the cap. That being said, Roon was a lot of fun. Definitely prefer Hindenburg, but man Roon is an underated threat

[@jensgaus781]

Excellent playing guide!

[@Wild_Danimal]

German heavy cruisers really buff-my-Dewey if ya know what I mean

[@asifur_rahman_sopno]

Thanks for your guideline, it's going good with Roon now. ❤

[@SeaRaptor]

You're welcome 😊

[@old_guard2431]

Appreciate a review on a ship that is in an older line, and low on gimmicks. (And a very thorough review, at that.) Short version of a long paragraph below: I think your advice on Def. AA versus Hydro holds up, even as the game evolves. Although hydro has been automatic on for me cruisers that can take it because of destroyers and now submarines. But I think your advice holds even in the context of subs. Roon is another ship-mounted depth depth charge cruiser - maneuvering for a depth charge run is pretty much out of the question. They are much more maneuverable and probably faster while maneuvering, and hydro seems to be questionable at keeping them spotted. Bottom line - keep track of the minimap, try to figure out where opposing subs are and stay away from them. The other side of the equation is that Tier X carriers and super carriers are becoming more and more ridiculously over-powered, and you cannot run from them.

[@SeaRaptor]

To me, non-Russian Tier X carriers aren't too bad, honestly. Sure, they'll damage you, but gone are the days when they could delete you with a single wave of planes. Nakhimov is stupid and needs a serious hit with the nerf bat.

[@Oniontrololol]

I reverse the ship so I have 2 front facing turrets instead xD

[@alexanderphillips3201]

I love Hindenburg, it is my favorite cruiser of the game, and I had a nice time on Roon, and had nice games. Still have it in port

[@headlessfool7050]

I played in 2019, then came back to playing abt 3 weeks ago . Found I had developed German Cruisers . Hopped in the Yorck, immediately realized why I had gone for that Line :) . Hipper still is a bit rough for me, but just yesterday, I upgraded to Roon . Your Video is as comprehensiv as can be . I especially like you are really going into the details of the Ship Skills/Loadout - +AP instead of what everyone does (increase fire chance ) . Is the information you present here still acurate ? Anyways . Thanks for this . Extremely helpfull .

[@SeaRaptor]

Yeah, everything here is still accurate. WG hasn't made any real changes to the line in a number of years. Glad it was a help!

[@headlessfool7050]

@@SeaRaptor I am glad I found your channel, and the "Learn to play" series ! For a player like me, who does not yet know many of the intricacies/all of the ships by heart and therefore is hard pressed to actually evaluate a Ship's strengths and weaknesses, the information and guidance you provide is a godsent :) .

[@Vermilionleader]

Tested your captain and ship build today. Not only is fun, the damage you farm is incredible. First match testing it: 202K damage, getting the natural disaster and confederate achievement as well, all in the same test match.

[@SeaRaptor]

Glad it worked out for you! I like Roon. She's a different animal from Hipper and Hindenburg. If you play her to her strengths she's awesome, but if you try and shoehorn her into something she's ill-suited for, she will frustrate you.

[@Disbandeddeath1]

Imma try these tip on roon once i get home cause she was just added too the console version and ive been struggling with her

[@OTUS-I]

Noce video thank you Man , i love my Hipper but Roon.. its aqfull Man 😂😅 i use your tactics a lot and it worked. Keep the good work up Greetings Hagen from GER❤

[@Nightbreed357]

Excellent video! Thanks.

[@SeaRaptor]

Glad you liked it!

[@chillshock2144]

Thanks for this. Really helps.

[@SeaRaptor]

Glad it helped!

[@OttoOzaki]

This ship is great in ranks 6x6 I still struggle when to use AP and HE (some ships I get more damage when using AP even when angle and some ships I get more damage using HE even when broadside) not sure why... I learned to not kitte away in a few situations, like when close to battleships... Im still learning, it was hard at the begining but now it shines... I do prefer thou to use gunner... reduced spotting range doesnt help much as I always shooting he

[@MultiBracke]

Awesome video! German cruiser line is definitely fun. What crossbar are you using?

[@MultiBracke]

*crosshairs

[@Ruslakall]

5% increase in AP damage is just so meager, sacrificing 3 points for so little gain is kinda a waste in my opinion. Instead of doing 5000 damage you do 5250 on broadside BB

[@SeaRaptor]

It's all about how often you fire the AP. There's probably more value in this skill on the American heavies than the German heavies, but the German heavy cruiser AP is so good damage-wise, that you're going to be firing it whenever you think you can get it to pen. Plus, there are a lot of BB players out there that disrespect heavy cruiser guns... until they get slapped for a 10k salvo. Roon and Hindenburg can do that (Hindi moreso b/c more barrels, but you get the idea). I agree that the skill may be a bit sub-optimal for the ship, but I like it and tend to get good use out of it.

[@johnhere59]

I love my Roon And I push hard. LOve it.

[@AverageWTPilot]

I've been trying to learn how to play the Cleveland and have been really struggling. could you perhaps do a video on American cruisers next?

[@SeaRaptor]

I'm starting with the American heavy cruisers, but will get to the lights eventually, yes.

[@AverageWTPilot]

@@SeaRaptor alright nice!

[@danielwarren7110]

just found this thanks.. one thing you said reminded me the german BBs 7 8 and 10 are all about pushing on the old GK line but the FDG is all about kiting and this seems to be the same.

[@SeaRaptor]

Good analogy, IMHO.

[@danielwarren7110]

@@SeaRaptor i littrally got the ship last night your video has been very useful.. keep up the good work

[@anthonycarrillo2212]

thanks so much for this..

[@SeaRaptor]

You're very welcome!

[@df8340]

Full secondary build on the roon :p

[@SeaRaptor]

I have seen it attempted. =D

[@royv9019]

Great vid, How can i get the same viewrange with the airplane as you?

[@snakeoo7ca]

By using spotting aircraft instead of fighters maybe

[@stevier2.866]

and using the "c" button for different view

[@siliconavatar8218]

Is the line worth grinding right now? It sounds good but I don't want to dedicate time and effort into something that's not really worth it gameplay wise.

[@SeaRaptor]

I still enjoy it for randoms. If you're looking for a line for Clan Battles or KotS or something then you probably want to look elsewhere, but for randoms I still quite enjoy these ships.

[@dragox1135]

how do you keep saying M'Kay, is it just a force of habit?

[@BigfootResearchAdvisor]

The only ship I’ve ever sold, by far my favorite line of ships, by far my least favorite ship.

[@SeaRaptor]

She's a challenging adaptation from Yorck and Hipper (and Hindenburg), so I get it. Her rate of fire means you can have really good games in the ship, but she plays so differently I can see how she's not everyone's cuppa.

[@EdSilvia1]

Newbie here what's a confederate?

[@crapmalls]

Just go in reverse

[@user-id3es4ju4s]

The only way to play Roon is DONT PLAY IT ! Piece of crap !

[@houstonsmitherman6888]

Yeah this can stay away from legends. I can't stand those stupid 2 turrets aft cruisers

[@swastiksaraf7510]

USA Navy v/s Russian Navy Comparison kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGK1fWewpsx7j5I #USANavy #RussianNavy #DefenceNews #USA