Talk:Spring 2015 Event/@comment-26410405-20150518145253

After the event ended I was so tired I immediately went to sleep, but now I can share my feelings, so here goes.

I have to confess, as I started playing Kancolle about 2 weeks before the event I had no hope of clearing the event and thought I should skip it, especially that my smaller ships weren't even Kai. But then by the time there was one week left I've already levelled a few CLs and DDs above 20 and modernised some so I decided to try out E-1 at least on easy. I was pleasently surprised that my ships were strong enough to clear E-1 without much problems. In the process getting Kongou (really wanted her to unlock the 4th fleet), Kumano, Urakaze and Tanikaze. After that I decided to go at E-2 for Katsuragi. I gave up on the italian battleships as by the time I've had 9 BBs already and didn't need more so I thought I'd stop at E-2. As by then I've had 2 CVs and 6 BBs over level 30 including Haruna at 48 I thought I might clear it on medium to also get the bombers for Katsuragi. Due to lack of CVs and CVLs being all non Kai I formed a surface fleet (Akagi FS with fighters and Saiun and my strongest BBs and 1 strongest CA), sparkled all ships as per suggestions on the wiki and went to battle. The very first run on medium was a big lucky success as I got an S rank at the boss and even got Shoukaku as a drop. Sadly, with that my luck ran out as I've spent the next two days grinding E-2 while sparkling my ships without a single boss kill and only reaching her 4 times total (almost had her a second time with only 4 hp left). There were two problems: first is the obvious, Ru Flagships, which were responsible for most of my retreats (others being Ne cruiser at the very first node or Nu CVL flagships), the other one being many of my ships kept missing or doing scratch damage, especially battleships in particular didn't do much (on the boss node only Akagi was getting MVPs being equipped with only fighters). And I didn't have overweight guns and gave them AP rounds or Radars, which didn't help much. All my resources barring bauxite went from 10k to 4-5k and the expeditions couldn't keep up. So I decided to forget about the bombers and went for a few runs on Easy... only to kept being returned by the Ru's and my fleet doing only a bit better. At that point I disbanded the STF and spent the next day training Shoukaku together with Hiyou (my highest levelled CVL then) on recently unlocked 3-2-A and PVPs to Kai level. The other day I formed a CTF with 3 CVs, 1 CVL and my 2 best FBBs in the main fleet and an escort fleet this time without any FBBs consisting of my strongest CA, strongest CL, 2 CLTs below 30 and 2 strongest DDs. This time I've cleared E-2 on Easy in less than 4 hours. CTF being safer, cheaper and more efficient for me. On the final boss kill I got Katsuragi and as a bonus, the long sought Yuubari dropped.

With only 2 days left I decided not to go on E-3 and spend the remaining time farming E-1 for Furutaka of all ships and possibly some rare drops if I'm lucky. Furutaka never dropped, but on the first day I got Ooyodo. On the second day after returning from a birthday party I decided to farm E-1 till the end with some 6 hours left. Didn't get Furutaka, but I did get Zuihou. And then about 40 minutes till events end a miracle happened (no, not Furutaka). As I gazed on the screen in disbelief, the rarest Kagerou-class appeared before me, Amatsukaze-chan herself. Honestly I was hoping to get her and swore to stop farming E-1 if I did. So with 35 minutes remaining I decided to try out E-3 on Easy. Assembled an ad-hoc fleet of Hiyou(34), Maya(34), Kuma(43), Shimakaze(42), Haruna(53) and the only CAV I've got, Mogami at level 22 (couldn't level Suzuya and Kumano in time). With these i was able to clear E-3 literally at the last minute. This turned out to be worth it, as I not only got the rare equipment, but a rare destroyer drop as well, Uzuki, the only one I didn't have in the Mutsuki class.

Overall, even though I almost skipped this event, joined at the last week with limited goals, I managed to accomplish more than i was going to, got more than I hoped for and I've advanced my fleet considerably, so for me this event was a success. I even jumped from level 43 to 53 in a week. If i had 1-2 days more I probably would've been able to clear E-4 now and get Littorio. Some of you might say I could've done it even before if I didn't farm E-1, but firstly, atm I don't need more battleships as I already have all japanese battleships except Nagato, Yamato and Musashi. And secondly it was worth it for Ooyodo/Amatsukaze, so I have no regrets.

A speech to my girls: "I'd like to thank all the ship girls who fought with me on this event. Special thanks goes to: Kuma, the hardworker of all operations and flagship of E-1, she sunk more abyssal ships than anyone else and got 20 levels above during the grinds; Shimakaze, the main destroyer escort of all operations who's torpedo salvo's sunk many enemy ships and would often steel MVPs from Kuma on E-1, as expected of the fleet's fastest; the Sendai sisters, who helped considerably with E-1 and switched each other when 1 needed to rest; Fubuki, my dear starter, while not as impressive as Shimakaze, you've worked your hardest on E-1 and E-2 and did your best protecting the heavier ships, I salute you! the Kongou sisters, for helping with E-2, bearing the brunt of that operation and taking hits for everyone; Maya-sama, you gave em hell on E-2 and E-3, i hope you had fun; Shoukaku, your sole appearance at E-2 made me clear that operation and Zuikaku was very happy having you nearby; Hiyou, without you, clearing E-2 and E-3 would've been impossible, your the pride of my light carrier division, the new planes go to you! Everyone, I declare a holiday today, there will be no sorties, except expeditions, please rest as much as you can, damaged ones please take your time in the bath. Fleet, dismissed!"

I also would like to thank everyone on the wiki community for your support and advices, you've been a big help. I congratulate all fellow teitoku's who achieved their goals and got what they wanted. For those who were unsuccessful, do not despair and good luck in the next event. Btw, sorry if this post went too long. I shall prepare properly and be ready for the Summer event, so see you then!

Rear-Admiral Archer88 sounding off