One of the most common mistakes in World of Tanks

You've loaded into battle, the countdown strikes zero, and you W off into the fight. At some point in the battle you try a new position on the map. A hill, building, bush, ravine...that you hadn't played before. And much to your delight you end up with a huge game.

From that point forward whenever you load into that map you confidently go to that same position. Again and again and again...but you never manage to replicate that first huge success. But you keep trying. Disappointing battle after disappointing battle.

This has happened to nearly all of us in World of Tanks at one time or another. We have a great game and we think we've discovered some powerful new position. We make a play that works and we think it's a great play.

But is it?

Maybe. But just as often, it's not. Don't confuse the decision with the outcome. It's possible to make a bad decision and get a good outcome. (it's also possible to make a good decision but have a bad outcome)

Maybe the other team made some mistakes. Maybe your team did something that facilitated your great result. And unless those same circumstances happen again, you might not get that same great game.

The mistake...over-indexing

The mistake we've made here is over-indexing on a single result. You had a great (or a terrible) result and you've decided you've uncovered some big truth about the game. In reality it may be a one-off. You might never have that good a game again making that play. You might have gotten lucky. RNGesus may have smiled on you for that battle.

The solution...learning

Does that mean you should never go to that spot again? Of course not. It worked before and in a future battle if that play seems to make sense, give it another try. But temper your expectations. Try to understand what made that play work the first time and build on that understanding the next time.

If the play worked because your light tank took the bush at E2 and spotted the entire enemy team, don't expect it to work when your light tank faps around over in B3 instead.

If it worked because the enemy was overly aggressive and drove in front of your guns, understand that a passive enemy that deploys differently might make your great position useless.

Don't read too much into one game, and one set of circumstances. Learn from it and add that to your toolkit. Then the next time your light tank takes the bush at E2...you'll know what you can do. But if he doesn't, you'll try to work a different play to be successful.

GLHF!