way too hard!

[fastfed]

I've played this game for years, I come and go when I get the bug and just recently came back. I've always loved SH4 for many reasons but I think I JUST NOW realized why. It's not insanely hard!

its a perfect balance of killing some juicy targets and barely escaping. But this game while im sure great in realism, is just way too hard!
It's 1942, yes the dd's are now improved and ready to kill me, but, I can NEVER survive!
if I see a convoy I know I will die, no matter what. I can maybe get a kill or 2, then dive to great depths, 200M or more, I run my motors at 50rpms, 5 degrees turning left and right, throw decoys out, time compress some, and dead.

Ok, try again, this time when I get the message of depth charges in the water, I change course harder, increase speed, it works a little, time compress.. DEAD!

No matter how hard I try, im always gonna die.
I've read many books, and even in 1942, skippers were still doing surface attacks in convoys(at night of course) ,you couldn't dare to in this game.

I can't even get close to the convoy let alone in the middle of one without getting detected. I try from the side surface, detected. From behind, detected, from the front, you guessed it.. Detected!

I try submerged with all angles, detected.
I dive to 220M and JUST SIT THERE in front of them.. before the convoy is even close "Enemy is pinging us"

ARRRRGG!G!G!G!G

I just wish there was a good balance, with the amount of great mods out there is there some how an easier one?

I'm running NYGM right now and the hard coded patches.

I mean, do I really have to take the real life 10 hours and not use time compression? is there a trick? or a mod?

thanks guys!

Late war attacks quite differ from the easy night surface runs against 1-2 usually inexperienced escorts. In 1942 destroyers and aircraft have radar so no surface attacks any more. You should have a radar-warning receiver (like Metox that is available from mid-42) with which you can get ahead of the convoy outside escort radar range (at least about 10-12 km, however they can detect you sometimes from 20 km).
For the attack you should always submerge and if you have Falke acoustic torpedoes, attack the escorts with them. Right after you fire your torpedoes dive immediately, you can follow your eels through your hydrophone, too.
If you previously played SH4, I advise you to start a career in 1940 to get used to the capabilities of your U-boat and find out the enemy's tactics.
Finally, should you still fail escaping escort after not so fruitful attacks, don't worry since in real life many U-boats were sunk even before having a chance to shoot their first torpedo. If stakes are against you, keep in mind that there always be a next convoy somewhere else in the ocean.

[Pisces]

I noticed you use timecompression in the heat of the moment. How do you fare if you let time run normal?

[fastfed]

Originally Posted by Pisces

I noticed you use timecompression in the heat of the moment. How do you fare if you let time run normal?

Well in game time it takes HOURS!!! That's my point, are you guys really playing this in 1xtc when avoiding chargers? I mean I couldn't do that. I slow down to 1x every so often to change course, adjust speed and general avoidance. But I do die when I'm advancing time, lol it happens fast, boom "dead" haha

[UKönig]

I only use time compression to travel long distances, or sometimes to help just get me in range a little faster. Once the action begins TC is used to speed up the torpedo until it gets close enough to strike, then I slow it down to watch the ship get hit.
If I am the hunted, I almost never use TC, I do it 1:1 until they (hopefully) lose interest and go away.
A lot of real time can tick off the clock while you're evading an attack.
I played the in-game single mission "break through to gibraltar" twice, with different boats. The first was the type VII they give you (U-96 from das boot) and the second was a "let's try 'what if' " and I used the type XXI for the exact mission. In the type VII, I started it at 4pm (my time, real time), and by just after Midnight, (my time, real time) we pulled into La Spezia. I was so intent on avoiding the english fleet that 8 actual hours went by without my noticing.
That same trip in the Type XXI took 2 actual hours.
Above all, never use TC when being depth charged, too much happens too fast for you to react and it is almost certainly 'fatal'...

[fastfed]

Originally Posted by UKönig

I only use time compression to travel long distances, or sometimes to help just get me in range a little faster. Once the action begins TC is used to speed up the torpedo until it gets close enough to strike, then I slow it down to watch the ship get hit.
If I am the hunted, I almost never use TC, I do it 1:1 until they (hopefully) lose interest and go away.
A lot of real time can tick off the clock while you're evading an attack.
I played the in-game single mission "break through to gibraltar" twice, with different boats. The first was the type VII they give you (U-96 from das boot) and the second was a "let's try 'what if' " and I used the type XXI for the exact mission. In the type VII, I started it at 4pm (my time, real time), and by just after Midnight, (my time, real time) we pulled into La Spezia. I was so intent on avoiding the english fleet that 8 actual hours went by without my noticing.
That same trip in the Type XXI took 2 actual hours.
Above all, never use TC when being depth charged, too much happens too fast for you to react and it is almost certainly 'fatal'...

WAT!!! , I don't see how its possible, it can take HOURS and HOURS dodging charges during a huge convoy battle. How are you playing real time ? I mean I love this game too, but just sitting in the sub waiting 5-10 minutes each time for the destroyers to turn around ?

I can't see this being true!

[banryu79]

Originally Posted by fastfed

Well in game time it takes HOURS!!! That's my point, are you guys really playing this in 1xtc when avoiding chargers?

Absolutely yes.
I think it's suicidal to do otherwise (and a waste of fun ).

I have my own "rules" on how to play the game and one of them is -- never use TC if my boat is in visual range of anyone --

[vanjast]

I was in a NYGM career at '43 then lost it (windoze system bombed).

But just prior to the loss, IIRC.. I got close to a convoy then was spotted, and chased down. I spent 8 hours (guaranteed) at TC=1x, been harassed by at least 4 escorts, or most likely a hunter killer group - I'm not sure as I operate at 100%+

I got to sleep about 4am, after escaping using a tactic I'd developed during this career. I spent at the whole 8 hours at the hydrophone station tracking every escort, and could pick out who was attacking and who was pinging.

Once I ID'd the 'pinger' I, went under that ship at full speed, then went back to silent. I kept this cycle going for the whole period, then I broke their attack rhythm, and escaped through the 'gap'.
'They' were still dropping a charge or two when I was miles away... stayed deep until dark. Funny enough very similar to Das Boot - yeah!

[enjoi]

sorry but SH3 is not "way too hard". I'm currently at August 1944 in my career playing the NYGM mod and I've just hit 313,000 tons. The Destroyers seem a little more difficult to shake in GWX but by no means is it a piece of cake in NYGM either. You just have to know how to escape and survive. It's all about technique.

Fastfed: It's not your game sprinter, even your nickname tells you do not have any patience to get along nicely with it. This game is designed mostly for mature and calm ppl inside,who doesn't do speedrunning with U-boats in critical moments. You do not look to me as that type of person, so it's not your game so far. Perhaps after you grow up older, later you might reconsider you type of playing this game with more mature manners and wisdom =]

[Hinrich Schwab]

Originally Posted by fastfed

I've played this game for years, I come and go when I get the bug and just recently came back. I've always loved SH4 for many reasons but I think I JUST NOW realized why. It's not insanely hard!

its a perfect balance of killing some juicy targets and barely escaping. But this game while im sure great in realism, is just way too hard!
It's 1942, yes the dd's are now improved and ready to kill me, but, I can NEVER survive!
if I see a convoy I know I will die, no matter what. I can maybe get a kill or 2, then dive to great depths, 200M or more, I run my motors at 50rpms, 5 degrees turning left and right, throw decoys out, time compress some, and dead.

Ok, try again, this time when I get the message of depth charges in the water, I change course harder, increase speed, it works a little, time compress.. DEAD!

No matter how hard I try, im always gonna die.
I've read many books, and even in 1942, skippers were still doing surface attacks in convoys(at night of course) ,you couldn't dare to in this game.

I can't even get close to the convoy let alone in the middle of one without getting detected. I try from the side surface, detected. From behind, detected, from the front, you guessed it.. Detected!

I try submerged with all angles, detected.
I dive to 220M and JUST SIT THERE in front of them.. before the convoy is even close "Enemy is pinging us"

ARRRRGG!G!G!G!G

I just wish there was a good balance, with the amount of great mods out there is there some how an easier one?

I'm running NYGM right now and the hard coded patches.

I mean, do I really have to take the real life 10 hours and not use time compression? is there a trick? or a mod?

thanks guys!

Others have really said it. You have hinted at it. However, I will be blunt; yes, time compression is getting you killed. Seconds literally make the difference between surviving and eating that one depth charge that kills you. I make it a rule to NEVER use TC within 25 NM of hostiles. There is just too much risk involved. Also, the AI does appear to amp up on TC. In the early war, there is a lone Black Swan corvette that appears in BF17 (or is it BF13) That goes completely uber if the TC is above 1.

Yes, it sucks that a single attack and evade session can last a full day or more, but that is why SHIII is a sim and not a game. Likewise, if you are using METOX, stop. METOX is notorious for giving away your position, just as it was historically. Do not bother with radar until NAXOS is available. I would also disregard the suggestion to switch to a Type II boat. Type IIs are too slow, lack endurance and cannot run deep enough to attempt any real evasion tactics in the late war.

BOLD canisters definitely do help, but BOLD I and II do not last long enough to be practical. BOLD becomes useful with BOLD III.

Sometimes, it is just nigh impossible to avoid detection. The only option is constant maneuvering in the hopes of duping the destroyers in setting the depth charges at the wrong depth. The great risk is that the destroyer may underestimate your depth drastically while you are maneuvering into shallower water and you may get killed as you cross the depth charges. Escape and evasion is constant, wild mass guessing. Sometimes you guess right and live another day. Sometimes you guess wrong and become a cloud of flotsam.

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Hinrich Schwab

... but that is why SHIII is a sim and not a game.

[álvaro]

I´m going to do a real patrol in real time, without compression. I´m going to choose the NYGM supermod because I think the most realistic supermod. Now, I´m trying choose the U-boot and its flottille. I´m going to follow the information of historic KTB and I hope to come back alive at home. I haven´t got any tomb in the sea.

[Hinrich Schwab]

Originally Posted by álvaro

I´m going to do a real patrol in real time, without compression. I´m going to choose the NYGM supermod because I think the most realistic supermod. Now, I´m trying choose the U-boot and its flottille. I´m going to follow the information of historic KTB and I hope to come back alive at home. I haven´t got any tomb in the sea.

I have done this before. Believe me, it is quite stressful. 90% tedious boredom and 10% OMGWTF!!!!!!!!!!! The periods where you will be active are nail-biting. Anticipation of the kill, the frustrations of duds and the consequential necessity of a time-consuming end-around maneuver and the severe stress of dodging angry destroyers who are dedicated and motivated to make you more than dead. I have a story elsewhere on the forum where I was playing the cat and mouse game with five destroyers for over 8 hours in real time. It was extremely stressful. I also survived that encounter. I didn't get any sleep that night because I was maneuvering around and away from very angry destroyers. Even after losing them, I spent another four hours avoiding annoying them further before I could surface and make good my escape

[banryu79]

Originally Posted by Hinrich Schwab

I have done this before. Believe me, it is quite stressful. 90% tedious boredom and 10% OMGWTF!!!!!!!!!!! The periods where you will be active are nail-biting. Anticipation of the kill, the frustrations of duds and the consequential necessity of a time-consuming end-around maneuver and the severe stress of dodging angry destroyers who are dedicated and motivated to make you more than dead. I have a story elsewhere on the forum where I was playing the cat and mouse game with five destroyers for over 8 hours in real time. It was extremely stressful. I also survived that encounter. I didn't get any sleep that night because I was maneuvering around and away from very angry destroyers. Even after losing them, I spent another four hours avoiding annoying them further before I could surface and make good my escape

This is awsome when done by other players and I can read teir AAR.
Too extreme, too extremly extreme to my taste, not fun and surely not pratical. YMMV.