Game too easy

lukterran · 06-23-16, 03:37 PM

Is there any mod that makes the game realistically more intelligent?

I'm not looking for better sensors for the IJN but just smarter tactics. (Sensors don't matter to me because I don't even have to "hide" from escorts.)

It isn't a challenge for me to locate a convoy and sink every ship. I just dive, get into firing position and fire on the first ship in the merchant convoy and send it to the bottom.

I then ID the escorts and wait for them to come running after me. Saving the rest of my fish for them. I don't even need to worry about staying silent (actually it helps if they know where I am). As soon as they get close under 1000 yards, I just torp them at point blank range so they don't have time to turn out of the path.

The escorts behave like Pac Man ghosts charging at Pac Man completely oblivious to the fact he is sitting next to a power pelt.

Even in the rare case that I miss with a torp shot on a charging DD and it tries to depth charge me. It is easy enough to flank and crash dive and turn to avoid any attacks and rise again to periscope depth after it passes over and hit it with a torp as it comes around.

Once the escorts are gone it is easy to pick the rest of the merchants off that have been hanging around in an unorganized group with either deck gun or the remain torpedoes.

If the Japanese send in aircraft. Usually just dive and wait for them to leave area or if I get caught on the surface my AA gunner has about a 90% kill ratio. Just flank speed and hard zig zag turns usually makes sure the bombs don't hit their targets.

I know this is very "gamey" play style. The problem is that I understand the game behavior and how to ships will react it isn't challenging anymore.

Why don't the merchants keep moving at full speed away from the area? The sub moving underwater couldn't catch up. It seems like a more realistic response to GTFO of an area with a sub than to just hang around.

Also the escorts don't operate as a unit. But each as an individual. If they lined up side-by-side and dropped depth charges across wide area or strip of ocean together they would easily catch any sub trying to turn out of their path.

cdrsubron7 · 06-23-16, 05:23 PM

Have you tried TMO v2.5? It raises the bar on realism quite abit.

max-peck · 06-23-16, 05:44 PM

Listen to cdrsubron7 - try TMO 2.5
It will force you to play as a genuine American skipper during the war
Aircraft are deadly
If you elect to stay on the surface and shoot it out with them you will end up with a wrecked submarine very soon/

You can be bombed by aircraft at periscope depth (rare - but it does happen - has happened to me a few times whilst setting up an attack)

If you battle surface to deck gun something there is a a very good chance they will answer with so much ordnance it will puncture your pressure hull and you end up not being to submerge and in a world of hurt

If you do not plan your attack on escorted merchants you can end up in a world of hurt

You cannot just go deep and silent and think job done - you will have to think about your escape route before you attack

If not - you may have to suffer a few hours depth charging

Do not even think about attacking anything escorted in shallow waters - they will hunt you down and they will kill you

The stock AI experience is laughably easy - that is why we have so many excellent mods on SUBSIM to fix that

Try TMO 2.5 - I think it may just be what you are looking for

PS - or you may want to wait until FOTRS Ultimate is finished - it is being worked on at the moment
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=226270

It is the best of TMO merged woth the best of FOTRS
I think it may give you the challenge you are after, as well as adding loads of functionality and eye candy too!

Captain Dave · 06-23-16, 06:44 PM

Are you using auto or manual targeting?

lukterran · 06-24-16, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Dave

Are you using auto or manual targeting?

Using Manual Targeting with OTC mod only.

TMO sounds too me like all that it does is make your sub weaker to damage, which doesn't even have a chance of happening to me. Does it arm all the merchants? Because I am not looking for a mod that unrealistically turns ever merchant convoy into an SAG.

XTBilly · 06-24-16, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukterran

Using Manual Targeting with OTC mod only.

TMO sounds too me like all that it does is make your sub weaker to damage, which doesn't even have a chance of happening to me. Does it arm all the merchants? Because I am not looking for a mod that unrealistically turns ever merchant convoy into an SAG.

TMO does not make your sub weaker at all, in fact it gives them the ability to dive much deeper. The only approach so far to make the destroyers deadlier is by making their sensors better. The game has limitations to what can be modded. And, believe me, TMO escorts are DEADLY. Much deadlier than you actually think. You must use all your skills to evade them.

It does not arm all the merchants as far as I remember, haven't played it for some time...

Why don't you give it a try? If you really think you're good, you may be surpsised...

Good luck! You'll need it!

Regards,
Billy.

06-23-16, 03:37 PM	#1
lukterran Loader Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 84 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	Game too easy Is there any mod that makes the game realistically more intelligent? I'm not looking for better sensors for the IJN but just smarter tactics. (Sensors don't matter to me because I don't even have to "hide" from escorts.) It isn't a challenge for me to locate a convoy and sink every ship. I just dive, get into firing position and fire on the first ship in the merchant convoy and send it to the bottom. I then ID the escorts and wait for them to come running after me. Saving the rest of my fish for them. I don't even need to worry about staying silent (actually it helps if they know where I am). As soon as they get close under 1000 yards, I just torp them at point blank range so they don't have time to turn out of the path. The escorts behave like Pac Man ghosts charging at Pac Man completely oblivious to the fact he is sitting next to a power pelt. Even in the rare case that I miss with a torp shot on a charging DD and it tries to depth charge me. It is easy enough to flank and crash dive and turn to avoid any attacks and rise again to periscope depth after it passes over and hit it with a torp as it comes around. Once the escorts are gone it is easy to pick the rest of the merchants off that have been hanging around in an unorganized group with either deck gun or the remain torpedoes. If the Japanese send in aircraft. Usually just dive and wait for them to leave area or if I get caught on the surface my AA gunner has about a 90% kill ratio. Just flank speed and hard zig zag turns usually makes sure the bombs don't hit their targets. I know this is very "gamey" play style. The problem is that I understand the game behavior and how to ships will react it isn't challenging anymore. Why don't the merchants keep moving at full speed away from the area? The sub moving underwater couldn't catch up. It seems like a more realistic response to GTFO of an area with a sub than to just hang around. Also the escorts don't operate as a unit. But each as an individual. If they lined up side-by-side and dropped depth charges across wide area or strip of ocean together they would easily catch any sub trying to turn out of their path.

06-23-16, 05:23 PM	#2
cdrsubron7 Sink'em All Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 2,150 Downloads: 305 Uploads: 1	Have you tried TMO v2.5? It raises the bar on realism quite abit. __________________ Head Deep and Keep'em Astern" - LtCDR Samuel D Dealy SHIV Guide \| Imperial Japanese Navy \| US Submarines

06-23-16, 05:44 PM	#3
max-peck Grey Wolf Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: UK Posts: 752 Downloads: 393 Uploads: 0	Listen to cdrsubron7 - try TMO 2.5 It will force you to play as a genuine American skipper during the war Aircraft are deadly If you elect to stay on the surface and shoot it out with them you will end up with a wrecked submarine very soon/ You can be bombed by aircraft at periscope depth (rare - but it does happen - has happened to me a few times whilst setting up an attack) If you battle surface to deck gun something there is a a very good chance they will answer with so much ordnance it will puncture your pressure hull and you end up not being to submerge and in a world of hurt If you do not plan your attack on escorted merchants you can end up in a world of hurt You cannot just go deep and silent and think job done - you will have to think about your escape route before you attack If not - you may have to suffer a few hours depth charging Do not even think about attacking anything escorted in shallow waters - they will hunt you down and they will kill you The stock AI experience is laughably easy - that is why we have so many excellent mods on SUBSIM to fix that Try TMO 2.5 - I think it may just be what you are looking for PS - or you may want to wait until FOTRS Ultimate is finished - it is being worked on at the moment http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=226270 It is the best of TMO merged woth the best of FOTRS I think it may give you the challenge you are after, as well as adding loads of functionality and eye candy too! __________________ -------------------------------------------------- Authority should derive from the consent of the governed, not from the threat of force If the only tool you have is a hammer, pretty soon everything starts to look like a nail FOTRS Ultimate http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=226270 The future of SH4 - coming to a PC near you soon

06-23-16, 06:44 PM	#4
Captain Dave Officer Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Herriman, Utah Posts: 247 Downloads: 398 Uploads: 3	Are you using auto or manual targeting? __________________ Sending "Fish" to the enemy for 14 years.