View Full Version : Local ability? What's that about?
Excalibur Bane
07-02-07, 10:43 PM
I was looking over my crew after a patrol last night and noticed a third proficiency symbol, in a dark red. Curious as to what it was, I hovered over it. The pop-up was "Local ability - Increased torpedo damage". Huh? Is that so? So I looked over my entire crew and found a few more, increased surface speed, reduced chance of breakdown, faster speed submerged and so on. So I guess my question is thus, are these bonuses working or bugged? And what moron came up with this brilliant idea of giving magical bonuses to make your sub go faster and torpedoes hit harder? :doh:
spock1898
07-02-07, 11:38 PM
No answers for you, but I've noticed the same thing. Most of them are good, like increased torpedo speed or increased submerged speed. I would assume that the idea behind this is that someone who was really really good at what they did could improve various areas of ship performance. I would also assume these are good because their icons are colored green.
On a scarier, stranger note, I noticed one of my watch officers had a red command icon that said "Global Ability: Increased Fanatical Chance." What in the world does that mean, and is it a bad thing? If so, as soon as I get back to Brisbane, he's getting dismissed.
EAGLE_01
07-02-07, 11:46 PM
"I noticed one of my watch officers had a red command icon that said "Global Ability: Increased Fanatical Chance."
That sounds like he's gonna talk some of your crew into mutiny.:down: Which is pretty amazing, that the devs would go to that much detail in the characters on our boats, but that hasn't happened, I'm pretty sure, on a USNAVY ship since before the civil war....haven't been lucky enough to see any of these icons/abilities yet myself...:ping:
Calm Seas.
Hey.. I got promoted!! I was a Bilge Rat, Now I'm a NUB! ...what's a nub?
j/k
Capt. Shark Bait
07-03-07, 12:47 AM
... Now I'm a NUB! ...what's a nub?
j/k
you:p :D
i'm guessing it's all for increasing your crews abilities in their respective departments, rather than having an effect on the sub/torpedo itself
If I have "increased torpedo speed," isn't that going to mess up my solutions? The torpedo will be at the intercept point before the target will! Or is the game smart enough to know this? (I somehow doubt it)
THE_MASK
07-03-07, 03:09 AM
I am guessing it means increased torpedo speed loading .
switch.dota
07-03-07, 03:48 AM
I'm curious about the coverage of these abilities. For instance an Engine ability would work if say a Torpedoman had it? After all it does say Global ability but.... I don't know.
The exact effects would also be nice to know, but I haven't found a clue about this anywhere.
OK . . . the Abilities . . . this has been covered before.
Local Abilities . . . only apply when the individual is in the leadership slot . . . and only for that section. Of course when the crewmember is not on duty it doesn't apply.
Global Abilities work the same way . . . but for the entire ship. The individual needs to be in a leadership slot as well, as I understand it.
SteamWake
07-03-07, 11:13 AM
Hey its all covered in the manual in detail....
Opening manual....
Oh wait its in the read me file.....
Opening readme ......
Uhhh ohhh never mind.
ReallyDedPoet
07-03-07, 11:15 AM
I am guessing it means increased torpedo speed loading .
Yes, I think this is it.
RDP
spock1898
07-03-07, 11:49 AM
But can someone tell me what "Increased Fanatical Chance" means?
John Channing
07-03-07, 11:50 AM
I was looking over my crew after a patrol last night and noticed a third proficiency symbol, in a dark red. Curious as to what it was, I hovered over it. The pop-up was "Local ability - Increased torpedo damage". Huh? Is that so? So I looked over my entire crew and found a few more, increased surface speed, reduced chance of breakdown, faster speed submerged and so on. So I guess my question is thus, are these bonuses working or bugged? And what moron came up with this brilliant idea of giving magical bonuses to make your sub go faster and torpedoes hit harder? :doh:
I am not sure the use of the term "moron" is appropriate (at least not here), but why would you think that a feature that mimics the real world ability of people to learn and develop special skills that improve their performance is problematic?
- Increased Torpedo Damage = More thorough maintainence on torpedos.
- Reduced Chance of breakdown = Better maintainence of deisel engines.
- Increased submerged speed = Better maintainence on the motors.
All of these things happened in real life.
Plus before you go throwing around terms like that you might want to be sure that you understand the feature correctly.
JCC
John Channing
07-03-07, 11:52 AM
"I noticed one of my watch officers had a red command icon that said "Global Ability: Increased Fanatical Chance."
That sounds like he's gonna talk some of your crew into mutiny.:down: Which is pretty amazing, that the devs would go to that much detail in the characters on our boats, but that hasn't happened, I'm pretty sure, on a USNAVY ship since before the civil war....haven't been lucky enough to see any of these icons/abilities yet myself...:ping:
Calm Seas.
Hey.. I got promoted!! I was a Bilge Rat, Now I'm a NUB! ...what's a nub?
j/k
There has never been a mutiny on a US Naval Vessel.
A NUB is Submarinese for "Non Useful Body" and applies to any serving crew member that has not yet completed their qualifications and earned their Dolphins.
JCC
Fanatical in this matter means the person that gets that, will increase the efficiency of crewmembers around him. They are fanatical at the work and the performance that is required from them. They are the few, the proud.....
Excalibur Bane
07-03-07, 01:13 PM
I am not sure the use of the term "moron" is appropriate (at least not here), but why would you think that a feature that mimics the real world ability of people to learn and develop special skills that improve their performance is problematic?
- Increased Torpedo Damage = More thorough maintainence on torpedos.
- Reduced Chance of breakdown = Better maintainence of deisel engines.
- Increased submerged speed = Better maintainence on the motors.
All of these things happened in real life.
Plus before you go throwing around terms like that you might want to be sure that you understand the feature correctly.
JCC
Well, it was more of a jest, then an insult but then you don't know my sense of humor that well. Few do. My apologies. :(
Anyway, I think it's a stupid idea. All the upkeep in the world on the torpedoes isn't going to make the warhead anymore powerful then on any other sub. If they spent less time adding things like this and more time on actually making sure the game was working properly, it wouldn't have been riddled with bugs upon release. Just my opinion tho.
EAGLE_01
07-03-07, 01:17 PM
... Now I'm a NUB! ...what's a nub?
j/k
you:p :D
LOL. :up:
The General
07-03-07, 01:20 PM
That's a cool feature in SH4 that I wasn't aware of. Now, if 1.3 does what we all hope (getting the searchlights working for example) we could have a pretty amazin' subsim on our hands.
Do I get a gold star for working the word 'subsim' into my post?:rotfl:
PepsiCan
07-03-07, 01:25 PM
I am not sure the use of the term "moron" is appropriate (at least not here), but why would you think that a feature that mimics the real world ability of people to learn and develop special skills that improve their performance is problematic?
- Increased Torpedo Damage = More thorough maintainence on torpedos.
- Reduced Chance of breakdown = Better maintainence of deisel engines.
- Increased submerged speed = Better maintainence on the motors.
All of these things happened in real life.
Plus before you go throwing around terms like that you might want to be sure that you understand the feature correctly.
JCC
Well, it was more of a jest, then an insult but then you don't know my sense of humor that well. Few do. My apologies. :(
Anyway, I think it's a stupid idea. All the upkeep in the world on the torpedoes isn't going to make the warhead anymore powerful then on any other sub. If they spent less time adding things like this and more time on actually making sure the game was working properly, it wouldn't have been riddled with bugs upon release. Just my opinion tho.
No, it will not increase the power of the warhead. But it will decrease the chance of a DUD. Likewise a good repair guy will get your engines running quicker after damage. Or let your sub dive faster. Sounds like a worthwhile game addition to me.
And believe me, no dev ever intends to release his product in a bad shape... So, maybe it is a good idea to just drop that topic.
John Channing
07-03-07, 01:26 PM
Do I get a gold star for working the word 'subsim' into my post?:rotfl:
:up:
That's the closest we got!
JCC
The General
07-03-07, 01:31 PM
John, do you know when 1.3 is supposed to be released?
John Channing
07-03-07, 01:41 PM
Anyway, I think it's a stupid idea. All the upkeep in the world on the torpedoes isn't going to make the warhead anymore powerful then on any other sub. If they spent less time adding things like this and more time on actually making sure the game was working properly, it wouldn't have been riddled with bugs upon release. Just my opinion tho.
That is not what the Global Ability does (in this case). And if you don't think that superior maintainence and innovative thinking could increase the effectiveness of torpedos then I suggest you read Submarine Commander: A story of World War II by Paul R Schratz.
In it he relates how the he and the crew on the Scorpion figured out that the tension on the propeller that set the activation distance was too low. By increasing it by a factor of 400% they increased their success rate from the fleet average of <25% to 50%.
If you don't believe that increased maintainence on the engines could make a big difference then I suggest you read Shinaino: The sinking of Japan's secret supership by Joseph F Enright. In it he relates how superb maintainence and a skilled engine room crew coaxed just enough extra power out of the engines of the Archer-Fish to be able to end around the Super Carrier Shinaino and sink it .
These are real life capabilities that SH4 does an excellent job of re-creating.
JCC
John Channing
07-03-07, 01:43 PM
John, do you know when 1.3 is supposed to be released?
Yes, but if I told you I would have to kill you and everyone who reads this thread... and I just don't have that kind of time or energy.
JCC
Excalibur Bane
07-03-07, 01:57 PM
Anyway, I think it's a stupid idea. All the upkeep in the world on the torpedoes isn't going to make the warhead anymore powerful then on any other sub. If they spent less time adding things like this and more time on actually making sure the game was working properly, it wouldn't have been riddled with bugs upon release. Just my opinion tho.
That is not what the Global Ability does (in this case). And if you don't think that superior maintainence and innovative thinking could increase the effectiveness of torpedos then I suggest you read Submarine Commander: A story of World War II by Paul R Schratz.
In it he relates how the he and the crew on the Scorpion figured out that the tension on the propeller that set the activation distance was too low. By increasing it by a factor of 400% they increased their success rate from the fleet average of <25% to 50%.
If you don't believe that increased maintainence on the engines could make a big difference then I suggest you read Shinaino: The sinking of Japan's secret supership by Joseph F Enright. In it he relates how superb maintainence and a skilled engine room crew coaxed just enough extra power out of the engines of the Archer-Fish to be able to end around the Super Carrier Shinaino and sink it .
These are real life capabilities that SH4 does an excellent job of re-creating.
JCC
I was referring to the bonus "Increased torpedo damage" not anything about reliability. It's not a big deal in any event, nothing here will change my opinion and I simply don't have the time or the inclination to be bothered researching this. I play the game for fun, not historical realism or accuracy. My question has been answered.
The General
07-03-07, 02:05 PM
John, do you know when 1.3 is supposed to be released?
Yes, but if I told you I would have to kill you and everyone who reads this thread... and I just don't have that kind of time or energy.
JCCLol! Harsh.
John Channing
07-03-07, 02:43 PM
John, do you know when 1.3 is supposed to be released?
Yes, but if I told you I would have to kill you and everyone who reads this thread... and I just don't have that kind of time or energy.
JCCLol! Harsh.
Hey... I don't make the rules...
JCC
The General
07-03-07, 02:55 PM
:rotfl:
Can you gimme a clue at least? Early part of July?
John Channing
07-03-07, 04:40 PM
Ok... but just between you and me and you have to keep it quiet...
Patch 1.03 will be released to the public precisely at...
What?
Oh.. sorry... dinner's ready. Gotta run.
JCC
Sailor Steve
07-03-07, 04:58 PM
There has never been a mutiny on a US Naval Vessel.
True, but one came real close.
The short version: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1162388
The full version: http://www.history.navy.mil/wars/somers.htm
And of course the Wiki version, with reference to the JAG episode which recreated the event: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Somers_(1842)
SteamWake
07-03-07, 05:24 PM
Ok... but just between you and me and you have to keep it quiet...
Patch 1.03 will be released to the public precisely at...
What?
Oh.. sorry... dinner's ready. Gotta run.
JCC
Did he say SOON ?
Sailor Steve
07-03-07, 06:26 PM
I hate to quote myself (well, no, actually I love to quote myself, but that's a personal problem). Anyway, I'll quote myself from one of the 'GWX' threads and tell you exactly when it will be released:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=579148&postcount=23
Adapted from the SpecialLocalAbilities.upc file. Make of it what you will:
-Torpedo Crew Leader: ReduceTorpedoLoading
-Torpedo Detonators Specialist: ReduceTorpedoMalfunctions
-Torpedo Engine Specialist: IncreaseTorpedoSpeed
-Torpedo Warhead Specialist: IncreaseTorpedoDamage
-Surface Propulsion Specialist: IncreaseSurfaceSpeed
-Underwater Propulsion Specialist: IncreaseSubmergedSpeed
-Propulsion Specialist: IncreaseOverallSpeed
Under each heading is an AbilityValue which ranges from 20% upwards. Bascially, I think this means the efficiency of the respective compartment is increased by that percentage when the skill modifier is present.
Fearless
07-03-07, 08:00 PM
Yep, I know it will be ready SOON. Do you know how I know this!!!! I was there and heard everything :rotfl:
AkbarGulag
07-04-07, 12:03 AM
I was looking over my crew after a patrol last night and noticed a third proficiency symbol, in a dark red. Curious as to what it was, I hovered over it. The pop-up was "Local ability - Increased torpedo damage". Huh? Is that so? So I looked over my entire crew and found a few more, increased surface speed, reduced chance of breakdown, faster speed submerged and so on. So I guess my question is thus, are these bonuses working or bugged? And what moron came up with this brilliant idea of giving magical bonuses to make your sub go faster and torpedoes hit harder? :doh:
Don't panic Excalibur, I found your flipant comments amusing :smug:
I like the idea of global bonuses myself, a little more crew depth should be encouraged :)
nomdeplume
07-04-07, 07:52 AM
I was referring to the bonus "Increased torpedo damage" not anything about reliability. It's not a big deal in any event, nothing here will change my opinion and I simply don't have the time or the inclination to be bothered researching this. I play the game for fun, not historical realism or accuracy. My question has been answered.
I don't think it's unreasonable to think that particularly skilled torpedomen would be able to tweak the standard detonator settings to make them more effective: better influence detection, better depth-keeping, a more (or less) sensitive contact detonator which causes it to blow at just the right time to inflict maximum damage.
It's not as if the torpedos issued to the submariners couldn't be improved upon in any way, and there's a lot more to torpedo damage than merely the size of the warhead. (It's how you use it that counts.)
Frederf
08-10-07, 01:14 PM
Can anyone confirm that the local ability / global ability has to be in the leadership slot to take effect?
orangenee
08-10-07, 01:23 PM
1.3 will be released when the world ends.
SteamWake
08-10-07, 01:27 PM
1.3 will be released when the world ends.
Uhhh.... :o
(Lots of necro posts today :hmm: )
Frederf
08-10-07, 02:16 PM
That's what you get with the search feature?
Wim Libaers
08-15-07, 05:24 PM
And now I have one officer with a global ability: "Increase fanatical chance". :hmm:
I wonder why the devs chose a RED icon to indicate this "fanatical chance"?
It seems oddly worded compare to the other global abilities. Having observed this crew member in the leadership position in the sensors compartment for an entire patrol, the influence of the characteristic is not readily apparent to me. If this were a positive characteristic, why not use the wording "increased efficiency" if this is what it does?
Just based on the wording, it seems like a more ominous tone like "increased chance the crew will panic under his leadership when under stress."
-Pv-
Just based on the wording, it seems like a more ominous tone like "increased chance the crew will panic under his leadership when under stress."
-Pv-
why negative attitude for such positive word? :hmm:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fanatical
Theraven
09-09-07, 06:12 PM
Can anyone confirm that the local ability / global ability has to be in the leadership slot to take effect?
This is actually NOT true. I had a crewman who had the local ability to make torpedo loading faster and he was not in the leader slot but my torpedoes still loaded faster. As far as global abilities, or even other local abilities, I have no idea. This ability only worked for the forward torpedo room, since that's where he was located. The Aft torpedo room still loaded as slowly as ever. It did appear that the torpedo loading speed carried over even when he was not active (ie: he was sleeping or on watch or whatever) but I can't really confirm that either since I didn't actually keep track. I just never noticed the front torpedoes loading at their normal, slower speed and I know he wasn't always active because I often forget to go to battle stations.
SteamWake
09-10-07, 01:40 PM
It seems oddly worded compare to the other global abilities. -Pv-
As long as were necroposting...
Oddly worded is a good way to put it. Its along the lines of "Abandon Carrier" when leaving the office :p
Some things get lost in their translation.
"Necroposting" might be true. I expect this (among other attributes) will be one we're trying to figure out for years. I still have this one officer who has retained this "fanatical" attribute for 2 patrols now with no clear affect.
Fanatic:
Unreasonably enthusiastic, overly zealous. Cooks pop corn during silent running.
-Pv-
SteamWake
09-11-07, 09:16 AM
"Necroposting" might be true. I expect this (among other attributes) will be one we're trying to figure out for years. I still have this one officer who has retained this "fanatical" attribute for 2 patrols now with no clear affect.
Fanatic:
Unreasonably enthusiastic, overly zealous. Cooks pop corn during silent running.
-Pv-
Nah the Zealot would be the guy who would kill the guy (by quietly slitting his throat) who was cooking the popcorn. "My word he seems to have had an accident".
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