GWX and wake lines on the map

[dfscott]

I just upgraded to GWX for the first time and love the look and additional challenge, but I'm still getting used to the differences.

One thing I noticed is that targets no longer have the wake lines drawn on the chart. Is that part of the realism enhancements or is something wrong? I also noticed that I don't see a wake line on my own sub either.

I've always thought that the wake lines were a little "too" accurate, but if I don't have any idea which way he's heading, how do I plot an intercept? Do you just use the text course (i.e., WNW) and make a guess?

[frau kaleun]

You can get them back (as well as the various colors for friendly/neutral/enemy shipping) with the GWX Contact Colors mod. Available I'm sure from the Downloads here or from Jimbuna's filefront page, find a post of his and there's a link in the sig. :O:

If you don't want them back, yeah, you'll have to plot other ships' exact courses by tracking them for long enough to make that determination.

[danlisa]

I've always thought that the wake lines were a little "too" accurate, but if I don't have any idea which way he's heading, how do I plot an intercept? Do you just use the text course (i.e., WNW) and make a guess?

Observations!

If you're submerged and on Hydrophone plotting, mark your contact on the map using the Pencil. Wait 10-15mins game time and repeat it. Then draw a line using the ruler between the 2 marks. You have the contacts direction. ;) The more marks yo make the more accurate your plot will be and you'll know if they're zig-zagging.

If you are within visual range, zoom the map in a little closer, you'll see the ship icon and it's heading.

If it's a radio report, you will have approximate heading and speed, guesstimate your intercept position.

Basically, do what the real crews did.

Give it time, you'll get used to it. Many of the GWX team weren't even sure about it at the time but it grows on you.

[Immelman]

If you think that's hard try with no map updates at all. You have to plot everything by hand according to your observations and make sure your scope is not detected. Towards the end of the war this becomes quite the challenge!

For single contact the best way is with the hydrophone as already mentioned. There is a nice Hydrophone tutorial on this site so check it out.

For convoys hydrophone can be misleading since you keep picking up the front escort that doesn't keep a constant bearing and speed but sprints and drifts all over the place. The best approach is to use your scope sparingly to plot the convoy's rows.

[dfscott]

Ok, thanks. I'm definitely sticking with the neutral colors (although you really have to get close to see those flags!). I'll give no wakes a shot and see how it goes.

Just didn't want to make it harder on myself than absolutely necessary. :)

[Weiss Pinguin]

Btw I'm pretty sure you can get the line back on your own sub icon, and leave the rest of the ship markers alone. I'll have to check my install later, though, until then maybe someone can confirm this?

[Hook]

This is the mod that returns the wake lines in neutral colors.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=file&id=406

Hook

[Jimbuna]

As Dan has rightly said the decision to remove the tails and contact colours was only taken after what I can now say with the benefit of 'hindsight'.....a disproportionate amount of debate.

Even after the decision was taken to remove them, a few of us (myself included) were not entirely convinced it was the correct decision.

But it does and it did grow on all of us eventually.

[dfscott]

Btw I'm pretty sure you can get the line back on your own sub icon, and leave the rest of the ship markers alone. I'll have to check my install later, though, until then maybe someone can confirm this?

That's what I'd really like. I know I should already know what way I'm going, but I find it really helpful to be able to see my course at a glance (and in real life, I'd just order the navigator to do it :))

[pickinthebanjo]

it's a learning process that takes time to perfect. I've been playing sh3 for about a year and i'm only just starting to learn how to plot courses.

The way I do it is when i'm submerged I take an observation (range and course) I then mark it down as best I can guess, I wait afew min then take another. From the two marks I measure them then use the nonograph to figure out speed
I draw a line connecting them then I have speed course and time to intercept