Merchnants often change course in GWX?

[Shkval]

Thanks to my half-deaf sonar guy I almost passed by juicy medium-sized cargo, and naturally got behind her... it was night time and the chase begins, we are in shallow coastal area of southern Ireland and I estimated her speed about 8 knots... during next hour and a half she changed her course three times :o... in slight 10 degrees changes... almost as her crew tries to get close enough to detect me? This is not the first case... few times before I used hydrophone and stationary three bearing method to determine target's course... but when I surface to sprint to more favorable position for attack I almost always run into target... I'm not talking about some small error of 5 maybe 10 degrees but 50 or more... totally different course...and I became very good with hydrophone (thanks to months of bad weather)... so my error is out of the question.

[VONHARRIS]

You are not the first to notice that.
They do change course , but I don't know if this is scripted or random.

I have seen lone merchants reacting to a TI wake and take evasive actions as well before the torpedo hit.
This has been discussed in another thread some time ago , even tests were done on this subject.
I am sorry but I don't remeber the thread.

[RConch]

I have no doubt, if a ship saw a torpedo coming for it, it would change course.:o
I don't care if it is scripted or random.
How long would you play the simulation if they all sailed in a straight line like a shooting gallery.
I love the thrill of the chase-the harder it is, the more exciting.:arrgh!:

[Boompus]

Thanks to my half-deaf sonar guy I almost passed by juicy medium-sized cargo, and naturally got behind her... it was night time and the chase begins, we are in shallow coastal area of southern Ireland and I estimated her speed about 8 knots... during next hour and a half she changed her course three times :o... in slight 10 degrees changes... almost as her crew tries to get close enough to detect me? This is not the first case... few times before I used hydrophone and stationary three bearing method to determine target's course... but when I surface to sprint to more favorable position for attack I almost always run into target... I'm not talking about some small error of 5 maybe 10 degrees but 50 or more... totally different course...and I became very good with hydrophone (thanks to months of bad weather)... so my error is out of the question.
Hello..

Don't know if it's relevant... but in what year are you now?

[Shkval]

Early beginning 1939... this is scripted...I'm 90% sure, I have a feeling that game "watches" your style of playing and tries to mess your plans... or at least make you miss if you are beginner and you are trying to score a hit in 180 degrees stern shot so your torpedo ALWAYS passes by for 2 meters... don't get me wrong I don't mind they changing their course... it's only nice to know that.

[bigboywooly]

Am afraid the game isnt that clever to "learn" your game.
Ships do change course thru scripting, some say not enough.
Also it maybe that they have heard you and will zigzag as self preservation kicks in.

[Gargamel]

If they didn't see the eel they may have seen your scope. They react to any detection by zig zagging. Then you have to close in for the kill. But that early, I usually pop up and sink it with the gun.

And yes, that close to shore, the routes are scripted to change.

[Shkval]

And yes, that close to shore, the routes are scripted to change.

I knew it! So take one more parameter in equation!

[Shkval]

Just a little update, last night I chased a merchant for almost two hours, and a script becomes obvious... if you are closer than 4.5 km and behind him he zig-zags every ten minutes in 8 to 10 degrees changes, if you past him and you are further than 5 km he steadies... so it is scripted based on your position and distance....

[Jimbuna]

It is scripted for as long as the merchant is aware of your presence.....not forgetting the waypoints of course.

[Shkval]

I forgot to mention it was night time and he could not see me at all.

[Jimbuna]

How do you know for sure?

[bigboywooly]

Just a little update, last night I chased a merchant for almost two hours, and a script becomes obvious... if you are closer than 4.5 km and behind him he zig-zags every ten minutes in 8 to 10 degrees changes, if you past him and you are further than 5 km he steadies... so it is scripted based on your position and distance....

The above is not scripted course changes.
Thats the hardcoded routine kicking in because he knows you are there
Either visually or can hear you if close enough
Dead giveaway is the slight variance either side of the original mean course

Scripted course changes are over a much longer timeframe and wont be back and forward along the same course.
A ship/convoy sailing say 60 degrees may alter course to say 320 degrees and stay that way until the next time a scripted alteration occurs which may not be for a few hours

[Hinrich Schwab]

The above is not scripted course changes.
Thats the hardcoded routine kicking in because he knows you are there
Either visually or can hear you if close enough
Dead giveaway is the slight variance either side of the original mean course

Scripted course changes are over a much longer timeframe and wont be back and forward along the same course.
A ship/convoy sailing say 60 degrees may alter course to say 320 degrees and stay that way until the next time a scripted alteration occurs which may not be for a few hours

:agree:

To add to this, the purpose of the two maneuvers must come into consideration. Short zig-zag maneuvers that deviate 10 degrees briefly are meant to avoid torpedo hits. Aspect changes in course last for hours on end and are done to prevent a shadowing u-boat, regardless of it being detected, to plot the course of the ship or convoy so as to report it to BdU and dispatch a wolfpack to intercept.

[Shkval]

How do you know for sure?
At 5 km? Well maybe they have IR binoculars... and my stealth meter is green as traffic light...

[Jimbuna]

At 5 km? Well maybe they have IR binoculars... and my stealth meter is green as traffic light...

Some call it Vampire Night Vision.