ASW quality?

[c13Garrison]

These are the ingredients in my soup;

1_TriggerMaru_Overhaul_2-5
1_TMO_25_small_patch
RSRDC_TMO_V502
Fixed Zero Bomb Load RSRDC
LST_TMO_v2
RSRDC_V5xx_Patch1
Improved Stock Environment_v3_TMO&RFB
Submarine Hull Numbers
TDW_Ship_Plane_Fire_Damage_v1_3_SH4
Easier AI for TMO 2.5 by Orpheus
Donation_Narwhal _v185_TMO

I am doing alright with my Narwhal career, but much like Bubblehead I am noticing that some ships are having a devil of a time finding me.

I was on a 65' shelf surrounded by 10,000+ yards of open water and 3 subchasers, and all I have to do to avoid them is just keep going at 1/3 ahead. They'll drop depth charges at the spot I fired torpedoes from, but I've had only one close call. I wonder if the "easier AI" mod instead of post-poning pinging, instead turns it off entirely.

I'd be interested to know what the general experience of early 1943 asw is, as reflected in our game.

[Armistead]

Obivious, the easier TMO AI mod is gonna have effect and make it easier for you.

Bubble mentions that he thinks DD aren't effective as escorts. For the most part escorts are pretty good at attacking. Hard to say, but I tend to agree escorts do a much better job attacking, but not sure why. I can't find any values suggesting they shouldn't. Much depends on sonar equipment and for the most part both get the same updates.

Try dropping the easier AI mod. If you want it even more difficult, easy to do, just post here.

[c13Garrison]

Well, I went with Easier AI because I felt it was ridiculously unfair without it.

I'll finish this career, then see how I feel about it.

[Bubblehead1980]

Try dropping the easier AI mod, that really is not needed until late 43 if you are seeking easier. Early 43 is a mixed bag, most DD's and ASW vessels still have the less effective sonar and hydrophones, so unless they catch you in shallow water or just unlucky enough to run into a skilled crew with ideal conditions, or they are the proverbial blind squirrel that finally finds a nut, player has a high chance of survival .May of 43 is when the escorts and DD's seem to start getting tougher(noticed in ME many, esp in the convoys running Palau-Wewak-Rabaul_Truk routes( where most of the action is at in mid to late 1943) are set to "Veteran" and believe they get better sonar bc that is when they seem to start being an actual threat.Escorts are still pretty much always the ones to worry about more than DD's, other than the Matsu Destroyer Escort and the Akizuki DD.

[Armistead]

Well, I went with Easier AI because I felt it was ridiculously unfair without it.

I'll finish this career, then see how I feel about it.

I tweaked mine to how I liked it. I have several setups, but the one I like the most is the AI is a tad easier. Running silent has greater effect as well as sub profile. To balance it, my sub is more fragile and the enemy will hunt me much longer.

If you use the easier AI and run into competent rated escorts, they'll hardly notice you, the vets will pay a tad more attention to you. Thing is, you don't know how good the enemy crew is. You'll run into more vet crews 43-44 with RSRD, so you may see a difference.

TMO may seem unfair, it really isn't once you learn it and how to beat the AI.
In fact, once you do, even TMO is a pushover.