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nomad_delta · 07-20-07, 04:48 AM

Ok, I've run some tests, and here's the data I've come up with so far. All tests were performed on a clean install of SH4 1.3 with no mods applied. All timing was done w/ a real stopwatch (not the one in the game) and no time compression. All commands were issued via the keyboard shortcuts, not by clicking on the depth meter. So here's the data:

Here's where it gets really interesting: you'll notice in the chart there I have some of the dive times marked as "DRY" and some marked as "WET". There may be a proper term for this that I'm unaware of, but in my chart "DRY" specifies that the submarine has been surfaced for at least 20 minutes, while "WET" specifies that the submarine has been underwater very recently -- within the last couple of minutes.

You can see in the chart there that DRY vs WET makes a huge difference in overall dive times.

It took me quite a while to figure out what was happening, but it appears that it takes approximately 20 minutes for the water to "drain" out of the limber holes in your sub after you surface. You can actually watch the water draining out of the sides of the sub -- it will stop completely after about 20 minutes. If you dive again before 20 minutes is up, you'll be able to dive much faster than you would otherwise. It's not an on/off thing, either -- there's a gradual progression between the WET/DRY dive times I show in the chart during that 20 minutes.

---

I don't have enough time to write up a detailed analysis of the dive times and speeds right now, but at first glance it appears that Tobus is right -- something is screwy, even once we have the 'wet' vs. 'dry' thing accounted for.

What's odd is that it's not consistent: the 'dry' normal dive times look right with Flank being faster than Stop, while the 'dry' crash dive times are about the same for Flank and Stop.

The 'wet' dive times are what really don't make any sense. Here we're seeing exactly what Tobus was talking about: both subs dive faster at "All Stop" than they do at "Flank" speed.

Another interesting thing I've learned from this is that there really is a difference between "Crash Dive" and normal "Dive" that goes beyond the fact that "Crash Dive" rings up Flank for you. Same goes for "Emergency Surface" as opposed to normal "Surface" -- definitely faster.

----

I plan on collecting the same data for the remaining subs and I'll update the chart once I'm done; should be pretty interesting, I think.

nomad_delta

(edit - almost forgot something else I found that's probably important: I tried all of the above tests both a Battle Stations and not, and saw no significant difference between dive or surface times at all!)

07-20-07, 04:48 AM	#15
nomad_delta Planesman Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 185 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Ok, I've run some tests, and here's the data I've come up with so far. All tests were performed on a clean install of SH4 1.3 with no mods applied. All timing was done w/ a real stopwatch (not the one in the game) and no time compression. All commands were issued via the keyboard shortcuts, not by clicking on the depth meter. So here's the data: Here's where it gets really interesting: you'll notice in the chart there I have some of the dive times marked as "DRY" and some marked as "WET". There may be a proper term for this that I'm unaware of, but in my chart "DRY" specifies that the submarine has been surfaced for at least 20 minutes, while "WET" specifies that the submarine has been underwater very recently -- within the last couple of minutes. You can see in the chart there that DRY vs WET makes a huge difference in overall dive times. It took me quite a while to figure out what was happening, but it appears that it takes approximately 20 minutes for the water to "drain" out of the limber holes in your sub after you surface. You can actually watch the water draining out of the sides of the sub -- it will stop completely after about 20 minutes. If you dive again before 20 minutes is up, you'll be able to dive much faster than you would otherwise. It's not an on/off thing, either -- there's a gradual progression between the WET/DRY dive times I show in the chart during that 20 minutes. --- I don't have enough time to write up a detailed analysis of the dive times and speeds right now, but at first glance it appears that Tobus is right -- something is screwy, even once we have the 'wet' vs. 'dry' thing accounted for. What's odd is that it's not consistent: the 'dry' normal dive times look right with Flank being faster than Stop, while the 'dry' crash dive times are about the same for Flank and Stop. The 'wet' dive times are what really don't make any sense. Here we're seeing exactly what Tobus was talking about: both subs dive faster at "All Stop" than they do at "Flank" speed. Another interesting thing I've learned from this is that there really is a difference between "Crash Dive" and normal "Dive" that goes beyond the fact that "Crash Dive" rings up Flank for you. Same goes for "Emergency Surface" as opposed to normal "Surface" -- definitely faster. ---- I plan on collecting the same data for the remaining subs and I'll update the chart once I'm done; should be pretty interesting, I think. nomad_delta (edit - almost forgot something else I found that's probably important: I tried all of the above tests both a Battle Stations and not, and saw no significant difference between dive or surface times at all!) Last edited by nomad_delta; 07-20-07 at 04:58 AM.