[Roger Dodger]

Originally Posted by MacArthur

Distress Call . . .

You would have to give away your position when you call for help, so you could be 'rescued' by a Jap destroyer, as well as friendly forces.


1) Well, I would argue that you no more give away your position sending a status report or a contact report. Besides... You are stuck! You have to try right? So far, I have never seen any activity coming my way from a radio report. So far...

I make it a point to never break radio silence, except status reports after a successful attack. Then get away from the area as fast as possible. I just ASSUME 'they' are ALWAYS listening, and they're pretty good at triangulation. Like W. C. Fields used to say, "Never give a sucker an even break, and never smarten up a chump."

Originally Posted by MacArthur

'They' could also be in hiding just below the horizon, and get two birds with one stone if they were patient enough to wait until you get your help.

2) True. If it were you or I, I would say that tactic would be very likely. However, I don't feel that the game has that kind of AI in it. If they knew your location (and usually only by detection) they would rush in for the kill like they already do.

I'm probably giving the Japs more credit than they are due; after all, they were warriors, not terrorists.

Originally Posted by MacArthur

If the 'help' requested were somehow based on percentages as to who shows up, it would add alot of uncertainty to the situation. The closer you are to a Japanese controlled area, the greater percentage of having the wrong kind of help showing up.

3) The uncertainty is part of the built in drama I was eluding to prior. I think it adds a nice touch.

I DO like the idea of where you are dictates what kind of help you get though. In to deep, and you only come away with your uniform and a swell story. Probably rescued by a sub in that case. Now lets say you can make it outside Jap air coverage... Then you have a high probability of a destroyer rescue and maybe enough fuel to get to a port. I think the Air coverage zones would be a fair line to make that happen. I do however think that a supply ship getting to you is a totally unreasonable idea. Just to risky and unlikely. Now if you follow the line of thought with the inside/ouside air coverage zones... the next logical step would be to say (if implemented) a tender rendevous ouside the "limit of japanese expansion 1942" line. Then it would seem more reasonable and likely a tender could actually reach you without to much fear of threat. And if you look at it, past that line, you are so close to making it to a base, they have to throw you a bone now and then huh? lol Heck, I'd keep paddles on board if that were the case! lol

Uncertainty + stress = DRAMA, and turns a 'game' into a real Nail-Biter. I'm not a modder, and don't even know if these routines would be moddable or if there would have to be changes in the hard-code of the program. I've seen some pretty amazing things done by our modders, though, so I hope one of them picks up on this thread and runs with it.

If you have your radio on, maybe you could even get a message from Tokiyo Rose: "To the officers and men of the S-36; Sorry to hear you have run out of fuel. Rest easy though, one of our ships is enroute to lend assistance."

Originally Posted by MacArthur

What do you do if the wrong side answers your Mayday? Surrender your boat and crew? Surrender the crew and scuttle the boat? Duke it out, and go down fighting? Any of these should probably end in 'Game Over'. Fun to think about, though.

4) If that should happen, I guess it's up to each commander. I believe i would do everything i could to stay undetected until they give up and leave. Maybe then my buddies will show up and I'll have one hell of a bar tab... But I asure you, they won't get me without a fight if it comes to it! Boarding parties away!

Now, there's a great idea for a mod! Boarding a Sampan or Junk makes more sense to me than wasting 30 shells on it (or wasting torpedos for a 2 ton victory). Usually, by the time I need help (out of fuel or heavy damage) I'm out of torpedos AND shells. Most of my attacks (in my antique S-Boat) are surface attacks. Hell, I've sunk more tonnage with the deck gun than with torpedos. What to do if I get cornered out of fuel and armament? Shift to Electric and STAND BY TO RAM!, then jump for it before it hits.

Originally Posted by MacArthur

I also would like to see the ports activated for use as well. Definatly a color difference for referance. All blue just doesn't make sense. Even SH3 had this done right. Like the instruction book eludes to, gas is gas, and I feel better with a full tank. Even if its just to get back to Base, or continue a patrol so you can get in a spot to catch a convoy. It's almost impossible at 2/3rds. Almost...

Any friendly port should have at least a dock and fuel. Darwin, Australia had a sub tender on site for much of the war. There is a very good thread on Darwin either here or over at the UBI forums. During the first couple of years of the war, the Japs were constantly bombing or shelling Darwin, and even invading. They even sent a four carrier task force once. Refueling at Darwin could be 'a little dangerous'. But, again, this would add to the drama.

Color differences (Blue=Allied, Red=Japanese Occupied, Green=Neutral) is a MUST, and ALL friendly ports should be able to supply fuel.