I am not sure a Cold War setting would have much gameplay value. I know it wouldn't get my attention.
What I do know would get my attention is SH5 with a dynamic campaign, where us virtual skippers would determine how the campaign ended by our actions and performance. For example, if we messed up on a big mission it would tip the scale in favor of the enemy AI winning the campaign. Likewise, if we performed our mission flawlessly, it would tip the scale in favor of the player winning the campaign.
I know SH4 prides itself in being historically accurate (and I like that it is as well), but in some ways it limits the gameplay value. I feel that in order for a dynamic campaign to work within SH4 (or possibly a SH5 at some point in the future), there would have to be a fictional campaign and many fictional missions within that campaign.
Some ideas that come to mind for possible missions within a dynamic campaign are:
- Have the campaign start out by searching for and sinking enemy merchant ships.
- Next mission would be to sink some enemy warships.
- Search for enemy AI submarines where Intel suspects some may be patrolling.
- Seek and destroy enemy AI submarines with a couple friendly AI submarines by your side.
- Whats this? An unprovoked attack against Iraqi submarines? (remember this is pure fiction). Russia takes issue with this and joins forces with Iraq against the US (Allies).
- Deliver a spy into enemy territory to help gather intel and learns that Russia has many nuclear submarines on standby ready for action (with conventional weapons only. No nuke weapons in campaign).
- Next mission could be to locate exactly where the Russian submarines are and report info to Allied HQ.
- Got orders to seek and destroy as many Russian submarines as possible, along with a fleet of friendly AI submarines that are on mission with you.
- Got orders to destroy a hardened target inland so you send a cruise missile to do the job for you.
- Deliver a navy seal team close to enemy front lines to help fight the good fight.
- Allied HQ learns that your spy got discovered by the enemy and they are treating him inhumanely (sp).
- Send a clear messege to the enemy by way of a barrage of cruise missiles that their actions will not be tolerated.
- Enemy AI submarines get close enough to US to cause damage.
I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. Keep in mind also that friendly AI can plant anti-sub mines to help protect our ports and whatnot. As well, the enemy AI can also plant anti-sub mines to protect their ports and whatnot.
Also, keep in mind that this is s sim, so all submarines should be modelled as accurately as possible to the real thing in how they perform and weapons they can carry and whatnot.
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