[MarkShot]

Thanks for the explanation of how the AI works.

I have seen some of this myself, since when practicing in some of my saved checkpoints, I watch the AI on the surface after I am sure that I have given them the slip.

From what I have seen, there are usually only one or two active searchers. I use the word active here not in a sonar sense, but in the sense of driving the situation. The active searchers appear to continuously circle to see if they can pick you up as they make their circular run. If they don't trip over you, then they double back on the spot where they had you and drop another pattern. The other escorts sit more or less still at further distances, I guess either waiting for a report of your updated location or that you might foolishly pass directly underneath them.

I will agree that the AI is a bit weak. In a strategic sense, the addition of escorts doesn't seem to vastly complicate the sub's task of escaping. Having played AOD, going from 4-7 escorts can often be the kiss of death, because they form an impenetrable circle which you will never break out of. Also, they attack much more aggressively and force a great deal more movement to avoid destruction. Thus, you get maybe 10 good runs, before your battery has nothing left. I find that in this game, I can milk a battery for evasion for a very long, long time. Someone had once offered an analysis of I think SH1 and escort behavior showing how each escort contributes to tightening the window of escape such that by the time the 8th escort appears, the window is only about 10% of the circumfrence wide such that it is almost impossible to nail it and escape.

Thanks again. I'll continue to explore the game.

By the way, does SH4 play pretty much the same? I have it and mods installed, but haven't really been playing yet?