Attack map, where is it good for?

[looney]

I've been wondering this for as long as I play this game (5 weeks or so). When you press F6 you get to the attack map. The right and bottom part is understandable but what is the map good for?

I play 84% realism (still help from officer and free look) on GWX.

[Iron Budokan]

You can watch your target track until it becomes zeroed out with the bow (or stern) of your sub, and thus insure a better hit.

You can manually input the speed, distance, depth, etc. on this page, too.

You can watch the little torps track across the map until they hit (or miss) your targeted ship.

Lot's of cool stuff goes on here.

[ichso]

With higher realism you use it mostly just for setting up the torpedoes and fill in the TDC data. The thing about the 0'ed gyro angle is also displayed at the scope and uzpo stations though, the little digital number field in the middle on the right.
The map can be useful if you play with map contact updates on and get hunted by more than one DD. Then the contacts you got by hydrophone are displayed on the attack map too, which gives you an good overview of the DD's positions so you not run into one's arm's while evading another.
But I think it's not so much to do there, just switch there for the torpedo settings and switch away again

[XLjedi]

In order of what I view as most important... :hmm:

1) It's where I do all my TDC inputs.

2) You can see how your TDC inputs will effect torpedo path, sometimes I catch myself accidentally entering a starboard AoB instead of Port and vice-versa.

3) You can zoom in and use it as a cheat to watch your torpedos running to target.

[Sailor Steve]

Unfortunately the sub moves across the Attack Map, just as it does on the Navigation Chart. I think it would be better the way it is in AOD: the sub always stays at the middle of the chart, and targets all move in relation to it.

[Jimbuna]

I use it for target tracking and progress of the torpedo

[joegrundman]

But really, unless you use automatic map updates (weaklings ) it is a complete waste of an opportunity to have a page that is actually used for something useful.

In SH4 it is even worse, in that the TDC isn't even on that page anymore, so the attack map is completely useless (except for tracking the torpedo progress, which anyone who doesn't use automatic map updates, wouldn't want to use anyway)

However if somebright modder figured out a way to have the navmap plotting tools available in the attack map. that would change things. Then you could keep your plotting for the attack seperate from your navigational plotting which would help keep things organised enormously

[XLjedi]

Originally Posted by joegrundman

But really, unless you use automatic map updates (weaklings ) it is a complete waste of an opportunity to have a page that is actually used for something useful.

In SH4 it is even worse, in that the TDC isn't even on that page anymore, so the attack map is completely useless (except for tracking the torpedo progress, which anyone who doesn't use automatic map updates, wouldn't want to use anyway)

However if somebright modder figured out a way to have the navmap plotting tools available in the attack map. that would change things. Then you could keep your plotting for the attack seperate from your navigational plotting which would help keep things organised enormously

In my case, I have map updates turned off and I use it exactly as I previously mentioned...

Totally agree with you on SH4, I was hoping (and yesterday requested) that a modder would at least try to add the TDC settings gadget to the right side of the screen. I think this should be doable.

As for you last paragraph about keeping your attack plots seperate from your nav plotting; I use a seperate electronic maneuvering board for that. It's pretty cool, you might like it. There's a link to MoBo below in my signature.

[joegrundman]

Aaron

yeah I already, errr, downloaded your mobo, still working out how to use it though . Can it be used in game, or do you hit the windows key to get to it?

I do also use the attack map occasionally for checking whether i set the aob on the wrong side or not, but as it's shown just above the TDC i just look up and it tells me. There's no way I'll go to the attack map just for that when playing SH4. The Gyro angle on the UZO or periscope alone will tell you if you have a sensible solution plugged in.

I maintain that despite a couple of minor uses, the attack map is essentially a waste of a good opportunity to have put something useful there.

[ichso]

But really, unless you use automatic map updates (weaklings )

I have them turned on but with the mods I have installed I see absolutely nothing at the nav map except for the radio contact updates. I even don't see my own sub on the map

I have this option on to see the hydrophon markings on the map when being hunted by destroyers. It is just too annoying to sit for at least half an hour at the hydrophon station by myself and the sonar guy alone can't tell me all at once where he has located the DD's screws so I let him paint it on the attack map

[XLjedi]

Originally Posted by joegrundman

Aaron

yeah I already, errr, downloaded your mobo, still working out how to use it though . Can it be used in game, or do you hit the windows key to get to it?

It's a standalone gadget... It's fairly simple to use and the manual is pretty decent (if I do sayso myself ).

You can Alt-Tab (or window button) to it and import nav or attack map easily using the prnt-scrn and insert keys. I prefer to use it with SH3 or SH4 in windowed mode and then run the MoBo app on a seperate monitor. It's like having an attack plotting station.

I use it primarily for intercepts, attack stationing, and TSD calcs... There are a few (like Lurker) who are more adept with plotting than me and like to use it purely as a maneuvering board.

[joegrundman]

Originally Posted by ichso

I have them turned on but with the mods I have installed I see absolutely nothing at the nav map except for the radio contact updates. I even don't see my own sub on the map

I have this option on to see the hydrophon markings on the map when being hunted by destroyers. It is just too annoying to sit for at least half an hour at the hydrophon station by myself and the sonar guy alone can't tell me all at once where he has located the DD's screws so I let him paint it on the attack map

That's pretty hard core, I'm planning on trying out realnav very soon. I've been following that thread, it looks great. And I'll accept that modified updates are a different case, but unmodded map updates are . I'm amazed it was only a 3% realism penalty. Still, very important for learning the game.

I accept that without map updates yourr sonar guy is a little bit lacking in capabilities given he's an experienced professional, but with map updates he's too all knowing. He is still just one guy with a pair of headphones who has to verbally communicate what he's hearing. It is only possible for one person to verbally describe one independently moving object's trajectory at any one time - try it and see for yourself! So simultaneously tracking 24 moving targets with complete precision is a bit much. In addition, some bright spark noticed that the sonar lines drawn on the map terminate at the exact range of the target, so really, i think that updates off is better.

[joegrundman]

Originally Posted by aaronblood

You can Alt-Tab (or window button) to it and import nav or attack map easily using the prnt-scrn and insert keys. I prefer to use it with SH3 or SH4 in windowed mode and then run the MoBo app on a seperate monitor. It's like having an attack plotting station.

Awesome!! So how many monitors do you have altogether? One for each station? Alas I only have the one monitor so will have to rely on the windows key

[XLjedi]

Originally Posted by joegrundman

Awesome!! So how many monitors do you have altogether? One for each station? Alas I only have the one monitor so will have to rely on the windows key

I actually have 4 monitors. Some games (like MS flight simulator) allow for multi-window game play. When I'm flying a cessna I have two monitors straight ahead stacked one on top of the other, and then one on each side. I put the forward windscreen view on the top monitor, the radio stack and GPS on the bottom one, and then I have views out the left and right windows on each side.

I keep my PC in a cabinet... the two monitors fit in the cabinet stacked as mentioned and then I have the other 2 flat-panels mounted on the swing out doors. I can sit there at the cabinet and pull the doors in and look to my left and right and see out the windows.

I wish the SH games allowed for multi-windowed gameplay...

[ichso]

In addition, some bright spark noticed that the sonar lines drawn on the map terminate at the exact range of the target, so really, i think that updates off is better.

Didn't know that.
If one uses this feature it would be too easy again, that's right.
But otherwise the sonar lines themselves seem o.k. They only get updated when the sonar guy is set to scan all around and not follow any specific contact and they even don't get updated in realtime but more like in distinct time periods, with every sweep of the sonar or something like this. So it doesn't give too much information away.

That every single ship of a convoy gets it's own sonar line doesn't really matter, it's still just a big black bulk of lines in the end . But the rough idea where the incoming escorts are is very valuable and one can use the 'Bearing to next warship' and 'Follow next warhip' functions to get a good idea where to head in order to evade one DD and not run directly into another.