how do you even see airplanes?

I'm goin' down · 09-08-09, 08:03 PM

Its early 1942, and in TMO/RSRDC, with Victory at Sea playing on the gramphone (their is nothing like commanding my boat on the open ocean!), I am encountering airplanes every 1 or 2 minutes. I can't even see them, even though I am scanning the skies and have the deck gun manned for auto firing? How the hell do you spot them? I finally gave up trying and downloaded Webster's fewer airplanes mod. Next, I will be the No Air Strike mod, as no reduction in air attacks is killing me (literally).

Any good suggestions?

CaptainMattJ. · 09-08-09, 08:14 PM

well if oyu had a boat that allowed for a second AA gun, you could watch the other AI AA gunner shoot at the plane. then you look at the libe of fire and since alot of AA gunners never really hit it YOU can. that how i do it in the u boat.

09-08-09, 08:33 PM

the problem is in how planes are rendered in the game. they are spawned as tiny black specks of sand you can barely see, even if you know exactly where they are.

only when they are almost right above you, ready to dive, does the game use a larger size image of the plane for them which is the first time you really see them.

i tried to fix the values used for the rendered image so it looks bigger from farther away but i never figured it out. (i think its hard coded but maybe i missed something)

sunvalleyslim · 09-08-09, 09:25 PM

I'm Goin Down,
One way to keep from having to dive each time your crew sights a plane is to use your compass. Simply extract your compass and put it on you sub marker on you nav map. Make a 5 nautical mile circle around your Boat. If the plane does not enter the 5 nm circle you're OK. If its going to enter the circle, crash dive, and return to surface when safe.......Happy Hunting...........SVS

I'm goin' down · 09-08-09, 10:04 PM

Thanks captains. Good advice.

DigitalAura · 09-09-09, 08:13 AM

5 nm rule is only a guide... I've been seen from up to 8 or 9! Totally depends on weather and water conditions.
I've even been seen submerged at periscope depth and DCed by planes. At first I was thinking, "yeah, wtf... that's BS" but after going to external cam and panning back and up (to get a bird's eye view) it was obvious that there was a sub in the water below the surface... the angle of the plane and the sunlight made all the difference, and I couldn't believe the game actually took that into account!!!

To answer your question, you really can't see them until it's too late. Sometimes in low light conditions you'll spot them first, but unfortunately I think the planes always have the advantage of first sight.
The problem isn't just direction either... you can be looking right down the right line and still not see them...that's because the radar doesn't indicate how HIGH the planes are. So I've been waiting and waiting at a specified angle for the planes to appear only to have bombs dropped on me from overhead as the zeros dive bomb from way up high over me.
So, there's no way to 'learn' to spot them...it's all luck and circumstances.

09-08-09, 08:03 PM	#1
I'm goin' down Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Notify command we have entered the Grass Sea Posts: 2,822 Downloads: 813 Uploads: 0	how do you even see airplanes? Its early 1942, and in TMO/RSRDC, with Victory at Sea playing on the gramphone (their is nothing like commanding my boat on the open ocean!), I am encountering airplanes every 1 or 2 minutes. I can't even see them, even though I am scanning the skies and have the deck gun manned for auto firing? How the hell do you spot them? I finally gave up trying and downloaded Webster's fewer airplanes mod. Next, I will be the No Air Strike mod, as no reduction in air attacks is killing me (literally). Any good suggestions? Last edited by I'm goin' down; 09-08-09 at 09:56 PM.

09-08-09, 09:25 PM	#4
sunvalleyslim Ace of the Deep Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles, Ca Posts: 1,142 Downloads: 267 Uploads: 0	I'm Goin Down, One way to keep from having to dive each time your crew sights a plane is to use your compass. Simply extract your compass and put it on you sub marker on you nav map. Make a 5 nautical mile circle around your Boat. If the plane does not enter the 5 nm circle you're OK. If its going to enter the circle, crash dive, and return to surface when safe.......Happy Hunting...........SVS __________________ Crew member/ decommission member TM2(SS)(SD) 3/68-7/70 DIESEL BOATS FOREVER USS SEGUNDO (SS398)

09-08-09, 10:04 PM	#5
I'm goin' down Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Notify command we have entered the Grass Sea Posts: 2,822 Downloads: 813 Uploads: 0	All good suggestions Thanks captains. Good advice.

09-09-09, 08:13 AM	#6
DigitalAura Straight and True Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: CANADA Posts: 276 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	5 nm rule is only a guide... I've been seen from up to 8 or 9! Totally depends on weather and water conditions. I've even been seen submerged at periscope depth and DCed by planes. At first I was thinking, "yeah, wtf... that's BS" but after going to external cam and panning back and up (to get a bird's eye view) it was obvious that there was a sub in the water below the surface... the angle of the plane and the sunlight made all the difference, and I couldn't believe the game actually took that into account!!! To answer your question, you really can't see them until it's too late. Sometimes in low light conditions you'll spot them first, but unfortunately I think the planes always have the advantage of first sight. The problem isn't just direction either... you can be looking right down the right line and still not see them...that's because the radar doesn't indicate how HIGH the planes are. So I've been waiting and waiting at a specified angle for the planes to appear only to have bombs dropped on me from overhead as the zeros dive bomb from way up high over me. So, there's no way to 'learn' to spot them...it's all luck and circumstances. __________________ ... ALL YOUR BEACH ARE BELONG TO US! ...

09-08-09, 08:14 PM	#2
CaptainMattJ. The Old Man Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sin City Posts: 1,364 Downloads: 55 Uploads: 0	well if oyu had a boat that allowed for a second AA gun, you could watch the other AI AA gunner shoot at the plane. then you look at the libe of fire and since alot of AA gunners never really hit it YOU can. that how i do it in the u boat.

09-08-09, 08:33 PM	#3
Webster Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	the problem is in how planes are rendered in the game. they are spawned as tiny black specks of sand you can barely see, even if you know exactly where they are. only when they are almost right above you, ready to dive, does the game use a larger size image of the plane for them which is the first time you really see them. i tried to fix the values used for the rendered image so it looks bigger from farther away but i never figured it out. (i think its hard coded but maybe i missed something)