Damage Control

[PFK]

I have noticed that the damage reports are not that forthcoming in the game. I was sunk recently by a destroyer during a crash dive. Funny thing was did'nt hear DC's but happened to look at status screen which was a wall of red!

Which leads me to wonder would it be worth putting crew into damage control party when going into combat so they would automatically start repairing damage rather than have to keep checking screen to see have you taken any hits?

[Diopos]

Originally Posted by PFK

I have noticed that the damage reports are not that forthcoming in the game. I was sunk recently by a destroyer during a crash dive. Funny thing was did'nt hear DC's but happened to look at status screen which was a wall of red!

Which leads me to wonder would it be worth putting crew into damage control party when going into combat so they would automatically start repairing damage rather than have to keep checking screen to see have you taken any hits?

A manned Damage control Party is a good idea. But you must take into account possible adverse effects on the performance of the varius sattions from which you'll take your repair-men.
I've opted for a "permanent" Damage control team (ie spending "renown" in port and "buying" (transfering) personel solely for the Damage control team).

[Rockin Robbins]

I agree. I fill every possible position on the boat before leaving port.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by PFK

Which leads me to wonder would it be worth putting crew into damage control party when going into combat so they would automatically start repairing damage rather than have to keep checking screen to see have you taken any hits?

Its also a good idea to go into general quarters when entering combat

Im guessing what happend to you is a bomber got a lucky hit while you were crusing at High TC.

Originally Posted by PFK

I have noticed that the damage reports are not that forthcoming in the game. I was sunk recently by a destroyer during a crash dive. Funny thing was did'nt hear DC's but happened to look at status screen which was a wall of red!

Which leads me to wonder would it be worth putting crew into damage control party when going into combat so they would automatically start repairing damage rather than have to keep checking screen to see have you taken any hits?

As Diopos mentioned, spend some renown and get a few extra guys, pop them into the DC team. Whenever going into combat, DC is automatically activated, and they'll be all over your control room, fixing stuff.

If you don't go to battlestations, DC isn't automatically activated when you get hit, so you can activate them seperately with that other button on your screen.

BTW, in a related question I was going to ask today in a seperate thread anyway, is there any way to obtain estimated times to complete repair on an item? I didn't see that anywhere in the manual or on the systems screen.

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

I agree. I fill every possible position on the boat before leaving port.

One question on that - Is it a good idea to leave one or two spots open, and draw from one or two of your more experienced crewmen for special fixes?

Example: engine damage would involve all the DC people, plus dragging one or two of my more experienced people from the engine room to be added to that DC team for that particular problem.

Or do the engine room people automatically repair damage with HELP from the DC team?

[Coolhand01]

@ Zayphod,
Move your mouse over the name of the compartment where you have damage and it will give an ETA for repairs and Eta for complete flooding if your taking water in that compartment. The crew helps the DC team make repairs. No need to move crew into DC team. As stated fill all available slots. I also do that before leaving port....CH

[aanker]

Originally Posted by Zayphod

... Is it a good idea to leave one or two spots open, and draw from one or two of your more experienced crewmen for special fixes?

Example: engine damage would involve all the DC people, plus dragging one or two of my more experienced people from the engine room to be added to that DC team for that particular problem.

Or do the engine room people automatically repair damage with HELP from the DC team?

That's what I do. Another benefit of having a few slots open is then I can juggle the crew around if necessary. Like to move someone into a compartment to use a newly acquired special ability etc. (you need someplace to put the replaced crewman)

It is my understanding the DC team helps the crew in the damaged compartment do the repairs.

Happy Hunting!

Art

Originally Posted by aanker

That's what I do. Another benefit of having a few slots open is then I can juggle the crew around if necessary. Like to move someone into a compartment to use a newly acquired special ability etc. (you need someplace to put the replaced crewman)

It is my understanding the DC team helps the crew in the damaged compartment do the repairs.

Happy Hunting!

Art

Ok, thanks both you and coolhand01 for both responses.
Yes, one needs one empty slot to shuffle people around, good point.

[Diopos]

Originally Posted by Zayphod

...
Yes, one needs one empty slot to shuffle people around, good point.

It makes reshuffling easier but an empty slot is not "needed". You can still move people around even when all slots are full.

[banjo]

I too fill all slots before a patrol, including the damage control slots. I suspect that the devs had in mind that you would pull ppl from your crew to serve as the damage team. Actually filling those slots is probably a kind of cheat that wasn't their original idea. Could be wrong....

Originally Posted by Diopos

It makes reshuffling easier but an empty slot is not "needed". You can still move people around even when all slots are full.

Really? How do you do that? Just drop guy A from one spot to another? Will it switch the places of the other crewmember?

[jamz]

=Zayphod(you need someplace to put the replaced crewman)

You can't just throw them over the side?



<--goes to have a talk with the XO

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by Zayphod

Really? How do you do that? Just drop guy A from one spot to another? Will it switch the places of the other crewmember?

Yes the crew will swap positoins.

I personally dont have a crew in every slot. The deck gun, AA gun, and damage control is empty. I move the crew around to suit the situation.

[Diopos]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

...
I personally dont have a crew in every slot. The deck gun, AA gun, and damage control is empty. I move the crew around to suit the situation.

That's what I did when I started playing SH4.
It reflects what I think would really happen in a sub, plus the fact that there are no "watches" for these slots, which seemed to me at the time that the designer was also "suggesting" that this would be the proper thing to do!
But...after varius ingame ...uhmmm adventures, and having the "renown" required I opted for fulling up all slots (which is unrealistic) and in the true tradition of war-game simulations this unrealistic option seems to be working fine!!!