When does it get harder?

NipplesTheCat · 10-20-07, 02:56 PM

So I was wondering how GWX scales up the difficulty. Does it get harder every week, every month, or just every year?

melnibonian · 10-20-07, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NipplesTheCat

So I was wondering how GWX scales up the difficulty. Does it get harder every week, every month, or just every year?

I'm not 100% sure but I think it works in a monthly/yearly basis. As the time passes the allies become stronger and more experienced. Once updates are available to them they can use them to destroy you

I'm sure BBW will explain in more detail how the system works once he reads your post

GoldenRivet · 10-20-07, 04:19 PM

GWX difficulty is based on history. from 1939 to 1942-43 the German Submarine Force ruled the seas. Sailors often said there were more U-boats in the water than there were sharks.

The greatest difficutly came when the "arms race" started between the allies and Germany.

around 1942 The allies developed a perfected radar that could pinpoint a surfaced u-boat.

several boats were lost.

the Germans responded by developing a radar detector that would give sub crews advanced notice of approaching radar signals.

after 1943 the allies responded by developing radar capable of operating on a different wave length than the detectors rendering the German detection systems virtually useless. this type of radar could even detect a raised periscope or snorkel sticking out of the water in relatively calm seas.

the germans came up with different detection systems throughout the remainder of the war but the allies were always a step ahead, and the german detection systems were always more or less of no use to the crew.

the allies by 1943 were so deep into the secrets of the enigma that virtually every radio signal sent from a German U-boat would pinpoint its location on the sea to within a radius of something like only a few miles.

once the allies plotted the radio positions, planes would search the area and would often find and kill the boat. If the planes found nothing, another plot would be made when the next signal was intercepted. then you could establish a basic course for the U-boat. Hunter killer carrier groups zeroed in on the boat.

by 1944 - 1945 sinking a U-boat was like shooting fish in a barrell... though the u-boats were still a potent threat to allied shipping, the aircraft, radar, planes, destroyers and carriers had come under expert guidance and had perfected their tactics of hunting u-boats.

look at historical loss rates for each year of the war.. and you decide when it got historically "hard" in real life... (notice the spike in 1943)

Year - Uboats lost - average per month

1939 - 9 lost - 2.25 per month average (*4 months)
1940 - 24 lost - 2 per month average
1941 - 35 lost - 2.9 per month average
1942 - 86 lost - 7 per month average
1943 - 242 lost - 20 per month average
1944 - 250 lost - 20.8 per month average
1945 - 120 lost - 24 per month average *

* keep in mind the war only lasted 5 months in 1945, given the 1945 average its possible to assume that over 300 u-boats could have been sunk in 1945 had the war laster through the remainder of that year.

in GWX... in 1943 onwards, you will encounter aircraft every day, sometimes many times per day if you sail surfaced much. often times after encountering aircraft a few times they will have provided your location to either a Hunter Killer group or some random destroyers who will find you.

i would estimate your chances of escaping a hunter killer group after 1943 are around 1 in 50.

Brag · 10-20-07, 05:33 PM

Good illustrative statistics, Rivet

NipplesTheCat · 10-20-07, 05:36 PM

Sounds like a challenge. Good. Right now (early 41) night surface attacks are easier than doing a drive by on a senior home.

bigboywooly · 10-20-07, 05:55 PM

Late 42 its starts to really ramp up
Late 43 your @ss is clamping onto the seat at every contact

:rotfl:

GoldenRivet · 10-20-07, 07:03 PM

the first time i played GWX through to mid 1943 i got out of my computer chair to go to the bathroom...

when i got back i noticed a small leather "peak" in the middle of the seat cushion.

now THATS "pucker factor"!

bigboywooly · 10-20-07, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

the first time i played GWX through to mid 1943 i got out of my computer chair to go to the bathroom...

when i got back i noticed a small leather "peak" in the middle of the seat cushion.

now THATS "pucker factor"!

Phah
The chair went with me

:rotfl:

bigboywooly · 10-20-07, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

Year - Uboats lost - average per month

1939 - 9 lost - 0.75 per month average
.

Actually that figure is wrong as only 4 months in 39 at war

So should be 2.25 a month

baggygreen · 10-20-07, 07:49 PM

I was going to ask the same question this morning actually.

I've made it through to the end of 1940, on my 7th patrol, I just transferred to the 7th out of St Nazaire.

I've gone on a trip through the Channel, taken on a troop-carrying task force in 15m of water up in norway, I got busted on the surface by 3 swordfish and my gunner (who was unqualified i might add) dropped them all, I spent 3 days in game time hounding a convoy in the bight between wales and Ireland in shallow enough water without having a aDC dropped anywhere near me

I did suffer a hell of a lot of damage, it turned out to be 78% damage, by playing chicken with a tribal destroyer because I hadnt seen any contacts in 2 weeks nearby to scapa.. but that was from a deliberate choice - If i had dived he wouldnt have known i was there.

Im lookin fwd to more of a challenge in the later years then, thats for sure

GoldenRivet · 10-20-07, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigboywooly

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

Year - Uboats lost - average per month

1939 - 9 lost - 0.75 per month average
.

Actually that figure is wrong as only 4 months in 39 at war

So should be 2.25 a month

you are correct sir... i remembered to do it for 45 but not for 1939. corrected

NiclDoe · 10-20-07, 09:15 PM

Also why do you think U-boat Capts called the early years of the war Happy times for nothing. Right now im in April 1940 and its a piece of cake killing ships witout the fear of the RN after me.

AVGWarhawk · 10-20-07, 09:22 PM

It gets harder on patrol number 2

10-20-07, 02:56 PM	#1
NipplesTheCat 中国水兵 Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 281 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	When does it get harder? So I was wondering how GWX scales up the difficulty. Does it get harder every week, every month, or just every year? __________________ Your sister swims towards troop ships.

10-20-07, 04:19 PM	#3
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	GWX difficulty is based on history. from 1939 to 1942-43 the German Submarine Force ruled the seas. Sailors often said there were more U-boats in the water than there were sharks. The greatest difficutly came when the "arms race" started between the allies and Germany. around 1942 The allies developed a perfected radar that could pinpoint a surfaced u-boat. several boats were lost. the Germans responded by developing a radar detector that would give sub crews advanced notice of approaching radar signals. after 1943 the allies responded by developing radar capable of operating on a different wave length than the detectors rendering the German detection systems virtually useless. this type of radar could even detect a raised periscope or snorkel sticking out of the water in relatively calm seas. the germans came up with different detection systems throughout the remainder of the war but the allies were always a step ahead, and the german detection systems were always more or less of no use to the crew. the allies by 1943 were so deep into the secrets of the enigma that virtually every radio signal sent from a German U-boat would pinpoint its location on the sea to within a radius of something like only a few miles. once the allies plotted the radio positions, planes would search the area and would often find and kill the boat. If the planes found nothing, another plot would be made when the next signal was intercepted. then you could establish a basic course for the U-boat. Hunter killer carrier groups zeroed in on the boat. by 1944 - 1945 sinking a U-boat was like shooting fish in a barrell... though the u-boats were still a potent threat to allied shipping, the aircraft, radar, planes, destroyers and carriers had come under expert guidance and had perfected their tactics of hunting u-boats. look at historical loss rates for each year of the war.. and you decide when it got historically "hard" in real life... (notice the spike in 1943) Year - Uboats lost - average per month 1939 - 9 lost - 2.25 per month average (4 months) 1940 - 24 lost - 2 per month average 1941 - 35 lost - 2.9 per month average 1942 - 86 lost - 7 per month average 1943 - 242 lost - 20 per month average 1944 - 250 lost - 20.8 per month average 1945 - 120 lost - 24 per month average * keep in mind the war only lasted 5 months in 1945, given the 1945 average its possible to assume that over 300 u-boats could have been sunk in 1945 had the war laster through the remainder of that year. in GWX... in 1943 onwards, you will encounter aircraft every day, sometimes many times per day if you sail surfaced much. often times after encountering aircraft a few times they will have provided your location to either a Hunter Killer group or some random destroyers who will find you. i would estimate your chances of escaping a hunter killer group after 1943 are around 1 in 50. __________________ Last edited by GoldenRivet; 10-20-07 at 08:21 PM.

10-20-07, 05:33 PM	#4
Brag Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Docked on a Russian pond Posts: 7,072 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Good illustrative statistics, Rivet __________________ Espionage, adventure, suspense, are just a click away Click here to look inside Brag's book: Amazon.com: Kingmaker: Alexey Braguine: Books Order Kingmaker here: http://www.subsim.com/store.html For Tactics visit:http://www.freewebs.com/kielman/

10-20-07, 05:36 PM	#5
NipplesTheCat 中国水兵 Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 281 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	Sounds like a challenge. Good. Right now (early 41) night surface attacks are easier than doing a drive by on a senior home. __________________ Your sister swims towards troop ships.

10-20-07, 05:55 PM	#6
bigboywooly Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Swindon, England Posts: 10,151 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	Late 42 its starts to really ramp up Late 43 your @ss is clamping onto the seat at every contact :rotfl: __________________ My mediafire page http://www.mediafire.com/?11eoq19bq9r41

10-20-07, 07:03 PM	#7
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	the first time i played GWX through to mid 1943 i got out of my computer chair to go to the bathroom... when i got back i noticed a small leather "peak" in the middle of the seat cushion. now THATS "pucker factor"! __________________

10-20-07, 07:49 PM	#10
baggygreen Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canberra, ACT, Down Under (really On Top) Posts: 1,880 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	I was going to ask the same question this morning actually. I've made it through to the end of 1940, on my 7th patrol, I just transferred to the 7th out of St Nazaire. I've gone on a trip through the Channel, taken on a troop-carrying task force in 15m of water up in norway, I got busted on the surface by 3 swordfish and my gunner (who was unqualified i might add) dropped them all, I spent 3 days in game time hounding a convoy in the bight between wales and Ireland in shallow enough water without having a aDC dropped anywhere near me I did suffer a hell of a lot of damage, it turned out to be 78% damage, by playing chicken with a tribal destroyer because I hadnt seen any contacts in 2 weeks nearby to scapa.. but that was from a deliberate choice - If i had dived he wouldnt have known i was there. Im lookin fwd to more of a challenge in the later years then, thats for sure

10-20-07, 09:15 PM	#12
NiclDoe Grey Wolf Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: In the Air or hiding from Black Swans Posts: 760 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Also why do you think U-boat Capts called the early years of the war Happy times for nothing. Right now im in April 1940 and its a piece of cake killing ships witout the fear of the RN after me. __________________ The Crazy Wolf

10-20-07, 09:22 PM	#13
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,254 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	It gets harder on patrol number 2 __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road