Is it just me, or what? JN ASW skills:

[Patboot]

I think I can petition for the 100K club. Just ran out one patrol of 145,739 tons. 3 Fuso, 2 Takado, 1 Mogami, and a pesky merch Haruna that took one for the team.

This was in ONE task force, with (est) 12 DD's in a ring formation around it. It wasn't SIMPLE, mind you, just somewhat hard. The escorts were awake enough to make contact on me, but they seemed more eager to blow holes in the water that me. At one point I had 4 DD's in close, but they never seemed to figure it out. I got chased at least 6 times, with basic evasion I got away.

I even got snarky on the last pass- three got visual on me, I just did a "dive for 300, reverse course at 200, stay down there till they pass" and snuck back under them and took out the damaged Mog and the last Takedo.

Vanilla Install, for what it's worth.

[Torplexed]

You're good!

[donut]

Try RSRDC. Report: Captain Patboot

[Mush Martin]

I think TriggerMaru is more likely to bring the challenge back for you.
try it out.
M

[Patboot]

Maybe I'm just used to more aggressive escorts from SH3?

[Ducimus]

No, the stock AI is indeed a bit retarded.

And as MM stated, yes the AI is ramped up a bit in the TM modpack.

[DavyJonesFootlocker]

I concur with Donut. RSRDC made the escorts more aggressive I think. And they go by at 35knts. Try catching them with a submerged S-18 going 7knts. The only reason I didn't choose Trigger Maru was the fact that aircraft can see you submerged. Prior to adding in mods I found targets so easy to get and frankly got bored with the sim. Thanks to these mods the sim is much more challenging.

[Rockin Robbins]

I am "attacking" a convoy of tankers escorted by 5 DD's. They charge my periscope at midnight from a mile away. Their attacks are laser guided: no lurking on the surface trying to retain initiative is possible here. I launched 3 cuties and after 10 minutes bagged one destroyer. It did not improve my situation.

I am the hunted here, they are the hunters. I have shot 4 cuties to bag one DD of five and don't have enough left to kill enough more to make the difference. Down the throat shots with Mark 23s have not worked as well as patch 1.3 and I missed with the one I wasted there. I'm thinking I am foolish for engaging in a fair fight when my goal is to sink merchies.

I am using Trigger Maru with RSRD and NSM. I think my frustration is not only very different from your experience, it is kinda realistic! Prior to RSRD it was very difficult to return from a cruise with less than 40,000 tons. Now I have 50 tons from one DD and a sub that's 5 torps light. Welcome to paradise!

[ReallyDedPoet]

Stock is arcade, AI is easier plus there are a gazillion contacts. Try one of the larger mods and you will be singing a different tune.


RDP

[Sailor Steve]

Some have pointed out that Japanese ASW was much worse than Allied. In fact they had very little to use with a lot of their convoys. But you said this was a task force with 12 destroyers, and everyone is right: those DDs should be among the best the empire has to offer, and that you escaped at all should be considered very lucky. Try the mods.

[Patboot]

That was my point... Not to brag, but to wonder if the AI was suffering anemia.

I'll be looking at Mods in a bit- still gettin used to the different GUI here.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Stock is good to get you used to SH4, but as mentioned, try one of the mods to get the real experience. SH3 AI was just fair as well until mods, same as SH4


RDP

[kylesplanet]

You'll also find that some of the stock AI are much better than others, it just depends on which you happen to get.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Correct KP, it did improve beginning with 1.3


RDP

[kylesplanet]

Originally Posted by reallydedpoet

Correct KP, it did improve beginning with 1.3


RDP

Yeah after 1.3, sometimes you would get a real dummy then other times, you get a real ace. Of course those guys in TM, well, their just plain mean!