Does anyone play at max difficulty?

[msumpsi]

Hi,
I am trying to play the game (RFB+RSRD) with everything off, no extarnal camare, no map concact update, no nothing and it really is full of frustration. The main problem with no map contact update is how to approach a target close enough to get his course in order to incercept, without being spotted. I have try to read smoke directions, have tryied to get sharp reading any information on the target course at very far distances, but with little success. Not to mention aircraft, that is almost undetetable for me. I will try Max Optics, but even knowing the bearing of the airplane, most of the times i do not see it. Anyways, map contacts descredit the game, you can just make a couple of marks and you got all the information, although i only use it for a rough course and distance, everything else just manual. But, even that is to much information, too false. Any tips to play with everything off?

[AVGWarhawk]

I play with external view only. I like to see my handy work. The rest is checked or 95% play. It gets less difficult the longer you play. Sometimes a task force/convoy drops into your lap. Other times the task force/convoy blow on by and all you can do is watch them disappear into the sunset. It is a game of laying in wait. Chase when you have the advantage and ability to do so.

[jcope]

You can get a pretty good idea of the target's course from the first three bearings taken using the "four bearings" method. Probably 80% of the time that works ok for me, although it requires you to sit motionless and track the target for quite a while, which may cause you to miss out on a firing opportunity.

If you also make an educated guess at target range, the you can get a good first approximation of speed.

All measurements can then be refined after you begin actively tracking the target.

The fourth bearing, which should provide range and speed has never worked for me.

If you have vector math and trigonometry skills, you could probably solve it mathematically. I have created spreadsheets on my ipad that substitute for my missing crew.

[I'm goin' down]

I can live without the external camera. But when you turn the map contacts off, the game gets REALLY tough, and requires a lot of patience. I can do it, but do not want to spend all my life at sea.

[Shkval]

Well you need this... http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...ht=AOB+formula it's from SH3 but never mind, same rules...

[I'm goin' down]

Been there, done that. The problem is that, according to the unopinionated Rockin Robbins, the Americns did not know the correct lengths of Japanese ships. Thus, if one inputs the lengths, it is not realisitc.

Calculating speed in the manner you have described has been discussed many times previously. This forum has been around for quite some time.

[msumpsi]

Originally Posted by Shkval

Well you need this... http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...ht=AOB+formula it's from SH3 but never mind, same rules...

I deal with a target at 1000 yards, what i have more problem is with tracing an trracking a target at 10 miles with no map contact update.

[msumpsi]

Originally Posted by I'm goin' down

I can live without the external camera. But when you turn the map contacts off, the game gets REALLY tough, and requires a lot of patience. I can do it, but do not want to spend all my life at sea.

I agree.

[I'm goin' down]

Whew, I feel a lot better now.

[msumpsi]

Originally Posted by jcope

You can get a pretty good idea of the target's course from the first three bearings taken using the "four bearings" method. Probably 80% of the time that works ok for me, although it requires you to sit motionless and track the target for quite a while, which may cause you to miss out on a firing opportunity.

If you also make an educated guess at target range, the you can get a good first approximation of speed.

All measurements can then be refined after you begin actively tracking the target.

The fourth bearing, which should provide range and speed has never worked for me.

If you have vector math and trigonometry skills, you could probably solve it mathematically. I have created spreadsheets on my ipad that substitute for my missing crew.

The problems with four beaing is that they are difficult for convoys or task forces since the brings can be mistaken from the whole lengh of the sonvoy itsefl. Besides it can take some very long times to get a wie sprea of angles and the target is changing course pretty often in RSRD campaign. Thanks for the avise.

[TorpX]

Originally Posted by msumpsi

Hi,
I am trying to play the game (RFB+RSRD) with everything off, no extarnal camare, no map concact update, no nothing and it really is full of frustration. The main problem with no map contact update is how to approach a target close enough to get his course in order to incercept, without being spotted. ...

Yes, I play at max difficulty.

In a way, No Map Contacts, is not that much different. You need the same data that the Map Contacts would provide, but you must obtain the info yourself and accept that there will be a degree of error in your data. And, of course, it is more work on your part.

Tip #1
Your initial observations at long range will be only rough approximations. The idea is to give you enough information to decide what to do, not furnish a complete firing solution.

Tip #2
You need very little info to start on a Normal Approach Course. When I spot a distant target at long range, I will usually make the first observation at once before I start moving (or before I change course) and start on a NAC within two minutes (before I've made the second observation. Waiting to make a series of static observations is unnecessary, and could very well allow the target to get by.

Tip #3
The last 3 or 4 observations are critical in giving you what you need for the firing solution. Don't expect long range observations to be of much help here. In fact, your plot will not usually be very neat or tidy. Errors are to be expected. Making more observations helps to "iron them out".

Tip #4
Once on a NAC, you will soon know whether or not you will be able to intercept. If you can't intercept (or at least come close), let them go by, and decide if it is worthwhile to attempt an end-around.

Tip #5
In spite of your best efforts, some targets will get by. It is not possible to intercept every target.

If your are approaching a target during daylight, you should plan on submerging soon if you haven't already done so. Don't attempt an end-around until after they have gone by. Your enemy shouldn't know you are around until, your torpedos explode under their ships.

[msumpsi]

[QUOTE=TorpX;1961635]

Yes, I play at max difficulty.

In a way, No Map Contacts, is not that much different. You need the same data that the Map Contacts would provide, but you must obtain the info yourself and accept that there will be a degree of error in your data. And, of course, it is more work on your part.

Tip #1
Your initial observations at long range will be only rough approximations. The idea is to give you enough information to decide what to do, not furnish a complete firing solution.

Tip #2
You need very little info to start on a Normal Approach Course. When I spot a distant target at long range, I will usually make the first observation at once before I start moving (or before I change course) and start on a NAC within two minutes (before I've made the second observation. Waiting to make a series of static observations is unnecessary, and could very well allow the target to get by.

Tip #3
The last 3 or 4 observations are critical in giving you what you need for the firing solution. Don't expect long range observations to be of much help here. In fact, your plot will not usually be very neat or tidy. Errors are to be expected. Making more observations helps to "iron them out".

Tip #4
Once on a NAC, you will soon know whether or not you will be able to intercept. If you can't intercept (or at least come close), let them go by, and decide if it is worthwhile to attempt an end-around.

Tip #5
In spite of your best efforts, some targets will get by. It is not possible to intercept every target.

If your are approaching a target during daylight, you should plan on submerging soon if you haven't already done so. Don't attempt an end-around until after they have gone by. Your enemy shouldn't know you are around until, your torpedos explode under their ships.

Thanks, i am getting better with playing with all off, though i really have a problem hitting task forces. Lonely merchants are peacemeal, but i found a task force of 4 CA and 2 CL with no escorts at all, and they are doing all kind of strange moves changing raws, the ship on the back comes to the lead, the lead crosses to one side, all change speed in unpreictble ways an they have not detected me.

[TorpX]

Enemy naval vessels are always the most difficult and are intended to be. If the sim is even half way capable, and the AI is doing it's job, the odds will be against you.

This reminds me of one patrol I had when I was playing SHCE. I was patrolling off a small island and there was plenty of deep water, but little shipping. IJN cruisers and destroyers periodically went north and south along the sea lanes. At least twice I made approaches, carefully plotting out their course and adjusting for the zigs, only to have them zig away and leave me with nothing. It was very frustrating. They didn't detect me; it was just a matter of their speed and course changes making it almost impossible to get a good shot. They just left me behind. The next time, I spotted another CL, and positioned myself as close to his track as possible. I kept thinking they would do the zig-zag thing again, but this time they held a straight course. It was his undoing. I was able to put a spread of four into his side and he sank like a stone. If he had zigged like the others, he most likely would have gotten by. After this, I could see why so few captains were able to sink capitol ships.