The Truth As I See It.

[Seminole]

Conventional wisdom has always held that auto targeting is for the NOOBs and manual for the old hands...very difficult. Well I agree with that but only because manual targeting is more immersive.

Funny, but I have come to realize that Auto targeting is in fact actually a much, much more difficult method to hit ships with than Manual Targeting is. (Provided...That is with the No Map Update OFF. But I can't envision anyone playing Auto targeting on and having Map Updates off anyway.)

The fact I came to realize is that I can make shots from impossible angles, easily maneuver the boat using forward and reverse, to line up a workable solution, and rapidly adjust to fast changing situations. I can stay on station even below periscope depth until the last moment, then pop up for a rapid attack. Virtually impossible with auto targeting.

I've gone back and reread some of the early tutorials and it is almost laughable now how serious was the tone in some of these. How they stress the importance of measuring and calculating your inputs to the most precise degree possible or face utter failure....


...heck..truth is...all one really has to do is unlock the target and the solution almost presents itself. Very handy in convoy attacks.With auto targeting it was almost impossile to line up more than one target from a convoy. Multiple hits were often due to some torpedoes missing and accidentily hitting a second ship. Zigzagging ships? With manual no sweat. With auto..a disaster.

Still unconvienced? Try a single mission or two with manual targeting off and watch how difficult things become. Or better still go back to the naval academy and try the torpedo course with auto targeting on then try it with manual targeting. I think you will be surprized at the difference in outcomes. With auto targeting you'll be chasing them all over the place. With manual just pull along side ,turn a few degrees towards them and blast them to oblivion.

Piece of cake...

[Sailor Steve]

I've never mastered Manual Targeting, but I have a compromise I find very immersive. I have Manual Targetting on, but also WE Assistance. On top of that I use the Assisted Plotting Mod, which removes everything from the map except 'unknown' contacts, which only display if you click on them.

To keep myself honest when I have the WE identify targets and give me the info, I never ask him to do it unless the ship is close enough that I could do it myself if I wasn't so lazy. I then bring up the book, which doesn't really do anything but waste time, but that's realistic so I do it anyway. Then I bring up the WE again and have him give me the info. I then put the scope down and wait a couple of minutes and do it again, just as I would if I was doing it manually. I always take at least three sightings, which increases the chance of my scope being spotted.

In the end it's all hocus-pocus, since I really only needed to take one snap sighting, but it makes me feel good.

And I somehow manage to miss a lot anyway.

[Flaxpants]

Well I'm new to the game and must admit I find manual targeting to be one of the most exciting aspects. Perish the thought of having the computer work it all out for me when I myself can flick all the switches and turn all the knobs! As you mentioned, it's much more immersive. I remember watching a video online of a solution derived only from hydrophone contact reports, no visuals whatsoever- and then sinking the enemy ship blind, I thought this was amazing.
As you say though, auto targeting may be more tricky in certain situations, but for me it has to be manual.

[Jimbuna]

Whilst manual targeting is the most realistic method (and the one I use) I must admit Steve has a valid point when he explains that there are alternative methods for the player to use...dependant on how easy or realistic he wants his gaming experience.

[Kapt Z]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I've never mastered Manual Targeting, but I have a compromise I find very immersive. I have Manual Targetting on, but also WE Assistance.

To keep myself honest when I have the WE identify targets and give me the info, I never ask him to do it unless the ship is close enough that I could do it myself if I wasn't so lazy. I then bring up the book, which doesn't really do anything but waste time, but that's realistic so I do it anyway. Then I bring up the WE again and have him give me the info. I then put the scope down and wait a couple of minutes and do it again, just as I would if I was doing it manually. I always take at least three sightings, which increases the chance of my scope being spotted.

In the end it's all hocus-pocus, since I really only needed to take one snap sighting, but it makes me feel good.

And I somehow manage to miss a lot anyway.

I do the same thing! Almost word for word.

And 'we' miss quite a bit too.

[Melonfish]

See i installed SH3 the other day after being away from it for a while and i had it on auto.
thinking back i'm not sure why. what a waste of good fun! all the excitement about whether your Eel hits that boat or not missed!

way better to manual target, yes its hard to hit a some ships but try to get your 90° plots and your pretty much sorted.
granted it makes snap shots on DD's harder but hell if it isn't fun trying to get a snapshot at a rapidly advancing DD. its like Run silent run deep. All ahead flank, dive in seconds match bearings and LOS!
exillerating to this day

[Kpt. Lehmann]

...Oh yeah? If you think that's rough... You should try PSYCHIC targetting!

[Seminole]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I've never mastered Manual Targeting, but I have a compromise I find very immersive. I have Manual Targetting on, but also WE Assistance. .

I never played with WO Assist until the Merchant Mod came out. I had to turn him back on because of the sheer number of ships involved. Even with him providing a quick ID (which I absolutely need the draft figure for ) it still takes a long time to leaf through the Rec. Manual to find the ship he has named.

As for plotting solutions I would never trust him at that...and besides it is so easy to do with a little practice you don't really need him.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Kpt. Lehmann

...Oh yeah? If you think that's rough... You should try PSYCHIC targetting!

I thought that of all people you would know the official technical term for that:

By-guess-and-by-golly.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Seminole

Even with him providing a quick ID (which I absolutely need the draft figure for ) it still takes a long time to leaf through the Rec. Manual to find the ship he has named.

Click on 'Ship' at the top of the Notepad.

As for plotting solutions I would never trust him at that...and besides it is so easy to do with a little practice you don't really need him.

As for not trusting him, his solutions are always perfect, down to the meter. As for practice, did you miss the part where I said

if I wasn't so lazy

?

[Ducimus]

The only disadvantage i've ever seen in auto targeting is you can't make low visibility shots. Say for example, you have figured out a targets base course, speed, and rough distance to your sub by sonar, and you've positioned yourself within 1000 meters of that contact, and the fog is heavy.

With autoTDC, you can't shoot what you can't see. You must see the target to get a lock on it. With manual, you could take the shot.

[Melonfish]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

The only disadvantage i've ever seen in auto targeting is you can't make low visibility shots. Say for example, you have figured out a targets base course, speed, and rough distance to your sub by sonar, and you've positioned yourself within 1000 meters of that contact, and the fog is heavy.

With autoTDC, you can't shoot what you can't see. You must see the target to get a lock on it. With manual, you could take the shot.

still mastering the art of hydrophone shooting but i'm getting there. and i agree shots you could take with maual you can't with auto which is just infuriating at times!

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Melonfish

still mastering the art of hydrophone shooting but i'm getting there. and i agree shots you could take with maual you can't with auto which is just infuriating at times!

Funny thing about hydrophone shooting. When the United States entered the war it was standard doctrine to shoot blind using only sonar. The practice was dropped when they began to realize that it never worked, not even once.

To do it in the game is totally unhistorcal.

[Ducimus]

To do it in the game is totally unhistorcal.

But........ it works!