Difficulty.

DanCanovas · 09-24-06, 05:38 PM

I was wondering if SH4 will be easy in comparison to SH3 as Im not sure the US submarine in the pacific was hunted to the extent of the U-boat. Im sure there will be some great skirmishes but in SH3, the campaign rightly gets hard as time progresses in line with historical accuracy, will SH4 get easier as time progresses and the Japanese are struggling to conduct naval operations?

Torplexed · 09-24-06, 08:22 PM

I'm afraid it will probably get easier in order to be accurate. As the war progresses, your side get more gadgets like radar, sonar, bathythermographs, and homing torpedoes (cuties) In the meantime Japan after her initial rush of victory is being pounded by fast carrier fleets, heavy bombers, mines, and of course, submarines. Japan came up with a few technological innovations during the war but due to industrial constraints was never really able to field them or train crews on them in large numbers.

Perhaps the biggest contrast in the two sub wars was that while the Germans abandoned deck guns because they slowed a submerged submarine's speed, American skippers were demanding more of them in different calibers in order to chase and sink the increasingly shallow draft ships and sampans the Japanese were using as they tried to hug the shoreline to avoid torpedo attack and mines.

I'm afraid history doesn't always follow the classic "games gets increasingly difficult as time goes on theme." That's why the Atlantic war will probably always be more popular.

Sea Demon · 09-24-06, 09:06 PM

Just out of curiousity, how did they do this in SH1 in the Pacific. I know it was years ago, but does anybody recall how it was done on that game?

Steeltrap · 09-24-06, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sea Demon

Just out of curiousity, how did they do this in SH1 in the Pacific. I know it was years ago, but does anybody recall how it was done on that game?

My recollection is that they didn't i.e. the Japanese were far more effective in the game than they were in reality. People tend to overlook issues when remembering older sims - I've noticed this quite a bit.

Sure, you can still be sunk by 'bad luck' or foolish tactics, but the Pacific NEVER gets to the point of the Atlantic where you EXPECT to be damaged/sunk in any patrol after 1942.

The thing which will make things more interesting in the Pacific are factors such as the variety of missions in later years and the odd assortment of ships in convoys - Japanese freighters were much more likely to be well armed than Allied ships in Atlantic, and they even sometimes carried depth charges! Consider also the issues of shallow water around the China Sea etc....

Torplexed · 09-24-06, 09:35 PM

In SH1 you could sink the Japanese Imperial Navy several times over. The system randomly generated warships and didn't track for the individual loss of named units so you might end up sinking several Akagi-class carriers during your career although there was only one in the IJN.

I do seem to recall that barring really foolish tactics you were pretty hard to beat after you got a Gato boat under your feet with a full sensor suite and better torpedoes. You cetainly never had to sweat aircraft like the Germans did in the Atlantic.

The Noob · 09-25-06, 01:36 AM

I hope the Dev's make the game challenging, regardless of historical accuracy.

Immacolata · 09-25-06, 01:41 AM

Yes. Agree. If realism means the game will be Easy Mode, then I am all up for more game, less realism. See? Told ya. Fun > Realism.

The Noob · 09-25-06, 01:55 AM

Immersion. Realism. Challenge. This is what makes a Subsim for me. So i hope the enemys kick behind.

DanCanovas · 09-25-06, 03:00 AM

well im sure it will be challenging. I think "your" boat will be one of those sent on more dangerous missions (recon etc...) and trips close in shore. I think this will keep the game exciting and difficult. After all, even late in the war it would have been dangerous to be operating on the coast of japan.

09-24-06, 05:38 PM	#1
DanCanovas Grey Wolf Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 778 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Difficulty. I was wondering if SH4 will be easy in comparison to SH3 as Im not sure the US submarine in the pacific was hunted to the extent of the U-boat. Im sure there will be some great skirmishes but in SH3, the campaign rightly gets hard as time progresses in line with historical accuracy, will SH4 get easier as time progresses and the Japanese are struggling to conduct naval operations? __________________

09-24-06, 08:22 PM	#2
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	I'm afraid it will probably get easier in order to be accurate. As the war progresses, your side get more gadgets like radar, sonar, bathythermographs, and homing torpedoes (cuties) In the meantime Japan after her initial rush of victory is being pounded by fast carrier fleets, heavy bombers, mines, and of course, submarines. Japan came up with a few technological innovations during the war but due to industrial constraints was never really able to field them or train crews on them in large numbers. Perhaps the biggest contrast in the two sub wars was that while the Germans abandoned deck guns because they slowed a submerged submarine's speed, American skippers were demanding more of them in different calibers in order to chase and sink the increasingly shallow draft ships and sampans the Japanese were using as they tried to hug the shoreline to avoid torpedo attack and mines. I'm afraid history doesn't always follow the classic "games gets increasingly difficult as time goes on theme." That's why the Atlantic war will probably always be more popular. __________________ --Mobilis in Mobili-- Last edited by Torplexed; 09-24-06 at 08:25 PM.

09-24-06, 09:35 PM	#5
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	In SH1 you could sink the Japanese Imperial Navy several times over. The system randomly generated warships and didn't track for the individual loss of named units so you might end up sinking several Akagi-class carriers during your career although there was only one in the IJN. I do seem to recall that barring really foolish tactics you were pretty hard to beat after you got a Gato boat under your feet with a full sensor suite and better torpedoes. You cetainly never had to sweat aircraft like the Germans did in the Atlantic. __________________ --Mobilis in Mobili--

09-25-06, 03:00 AM	#9
DanCanovas Grey Wolf Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 778 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	well im sure it will be challenging. I think "your" boat will be one of those sent on more dangerous missions (recon etc...) and trips close in shore. I think this will keep the game exciting and difficult. After all, even late in the war it would have been dangerous to be operating on the coast of japan. __________________

09-24-06, 09:06 PM	#3
Sea Demon Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: USA Posts: 2,552 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	Just out of curiousity, how did they do this in SH1 in the Pacific. I know it was years ago, but does anybody recall how it was done on that game?

09-25-06, 01:36 AM	#6
The Noob The Old Man Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: de_dust2 Posts: 1,417 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I hope the Dev's make the game challenging, regardless of historical accuracy.

09-25-06, 01:41 AM	#7
Immacolata Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 798 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Yes. Agree. If realism means the game will be Easy Mode, then I am all up for more game, less realism. See? Told ya. Fun > Realism.

09-25-06, 01:55 AM	#8
The Noob The Old Man Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: de_dust2 Posts: 1,417 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Immersion. Realism. Challenge. This is what makes a Subsim for me. So i hope the enemys kick behind.