they did it again

[Chock]

If the depth charges can damage you out to 40 metres, then that really does need fixing as it's way too big a radius, and too simplistic a formula too by the sound of things. A depth charge at 250 feet would have to be a hell of a lot closer to your sub than one at 100 feet down to do the same damage, as there is more pressure for the blast wave to overcome the deeper it goes.

Having said that, for anyone falling victim to destroyers, there are a few things to note about avoiding detection which can help:

The thermal layer is useful, but in both real life and in SH, it is not a magic ceiling through which detection is impossible. All a thermal layer really does is distort and bounce sounds around in a manner similar to light bending when it goes through a prism, and as with a prism, you can still see the light that goes through it, it's just not exactly where it would have been if travelling in a straight line. So while the thermal layer will reduce accuracy and range for a destroyer's detection capabilities, it will still be possible for it to detect you some of the time.

In reality, sitting on the bottom would probably be a good defence against pinging, but I don't think the real life advantage it confers (i.e.your sub blending into the sea bed and not giving a discernable return) is modeled in SH. This is not the only thing SH doesn't model which (other than for a bit of roleplaying realism) many people trust in! Then again, sitting on the bottom in real life would be likely to knacker your hydrophones too, so it's probably not a great idea anyway. In addition to which, choosing to attack a target in an area that is shallow enough to actually allow you to sit on the bottom is probably not a great tactical choice either.

As far as I'm aware, SH doesn't mask the sound of your sub from destroyers if there is a lot of racket going on. i.e. a depth charge pattern going off will not cover the sound of your engines as it would in reality, where sounds tend to bounce around a lot and take a long time to die away. Similarly, all the banging and clanging you hear when a ship is going down doesn't mask you, as it might possibly do in real life.

The sea state does mask you however, so the next time you curse that crappy weather you are in, remember that it might just save your ass too.

Target aspect for pinging, is modeled in SH, so keeping yourself pointed toward, or away from the destroyers is a big help as well. Also bear in mind that destroyers do not work in isolation, they trade information both in real life and in SH, so going to full throttle while in the baffles of a destroyer could make you detectable by another bad guy sitting some way off, who will then let the one which just passed over you know exactly where you are. And he can probably turn tighter than you can.

Although greatly simplified in comparison to the real thing, destroyer sonar and it's narrowing detection cone as it closes on your position is modeled in SH, which means that the further away you are, the deeper you have to be in order to be outside the detection cone.

[FAdmiral]

In SH3, this DC thing was explored many, many times. In reality, a DC
expends its energy in all directions but most of it is up towards the least
pressure. The deeper it goes, the more this is done reducing the down and
side energy to go up. In other words, the side and down blast is smaller the
deeper it explodes. Modeled in the game like this, I sorta doubt it....

JIM

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by NefariousKoel

LOL

They need to fix those end-game screens haha.

Very odd, when I get blasted the end game screen shows a statue and a salute to my crew and sub. I do not see the brig thing that 1.1 had. I'm surprised anyone is seeing this screen with installation of patch 1.2.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Very odd, when I get blasted the end game screen shows a statue and a salute to my crew and sub. I do not see the brig thing that 1.1 had. I'm surprised anyone is seeing this screen with installation of patch 1.2.

I was D/C'd to death last night and was told I recieved a Purple Heart, and the admiral was somewhat relieved to hear of my death before my lackluster performance went into the National Archives.

Relieved? That kind of hacked me off. I'd love to be able to mod these end game screens. I doubt any admiral would feel "relieved" to lose a boat, regardless of performance.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

I was D/C'd to death last night and was told I recieved a Purple Heart, and the admiral was somewhat relieved to hear of my death before my lackluster performance went into the National Archives.

Relieved? That kind of hacked me off. I'd love to be able to mod these end game screens. I doubt any admiral would feel "relieved" to lose a boat, regardless of performance.

I have not see that one yet Relieved is a little too screwy. Maybe the wrong word used from our developers?

[SteamWake]

I want an end game screen that reads

"ALL YOUR BASES ARE BELONG TO US !"

maybe in japaneese :p

[Beery]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Relieved? That kind of hacked me off. I'd love to be able to mod these end game screens. I doubt any admiral would feel "relieved" to lose a boat, regardless of performance.

We can mod the text in these end game screens. The texts are near the end of the menu.txt file. It's a simple text file so you can edit it in any way you like. Unfortunately the devs still haven't fixed the issue that causes the wrong message and images to play for certain end screens.

[Chock]

I want one that says: 'Congratulations, you have destroyed another Yankee imperialist aggressor submarine - the Emperor is well pleased with your efforts and will be along shortly to shower you with cherry blossoms - Banzai!'

[nattydread]

I think i saw somewhere that the DCs in SHIV can sometimes have a damage radius of 40ft. If you can go silent at 250-300ft. Atleast early on in the war the IJN should be only setting DCs to about 150ft at most...just deep enough to possibly get you at 200ft.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

I have not see that one yet Relieved is a little too screwy. Maybe the wrong word used from our developers?

Thanks to Beery, I've found the entry in question in menu.txt:

"Although the Admiral wrote that he regretted to inform your next of kin of your demise at sea, something makes you suspect that he was actually a bit relieved. Thankfully, and maybe out of respect for someone that ultimately gave their life in the service, your abysmal record was scrubbed before making it to the National Archives. Your family still thinks of you as a hero at least."

I'll be changing that to something a bit more appropriate

[Cap'n Crabs]

Well, it just happened to me. I brought some heavy damage to a convoy. Had no fish in the tubes yet, still loading. Saw DD's coming to my area, I dive down 300 ft, and well below the thermal, I creep off at a couple knots. All three dd's were pounding the crap out of the spot I had long since vacated.

There were two heavily damaged ships that I wanted to finish off after re-loading tubes. I swung waay behind the remaining convoy to attack from the other side.
The dd's are still cruising my old area, now about 2500yds away, dc'ing away.
I'm bringing up a parallel course with the columns, to the left of the damaged ships.
They are still ahead of me, I'm still creeping very slowly.
Suddenly from out of nowhere, there is a dd to my right about 1500yds, parallel to me.
I keep my eye on him and continue my creep up to the damaged ships.
The tubes had already been loaded and I've been running silent mode.
Next thing I know he picks up just a little speed, not much, but slowly slinks my way... looks like he's going to just go on across my wake, well behind me, I start to relax... nooooo, he turns right on me, I'm still at 300ft creeping.
Gets right over me and... fuffsh... fuffsh < sound of cans dropping. hehe
I'm now getting very pissed. I try evading him, then a second dd joins in the fun.
I'm getting pummled, I try to go even deeper even though I'm beyond the red crush depth needle.... still raining 55 gal explosive drums all over me.

Sub is taking major damage, but amazingly just continues to sink.
Compartments flooding, I'm frantically moving healthy crew to the damage control group to keep them working... the water was very deep in this spot...
The crew constantly calling out damaged equipment, etc, etc...
"current depth 1345ft"
"current depth 1380ft"
"current depth 1426ft"
diesel engines damaged !
"current depth 1445ft"
(shocked, this thing is still together???)
"current depth 1498ft"
"current depth 1552ft"
I'm really cursing now @@#$Q@#!@@#@!$# !!!!!
Then amongst all the mahem, there's this voice... you know the one... that really, really wimpy crew member shouts out " RADAR REPAIRED SIR !!! "
I TOTALLY cracked up, how could I not laugh at this point ?:rotfl: :rotfl:
Continuing....
"current depth 1589ft"
"current depth 1608ft" < --- It was finally over at that depth.

Anyway, despite losing my boat and crew, I went from angry to LMAO in a matter of seconds... hehe

This game can be so screwy sometimes, I guess you just have to laugh.
I'm still hanging in there though, I'll just re-load an earlier save. In spite of these events, I still enjoy the game.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

SH4 has some issues to work through . I'll continue to play this GAME though but only when taking a break from the SIMULATION called SH3

You mean GWX, lots of potential with SH4, already modders are doing some nice
work

RDP

[Beery]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Thanks to Beery, I've found the entry in question in menu.txt:

"Although the Admiral wrote that he regretted to inform your next of kin of your demise at sea, something makes you suspect that he was actually a bit relieved. Thankfully, and maybe out of respect for someone that ultimately gave their life in the service, your abysmal record was scrubbed before making it to the National Archives. Your family still thinks of you as a hero at least."

I'll be changing that to something a bit more appropriate

This set me on to doing something I've been meaning to do for a while. I rewrote all those entries. Here's the text if anyone's interested. It cleans up some of the English and it tones down the unrealistically critical wording for some of the less successful careers - especially those in which the commander and crew gave their lives:

5860=At best, you'll stand accused of gross incompetence. The worst of it though is that you'll never see the deck of a submarine ever again, let alone command one. Mercifully, the inquiry has been scheduled to begin as soon as possible. Nothing to do now but think of what could have been.
5861=Your sub may have seen the last of the blue sky, but you and your crew will be forever remembered in the annals of naval history. The next of kin of all on board received medals of bravery on behalf of you and your crew, but unfortunately none would know or could know the circumstances of your final hours.
5862=A fitting end for a career captain, you go down with your boat with little to regret. Your funeral will surely be filled with epithets about a quiet man who only wanted to serve his country. As the sounds of straining steel and rushing water rain around you, you have no doubt you could have done worse.
5863=Your career has been cut short well before you could fulfill your potential. The Admiral wrote that he regretted to inform your next of kin of your demise at sea. Although your record in the service was lackluster, you and your crew have made the ultimate sacrifice. Your family will remember you as a hero.
5864=Your retirement from life on the high seas didn't seem to make you slow down in the least. The end of the war was only the beginning of a stunning Navy career, after which you became a succeessful businessman. A healthy portion of your memoirs is taken up by your exploits and the lives and personalities of the men with whom you served, and the best stories you tell to your grandchildren always seem to involve your days as a submarine commander.
5865=Regardless of your experience in the Navy, with a solid resume of leadership your life after the war was the basic American dream. You have a nice family in a quiet town with a modest job. You still reminisce at the Legion Post about the old days when you had something else of which you can be equally proud: getting your loyal crew through a war alive and well.
5866=Thus, your somewhat uneventful career has come to a close. Perhaps if you had been just a bit more aggressive or paid more attention, or if you had even just gone by the book you wouldn't be regretting your time during the war well into old age. Your crew is safe and sound at least, as most survived their tenure under you. That is at least one bright spot in your otherwise lackluster record.

5867=This last patrol proved to be the last straw for your beleaguered colleagues trying to keep you in the captain's chair. Your repeated poor performance has forced the US Navy, in its infinite wisdom, to promote you! You are now in charge of your own little compartment in a new building called the Pentagon, but with no water in sight, you start to suspect your career as a captain on the high seas is long over. The Navy can now rest assured that at least nobody will make off with your office chair.
5868=With another stunning success, your colleagues in high command have sent you a telegram of congratulations and news of a promotion right to the docks as you walk off the gangplank. The Navy now thinks it can use your vast experience as a sub commander at Annapolis, teaching submarine warfare to fresh cadets. Will you accept the position and End your career at sea?
5869=The brutal fight with the Japanese is nothing compared to the one in the Admiral's office you currently face. Despite your considerable skills, the Admiral thinks you should probably take things a little easier and more along the lines of your real ability. You've been placed on his staff, effective immediately, and 2 creams, no sugar is how he takes it.
5870=As you pull into port, the mechanics are already on the dock scratching their heads in amazement that you managed to float home. You expected the Admiral to be a little miffed at the loss of his sub, but so far he's just grunted as he signed off on a requisition order to put you in a new one. At least your previous record counted for something. The question now it whether or not you should quit while you're ahead. Will you resign your commission and end your military career on a high note?
5871=The department of the Navy has begun decommissioning your current class of submarine. The Admiral on the base has put you first in line to receive new upgrade due to your performance. You could go with the philosophy of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it', however, and continue with your old trusty boat. Do you take the new submarine and Continue?
5872=Shiny new sub models are constantly rolling off the assembly line as the war effort ratchets up. Due to your performance, you've been placed first in line to receive one of these newer models as they arrive at the base. You could, however, turn it down if you prefer your current model. Do you take the new submarine and Continue?
5873=The department of the Navy has begun retiring your current class of submarine from front line operations. Noting your less-than-notable performance, the US Navy Bureau of Personnel has decided to mothball you along with your boat.
5874=Your boat is undergoing refit and has received the following upgrades:
5875=Your renown has been decreased.

[U-Bones]

Originally Posted by Cap'n Crabs

"current depth 1445ft"
(shocked, this thing is still together???)
"current depth 1498ft"
"current depth 1552ft"
I'm really cursing now @@#$Q@#!@@#@!$# !!!!!
Then amongst all the mahem, there's this voice... you know the one... that really, really wimpy crew member shouts out " RADAR REPAIRED SIR !!! "
I TOTALLY cracked up, how could I not laugh at this point ?:rotfl: :rotfl:

That was totally funny, thanks

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Beery

This set me on to doing something I've been meaning to do for a while. I rewrote all those entries. Here's the text if anyone's interested. It cleans up some of the English and it tones down the unrealistically critical wording for some of the less successful careers - especially those in which the commander and crew gave their lives:

These are awesome. I'll be doing a bit of cut and pasting tonight!