Merchnants often change course in GWX?

[bigboywooly]

Am afraid the game isnt that clever to "learn" your game.
Ships do change course thru scripting, some say not enough.
Also it maybe that they have heard you and will zigzag as self preservation kicks in.

[Gargamel]

If they didn't see the eel they may have seen your scope. They react to any detection by zig zagging. Then you have to close in for the kill. But that early, I usually pop up and sink it with the gun.

And yes, that close to shore, the routes are scripted to change.

[Shkval]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

And yes, that close to shore, the routes are scripted to change.

I knew it! So take one more parameter in equation!

[Shkval]

Just a little update, last night I chased a merchant for almost two hours, and a script becomes obvious... if you are closer than 4.5 km and behind him he zig-zags every ten minutes in 8 to 10 degrees changes, if you past him and you are further than 5 km he steadies... so it is scripted based on your position and distance....

[Jimbuna]

It is scripted for as long as the merchant is aware of your presence.....not forgetting the waypoints of course.

[Shkval]

I forgot to mention it was night time and he could not see me at all.

[Jimbuna]

How do you know for sure?

[bigboywooly]

Originally Posted by Shkval

Just a little update, last night I chased a merchant for almost two hours, and a script becomes obvious... if you are closer than 4.5 km and behind him he zig-zags every ten minutes in 8 to 10 degrees changes, if you past him and you are further than 5 km he steadies... so it is scripted based on your position and distance....

The above is not scripted course changes.
Thats the hardcoded routine kicking in because he knows you are there
Either visually or can hear you if close enough
Dead giveaway is the slight variance either side of the original mean course

Scripted course changes are over a much longer timeframe and wont be back and forward along the same course.
A ship/convoy sailing say 60 degrees may alter course to say 320 degrees and stay that way until the next time a scripted alteration occurs which may not be for a few hours

[Hinrich Schwab]

Originally Posted by bigboywooly

The above is not scripted course changes.
Thats the hardcoded routine kicking in because he knows you are there
Either visually or can hear you if close enough
Dead giveaway is the slight variance either side of the original mean course

Scripted course changes are over a much longer timeframe and wont be back and forward along the same course.
A ship/convoy sailing say 60 degrees may alter course to say 320 degrees and stay that way until the next time a scripted alteration occurs which may not be for a few hours

To add to this, the purpose of the two maneuvers must come into consideration. Short zig-zag maneuvers that deviate 10 degrees briefly are meant to avoid torpedo hits. Aspect changes in course last for hours on end and are done to prevent a shadowing u-boat, regardless of it being detected, to plot the course of the ship or convoy so as to report it to BdU and dispatch a wolfpack to intercept.