GWX- Odd Problems with Destroyers

[swuboo]

Let me preface this by saying that I hope no one takes this as a slight against GWX. I don't know whether the problems were present in stock or not, as I only got the game just before GWX came out and have thus only slightly played vanilla. Even if GWX introduced them, please interpret this post as a desire that the GWX fix them than as condemnation. All hail GWX.

But--- I am playing GWX, and these two problems are here.

Both are largely concerned with destroyer behavior while the sub is at periscope depth. I wouldn't normally try to avoid destroyers while at such depth, but in some instances they've snuck up on me, or I've been in very, very shallow water.

In the first problem, the destroyer does an attack run, and attempts to DC me. He (hopefully) misses, but has set the fuse on the DC so shallow that he blows up his own DC rack. I have seen this at least a dozen times, and in three, the DD sank itself. In all the others, the DC racks were blown, rendering the DD able only to hurl shells and MG fire at my periscope, which have yet to hit significantly.

In the second, a DD comes straight down my throat. I don't get out of his way in time for one reason or another; usually he's got no DC rack from blowing himself up, or I simply failed to notice while sweating over a tanker. The DD hits, and wham... I start to reel and... the game crashes. Our courses are in this case usually pretty close to parallel, but in opposite directions. I have experienced this about ten times, and can at this point predict when a collision will cause it.

It's entirely possible that the second issue is unique to me--- perhaps some portion of my hardware chokes up on the canting of my sub that far. Or maybe the physics calculations don't agree with AMD dual core procs.

The first however--- could it be considered for a future patch that DD's will not DC at such shallow depths that they endanger themselves? It's a bit silly if all the escorts for a convoy have gimped themselves, unable to do a thing to stop you from torpedoing the entire convoy, reloading at your leisure. This has happened to me, on a convoy with two Flowers, a C&D, and a Hunt I.

[Pants]

Regarding the DD blowing it's DC rack off this is a stock bug that we do know about and are still trying to "fix" this issue.However Alot of the AI behaviour is hard coded, and until we get a propper MDT tool things like this is something we have to live with i'm afraid
But regarding the CTD issue..this is a new one to me :hmm: Ihave had problems myself with certain instances where i CTD but that is due to my machine, hopefully KL or one of the "smarter" dev team members can help you with these issues matey.

[swuboo]

I understand. As regards the DC issue, that was honestly what I figured. Considering the amount of attention I know you folks put into the mod, hardcoded stupidity was the most obvious solution.

As for the CTD, that may, as I said, be a consequence of my system. I do not know. What I can tell you is that in each case, the DD was charging me literally head on. The collision ocurred too soon for me to alter and avoid. Usually with the DD on a DC run, and me on Silent Running or at Full at the most. All instances in a VIIB. All instances at "periscope depth," in motion.

It only happens when, for the sake of example, the DD's course is 180, and mine is 359, absolute.

[swuboo]

Also; the CTD only happens when its clear, (if my attack periscope surives the impact so I can observe, since I play at 94%) that my boat will be driven clear upside down from the impact. The game always CTD's at around 60 degrees list, but it's clear I'll hit 180 from the speed of the roll.

[The Munster]

Hi, sometimes programs running in the background can cause a CTD. To check, run Windows Task Manager from the Desktop .. Ctrl_Delete_Esc and check if anything is there. Even an antivirus or firewall can interfere although I don't recommend you disable them whilst online. Hope this helps.

As an aside to this (and I know it's not GWX-induced) I find it ridiculous that a U-boat can get rammed (either intentionally by an escort, or accidentally by a merchant) and barely get dinged. I mean, c'mon: a large cargo ship hits you dead-perpendicular right behind your watch tower, drives over you and doesn't even mess up your raised 'scope? Let alone slicing into you like a cleaver?

[AS]

totally agreed, especially when considering the fact that "ramming" was a common counter-measure against U-Boats (even while on surface) and it was employed by both destroyers and merchants.

[andy_311]

Originally Posted by Albrecht Von Hesse

As an aside to this (and I know it's not GWX-induced) I find it ridiculous that a U-boat can get rammed (either intentionally by an escort, or accidentally by a merchant) and barely get dinged. I mean, c'mon: a large cargo ship hits you dead-perpendicular right behind your watch tower, drives over you and doesn't even mess up your raised 'scope? Let alone slicing into you like a cleaver?

I concur I have had a few "Fletcher class" dd's come at me at 35knts and because I couldn't get down enough the just made superficial damage ie flack guns either destroyed or damage or watch tower damaged I don't think it's possible in sh3 to slice a boat in half.

[swuboo]

Kpt. Munson:

Definitely not a background process related issue. I run virtually nothing in the background when I game, for exactly that reason.

Also, this is the only CTD I have in SHIII. It never happens at other times.

I think it might just be that the engine doesn't like having a U-Boot upside-down.

[hyperion2206]

Originally Posted by AS

totally agreed, especially when considering the fact that "ramming" was a common counter-measure against U-Boats (even while on surface) and it was employed by both destroyers and merchants.

I don't think it was a common counter-measure. Granted it was used once in a while but superior officers didn't aprove such tactics because the escorts were often damaged as badly as the U-Boot. That ment that the escort had to undergo major repairs. It's just not very effective to nearly lose an escort for one destroyed U-Boat.

[AS]

Hi Hyperion, I see you´re from my home, Köln! Well, back to topic, I´ve often read about merchants or escorts trying to ram a U-Boat. This WAS tried in order to prevent it from diving again.


Cheers, AS

[bigboywooly]

Originally Posted by Albrecht Von Hesse

As an aside to this (and I know it's not GWX-induced) I find it ridiculous that a U-boat can get rammed (either intentionally by an escort, or accidentally by a merchant) and barely get dinged. I mean, c'mon: a large cargo ship hits you dead-perpendicular right behind your watch tower, drives over you and doesn't even mess up your raised 'scope? Let alone slicing into you like a cleaver?

I was rammed by an N class DD the other night in heavy fog
Uboat destroyed by collision
I had already taken some damage from aircraft but didnt think it that much

[hyperion2206]

Originally Posted by AS

Hi Hyperion, I see you´re from my home, Köln! Well, back to topic, I´ve often read about merchants or escorts trying to ram a U-Boat. This WAS tried in order to prevent it from diving again.


Cheers, AS

Hi AS, which part of Köln?
I know it was done, but the superior officers were not too happy about it, because the ship was most probably out of service for a long time. I guess everybody was happy if a sub was sunk, but a badly damaged escort was a high price in a time were escorts were badly needed, don't you think?