Replay value - Am I missing something?

[Elphaba]

Hi

I've played thru the campaign using the only platform I'm interested in (Seawolf) and now I've started again - but it's identical - like it's on rails or something.

I'd also been over to subguru and got some of the missions - but I think I must be missing something. You guys seem to play this sim for years and don't get bored. So other than mastering other platforms (not interested I'm sorry), then what else can I do to shake things up and make it interesting again?

Thanks

Elphaba

[Pisces]

Well, since the Seawolve is pretty much the safest and easiest sub to play with (imho) because of it's (relative) quietness and sensor sensitivity it's no wonder you become bored. It being the single platform capable of getting range from the WAA is also a big advantage for TMA. A 688 requires much more precaution wrt speed and range (because it is noisier) to get the same objectives done. The Kilo has no TA and lack of speed so totally different tactics are required. Furthermore the lack of waterfall-displays (with inherrent difficulty in human-detection) in the Russian models requires a different tactical approach aswel. Just to name a few things.

Ofcourse it is your right to limit yourself exclusively to the Seawolve, but that also leads to limmited amounts of satisfaction. For your own benefit I urge you to reconsider. Also, is your boredom based on full player-interaction with the interface, or do you rely on auto-crew. That could be another thing to 'raise the bar'.

p.s. In all honesty I am playing Sh3 alot more than DW thesedays

[Captain Nemo]

Fully concur with Pisces comments. I tend to play the LA boat and occassionally the Seawolf and only use Autocrew to manage TMA and Radar (not much to do in radar anyway). I've never grown tired of hunting the enemy in DW and Sub Command (SC). The reason I mention SC is because personally I prefer Sub Command with SCX over DW, but when playing in the LA or Seawolf not much difference between DW and SC really.

Again, like Pisces SH3/GWX takes most of my gaming time at the moment, but I still try and keep my hand in and played the mission 'Command Challenge' (Seawolf based mission) in SC only a couple of days ago. Personally I think you need to have an interest in submarine warfare for these simulations to have long lasting appeal (Elphaba I'm not implying you haven't an interest in submarines). If not, then I think players find that they are too complex and boring and as a result, have very little replay value.

Nemo

[Molon Labe]

I'll third the comments about the Seawolf being easymode and therefore boring.

But mostly, I think DW stays interesting because of MP.

[Frame57]

Yep! great sim, but need a random generator which could change missions mid stream. We got pulled away from our patrol area more than once to go do other things, so it happens. My nephew plays a lot of console games (shooters). He always needs a walkthrough or a game guide. Reading one of them I realized they tell you everyhting including who and what is around the corner. To me that takes the fun out of the game. The element of surprize and discovery is lost. This is why I want a modern day sub sim that will have random events happen when you are on patrol instead of knowing what is out there even before you start.

[OneShot]

Personally I prefer DW over SC (even with SCX) ... aside from that I think the replayability is higher in DW than in SH3 for example ... In SH3 your basic job is to get close to a ship/convoy and then blow it away, if necessary dodge escorts and repeat at leisure. With DW you can play the ASW games from multiple angles employing varying tactics. Even if you just stick to the subs there are lots of missions around to keep you busy and a good choice of subs as well. While in SH3 you have a "dynamic campaign" it again just comes down to search and destroy with not that much in differing tactics and so on.

The only thing that kept me going for a time in SH3 was the goal of getting a better sub but even that gets old quick.

Oh and dont forget the Mission Builder where you can dream up your own scenarios (something that SH3 doesn't offer to my knowledge and even if it does, the location of the task may change but the task - sink ship/convoy - doesn't).

just my 2cts.

[Elphaba]

Thanks guys...

I guess I have been limiting myself a bit.

So I'll tackle the 688i first and then maybe even a kilo.

I too only use Autocrew for TMA and Radar when I'm doing other things - otherwise I just leave the game running away with itself on the waterfalls.

And I'm pretty much just playing SH4 at the moment... but I really miss Sub vs. Sub

Thank you for your suggestions and gentle nudges in the right direction.



Good sailing

Elphaba

[Frame57]

You can still move the cursor to scan even with auto crew on. I have found that they will classify contacts faster in doing so. Also if you use the Seawolf I think the TB-29 TA is the port one, it seems to work better than the TB-16

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by Elphaba

Thanks guys...

I guess I have been limiting myself a bit.

So I'll tackle the 688i first and then maybe even a kilo.

I too only use Autocrew for TMA and Radar when I'm doing other things - otherwise I just leave the game running away with itself on the waterfalls.

And I'm pretty much just playing SH4 at the moment... but I really miss Sub vs. Sub

Thank you for your suggestions and gentle nudges in the right direction.



Good sailing

Elphaba

You want to see DW shine ?
Get into multiplayer, and if its possibile also in multistation.
Drop all autocrew and start learning manual tma.
Playing like this is a totally and exciting new experience that blows away SH3/4 (graphics notwithstading).

[Elphaba]

I would LOVE to get into multiplayer... but I've never managed it yet, and I wasn't sure how / when / where / with whom...

I've played multiplayer online with my 360 on a driving game and it's totally a new experience.

Sub vs. Sub multiplayer would be awesome.

Thanks again guys for the cool suggestions. I'm going to try that new towed array right now. Wonder how I missed that!?

Elphaba

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by Elphaba

I would LOVE to get into multiplayer... but I've never managed it yet, and I wasn't sure how / when / where / with whom...

I've played multiplayer online with my 360 on a driving game and it's totally a new experience.

Sub vs. Sub multiplayer would be awesome.

Thanks again guys for the cool suggestions. I'm going to try that new towed array right now. Wonder how I missed that!?

Elphaba

Well first of all there is no "live" equivalent for dangerous waters so you have to look out for other players and then agree to play together on certain days. Another alternative is to join a virtual navy, these organizations schedule a lot a matches during the week so you'll never run out of missions.
The great barrier is that you can't just jump into a started game. Its not possibile, you have to agree beforehand and start together. Also the missions con be quite lengthy, between 3-4 hours for well designed scenarios. You can also play short 2 hours scenarios but those are much more similar to deathmatches.
Sub vs sub is cool, but then you're missing the other 80% of dangerous waters.
Can you imagine what will happen to your sub if a p-3 is orbiting above you ? Or a helicopter is coming down on you ? Or even a frigate that has acquired your target and is preparing for the attack ? How about a 688i combined with a frigate to chase a rogue russian sub ?
Dangeours Waters is about naval warfare in 3 dimensions, under the sea, surface and in the air.

Edit : of course the best way to play multiplayer is with a teamspeak server.
There is nothing better for coordinating your ownside units.