How to avoid AI detection when in time compression?

subbubble · 11-26-08, 05:44 AM

Hi all. I'm really new posting here but I always read here how to play the game. I'm playing the default game for a year and I'm tired of being detected while positioning far ahead of a convoy (more than 20 km). Usually I get the contact of the convoy in the map, plot a route to get into the path of the convoy 20 km before it arrives and wait there stopped until I start geting sonar contacts. But always the convoy seems to detect me and somehow knows I'm there and starts zig-zaging about 5 km before the point I planned to attack.

Do you know how can I disable the automatic detection of my submarine while in TC or any way to avoid it? I don't want to spend three hours trying to put myself in a good solution in real time. Thank you.

Capt. Shark Bait · 11-26-08, 08:46 AM

in TC i don't think it can be done. as for being dectected too soon, get beneath the layer, you'll be informed of when you are, and rig for silent running. next, hope they don't find you

. the layer isusually 150-200' down

subbubble · 11-26-08, 10:13 AM

Thanks for the fast answering.
I find it's in near all situations impossible to catch a map convoy in silent running speed (I think 3 knots).

That's a real gamebreaker for me because you have to approach the convoy for at least visual contact in 1 time compression and at silent running speed. Sure 2 hours in order to get a succes position

.

The problem is that in near all attemps I get detected at very long distances (more than 20 km) when I approach the convoy path. They seem to mark my position in the map and start zaging when they get into visual distance.

I'm good in vector maths and single merchants are doomed when I get their map or sonar contacts, but convoys always zig-zag after a time compression approach-and-waiting strategy. Do you find the same problem?

Is there any mod where you can turn on/off the AI sonar detection?

Soundman · 11-26-08, 10:22 AM

We might need some more info to help you here, a lot depends on what mods you may be using. There is no way to turn off detection and some mods are set to be more difficult than others. You can search for threads that will tell you how to change the difficulty settings, but without a good challenge, the game will become quite boring IMO.

I assume by what you have said that you are positioned and sitting still waiting on the convoy. That's a good approach. I have two suggestions to try. Keep your scope as low in the water, and as short a period of time exposed as possible. If it is escorts that are detecting you, you may need to set up your position to enable a longer shot i.e., keep further away from their path. Again it depends on what mod you may have, but I use TMO and the escorts are tough. I usually find it neccessary to set up for a 3500 yard shot to remain undetected by them, and that's not always reliable, but usually works for me. If they do detect me, I have to decide whether to evade or fight. The fighting is usually more fun, and if that is the route I decide to take, it means a "down the throat" shot at the DD. A lot of fun, but risky. I have found about a 80% success rate with this procedure, and with some practice, so could you. Just set up for a zero degree shot and keep the DD in the crosshairs with small rudder adjustments and when he's about 800 yards from you let it fly. If you want more insurance, Fire one just to the left of his bow, and the other to the right. The advantage of the latter is, if he tries to evade, one of the fish will hit. Be aware, if you miss.......better dive quick ! Of course, that's when a save comes in handy, you can practice till you get it right.

subbubble · 11-26-08, 10:38 AM

I'm playing the game without mods and extensions, but fully patched.

My strategy is always to calculate the interception route with at least 20 km ahead of the leading escort. Then I travel fast in time compression and stop 5 or 6 km away the calculated path of the convoy and dive under the termal layer. Now it's time to wait. Turn on the time compression (about 128x) and wait for the first sonar contact. Follow the contact in the sonar room and when they get in visual range I can hear the accelerations and bearing changes of the leading scort zaging. When all the merchants come visual contacts they zig-zag too because they know I'm there. It's annoying.

I only want to turn off their "always-detect-your-sound-at-very-large-distance-while-in-TC" sensor when I'm fast travelling.

peabody · 11-26-08, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subbubble

<snip>Now it's time to wait. Turn on the time compression (about 128x) and wait for the first sonar contact. Follow the contact in the sonar room and when they get in visual range I can hear the accelerations and bearing changes <snip>

If I read that right you are 128X TC until visual contact? Even the first Sonar Contact at 128X can get you detected. Another thing to remember, the first contact is not necessarily the closest ship to you.

It is my opinion and absolutely no evidence to back it up, but I think that the Devs did that on purpose so it would be a sub sim and not an arcade game. So you can't TC until it is time to shoot.

Edit: Captainhaplo posted while I was typing and that makes a lot of sense, because I also can verify that time compression at full stop will get you detected. (at least 128x will 4X might not) I am working on a Campaign and I use TC a lot to get to the part I want to test and end up with a lot of detections.

Another way to check if it is zig-zag or detection, leave your external camera on to test and pop up and check the DDs. If their contact/alert lights are flashing, you have been detected. Someone actually read the morse code and I think he said they are sending "contact". (don't remember exactly is that was it but was the same meaning.)

Peabody

subbubble · 11-27-08, 01:46 AM

Uhmm, Captainhaplo, I agree with you. That's the way it seems to work. I will attack the lonely merchants for fast attacks and leave the convoys for a 3-4 hours of patience-in-the-weekend assault.

banjo · 11-26-08, 10:40 AM

Another thing to do, and I don't know if this actually works in the game or not, is once you've got a good track established for the convoy, turn off your radar. I am not sure whether or not the Japs in the game can detect radar, but it is something to try.

wireman · 11-26-08, 10:52 AM

Are they zig-zagging or is it a planned course change? I have spent alot of time on end arounds only to have the target (s) do a course change with no zig-zagging. I then have to do a new end around.

subbubble · 11-26-08, 10:57 AM

They are zig-zaging but no course-changing.

I'm sure the game it's detecting me at insane distance when I'm fast travelling in time compression.

11-26-08, 05:44 AM	#1
subbubble Swabbie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	How to avoid AI detection when in time compression? Hi all. I'm really new posting here but I always read here how to play the game. I'm playing the default game for a year and I'm tired of being detected while positioning far ahead of a convoy (more than 20 km). Usually I get the contact of the convoy in the map, plot a route to get into the path of the convoy 20 km before it arrives and wait there stopped until I start geting sonar contacts. But always the convoy seems to detect me and somehow knows I'm there and starts zig-zaging about 5 km before the point I planned to attack. Do you know how can I disable the automatic detection of my submarine while in TC or any way to avoid it? I don't want to spend three hours trying to put myself in a good solution in real time. Thank you. Last edited by subbubble; 11-26-08 at 07:01 AM.

11-26-08, 08:46 AM	#2
Capt. Shark Bait Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: in a convergance zone Posts: 1,186 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	in TC i don't think it can be done. as for being dectected too soon, get beneath the layer, you'll be informed of when you are, and rig for silent running. next, hope they don't find you . the layer isusually 150-200' down __________________ Leiser und tödlicher edler Ritter der Tiefe Corsair Vengeance M70; ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z; FX 8350; Asus 7870; Samsung SyncMaster 2243SWX; coolmax CUG950B 950w psu; 8GB Kingston HyperX DDR3; Corsair M4 SSD 128GB, WD 1TB; x18 DVR212D; 7SP1

11-26-08, 10:22 AM	#4
Soundman Commodore Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 617 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	We might need some more info to help you here, a lot depends on what mods you may be using. There is no way to turn off detection and some mods are set to be more difficult than others. You can search for threads that will tell you how to change the difficulty settings, but without a good challenge, the game will become quite boring IMO. I assume by what you have said that you are positioned and sitting still waiting on the convoy. That's a good approach. I have two suggestions to try. Keep your scope as low in the water, and as short a period of time exposed as possible. If it is escorts that are detecting you, you may need to set up your position to enable a longer shot i.e., keep further away from their path. Again it depends on what mod you may have, but I use TMO and the escorts are tough. I usually find it neccessary to set up for a 3500 yard shot to remain undetected by them, and that's not always reliable, but usually works for me. If they do detect me, I have to decide whether to evade or fight. The fighting is usually more fun, and if that is the route I decide to take, it means a "down the throat" shot at the DD. A lot of fun, but risky. I have found about a 80% success rate with this procedure, and with some practice, so could you. Just set up for a zero degree shot and keep the DD in the crosshairs with small rudder adjustments and when he's about 800 yards from you let it fly. If you want more insurance, Fire one just to the left of his bow, and the other to the right. The advantage of the latter is, if he tries to evade, one of the fish will hit. Be aware, if you miss.......better dive quick ! Of course, that's when a save comes in handy, you can practice till you get it right. Last edited by Soundman; 11-26-08 at 10:24 AM.

11-26-08, 10:38 AM	#5
subbubble Swabbie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	I'm playing the game without mods and extensions, but fully patched. My strategy is always to calculate the interception route with at least 20 km ahead of the leading escort. Then I travel fast in time compression and stop 5 or 6 km away the calculated path of the convoy and dive under the termal layer. Now it's time to wait. Turn on the time compression (about 128x) and wait for the first sonar contact. Follow the contact in the sonar room and when they get in visual range I can hear the accelerations and bearing changes of the leading scort zaging. When all the merchants come visual contacts they zig-zag too because they know I'm there. It's annoying. I only want to turn off their "always-detect-your-sound-at-very-large-distance-while-in-TC" sensor when I'm fast travelling. Last edited by subbubble; 11-26-08 at 10:41 AM.

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11-26-08, 10:13 AM	#3
subbubble Swabbie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the fast answering. I find it's in near all situations impossible to catch a map convoy in silent running speed (I think 3 knots). That's a real gamebreaker for me because you have to approach the convoy for at least visual contact in 1 time compression and at silent running speed. Sure 2 hours in order to get a succes position . The problem is that in near all attemps I get detected at very long distances (more than 20 km) when I approach the convoy path. They seem to mark my position in the map and start zaging when they get into visual distance. I'm good in vector maths and single merchants are doomed when I get their map or sonar contacts, but convoys always zig-zag after a time compression approach-and-waiting strategy. Do you find the same problem? Is there any mod where you can turn on/off the AI sonar detection?

11-27-08, 01:46 AM	#7
subbubble Swabbie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Uhmm, Captainhaplo, I agree with you. That's the way it seems to work. I will attack the lonely merchants for fast attacks and leave the convoys for a 3-4 hours of patience-in-the-weekend assault.

11-26-08, 10:40 AM	#8
banjo Grey Wolf Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 762 Downloads: 55 Uploads: 0	Another thing to do, and I don't know if this actually works in the game or not, is once you've got a good track established for the convoy, turn off your radar. I am not sure whether or not the Japs in the game can detect radar, but it is something to try.

11-26-08, 10:52 AM	#9
wireman Sparky Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 155 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	Are they zig-zagging or is it a planned course change? I have spent alot of time on end arounds only to have the target (s) do a course change with no zig-zagging. I then have to do a new end around.

11-26-08, 10:57 AM	#10
subbubble Swabbie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	They are zig-zaging but no course-changing. I'm sure the game it's detecting me at insane distance when I'm fast travelling in time compression.