reason for missions?

Just one guy's opinion but you can look at the issue from either a gaming or an historical perspective. From a game standpoint, you get renown for completing missions so if these things are important to you then trying to accomplish the mission as ordered is probably a good thing.

Obviously as Captain you have to weigh the risks and act accordingly, getting sunk trying to photograph a harbour does the USN no good whatsoever. However, outside the scope of the game, even being unsuccessful might provide valuable intelligence to higher HQ's. Discretion is sometimes the better part of valour.

You would seldom be in possession of all the reasons why the pics are needed so this omission is not necessarily "gamey" but others no doubt have different opinions.

I've actually never had a photo mission in SH4, done a fair bit of life guarding though. Historically beaches and potential invasion sites were more likely to be photographed than ports for just the reasons that you have encountered, enemy defences.

Best to stay out of the lion's den if the lion is home and alert.

Good Hunting

[magic452]

Welcome to the boat mate.

You don't get flamed till your post count reaches 10

I do as Randomizer does. Feel like you should do the mission if possible.
Intel gathering, that sort of thing. Can't lock on the port facilities so just have to do the ships. Pro tip take your pictures first and than sink all the ships. If you can take out the DD than you have free run.

If you don't complete the mission, no big deal, sink enough ships and all will be forgiven.

Good gaming choice Sh5 will be a good sim in 6 months or so. I won't get it till OSP is removed.

Good luck and good hunting.

Magic

[WarlordATF]

I like raiding the harbors, easy kills most of the time but it requires a different mindset. You can no longer be the stealth ninja, you have to become the big mean great white that eats everything in its path.

Of Course you want to remain undetected as long as possible and get the Photos!, but its less important to play hide and seek when raiding. Due to the shallow waters you will be detected anyway so go in Fighting, but stay submerged at all costs and beware of mines!

If theres a DD between you and your target, make him a priority and send him to the bottom as you fight your way to the target.

Also, Forget running slow and silent, open those electric engines up and stay out from directly under any attackers with full rudder, Your not going to escape to the depths and you can usually avoid most DCs and then go for the bow/stern shot as the target is trying to turn in for another pass.

This will burn the batteries faster, so make sure you have an escape to sea option planned by the time you have 35% Battery left.

Your Docked Targets won't go anywhere, Worst case you can go 2000-5000 yards out to sea and deckgun em to death if you use all your fish.

So takeout any patrols first and you can wipeout the entire harbor pretty easy. Sometimes you find some cool targets hiding in the ports, Battleships and Carriers are always fun to watch sink.

[Sailor Steve]

The harbor photo missions are unrealistic anyway, especially the major naval bases like Yokohama. Have you tried RFB or TMO? I think both of them remove those orders. The stock game just doesn't cut it.

Oh, and WELCOME ABOARD!

[Frumpkis]

Originally Posted by WarlordATF

Sometimes you find some cool targets hiding in the ports, Battleships and Carriers are always fun to watch sink.

If I remember right, there was a problem with the original SH4 release where a large warship like a carrier couldn't sink deep enough in a very shallow harbor to trigger the event flag for sinking.

Is that still in the game, either the stock or modded versions? It took some of the fun out of harbor raids, but maybe it's realistic that a warship in shallow water could be recovered and repaired, if you don't manage to hit a magazine and blow it up.

As for the missions.... I like following those, it gives the game some direction. it also keeps me from just returning to the same favorite hunting grounds over and over, which gets stale after a while. With limited fuel and long transits in the early to mid war (before there are lots of friendly bases), I have to hunt near the mission location after satisfying that requirement.

[Dread Knot]

Originally Posted by Frumpkis

It took some of the fun out of harbor raids, but maybe it's realistic that a warship in shallow water could be recovered and repaired, if you don't manage to hit a magazine and blow it up.

Considering that it's the reason why the US lost only two battleships at Pearl harbor instead of six, I'd say it's very realistic.