Time compression question

SilentSnake · 10-15-10, 08:48 AM

i understand. So it seems best to actually play at x128. I think im gonna start doing that now. Is this how you guys play?

frau kaleun · 10-15-10, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilentSnake

i understand. So it seems best to actually play at x128. I think im gonna start doing that now. Is this how you guys play?

That's about my max, yeah.

Earlier in the war I will go higher if I'm close enough to home (i.e., a German harbor) at a time when I'm pretty sure there will not be any enemy units lurking about the area, and I know where the mines are laid in our own waters and stay well away from them so that's not a concern.

But I'm up to 1941 now and sailing out of Lorient in my current career, and I don't think I'd risk anything higher in the Bay of Biscay. Anyway if I'm close enough to any base to be within contact range of all the friendly units there, I keep dropping out of TC anyway so there's not much point in trying to go too much higher.

SilentSnake · 10-15-10, 09:16 AM

Its aug 1940 in my game and im sailing from lorient although my base has only just been changed because of the recent fall of france. Ive got CG85 and every time i start going down a convoy appears and i have to end up going back up to intercept it burning valuable fuel. I guess best tactic is to just sit their and wait for the convoys to appear. Just another question on compression though. Im using the GWX mod and whenever a big convoy is close to my sub the compression slows drastically. Does that happen to you guys?

frau kaleun · 10-15-10, 09:33 AM

Unless you've edited the default settings for how TC works, whenever you spot a convoy (or any other vessel) it should automatically drop out of a higher TC and back to real time or at least a much lower TC.

So, yeah, if you are running at 128 (or higher TC) and a convoy comes within range, you should drop back to a lower TC. That's not to be confused with the "lag" that sometimes happens when a lot of activity is going on and there are many units being rendered in a small area, like a convoy appearing in range or when you're in a crowded harbor area going to and from base. Things can get a little laggy or choppy then, it sometimes happens to me especially when I attack a convoy and all hell breaks loose.

My first time sailing into Lorient the lag got so bad that the screen completely froze up several times - no CTD and I was able to dock OK but I was really nervous. I start patrols from sea now, the French bases may be a little more than my system can handle without killing the framerate.

Jimbuna · 10-15-10, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilentSnake

Its aug 1940 in my game and im sailing from lorient although my base has only just been changed because of the recent fall of france. Ive got CG85 and every time i start going down a convoy appears and i have to end up going back up to intercept it burning valuable fuel. I guess best tactic is to just sit their and wait for the convoys to appear. Just another question on compression though. Im using the GWX mod and whenever a big convoy is close to my sub the compression slows drastically. Does that happen to you guys?

Tis quite normal unless you have a high spec machine/system.

CherryHarbey · 10-15-10, 11:19 AM

Yes, I seem to be constantly fighting the temptation to change my behaviour when the frame rate drops.
Realism tells me that my dip for a hydrophone listen isn't due for an hour, the bad voices try to tell me to dip now and find a big convoy.
Have to keep telling myself that I would only be cheating myself.

desirableroasted · 10-15-10, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilentSnake

Its aug 1940 in my game and im sailing from lorient although my base has only just been changed because of the recent fall of france. Ive got CG85 and every time i start going down a convoy appears and i have to end up going back up to intercept it burning valuable fuel. I guess best tactic is to just sit their and wait for the convoys to appear. Just another question on compression though. Im using the GWX mod and whenever a big convoy is close to my sub the compression slows drastically. Does that happen to you guys?

In GWX, fuel is almost a throwaway thing. In the VII classes, you have 32K+ of range at 8 knts, enough for more than 150 days at sea. If you stick to 8knts for everything but intercepts, and work out your convoy intercept plots accurately, fuel is the last thing you will run out of.

If you are using SH3 Commander, you have different TC settings, depending on what's happening around you. You may want to adjust those.

However, remember the math... at 128TC, you are pretty much giving the AI a 20 minute head start. That's one reason new players complain about their watch officers -- the watch officer sees a ship at 9000, but by the time you get to the bridge, the target may be already abeam at 3000.

I must admit, though, that I freely go around at 256TC (though at 8 knots) quite often in the early war, especially on the homeward bound, which I route outside (most) air cover. By late '40, though, 128 is my limit.

JokerOfFate · 10-15-10, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desirableroasted

I must admit, though, that I freely go around at 256TC (though at 8 knots) quite often in the early war, especially on the homeward bound, which I route outside (most) air cover. By late '40, though, 128 is my limit.

I do the same, but I've always got my finger on the Crash dive hotkey.

I got caught off-guard a while back, I left the game on by mistake

next thing I know a Task force appears and opens fire on me luckily I had the sound on.

I fire a salvo off and crash dive, they all hit but 2 were duds and the third one missed every ship in the task force and hit a fishing boat about 10km away

, sucked to be that guy.

But the lag was horrible even the sound was sticking

Herr-Berbunch · 10-15-10, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JokerOfFate

I do the same, but I've always got my finger on the Crash dive hotkey.

I got caught off-guard a while back, I left the game on by mistake

next thing I know a Task force appears and opens fire on me luckily I had the sound on.

I fire a salvo off and crash dive, they all hit but 2 were duds and the third one missed every ship in the task force and hit a fishing boat about 10km away

, sucked to be that guy

Crash dive using TC - it'll catch you out one day!

K-61 · 10-15-10, 02:36 PM

To clarify: At or below 128 is the way to go in order to miss contacts and air cover? I've been using 256 in enemy areas and getting lots of contacts. If 128 is the gospel, then I will switch down, but not until I have a definitive yea or nay from on high [Jimbuna level].

Philipp_Thomsen · 10-18-10, 09:02 PM

So Im the only one to cross the Atlantic at 8192x tc?

Gargamel · 10-21-10, 02:07 AM

I fully understand the Human vs AI reaction time issue... but....

Don't you guys get really bored sailing to the Caribbean or other far off places at 8kts at 128x? I mean i go bonkers a 20kts at 1024 waiting to cross vast expanses of mindless ocean. And yes I have unlimited fuel turned on. I'd rather play a more real game, but I get bored too quick.

EDIT: Missed some of the thread, and I was really interested in Frau K's answer, and I got it. Still interested in others answers.

EDIT2: Was having issues with SC3H setting the times, sneaky sneaky way to force ya to read the pdf! Which i have no problem doing! (Side note: I think the GWX PDF is almost more awesome than the mod itself. Insane work people!

). So being able to crank it to 8kx, i'm goign to try more limited fuel patrols.

Marko · 10-15-10, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilentSnake

Its aug 1940 in my game and im sailing from lorient although my base has only just been changed because of the recent fall of france. Ive got CG85 and every time i start going down a convoy appears and i have to end up going back up to intercept it burning valuable fuel. I guess best tactic is to just sit their and wait for the convoys to appear. Just another question on compression though. Im using the GWX mod and whenever a big convoy is close to my sub the compression slows drastically. Does that happen to you guys?

It happens constantly that my frame rate drops for some seconds when something is near me. Most of convoys that i find are not from the bdu messages but from my frame rate "sensor" (the most reliable piece of equipment installed on my boat). As soon as it drop it is time to dive and somethng is out there very far , it could be a ship a convoy a plane, dolphins or shrimps but something is out there and the hunt starts.

Sailor Steve · 10-15-10, 11:57 PM

I intentionally ignore those, just because I don't like to "game the game".

Marko · 10-16-10, 06:45 AM

yeah i know, but it happens so frequently that is hard to ignore them.

10-15-10, 02:36 PM	#10
K-61 Grey Wolf Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 795 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 0	To clarify: At or below 128 is the way to go in order to miss contacts and air cover? I've been using 256 in enemy areas and getting lots of contacts. If 128 is the gospel, then I will switch down, but not until I have a definitive yea or nay from on high [Jimbuna level]. __________________

10-18-10, 09:02 PM	#11
Philipp_Thomsen Old Gang Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Drunk at the whorehouse Posts: 2,278 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	So Im the only one to cross the Atlantic at 8192x tc? __________________ To each his own

10-21-10, 02:07 AM	#12
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	I fully understand the Human vs AI reaction time issue... but.... Don't you guys get really bored sailing to the Caribbean or other far off places at 8kts at 128x? I mean i go bonkers a 20kts at 1024 waiting to cross vast expanses of mindless ocean. And yes I have unlimited fuel turned on. I'd rather play a more real game, but I get bored too quick. EDIT: Missed some of the thread, and I was really interested in Frau K's answer, and I got it. Still interested in others answers. EDIT2: Was having issues with SC3H setting the times, sneaky sneaky way to force ya to read the pdf! Which i have no problem doing! (Side note: I think the GWX PDF is almost more awesome than the mod itself. Insane work people! ). So being able to crank it to 8kx, i'm goign to try more limited fuel patrols. __________________ Luck is a residue of Design. Last edited by Gargamel; 10-21-10 at 02:18 AM.

10-15-10, 11:57 PM	#14
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I intentionally ignore those, just because I don't like to "game the game". __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

10-15-10, 08:48 AM	#1
SilentSnake Seaman Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 38 Downloads: 86 Uploads: 0	i understand. So it seems best to actually play at x128. I think im gonna start doing that now. Is this how you guys play?

10-15-10, 09:16 AM	#3
SilentSnake Seaman Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 38 Downloads: 86 Uploads: 0	Its aug 1940 in my game and im sailing from lorient although my base has only just been changed because of the recent fall of france. Ive got CG85 and every time i start going down a convoy appears and i have to end up going back up to intercept it burning valuable fuel. I guess best tactic is to just sit their and wait for the convoys to appear. Just another question on compression though. Im using the GWX mod and whenever a big convoy is close to my sub the compression slows drastically. Does that happen to you guys?

10-15-10, 09:33 AM	#4
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	Unless you've edited the default settings for how TC works, whenever you spot a convoy (or any other vessel) it should automatically drop out of a higher TC and back to real time or at least a much lower TC. So, yeah, if you are running at 128 (or higher TC) and a convoy comes within range, you should drop back to a lower TC. That's not to be confused with the "lag" that sometimes happens when a lot of activity is going on and there are many units being rendered in a small area, like a convoy appearing in range or when you're in a crowded harbor area going to and from base. Things can get a little laggy or choppy then, it sometimes happens to me especially when I attack a convoy and all hell breaks loose. My first time sailing into Lorient the lag got so bad that the screen completely froze up several times - no CTD and I was able to dock OK but I was really nervous. I start patrols from sea now, the French bases may be a little more than my system can handle without killing the framerate.

10-15-10, 11:19 AM	#6
CherryHarbey Engineer Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 200 Downloads: 86 Uploads: 0	Yes, I seem to be constantly fighting the temptation to change my behaviour when the frame rate drops. Realism tells me that my dip for a hydrophone listen isn't due for an hour, the bad voices try to tell me to dip now and find a big convoy. Have to keep telling myself that I would only be cheating myself.

10-16-10, 06:45 AM	#15
Marko A-ganger Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Back at Sea Posts: 75 Downloads: 87 Uploads: 0	yeah i know, but it happens so frequently that is hard to ignore them.