SHII and destroyer AI

[Hinrich Schwab]

Originally Posted by aanker

Redwine made, "historical_depth_charges_letal_radius_mod_v1.0.zi p" for the DC's and it looks from the readme that he did a lot of research.

There is even a Hard mode and a Real which is easier.

If you want dumb DD's the save game bug may be your answer, I know from Pacific Aces if you restart a saved game the DD's aren't as aggressive and I'm almost positive this is a SH II hard coded glitch or the PA team would have fixed it.

Hope that helps.

Happy Hunting - even if you're sinking Allied shipping...

Art

I don't want them dumb, just subject to simulated human error within historical contexts of the specific portion of the war. If I wanted dumb, I would pop in SH5 and remove IRAI. Of course, I am talking about a 12-year old game that doesn't see much action anymore, too.

I will look into the depth charge mod, but I wasn't attacked, just spotted. I went deep and got skinny before the DD did anything. I lost him once I got to 210m and below the thermocline. He started snaking about while I went windward of him and the convoy.

My issue is that I do not expect Early War DDs* to be as savvy (and as rabid) as Late War DDs with all of the sensory twinkies to make them better. I am dealing with V&Ws and Clemsons, not Oliver Hazard Perry frigates. Likewise, I expected the XXI to be stealthier than it is in this game. I may just be expecting too much from an old game with old code. The newer games probably spoiled me.

As far as the "save game bug", I think this issue is from the engine being incapable of saving sensor contacts. It resets each time the engine is initialized. It apparently applies to AI units, too.


*The only exception to this is an Admiralty V&W Class with "D27" on the hull.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Schwartzritter

I don't want them dumb, just subject to simulated human error within historical contexts of the specific portion of the war. If I wanted dumb, I would pop in SH5 and remove IRAI. Of course, I am talking about a 12-year old game that doesn't see much action anymore, too.

I know this doesn't help, but I just had to say it: The most realistic (or at least believable) experience I ever had was with Aces Of The Deep. There were mostly average destroyers, but every now and then I'd get one that was like a bloodhound, always sniffing me out and nearly impossible to lose. And then one time I had one charge my position, so I went deep and started praying. To my surprise and delight he rolled right over me at flank speed and then slowed down and started searching about a mile beyond my position. He stayed there until my first torpedo hit a merchant and then he went racing back to the convoy only to start looking somewhere else. It gave the impression that he wasn't dumb but actually picked up a false sonar contact and followed it.

I've never had any sim since do something even remotely like it. SH3 has come close a couple of times, with escorts dropping charges in the distance.

[Hinrich Schwab]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I know this doesn't help, but I just had to say it: The most realistic (or at least believable) experience I ever had was with Aces Of The Deep. There were mostly average destroyers, but every now and then I'd get one that was like a bloodhound, always sniffing me out and nearly impossible to lose. And then one time I had one charge my position, so I went deep and started praying. To my surprise and delight he rolled right over me at flank speed and then slowed down and started searching about a mile beyond my position. He stayed there until my first torpedo hit a merchant and then he went racing back to the convoy only to start looking somewhere else. It gave the impression that he wasn't dumb but actually picked up a false sonar contact and followed it.

I've never had any sim since do something even remotely like it. SH3 has come close a couple of times, with escorts dropping charges in the distance.

I have AOTD and for an 18-year-old game it has my attention, but I can't get my slowdown programs to work well enough to slow my PC to run it right.

The "bloodhound" destroyer is what this guy was. He busted me out like no one's business. 3500m, I am at all stop with silent running and I hear him ping. I wait until he is half that before I see the course and speed change to tell me he found me. I make all the noise in the world running from him and he makes the mistake of turning leeward (in relation to the convoy) to start his search. I turn windward, follow the drill and he loses me outright. I didn't hear a single charge drop. I liked the AI in III, but its timing became a bit too predictable. I just installed GWX and am running a new career and I expect all sorts of "fun" from the escorts.

EDIT: I have played a few missions in II both vanilla and with PM. I see that the destroyers are still a bit too good, but fall for a simple tactic that I prefer to avoid using. They all act like "Bungo Pete" to a fatal flaw....and go down the same way.