[REL] Knights of the Sea Depths II: Ace Edition

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by propbeanie

Kapitän, from over in the Dark Waters thread, you posted:


I just set-up a KSDII Aces on my machine, and have taken it for a couple of spins, but nothing too "deep" yet (sorry for the pun). I have not encountered any large convoys yet, but thus far, everything seems to be functioning, though I am not starting from France just yet. If I manage to find a large convoy, I'll let you know what happens on my machine.

You made the statement "... the game will not load certain large convoys and crash, and as said, after being submerged for about 1h of D/C attacks..." Had you taken any damage in those depth charge attacks? Is there a "shake" mod in KSDII Aces? In other words, when a DC detonates nearby, the boat's camera "shakes"? Is there a "clang" sound mod when a DC hits your boat and hasn't detonated?

Damage to boat: Seems to vary, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't ... I somehow think, it has to do with for how long one is under D/C attack and not so much, whether the boat is damaged or not ... but that's my mere assumption ...

Shake-Mods: Yes, the boat does shake, if the D/Cs explode nearby ... not sure what kind of Mods do this though ...

Clang-Sound: That I have not yet experienced or perhaps it did happen, but I simply haven't noticed it.

[propbeanie]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

Damage to boat: Seems to vary, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't ... I somehow think, it has to do with for how long one is under D/C attack and not so much, whether the boat is damaged or not ... but that's my mere assumption ...

Shake-Mods: Yes, the boat does shake, if the D/Cs explode nearby ... not sure what kind of Mods do this though ...

Clang-Sound: That I have not yet experienced or perhaps it did happen, but I simply haven't noticed it.

OK, thanks. Depending upon what the "shake" is based upon, some of those mods caused trouble years ago. There really isn't an easy way to pin-down what causes the issues, but I'll be sure and get attacked and see what happens.

When your game CTDs with the large convoys, does that occur when you get several sonar contacts? or generally only when the convoy gets within visual range? or somewhere in between? Do you notice if there are airplanes nearby when you CTD?

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by propbeanie

OK, thanks. Depending upon what the "shake" is based upon, some of those mods caused trouble years ago. There really isn't an easy way to pin-down what causes the issues, but I'll be sure and get attacked and see what happens.

When your game CTDs with the large convoys, does that occur when you get several sonar contacts? or generally only when the convoy gets within visual range? or somewhere in between? Do you notice if there are airplanes nearby when you CTD?

Okay, let's see on the D/C topic.

The Large convoy CTD actually happens when I approach the convoy and I am about 25km away, at which point I notice that the game stops, I guess in order to load the convoy. Depending on the size of the convoy (that's my guess) it either continues or crashes .

The same thing happens when I come across a task force of about 5-6 ships: The game stops for a second or two and than continues.

I know this behaviour also from Sh3. It always let's me know, that there must be a convoy close by,.even without me be able to see it, yet.

Regarding A/C, same thing: Sometimes, yes, sometimes no.

[propbeanie]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

Okay, let's see on the D/C topic.

The Large convoy CTD actually happens when I approach the convoy and I am about 25km away, at which point I notice that the game stops, I guess in order to load the convoy. Depending on the size of the convoy (that's my guess) it either continues or crashes .
That would near the 3D render range...

The same thing happens when I come across a task force of about 5-6 ships: The game stops for a second or two and than continues.
One common denominator between Task Forces and Convoys is, of course, destroyers...

I know this behaviour also from Sh3. It always let's me know, that there must be a convoy close by,.even without me be able to see it, yet.

Regarding A/C, same thing: Sometimes, yes, sometimes no.
The more aircraft, I am guessing, the worse it is?

I have gathered all of the included mods' data and run some checks on my set-up, and while there are some issues, I do not see anything obviously incorrect in what Niume has done. It might either come down to the details, or maybe when you CTD sometimes, there might be a 2nd or 3rd group not too far away, but close enough to influence the game's bandwidth capabilities. Also, the "stutter" when encountering groups is a "feature" (NOT!!) of the SH series... the game apparently takes too long to "draw" each 3D asset, and their rendering "overlaps", resulting in the game impacting Windows and the game's TC, which is evidenced by that "stutter" you see, which does indeed warn the player of a nearby grouping. Why airplanes take so much more bandwidth, I don't know, but they do. If you look at airplanes, they're basically ships that fly, while the player subs are similarly ships, that can (usually) control their sinking and surfacing. There is only the one player sub, but the airplanes have been known to swarm... lol

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by propbeanie

I have gathered all of the included mods' data and run some checks on my set-up, and while there are some issues, I do not see anything obviously incorrect in what Niume has done. It might either come down to the details, or maybe when you CTD sometimes, there might be a 2nd or 3rd group not too far away, but close enough to influence the game's bandwidth capabilities. Also, the "stutter" when encountering groups is a "feature" (NOT!!) of the SH series... the game apparently takes too long to "draw" each 3D asset, and their rendering "overlaps", resulting in the game impacting Windows and the game's TC, which is evidenced by that "stutter" you see, which does indeed warn the player of a nearby grouping. Why airplanes take so much more bandwidth, I don't know, but they do. If you look at airplanes, they're basically ships that fly, while the player subs are similarly ships, that can (usually) control their sinking and surfacing. There is only the one player sub, but the airplanes have been known to swarm... lol

I'm not completley sure about the A/C, i.e., I haven't paid attention if or how many A/C there have been around the convoy.

In one case, there was indeed another convoy in the area and I assume that's why it took 4 attempts to finally load it.

Another convoy - was not indicated as a Large Convo - just wouldn't load, no matter what I tried. This one however, was close to the Brazilian coast.

About destroyers: Do I understand correctly, that the more destroyers, the more strain it puts on the game? If yes, that would increase as the war goes on, yes?

[propbeanie]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

... About destroyers: Do I understand correctly, that the more destroyers, the more strain it puts on the game? If yes, that would increase as the war goes on, yes?

No. I was just saying that if a ship was going to cause trouble, the DD would be the first subjects to look into, since you have issue with both convoys and task forces, and DD are found in both groupings. I'm not saying that any are bad, only that they accompany both groupings. I apparently have not found a large enough grouping yet myself.

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by propbeanie

No. I was just saying that if a ship was going to cause trouble, the DD would be the first subjects to look into, since you have issue with both convoys and task forces, and DD are found in both groupings. I'm not saying that any are bad, only that they accompany both groupings. I apparently have not found a large enough grouping yet myself.

So, just came across a convoy: 14 May 43, Qu.1229DH (between Azores and Madeira), course 31°, speed 6kn, about 30 ships and about 8 escorts - so, nice size - but kind of scattered due to the high winds and sea.

As usual, about 25km from the convoy, the game froze or "stuttered" for a few seconds to load the convoy - seemed pretty long, and I almost thought the game would crash - but then it continued and seems to be okay for now.

Keep you posted ...