New and curious

[Werewolf]

:hmm: Hello all, I'm new in here since I've always stock to SHIII. I've always wanted a more modern sim and preferebly of surface ship warfare instead of submarines all the time and then I noticed that DW has a frigate modeled.

What is DW all about anyway? Can one chose to play a campaign commanding a frigate for example? or are you forced to jump from surface units to subs and planes during a campaign progress which I think is totally unrealistic. Is it possible to play from another side than US?

Could anyone give a little info from people who actually have tried this sim. instead of the reviews you get at the game sites?

[xptical]

I'm fairly new myself.

At its core, DW is an anti-submarine sim. As such, it mainly revolves around submarines and the platforms that hunt them.

At the beginning of a mission, you can pick ONE platform you wan to control. For instance, you can play as a P-3 Orion and drop sonarbuoys all over looking for a sub. Or, you can play as a frigate. You can't switch platforms during a mission. But you can play the same mission from many different sides.

[phil21]

In the stock DW campaign you can chose between certain types of platforms depending on the mission, though subs are most common. The FFG is afaik only available in a few missions.
During the campaign you can also chose different sides of the growing conflict (e.g. 'pro west', 'pro russia', neutral ) and each platform has a different task in the mission (the other available will be AI controlled).

The Problem with playing DW as a surface ship simulation is that its made around ASW. So the FFG (besides its the most complex platform to learn for beginners, subs/helos are a lot easier) is mainly an ASW-escort, not made for large surface battles (limited AntiAir / AntiSurface capabilty with only a few SM-2 and max. 4 harpoons). But nevertheless its fun to play.

Gameplay in DW is generally that of a simulator: You start with manning one platform. You can either command it letting the autocrew doing all the stuff or you can take control of every station like Radar/ESM, Sonar, Firecontroll etc.
The main focus is not on commanding the platform but on using all the sensors/controlls to get situational awareness and react acording to it. Its rather hard for me to describe it, just try it (theres a Demo).

Phil

[Werewolf]

:hmm: Okay....thanks both of you for the detailed answers

It sounds very interesting, only I hate the bit of having to switch vessels during a campaign....

Actually I've already purchased a download of the game and it's retrieving it even as I write...........are there any alternative campaigns out there for this game?

[Molon Labe]

Originally Posted by Werewolf

:hmm: Hello all, I'm new in here since I've always stock to SHIII. I've always wanted a more modern sim and preferebly of surface ship warfare instead of submarines all the time and then I noticed that DW has a frigate modeled.

What is DW all about anyway? Can one chose to play a campaign commanding a frigate for example? or are you forced to jump from surface units to subs and planes during a campaign progress which I think is totally unrealistic. Is it possible to play from another side than US?

Could anyone give a little info from people who actually have tried this sim. instead of the reviews you get at the game sites?

DW is mainly about ASW. It's a sequel to 688I Hunter-Killer and Sub Command, the difference being that now, ASW units are modeled in addition to submarines. It's been described as the "anti Sub Command." So in a nutshell, DW simulates submarine warfare in detail from both sides of the battle. Warfare above the surface is modeled also, but not in the same level of detail.

Campaigns in DW are not roleplaying campaigns as they are in the SH series. They are simply a related series of missions strung together, where (optionally) events in one mission can influence a later mission. The campaign designer can make any playable platform available to be selected for any of the missions in the campaign. The campaign designer could also choose to make only one platform playable throughout and may politely ask the player to adjust his/her loadout according to previous exenditures.

Russian and Chinese subs are available as playables. However, all of the ASW units are US. If DW sales ever pick up, we might have an "OPFOR" expansion pack to look forward to, but sales so far have been dissapointing so "signs point to NO."

[Molon Labe]

Originally Posted by Werewolf

:hmm: Okay....thanks both of you for the detailed answers

It sounds very interesting, only I hate the bit of having to switch vessels during a campaign....

Actually I've already purchased a download of the game and it's retrieving it even as I write...........are there any alternative campaigns out there for this game?

I think you'd enjoy Bill's Red Storm Rising campaign, as there is quite a bit of FFG action in it. Check out subguru.com, that is "the place" to go to for aftermarket SC and DW scenarios/campaigns.

[Blacklight]

All I can say is.. Dangerous Waters is one of my all time favorite games (er..sims) ever !

[Werewolf]

@ Molon Labe / Blacklight

Okay thanks very much both of you for your replies and especially for the subguru link Molon

[SeaQueen]

Originally Posted by xptical

At its core, DW is an anti-submarine sim. As such, it mainly revolves around submarines and the platforms that hunt them.

In fairness, though, this isn't to say that DW can't be a fun game for playing surface warfare scenarios. You can battle suicide boats and cruise missiles from a very different perspective in DW than in Harpoon, for example, where the emphasis is on fleet tactics.

Originally Posted by SeaQueen

In fairness, though, this isn't to say that DW can't be a fun game for playing surface warfare scenarios. You can battle suicide boats and cruise missiles from a very different perspective in DW than in Harpoon, for example, where the emphasis is on fleet tactics.

As a matter of fact, it would be nice to see someone make a scenario where a bunch of Iranian suicide boats attacked a US carrier battle group. I think that's how that one US admiral playing as the Iranians sank most of the US battle group in some wargames a few years back.

[Molon Labe]

Originally Posted by SeaQueen

In fairness, though, this isn't to say that DW can't be a fun game for playing surface warfare scenarios. You can battle suicide boats and cruise missiles from a very different perspective in DW than in Harpoon, for example, where the emphasis is on fleet tactics.

Yes, from the perspective of using a weapon system that is not installed on the RL platform you are using it from.