AAR: 30 days using Dick Okane method

[msb80sc]

I got my hands on WernerSobe's and Rockin Robbins Dick Okane videos about a month ago. At first I was missing 50-75% of my shots and those that did hit were hitting way late. I was using 3 minutes to time speed, it seems 3:15 is about dead-on with my game. After many patrols ended early due to lack of torps, I believe I'm ready to start making it harder. My next step is trying long range shots, 3000 yards will be my new range and see how it goes from there. Not using the periscope and possibly no map updates will also be tried as I progress.

Ignoring the high miss rate while learning, this is how I see it effecting my game play. It definitely has slowed things down. Determine course and speed, then getting in position. Make an ID on the target to decide how many torps and a depth setting. Never had much use for the rec manual before now. No more "Can I sink them all?" if there are mutable contacts. I pick 1 and hope I get it on the first try. Quite a few times I have had the target change course after getting setup and settled in, just waiting for them to cross my bow.

My tonnage is down of course, but still way above historical. Think I have read a few mention even using the hardest mod RFB? with the hardest setting tonnage is too high once you become proficient. This patrol is nearing the 30 day mark and I'm at 50k tons. I have passed up many targets. Going for the juicer ones and trying to not run out of torps so soon. Seem to run into a unusually high number this patrol. I have only rearmed once since I've had the game. Out of torps, the crew gets leave.

My last sinking was in heavy rain, heavy fog and 15 meters per second winds. Only visual I had was the smoke from the stack. Two torps fired and two hits recorded.
Time for new orders. Crank it up a notch or 2.

[Linavitch]

Originally Posted by msb80sc

I was using 3 minutes to time speed, it seems 3:15 is about dead-on with my game.

3 Mins for Imperial, 3:15 for Metric.

[Seminole]

You want to hear something very, very strange....???....

Once I got 1.5 Gold I started hititng 100% with manual targeting,but I started missing shots with Dick O'Kane now..I can't figure that out..

Talk about role reversal...


Only yesterday I fired 6 O'Kane setup torps at two fat merchantmen in a huge convoy.. They all missed the two intended targets in the second file, and plowed into a third small ,unintended one over in the third file. I almost hit the overhead... but wasn't much left of him to sink...

The reason I don't go 100% manual..sometimes it is just too dark to identify the target properly then gather the data until it is too late to get off a shot...The Dick O'Kane has served well in these instances...

[Arclight]

Originally Posted by Seminole

..sometimes it is just too dark to identify the target properly then gather the data until it is too late to get off a shot...The Dick O'Kane has served well in these instances...

Agreed, or in heavy seas and / or heavy rain. Although sonar, active for ranging / passive for bearing, is a good replacement for visual ranging and bearing data gathering.

BTW there's this "trick"; lock your target and click on the stadimeter. The screen will brighten enough to make an ID at night. No good in storms though.

About no map updates; are you aiming for higher difficulty or realism? IMHO, no updates isn't realistic, since a crewmember could plot a target on a map with the data that is provided. I'm all for a good challenge, but no updates only causes frustration for me. I find myself yelling "HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THIS?!?!?!" at my monitor, so know what you're getting yourself into.