Lifeboats?

Flaxpants · 08-08-11, 02:46 AM

I haven't managed to play more than a few sessions of SH4 yet, but I have sunk 3 japanese merchants to date, and I have yet to see any lifeboats. Are they stock in SH4? (I play SH3 where they're not). When should I expect to see them?

I am using 1.5, RFB 2.0, RSRD.

Fish40 · 08-08-11, 08:00 AM

I'm running the same mod setup as you, and observe the same thing. They do show up once in awhile, but not after every sinking. Most of the time for me, it's just an oil slick, a couple of bodies, and debris.

Dogfish40 · 08-08-11, 08:58 AM

I see the same thing, however, I am seeing a pattern develop where ships that have crewman visible on deck are the ships that get the lifeboats off. Whereas ships with no visible crewmen or ships you sink at night are less likely to have lifeboats.
I'm only seeing lifeboats in about 1/3 of the ships sunk.
D40/On to Formosa...

Daniel Prates · 08-08-11, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogfish40

I see the same thing, however, I am seeing a pattern develop where ships that have crewman visible on deck are the ships that get the lifeboats off. Whereas ships with no visible crewmen or ships you sink at night are less likely to have lifeboats.
I'm only seeing lifeboats in about 1/3 of the ships sunk.
D40/On to Formosa...

That would make sense, if it is an intentional feature. I thing that exploding ships would give little survival chance for crewmen on lower decks.

Dogfish40 · 08-08-11, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Prates

That would make sense, if it is an intentional feature. I thing that exploding ships would give little survival chance for crewmen on lower decks.

Yes, Good point. It's just that type of thing, Violent explosions, the ship sinks quickly, no time to get any big lifeboats off. Maybe, a life-raft. I also am seeing a lot of empty life boats and rafts with no survivors.
Just for the sake of mentioning; I'm collecting more and more instances of ships sunk during the war, sinking very fast. Some of these ships did actually "Blow sky high" in the words of the Skippers. So most of the unfortunates on board would have very little time if they were anywhere but on deck.
Good Hunting.
D40

Armistead · 08-08-11, 10:40 AM

Many of the lifeboats will fill, but when the deck crosses the water line, they're empty. If you watch the crew on deck when a ship sinks, when water covers their bodies, they vanish, somehow it has the same effect on men in the lifeboats, they also vanish when the deck goes under.

Not sure what decides how many lifeboat and living characters make it. I've sunk the same ship type and seen over 50 lifeboat, other times just a few. It may be related to damage and when the ship is considered sunk.
Often you will get the sunk message, but a ships deck will be above water, so you'll get more lifeboats.

08-08-11, 02:46 AM	#1
Flaxpants Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Koh Samui, Thailand Posts: 1,196 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	Lifeboats? I haven't managed to play more than a few sessions of SH4 yet, but I have sunk 3 japanese merchants to date, and I have yet to see any lifeboats. Are they stock in SH4? (I play SH3 where they're not). When should I expect to see them? I am using 1.5, RFB 2.0, RSRD.

08-08-11, 08:58 AM	#3
Dogfish40 Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: LA Area, Central coast, California Posts: 1,023 Downloads: 827 Uploads: 0	I see the same thing, however, I am seeing a pattern develop where ships that have crewman visible on deck are the ships that get the lifeboats off. Whereas ships with no visible crewmen or ships you sink at night are less likely to have lifeboats. I'm only seeing lifeboats in about 1/3 of the ships sunk. D40/On to Formosa... __________________ *Dogfish40*

08-08-11, 08:00 AM	#2
Fish40 The Old Man Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Yonkers, NY U.S.A. Posts: 1,507 Downloads: 154 Uploads: 0	I'm running the same mod setup as you, and observe the same thing. They do show up once in awhile, but not after every sinking. Most of the time for me, it's just an oil slick, a couple of bodies, and debris.

08-08-11, 10:40 AM	#6
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	Many of the lifeboats will fill, but when the deck crosses the water line, they're empty. If you watch the crew on deck when a ship sinks, when water covers their bodies, they vanish, somehow it has the same effect on men in the lifeboats, they also vanish when the deck goes under. Not sure what decides how many lifeboat and living characters make it. I've sunk the same ship type and seen over 50 lifeboat, other times just a few. It may be related to damage and when the ship is considered sunk. Often you will get the sunk message, but a ships deck will be above water, so you'll get more lifeboats.