Detection Distance

[AaronJS]

Hi guys, is anyone aware of the distance at which merchant ships or destroyers detect you if you are on the surface as I've been struggling to make an estimate? Or does anyone have a good estimate based on what they noticed in game?

[derstosstrupp]

Originally Posted by AaronJS

Hi guys, is anyone aware of the distance at which merchant ships or destroyers detect you if you are on the surface as I've been struggling to make an estimate? Or does anyone have a good estimate based on what they noticed in game?

Way too far at night, that I can say. Last couple nights we were sighted and driven off at over 3500 meters on what appeared to be a moonless night. Really hoping this is fixed. Until then no Kretschmer style convoy action.

[Elphaba]

I don't think the German's asked the Allies how far away the could be before they got spotted.

I don't think we should be thinking too hard about this, nor should be try and disseminate any 'findings' or ask others to provide data on the range.

Part of the *fun* of approaching the targets is not knowing, and the risk of how far to push it.

Otherwise, we might as well just dumb it right down with a visibility / detection meter.

/smh

[derstosstrupp]

Originally Posted by Elphaba

I don't think the German's asked the Allies how far away the could be before they got spotted.

I don't think we should be thinking too hard about this, nor should be try and disseminate any 'findings' or ask others to provide data on the range.

Part of the *fun* of approaching the targets is not knowing, and the risk of how far to push it.

Otherwise, we might as well just dumb it right down with a visibility / detection meter.

/smh

GWX and NYGM For SH3 both had more realistic visual range at night but still maintained a veil of uncertainty due to several nuances. Those games with those mods never got easy to the extent you could “game the game”.. The Germans were well aware how visible their own subs were to surface ships and trained simulated approaches ad nauseum in the Baltic.

I see your point and agree to the extent that some level of randomness needs to be introduced (not sure now how cut and dry the visual spotting distance is), but without the ability to know you could at least get somewhat close for an effective dark night surface attack, we can’t perform the tactic that was the bread and butter of the U-boat arm.

[Elphaba]

That sounds great, but we shouldn't ever get to the point where it's predictable.

I think most experienced alpha testers already recognise the AI needs to be ramped up as the convoys and the destroyers are quite easy to deal with, and I have hope that the devs will address these in time.

I just don't want anything to put the tension and (good) anxiety at risk because some people want to feel invincible in every game they play.

[derstosstrupp]

Originally Posted by Elphaba

That sounds great, but we shouldn't ever get to the point where it's predictable.

I think most experienced alpha testers already recognise the AI needs to be ramped up as the convoys and the destroyers are quite easy to deal with, and I have hope that the devs will address these in time.

I just don't want anything to put the tension and (good) anxiety at risk because some people want to feel invincible in every game they play.

I agree with that. The trade off for closer detection range is certainly a ramped up AI, certainly inherent to the SH3 supermods. The more I play the more I realize the virtual Royal Navy we are up against in WP isn’t exactly sending their best. We’ll get there I’m sure!

[AaronJS]

Originally Posted by Elphaba

That sounds great, but we shouldn't ever get to the point where it's predictable.

I think most experienced alpha testers already recognise the AI needs to be ramped up as the convoys and the destroyers are quite easy to deal with, and I have hope that the devs will address these in time.

I just don't want anything to put the tension and (good) anxiety at risk because some people want to feel invincible in every game they play.

I hardly think asking the rough detection distance is the same as wanting to be invincible because as derstosstrupp mentioned, a real uboat captain would be well aware of what his uboat's profile would be in the water and in turn how easy it would be to see from a distance, I however have only been playing in private lobbys so far and as such have not yet seen any friendly uboats in the water.