Klm - Sub Mission #4 (falklands)

Well done .

( Now you just have to get past the other Campaign missions #4 )

OK. I have to post this, or my head's gonna explode.

This mission is not a "challenge" or "difficult" or even "stimulating".

This mission sucks. It simply sucks. I have played this game completely through for all factions (sub only) and am now playing through a second time, so I'm not a newbie and I'm not a bad sub commander. The first time I played, this mission took an eternity. I'm now playing it again, and it's taking an eternity. At this point, it's not even fun; it's just something I have to do, like paying taxes or fighting a terminal disease. In my opinion, to say there is a "strategy" for this mission is inaccurate. There is an approach, much like a "Hail Mary Pass" is an approach in American football. "Strategy", in the sense of a game, implies that something will work more often than not. If there is anything one can try in this mission that does not boil down to requiring a miraculous quantity of luck, I haven't found it.

Let's skip the part where we talk about how ludicrous it is to imagine a world in which one submarine would defend a slow convoy against a destroyer group - thatsucks: - instead, I'll just say that I have tried every variable of the suggested "strategies": I have succeeded in sinking both the initial DDs, multiple times; I have then tried running flank towards my convoy (the others enemy ships simply catch up and sink them), I have tried attacking the next enemy approaching (he shrugged off two torpedoes, went back to work, and again, I lost). By now, I have spent more time on this mission than I've spent playing through some entire games - and I've DONE it before.

Much as I am loathe to, I have to chalk this up to poor design. It's reminiscent of the "laser guided destroyers" from Silent Hunter II.

If there was a "cheat" for this mission, I'd use it and I'd do it with a completely clear conscience; not because I'm a cheater, or a poor player, or a bad man, or a bed-wetter, but simply because enough is enough.

I'll play through it, and eventually I'll get lucky, just like I did before, but it certainly has had a negative impact on my enjoyment of what is otherwise a fine gaming experience.

Thanks for letting me vent.

No problem. It's meant to be a desperate situation for the submarine - critical convoy, no one near to help - do your best.

Pausing and sending the merchants to another part of the map is the strategy. Not to the same spot, but to various locations. Stay near surface to draw fire then dive. Make them turn.

It usually takes me about 4 tries to get this one. It is a situation a submarine should never be in, yet there are accounts of similar events in RL.

On that note, we are spreading the ships out a bit, adding some help and giving you more of a chance.

--East

You guys at Tesseraction are truly remarkable. I've been reading other forums here, and even when people are bordering on rude and confrontational, you manage to stay calm, collected, focused and helpful. Thanks for your fine work and your committment to the community.

Here's to you!

You guys at Tesseraction are truly remarkable. I've been reading other forums here, and even when people are bordering on rude and confrontational, you manage to stay calm, collected, focused and helpful. Thanks for your fine work and your committment to the community.
Here's to you!

Here, here!

Additionally, I wish to apologize if I have been rude, obnoxious, etc. at any time to you lads. enigma!:

I'd have to agree that this mission sucks. I'm on my 30th or so attempt and it's not even close to being fun anymore. I've been heeding some of the tips that have been posted and no matter what tactic I employ, I still get the "That's torn it sir" as I fail the mission yet again. My most recent attack a few moments ago was my best still, yet I don't get to enjoy the subsequent levels. The first DD took 3 fish to the fantail and kept on struttin?. I dove quick and pivoted and dropped an aft shot in her midsection to finish her off. By then 3 merchants were chatting with Davy Jones. I continued my spin, by which time my forward tubes were reloaded and 2 more merchants were gone. I finished off the 2nd DD with only three torps this time. I surfaced and ran at flank to the NW area that I had instructed the merchants to wait. At that time there were 5 left. The 3rd DD was only 4kM off and closing fast. I let her knock off my Earl Scheib's paint job until my hull strength was below 1/2. I had closed to within 1km of the freighters and decided that was close enough as the DE's were catching up and had sunk another merchant. I spun/dove and hit the 3rd DE with 2 fish - not enough, lost 2 more merchants - game over. The DE's finished the remaining freighters and circled in for my death. I sank the DD. Escaped a harrowing depth charge attack, dropped a DE. I smacked up the last DE with 2 torps and was out of fish. I surfaced providing a bow aspect to the DE and opened fire with the deck guns. I finished her off with 25% of my hull strength remaining.

I think that being able to finish off this level in this manner demonstrates that I can command a sub, I just haven't been able to play the "luck" card. If a scenario so restricts a player?s ability to adapt to the situation that luck is a primary variable, I'll move onto the next game that isn't such a pain. Sometimes finding a balance between challenging levels and lame enemy AI is difficult. I am enjoying the game immensely otherwise.

Thanks for letting me vent.....these diesel fumes are giving me a headache...

Kill only the first 2 attackers - ignore the rest - command your AI (as much as you are allowed).

Thanks for the reply, but I'm done. I tried three more times tonight and that's it. I'll give the Brit-Jap campaign a whirl.

Later.

Yes Captain Sandbag , those diesel fumes , I know .

One of my favorite misssions this ,, at present , to replay sometines,

You are gonna like the LFN surface mission 4 too , and a few others : )

Try ordering the merchants to spread a little ,, around the clock , from 9 to 12.. and use Pause,, with radar set to max ..You can even change radar in Pause,, to click on an individual ship,,(which makes it easier ) and than change back to maximumrange to set co-ordinates you order it to .

Forget deck guns on this mission ,, Keep it rigged for dive .