[gap]

Originally Posted by Trevally.

Where free nations have the same flag as original nation - this won't help unless there is some other way to id ship nation or adjust the flag

Maybe type of cargo on deck and/or lights (when I get them ready) and other neutral markings on "true neutral" ships, as opposed to absence of lights and presence of camoufflage schemes and armaments on deck, can offer some hint. In any case, wouldn't the rules I listed a few days ago, help discriminating among valid and non-valid targets (i.e. ships of the "free nations" and their "regular" counterparts:

Originally Posted by gap

...in game, "dissident" navies are threated as completely different nations compared to their neutral counterparts (who share the same flag with them). Indeed, this is not apparent to the player, who is left to decide wether a certain ship is a valid target or not from her location and behaviour. Ideally, discriminetaion factors should be:

• A ship sailing under a neutral flag within an Allied convoy should always be an "1" (badly implemented feature according to your report)
• A ship sailing under a neutral flag who is bound for/leaving from an Allied port, should always be an "1".
• A ship sailing under a neutral flag with obscured lights, should always be an "1". Not yet implemented feature though.
• A ship (especially a small vessel) who is sailing under a neutral flag withinn her national waters, is a dubious case but she is probably an actual "0". In absence of other disciminat factors, better leaving her alone.
• A ship sailing under a neutral flag with lit lights, could be an actual "0". But this is not always true: before Pearl Harbor US ships were sailing in full light, nonetheless they were considered valid targets long before the USA declared war to Japan and Germany; as above: feature to be implemented.
• For unescorted/lightly armed vessels, a valid method which also reflects an early war tactic actually used, would be surfacing the boat and drawing ship's attection on our boat. Any hostile action (including abrupt changes of route/speed, zigzagging, aiming/shooting guns against our boat, sending SOS messages, etc.), would unveil any fake "0".
• Historical radio messages should be integrated with BdU messages stating for each nation fom which date they can start being considered valid targets, and under which conditions (see my notes above). Of course the strict observation of those engagement rules should minimize the risk of wrong target identifications by us. This is only partly implemented in game.

Implementing/exploiting those features would add a whole new dimension to the game, putting our expeience of captains to test.

What do you think?