Where are all the targets?

Zero Niner · 12-11-21, 05:24 AM

Second war patrol on the USS Seadragon, patrolling the Makassar Strait and Sulu Sea. I've been on station for quite some time now and I've hardly encountered enemy merchant shipping. Thus far my tally stands at a measly DE and 2 merchants. And several junks/sampans

Any tips on how to search for targets, before surface radar becomes available?

Oh, and this is on FotRSU btw.

Thanks

1Patriotofmany · 12-11-21, 04:30 PM

That's the one thing I noticed in Fotrs too, scarcity of targets, think that's true to form Average number of merchant ships sunk/war patrol = 0.80 of course that's averaged over the entire war, obviously merchant shipping was almost non existent towardthe end of the war.

Bubblehead1980 · 12-11-21, 05:39 PM

While my time in FOTRS is limited compared to other mods , I found plenty of targets in FOTRS. I would say though, having just moved over to FOTRS as you posted, you are used to stock/GFO.

Traffic in stock and mods that do not modify is highly unrealistic, spawns to create what is basically shooting gallery, no sense of historical accuracy. Most mods correct this to varying degree by reducing the spawn rate, slowing traffic in certain areas, changing flow, and sea routes over time. Makassar Strait was not the busiest of patrol areas outside the initial stages of the war as well. You have three ships down on your patrol, which is pretty decent, especially if you are in earlier phases of the war 1941-1943. This forces player to operate much as a real sub would and hunt.

I would say if not already, patrol the chokepoint at the North end where the strait merges into Celebes Sea. , check coastal areas, if still coming up dry and have achieved your initial orders, send a report in to command and will likely give a new assignment. If do not because your fuel/torpedo status is below the point where will issue new orders, patrol a adjacent area or may be getting to the point to head home. One thing in mods, not every patrol is going to be outstanding, especially 1941-mid 1943

Mad Mardigan · 12-11-21, 07:17 PM

+1

If, as I suspect... that you're early on in your career... targets will be somewhat scarce, depending on where your orders place you at the given time. Other times... you may find, you have to beat them off... with a torpedo...

Bubblehead1980, expressed it best...

M. M.

Zero Niner · 12-12-21, 03:43 AM

Thanks for the advice, it certainly is a change from stock/GFO. Like Bubblehead said, that was a shooting gallery. I was doubting my hunting abilities but I stumbled across an enemy TF in comprising 2 BBs, a few CAs and other ships in the NW part of the Celebes sea headed NNW. Luckily it was headed more or less towards me.
It took something like 7-8 torpedoes but I bagged a Fuso-class BB. Funnily enough, the escorts only did a cursory search for me before joining the rest of the TF, leaving the stationary BB for me to pick off at my leisure.

Mad Mardigan · 12-12-21, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero Niner

Thanks for the advice, it certainly is a change from stock/GFO. Like Bubblehead said, that was a shooting gallery. I was doubting my hunting abilities but I stumbled across an enemy TF in comprising 2 BBs, a few CAs and other ships in the NW part of the Celebes sea headed NNW. Luckily it was headed more or less towards me.
It took something like 7-8 torpedoes but I bagged a Fuso-class BB. Funnily enough, the escorts only did a cursory search for me before joining the rest of the TF, leaving the stationary BB for me to pick off at my leisure.

Don't want what I'm going to say... to be construed as putting down FotRS-U-EN... as I'm not. Happen to enjoy it...

but... with Bubblehead1980's TMOverhauled v2.5X set... it does have the advantage in, having the ability to... (at night time, no less... just as the skippers did, back then...) make surfaced attack runs... & the ability to open up on targets with... the anti-air flak gun aka machine gun.

His mod set, has been reworked with the convoys... to be more... inline & circumspect with the merchant traffic ebb & flow... then, reworking the important touchstones of battles & skirmishes that took place... know that the last I hear, was at work, on revamping the dock positioning there at Manilla, to be more... reflective of where you should pull off from the docks. Which would be Cavite... not Manilla.

(iirc, Bubblehead, from the conversations we've had.

feel free to jump in & correct Me, if I'm wrong on any aspect.

I certainly don't want to misrepresent your work, if I'm off base on any part of what I've said.)

And, that's just the tip of what I can recall, off the top of My head.

M. M.

Zero Niner · 12-12-21, 07:34 AM

No worries, each mod has their respective design philosophy which underpins the choices made. I'm enjoying FOTRSU so far, it's a refreshing change from GFO/stock.

Bubblehead1980 · 12-12-21, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Mardigan

Don't want what I'm going to say... to be construed as putting down FotRS-U-EN... as I'm not. Happen to enjoy it...

but... with Bubblehead1980's TMOverhauled v2.5X set... it does have the advantage in, having the ability to... (at night time, no less... just as the skippers did, back then...) make surfaced attack runs... & the ability to open up on targets with... the anti-air flak gun aka machine gun.

His mod set, has been reworked with the convoys... to be more... inline & circumspect with the merchant traffic ebb & flow... then, reworking the important touchstones of battles & skirmishes that took place... know that the last I hear, was at work, on revamping the dock positioning there at Manilla, to be more... reflective of where you should pull off from the docks. Which would be Cavite... not Manilla.

(iirc, Bubblehead, from the conversations we've had.

feel free to jump in & correct Me, if I'm wrong on any aspect.

I certainly don't want to misrepresent your work, if I'm off base on any part of what I've said.)

And, that's just the tip of what I can recall, off the top of My head.

M. M.

Yes, the traffic was redesigned to be be dynamic as well as having as much of a sense of historical accuracy as possible, balanced with "playability". The battles, major, and even minor were scripted, task force layers were gutted to avoid the random Allied style task forces roaming the oceans, but using historical movements , adding in even minor ship movements such as the Yamato and Musashi moving back and forth between Truk and Japan. Forthcoming version will have further refinements.

Correct, in next versions when in the Asiatic fleet in 1941, now start at Cavite instead of Manila (the large Japanese air strike on Cavite, Dec 10 1941, is present as well)

Mad Mardigan · 12-12-21, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

Yes, the traffic was redesigned to be be dynamic as well as having as much of a sense of historical accuracy as possible, balanced with "playability". The battles, major, and even minor were scripted, task force layers were gutted to avoid the random Allied style task forces roaming the oceans, but using historical movements , adding in even minor ship movements such as the Yamato and Musashi moving back and forth between Truk and Japan. Forthcoming version will have further refinements.

Correct, in next versions when in the Asiatic fleet in 1941, now start at Cavite instead of Manila (the large Japanese air strike on Cavite, Dec 10 1941, is present as well)

Looking forward to it...

M. M.

12-11-21, 05:24 AM	#1
Zero Niner Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,032 Downloads: 69 Uploads: 0	Where are all the targets? Second war patrol on the USS Seadragon, patrolling the Makassar Strait and Sulu Sea. I've been on station for quite some time now and I've hardly encountered enemy merchant shipping. Thus far my tally stands at a measly DE and 2 merchants. And several junks/sampans Any tips on how to search for targets, before surface radar becomes available? Oh, and this is on FotRSU btw. Thanks

12-11-21, 05:39 PM	#3
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 6,922 Downloads: 550 Uploads: 42	While my time in FOTRS is limited compared to other mods , I found plenty of targets in FOTRS. I would say though, having just moved over to FOTRS as you posted, you are used to stock/GFO. Traffic in stock and mods that do not modify is highly unrealistic, spawns to create what is basically shooting gallery, no sense of historical accuracy. Most mods correct this to varying degree by reducing the spawn rate, slowing traffic in certain areas, changing flow, and sea routes over time. Makassar Strait was not the busiest of patrol areas outside the initial stages of the war as well. You have three ships down on your patrol, which is pretty decent, especially if you are in earlier phases of the war 1941-1943. This forces player to operate much as a real sub would and hunt. I would say if not already, patrol the chokepoint at the North end where the strait merges into Celebes Sea. , check coastal areas, if still coming up dry and have achieved your initial orders, send a report in to command and will likely give a new assignment. If do not because your fuel/torpedo status is below the point where will issue new orders, patrol a adjacent area or may be getting to the point to head home. One thing in mods, not every patrol is going to be outstanding, especially 1941-mid 1943 Last edited by Bubblehead1980; 12-11-21 at 08:12 PM.

12-11-21, 07:17 PM	#4
Mad Mardigan Admiral Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Grand Rapids, Mi. Posts: 2,327 Downloads: 491 Uploads: 0	+1 If, as I suspect... that you're early on in your career... targets will be somewhat scarce, depending on where your orders place you at the given time. Other times... you may find, you have to beat them off... with a torpedo... Bubblehead1980, expressed it best... M. M. __________________

12-11-21, 04:30 PM	#2
1Patriotofmany Commander Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 447 Downloads: 95 Uploads: 0	That's the one thing I noticed in Fotrs too, scarcity of targets, think that's true to form Average number of merchant ships sunk/war patrol = 0.80 of course that's averaged over the entire war, obviously merchant shipping was almost non existent towardthe end of the war.

12-12-21, 03:43 AM	#5
Zero Niner Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,032 Downloads: 69 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the advice, it certainly is a change from stock/GFO. Like Bubblehead said, that was a shooting gallery. I was doubting my hunting abilities but I stumbled across an enemy TF in comprising 2 BBs, a few CAs and other ships in the NW part of the Celebes sea headed NNW. Luckily it was headed more or less towards me. It took something like 7-8 torpedoes but I bagged a Fuso-class BB. Funnily enough, the escorts only did a cursory search for me before joining the rest of the TF, leaving the stationary BB for me to pick off at my leisure.

12-12-21, 07:34 AM	#7
Zero Niner Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,032 Downloads: 69 Uploads: 0	No worries, each mod has their respective design philosophy which underpins the choices made. I'm enjoying FOTRSU so far, it's a refreshing change from GFO/stock.