Question on sub capabilities in DW

bishop · Joined: 21 Sep 2001 Posts: 262

I haven't played SC for a while, but I am excited about DW. I like some of the new features, the quick mission generator for example. I still play RSR on occasion just for those random encounters when I just want a quick game, the QM feature looks like it will fill the bill nicely.

I do have a question that maybe Jamie (when he has a moment) or someone else here can comment on. I'd have to search the forum messages to find it but I do remember a comment made a while back concerning the play balance (mostly for multiplayer) of SC. For example, all that has been written about the Seawolf suggests it to be superior to the 688I and Akula, and far quieter. But in SC, Sonalysts may have toned down the Seawolf in order to keep a player from having an unfair advantage in a MP game. After playing SC since the day it was released, and even with the excellent SCX mod, I always did get the impression of some sense of 'sameness' in the abilities of the 3 subs. A Seawolf for the most part wasn't much harder to detect than a 688i or Akula, despite the reported advances in design to make it much quieter. And the WAA offered only a minor advantage over the other platforms, is this accurate?

So my question is, will this 'balancing' of abilities be modeled in DW as well, or will the subs be closer to their actual or at least published capabilities. Speaking for myself, I don't play much multiplayer so play balancing isn't a concern for me, but I would like to be able to really notice the difference in the different platforms and have to adjust my tactics as such. There are times I would like to have the advantages of commanding a Seawolf, knowing I'll have superior sonar and be very hard to locate. You know, the baddest MF on the block kind of thing.

Anyway, just a couple questions from a longtime fan of these games. Again, looking forward to DW, looks like it's going to be a blast to play. Thanks for continuing to make them.

Scion · Joined: 31 May 2001 Posts: 1552 Location: New Zealand

First off, the Seawolf is NOT the quietest sub in the world. It is nuclear, making it automatically out of contention. Its a race out of the diesels, the Seawolf doesnt make it to the starting line.

Also, the Seawolf has significant advantage over the other subs. Compare these pictures of narrowband. All these subs are stopped, at the same depth, and approximate range. The Seawolf is the clear winner...

The 2nd Frequency line in the Seawolf is undetectable here, whereas the 688 and Akulas lines are clearly visible. I cant pick it between the Akula and 688, but the Seawolf is definatly the quieter.

Seawolf -

688(i) -

Akuka -

bishop · Joined: 21 Sep 2001 Posts: 262

OptimusX · Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 115

IMO, the differences in the platform capabilities are readily apparrent in multiplayer. The AI will never be able to outplay a human opponnent in a game this complex.

In single player, you are usually the most superior unit in the game...since the AI can only follow preprogrammed routines. In that sense, the differences in the platforms don't really show themselves very well.