Balance changes to depth charges, Depth Charge Airstrike, and submarines.
Details of changes
Submarines have been fighting on equal terms with ships of other types in Random battles for two months already, and today we'd like to tell you about the changes that will happen to the new ship type in Update 0.11.0. These changes are very important as they affect different areas of interaction with submarines and bring them to balance with other ship types, also considering the changes that happened to submarines in 0.10.10, which we described here: Submarines: 2 weeks of Random Battles testing. We are announcing these changes already since they will appear in the first stage of Public Test for the upcoming update this week. However, we will definitely come back with a detailed review of the current state of submarines and the reasons for the changes made, as well as the details on further plans for testing.
- In spite of their large area of effect, Airstrike's depth charges sometimes failed to deal damage to submarines even with the correct lead, since there was a large distance between depth charges, and their individual areas of damage were small. In order to guarantee dealing damage to submarines when given the correct lead, while at the same time keeping the effectiveness of the armament at the same level, we increased the area of damage and the maximum damage of these aerial depth charges, but the number of charges per plane and the size of the squadron was reduced. Thus, hitting a submarine will become more difficult, but a successful hit will guarantee high damage.
- In order for the Depth Charge Airstrike to affect the behavior of submarines more, even when the drop is not the most accurate, we added a 50% chance of sonar incapacitation by an aerial depth charge.
- Submarines are usually quite close to enemy ships, however, their current HP is too low for effective interaction at such distances. In order to increase the submarines' survivability, we increased their HP pool. Respectively, we increased the damage of depth charges from cruisers and destroyers to keep the interaction with submarines at the same level.
- We increased the duration of the twice-pinged sector which will give submarines more time to plan the attack and choose a more comfortable position and moment to launch torpedoes.
- Considering the latest changes to the detection mechanics of submarines and a significant limitation of visibility of enemy ships underwater, the Surveillance Radar consumable, taking into account it's high detection range, started to significantly affect the gameplay of submarines during the active phase of their attack, forcing them to change position and submerge to operating and maximum depth, and therefore increasing their depletion of dive capacity. In order to give submarines more opportunities for maneuvering and choosing a comfortable position, as well as reduce the influence of Radar on their gameplay, we removed the detection of submarines by the Surveillance Radar at periscope depth.
Changes to ASW armament
Changed the parameters of Depth Charge Airstrike for all ships:
- Number of planes in the attack flight reduced from 2 to 1;
- Number of depth charges per plane reduced by half;
- Depth charge damage increased twofold;
- Now the depth charges have a 50% chance of incapacitating the sonar of a submarine for 30 seconds;
- The depth charge's area of damage to the submarine increased by 25%;
- The damage in the area of damage will more gradually reduce the further from the explosion the submarine is. The farthest 20% of that area will not deal damage, but can still incapacitate.
Changed the parameters of Depth charges armament for destroyers and cruisers:
- Maximum depth charge damage increased by 40%.
Changes to submarines:
- Increased the HP of all submarines:
- Cachalot: from 9,900 to 14,000;
- Salmon: from 12,500 to 17,800;
- Balao: from 14,300 to 20,200;
- U-69: from 8,300 to 11,500;
- U-190: from 9,900 to 15,400;
- U-2501: from 13,400 to 18,900.
- Increased the duration of the double-pinged sector:
- Cachalot, Salmon, Balao: from 30 to 90 s;
- U-69, U-190, U-2501: from 25 to 75 s;
- Reduced the maximum depth for tier VIII and X submarines. The concealment and visibility parameters were changed accordingly:
- Tier VIII submarines: from 60 to 50 m.
- Tier X submarines: from 80 to 60 m.
- Submarines can no longer be detected with the Surveillance Radar consumable at the periscope depth.