This is indeed an old idea. For players to actually grind ASW to some extend you need ships that you can level a crew in. Point being here, that it needs much higher level than the current DDs, because you can't get decent XP with those once you grow out of them. If there are no such ships (like now) you will see dedicated ASW players very rarely.

I would not create new ships or classes. I would simply create a few remods of existing DDs. Give them relatively high required levels. And balance displacement so that you can put at level crews on them without much hassle.

The next thing is, that for ASW to be worthwhile you need to give personal XP for it. Currently DC and HH only give shared XP. This means except for the good feeling there is no difference in doing ASW and leeching, basically. And since AAing does give personal XP as well as nice, free experts there is no point to do ASW for grinding purposes really. Everybody in a hurry does AAing. (which by the way is apparently frustrating some CV newbies to hell, lol)

Yet you must be careful. You really don't want to create a situation where every players prefers playing the new ASW instead of learning to play low level BBs/CVs/SSs. There are two reasons for this. First this would render playing SS extremely frustrating. Sure, one could argue "pay back time" but I think that's not a good idea. And secondly people only grinding in ASW to skip the low level BB/CV/SS will turn out to be terribly bad BB/CV/SS drivers later. This is also very bad, because those players will whine in the forums to no end when they get back to the main classes later.

But as I said: old ideas. This has been flamed to hell and back already by the sub brigade. "waaah HH are already overpowered!" "oh noooooeees! DC don't need any skill" blablabla you get it...

Honestly, this is flawed. I do not think you can successfully implement a support line, ASW and AA dedicated. Basically meaning every single ship on that line will be some kind of DD/CL, shooting planes and subs for a long term grind? I don't see the attraction.

People want ships that have a noticeable effect on the battlefield, action, at the end of the grind. ASW and AA are mainly uses as leveling tools, and while we all like such ships to level our crew, how long can you AA non-stop before getting bored?

This is why I think such an idea is worthy of consideration, but not as a line, more as an high level ECL, and ECL2 in a matter, slightly better at AAing than ECL1 (either more barrels or better ammo. I wouldnt like to see emden with more barrel) and a serious ASW option. Thinking around 65-70 for the ship level, something whose main strenght isnt OP AA and ASW, but leveling possibilities.

I can't speak for others, but when I say "ship line" for support, I'm thinking like three ships spread out at levels like 45, 60 and 75.

I'm not picturing an entirely new capital ship type that has its own tier 6 SD ship that costs 50M+20M or anything like that...

I agree with this. It would be interesting. Maybe make them ships like the Emdem, Yubari, Emerald, etc... ships that are available for every BO to use and can give a very nice change of pace every once in a while.

Also, testing will begin in a shot time for the new SS5s. People interested in how they will turn out, please go and participate from the tests once they start.

There is no problem with enough numbers ship useable for ASW, problem is that there is little to no reward for SS hunting and killing SS in compare with AA or other kind of fighting...
There is no motivation to play ASW because most time it is boring...many times is only 1-2 SS per side and many times are SS sunk before reach enemy battleline and then ASW have little to no chance to kill SS...and after if they are lucky and find SS and kill them then reward is just for laugh...sad...
If there is motivation - reward for killing subs equivalent like in AAing, then there will be lot of players run ASW ships...

As I proposed the best ships for ASW are in low level...low level players are short in credits/point...I think that if there is huge reward for killing SS in points/credits then low level players will use ASW ships more. But actualy the best for low/middle level is just AAing - good credits/point/experts gain...if we change reward system to:

best credits/points/experts gain:
- low level (FF-DD) - ASW > AA > gun
- mid level (CL-CA) - AA > ASW > gun
- high level (BB) - gun > AA > ASW

then SS will have very hard times...actualy there is no other motivation for killing SSs than just fun...

I agree, but this is now, with current stats, current game play and current exp rewards.

The suggestions absolutely consider thinking outside the box in terms of what can be achieved after work and tests.

No reward for ASW. I agree, but Torp exp (HH and DC) should become personal exp, it's not fair to leave it as shared exp if there are ship classes that rely only in this to make damage. Fixing that should fix the rewards for all.

Many times SS are sunk before they reach enemy battle line. I agree, but current ASW is absolutely unbalanced, if changed, they should survive more. Also, they should survive more if the gameplay is changed to a more stealth ship... more air, speed cap a bit slower but easier to reach, probably higher speeds for SS1, remove duds... the list of possible changes is big. If SS are changed to allow them to survive more, there will be more encounters after they reach the battle line.

Changing things motivate people. AA is very popular because it has a great reward and you can do it from various ships, fixing the exp/ship issue most dedicated ASW players have will motivate more people. Why can't people suggest this for ASW too?... it's a great idea. As pointed out by Invinciblor, you don't need much, just 3 more ships at higher levels. A couple more HH guns or DC guns at higher levels would be nice too and would help in balancing those current overpowered guns.

Thinking this from the current stats, exp, gameplay point of view is counterproductive, because there are many things that can be done to change that current status... and if people think based on what we have now, we are limiting our view of how things could be in the future.

Right now, there isn't a list of things that "can't be changed"... meaning that options now are endless. Once we get limited, then we can start thinking from the point of view of "no reward for ASW" or "SS have low survival rate", but for now, I think we shouldn't go in that direction.

I played a lot of ASW with my FF and depth charges before I ever got my first SS. That was before SS3 and it was hard work. Sonar didn't work very good. But I sank lots of subs. As my crew matured, I loaded up my SS1 and never looked back. I still use my FF-Y for ASW work. Even though other DDs may be better ships for ASW work, the little FF just turns and delivers each time. Yes, a little FF with a lightweight crew puts SS4s in Davy Jones' locker for good.

But those overpowered FFs need to be nerfed. Too fast. Too dangerous. Fictory Ships!!!

Can't tell if srs...