Is there a guide on what countries are considered neutral?

[mouseno4]

I do NOT mean historically as that is certainly not represented in this game, but rather, how the developers interpret neutrality in regards to shipping.

Sure, i am aware sinking neutral shipping - actual neutral ships - is completely ignored in terms of the gameplay, but for RP value, i would like to perform as close to how an actual uboat captain would act back then, as much as i can within the confines of the game.

Take 2 identical ships, with identical flags and if approached, one will alert and attempt to evade you and the other will continue on as if i am invisible.

The real reason i ask this is because the simple ''I should have just sunk it'' when i surface to board it, only for it to go into evasion mode.

It's like a 50/50 chance of either happening and its frustrating. A neutral ship that is actually neutral, shouldnt go into evasion mode. And a ship masquerading as a neutral ship shouldnt evade EITHER.

[urseus]

Do you have flags identification book Mod? It has dates for neutral v not.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2397616976&searchtext=

[RomaMon]

if a ship is said to be carrying something, then turns out to either also or entirely be carrying ammo of any sorts, its a smuggler, so sink them

if you get certain skills, you can discover the truth of a ships intentions with said skills

from what i have found, enemy ships pretending to be neutral will send out a radio distress call when you approach, but this has only happened twice for me, or if they are armed, they fire upon you as you come close, which is and has proven to be very very bad for the health of your crew who are on the deck doing lookout duty

so to put it all in a simple portion, if a ship is carrying something that's not stated in its papers, its typically a smuggler, if its carrying ammo of any sorts, its a smuggler

[mouseno4]

Originally posted by urseus:

Do you have flags identification book Mod? It has dates for neutral v not.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2397616976&searchtext=

I cant install mods without having to restart my entire career. There are other mods i would like to have as well, but cant for the same reason.

[urseus]

Almost all you can install to an ongoing career unless they specifically say otherwise. Usually those are ones that change some value in the game like torpedo preheat behaviour.

Others ADD things to the existing game so they are fine.

I know it's a pain but I restart careers like twice a month as I tweak mod settings. It's never cause mods are braking the game, it's just I don't like what this or that setting is.

[Dewgle]

If it appears to be gray on the map, then it's a neutral ship. Or at least it's flying a neutral flag. If it's RED then that means it's an enemy ship or it has proven itself to be a belligerent against Germany. That's the simple and straightforward answer.

But here are some basic rules of engagement:

1. If you encounter a lone neutral ship and it fires at you or radios for help? It's a smuggler and you are free to sink it. (Yes, some merchants are armed)
   
   
2. If you encounter a lone neutral ship and it doesn't fire at you or radio for help? It may still me a smuggler (but a smarter one). Board them and inspect them for CONTRABAND.
   
   Inspect the captain's documents. See if his stated destination matches up with the actual course of his ship "How do I tell where he's actually headed?" Draw it out on the map yourself.
   
   Inspect his cargo hold to see if he's carrying something that doesn't match the manifest or his cargo isn't listed on that particular ports list of expected imports. (Hover your mouse over the port to see a list of its imports)
   
   
3. If you encounter a neutral ship inside a large convoy escorted by warships? Then that is not a neutral ship. That ship is partaking in a wartime effort and is acting as a belligerent to Germany and is free to be sunk.
   
   HOWEVER. If during the panic, that ship breaks off from the convoy and begins sailing by itself, you must then treat it like a lone neutral ship once more (see rule #1 and #2).

[mouseno4]

To be honest, i prefer to sneak up on literally every ship in the game and not give them the chance to discover me TO fire upon me or radio my position.

Once i discern their flag and see that it's in fact a neutral flag, then i surface and attempt to board and interrogate the captain. I prefer not waste the effort steaming to them, sneaking up on them with torpedoes being warmed... to sail away empty handed. Even if i only get the 100 budgets from 'boarding'.

I have noted that grey ships will only turn red when within the 'clear sight' range.

However, i never thought to check the actual ports for their listings for what they actually import and to cross check that with the captain's claims...

[urseus]

I'm yet to ever find one that's a smuggler after 2 years playing.

[EmotionallyBroken]

I kind of stopped expecting any reason to apply when I saw norse ships in allied convoys when the axis controls norway.
If its in an allied convoy.... well theres only one reason it would be there.

[Ghoul]

Originally posted by urseus:

I'm yet to ever find one that's a smuggler after 2 years playing.

I only happen to find a smuggler when I board the suspected ship, talk to the capitain and select "try to fabricate some claims". Sometimes the capitain breaks up and tell me that he´s actually a smuggler...

[urseus]

I think that the cargo serch and port they are travelling to should mismatch more often. Especially when it takes so long to stop and search. No reward.

Either that or introduce the ability to stop and order evacuation of hostile craft.