Crew with special abilities and air/surface support

[kakemann]

Do anyone know if it is possible to call in air or surface support on the american side after installing the new add-on (1.5)?

And what about crew with special abilities, possible for the american side?

Thanks!

[rebel5555]

I haven't been able to call in air support as the US but, the US crew does have abilities.

[kakemann]

I know, but I meant special abilities.

The new feature in SH4 1.5

[sober]

I would like to know this also .

[rebel5555]

I have a chief engineer with an ability that can repair even destroyed sytems on my USS Drum.

[Ragtag]

Devs said the captains abilitys is not implemented in the US campaign but also said it would be easy for modders to add it.

[kakemann]

I'm confused.

Rebel5555 says he has one!

Are you sure Rebel? ;)

[SuperCavitation]

The "Captain's Ability" is your ability to call in air support, ships, etc. This isn't present in the US campaign but can be (allegedly) modded in.

Crew Abilities are in both sides, as in crewmembers who have talents above and beyond the call of duty. :yep:

[Charlie901]

The "Captain's Ability" is your ability to call in air support, ships, etc. This isn't present in the US campaign but can be (allegedly) modded in.

Crew Abilities are in both sides, as in crewmembers who have talents above and beyond the call of duty. :yep:


Well, I hope some of the talented Modders get the "Captain's Ability" for the U.S. Campaign, modded in, Right Quick!!! :up:

[SuperCavitation]

Me too. I'm really liking it on the "dark side."

[kakemann]

Thanks. Haven't been able to call in ship support yet - and I can't find anything in the game that shows this is possible.

Anyone been able to call in allied ships?

[iricund]

I've just been promoted in my latest career - not actually used the ability as yet but two rectangular Aux. Cruiser icons have appeared on my nav map to the East of Australia. I assume these can be used much like the airbases by clicking on them, having a patrol radius come up, and clicking again to dispatch a ship to patrol.

[kakemann]

Cool!

Guess I have to complete some more patrols with good rating then!

Thanks!

[iricund]

Just to note - there were no fanfares, messages or beautiful fräuleins showering me with affections to celebrate the promotion. It was by chance I noticed it in the little dossier folder on the desk.

[Trunks420]

I have a chief engineer with an ability that can repair even destroyed sytems on my USS Drum.

Hey, that kinda of funny you mention the Drum... I just moved from Mobile,Ala where she is dry-docked with the USS Alabama.. If you ever get a chance you should go down there and take a look. Both ships are quite a sight. But the sad thing is, the Drum is rusted bad from the salt water...thats why they took her of of the bay.

[Kapitan_Phillips]

I've gotten crewmembers with special abilities, yes, but so far I havent been promoted from Lieutenant Commander.

[Jib01]

If you haven't found it yet it is the blue pencil on the lower left with the rest of the navigation hardware.

Select the pencil and go to an airport and click on that. It will give you a radius of support and it will allow you to plot the direction where you want air support and a radius at which the support will work. When I used it I was at the end of the radius and lost the patrol plane that was checking the area for me. I'm sure if you are within the search area you will get a report.

Regards
Jib01
:) :) :)

[sober]

Smackes self in head:damn: The old red pencil trick . :damn:

[Ducimus]

If you haven't found it yet it is the blue pencil on the lower left with the rest of the navigation hardware.
....


German campaign or US one? Crew abilties are easily modded into the US game. Captain abillties seem to be hardcoded to the German side, unless i missed something. But i tried like hell to get them to work, and nada, no dice.

[sober]

Wouldnt it be a matter of adding the crew to the upc crew data files . I notice in the upcdata ge there are thre special abilities crew but not yet in the upcdata folder . cheers .

[Jib01]

German version only so far. Haven't tried the American version yet. Too busy learning German....

Regards
Jib01
:up: :up: :up:

[SuperCavitation]

I'm on my 6th or 7th patrol with the US and have noticed that my crew is gaining abilities like they used to in 1.4. But I cannot ever find a sailor in port with an ability. I guess, since the Germans start so late in the war, this is why they appear in port on the U-Boat side. (???)

[kakemann]

Ok!

After playing a number of successfull patrols I gained the AUX cruiser support.

Do anyone know if there will be better ships available for naval support?

Or what will happen next?

[M. Sarsfield]

I was kind of hoping that you could call in some Jap destroyers for back-up. Maybe at higher ranks the Japanese will render assistance?

[kakemann]

After playing some more, I was able to dispatch pocket battleship actually. I attacked a large british task force, and requested assistance. The destroyers were after me for a long time, when suddenly the pocket battleship appeared and sank 3 destroyers.

I'm also able to send out aircraft from small aircraft carrier taskforces around on the map.

If the ships are sunk, there will be a red cross over the aircraft or battelhip icon, which means you are noe able to use them before the patrol is ended and you have started a new patrol.

[M. Sarsfield]

That's cool. Are we talking about Japanese or German surface vessels (other than the Aux. Cruisers)?

[kakemann]

German pocket battlehip.

The air craft carriers are escorted by destroyers! Cool!

[hyperion2206]

That's cool. Are we talking about Japanese or German surface vessels (other than the Aux. Cruisers)?

As Oberleutnant you are able to request planes.
As Kapitänleutnant you are able to request Aux. Cruisers.
As Korvettenkapitän you are able to request German Pocket Battleship.
As Fregattenkapitän you are able to request Japanese Heavy Cruiser.
As Kapitän zur Seee you are able to request Japanese Task Force.

[Charlie901]

IIRC the Devs stated that the Captain's Special Abilities to call for Air/Naval support could be added to the U.S. Pacific Campaign via an easy mod addition.

If it was hardcoded I doubt the Devs would have stated as such?

It was listed officially with the additions to the addon... I'll try to dig up the quote. :up:


Here it is:


Quote:
4. Are the strategic support elements available only for the new German campaign?
As of now the strategic support features are available only for the new German campaign in U-Boat Missions. However, there is nothing stopping enterprising modders from adding it to the U.S. campaign.


Link:

http://pc.gamezone.com/news/11_19_07_10_20AM.htm


Now, where are all those "ENTERPRISING" Modders out there!!!!!!

[SuperCavitation]

Been wondering the same....

[kakemann]

Checking the different scripted mission files in Campaigns/CampaignGE/CampaignData
It might seem like the file All escort cruisers file contains the naval support data.

But I guess there has to be more than just MIS files that makes the support available in the game.

:hmm:

[audessy]

As for the player abilities I'm not sure. But if you're interested in trying the crew abilities I have a tutorial on how to do so.

List of crew special abilities.

Master-Engineer
Sharpshooter
Torpedo-Specialist
Torpedo-Expert
Medic
Engines-Expert
Propulsion-Specialist
Expert-Sonarman
Expert-Radarman
Watchman
Radioman
Theoretician
Active-Stalker
Active-Overcharge
Active-Riposte
Active-Bombarde
Active-Quick-Repair
Active-Quick-Escape
Active-Perfect-Pitch
Active-Medic
Active-Sensors-Alert

Here's where you start. Make a campaign or take your existing one. I'd recommend making a new one just for testing. A US campaign is recommended as well because they have a big crew repair area that you can fill with new recruits. Remember your captains name too. This will be helpful if you have a lot of saves.

Save the career and exit to the main men
Alt tab to your desktop. Go into "My documents" and enter the SH4 folder.
Go to data\cfg\savegames.
There will be folder(s) in here that contain entire save registries but they're labeled with a large number like 00000001. Enter one of them and open careertrack.upc with notepad. Check flotillabase and UserPlayerNameDisplayable to verify that this is the save you're trying to edit.
When you've found it close that and go back to the folder you found it in.

Open activeplayerunits.upc now. In here is where all your crew data is stored.

Maximize silent hunter 4 now and reload your saved game. Check the names of the recruits you want to edit. Write them down or you can just keep minimizing and maximizing to check the names.

Search them in the activeuserplayerunits.upc file by having it open and pressing CTRL-F. Once you find the crew member scrolldown to "specialabilities=". Input the abilities I listed above with a Ability- before each of them (I.E. Ability-Medic). These ARE case sensitive. Once you're done save the file and open Silent Hunter 4. From the main menu load the save and your abilities should be there.

P.S. If this doesn't work make sure you edit with the game at the main menu. I havent tested if it saves while exiting from your room.

[gimpy117]

I haven't been able to call in air support as the US but, the US crew does have abilities.

I've never found any that have some...