[WIP] Dynamic Environment SH5

[stoianm]

§ Description: Dynamic Environment SH5 v 2.1

§ Authors: stoianm & gap

§ About this mod: The weather randomly generated by Silent Hunter 5, as it is out of the box, tends to be quite static. This mod addresses the problem, aiming to enhance the game experience. Not only it offers better looking and immersive environments that push game's graphical engine to its limits, it also affects the general playability, by adding in SH5's world several new climatic zones, each with its characteristic colors, seasons, and dynamic weather conditions. For doing so, real data on ocean's main temperatures and turbidity, season's alternations, weather variability, wind speeds, etc, were collected and combined, resulting in an highly variable environment. From now on, planning carefully your patrols based on seasons and locations will be a key factor for succeeding in the campaign, making the difference between the newbie and the experienced U-boot kaulein!

§ Main mod features:
· main mod available in 3 versions with different underwater visibility, impurity, fog, color correction and filter parameters: light version (for very high underwater transparency, low fog density, etc.), realistic version (for the lovers of simulative gaming style) and normal version (intermediate settings);
· all versions: added 9 new environment color zones, bringing the total to 12 (stock game features only 3 env_coloros configuration files), each with completely new colors, matching the real ones as close as possible according to footage and pictures available on internet and/or beta testers reports;
· all versions: added 9 new climate zones for a total amount of 15 (stock game features only 6 climate zones), each representing realistic seasonal alternations for polar, sub polar, cold temperate, warm temperate, hot temperate, dry tropical and wet tropical climate (for both northern and southern hemisphere), plus equatorial climate (symmetrical);
· all versions: added 84 new weather type configuration files for a total amount of 87 (stock game features only 3 climate zones), each with realistic weather variation intervals, and wind speed ranges changing based on climatic zones and seasons;
· all versions: ClimateZones.tga completely reworked for representing as precisely as possible on the global map 183 different combinations of the featured color, climate and weather zones; no more ''fixed'' combinations are given, as it was in stock game.
· all versions: replaced stock caustics with better HD ones;
· many other graphical improvements, 3D textures and effects, etc.


§ Optional mods features:
· Dynamic Environment SH5 - Nights: changes nights brightness; it comes in two versions: brighter nights and darker nights. Intermediate settings are used for the main mod. Whichever version you will use, night time visibility will be affected by time and atmospheric conditions (moon phase, cloud cover, etc);
· Dynamic Environment SH5 - Colors: it changes the dominant colors. It comes in two versions: vivid colors (increased saturation for blue component) and realistic colors (balanced saturation);
· Dynamic Environment Shallow Waters: it changes the water pixel shader allowing to see seafloor and underwater parts of recently imported .dat units when viewed from above water
· Dynamic Environment SH5 - Sleet for Winter Campaigns: changes rain into sleet-like precipitations;
· Dynamic Environment SH5 - Sounds: it changes stock environment sounds (wind, wakes, thunders, etc.) with better ones;
· Dynamic Environment SH5 - Waves: it changes wave mechanics. It comes in three versions: normal version (better waves than stock game, recommended for low spec systems), realistic version (high waves) and hurricane version (very realistic high waves, but it got small side-effects in sea color and pitch and roll. Also it is heavy on PC performances, so its use is recommended only on high spec computers);
· Dynamic Environment SH5 - Floor: replaces stock seabed textures with better HD ones (installation suggested on high spec systems);
· Dynamic Environment SH5 - Undersea: replaces stock sea plants and rock textures with new HD ones. It is available in 3 versions, for representing different undersea ecosystems (installation suggested on high spec systems);


§ Change log:
· Dynamic Environment SH5 v 2.1:
- fixed an error with incorrect wind speed ranges in some of the weather type zones .cfg files;
- fixed a small error with a missing average wind speed area in ClimateZones.tga map;
- decreased minimum wind speed value for calm wind areas from 1 to 0;
- renamed the optional mod Waves - Realistic Version to Waves - Hurricane Version;
- renamed the optional mod Waves - High Version to Waves - Realistic Version;
- added a new version of the optional mod Dynamic Environment SH5 - Undersea, to be used into the Mediterranean Sea.
· Dynamic Environment SH5 v 2.0 (beta):
- increased the number of weather type zones .cfg files from 15 to 87, in order to reflect detailed information on real annual and seasonal wind speed averages measured in different areas of the planet;
- reworked ClimateZones.tga map, in order to include the new wind information; increased number of different combination of color, climate and weather types represented on it, from 36 to 183;
- included Dynamic Environment SH5 (realistic version) patch into realistic version of the main mod, in order to have more realistic visibility, fog distances and sky saturation;
- new water pixel shaders by TheDarkWraith included as optional mod.
· Dynamic Environment SH5 (realistic version) patch:
- changed underwater visibility, fog distances and sky saturation for realistic version of the main mod;
· Dynamic Environment SH5 (first release):
- main mod made in 3 versions with different underwater visibility, fog, filter, etc. settings;
- changed vanilla settings to have new environment colors zones for a total amount of 12;
- changed vanilla settings to have new climate zones for a total amount of 15;
- changed vanilla settings to have new weather type zones for a total amount of 15;
- replaced vanilla ClimateZones.tga with a new map featuring 36 different combinations of color, climate and weather types.
- replaced vanilla caustics effect.
- included other effects, textures, etc.
- optional mods included: Nights (2 versions), Colors (2 versions), Sleet for Winter Campaigns, Sounds, Waves (3 versions), Floor, Undersea (2 versions).

§ Compatibility:
· this mod is compatible with any version of Silent Hunter 5;
· installing other environmental mods or, more in general, enabling any conflicting mod on the top of this one, may cause CTD's or other weird effects. Don't do it, unless you know exactly what you are doing!

§ Known bugs and limits:
· during beta testing no CTD or other major problems have been reported;
· due to game limits it was not possible to implement many features, like snow, caustics on rocks and see plants, etc. If possible some of these features will be included in the next releases;
· due to the complexity of this mod, the authors cannot exclude minor problems with its use, especially related to game balance and playability during bad weather. Users are invited to report any relevant issue for further fine tuning .


§ Installation:
· look into your main <Silent Hunter 5> installation folder for a subfolder called <MODS> and create it if is not there;
· unzip this mod everywhere on your hard drive and go to the <Dynamic Environment SH5/MODS> folder;
· depending on the base mod that you want to use, pick one of the subfolders contained in the previous path and drop it in <Silent Hunter 5/MODS> folder;
· enable the mod after any other environmental mod (in case you use any) by using JoneSoft Generic Mod Enabler:
http://www.users.on.net/~jscones/software/products-jsgme.html;
· follow the same steps for installing optional mods contained in <Dynamic Environment SH5/OPTIONAL MODS> path;
· you can install both main mod and any of the optional mods anytime during your patrols or in the bunker;
· N.B: starting with version 2.0 of the mod, you don---8217;t need any more Dynamic Environment SH5 (realistic version) patch;
· N.B: we strongly suggest you to put this mod and its optional mods on the end of your JGSME enabled mods list!

§ Acknowledgements:
· Authors wish to thank the following subsim.com members for their valuable contributions:

- Sobers
- W_clear
- Entheberge
- TheDarkWraith
- Paris_England
- Stormfly
- AilantD
- Yano1966

· We wish to thank also the whole SH5 modding community for support and suggestions and especially beta tester whose reports helped us greatly in improving this mod.


§ Disclaimer:
· this package is not related to or supported by UBISOFT© nor it is intended for any commercial use;
· the authors of this package take no responsibility for any damage occurred to the data in your computer due to its use.
· feel free to redistribute this package for free as long as you do not alter it in any part, including this readme;
· feel free to use this package -as a whole or in part- for your own freely distributed mod, as far as you get explicit consent by the original authors (including the authors of stuff that this mod is based on) and you give them credits for their work.


Because i used the long names for folders you need to use 7zip to uncompres the mod.... download from here===> Link



DOWNLOAD Dynamic Environment SH5 - V2.1===> Link or Link

Download Dynamic Environment SH5 Shallow Waters V2.1 Patch===> Link

or download from here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?c97khltzoi598ef
Dynamic Environment SH5 v 2.1 - Fixes pack

[Sepp von Ch.]

Thank you stoianm!
Your mod replace your "realistic color exterior mod v1", sobers deck spray mod, real trees and old style explosion mod?

[pascal4541]

Originally Posted by Josef von Posorschitz

Thank you stoianm!
Your mod replace your "realistic color exterior mod v1", sobers deck spray mod, real trees and old style explosion mod?

yes absolutely Josef

[Sepp von Ch.]

Thank you stoianm! I will definitely test it!

[mr.artur_96]

Hey stoianm

Can we use "sobers & stoianm base fog mechanics" along with Dynamic enviroment ? Will it be compatible ? Becouse when medium fog is you can see only 1200 meters

Best regards

[stoianm]

Originally Posted by mr.artur_96

Hey stoianm

Can we use "sobers & stoianm base fog mechanics" along with Dynamic enviroment ? Will it be compatible ? Becouse when medium fog is you can see only 1200 meters

Best regards

Nope... if you install other env mod after dynamic you will scrap the balance... If you think the fog is to high do not install the patch...

it is in readme... if you install other env mod after dynamic you can have ctds or wired effects

Maybe i will increase the medium fog at 1800 metters in next version

[Brumete]

is compatible an enviroment Revision2 mods?

[jwilliams]

Originally Posted by Brumete

is compatible an enviroment Revision2 mods?

No. You can not use anyother environment mods with this one.

Plus you do not need anyother environmental mods with this.

[kalijav]

Very nice mod

Could you add a version number, so we can know if we have to download a new version ?

[stoianm]

Originally Posted by kalijav

Very nice mod

Could you add a version number, so we can know if we have to download a new version ?

I will upload a new version soon... that one will be the last one... we will push the game engine at maximum.... so no need for version numbers... i will call the last one with another diferent name maybe... but will be the last one

[TheDarkWraith]

Can you change the shallow water depth color? From my changes to the Water pixel shader you can see that I need the shallow water color darkened in harbors/ports:




While the effect is cool it's not realistic. The water needs to be a MUCH darker color at shallow depths. It's either that or I have the pixel shader do the color change.

[Sepp von Ch.]

Shallow waters mod is brilliant!

[urfisch]

thanks a lot for your intensive work in this!!!

[tonschk]

The Water Surface SPECULAR Reflection effects of SH5 are Amazing, thank you Stoianm

[sarkhumar]

just starting using this mod 2.1... but I can say 'shallow waters' is tremendous....very nice and realistic....

by the way.... is FLOOR (optional) included in 2.1 ?

Generic Mod Enabler - v2.6.0.157
[C:\Ubisoft\Silent Hunter 5\MODS]
Magnum_Opus_v0_0_1
Anti-Lag
nVidia missing lights
Original map colors
Spanish
FX_Update_0_0_16_2_ByTheDarkWraith
FX_Update_0_0_16_2_UHS_Fix
IRAI_0_0_30_ByTheDarkWraith
IRAI_0_0_30_No_hydrophone_on_surface_No_Aircraft_s potting
NewUIs_TDC_6_5_1_ByTheDarkWraith
Manos Scopes-patch for 16x9
Depth_Keeping_Problem_UHS_patch_HB_1_0_0_TheDarkWr aith
AirTorpedoes
TheDarkWraith_DC_Water_Disturbance_v4_0_SH3
NewUIs_TDC_6_5_1_Real_Navigation
NewUIs_TDC_6_5_1_U-Jagd_Chrono
Church's SHV 1.01 Keyboard Commands v1.1
Church's Compass Dials Mod v2.2 - Option Two
Church's NavMap v1.0 - Illyustrator's Version
Kriegsmarine Grid Map for MO and TDW UIs by stoianm
EQuaTool 01.01 by AvM - double set - Large plus Flat Style
AOB slide ruller for TDW UIs and MO by stoianm
Critical hits 1.1 Torpedos
Old Style Explosions V1.1
SteelViking's Sky Banding Mod
Trevally Automated Scripts v0.5
Trevally Harbour & Kiel Canal Pilot v2.5
Trevally Tutorials - All v0.2 (for TDW UI)
Trevally TDC Help v2
gap - HD 1 deg Scope Bearing v 1.0
SOAN - ship data
SD_MapCourseLine_tiny_arrows_ocred
SD_MapLocationNameFix_v1_2
Lite Campaign LC 1.2
Black_Skin_albrecht
Nauticalwolf's_Torpedo_Textures_v1.2
Radio_Gramophone_Skin
TDC Graphics by Naights v1.0
Patch1_Terrain_harbour_flags_Mod_v1_2_1
Das Boot Crew Mod For SH5
German U-Boat Crew Language Pack
Grossdeutscher Rundfunk
Stormys DBSM SH5 v1.3 Basemod
Stormys DBSM SH5 v1.3 optional -6db damped Sonarguy
Stormys DBSM SH5 v1.3 optional NavMap babelling
Stormys DBSM SH5 v1.3 optional remaining sounds converted to 22Khz
Stormys DBSM SH5 v1.3 optional scary creaks
Stormys DBSM SH5 v1.3 additional crew sounds beta6
Stormys DBSM SH5 v1.3 optional louder engine sounds
Dynamic Environment SH5 Basemod (realistic version) V2.1
Dynamic Environment SH5 Atlantic Floor V2.1
Dynamic Environmental SH5 Shallow Waters V2.1
Dynamic Environment SH5 Waves (realistic version) V2.1
Dynamic Environment SH5 Undersea (temperate and polar) V2.1
Dynamic Environmental SH5 Realistic Colors V2.1
Dynamic Environment SH5 Sounds V2.1