[WIP] Improved Ship Physics

[aanker]

Originally Posted by TorpX

ISP work

I have finished with the ships and for the most part the subs are ok. I made an attempt to improve the diving characteristics, but I decided they are as good as I can make them already. Tweaking the various drag factors just caused problems.

I expect to release a version for RFB + RSRDC that will have all the subs and ships in one package. I doubt that I will build a separated RFB only version. I could, but I doubt there would be much demand for this. I think most who use RFB also use RSRDC.

Except me, I prefer the heavily researched and historically accurate PTC Cycles mod by Ed Howard that we used for the 15 cycles (3 months = 1 cycle) of each PTC Campaign, Dec 7th 1941 - Aug 1945, combined with Kim Rønhof's TBox (& Report Generator) TBox selects missions & issues appropriate patrol orders and much more.

Ed modified the cycles mod into a stand alone mod now called the "Guerrilla Submarines Spyron Mod" available at his website:
http://www.subsowespac.org/silent-hunter-4-mods.shtml

I wanted to include files for the Narwhal class, but found that the Narwhal just doesn't work right in RFB. RFB 2.0 has only an empty folder for the Narwhal, RSRDC has it's version of the Narwhal, but it doesn't work right. I presume it worked ok with an earlier version of RFB.

If someone knows how to straighten these issues out, I'll take a stab at fixing them, otherwise I'll release ISP 2.0 without any Narwhal support.

The Narwhal class disappeared into the ether for some reason, I suspect the hands-on move crew from on deck watch by hand when the boat dives and you don't want to expose the to danger, plus they man stations in the CT & CR. I could be wrong..... usually am..... lol

I can get crew into the empty slots of the control room and fwd torpedo room, but don't know how to do this for the deck watch. The 3 men in the Hogan's Alley did not appear there, but were in the roster, at left, and didn't show up on the boat until I moved them there. Worse yet, the control room and sonar stations are messed up; when you try to go there, you end up outside the boat. In short the Narwhal is unusable, as it is, and I have no idea how to fix this.

Thanks for the update.

I want to find some time to see if I can see what is up with the donation NARWHAL class & the mysterious empty folder in RFB when I finish this '15 cycle' campaign I'm currently playing.

Happy Hunting! - and thanks for ISP

[TorpX]

Originally Posted by merc4ulfate

I have seen horizontal rain in real life in the Navy .... looked cool. The sea was totally calm during it too.

I hope this means you like the weather.

Originally Posted by aanker

[/INDENT]Except me, I prefer the heavily researched and historically accurate PTC Cycles mod by Ed Howard that we used for the 15 cycles (3 months = 1 cycle) of each PTC Campaign, Dec 7th 1941 - Aug 1945, combined with Kim Rønhof's TBox (& Report Generator) TBox selects missions & issues appropriate patrol orders and much more.

So, you use RFB 2.0 without RSRDC? Does the PTC Cycles mod add extra ships, or just the RFB ships?

I thought at first, one mod would work for both RFB and RFB + RSRDC, but the later mod not only adds ships, but changes the air groups in the *.cfg files. I am working on a RFB + RSRDC version, and I don't think it will work right with RFB only.

The Narwhal class disappeared into the ether for some reason...

Yeah, I guess the Narwhal doesn't really get a lot of attention. I wanted to add it in, for completeness sake, but I won't hold up the whole mod trying to figure it out. Maybe I can add it at a later date.

[aanker]

Originally Posted by TorpX

So, you use RFB 2.0 without RSRDC? Does the PTC Cycles mod add extra ships, or just the RFB ships?

I thought at first, one mod would work for both RFB and RFB + RSRDC, but the later mod not only adds ships, but changes the air groups in the *.cfg files. I am working on a RFB + RSRDC version, and I don't think it will work right with RFB only.

No extra (non stock) ships or aircraft are added and it wouldn't matter if they were, most members used TMO which adds ships, some tried to use RSRD, not sure how that went........ someone, maybe a couple used RFB, several used the Stock layers, Websters GFO mod, or a personal mod.

Kim added the names of most of TM's 'extra ships' (at least up to v1.9) to his Patrol Report Generator so it would recognize them.... a completely different Program though.

Extra (new) ships have no effect on the campaign. The Cycles mod, now the "Guerrilla Submarines Spyron Mod" happily issues Patrol Orders and sends messages assigning secondary Objectives as Primary Objectives are completed. All 'Special Missions' are missions actually conducted by US Submarines in WW II.

Yeah, I guess the Narwhal doesn't really get a lot of attention. I wanted to add it in, for completeness sake, but I won't hold up the whole mod trying to figure it out. Maybe I can add it at a later date.

Too bad about RFB & the empty NARWHAL class folder. Several missions in the "Guerrilla Submarines Spyron Mod" are those conducted by NARWHAL and its sisters. They can of course be easily conducted in any class boat in SH4.

NARWHAL was an underpowered pig to handle until new engines were added in a major overhaul in 1943. Those engines took up space available for torpedo reload storage, reducing that number/capability.

Sorry for rambling - partly OT here. : )

Happy Hunting!

[merc4ulfate]

"most members used TMO"

I do not find this to be true. From my reading and talking to others it seems Operation Monsun may have a third of the share. TMO, RFB, RSRD and other mods follow after in varying percentages.

There are many, but not most, who use RFB with RSRD so there is nothing from the added shipping in TMO in those.


Generic Mod Enabler - v2.6.0.157
RFB_2.0
RFB_2.0_Patch_23April2010
RSRDC_RFB_V575
RSRDC_V5xx_Patch1
Improved Ship Physics_1.1
Real Subs
EAXsoundsim_without_WebstersManeuver_STOCK_GFO_OM

[aanker]

Originally Posted by merc4ulfate

"most members used TMO"

I do not find this to be true. From my reading and talking to others it seems Operation Monsun may have a third of the share. TMO, RFB, RSRD and other mods follow after in varying percentages.

There are many, but not most, who use RFB with RSRD so there is nothing from the added shipping in TMO in those.

I probably shouldn't have written in this Topic but wanted to say "Thank you" to TorpX and let him know that there are probably quite a few who like RFB that don't use RSRD.

Also sorry, I should have used a complete sentence:

Most members of the now defunct Silent Hunter I & IV online gaming group that focused on American WW II Submarine operations in the Pacific Theater called, "The Pacific Thunder Campaign" mostly used TMO, RFB, and Stock...... We didn't use 'German' U-Boats.

Happy Hunting!

[merc4ulfate]

By the way Toprx ... the rougher it got at sea the more I like it. I remember once standing between the poles of the bow jack staff and having them scream at me from the bridge to get off the bow.

I did ... and went straight to the forward look out which was one level higher than the bridge. At the bow I got the most up and down action and at forward look out you got the most port to starboard motion being higher up than the bridge. They heard me on the sound powered telephone and scrammed me off there as well.

The night we had the rain going sideways was eerie since the sea was completely calm. Other days had the sun shining bright with clear skies and the sea with 20 foot crest. You sea all kinds of weather out there but it was always fun..

[TorpX]

Originally Posted by aanker

[/INDENT]No extra (non stock) ships or aircraft are added and it wouldn't matter if they were, most members used TMO which adds ships...

I'll probably put together a TMO friendly version down the road.

Originally Posted by merc4ulfate

By the way Toprx ... the rougher it got at sea the more I like it.

I'm glad you like it. Having severe weather, that has an operational effect, was a major goal for me.

[merc4ulfate]

Please shoot off some fireworks when your done with the mod. I'd love to try the new version. After I got the documentation in my head about moving the specialist all my speed issues went away using ISP.

I'm looking forward to your new version.

[TorpX]

Originally Posted by merc4ulfate

Please shoot off some fireworks when your done with the mod.

Oh, I will! I promise you.



I have a bit of good news to add. I loaded the donation Narwhal mod and figured out how to make it work with RFB. It worked fine with TMO, as is, but I wanted to give RFB users the option to be able to use it. (Also, the Narwhal was kind of interesting from a propulsion standpoint.) So, if you use RFB and have the New Narwhal K v1.8.5, you can have realistic physics with it.

I know how to fix the crew roster issues with the RSRDC Narwhal, but haven't the slightest idea why the stations are inoperable. So, I will go with what works.

It will take a little more time to get the Nar squared away, but I want to do it now, when all of this stuff is fresh in my mind.

The ships are done, and the subs are mostly done (still have to do final checks *raps knuckles on hard cellulose material*).

[les green01]

woot i'm glad you got the donation Narwhal to work

[TorpX]

Me too.

It sort of bugged me to have the Narwhal class left out.

[aanker]

Originally Posted by TorpX

Me too.

Me three, thank you.

[les green01]

if not for the Narwhal or sugar boats wouldn't be a pacific war

[TorpX]

I've run into some trouble, so it will take some time.

I decided to redo the subs, as I was never really happy with the diving. It is proving to be slow going. For some reason, the Gato seems to be very different than the others, wanting to dive much faster than the Balao or Tambor. I can't see the reason for this; maybe something about the buoyancy is hard coded. Another problem, is that the Porpoise, Salmon, Sargo, and S-classes, have on inclinometers. Does anyone know how to fix this?

About the Narwhal, they seem to work ok (haven't gotten to the diving tweaks yet), but when I have the mod enabled, I noticed my other subs have no deck guns.

[aanker]

Originally Posted by TorpX

Another problem, is that the Porpoise, Salmon, Sargo, and S-classes, have on inclinometers. Does anyone know how to fix this?

The RFB's inclinometers in the CR Interiors at the planesman station in the Porpoise, Salmon, Sargo, and S-classes don't display properly? Is this what you are saying?

If so, with any luck, possibly in their respective Interior sims (?? I hope). Vickers03 is the true Interior expert however I don't mind looking at sims if that is the problem - and where the problem is.

I like using his interiors, even in RFB. Getting his interiors to display properly in RFB was a project - locating & mapping each gauge etc.