New player

Some guy on the internet · 02-11-17, 12:52 PM

Hello everyone
I am new here...I just bought SH4 on steam yesterday and I am really enjoying it...
I heard about this community , so maybe some of you guys can help me with some questions regarding the gameplay...
1) When you engage lone merchants , the AI is capable of calling in for help from nearby warships and airplanes?
2) What is the difference between pasive and active methods of detection?
3) What is the thermal layer? When I submerge I often hear a voice saying "Passing thermal layer"
4) Is there any disadvantages or dangers if you run the submarine at very big depth?
5)After I finished my second patrol I tried to upgrade my porpoise class with a surface radar , but there was no option for it..I was only able to get an air radar
6)Is crew managment important?
7) Is possible to get attacked by enemy submarines?
8) Is there any way to stop the time compression reset when you receive radio messages? I can be very annoying sometimes
That would be everything for now...Thank you
And I am sorry for any typos..English is not my native language..I am trying my best

Aktungbby · 02-11-17, 01:55 PM

Some guy on the internet!

mikesn9 · 02-11-17, 03:26 PM

to all your questions....

take time to look through the 'sticky' notes.

LOTS (and lots) of good info, tactics, etc.

And welcome aboard

Quickie: Backspace takes you to pause

cdrsubron7 · 02-11-17, 03:35 PM

Welcome aboard. Happy to have you with us.

propbeanie · 02-11-17, 03:41 PM

My opinions and observations:

1) When you engage lone merchants , the AI is capable of calling in for help from nearby warships and airplanes?
- I'm not sure about "stock", but some of the mods sometimes simulate that, but the "help" has to be about 30" away, unless it's airplanes, then the enemy sticks to you like glue. Don't be seen...

2) What is the difference between pasive and active methods of detection?
- Passive means techniques such as listening on hydrophones or looking through binoculars. Active means to "ping" with sonar or sweep with radar.

3) What is the thermal layer? When I submerge I often hear a voice saying "Passing thermal layer"
- The thermal layer comes about from the sun heating the surface of the ocean, raising its temperature above the underlying "layers". The area of the temperature "swing" from warm to cold is the thermal layer. It is not always present, not always at the same depth, and sometimes not very strong, though when it is, it can have a tendency to "bounce" or distort sound waves, making sonar more difficult to use, helping a submarine "hide".

4) Is there any disadvantages or dangers if you run the submarine at very big depth?
- You'll be crushed worse than a cockroach if you go too deep, especially too fast. You do also incur damage as you stay below a certain depth in your boat, generally a good bit below the "crush depth" of the boat. The newer the boat model, the deeper you can go. The stock game has a red line on the depth gauge to show where the "test depth" is, and won't let you "D" key dive below that, but you can click on the gauge to go below...

5)After I finished my second patrol I tried to upgrade my porpoise class with a surface radar , but there was no option for it..I was only able to get an air radar
- "Upgrade" items are available in a timely manner similar to what they were available in real life during WW2, so you don't have good air and surface search radars available right away.

6)Is crew managment important?
- Not particularly. However, if you take care of your crew, they will at times take care of you. The one thing to check for is proper crew assignment, especially the watch crew. As an example, the game has a knack of assigning nearly blind men to the bridge, so look for a crew member's "Watchman" ability...

7) Is possible to get attacked by enemy submarines?
- I've never been attacked by one, but that's not to say it hasn't happened to others, but I've seldom seen one in-game anyway. I have sunk one though. Long time ago. I have no definitive answer...

8) Is there any way to stop the time compression reset when you receive radio messages? I can be very annoying sometimes
- Yes, but at the cost of your "life" in-game if the detection is an enemy entity... You'd "mod" a configuration file with a text editor, but I can't remember which one off the top of my head... If you have radar, turning if off can help, but the Porpoise boat and all above it have the SD radar by default (and you can't control it), and that's usually the one that does it. Most folks playing SH4 have "+" (plus) keys on the number pad that are worn-out from all the tapping...

Welcome to SubSim, and be sure and read some of the "stickie" threads up top of all the sections here, but especially THEBERBSTER's and Rockin Robbin's, two of the most helpful people around.

getbac · 02-12-17, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by propbeanie

My opinions and observations:

1) When you engage lone merchants , the AI is capable of calling in for help from nearby warships and airplanes?
- I'm not sure about "stock", but some of the mods sometimes simulate that, but the "help" has to be about 30" away, unless it's airplanes, then the enemy sticks to you like glue. Don't be seen...

2) What is the difference between pasive and active methods of detection?
- Passive means techniques such as listening on hydrophones or looking through binoculars. Active means to "ping" with sonar or sweep with radar.

3) What is the thermal layer? When I submerge I often hear a voice saying "Passing thermal layer"
- The thermal layer comes about from the sun heating the surface of the ocean, raising its temperature above the underlying "layers". The area of the temperature "swing" from warm to cold is the thermal layer. It is not always present, not always at the same depth, and sometimes not very strong, though when it is, it can have a tendency to "bounce" or distort sound waves, making sonar more difficult to use, helping a submarine "hide".

4) Is there any disadvantages or dangers if you run the submarine at very big depth?
- You'll be crushed worse than a cockroach if you go too deep, especially too fast. You do also incur damage as you stay below a certain depth in your boat, generally a good bit below the "crush depth" of the boat. The newer the boat model, the deeper you can go. The stock game has a red line on the depth gauge to show where the "test depth" is, and won't let you "D" key dive below that, but you can click on the gauge to go below...

5)After I finished my second patrol I tried to upgrade my porpoise class with a surface radar , but there was no option for it..I was only able to get an air radar
- "Upgrade" items are available in a timely manner similar to what they were available in real life during WW2, so you don't have good air and surface search radars available right away.

6)Is crew managment important?
- Not particularly. However, if you take care of your crew, they will at times take care of you. The one thing to check for is proper crew assignment, especially the watch crew. As an example, the game has a knack of assigning nearly blind men to the bridge, so look for a crew member's "Watchman" ability...

7) Is possible to get attacked by enemy submarines?
- I've never been attacked by one, but that's not to say it hasn't happened to others, but I've seldom seen one in-game anyway. I have sunk one though. Long time ago. I have no definitive answer...

8) Is there any way to stop the time compression reset when you receive radio messages? I can be very annoying sometimes
- Yes, but at the cost of your "life" in-game if the detection is an enemy entity... You'd "mod" a configuration file with a text editor, but I can't remember which one off the top of my head... If you have radar, turning if off can help, but the Porpoise boat and all above it have the SD radar by default (and you can't control it), and that's usually the one that does it. Most folks playing SH4 have "+" (plus) keys on the number pad that are worn-out from all the tapping...

Welcome to SubSim, and be sure and read some of the "stickie" threads up top of all the sections here, but especially THEBERBSTER's and Rockin Robbin's, two of the most helpful people around.

great comeback..... you helped another noob!

razark · 02-11-17, 03:42 PM

Welcome Aboard!

Short answers below. As mentioned, look through the stickies. Also, find a post by THEBERBSTER, such as this one, for some links to get you going.

1) Yes, it is.
2) Passive is peeking out the window to see if you see anyone. Active is turning on a spotlight and shouting "Is anyone out there?" Active is much more likely to get you noticed than passive.
3) It's a depth at which water temperature changes drastically. These layers do funny things to sound, which means that the enemy is less likely to hear you if you are below the layer.
4) Go too deep, and your boat will be crushed.
5) Certain technologies are time-dependent. The empty slot still appears, even if the device is not available. It also depends on your home port. Pearl Harbor gets new technology faster than the Australian ports.
6) The skills are important, and the fatigue level. If you forget and leave the crew at battlestations, they'll tire out after a while and refuse to do anything.
7) Depends on what mods you are running, I believe.
8) I think so, but I don't remember which file controls it.

THEBERBSTER · 02-11-17, 07:07 PM

A Warm Welcome To The Subsim Community > Some guy on the internet
Support The New SH4 Mega Mod Project FOTRSU > 100_FalloftheRisingSun_Ultimate_v0.52_PublicBeta_E N
Steam Conversion SH4 Installation Instructions By ValoWay

Quote:

2) What is the difference between pasive and active methods of detection?

You can Google this for a more accurate answer.

getbac · 02-12-17, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Some guy on the internet

Hello everyone
I am new here...I just bought SH4 on steam yesterday and I am really enjoying it...
I heard about this community , so maybe some of you guys can help me with some questions regarding the gameplay...
1) When you engage lone merchants , the AI is capable of calling in for help from nearby warships and airplanes?
2) What is the difference between pasive and active methods of detection?
3) What is the thermal layer? When I submerge I often hear a voice saying "Passing thermal layer"
4) Is there any disadvantages or dangers if you run the submarine at very big depth?
5)After I finished my second patrol I tried to upgrade my porpoise class with a surface radar , but there was no option for it..I was only able to get an air radar
6)Is crew managment important?
7) Is possible to get attacked by enemy submarines?
8) Is there any way to stop the time compression reset when you receive radio messages? I can be very annoying sometimes
That would be everything for now...Thank you
And I am sorry for any typos..English is not my native language..I am trying my best

Welcome someguy.... these people are a great source of learning. I keep reading and reading and I get more and more questions. I'm a noob to so understand your dilemma, but in a short time you'll be skipperin along and wham you'll realized "dang, I should dived" cause a bomber did it for ya!

didn't know there was a favorite language, I have to look into that cuz I beat the heck outa the one I'm supposed to be good at

Some guy on the internet · 02-12-17, 09:11 AM

Thanks for the help...
Another question...When I use the hydrophone , I always hear sound at 180 degrees ...Its that actually the sound of my own engines?
Also , when the game soundtrack changes to an aggresive song , that means I got detected?

razark · 02-12-17, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Some guy on the internet

When I use the hydrophone , I always hear sound at 180 degrees ...Its that actually the sound of my own engines?

Yes, that's your own noise. It also means you won't ever detect anything behind you. If you get a destroyer circling you, you'll see that he disappears a for a short time when he is almost directly behind you.
The submariner term for this area behind you is the "baffles".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Some guy on the internet

Also , when the game soundtrack changes to an aggresive song , that means I got detected?

Don't know on this one. It's been years since I played with the stock music.

Some guy on the internet · 02-12-17, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razark

Yes, that's your own noise. It also means you won't ever detect anything behind you. If you get a destroyer circling you, you'll see that he disappears a for a short time when he is almost directly behind you.
The submariner term for this area behind you is the "baffles".

So , this means the enemy warships also cant detect me if I am coming from behind them?

02-12-17, 02:20 PM

They can detect your ass if your are behind them but with limited range. And it depends on crew skill and many more factors.

02-11-17, 12:52 PM	#1
Some guy on the internet Swabbie Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 5 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	New player Hello everyone I am new here...I just bought SH4 on steam yesterday and I am really enjoying it... I heard about this community , so maybe some of you guys can help me with some questions regarding the gameplay... 1) When you engage lone merchants , the AI is capable of calling in for help from nearby warships and airplanes? 2) What is the difference between pasive and active methods of detection? 3) What is the thermal layer? When I submerge I often hear a voice saying "Passing thermal layer" 4) Is there any disadvantages or dangers if you run the submarine at very big depth? 5)After I finished my second patrol I tried to upgrade my porpoise class with a surface radar , but there was no option for it..I was only able to get an air radar 6)Is crew managment important? 7) Is possible to get attacked by enemy submarines? 8) Is there any way to stop the time compression reset when you receive radio messages? I can be very annoying sometimes That would be everything for now...Thank you And I am sorry for any typos..English is not my native language..I am trying my best

02-11-17, 01:55 PM	#2
Aktungbby Gefallen Engel U-666 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: On a tilted, overheated, overpopulated spinning mudball on Collision course with Andromeda Galaxy Posts: 27,871 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	Welcome aboard! Some guy on the internet! __________________ "Only two things are infinite; The Universe and human squirrelyness; and I'm not too sure about the Universe"

02-11-17, 03:35 PM	#4
cdrsubron7 Sink'em All Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 2,150 Downloads: 305 Uploads: 1	Welcome aboard. Happy to have you with us. __________________ Head Deep and Keep'em Astern" - LtCDR Samuel D Dealy SHIV Guide \| Imperial Japanese Navy \| US Submarines Last edited by cdrsubron7; 02-11-17 at 04:25 PM.

02-11-17, 03:41 PM	#5
propbeanie CTD - it's not just a job Join Date: May 2016 Location: One hour from Music City USA! Posts: 9,749 Downloads: 440 Uploads: 2	My opinions and observations: 1) When you engage lone merchants , the AI is capable of calling in for help from nearby warships and airplanes? - I'm not sure about "stock", but some of the mods sometimes simulate that, but the "help" has to be about 30" away, unless it's airplanes, then the enemy sticks to you like glue. Don't be seen... 2) What is the difference between pasive and active methods of detection? - Passive means techniques such as listening on hydrophones or looking through binoculars. Active means to "ping" with sonar or sweep with radar. 3) What is the thermal layer? When I submerge I often hear a voice saying "Passing thermal layer" - The thermal layer comes about from the sun heating the surface of the ocean, raising its temperature above the underlying "layers". The area of the temperature "swing" from warm to cold is the thermal layer. It is not always present, not always at the same depth, and sometimes not very strong, though when it is, it can have a tendency to "bounce" or distort sound waves, making sonar more difficult to use, helping a submarine "hide". 4) Is there any disadvantages or dangers if you run the submarine at very big depth? - You'll be crushed worse than a cockroach if you go too deep, especially too fast. You do also incur damage as you stay below a certain depth in your boat, generally a good bit below the "crush depth" of the boat. The newer the boat model, the deeper you can go. The stock game has a red line on the depth gauge to show where the "test depth" is, and won't let you "D" key dive below that, but you can click on the gauge to go below... 5)After I finished my second patrol I tried to upgrade my porpoise class with a surface radar , but there was no option for it..I was only able to get an air radar - "Upgrade" items are available in a timely manner similar to what they were available in real life during WW2, so you don't have good air and surface search radars available right away. 6)Is crew managment important? - Not particularly. However, if you take care of your crew, they will at times take care of you. The one thing to check for is proper crew assignment, especially the watch crew. As an example, the game has a knack of assigning nearly blind men to the bridge, so look for a crew member's "Watchman" ability... 7) Is possible to get attacked by enemy submarines? - I've never been attacked by one, but that's not to say it hasn't happened to others, but I've seldom seen one in-game anyway. I have sunk one though. Long time ago. I have no definitive answer... 8) Is there any way to stop the time compression reset when you receive radio messages? I can be very annoying sometimes - Yes, but at the cost of your "life" in-game if the detection is an enemy entity... You'd "mod" a configuration file with a text editor, but I can't remember which one off the top of my head... If you have radar, turning if off can help, but the Porpoise boat and all above it have the SD radar by default (and you can't control it), and that's usually the one that does it. Most folks playing SH4 have "+" (plus) keys on the number pad that are worn-out from all the tapping... Welcome to SubSim, and be sure and read some of the "stickie" threads up top of all the sections here, but especially THEBERBSTER's and Rockin Robbin's, two of the most helpful people around. __________________ "...and bollocks to the naysayer/s" - Jimbuna

02-11-17, 03:42 PM	#7
razark Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,725 Downloads: 393 Uploads: 12	Welcome Aboard! Short answers below. As mentioned, look through the stickies. Also, find a post by THEBERBSTER, such as this one, for some links to get you going. 1) Yes, it is. 2) Passive is peeking out the window to see if you see anyone. Active is turning on a spotlight and shouting "Is anyone out there?" Active is much more likely to get you noticed than passive. 3) It's a depth at which water temperature changes drastically. These layers do funny things to sound, which means that the enemy is less likely to hear you if you are below the layer. 4) Go too deep, and your boat will be crushed. 5) Certain technologies are time-dependent. The empty slot still appears, even if the device is not available. It also depends on your home port. Pearl Harbor gets new technology faster than the Australian ports. 6) The skills are important, and the fatigue level. If you forget and leave the crew at battlestations, they'll tire out after a while and refuse to do anything. 7) Depends on what mods you are running, I believe. 8) I think so, but I don't remember which file controls it. __________________ "Never ask a World War II history buff for a 'final solution' to your problem!"

02-11-17, 03:26 PM	#3
mikesn9 Sonar Guy Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Sarasota Florida Posts: 390 Downloads: 68 Uploads: 0	to all your questions.... take time to look through the 'sticky' notes. LOTS (and lots) of good info, tactics, etc. And welcome aboard Quickie: Backspace takes you to pause

02-12-17, 09:11 AM	#10
Some guy on the internet Swabbie Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 5 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the help... Another question...When I use the hydrophone , I always hear sound at 180 degrees ...Its that actually the sound of my own engines? Also , when the game soundtrack changes to an aggresive song , that means I got detected? Last edited by Some guy on the internet; 02-12-17 at 09:21 AM.

02-12-17, 02:20 PM	#13
redline202 Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	They can detect your ass if your are behind them but with limited range. And it depends on crew skill and many more factors.