Immersion in Silent Hunter 4

[Bubble Head]

Hi everyone,

I've put this in the Silent Hunter 4 thread as my question specifically is focussed around and pointed to people playing this game.

As a side note, I recently came across from SH3 and until very recently was having trouble connecting with SH4 but I'm glad to say that OPMONSUN has successfully broken this disconect for me. I'm even getting right into playing fleet boats now...

This question has primarily come from this very old thread on Reddit regards narrative creation and personal narrative in games which sparked my interest.

So my question is this: What do the good folks of SH4 do both in their spare time and in game to maximize their immersion in the gaming experience?

I'll give you some quick examples of what I do - absorb like an OCD sponge every detail I can as fast as possible about the topic of interest (in this case American Sub Action of WWII in the Pacific Theatre) - this includes reading both fact and fiction, watching movies, listening to podcasts and audio books. I love to collect pictures and information regards what I'm currently absorbing and peruse over those until they become something committed to memory.

In the game itself I may give myself a real Captains name or use mods to the effect and attempt to recreate a war patrol - that sort of thing.

What do you guys do to maintain immerssion and is it even important to you?

I'm guessing it is.

Cheers guys and happy hunting!

[ETR3(SS)]

I went and enlisted in the Navy and chose submarines.

[Bubble Head]

Originally Posted by ETR3(SS)

I went and enlisted in the Navy and chose submarines.

Not quite what I was touching on though.... but there's a commitment to immersion if I ever heard one!

[ReallyDedPoet]

I recently ordered this book:



Have also watched a number of documentaries, including this great one:

[fireftr18]

Using headphones and turning the volume up does it for me. I haven't tried the large screen TV and surround sound yet. I don't have time to look for and read about submarine warfare.

[CaptainRamius]

Originally Posted by ReallyDedPoet

I recently ordered this book:



Have also watched a number of documentaries, including this great one:

Ooh, the Galloping Ghost of the China Ghost!
Best US sub ever!

[Rockin Robbins]

Originally Posted by CaptainRamius

Ooh, the Galloping Ghost of the China Ghost!
Best US sub ever!

Here's my copy!


Immerse yourself and feel our pulse indeed! Barb was the #1 boat of the war, no holds barred. And it did it when other boats returned empty-handed. Though it all Captain Fluckey's greatest award was no Purple Hearts earned by any of his crew. He brought them through without a scratch.

[BigWalleye]

Two suggestions:

First, there are quite a few first-person accounts by submarine officers/slippers, more than are available from the German side in English translation. O'Kane, Beach, Fluckey, Gallantin, Ruhe, Ruiz, Calvert are all worth reading. (All of these are available as ebooks.) And there are contemporary USN manuals, like NavPers 16160, available on-line: http://maritime.org/doc/fleetsub/index.htm.

Second, for in-game immersion, there is SH4Speech. Instead of pushing buttons, you give orders. The crew repeats the order, passes it along, and then executes it. SH4Speech is an add-on that runs concurrently. Get it here: http://knepfler.com/shSpeech/

Both add to my sense of involvement. (I hesitate to use "immersion" WRT a subsim.)

[TG626]

Historical reading. First hand accounts and reports online, that sort of thing. Occasional musing of how a conversation about the current orders or situation might go between me and my officers.

[BigWalleye]

Originally Posted by TG626

Historical reading. First hand accounts and reports online, that sort of thing. Occasional musing of how a conversation about the current orders or situation might go between me and my officers.

TG626, that's a source I missed, and a rich one. The Historical Naval Ships Association website (hsna.org) contains, among other things, several hundred actual patrol reports from WW2 subs at http://www.hnsa.org/doc/subreports.htm. Some dry, some salty. But the real thing, that would be circulated to other sub skippers to share information. IIRC, some have the actual annotations from Uncle Charlie. That's pretty immersive!

(If only the game would provide some comments from Uncle Charlie when I finish a patrol....)

[Armistead]

I listen to several of the radio stations made by Fred and others to pass time and for real immersion always play with cams off. Nothing like being stuck in the sub while under attack not knowing what's going on above...

[TG626]

Originally Posted by BigWalleye

TG626, that's a source I missed, and a rich one. The Historical Naval Ships Association website (hsna.org) contains, among other things, several hundred actual patrol reports from WW2 subs at http://www.hnsa.org/doc/subreports.htm.

Yep, that's the one!

I also keep a gramophone packed with music of the era and several period radio stations on hand via the in game radio.

You can check the patrol reports thread for my post about my recent "demise"

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show....php?p=2187067

[tomarse]

Historical reading.
Lights off in the room if travelling at night.
SH4 Speech to minimize the mouse requirement and hear the crew respond to my verbal orders.

[merc4ulfate]

When I am not playing I pretend I am on leave and my girl is a nurse ... but she is only wearing the hat.

[TorpX]

I read the historical literature, use hard settings, limit my TC, and play DID. That does it for me.