Missing Career - Again!!

[Phoenix3000]

Hi everyone,

This is the third time this has happened now and it's getting rather frustrating!

I'm running SH3 1.4b, Grey Wolves 1.1a, SH Commander 2.6 and SH3Gen.

OK, using SH3 Commander I began a new career from the very beginning 09/1939 2nd Flotilla, based in Wilhelmshaven.

Leaving port I head to the North Sea. During the patrol time (spent over an evening) I sank 3 coastal merchants of the UK East Coast, then raided Hartlepool harbour where, after putting 3 torps into a large merchant (which didn't fully sink, so didn't count) I was attacked by a small patrol craft and a destroyer. After a lengthy cat-and-mouse game I sank the destroyer and using the deck gun knocked out the patrol ship. So far 5 dead ships.

Then, heading north I got another merchant before arriving close to Scapa Flow and sank another. Having only one torp remaining in the stern tube I headed for home before running into a small trawler, and using the AA gun (the deck gun was now out of ammo), I put every bullet into her but she refused to sink, and limped back to the English coast on fire.

Eventually arrived at Wilhelmshaven and navigated back into the port (with crowds etc. - I know it's not necessary but I like to do the whole return thing...).

Having docked and returned to your 'office' I looked through my patrol log and it was blank - SH3 was saying I had sunk no ships! - The renown was at 2500 - the default level when I began.

So, I exited the game, opened SH3 Commander and chose to update my personnel profile - it too said nothing was sunk - and there was no mention of the 2 sailors who were killed by enemy fire - it said I had a full complement of crew still!

When loading SH3 back up, without using SH3 Commander it to showed my patrol logs as blank, and my renown unchanged!

I haven't fiddled around with the location of the savegames - they are in the My Documents folder as normal.

Anyone have any suggestions as to the cause???

It is SO frustrating to keep losing careers after such a short time - it is only since I installed SH3 Commander. I could play without it, but I like many of the features it offers and would like to continue with it if at all possible.

By the way, I recently re-installed SH3 from scratch (a little over a week ago) - there are no other mods made to the game - only those listed above.

One last thing - as always I use full manual targeting, the only exception set is external views (I like the eye-candy!)

Thanks for your time guys,

Px3000

[nativetexan]

I do know there have been reports that if you return all the way back to your original starting point SHIII may not credit you with any kills. Almost like it has become confused and thinks you haven't left yet. I agree, returning to the dock with the crowds cheering, etc. is nice, but after a long patrol I don't want to lose my sinkings. I have started to just enter the harbor and get close enough so that when I quit I have the option to "Dock" at whatever port.

This might be what happened to you as this was the first patrol in this career.

[mountainmanUK]

Just a thought....but did you grab any upgrades before you set out on your first Patrol?
I have heard that it can cause some problems unless you just take the "stock" boat out.
Personally, I always get that vital "first" patrol out of the way, by sailing out around 50 km from base, then turning back and sailing back close in (usually just into the basin, not the pen), and then Ending that Patrol. This method ensures that there will be a Career saved in the SH3/ Data folder.
Once you get back, you can upgrade to your hearts content, if you have the renown!;) Only then will I start my proper Career! Never had your particular problem by doing it that way.
I use the same setup as you, but without SH3 Gen. (On one install....I have FOUR!)

[stabiz]

mountainmanUK is absolutely right! Do it that way.

[Captain Nemo]

The alternative to MoutainmanUK's method is to save your game just before docking back at port on your first patrol. I had the bug where I had sunk ships on my first patrol but got no credit after I had docked. Luckily I had saved just prior to docking. I just loaded up the pre-docking save and docked again and the credit with renown was there.

Nemo

[Phoenix3000]

Hi,

Thanks for the responses but I always do the first patrol without making any changes whatsoever.

Following the lost career and the advice about distance from the dock when saving I launched a new patrol with SH3 Commander. Again I set a course into the North Sea - sank two merchants then cut it short and headed back home.

Just as I was entering the bay for Wilhelmshaven I exited and chose to dock at base.

Just as before it showed I had no ships sunk - and most bizarre - it dropped by renown from the default 2500 to 1750! - When I sank the merchants I got VERY close - and clearly saw the British flag (I even used external camera to verify this as it was a test patrol), so it wasn't for destroying 'friendlies' or neutrals. the hull was also 100% intact upon my return, and all crew survived.

So, I have no idea why the renown was missing. Anyway, exited the game - launched SH3 Commander, and updated my personnel file. It too showed I hadn't sunk a single ship!

So I have no idea what is going on - but the longer it's continuing the less inclined I am to play it with this problem.

Any suggestions?

Thanks all,

Px3000

[Captain Nemo]

I didn't upgrade anything on my u-boat either when it happened to me. Does this happen just on your first patrol or subsequent patrols as well?

Nemo

[Phoenix3000]

Hi,

Well, it has now happened on five different careers.

The first one was ok (so I thought) - 'he' had completed 5 patrols and was doing OK but then I was getting graphic glitch problems (see an earlier post of mine about the IXB).

So, following advice I re-installed from scratch: SH3, patch 1.4b, GW1.1a, and this time downloaded and used SH3GEN and SH3 Commander. Since then I keep losing careers.

Px3000