Kapitan_Phillips
01-22-08, 07:02 AM
Well, it took some tweaking and a bit of pocket change, but I got SH4 working satisfactorily! Well, more than satisfactorily, more like environmental effects, full scene glare, light shafts, terrain objects and full 3D damage satisfactorily. I might even go out on a limb and say "Good" ;)
"So", I thought, "time to see how I'll fare against an enemy with rubbish ASW capabilities, but a determination not before seen in a theater of war." Naturally, the first place I came was here, to look for mods. (Hell, if I was going to play this game, I was going to play it properly) I downloaded Trigger Maru, and installed it fine (my compliments :up:)
Okay, boot up. Now, on my 1024MB RAM machine, I wasnt expecting arse-blistering loading times, but I must say, I was impressed. Usually, when I'd booted up the mighty SH3 with GWX 2.0 (sometimes to go to sleep to), I'd doze off before the main menu had even loaded, then cursed as I realised I had made no more progress down that wretched Kiel Canal in my trundling IIA.
But back to SH4. I didnt bother with the Sub School this time, as I already had a grasp of the basics, and I didnt really need the bonus kudos from COMSUBPAC. Besides, I'd have plenty of chances to get in their good books later on, surely. Up comes the Campaign screen. Naturally, I enter in 'Richard Phillips' (the author of this future best-seller) as the Captain, I pick 1942 as my year (keep your S-Classes) and January as the month. Asiatic fleet, in a Salmon class boat. All set!
Well, after an informative FMV describing the current state of affairs, I was in my office (bit cushy for a new recruit), so I decided to make things ready for departure. First stop was my rather fashionable mahogany desk (with green ink blotter and picture of the Subsim Angel ((Yeah, I totally made my own mod)) and reviewed my crew. "Wow" thought I, "They've improved this quite a bit, havent they. No more manually moving watches to and fro for me!" everything seemed in order. The spots that needed filling were filled, and everyone was happy. Next onto equipment. Now I had some renown to spend here, so I thought I'd first off move the deck gun forward (where it's supposed to be, otherwise it'd be called the arse-gun) and fit your standard radar detection apparatus. That'll do for now.
Onto my assignment! Patrol off of the Phillipines for 48 hours and sink some dinks. (sorry :rotfl:) another startlingly short loading time later, and I was idling just off of base, ready to go. I pressed the magic number 2 and couldnt help but smile as the diesels spluttered and thumped into life. Set course for the Phillipines, using the left strait, and off we go.
Well. Most uneventful, that time was. Not one contact until I got to the patrol area, which is saying something. Passing very close to several towns and not even an air patrol. Maybe I overestimated the Japanese, or maybe even the American's thoroughness (surely you'd check to see if it was USS Vaughan trundling past your base!). The patrol area was in a bit of an inconvienient place, as I didnt think it was where many ship routes converged. However, I drew my 100 circle and patrolled for 48 hours, at cruising speed.
Nothing.
Change course and sound check.
Nothing.
Radio message - Patrol the Luzon Strait.. Okay, thats not that far, plenty of fuel, srt course and speed, and lets be off. But wait. What was that? Radar contact? I check my radar man for the range, and its decreasing fast. Either Santa's a bit late, or those are a couple Japanese fighters lookin' to give the boat the swiss cheese look. Arooooooooga! Dive! Dive! I want a peek at these suckers. Up goes the Obs. Scope. I make one full sweep to make sure we dont have any bogeys up our tailpipe, then watch for our buzzing friends. I had just given up hope, when I spot them. Two aircraft making a high pass of the ocean below, watching for us. Now I'm not stupid, I know you can see the boat when it's this shallow, but they were way too high up, and I was covered by a few patches of low cloud. My first experience with SH4 aircraft. Down periscope, surface in 20 minutes.
Once at surface, we recharged the batteries and resumed our transit towards the new patrol zone. Fuel was getting down about the 75% level now, so I was concious of mincing about faster than we needed to (after all, we had the journey back to come yet). The time eventually came when I arrived at Luzon and set up station there, making regular soundchecks in declining weather conditions. I'll not lie to you, I wouldnt have been suprised if I'd have upchucked in that swell, but we soldiered on, relying on our radar early warning and soundchecks, and the keen (if nauseated) eyes of the bridge watch. It wasnt long till we had our first contact. I listened in myself on these hydrophones, and heard that distincting "fwumpfwumpfwump", and evaluated it to be a merchant. Big one, too. Surfaced, we increased speed and closed in for the kill, covered by the grey-black swell and piercing winds.
Ship spotted! Long range, moving right across the bow. Talk about a nice introduction to torpedoes! Its time to dive the ship and steady it, to ensure a profit from our toils. Up goes the Obs Scope (the attack scope would've been swamped with too much water in these seas) and the approach continued. 3000, 2000, 1800..
Tubes 1 and 2 were fired in quick succession and the scope dropped, the boats course altered on a parallel with the merchant, and the chronometer beating out its insufferable rhythm. tickticktickticktick. Never have I stared at the name 'Stevens' more than this. The magic red line came and went, and I couldnt help but feel disheartened. Until two huge WHOOOMMMS shook the boat and the crew erupted into their little "Yaaay!" animations. Up scope. What a fireball. I dont know what they were carrying, but it was combustible and poorly stored. (Probably BB guns :88))
My first kill, my first successful torpedo attack, and the first victory for the Vaughan. A vessel which not only does the Navy proud, but it's namesake, my girlfriend.
I love this game. :up::up::up::up:
"So", I thought, "time to see how I'll fare against an enemy with rubbish ASW capabilities, but a determination not before seen in a theater of war." Naturally, the first place I came was here, to look for mods. (Hell, if I was going to play this game, I was going to play it properly) I downloaded Trigger Maru, and installed it fine (my compliments :up:)
Okay, boot up. Now, on my 1024MB RAM machine, I wasnt expecting arse-blistering loading times, but I must say, I was impressed. Usually, when I'd booted up the mighty SH3 with GWX 2.0 (sometimes to go to sleep to), I'd doze off before the main menu had even loaded, then cursed as I realised I had made no more progress down that wretched Kiel Canal in my trundling IIA.
But back to SH4. I didnt bother with the Sub School this time, as I already had a grasp of the basics, and I didnt really need the bonus kudos from COMSUBPAC. Besides, I'd have plenty of chances to get in their good books later on, surely. Up comes the Campaign screen. Naturally, I enter in 'Richard Phillips' (the author of this future best-seller) as the Captain, I pick 1942 as my year (keep your S-Classes) and January as the month. Asiatic fleet, in a Salmon class boat. All set!
Well, after an informative FMV describing the current state of affairs, I was in my office (bit cushy for a new recruit), so I decided to make things ready for departure. First stop was my rather fashionable mahogany desk (with green ink blotter and picture of the Subsim Angel ((Yeah, I totally made my own mod)) and reviewed my crew. "Wow" thought I, "They've improved this quite a bit, havent they. No more manually moving watches to and fro for me!" everything seemed in order. The spots that needed filling were filled, and everyone was happy. Next onto equipment. Now I had some renown to spend here, so I thought I'd first off move the deck gun forward (where it's supposed to be, otherwise it'd be called the arse-gun) and fit your standard radar detection apparatus. That'll do for now.
Onto my assignment! Patrol off of the Phillipines for 48 hours and sink some dinks. (sorry :rotfl:) another startlingly short loading time later, and I was idling just off of base, ready to go. I pressed the magic number 2 and couldnt help but smile as the diesels spluttered and thumped into life. Set course for the Phillipines, using the left strait, and off we go.
Well. Most uneventful, that time was. Not one contact until I got to the patrol area, which is saying something. Passing very close to several towns and not even an air patrol. Maybe I overestimated the Japanese, or maybe even the American's thoroughness (surely you'd check to see if it was USS Vaughan trundling past your base!). The patrol area was in a bit of an inconvienient place, as I didnt think it was where many ship routes converged. However, I drew my 100 circle and patrolled for 48 hours, at cruising speed.
Nothing.
Change course and sound check.
Nothing.
Radio message - Patrol the Luzon Strait.. Okay, thats not that far, plenty of fuel, srt course and speed, and lets be off. But wait. What was that? Radar contact? I check my radar man for the range, and its decreasing fast. Either Santa's a bit late, or those are a couple Japanese fighters lookin' to give the boat the swiss cheese look. Arooooooooga! Dive! Dive! I want a peek at these suckers. Up goes the Obs. Scope. I make one full sweep to make sure we dont have any bogeys up our tailpipe, then watch for our buzzing friends. I had just given up hope, when I spot them. Two aircraft making a high pass of the ocean below, watching for us. Now I'm not stupid, I know you can see the boat when it's this shallow, but they were way too high up, and I was covered by a few patches of low cloud. My first experience with SH4 aircraft. Down periscope, surface in 20 minutes.
Once at surface, we recharged the batteries and resumed our transit towards the new patrol zone. Fuel was getting down about the 75% level now, so I was concious of mincing about faster than we needed to (after all, we had the journey back to come yet). The time eventually came when I arrived at Luzon and set up station there, making regular soundchecks in declining weather conditions. I'll not lie to you, I wouldnt have been suprised if I'd have upchucked in that swell, but we soldiered on, relying on our radar early warning and soundchecks, and the keen (if nauseated) eyes of the bridge watch. It wasnt long till we had our first contact. I listened in myself on these hydrophones, and heard that distincting "fwumpfwumpfwump", and evaluated it to be a merchant. Big one, too. Surfaced, we increased speed and closed in for the kill, covered by the grey-black swell and piercing winds.
Ship spotted! Long range, moving right across the bow. Talk about a nice introduction to torpedoes! Its time to dive the ship and steady it, to ensure a profit from our toils. Up goes the Obs Scope (the attack scope would've been swamped with too much water in these seas) and the approach continued. 3000, 2000, 1800..
Tubes 1 and 2 were fired in quick succession and the scope dropped, the boats course altered on a parallel with the merchant, and the chronometer beating out its insufferable rhythm. tickticktickticktick. Never have I stared at the name 'Stevens' more than this. The magic red line came and went, and I couldnt help but feel disheartened. Until two huge WHOOOMMMS shook the boat and the crew erupted into their little "Yaaay!" animations. Up scope. What a fireball. I dont know what they were carrying, but it was combustible and poorly stored. (Probably BB guns :88))
My first kill, my first successful torpedo attack, and the first victory for the Vaughan. A vessel which not only does the Navy proud, but it's namesake, my girlfriend.
I love this game. :up::up::up::up: