Noob to subsims

[Taeghan]

Hey all,

I picked up SH4 and started playing last night... holy cow, this rocks. I've never played a sim like this so it's all rather new to me. I spent the evening doing Sub School and, while I blew the final mission, I had a ball with it. I had a number of ships burning when I ran out ot torps, so I decided to surface. Yeah, not something to do, I know, but it was fun! I sank a few other ships including a destroyer that was dueling with me for a while. Thing is, she blew me out of the water just as she blew up off my stern, dead in the water.

I'm sticking to Easy for the moment, just to get my feet...er...wet. Got assigned the Grayback, which I'm in the process of taking out to the Marshalls for a patrol.

Anyway, just wanted to say hi. I'm sure you'll hear a lot from me!

-Scott

[Mush Martin]

Welcome to the incredible mind bending world of submarines and
their history, it will be a fun life from here on. and
Welcome to subsim.:up:

[ReallyDedPoet]

Welcome to SUBSIM :up:

Glad you are enjoying the game. For some nice info on the Pacific Theatre,
go here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=128185

Also the stickies section has lots of nice info in it as well:http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=108931

If you have a question, you may want to use the search option first, as some of your answers may be in older threads.

Good luck.


RDP

[Taeghan]

Thanks gents, much appreciated!

[Syxx_Killer]

Welcome to Subsim! SH4 is awesome. I recently got it, too. Did you install the latest patch for it? The latest is version 1.4. Version 1.4 of the game removes the need to use the disc to play so that is a big bonus! :cool: You can get the patch here:

http://www.ubi.com/US/Games/Download.aspx?pId=5165&dcId=63

The patch is a doozey, though, at 200+ MB.

Also, the devs released a free mission, too. It is called Tokyo Express. I recommend it, since you can never go wrong with free! :lol:

http://www.fileplanet.com/promotions/silenthunter4/

Once you get used to the game and want to expand it, there is the U-boat Missions add-on. It adds the Indian Ocean U-boat campaign and offers up improvements to the Fleet Boat campaign. This add-on will take the game to version 1.5 (technically this is the latest version, but not free). I don't have the UBM expansion yet, but will get it eventually. I am enjoying SH4 1.4 a lot right now. :D

http://www.ubi.com/US/Games/Info.aspx?pId=6563

[Soundman]

Yes, welcome aboard. It takes a special breed to play subsims. It is, as you'll find out for yourself, a game of extreme patience, but very satisfying after stalking and then pouncing on your prey. Once you become comfortable with simple mode, I suggest using manual targeting. Your experience will be much more gratifying doing so. As stated above, there are many usefull threads here in the forum full of all the info you need to become a good skipper. Good luck and smooth sailing!

[elanaiba]

Wow! Welcome!

:O

Very surprised to see lots of new players, not only to SH4 but to subsims in general.

Just curious, what made you guys pick up the game?

[Factor]

history

[Quillan]

Welcome aboard, mates! Feel free to ask if you need advice; there are tons of helpful people here.

[Taeghan]

History, and I've been playing the wargame Silent War for a while, which models the entire Pacific sub campaign. Some of the folks who play that (I post normally on consimworld.com) also play this, including the game designer.

I'm glad we can speed up time so much, too!

I do think I may need a system upgrade, though, at some point. I was getting Out of Virtual memory messages when I quit the game last night. Haven't had that happen in a while (and I have 2 gig of RAM).

Definitely a fun game, this. I can't wait to slide into the Marshalls tonight for my first patrol on the Grayback.

Oh, and I got the patch. :)

I can't wait to move to manual targeting. But baby steps...

[elanaiba]

Silent War ? I have that wargame, haven't found time for it (yet). That and War of The Ring (the Fantasy Flight boardgame)...

So you can tell the designer of Silent War that the lead of SHIV owns SW :) and is awed by the amount of work in it.

[Taeghan]

He may be around here, for all I know. :)

I use the vassal engine to play the game, so I don't have to worry about the cats getting into the spare bedroom and destroying my set-up (which happened once already).

I'm only in August of '42 and have already lost something like 18 subs. Damned circular running torps and Betty bombers...

[kylesplanet]

Lesson #1: Don't fight with the planes, just dive away.:yep:

[elanaiba]

I'm only in August of '42 and have already lost something like 18 subs. Damned circular running torps and Betty bombers...

Is that in SW or in SHIV ?

[peabody]

Welcome Taeghan. I think you will have fun with this sim because it is constantly changing.
kylesplanet gave you lesson #1
I'll give you lesson #2
You commented about speeding up time. Use that to get where you are going, but don't use it if you are attacking a Convoy or Task Force, if you do the Destroyers will find you immediately and will be all over you with Depth Charges. Don't know why but it will happen every time.

Enjoy! Make sure to go through the stickies like reallydedpoet suggested, that's where I learned most of the game. The manual is .....well....let's just say it's not the best in the world.

Peabody

[Taeghan]

I'm only in August of '42 and have already lost something like 18 subs. Damned circular running torps and Betty bombers...

Is that in SW or in SHIV ?

SW. :)

[Taeghan]

Welcome Taeghan. I think you will have fun with this sim because it is constantly changing.
kylesplanet gave you lesson #1
I'll give you lesson #2
You commented about speeding up time. Use that to get where you are going, but don't use it if you are attacking a Convoy or Task Force, if you do the Destroyers will find you immediately and will be all over you with Depth Charges. Don't know why but it will happen every time.

Enjoy! Make sure to go through the stickies like reallydedpoet suggested, that's where I learned most of the game. The manual is .....well....let's just say it's not the best in the world.

Peabody

Been working my way through the stickies and downloaded that great video to watch.

Duly noted about speeding up time and when. Also about the planes. While fun, I suspect it's not where I want to be spending my time.

[Brien J Miller]

Silent War ? I have that wargame, haven't found time for it (yet). That and War of The Ring (the Fantasy Flight boardgame)...

So you can tell the designer of Silent War that the lead of SHIV owns SW :) and is awed by the amount of work in it.
I do indeed lurk here, and I thank you for the compliment re: Silent War; moreover, I must return the compliment ten-fold: My two favorite PC sims are Flight Simulator (for which I did several add-on structures) and SHIV, which I just think is one fantastic sim. So it’s my hat that's off to you for what you and the team accomplished with SHIV. I’m involved with software and with MMOs, so I appreciate what it takes to create something like this. (Not to mention the modding/add-on community here- when you have this many dedicated folks creating mods and add-ons, it truly speaks to the value of the product.

Appreciate your kind words:)

Brien

[FIREWALL]

Welcom Aboard Matey :up:

[elanaiba]

Salute!

I think you could easily do my work, but I'm not sure I could handle yours.

How's the next game - Steel Wolves - shaping up?

[ReallyDedPoet]

Silent War ? I have that wargame, haven't found time for it (yet). That and War of The Ring (the Fantasy Flight boardgame)...

So you can tell the designer of Silent War that the lead of SHIV owns SW :) and is awed by the amount of work in it.
I do indeed lurk here, and I thank you for the compliment re: Silent War; moreover, I must return the compliment ten-fold: My two favorite PC sims are Flight Simulator (for which I did several add-on structures) and SHIV, which I just think is one fantastic sim. So it’s my hat that's off to you for what you and the team accomplished with SHIV. I’m involved with software and with MMOs, so I appreciate what it takes to create something like this. (Not to mention the modding/add-on community here- when you have this many dedicated folks creating mods and add-ons, it truly speaks to the value of the product.

Appreciate you’re kind words:)

Brien
Welcome to SUBSIM Brien :up:

I'll pass along this information to Neal Stevens (the site owner), he'll be pleased that you have posted here. Nice to see developers visit the site :yep:


RDP


http://images.boardgamegeek.com/images/pic204391_md.jpg

[Syxx_Killer]

I finally picked SH4 up actually a few weeks ago. I have been enjoying it ever since. I just started manual targeting (never really got into it with SH3) and am having a blast (sorry for the bad pun :oops::lol:). I am by no means new to the sub simming genre. I have been playing them off an on ever since Command: Aces of the Deep and Silent Service for the old NES. I have been following the development of SH4 since before it was released. I just got around to picking it up a few weeks ago. Right around the time it was being released SH3 was having a modding firestorm with GWX, so I was giving that a real good run through. Additionally, at the time I had got Oblivion, then the DLCs for the game and the expansion Shivering Isles. That ate up a LOT of my free time. :oops: Now that I have finally put Oblivion aside for a little while I picked up SH4. One thing I noticed is that SH4 with patch 1.4 runs a LOT better on my computer than SH3 ever did. I run SH4 with 16x AA through my nVidia drivers and have every graphical option enabled with max viewing distances. I LOVE the post processing filters with that grainy effect. I also really like that 3D sound over distance option. That is VERY cool! Since UBM has even more optimizations, I really look forward to seeing how much better SH4 runs! I built my computer three years ago so it isn't the speed demon it used to be. It only has 1GB of RAM (Crucial Ballistix), AMD Athlon 64 3500+, Abit Fatal1ty AN8 mobo, and a nVidia XFX 8600GT (replaced Radeon RX700-Pro after fan died). SH4 just runs so smooth! :D

[Brien J Miller]

Salute!

I think you could easily do my work, but I'm not sure I could handle yours.

How's the next game - Steel Wolves - shaping up?


Steel Wolves is shaping up to be quite the follow-on. As some may already know, this will be done in two volumes, V1 reaches from 1939 to very early 1943, V2 reaches London... no just kidding- it goes from 1943, to the bitter end. The major add-ons all focus on providing a very robust Allied Intel and Convoy system (capable of "reacting" based on intel levels to submarine presence) the German B-Dienst op-intel system, and the ever increasing effects of technology developments in radar, sonar, tactical-ops. One thing we want to do, is provide the German player (who is BdU/Donitz) the ability to, pre-war, determine some of his future boat-mix. (VIIs v IXs). The Silent War/Steel Wolves system has drawn many conclusions based on extensive statistical study and has applied those conclusions to the underlying system. Steel Wolves will allow the sim enthusiast to explore some what-if ideas, as well as to compare and contrast the nature of the Pacific and Atlantic campaigns. So, we've made quite some progress, but we are rapidly approaching the point where we will be integrating all the new systems and expect the old Maxim of "no plan survives contact with the enemy" to be in full force during this development phase.

Thanks for the invite to update folks on the project! Now back to your regularly scheduled SHIV/III discussions.

Brien

[Sonarman]

Salute!
How's the next game - Steel Wolves - shaping up?



Brien!... You shouldn't have told him that until he told us how his next game (hopefully Destroyer Command 2) is shaping up!!! :up:

"Steel Wolves" sounds fantastic, I for one can't wait!!

[Brien J Miller]

Salute!
How's the next game - Steel Wolves - shaping up?

From Sonarman's tag line

"The action is simulated...the excitement is real!"
Microprose Simulation Software 1982-2001 R.I.P.

Flat out, truth... in a word-- word. Micropose was way ahead of their time. Between Task Force '42 and Darklands, they were thinking 15 years into the future :) Thankfully, the Silent Hunter series has much of the same vision. Of course, I'm just a sandbox sim kinda guy.

Ok... we will have to trade updates then:)

[elanaiba]

I'm just a sandbox sim kinda guy.


Now why would I want to play a sim if it weren't sandbox design based :D ?

(Ok, I'm exagerating a little bit, but all should be)

The next game you ask? Well, I really can't tell, with us being a big company with dedicated marketing, long projects, etc. Its not my job to say this either...

... for my part, it will either be IT... or naught ...

[Sonarman]

Micropose was way ahead of their time. Between Task Force '42 and Darklands, they were thinking 15 years into the future :) Thankfully, the Silent Hunter series has much of the same vision.

Yes , to me the mark of a good sim is that you sit down at 7pm, play for what feels like an hour, look at your watch and it's 3am, how did that happen?... I had that with Microprose and I have that with SH, total involvement & superb atmosphere.

& thanks for your thoughts Dan!

[Brien J Miller]

Wow- thanks for the neat admiral pix and the silent war tag:) I appreciate that:) Yeah- I've found myself noticing the 3am time while playing SHIV. But I'm quite proud as an aviator to have scored quite a few kills in my beloved SEA RAVEN!

[McBeck]

Welcome Taeghan. I think you will have fun with this sim because it is constantly changing.
kylesplanet gave you lesson #1
I'll give you lesson #2
You commented about speeding up time. Use that to get where you are going, but don't use it if you are attacking a Convoy or Task Force, if you do the Destroyers will find you immediately and will be all over you with Depth Charges. Don't know why but it will happen every time.

Enjoy! Make sure to go through the stickies like reallydedpoet suggested, that's where I learned most of the game. The manual is .....well....let's just say it's not the best in the world.

Peabody
Lessons #3:
Press "Q" before firering torpedoes! ;)

[Taeghan]

Well, I had fun last night with this, even though I totally blew it with Grayback... sank a Liberty without realizing it!

A question: my first mission was to head to the Marshalls and patrol. So I made it out to the designated area and then began a wide, looping patrol around the islands. The only contacts I picked up were some US ships moving away from Wake Island to the SW. I got those a couple times (hence the Liberty ship disaster...).

My radio log only had info on various Japanese invasions happening, which is why I headed up to Wake. Should I have done that or should I have stayed on station around the Marshalls? I'd sent a radio report when I made it to the Marshalls, but nothing else happened. Do I just do what I want once I'm out there, or do I wait for fleet to notify me of changes, all the while doing several hundred mile loops?

This morning I took out Seawold from Manila and proceeded to sink in about 4 mins as I couldn't get radar to work -- that toggle for on/off wasn't working and for the life of me, I can't figure it out. Off to find some help files here on that.

Edit: just realized -- radar won't be there until '43, right? So of course it wasn't usable on my '41 sub.