wdq4587
08-15-08, 03:20 AM
version 0.1
This is for my personal use only. If you like it and want some change or remove some thing I changed. Just tell me.
Features:
1. Add a additional AOB display in attack periscope interface.
2. Add a invisible glass in front of torpedo launch button while TDC solution panel on for safety.
3. Other small adjustment, see file list for explain. JSGme ready. Install over OLC GUI 1.2.6.
File list:
data\Cfg\Commands_en.cfg
Only add a Ctrl-S hotkey for weapon office torpedo solution. I use it for check exercise reason. If you don't like it, you may don't press the hotkey, delete the file before install or disable weapon office assistant in option menu.
data\Library\Cameras.dat
Restore free camera rotate speed from GWX 24 to stock game 60. I don't know why they limit it. If you don't like free camera, disable it in option menu.
Add Depth Charge Shake.
data\Menu\cfg\Dials.cfg
data\Menu\Gui\Layout\Ziellagewinkel.tga
data\Menu\Gui\Layout\ZiellagewinkelZeiger.tga
Above 3 files and menu_1024_768.ini used for add AOB display in attack periscope interface.
data\Menu\OLC\Salvo.tga
data\Menu\OLC\Single.tga
For player who not use SH3 commander to get salvo torpedoes numbers display than noting. I use the images for type VII u-boat. If you mostly use type IX, you can found corresponding files in OLC GUI package.
data\Menu\menu_1024_768.ini
This file is used for: add AOB display, add torpedo launch safety,
move Fuel, Battery, Compressed Air, CO2 panel to a low position,
move event camera window to left bottom corner,
move attack periscope compass to a low position,
move 2 periscope’s ship name low a bit
move OLC Dials Group (speed, course, depth...) a bit left
restore 2 periscope’s zoom factor display
restore binoculars compass display, for I need it while time compress
All modifications are comment by ";--" so you can search in file and remove any changes you dislike it before install or you tell me to remove it.
Why:
The 2 main features of this MOD patch is used for against one SH3 design flaw. The TDC of u-boat can select target bearing source. Most time it uses periscope bearing as input. But you can also turn it off and input target bearing manually. In SH3 the programmer use a variable called AutoUpdate to indicate the status. The problem is in real u-boat, when AutoUpdate on you may still input AOB, speed and range in TDC panel manually, but in SH3 the program prevent you do that.
The side effect of that is if you want input AOB, speed and range manually, you had to turn AutoUpdate off first. But if you turn if off, the TDC target bearing no long equal to periscope bearing any more. And if you push launch button while AutoUpdate is off, you have a big chance shoot to a wrong direction.
In OLC GUI a good design let the TDC solution panel on and AutoUpdate off, and the panel off the AutoUpdate on at same time. So you can manually input directly without have to switch AutoUpdate off first. But that can not prevent player make mistake. So I add a invisible glass in front of attack periscope and UZO interface torpedo launch button to prevent player fire while the TDC solution panel on (e.g. AutoUpdate off). But if you want manually set the target bearing, you can still always launch torpedo by pressing Ctrl-Enter.
Then about why an additional AOB display. Something you need know is the AOB in TDC is linked with the target bearing. If the target bearing change, the AOB will also change same degree, so you don't need set it again if the target ship don't change it's course (and your u-boat don't change direction). And you may shoot to several same direction ships without change the AOB setting.
In OLC GUI, if you want check the AOB setting in attack periscope interface, you had to turn the TDC solution panel on. But when you turn it on, the AutoUpdate is off. If the target is locked or you move the periscope, the AOB no longer update. So if you don't set AOB again before you close the solution panel, you will got a precision degrade AOB or wrong AOB.
The best way is to display the AOB without turn TDC solution panel on. So I add one. This one is also a little big than panel, so you can set AOB with more precision. Of course you still have to set it while the solution panel on. The ability of checking AOB setting is important because when ship in far distance, the AOB is small, and the estimated AOB may have more error than AOB near 90 degree. So you need check it again before launch when ship comes close. Another possibility is if you change the u-boat direction, the target bearing also change and the AOB will also change too and so become incorrect. You need always check AOB setting after u-boat change direction. Why it works this way is because the German TDC does not have a gyroscope or compass in it to keep the absolute target bearing.
After several test, I can say with U-jagd tools and this two change, I really fell more confidence and less mistake in u-boating hunting.
The above patched only tested in stock game.
Future:
I have consideration display a US style AOB instead of u-boat style AOB in attack periscope interface. I have found the way. The US style AOB (in SH4) is more instinctive and will let the novice player make fewer mistakes while setting it. But use two different styles AOB display will also make player confuse.
I will try add a zoom level in periscope to about 15X to let the computer graphics get a distinguish ability near the real human eye. So you don’t need come too close to identify the ship’s nationality and determine the AOB more easily without calculate. I don’t know such try will be good or not.
What the most I want is to enlarge the attack periscope to near the observe periscope size. But that need too many works I guess I will not have enough time and interesting to do that. I only know a little secret on how to modify the menu_1024_768.ini. I even don’t know how to make a popup panel.
download it here (190KB):
http://61.132.255.250/OLC%20GUI%201.2.6%20Add%20AOB%20and%20Safety.rar
or download here
http://hosted.filefront.com/wdq4587/
This is for my personal use only. If you like it and want some change or remove some thing I changed. Just tell me.
Features:
1. Add a additional AOB display in attack periscope interface.
2. Add a invisible glass in front of torpedo launch button while TDC solution panel on for safety.
3. Other small adjustment, see file list for explain. JSGme ready. Install over OLC GUI 1.2.6.
File list:
data\Cfg\Commands_en.cfg
Only add a Ctrl-S hotkey for weapon office torpedo solution. I use it for check exercise reason. If you don't like it, you may don't press the hotkey, delete the file before install or disable weapon office assistant in option menu.
data\Library\Cameras.dat
Restore free camera rotate speed from GWX 24 to stock game 60. I don't know why they limit it. If you don't like free camera, disable it in option menu.
Add Depth Charge Shake.
data\Menu\cfg\Dials.cfg
data\Menu\Gui\Layout\Ziellagewinkel.tga
data\Menu\Gui\Layout\ZiellagewinkelZeiger.tga
Above 3 files and menu_1024_768.ini used for add AOB display in attack periscope interface.
data\Menu\OLC\Salvo.tga
data\Menu\OLC\Single.tga
For player who not use SH3 commander to get salvo torpedoes numbers display than noting. I use the images for type VII u-boat. If you mostly use type IX, you can found corresponding files in OLC GUI package.
data\Menu\menu_1024_768.ini
This file is used for: add AOB display, add torpedo launch safety,
move Fuel, Battery, Compressed Air, CO2 panel to a low position,
move event camera window to left bottom corner,
move attack periscope compass to a low position,
move 2 periscope’s ship name low a bit
move OLC Dials Group (speed, course, depth...) a bit left
restore 2 periscope’s zoom factor display
restore binoculars compass display, for I need it while time compress
All modifications are comment by ";--" so you can search in file and remove any changes you dislike it before install or you tell me to remove it.
Why:
The 2 main features of this MOD patch is used for against one SH3 design flaw. The TDC of u-boat can select target bearing source. Most time it uses periscope bearing as input. But you can also turn it off and input target bearing manually. In SH3 the programmer use a variable called AutoUpdate to indicate the status. The problem is in real u-boat, when AutoUpdate on you may still input AOB, speed and range in TDC panel manually, but in SH3 the program prevent you do that.
The side effect of that is if you want input AOB, speed and range manually, you had to turn AutoUpdate off first. But if you turn if off, the TDC target bearing no long equal to periscope bearing any more. And if you push launch button while AutoUpdate is off, you have a big chance shoot to a wrong direction.
In OLC GUI a good design let the TDC solution panel on and AutoUpdate off, and the panel off the AutoUpdate on at same time. So you can manually input directly without have to switch AutoUpdate off first. But that can not prevent player make mistake. So I add a invisible glass in front of attack periscope and UZO interface torpedo launch button to prevent player fire while the TDC solution panel on (e.g. AutoUpdate off). But if you want manually set the target bearing, you can still always launch torpedo by pressing Ctrl-Enter.
Then about why an additional AOB display. Something you need know is the AOB in TDC is linked with the target bearing. If the target bearing change, the AOB will also change same degree, so you don't need set it again if the target ship don't change it's course (and your u-boat don't change direction). And you may shoot to several same direction ships without change the AOB setting.
In OLC GUI, if you want check the AOB setting in attack periscope interface, you had to turn the TDC solution panel on. But when you turn it on, the AutoUpdate is off. If the target is locked or you move the periscope, the AOB no longer update. So if you don't set AOB again before you close the solution panel, you will got a precision degrade AOB or wrong AOB.
The best way is to display the AOB without turn TDC solution panel on. So I add one. This one is also a little big than panel, so you can set AOB with more precision. Of course you still have to set it while the solution panel on. The ability of checking AOB setting is important because when ship in far distance, the AOB is small, and the estimated AOB may have more error than AOB near 90 degree. So you need check it again before launch when ship comes close. Another possibility is if you change the u-boat direction, the target bearing also change and the AOB will also change too and so become incorrect. You need always check AOB setting after u-boat change direction. Why it works this way is because the German TDC does not have a gyroscope or compass in it to keep the absolute target bearing.
After several test, I can say with U-jagd tools and this two change, I really fell more confidence and less mistake in u-boating hunting.
The above patched only tested in stock game.
Future:
I have consideration display a US style AOB instead of u-boat style AOB in attack periscope interface. I have found the way. The US style AOB (in SH4) is more instinctive and will let the novice player make fewer mistakes while setting it. But use two different styles AOB display will also make player confuse.
I will try add a zoom level in periscope to about 15X to let the computer graphics get a distinguish ability near the real human eye. So you don’t need come too close to identify the ship’s nationality and determine the AOB more easily without calculate. I don’t know such try will be good or not.
What the most I want is to enlarge the attack periscope to near the observe periscope size. But that need too many works I guess I will not have enough time and interesting to do that. I only know a little secret on how to modify the menu_1024_768.ini. I even don’t know how to make a popup panel.
download it here (190KB):
http://61.132.255.250/OLC%20GUI%201.2.6%20Add%20AOB%20and%20Safety.rar
or download here
http://hosted.filefront.com/wdq4587/