New campaigns , choosing the month?

[Paul Riley]

Evening everyone.

Not sure if this has been discussed before,but here goes.Lets say I get killed in my current campaign and then begin a new one,is it possible I can in any way choose the month I re-enter the war?.The reason I think this is important is because,for example,in my second campaign I have just embarked on my 2nd patrol starting in March 26th 1942.If I was to get killed,is it possible I could also choose to begin my 3rd campaign also in March?.This obviously is more realistic and would also serve to prevent any tedium setting in,which could be a possibility if you got sent back to January all over again.
I am aware this cant be done within the game itself,so is there any alternative way it can be done?.
For the record,I am using the stock version with the 1.4 patch.

Thanks.

[nirwana]

I havent used the feature yet but u can set a new carrear in sh3com to any startdate u like within the min/max of 9/39 and end of war.

[Paul Riley]

sh3com? , is that SH3 Commander?.Well,as I said I dont have any major mods like that one installed,but if SH3C includes this option then I am definitely getting it installed!
Can anyone give me a quick rundown on how to correctly and safely install SH3C over the stock game,and if it will affect my current campaign at all?.
Oh I almost forgot,if the file is huge I only have a 56k dialup,yeah yeah,...I know :nope:

Thanks.

[nirwana]

sh3commander is not a mod its a standalone tool to change parameters while docked at the homeport or to start a carrear or mission. U can install it while ure on patrol without any prob but u can make changes only with it if the last saved game ure character is docked in office in ure homeport. Make only sure after installing sh3com u enabled "rollback after exiting sh3" in options.

I run all my sh3 installations with the different supermods with sh3com. There are so many features in it i would be lost not using it. Of cause it works with stock sh3 as well.

[Paul Riley]

Ahh,thanks for that.
If you dont mind,just give me a few examples of some of the more major things you can do with SH3C,and in what circumstance you might want to effect that particular change. *really interested now*

[Kielhauler1961]

Hi Paul, SH3 Commander isn't just a super-mod, it's a "must have". It adds new ships and layers of immersion that, together with GWX 2.1, takes the game into the stratosphere... It enables you to alter the crew fatigue "model", change TC values to suit your preferences, adds new radio messages,allows you to set patrol starting date: month/year, crew rosta...a whole bunch of stuff!

To make everything run smoothly, follow these steps...

1. Uninstall SH3 and ALL its related folders, using the default Microsoft program.
2. Double-check all files are "wiped" to make sure your hard drive is "clean".
2a. Run "defrag".
3. Re-instal Sh3.
4. Patch to 1.4.
5. Defrag hard drive again to push all related files together.
6. Download JSGME from filefront.
7. Download GWX 2.1.
8. Download and install SH3 Commander 3.1 and follow the "read me" that comes with the file.
9. Run "defrag" for same reason as before.
10. Enjoy! You now hsve a new gaming experience, and for free (thanks to all the modders out there).:up:

Phew!

[Paul Riley]

Kielhauler,
That my friend,is exactly the info I needed!
*bows deeply* :rock:

[nirwana]

Besides setting the start of the carreer/Flotilla/sub type/# of the boat/patrolgrid
options are:

- skip intro
- rollback
- use system fonts
- start patrol at sea
- simulate ralistcu career length
- use historic boat availanilty
- randomize or set no of day spent in base
- use real shipnames in log
- randomize grammophone
- show hull integrity
- fatique models
- water clarity
- wave height
- gun/AA reload time
- model effects (malfunction and/or sabotage)
- randomize ship tonn.
- randomize crashdive depth

- max tc of all occuring effects used in the game (too many to list here)

Some supermods even strongly recommend sh3com with a specific setting listed in their manuals. The hassle dl it with dialup is well invested in using sh3com.

I forgot use multish3 tool to install a supermod like GWX - with it i have 5 sh3 installations with different supermods with 1 partition and 1 OS. U will still have an original sh3 installation available for future supermods. SO dont uninstall the stock sh3 u got already and make ureself familiar with multish3. Adding sh3com to ure stock sh3 inst doesnt require any changes on ure current setup.

[Paul Riley]

Nice,thanks for that brief listing.
Finally,if and when I install Com. I guess its bye bye to my current campaign :nope:
Oh well,I guess super realism is more important,even if I will probably be drawing my state pension by the time I ever manage to finish SHIII. :dead:

[nirwana]

Bah im now in my 12th patrol in Jan 41 i started 3 months ago and im sure if i dont get busted i will have finished it by xmas as POW. stock sh3 compared to any supermod is like a beatle vs. a porsche.

[Kielhauler1961]

Yes, Paul, you will have to sacrifice your current saved careers, but how long did you realistically expect them to last anyway? U-Boat skippers have a short life expentancy... My best, after over 3 years playing the game, is 17 months! Never had a skipper make it from '39-'45. Yet!:)

[nirwana]

Ive told u dont take ure wife or husband with u on patrol.:D

[Kielhauler1961]

One U-boat kapitan DID take his wife out on his boat. It was sunk and she was drowned. Anybody care to tell me who the skipper/boat was?

I'll post the source if anyone gets close... KH

[nirwana]

:o:o:o:o really ?! I never heard of it just saw it in some old Hollywood commedy movies from the 60s

[von Zelda]

1. Uninstall SH3 and ALL its related folders, using the default Microsoft program.
2. Double-check all files are "wiped" to make sure your hard drive is "clean".
2a. Run "defrag".
3. Re-instal Sh3.
4. Patch to 1.4.
5. Defrag hard drive again to push all related files together.
6. Download JSGME from filefront.
7. Download GWX 2.1.
8. Download and install SH3 Commander 3.1 and follow the "read me" that comes with the file.
9. Run "defrag" for same reason as before.
10. Enjoy! You now hsve a new gaming experience, and for free (thanks to all the modders out there). Phew!

A couple of additions to the above:
(1) Once you do the un-install listed in #1 above, item #2 is very important or you will not be able to install your 1.4 patch. Run a search for SH3 to find the remaining SH3 program folder on your hard drive (usually it is listed in the C drive). It contains some leftover files that will prohibit you from installing the 1.4 patch. Now that you have found the SH3 program folder, DELETE IT. Also, under your "My Documents" folder you will find a remaining SH3 folder, also DELETE IT. These program folders and files will be recreated on your new install.

(2) Item #6 above, GWX includes the JSGME mod enabler so you do not need to download it. You do not need to use the mod enabler until you begin adding additional mods to GWX.

(3) Item #7 should say first download and install the GWX program, and then download and install the GWX 2.1 patch. You need to install GWX before the GWX 2.1 patch. Then, there is an update/fix to GWX 2.1 which needs to be downloaded and installed by way of the mod enabler within GWX. You can find this fix on the forum if you look.

(4) Item #8 above, download SH3 Commander 3.1 and install. It is a stand alone program that you use to launch SH3 with or without GWX installed. If you run GWX with SH3 Commander, there is a patch to SH3 Commander that you MUST install. It contains three folders that you copy and paste into the SH3 Commander Cfg folder.

You originally stated that you are running the stock game with only the 1.4 patch. I believe that you can run SH3 Commander 3.1 with your present configuration. You might wish to test out SH3 Commander first before you tackle GWX and GWX 2.1 patch. Thus, you would not need to patch the files into SH3 Commander until you upgrade to GWX. And eventually, you will want to move up to GWX.

Paul, if you have any further questions regarding this, you may send me a personal message.

[Sailor Steve]

Yes. SH3 Commander can be run with any version of the game, and you don't have to uninstall/reinstall anything unless you want to install GWX. Commander installs itself directly to your computer and lets you do just about anything you want, including using my recently re-uploaded Random Loading Screens mod. It's the best tool out there. There is also an editor you can install that lets you write your own log books.

And yes, one of its many functions is to let you start at any month of the war.

[StarLion45]

:lol: Hi!
Just remember to reboot your pc between installs then you be safe:)



http://content.sweetim.com/sim/cpie/emoticons/0002014A.gif (http://www.sweetim.com/s.asp?im=gen&ref=10)

[Paul Riley]

von zelda,I really appreciate your support here,and will certainly PM you if I run into any problems.What I will have to do first is get my head around all that needs to be done,then I will contact you.Also,I just need to say I am fairly well versed with most PC operations as I am trained in PC building/repair/maintenance,and have also built and serviced 2 of my own PCs,so dont worry,you wont need to work too hard on me :smug:
To everyone else,thanks for your answers on this topic,they all help immensely.
And last but not least,a warm "hi" to starlion :up:

Right,i'm off to bed,im bloody knackered after 12 hrs solid sailing west,trying to free myself of the bloody RAF net around the UK and Gib,having to routinely dive during the day,and surface at night,and so on.I am on my way to a patrol near Cape Verde,W.Africa (cant remember the exact date but all these missions near this area lately lead me to believe that Rommel is about to invade N.Africa,and I am sent to take part in his preparations).Things are really starting to hot up for me as I am coming to the end of March 42.Just as I was leaving French waters earlier in the day I thought I would try a sneaky run on the surface,see how far I could get,until about TEN fighter bombers appeared on the horizon like a black cloud! I wasted no time with my sudden baptism with certain death.I instantly blasted into the tower "ALARRRRRRRRRRM! RIGHT FULL RUDDER! STEER NORTH! (in an attempt to undercut the first load),LEVEL OFF AT 50m!,PREPARE FOR MASSIVE BOMBARDMENT!" :o .Which of course did come,but my keen eyesight and reflexes saved the day yet again,and we were already at a safe depth well before they could find their mark.
I have also decided to switch off Fumo29 (my first use with this device) during daylight hours,instead finding a better use for it at night and in low visibility.This device could have been the initial cause of that first attack.

See you all tomorrow.

[Paul Riley]

Yes. SH3 Commander can be run with any version of the game, and you don't have to uninstall/reinstall anything unless you want to install GWX. Commander installs itself directly to your computer and lets you do just about anything you want, including using my recently re-uploaded Random Loading Screens mod. It's the best tool out there. There is also an editor you can install that lets you write your own log books.

And yes, one of its many functions is to let you start at any month of the war.

hehe,I keep my own log book next to me mate,I record everything! :smug:

[Sailor Steve]

hehe,I keep my own log book next to me mate,I record everything! :smug:
Same here:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=88004

One of Commander's functions is to generate patrol reports:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Image1.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Image2.jpg

The Patrol Log Editor lets you add your personal touches to the log, which then transfers it all to the in-game log.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=133102&highlight=commander

SH3 Commander is arguably the best single tool created for the game. I once had as my sig "If I had to choose between SH3 Commander and GWX...well, let's just say I wouldn't want to have to make that choice."

[Rommer69]

I am very interested in this matter.I play GWX 2.1, but i Use multiSH3 and I have other two installs including one stock SH3 patched to 1.4.
I will like to play SH3 with the install with GWX2.1,
-do I have to uninstall everything?, only the GWX2.1?,
-can i copy-paste then the Stock install and install again GWX2.1?

I have already downloaded SH3 com,
-if i install it, where do it will be installed?, or do i have to choose the place for it?
-How do i install it , with JSGME or just clicking in the icon?
-When i run SH3, i do it by clicking SH3 com or in the GWX icon?
I know there are many questionsand probably much of them stupid, but it is the only program i am a little afraid of.
Thank you in advance guys. There is no place like this to learn how to develop and play the best game of all.

[Paul Riley]

hehe,I keep my own log book next to me mate,I record everything! :smug:
Same here:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=88004

One of Commander's functions is to generate patrol reports:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Image1.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Image2.jpg

The Patrol Log Editor lets you add your personal touches to the log, which then transfers it all to the in-game log.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=133102&highlight=commander

SH3 Commander is arguably the best single tool created for the game. I once had as my sig "If I had to choose between SH3 Commander and GWX...well, let's just say I wouldn't want to have to make that choice."

From what you have shown here SH3Comm looks like the mod for me,as I am still running stock 1.4,and into my 2nd patrol 2nd career.I would really like to delve into this new program/mod.Sadly,I am still using a dial up connection and I have a bad feeling that I wont be able to successfully dl the file as there is a time out on dial up after about 2 hrs or so.I do have download accelerator however,and this helps a lot with broken dls due to the time out.
Can you tell me how big the file is and give me the link to the Commander add on?I know there are numerous posts directing folk to all sorts of files in here,but if you can give me the link here that would be great.

Cheers Steve :up:

[Murr44]

Hi Paul:

You can find SH 3 Commander here: http://hosted.filefront.com/Wolfehunter/2238729 .The main file is about 21 MB & the 3.13 update & Patrol Log Editor are each less than 1 MB in size. It was said in another post in this thread that it adds new ships to the game. It doesn't add new ship types but does have the option to include actual WW2 ship names in your patrol logs. When you exit SH 3 at patrol's end, open SH3 Commander & click on "generate a personnel file" and you will see names added to the list of ships sunk.

If you have Vista (forgotten if you do or not) don't install Commander to your Program Files folder. Vista puts some weird restrictions on saved files within that folder. Pick some other place ie. the default C drive & Run the file as Administrator. Unzip the 3.13 update & Patrol Log Editor files and drop them into the main SH3 Commander folder. Allow the 3.13 update to overwrite what's in there. It adds a "Start at Sea" option which will start your patrols a few miles from port if checked.

You can find a WAV file here: http://hosted.filefront.com/SailorSteve/ that adds a music file from Das Boot (& some more pics I think). These should be placed into the Nightclub folder of SH3 Commander. Check the "Venatore's Drive Through" thread here and you can find some extra U-boat Commander photos. These go in the Images folder of SH3 Commander. You will have to rename them before installing as they will overwrite the photos that came with Commander if you don't.

Hope this answers some questions...:)

[Sailor Steve]

Another thing you can download from my sig is the 'Loading Screens' mod, which adds 100 different loading screens to Commander and randomizes them so you never know what you're going to get.

@ Paul Riley: It looks from your other thread that you downloaded it successfully. Good job!

-do I have to uninstall everything?, only the GWX2.1?,
-can i copy-paste then the Stock install and install again GWX2.1?
Commander isn't a mod. It intalls automatically and doesn't require you to uninstall and reinstall anything. Just load it up and play.

I have already downloaded SH3 com,
-if i install it, where do it will be installed?, or do i have to choose the place for it?
It will create its own folder in Program Files. If you use Vista then follow the directions given by Murr44 - he knows more about it than I do.

-How do i install it , with JSGME or just clicking in the icon?
It has its own installer, so you will just follow the directions; much like installing a new game.

-When i run SH3, i do it by clicking SH3 com or in the GWX icon?
You create a desktop Icon, and launch it from there. Once you set up Commander for the career you want, it has a button that is labelled 'Launch SH3'. If you are using SH3 Weather as well, it will go to that screen first; but in any case you should always use Commander first and it will start SH3 for you.

I know there are many questionsand probably much of them stupid, but it is the only program i am a little afraid of.
Not at all. There are a lot of things I don't try because I want someone to tell me it's alright first. Glad to help when I can.

[Rommer69]

Thanks for your explanations Steve:up: When i finish my next patrol i think i´m going to try with it.
For sure this is the forum with the best guys i´ve ever seen.

[STEED]

New campaigns , choosing the month?

May 1945 now you can go home to the wife and kids. ;)