Any advice for a skipper who's considering returning to SH3?

[skookum]

I bought SH4 a while back because I wanted the extra eye candy. I missed the Atlantic so I downloaded Operation Monsun. I just can't seem to get the satisfaction out of SH4 that I got playing SH3. I have no idea why.

Any advice for a skipper who's considering returning to SH3?

[robbythesub]

I agree with you- SH4 has some advantages in terms of graphics, but it is certainly more fun playing SH3, the sea looks more real in SH3 even with all the mods which i have (plus a high end machine).
SH4 is too vast I think in terms of travel time and one has to return to port each mission when out of torpedoes where as in SH3 you can end patrol when ready.
Sh3 is the more fun for me.

[Letum]

You are not alone if forum numbers are anything to go by. More people visit the
SH3 forum than the SH4 forum most days.

[bigboywooly]

Personally I dont see the graphics as better in SH4
Not realistically so anyway
The UI is clunky and difficult to get used to despite my trying to

The game engine itself is a definate winner tho in terms of loading speed and the way it loads things
Campaign split into years and areas so only relevant ones loaded
Also the ability to use random entries in ports too so no need to layer docked ships reducing filesize further
No need for multiple ships\aircraft using cloned models as one model can be used with the ability to use seperate skins\loadouts even names via cfg\eqp
Vast improvement there no question

[Myxale]

Personally I dont see the graphics as better in SH4
Not realistically so anyway
The UI is clunky and difficult to get used to despite my trying to

The game engine itself is a definate winner tho in terms of loading speed and the way it loads things
Campaign split into years and areas so only relevant ones loaded
Also the ability to use random entries in ports too so no need to layer docked ships reducing filesize further
No need for multiple ships\aircraft using cloned models as one model can be used with the ability to use seperate skins\loadouts even names via cfg\eqp
Vast improvement there no question

But that's about it.
Right!
I was reading and lurking over there in the SH4 Forum and wasn't that thrilled of the things I saw.
The Mods by Leo Vampire (RIP matey) and the other cools stuff, cannot make up for the lack of almost everything else!

[Madox58]

I see SH4, with the U-Boat Expansion, as an early SH3.
Much work needs to be done!

I totally agree with BBW about the splitting of campaign files.
Maybe UBI adopted that from the split Campaign files in GWX?
:hmm:

And some of the ways they clone units, as BBW pointed out,
can be done in SH3.
So we all missed a few tricks!
;)

The graphics don't WOW me much.
And several things just look odd to me.

The crew members on deck for one.
When a unit is under attack?
The guy stands there and smokes a joint or something!
:rotfl:

[java`s revenge]

i do have sh4 and mods installed but it doesn`t attrack me.
Sh3 is much better to my feeling.

There are people who says that the graphics etc with sh4 are much better but when i look at the ships for example.
It looks like you see cutted cardboard pictures when they go by.

In sh3 i do have the feeling that i am at sea.

[Bosje]

its about feeling

I just got into RFB1.52 and it really is very good, the graphics are juicy with some mods etc.

but SH3 GWX2.1 just feels so... right

it all adds up but that's probably because that's what i was used to when i went over to SH4

personally, I still go back to SH3 sometimes, to finish my story. and i get immediately annoyed by all the little things which are improved by SH4 (crew rotation, officer on deck, resolution, load times, sunsets, weather, etc)

still, a convoy engagement under GWX is the most intense gaming experience I ever endured. ever

my 2 cents

[Sledgehammer427]

same here...sh4 with RFB is great, but, i dunno, its hard to explain....

like with sh3, you can feel the good times, you can feel the bad times, and you can feel it all in between. the germans were a world class group of sailors, the americans started with good boats, but werent that great with how they operated until near the end of the war.

personaly, i like the "start with crap and make it work" thing
rather than starting a new career in a racing game with the best car in it

[Bosje]

underdog is always more fun

[Myxale]

Don't get me wrong.
I know the GWX4 team will really make SH4 better, but when looking back, to the time where TGW for SH3 started and how long it took; and not to mention the work involved; is it really worth trying this again with SH4? :hmm:

[Sailor Steve]

I certainly hope so. I don't play for the kill, I play for the ambience, and GWX gives more of that than anything I've played so far.

Except of course SH3 Commander. I don't know if I can live without that one.

[Schroeder]

I actually started with SH4 and bought SH3 a few months later. I don't miss much from SH4 and gaming experience is way more intense in SH3 with GWX (IMHO). This is because the submarine warfare in the Pacific in SH4 was plain boring to me. I almost always stumbled on lone merchants without escorts (SH1.4 with RFB and RSRDC). Hardly anything exciting and given the point, that the technological advantage over the IJN grew even further throughout the war this really became unattractive to me.
(Maybe I should have tried TMO....):roll:

[msalama]

Both games have their strengths and weaknesses I suppose.

I play GWX 2.1 and RFB 1.52 equally, and think they're both brilliant. GWX is the more mature of the two, but I'm sure RFB will be one hell of a supermod too once they get the kinks out...

And besides, why should I pick just one theatre when there're two available :ping:

[FIREWALL]

The graphics in SH4 are cartoonish to me. But it has alot of other good things going for it.

[gAiNiAc]

the germans were a world class group of sailors, the americans started with good boats, but werent that great with how they operated until near the end of the war.

\\

Utter crap mate. USA had their submarine ops formulated by mid-42. As far as world class goes.....Show me any ww2 navy comparable to the USN in terms of strategic capability (Besides the IJN).

The Kriegesmarine was a wannabee yacht club in comparison.

Anyhow as far as SH4 Vs. 3 goes.....


The graphics are awesome with Kriller2's OE4 mod.
Fubar has made a bunch of great skins.
The "Kill Flags" mod is great as well.

The potential of SH4 to be modded is huge. The interactive orders alone is a quantum leap of potential.

SH4 is too damned easy though.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Let's stay on topic as per the last part of the OP:

Any advice for a skipper who's considering returning to SH3?
Come to think of it, I think the thread needs to be re-named as there
have been enough SH3\4 comparisons ( I am thinking that was not the intent here ) :yep:


RDP

[gAiNiAc]

As far as graphics goes....you have to be blind if you think SH3 has better graphics than IV:

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8931/hammerheaddawnpatrolrt3.jpg

[gAiNiAc]

Let's stay on topic as per the last part of the OP:

Any advice for a skipper who's considering returning to SH3?

Come to think of it, I think the thread needs to be re-named as there
have been enough SH3\4 comparisons :yep:


RDP

For going back to SH3.........GWX 2.1 + OLCE + Skins + Thomsen's Water & Sound.........Lifeboats mod, Von Dos's Liners....

[richardphat]

Hmmm a good tip......... you've got to be patient until christmas. GWX 3 Gold will be released, and hell yea.......... alot of new or improved stuff are waiting for us!:up:

Or what you can do while waiting, try those super mod NYGM, War Ace campaign.

[msalama]

If you can stand your sinkings drastically reduced then by all means go 100% difficulty with map contact updates disabled. A _completely_ new game, or rather a tactical simulator IMHO!

.
.
.

Ahem... Well OK let's just see if I can stand my sinkings drastically reduced, because I just switched my map contact updates off yesterday... :lol:

[Jimbuna]

Staying on original topic.

Install GWX2.1 and get some practice in whilst preparing for the arrival of GWX3.0 http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5871/animation1xx5.gif

[Dekessey]

Advice: Use SH3cmdr and GWX, and most important, set crew management to no-fatigue!!!

That's the worst thing in SHIII IMO.