Back after a few years

[shawnyp420]

Hi All,

I'm back to SH 4 after a few years with 1.5 and the new real fleet boat and I've just got a few quick questions that I couldn't find answers to by searching the forums.

1. I noticed the periscope lock only works for about 5 seconds. This is EXTREMELY frustrating. Did I do something wrong with my install or is that supposed to happen??

2. I noticed that when I've got a visual on a target it doesn't get shown on my map. This is also extremely frustrating.

3. I noticed that auto targeting doesn't seem to be working. I thought I would ease myself back into the game gradually and use the auto target feature BUT...no go.

It seems like all the frustrations I had with the game a few years ago have been fixed only to be traded for a few new ones. Can anyone help explain?

[SteamWake]

Im guessing your talking about carrier mode...

In your 'office' there is a radio on the shelf to the left of your desk.

Click on that and choose your settings there.

Dont worry alot of people miss this. :up:

Oh and welcome back. :sunny:

[Aramike]

As far as your periscope lock is concerned, I'm betting that you're looking at the target at great distance. That happens to me too, at long range.

Let it close to within 6K to 7K yards in fairly clear weather and your lock will work properly.

Oh, and here's something I don't know... does auto-targetting even work with RFB?

[SteamWake]

As far as your periscope lock is concerned, I'm betting that you're looking at the target at great distance. That happens to me too, at long range.

Let it close to within 6K to 7K yards in fairly clear weather and your lock will work properly.

Oh, and here's something I don't know... does auto-targetting even work with RFB?

yea it does, left it on by accident once so ... yea

[shawnyp420]

Carrier mode? I'm looking at the radio options but they look exactly the same as the regular options. I don't see anything labeled "carrier mode."

I wonder if that is also true at very close ranges? I was around 1000 yards when I went to make my shot and the lock would only work for about 2 seconds. Even in manual mode, how are you supposed to work the stadimeter in only 2 seconds!!!!

[banjo]

Items 1. and 2. sound as if you are using the RFB mod. Those are two features of that mod.

[Aramike]

Carrier mode? I'm looking at the radio options but they look exactly the same as the regular options. I don't see anything labeled "carrier mode."

I wonder if that is also true at very close ranges? I was around 1000 yards when I went to make my shot and the lock would only work for about 2 seconds. Even in manual mode, how are you supposed to work the stadimeter in only 2 seconds!!!!I think he meant "career" mode.

[Rockin Robbins]

The RFB team is working on 1 and 2. Consider them temporary annoyances to get you to try alternative attack techniques.:up: All the problems there are caused by the lock being released. Auto targeting likes the target to lock. Items show on the nav map if they're selected in the periscope....it's a messy situation right now but hang tight. The trade-offs are going to be well worth it.

[shawnyp420]

HAHAHA!!! Career...how did I miss that!!??? You know what sucks? The RFB mod is everything I wanted from SH4....(sigh)....but I think those two hangups are gonna stop me from playing it. :( For all the beauty, realism and unpredictability RFB adds, not being able to fire your main weapon is...well...a deal breaker. I guess I'll be back next year. Till then!!!

[tater]

shawny, RFB patches are not rare, though of course "next year" is only a couple weeks away. :)

I'd keep an eye out for a resolution to that problem.

[Rip]

HAHAHA!!! Career...how did I miss that!!??? You know what sucks? The RFB mod is everything I wanted from SH4....(sigh)....but I think those two hangups are gonna stop me from playing it. :( For all the beauty, realism and unpredictability RFB adds, not being able to fire your main weapon is...well...a deal breaker. I guess I'll be back next year. Till then!!!

What you can do in the meantime is activate the PK(position keeper) in the few seconds while you have lock. Since with auto targeting the measurements are instantaneous and perfect you can make a shot with that data as long as he isn't evading or something. You can also see the contact on the nav map if you can get there and mark him before the lock breaks. It can definitely be frustrating but may accelerate your moving to manual targeting. There are some manual targeting videos out there that will greatly ease the pain of going to manual. It really isn't as hard as you fear. If you start late enough to have radar the use of the mobo (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/forumdisplay.php?f=225) utility will help greatly.

Hang in there you won't regret it!

:rock:

[shawnyp420]

Alright! You convinced me to stay. You were definitely right about the quick shot idea. As long as you fire off fish before the lock breaks they work just fine!! Same goes for using the marker to track their course.

Another question; this one concerning the SD radar. I'm noticing around the Japanese mainland, I'm coming in contact with aircraft visually instead of them coming up on the scope. I know the SD in previous versions was not a player operable device; has this changed? I usually drive around with the mast raised and that doesn't seem to help. Maybe its just because they aren't shown on the map? Thats why I'm thinking its not working? I do hear the watch crew say "Aircraft spotted, long range," and I can hear them, but usually I can't see them. Is this RFB just being "real?"

[Rip]

Alright! You convinced me to stay. You were definitely right about the quick shot idea. As long as you fire off fish before the lock breaks they work just fine!! Same goes for using the marker to track their course.

Another question; this one concerning the SD radar. I'm noticing around the Japanese mainland, I'm coming in contact with aircraft visually instead of them coming up on the scope. I know the SD in previous versions was not a player operable device; has this changed? I usually drive around with the mast raised and that doesn't seem to help. Maybe its just because they aren't shown on the map? Thats why I'm thinking its not working? I do hear the watch crew say "Aircraft spotted, long range," and I can hear them, but usually I can't see them. Is this RFB just being "real?"

Not sure about RFB's effect on this in the latest iteration, still figuring some of it out. Note as long as you use the PK you don't have to shoot right away. As long as the target hasn't altered his course or speed you can bank on the solution with auto targeting on. The PK compensates for ownship movement. I know IRL that the SD was less than perfect but can't speak to whether the RFB guys have managed to simulate that less than perfect ability to spot aircraft. I try to submerge during the day when I am less than 500 mi from an enemy airbase just because that is what was actually the protocol implemented by the typical CO at the time. Also make sur eyou submerge to a substantial depth or you may fing you get bombed anyway.

If the auto-targeting lock failure bothers you too much I owuld suggest removing RFB until you can get comfortable with manual targeting. Manual targeting is really the nirvana of realism and RFB without it is just kidding yourself. I would rather manual target without RFB than auto-target with it. Of course as always find what brings you joy. With a little adjustment SH can satisfy the most unskilled newbie and the former fleet boat captain both, just a matter of finding the right settings/mods. IMHO!

Rip

[banjo]

Another option for you is to try the TMO super mod which looks and works beautifully. At the same time you can keep an eye on these forums and when those two glitches are patched in RFB try that mod again if you like. Rather than quit playing for a while, if you like the game at all, try TMO with RSRDC.