Just Some Quick Help Please...

[Gregus Von Whyte]

Hello Gents, im new here. I been playin SH4 a lil while now, and just got the U-Boat expansion for it.

I was wondering if you guys could advise me on what upgrades, add-ons, and mods to get and how to put em in, or direct me to a link that tells me. Ive seen some acronyms rolling around like JSGME but have no idea what they are.

I come from the IL2 Sturmovik world, and an familiar with modding in there. Just looking for some direction to get me going so im not missing out on all the great things that have been created by you all. Any input is greatly appreciated, thanks guys!

[magic452]

Check out this link: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/forumdisplay.php?f=219

Magic

[Frederf]

Certainly,

You already have Silent Hunter 4 + U-Boats Addon (which is otherwise known as 1.5, 1.4 is the highest patch achievable without the UBM addon). No other patching required Ain't that nice? I remember IL-2 being a patch-fest.

JSGME
Before you begin get JSGME.exe and put it in your /Silent Hunter 4/ root directory,run it once, then close. JSGME is a simply file-shuffling mod manager we all use. Running it the first time makes a folder called MODS. You put the mod folders from the zip/rar of the particular mod into the MODS directory and when you run it you will see the mod name on the left ready to activate. It makes a backup of the original game files and advises conflicts... easy peasy.
JSGME (http://www.users.on.net/%7Ejscones/software/) Download Link

Game Behavior Bases
The pacific theater is served by Real Fleet Boat (RFB 1.52) and Trigger Maru (TMO). RFB is more historical and relaxed while TMO is more challenging and hardcore while also seeming to have more active current development. These include tons of upgrades to how everything behaves in the game, ships, planes, deck guns, crew, yadda yadda.
Real Fleet Boat (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=125529)
Triger Maru Overhaul (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=132330)

Campaigns
In the Pacfic Theater of Operations (PTO) you have Run Silent Run Deep which is excellent, Fall of the Rising which is a promising new mod/campaign (reworked based on TMO, I don't think you run FOTRS on TMO but alone). These control things like when events happen, how ships are pathed around the ocean, and what floatillas are available. One generally layers campaigns on top of the base behavior mod but simple RFB or TMO alone is an improvement over stock when it comes to the campaign.
RSRD (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=123467)
FOTRS (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=147988)

The Antlantic Theater of Operations (ATO) there's Operation Monsun and the anxiously awaited GWX4 (which is a mega, mega mod and going to be phenominal if GWX3 for SH3 is any indication). OM only affects the Atlantic in terms of campaign so it's very safe to install with other Pacific campaigns.
GWX4 (WIP) (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=151925)
OM (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=134922)


Odds and Ends

There are many other small and personal mods and tweaks floating out there. There's a huge database of historical music and radio transmissions out there for those with a big harddrive. The song randomizer exe is nice to mix up your gramaphone collection (basically a mp3 player in your boat). Radio addons are tied to an .ini file that controls when each is played and even the location/range of the station.

Popular at the moment is the periscope retexture that pastes a picture of the background of the conning tower room around the viewport instead of the stock background.

EasyAOB+other dials fix is nice and modifies the TDC behavior in a indispensible way.

Other than that, there's not too much to fuss with, especially before you get a half dozen patrols under your belt. Learning how to sail and shoot torpedoes takes some learning but it comes pretty quick. I'm running a career with RFB/RSRD and enjoying it but I will definately check out FOTRS and TMO eventually.

[Rockin Robbins]

And as great as all these mods are, they are not learning tools. You are best served by learning the game stock until you have acquired the automatic responses necessary to survive in a more hostile environment. Then Frederf's post is your menu for SH4 nirvana!:up:

[ReallyDedPoet]

Welcome to SUBSIM :yep::up:

[DigitalAura]

VERY HELPFUL! ( I was gonna ask this too )

Which mod gives you the nicer stop watch and dials? I would like to finish the stock game first but wouldn't mind a better GUI for those dials at the bottom and the stopwatch...

[Gregus Von Whyte]

Wow outstanding gents, Frederf you are awesome! Ive got the basics down, this is gonna be fun. Thanks again guys! Bravo Zulu shipmate!

[Armistead]

Here is a step by step how to load a mod. However, it now uses an old version of TMO as an example, so when you get to that part, use whatever updated mod you plan to use and obvious you can name the folders to whatever you want. I have a folder for each supermod and also keep mods there that I know work with it.

http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6421019045/m/5181035206