map contact updates and other questions

[old1]

I just re-installed SH4 after a long time away, and I'm running with RFB 1.5 + RSRDC 1.5. (I tried 1.52, but kept getting CTDs even with nothing else installed, so I went back to 1.5, which works fine - this is on game version 1.5 of course).

A few questions:

(1) I keep trying to turn off map contact updates. I do it in the options screen, but every time I start a campaign, it automatically turns map contact updates back on. (I.e, unchecks the option). I hate automatic map updates :D. Is there anything I can do to make it leave the darned thing as I set it instead of changing it behind my back? Is it one of the above mods doing it? It feels like cheating to have the contact updates auto-displayed. I'd rather plot them myself with radar, sonar, etc.

(2) Out of curiosity, what all does the game model as far as detecting your sub? For instance, does it matter if I have the periscope JUST above the waves, as opposed to higher than it needs to be? Is there some guidelines for staying non-visible, such as, in the day don't leave the scope up inside of 4000 yards for more than 20 seconds, or whatever? Does the moon matter at night? Or whether I'm between them and the moon, or vice versa?

(3) Some annoying SOB keeps sneaking into the radar room and turning off the sweep setting. The same guy apparently likes to mess with the sonar bearing when I'm not in there. Can I make him stop? I'm gonna keel-haul the damn guy if I find him!

Mostly my immediate problem is getting rid of the automatic map contact updates. Any help with that would be great. I'm trying to play on 100% realism except for having the external view available just for coolness factor once in a while.

Thanks!

[thor headsplitter]

In career mode you need to set the options in your office. Look for the radio on the shelf to the left mouse over it it says options click and change. Always minimize scope exposure beware the moon and pray for bad weather.:arrgh!:

[gutted]

the options that will get used in the campaign are intially set when you choose a difficulty level at the campaign start screen.

after you get to the briefing room, look on the top row of the shelf to the left. there's some kind of radio looking thing (is that what it is?). it should fly out when you hover over it.

click on it and tweak the settings there before taking your first mission. if you ever want to change the settings mid-campaign.. click that same "radio".

[gutted]

eh... someone beat me.

[magic452]

(3) Some annoying SOB keeps sneaking into the radar room and turning off the sweep setting. The same guy apparently likes to mess with the sonar bearing when I'm not in there. Can I make him stop? I'm gonna keel-haul the damn guy if I find him!

That SOB is you! I want to see you keel-haul him. :haha:

When you go to the sonar or radar stations they will default to manual mode.
When you return to the bridge they will default back to sweep.

The moon does defiantly matter, but I don't really know if your positioning with respect to the moon does???? It would seem that it should.

I only put the scope up as far as necessary, It does seem to make a difference. The shorter the exposure the better.

As Thor-Headsplitter says bad weather is your friend.


Magic

[old1]

Ah, the radio! I found it and that did the trick for the no map updates trouble. Thanks guys.

Now if only I could hit destroyers! I'm having decently good success on merchant shipping inside 1500 yards, but the destroyers seem to see my torps instantly and accelerate so I miss them by a ship length to the stern, almost no matter what. I launch from 750 yards and lead them by 2 to 5 degrees on the TDC, but I *still* mostly miss to the stern. I guess eventually with experience I'll get a better feel for how much to lead them as a function of my distance at launch.

(And once they start zig-zagging and changing course constantly, I can't hit them no matter what, so I just dive and run away. Do folks eventually get good enough to engage them if they're aware of you and turning a lot?)

Oh - the other trouble I have is identification. If the ship is moving fast (say, 15+ knots) I generally have to pause to leaf through the ident manual, which doesn't react very fast. And early on you only have a poor bow-on view which isn't good enough to tell which type it is, so you have to do it at a larger aspect angle. I want to get so I can do this without having to cheat with pause.

This is a cool game. Brings back memories of playing Silent Service on a C64 :)

[gutted]

you really shouldn't be going after destroyers. as you've noticed, they're not ideal targets. not to mention you barely get any tonnage for sinking them.

[Munchausen]

I'm having decently good success on merchant shipping inside 1500 yards, but the destroyers seem to see my torps instantly and accelerate so I miss them by a ship length to the stern, almost no matter what.

:cool: Webster has a fix for destroyers with unrealistic acceleration rates. Check it out.