Newbie in over his head...

[Biggen]

Hello all!

I bought this game on Steam the other day after reading some reviews of it. So far, I am un-impressed but I am sure that is because I don't know what the hell I am doing! :)

I downloaded and installed GWX3 and that is the only mod installed. I would like to get more into manual navigation/targeting but I am so friggin lost it is ridiculous. I have been trying to follow this guide: http://www.paulwasserman.net/SHIII/

However, I don't know how to change the realism on the Academy Missions. Whenever I lock to a target, everything is computed for me (i.e. range, speed, ship type, etc...) How do I change it so that I can do this myself?

Any tips on getting me "rolling" here? Also, are there any other mods that would be good for me to download and install. This game looks like it has great potential, but damn, it is frustrating the heck out of me right now.

[Platapus]

Welcome aboard!!

My worthless suggestion is to remove GWX and play stock at the lowest realism levels until you get the hang of the game. Remember, the whole purpose of playing SH3 is to have fun not frustration.

Then I would start enabling some of the realism settings as you are comfortable with them.

You need to get comfortable with manual targeting before moving onto the other supermods. Sure you can play with GWX with automatic targeting, but why?

Once you are whoopin British butt with manual targeting, and you feel pretty confident with your skills, then I would start with some of the mods. Don't think you need to load up on the mods at first. :nope:

"In over your head" + GWX = frustration not fun.

The good thing about SH3 is that no matter how long it takes for you to feel comfortable with manual targeting, the war will still be there for you. :D

Hey, if I can get the hang of manual targeting anyone can. They don't call me the "Pooh Bear" of the Kragsmarine for nothing. :88)

I would also devour the stickies in this forum. Megatons of practical advice.

Good luck with punching holes in the floaty things.

[Convycmg]

Welcome aboard!!

+1!


Also fairly green at the game but take it from me it's worth the effort. Now my exams are done I'm also starting to get to grips with the manual targeting, after playing for a while with everything except that aspect.

It seems that the naval academy uses whatever realism settings you last used, ie in your career or the single missions. If you go to the single missions menu it lets you alter the realism without having to load an actual mission (remember to click 'Accept', not just hit the back button). Then you can go ack the the academy and your changed settings will be in effect.

The two pertinent options are 'Manual targeting system' and 'No weapon officer assistance'. If you check the former but leave the latter it should stop the WO automatically computing everyhing for you as soon as you see a target so you can have a go on your own.

If you leave 'no WO assistance' unchecked nothing will happen until you manually enter the data, or actively ask the WO to compute a solution (which will again be perfect, but give you the chance to compare your early manual attempts with WO perfection in a way other than launching your eels and have them miss :) )

Good luck!

EDIT: OH, also being new I've not gone too far down the modding route yet: I have GWX3 installed and also SH3 Commander. Commander is an invaluable add-on the the game IMO and really opens up the game if you're playing a career. It's a purely personal thing I guess but I don't see much need for you to learn manual targetting in stock before loading a supermod such as GWX. Perfectly possible for a nub such as myself to learn from within GWX. Besides,

GWX = Blitzkrieg
Stock = Sitzkrieg

Good luck again, lol

[Dissaray]

Learning to play the game at high realisum, as mention befor, is unadvisable. As for learning with GWX, I can go eather way with that one. Personaly I learned most of my SH3 skills with GWX so it is possible. Mind you it may take longer and you may want to put your fist thru the screen at some times but nothing is more rewarding than a hard won victory over a convoy that first time in GWX. I have been playing for years and have just turned the map contact updates off last night. Still geting kills but only with the deck gun; I haven't managed to put myself into a good torpido fireing position.

Finding a tutorial that is easy for you to read, understand and you find helpful in geting you results is also a good idea. I don't think I have read that one so I can't coment on it.

As for other mods to help you out with targeting, I recomend MGui 3 or the latest OLC gui. They are both fairly simular and give you tools to make gathering target data a little quicker, more realistic and in some ways intuitive than the stock tool set you get with the game. I use MaGui 3, just upgraded from 2 and am very pleased with the map ploting tools and the in scope targeting tools along with the general look of things. If you are looking for real hardcore "how they did it in the olden days" manual targeting Hitman is the moder you want to look up. He reaserched a bunch of this stuff and put it all into a mod that, as far as I can tell, is crazy accurate. Though I find it a little harder to use than I like.

[Jimbuna]

Not much I can add to the two excellent replies above other than, whether you keep GWX installed or revert back to the stock/vanilla version, keep the realism down until you get the hang of it.

Manual targetting is not the be all and end all so early on in your SH3 career........small steps, one at a time, upping the realism as you become more proficient is the key to whether you'll enjoy the game or not.

Welcome aboard http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/welcome.gif

[frau kaleun]

Manual targetting is not the be all and end all so early on in your SH3 career........small steps, one at a time, upping the realism as you become more proficient is the key to whether you'll enjoy the game or not.


Ditto. I mean, the main thing is to enjoy the experience. I decided to play at a level that lets me have fun doing it - not so difficult that I can't accomplish anything and want to give up out of frustration, but not so ridiculously easy that it's all just a walk in the park. Where exactly that line is, is different for everybody - and will change over time as you get more accustomed to doing the basics and need more of a challenge to have a good time with it.

[Convycmg]

Yeah I guess I neglected to mention earlier I have to admire the Kaleun with the mentality that they want to try with manual targeting from the get-go. I certainly didn't and it was only my last patrol which was my first where I'd resolved to do the targetting myself. Sadly it happened to be one of those 'perpetual storm-force winds' outings so I never got past trying to estimate ranges before losing patience and delegating to the perfect targetting skills of my WO. It did bring home though how much of a crutch it can be past a certain level though: I think hitting targets in storm-force winds is supposed to be nigh-on impossible. So the patrol I've just started now also has 'no WO assistance' checked. It is time.

Funnily I know my playing style and now that the option to call in the WO is gone I won't be too bothered about missing those difficult shots. But that also illustrates another important thing: it's all about your own mentality and playing style how you get the most from the game, as others have pointed out.

Coming back to GUI's other Kalauns have mentioned, if I were to install another mod/GUI to my existing GWX + Commander setup I understand I'd have to begin a new career to make use of the new mods. Not to hijack the thread too much (hopefully the answer will also be useful to the OP), but will my existing career still be playable, albeit without the new mods?

Thanks

[Dissaray]

As far as I know you can load up a new GUI in the middle of a career. You can not instal one in the middle of a patrol however. Basicaly wait 'till you get back to base befor instaling any mod is the general rule. Generaly speeking the mods that require you to start all over will have a not in the read me or instal instructions, there aren't many mods that require a restart though.

[raymond6751]

You don't need mods to learn the game and targeting. You can't even begin to appreciate the mods unless you work with stock version first. Then the mods, especially GWX can really impress you. Heck, there are enough mods to last a lifetime. A real lifetime, I mean, and not a career.

Have fun.

[Jankowski]

I started off that way as well, and was REALLY p*ssed of at it for some time until i aced all the training mishons (damn brain deadness!) and then i remember setting out on my first patrol in my little iia boat (in witch i forgot to put a flak gun on). it was dark, a surprise for me as i started off moving slowly off the dock (not eye candied like it is now!!!) and i was like WOW! i was scared and a little nervous. i saw a small frieghter, but the weather was pretty bad and couldnt take her. i have so many good memorys of this game. i started of at 0% of realism, and slowly made it up to about 80% in the end. its a good game if you have the patience!

[Biggen]

Wow! Thank you guys for all the kind words of advice!

I think i am going to leave GWX3 on for now. I have been playing around with it for the last few days and it seems I am getting a little better.

Following some tutorials, I can actually I.D a ship, gets its range, speed, and determine its bearing! I am still a long way off from being able to shoot at something, but I am getting closer!

I think for now, I just need some mods that make everything "look" better. I'll check the download area to see what I can find.

[Convycmg]

:D Dissaray, you're entirely right, thanks! Now to play around with those GUIs!


Glad to have been part of the service Biggen! I've been hugely amazed myself of how tolerant and helpful of fresh green Kalauns the old hands are on this forum. Hope you get things working to your satisfaction!

[Pisces]

Quite a good tutorial that covers nearly all can be found in the back of the GWX manual aswel. (Appendix B)

[Biggen]

Quite a good tutorial that covers nearly all can be found in the back of the GWX manual aswel. (Appendix B)

And I'm an idiot for not reading the GWX manual yet! I'll do that this evening.

I have so much to learn!

:wah:

[maillemaker]

What GWX mainly does for you is improves the graphical realism of the game, and increases the simulated difficulty of the game. Aircraft, in particular, are much harder to deal with under GWX than stock.

Manual targeting is actually fairly simple if you use the Fixed Wire method. Fixed wire makes range unimportant, which is one less detail to need to know.

Search for "fixed wire" in this forum for an explanation.

Steve

[Jimbuna]

And I'm an idiot for not reading the GWX manual yet! I'll do that this evening.

I have so much to learn!

:wah:

Your not the first and you certainly won't be the last 'person' not to read the manual first......I never.....long ago http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/2391/bubblegum21.gif

[irish1958]

And I'm an idiot for not reading the GWX manual yet! I'll do that this evening.

I have so much to learn!

:wah:
If you can read it in one evening, you are a real speed reader!:salute::salute::salute:

[PappyCain]

GWX3 is a must. Start your career in 1939 of course. It is the year you will have relative success - bump up your realism settings with each patrol. In time, and with experience, you will master the art of strategy, tactics, and your limitations in combat.

:salute:

* dovetail the sim with history, and U-Boat technology

[Jimbuna]

If you can read it in one evening, you are a real speed reader!:salute::salute::salute:

LOL http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/read2.gif

[flag4]

Hello all!

I bought this game on Steam the other day after reading some reviews of it. So far, I am un-impressed but I am sure that is because I don't know what the hell I am doing! :)

I downloaded and installed GWX3 and that is the only mod installed. I would like to get more into manual navigation/targeting but I am so friggin lost it is ridiculous. I have been trying to follow this guide: http://www.paulwasserman.net/SHIII/

However, I don't know how to change the realism on the Academy Missions. Whenever I lock to a target, everything is computed for me (i.e. range, speed, ship type, etc...) How do I change it so that I can do this myself?

Any tips on getting me "rolling" here? Also, are there any other mods that would be good for me to download and install. This game looks like it has great potential, but damn, it is frustrating the heck out of me right now.

the above posts say more than i could. i have playing for 4 years and still learning - so if you are enjoying it take your time, dont rush and.. 'Dont panick Mr. Mannering!'

ask lots of questions when you get stuck and dont forget to READ the history....I keep pushing this one coz its brill! Micheal Gannon: Operation Drumbeat. Watch Das Boot too - read it aswell, cheap copies are available from Amazon - through Subsim, of course!!:up:

GWX Manual is invaluable........but take your time