Silent Hunter question

[reignofdeath]

Hi all, Im new to these forums and have decided to join after making the decision to buy a good submarine sim. Thus I have chosen the Silent Hunter series of games :)

However my question is this, should I buy 4 or 5 based on my prediciment which is as follows;

-As much crap as i see about 5 being buggy, It seems that many people are quite happy with it after they download mods, which is acceptable for me
- I also really want 5, since it deals with the atlantic side of things which I am more interested in since I for some reason hate US subs of WWII(Something about the look of each one just irks my nerves ;))

-However, from what I have seen, the graphics seem very computer intensive and from what Ive seen on some peoples sigs, I assume Id need a beastly computer to run this game, which I dont have, what I do have is a computer that runs flight simulator x just fine with medium to medium high for all the graphics settings.

-Thus I come to the prediciment wether it would be better suited for me to get Silent Hunter 4 instead? seeing as how it is older and may run at higher graphics easier??

Thanks for any and all answers have a great day:)

Casey Smith US Navy

[mokaz]

However my question is this, should I buy 4 or 5 based on my prediciment which is as follows;

-As much crap as i see about 5 being buggy, It seems that many people are quite happy with it after they download mods, which is acceptable for me
- I also really want 5, since it deals with the atlantic side of things which I am more interested in since I for some reason hate US subs of WWII(Something about the look of each one just irks my nerves ;))

-However, from what I have seen, the graphics seem very computer intensive and from what Ive seen on some peoples sigs, I assume Id need a beastly computer to run this game, which I dont have, what I do have is a computer that runs flight simulator x just fine with medium to medium high for all the graphics settings.

-Thus I come to the prediciment wether it would be better suited for me to get Silent Hunter 4 instead? seeing as how it is older and may run at higher graphics easier??


Hey Casey,

I came up in the SH things with a SH-III i've found for 9 bucks. Then i've found SH-IV for twice the price of volume III =)

Then finally i've bought SH5 brand new and expensive.

My 1st feeling with SH5 was litterally that one; i'll get this game back at the store (having so much fun with the other two, but that one out of the box is just really really poor, on top of that in V1.0 which was rather a 0.5).

So as of now, i really enjoy SH5 with some mods you'll find right here in the download section; TheDarkWraith NewUI-TDC which i think is in version 4.2.0 right now is just hammering everything. Only with this the game is already 10 times better.

I've also added another one which is called Command Keys 1.03 which i guess the name is self explanatory enough.

Concerning Hardware matters on your system, just ask questions in the Hardware sub forum around here (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/forumdisplay.php?f=235)

So for me, SH5 + TDW NUITDC + CMDKYES = great fun.
Hope that helps
cheers,
m.

[Herr-Berbunch]

I would recommend SH3 + GWX (or any other super mod), it's dirt cheap and very playable.

SH4 I bought at the same time, and I know it will be brilliant when I get round to installing it, again with decent mods like RUB and Monsun.

SHV I've never bought, but probably will once I'm finished with SH3/4 - which isn't looking likely. I've heard good and I've heard not so good - but then both SH3/4 have their fair share of faults too.

On this forum you will read good and bad about all three games, and everybodys' point of view is just and valid - only you can decide if a game is for you.

Whichever game(s) you plump for, use the Amazon link at the top to purchase and this site gets some cash to help keep it running. :yep:

Edit: whichever game, all enhanced by mods, don't play stock!

[reignofdeath]

Okay thank you very much for the reply. As far as the pricing goes im not too concerned with that, I just want to pic a game that Im going to enjoy visually as well, and about the mods, I was planning on getting TDWs ship and plane AI mod for sure, from what Ive read/seen its a B.A. mod that needs to be a must have from the looks of it.

[Zoomer96]

Hey there! Welcome! This is a great board and you've come to the right place for info on Silent Hunter. To answer your question, Silent Hunter 3,4 & 5 are your best bets. Sh3 will run on a broad range of computer configurations and the GWX mods have really punched it up! SH4 and SH5 tend to require fast cpu's and high end video cards (check out the system requirements). The graphics are great in 4 and 5 and the general concensus around here is to buy the best video card you can afford.....I have both but I do like the fleet boats better....To each his own! I recommend you try SH5 and use JSGME to add TheDarkWraith's New UI for SH5 v0.2.0 (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=file&id=1582)mod. Keep in mind that many computers come with a chipset type video display and that just will not work for SH4 and SH5. I'm running it on a HP core duo laptop with a GeForce 9600m GT video display I've had for a year or so. You will probably have to upgrade the power supply when you add the video card. By the way the Radeon Video cards work quite well too I've heard. Good luck!!:|\\

[Sailor Steve]

WELCOME ABOARD! :sunny:

This really is a matter of personal choice at this stage of the game. I'll give my rundown of the current differences, but you should know that all three can be graphics intensive. I'm actually having more trouble with SH3 on my five-year-old setup than I am with SH4. That said, it is my understanding that SH5 does require a dual-core setup that the earlierversions don't. If that's correct and, like me, you don't have that yet, then you will need an upgrade.

SH3 is the oldest title of the series that is still available. On the plus side it is complete, or as complete as it's ever going to get. More modern gamers point out the old-looking graphics. Those of us who played it from the start are used to them. There are many more mod possibilities available for it than the two later releases combined. You can play from the month before the war started right through to the end of the war. There are also a great many things that are not, and may never be fixed with mods. That said, it is a great and fulfilling experience, and has more people talking about their campaign experiences that the later two as well.

SH4 is a great improvement in graphics and crew management, but lacks the mods development that has benefitted SH3. It has many things to recommend it, not the least of which is the fact that it actually runs better on a medium rig computer than SH3 does. Don't be fooled by the claims that SH4 is for the Pacific Ocean only. The U-Boat Missions add-on (included when you buy the Gold version) is a good start, and the Operation Monsun campaign lets you play the entire war in the Atlantic, so there's a very real choice there. Where SH4 suffers is the lack of small mods, which have so greatly expanded SH3.

SH5 has even better graphics, and as you can see from the screenshots looks amazingly lifelike. New additions include the realistic harbors and the ability to walk through the entire boat and interact more closely with the crew. The bad news is that the interaction is more in the RPG vein and is extremely limited. The worst part is that they (necessarily) had to limit it to the Type VII u-boats, and had to limit the campaign to the early (1939-1943) part of the war. This has drawn complaints from the completists among us, but the players who love the good parts of the game are willing to ignore it, just as SH3 players are willing to overlook the dated graphics of that game for the completeness.

Price of the game itself is no longer a factor, since you can now buy SH5 from Amazon for $16. Whatever your choice is, if you do buy from Amazon be sure to use the link at the upper right corner of this page to get there, so Subsim gets a cut.

I've tried to be fair in my assessment of all three, because as I said there is a very real choice that can be made. I play SH3 and SH4 because of the experience they give me, and as soon as the DRM is removed I will buy SH5 and play it for all it's worth.

[Jimbuna]

I'll echo what Steve has written but add one small piece....the price of buying all three is not that high especially when you look at the asking price for some of the latest PC games, so if your budget allows, I'd recommend you purchase all three (via the SubSim Amazon link) and prepare yourself for a long and fruitful gameing experience.

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

[reignofdeath]

Thank you very much for the welcome and the information steve. Like I said. graphics to somewhat matter to me and at this point I doubt my computer could run SH5 on high without having a ton of problems.

(however lucky me I know a friend that builds computers for a living and can build me a gaming computer built to run anything and everything smoothly, maybe Crysus (sp?) being the only one to run not completely smooth, for around 600$ :yeah:)

So if SH4 does look better than SH3 and can actually run easier, I might just take a gander at getting that. Or as jimbuna said I may just get all 3 if theyre that cheap!

Secondly, the DRM for 5 seems like a PITA, are they hinting towards removing it or is it just speculation that they will eventually?

And thirdly, Ive seen people talk about mods that make a status report for them to send in and such and such, which what I took away from that is that there are clans or wolfpacks that compete over how much tonnage they can sink in a career or a given month??

And fourth and finally, I know there is multiplayer, but is it just like they drop you in an ocean with X number of subs and you just get to hunt? or is it more campaign intervened? as in if your having trouble with a mission, you can join a server with other people on it and form wolfpacks to help you complete missions or anything?

The way im invisioning the multiplayer is its like an open campaign mode, so many people join a dedicated server and play their campaign, the only difference is that there are other skippers out there as well??

And Im under the impression that the game is kind of sandbox style? as no different levels but you get a mission which is at X Y and you travel there from your pen complete the patrol and return??

Sorry for all the questions but yeah :|\\

Oh and when I do get it I would like to join a wolfpack or a clan. and if possible as i can tell from posts, Id probably need someone to show me the ropes since the manuals obviously dont explain much, preferably once I get the good computer to run SH5 id like to be able to play it in as close to 100% realism as possible.

[Gerald]

:salute:

[reignofdeath]

Thank you all for the warm welcomes :yeah: Just so happens that I might actually serve on a Sub in the Navy as a Nuke :P but any ways can anybody answer my questions about the wolfpack/clan stuff like two posts down ?? If I get these games Im definately looking for a group of people I can have fun sending ships to Davey Jones's locker with

EDIT: I had a question posted in another forum and he redirected me here. but here are my specs

Model: Dell Inspiron 560S
Processor: Pentium Dual-Core CPU @ 2.7 GHZ
RAM: 4.00 GB
System Type: 64-Bit
Graphics Card: Intel G45/G53 Express Chipset

I know the GFX might be a problem, so one what cards would you guys reccomend that work beautifully with the game? and 2 is everything else in check as far as beeing either what i need or more than enough? If not I can have my friend build me a really good gaming computer for like 5 or 600 bucks.

[Zoomer96]

I'm not sure if that chipset will work very well with SH4 and SH5. Perhaps you should check out this website:

http://www.systemrequirementslab.com

Should tell you what games you can run on your system. I did notice that Mozilla Firefox did not interface well and I had to use Internet Explorer to get the analyzer to download. My Processors just make the cut but I can run everything just fine!

Sh3 is a great game and you'll enjoy playing it!

[Sailor Steve]

Thank you very much for the welcome and the information steve. Like I said. graphics to somewhat matter to me and at this point I doubt my computer could run SH5 on high without having a ton of problems.
I know the feeling. I appreciate a certain amount of realistic gameplay, but I appreciate the graphics as well. It's a tough balancing act at present, but we hope that SH5 will eventually turn out to give the best of both.

So if SH4 does look better than SH3 and can actually run easier, I might just take a gander at getting that. Or as jimbuna said I may just get all 3 if theyre that cheap!
They really are that cheap now.

Secondly, the DRM for 5 seems like a PITA, are they hinting towards removing it or is it just speculation that they will eventually?
A handful of people have reported problems, but most are enjoying the game with no trouble at all. I'm one of a group who have refused to buy it on principle. I will buy it as soon as it's gone. There is no hint of removal on the horizon at present, but they have said that when they officially abandon support for the game they will remove it.

And fourth and finally, I know there is multiplayer, but is it just like they drop you in an ocean with X number of subs and you just get to hunt? or is it more campaign intervened? as in if your having trouble with a mission, you can join a server with other people on it and form wolfpacks to help you complete missions or anything?
Multi-player is strictly one-off in all these games. You set up a game and play it. No campaign-type structure at all.

And Im under the impression that the game is kind of sandbox style? as no different levels but you get a mission which is at X Y and you travel there from your pen complete the patrol and return??
Campaigns in the Silent Hunter series are a combination of patrol orders and special assignments, with the exception of SH3, which was the first of the current crop.

In SH3 you are ordered to patrol a specific area for 24 hours, which is a holdover from SH2 which only had scripted missions.

In SH4 you are ordered to patrol an area for three days or so, then you recieve new orders, which might be for a new area or might be to just go hunting. Occasionally you will get orders to drop off a spy or pick one up, or to photograph a certain area.

Oh and when I do get it I would like to join a wolfpack or a clan. and if possible as i can tell from posts, Id probably need someone to show me the ropes since the manuals obviously dont explain much, preferably once I get the good computer to run SH5 id like to be able to play it in as close to 100% realism as possible.
There are several online campaigns in progress. The biggest of these is Wolves At War, in which you are assigned a mission, which you then play by yourself. At the end of the patrol you report in just as a real sub skipper would.

As for help, Subsim.com is the best manual you'll find anywhere. There are dozens here who are glad to help with anything from sending discs full of mods to people who have download troubles to walking you step-by-step through the simplest routine operations. You've come to the right place.

[reignofdeath]

After running the test is says I need to upgrade the CPU and Graphics Card to run the game. However, just got S.A.G. I saw if I could run Flight Sim X and it again said I couldnt, saying only my graphics card didnt meet the specifications. However. Flight Sim X runs extremely smoothly on my computer at mostly medium high specifications for the graphics. so Im wondering if this could be wrong about SH5 too? the only reason Im using SH5 as an example is because it is the prettiest looking game Ive ever seen apart from Crysis. and SH5 of course:)

[reignofdeath]

I know the feeling. I appreciate a certain amount of realistic gameplay, but I appreciate the graphics as well. It's a tough balancing act at present, but we hope that SH5 will eventually turn out to give the best of both.


They really are that cheap now.


A handful of people have reported problems, but most are enjoying the game with no trouble at all. I'm one of a group who have refused to buy it on principle. I will buy it as soon as it's gone. There is no hint of removal on the horizon at present, but they have said that when they officially abandon support for the game they will remove it.


Multi-player is strictly one-off in all these games. You set up a game and play it. No campaign-type structure at all.


Campaigns in the Silent Hunter series are a combination of patrol orders and special assignments, with the exception of SH3, which was the first of the current crop.

In SH3 you are ordered to patrol a specific area for 24 hours, which is a holdover from SH2 which only had scripted missions.

In SH4 you are ordered to patrol an area for three days or so, then you recieve new orders, which might be for a new area or might be to just go hunting. Occasionally you will get orders to drop off a spy or pick one up, or to photograph a certain area.


There are several online campaigns in progress. The biggest of these is Wolves At War, in which you are assigned a mission, which you then play by yourself. At the end of the patrol you report in just as a real sub skipper would.

As for help, Subsim.com is the best manual you'll find anywhere. There are dozens here who are glad to help with anything from sending discs full of mods to people who have download troubles to walking you step-by-step through the simplest routine operations. You've come to the right place.

Addressing what is in Bold. what do you mean by one off? I guess my real question is, when you set up the game, are you allowed a sort of free roam? as in you have the whole atlantic and can say set the ship traffic to high and such? and then go out to see with other skippers, sink some ships come back to port and refuel and keep on going until the hearts content??

And from what Id seen and read, you aquire new missions by getting new orders and going to new ports and such. in which case I most definately and probably wrong. lol

[SteelViking]

When it comes to questions about graphics cards, I have an ATI Radeon 4600 series(1GB), and the game runs just fine.

[reignofdeath]

Oh and according to that tool. everything passes except my CPU and my Graphics Card, HOWEVER the reason the CPU im using doesnt pass is because its not the recommended type. IE Intel Core 2 Duo is the recommended type and I have a Pentium Dual Core with more GHz than what is recommended (it recommends at least 2.0GHz, I run 2.7GHz)

The same goes with the graphics card,

Minimum: 512 MB DirectX® 9.0c-compliant video card (NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT / 9 / GTX 200 series or ATI Radeon HD 2600 / HD 3000 / HD 4000 / HD 5000 series) You Have: Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family http://d1ylr6sba64qi3.cloudfront.net/cyri/assets/images_/red_arrow.gif Apparantly a Fail? yet look below

Upgrade Suggested: Unfortunately, your Video Card does not meet this requirement. Click here to see some recommendations. (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/campaigns/campaigntemplate.asp?CampaignID=705&name=NVIDIA-Store&SRCCODE=SRL&CMP-BAC=SRL)

Features: Recommended attributes of your Video Card Required You Have
http://d1ylr6sba64qi3.cloudfront.net/cyri/assets/images_/green_checkmark_small.gif Video RAM 1GB| 1.7 GB
http://d1ylr6sba64qi3.cloudfront.net/cyri/assets/images_/green_checkmark_small.gif Hardware T&L Yes |Yes
http://d1ylr6sba64qi3.cloudfront.net/cyri/assets/images_/green_checkmark_small.gif Pixel Shader version 3.0 |4.0
http://d1ylr6sba64qi3.cloudfront.net/cyri/assets/images_/green_checkmark_small.gif Vertex Shader version 3.0 |4.0

the numbers on the left are the recommended and the ones onthe right are what I am running and these are at recommended settings


it reccomends NVIDA Geforce or Radeon. however my card is neither, yet under the card recommendations and what not are the cards specifications and mine passes them all with flying colours.. so does this mean that Im actually fine on playing this game at full graphics??? Because I meet the minimum and even surpass the recommended ... it just seems i dont have the EXACT type that the *tool* recommends..

As well as the fact that it said I cant run FSX and I run that on all medium high graphics and it plays juust fine

[Sailor Steve]

Addressing what is in Bold. what do you mean by one off? I guess my real question is, when you set up the game, are you allowed a sort of free roam? as in you have the whole atlantic and can say set the ship traffic to high and such? and then go out to see with other skippers, sink some ships come back to port and refuel and keep on going until the hearts content??
No, not in multi-player. By "one-off" I meant that the game has a time limit and it is of the "everybody starts in the vicinity of the target and stage a multiple attack" sort. When the time limit is up the game is over.

And from what Id seen and read, you aquire new missions by getting new orders and going to new ports and such. in which case I most definately and probably wrong. lol
In single-player campaign mode you are assigned a flotilla, including home port, and a type of boat (actually you get to choose). You are assigned to patrol a certain grid, and to sink as much tonnage as possible. You are ocassionally assigned a specific mission. There is no penalty for not meeting these goals. In SH5 there are campaign goals, and you are judged by how well you complete them, but there are already mods that let you ignore that. Basically you're free to do what you want, though you may be warned to "Be more agressive" if you don't live up to expectations. It's all pretty free.

Multi-player, on the other hand, is very limited, with no free roaming at all.

[reignofdeath]

ahhhh alright lol. thanks for answering the questions sailor steve, now I need to know if my computer can live up to SH5 now. I think for now I may just buy all 3 since theyre cheap and see which ones work on this computer and which dont then play the ones i can until I can get a better comp :yeah:

[Arclight]

Problem with the graphics is that it's an integrated chip. You should really use a dedicated card for gaming.

You might get away with it on SH4, since you have a fairly modern chip, but for SH5 at least a 8800/9800GT would be recommended. ;)

[reignofdeath]

Radeon? how much would one run me?? and my computer buddy also says that some chips only work with some motherboards and vice versa. but meh. oh well

[SteelViking]

Radeon? how much would one run me?? and my computer buddy also says that some chips only work with some motherboards and vice versa. but meh. oh well

Well, it cost me about 90 American dollars when I bought it a few months ago, so you could expect that amount or lower.

[reignofdeath]

Perfect thats well within my price range.. you buy it from amazon?? oh and how long does it take amazon to ship. Im gonna buy all 3 here soon and i wanna know how long Im gonna be waiting in utter anticipation to sink ships all over the world :cry:

EDIT: also props to you for your realistic underwater green color mod, I love it and plan on getting that (Reminds me SOOOOO fondly of Das Boot. jw but is that mod available for 3 or 4??

[raymond6751]

Let's face it, any of the three, with mods are terrific.

If you like the Atlantic side of things, and can find SH3 for cheap, it is going to run on your system. I'd buy SH5 because, with mods, is great. You are very likely to upgrade your system one of these days.

Best of both worlds, SH3 for your present system, SH5 for maybe now and for sure later.

SH4 is good but takes more patience. The Pacific is sooo large. Mods too.

[SteelViking]

Perfect thats well within my price range.. you buy it from amazon?? oh and how long does it take amazon to ship. Im gonna buy all 3 here soon and i wanna know how long Im gonna be waiting in utter anticipation to sink ships all over the world :cry:

EDIT: also props to you for your realistic underwater green color mod, I love it and plan on getting that (Reminds me SOOOOO fondly of Das Boot. jw but is that mod available for 3 or 4??

I actually bought my graphics card off of newegg.com Link: http://www.newegg.com/?nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-Branding-_-BTS-_-NA&utm_source=SEM&utm_medium=GoogleAdwords&utm_campaign=Branding
It is a really good sight for buying hardware. Not so good for buying software though.

Thanks for the compliment. No, sorry, my underwater mod is only for SH5. I have done absolutely no modding on SH 3 or 4. But, I am sure that the mods out for SHIII and SHIV will be more than enough for you(a lot has been done for those title modding wise).

[reignofdeath]

Ok thanks all you guys, Could any one please list the must have mods to make SH5 play better? I know about TDWs IRAI but Im wondering which others there arre and what they do. also if you could please describe each briefly and which mods are compatible with which. Please and thank you :)

Really nice Eye candy mods are what im lookin for too thx!

[pocatellodave]

As I was one riding the fence,and I decided to go ahead and buy SH V,I can tell you that I became frustrated at first,but after some help from several of the modders,I got the sim to run o.k.,but it's different then SH III,and SH IV.Yes it takes a pretty fair puter to run it,and the graphics are very nice,if your puter can handle it.
My suggestion would be to try SH IV with Operation Monsun mod so you could operate a u-boat as well as a U.S.A. sub in the Pacific.Later if you get a beefier puter you could try SH V.Buy your game thru Subsim,as they really do a lot for we sub skippers.If you need help,I will be glad to try,and most the modders are very helpful as well.Good luck,and I hope I have given you a hand with your decision.
pocatellodave