Newbie tips, what mods to get?

[devastat]

Hello all,

Just received a free copy of Silent Hunter 3 from Steam as I preordered Il-2 Cliffs of Dover. I am really looking forward to play this game, but am total newbie and don't know where to start.

What mods / if any / should I install to SH3, or does the game play fine straight out of the box for a newbie?
I would like to ask also that is there some good manuals that I should get online?

I also own Silent Hunter 4 and U-boat missions expansion that I bought year ago but never started to play it. Should I get into SH3 first before going into SH4?

Best Regards.

[Fish In The Water]

Welcome to the wonderful world of SH3!

While I can only speak for myself, I would definitely recommend going with the Grey Wolves (aka GWX3) supermod. It adds so much in the way of graphic and gameplay enhancements as to be virtually light years ahead of the stock game.

Once you've got GWX, http://www.thegreywolves.com/downloads/ there are a number of great additions - many of which can be previewed right here:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=170090

However you decide to mod it, I'm sure you'll find your free copy of SH3 to be a real treasure in a sea of average games. Once again, welcome to the pack and good hunting! :DL

[desirableroasted]

Hello all,

Just received a free copy of Silent Hunter 3 from Steam as I preordered Il-2 Cliffs of Dover. I am really looking forward to play this game, but am total newbie and don't know where to start.

What mods / if any / should I install to SH3, or does the game play fine straight out of the box for a newbie?
I would like to ask also that is there some good manuals that I should get online?

I also own Silent Hunter 4 and U-boat missions expansion that I bought year ago but never started to play it. Should I get into SH3 first before going into SH4?

Best Regards.

1) The game should play just fine from Steam; it will have all the necessary patches. Assuming you have a good rig for gaming, you should be good to go. Lots of info on this forum about system requirements.

2) Others may disagree, but I don't find the online manuals (or wikis) all that helpful. However, this forum is very helpful, and a great signal to noise ratio. If you use the search function and read the sticky threads, you are 90% there. And you can always ask here & generally count on a good set of replies within an hour or so.

3) Mods. SH3 has been heavily modded because it is, no denying it, a bit "arcadish" once you master the basics. What I would do, and others will have other good advice, is get a good grasp of the game before modding up. By doing that, and reading the forum, you will get a sense of what mods you would like to have. There are some entirely "micro" mods out there -- do your officers wear their medals at sea? -- and some substantial macro mods: realistic damage, realist harbor traffic, etc. And then the NYGM and GWX supermods that make SH3 a game its developers wouldn't recognize.

4) That said, SH3 Commander seems to be the favorite "utility" mod, for managing crew, setting certain gameplay options, etc. And GWX 3.0 seems to be the favored "super mod" for more difficult and realistic gameplay.

5) I played SH4 for a while. I would say no prior experience from SH3 is required for SH4. Not to open up a major discussion, but I personally find SH3 modded with GWX to be a far more interesting game than SH4.

But good hunting. I think you will find this forum serious and helpful, so just ask.

EDIT: By the way, the GWX Manual is worth a download on its own, even if you don't mod up to GWX. Excellent background on the U-boat war, good tactical advice.

[Gargamel]

I assume it's the steam version?

Couple quick notes about it:

1) When installing GWX (or any other mod) make sure you point the installer to where steam put it, not where the installer thinks it is.

2) When you run SH commander (which is required if you run any other mods or not, but read the FAQ's for making them work together), be aware some steam users have a delay between SHC launching SH3 and it actually launching, causing SHC to undo all it's changes. Leave the auto rollback option unchecked if this is happening. You'll see what I mean when you run it.

But as I mentioned, regardless if you mod otherwise, you must have SH commander. It's an external app, not a mod, but it does everything the menu of SH3 should have done.

And get a super mod, GWX seems to be the standard one, but there are a few other very good ones too. None is absolutely better than the others, just arguably, and then it all depends on which you want.

[desirableroasted]

2) When you run SH commander (which is required if you run any other mods or not, but read the FAQ's for making them work together),.

SH3 Commander is not required to run other mods... are your referring to JSGME? Same author and a lifesaver if there ever was one.

Absolutely, if you start to mod up. get JSGME.

[Gargamel]

SH3 Commander is not required to run other mods... are your referring to JSGME? Same author and a lifesaver if there ever was one.

Absolutely, if you start to mod up. get JSGME.

Err I knew that would sound confusing. It reads funny, but it says whether you have other mods or not, SHC is a requirement.

[desirableroasted]

Err I knew that would sound confusing. It reads funny, but it says whether you have other mods or not, SHC is a requirement.


Oh, agreed. It is the mod to have. Never leave port without it.

But, just so our new players know... it is not a technical requirement to have it.

It is just a (very) good basic mod to have.

[devastat]

Thank you all for your replies. It is a massive help for me. I think I will start with unmodded SH3. I have to say I find SHIV tempting because of better graphics, but I will start with SH3 anyhow. I will install some mods (like the GWX) after getting a better sense of the game first.

And yes it is the steam version, so thanks for all the tips regarding how to install the mods.

See you in the seas :arrgh!:

[Bakkels]

Like everyone else, I highly recommend playing with GWX 3 (or one of the other supermods like NYGM), it makes the game a lot better.
There also a lot of mods out there that greatly improve graphics. One of which is the High-Res fix which makes it possible to play sh3 on higher resolutions.
Also be sure to check out the waterstream+exhaust combimod v2.3, and if you have a fairly fast / new computer, try FM New Interior.

You might also want to have alook at this thread:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=179694
They're making a new supermod for sh3 that looks incredible. It's not out yet, but I understand it won't be too long for the first release to come out.
Here's their website with screenshots and clips:
http://www.u-boot-hahd.com/ubootwebsite/

And here's a pic of the mods I'm currently running through JSGME. (The ones on the right are activated)

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/8718/modslist.jpg

[VONHARRIS]

These are currently my mods
3FunnelLiner
Aces Hi Res Uniforms and Medals Mk 2
ArkRoyal
CAM-Ship
GWX - Integrated Orders (just for the interface since it conflicts with the Flags&Pens mod)
Capt. Teach's SH3 Color Icons with Integrated Orders
GWX_DFa-Flag&Pens_2010
Das_Boot_Besatzung_v2.1-Stations-ohne_Kaleun
EAX_Sound_Sim_SH3
Elite U-boat Binoculars
EoBritainArmed
Foam 512x512
GWX - 16km Atmosphere
GWX - Merged Campaign
GWX 3 - Msn Os Lite
GWX 3.0 Additional Ranks
Jap-Handelskreuzer --> I have changed that into an Armed Merchant Cruiser of the RN
LifeBoats&Debris_v4
M35Hansa
M35R
Med_Merchant_11v1.0
MEDALS for KM Blue All Crew Uniforms & Headdress Mod v1.0
New_T-2_Tanker_v1.0
NPL_Hap
Q Ship mod for GWX3 - Reloaded
QueenElizabethArmed
QueenMaryFixed
Radio Deutschland
RMSTitanicFin
SH3-Blue Night Map
SH4Style_flagS_midSpeed
SH5-Ships_V2
ssNormandie
Torpedo damage Final
Torpedo_HAHD_1024_GWX
TorpedoTubesFfireFinal vGW
TT SSArandoraStar
TT USS West Point
VonDos' HMS Glorious
VonDos' RMS Laconia
Waterstream+Exhaust Combi V2.3 for GWX3
WB's Fuel Economy v1.2
GWX - Contact Color
TheDarkWraith_Ship_Plane_Fire_Damage_v1_4_SH3
GWX - Enhanced Damage Effects
evan82's Loading Screens
GWX - Main movie - 'Das Boot'

plus 17 ships added manually from the Merchant ship Mod because my PC doesn't WANT to run the complete mod.

I also use mods to change skins for my Uboats but I load them manually to explore the various combinations.

The possibilities are endless. Find the mod combination that you like the most.
The only thing you have to do is try.
Good luck.

[Snestorm]

Welcome aboard.

I think you have made a wise decision.

I would recommend starting with an unmodded game.
Get the feel of what you do, and don't, like.
Then either seek a mod to alter those things you wish to change, OR read the forum posts in search of information on how to alter files yourself.

On supermods.
Just remember that there is good and bad in everything.
Supermods are a package deal, where you get the "good" with the "bad".
(Quotation marks used because we all have our own perceptions of what is good or bad).

Good reading:
GWX Manual. Very well written, and highly informative, whether you install the mod or not.

[Gerald]

Welcome aboard.

I think you have made a wise decision.

I would recommend starting with an unmodded game.
Get the feel of what you do, and don't, like.
Then either seek a mod to alter those things you wish to change, OR read the forum posts in search of information on how to alter files yourself.

On supermods.
Just remember that there is good and bad in everything.
Supermods are a package deal, where you get the "good" with the "bad".
(Quotation marks used because we all have our own perceptions of what is good or bad).

Good reading:
GWX Manual. Very well written, and highly informative, whether you install the mod or not. So your perceptions,what is it in the context...

[Snestorm]

So your perceptions,what is it in the context...

IE, modding preferences can be very individualistic.

[Gerald]

IE, modding preferences can be very individualistic. So true, :yep: