Missions and Game Story Line?

[Thallium]

Hello all! Casual SH3/SH4 player here. :salute:
I recently felt like giving SH4 a go after I had played SH3 years ago.

I'm on my 3rd patrol in my career and I'm a little confused with what the game "wants" me to do.
Upon docking after my 2nd patrol, the cut-scene video plays, explaining that Japanese carriers are heading to a location around Indonesia.
Subs are to patrol these waters in the hopes of finding a Japanese flat-top while the allied fleet is on its way to intercept the region.

I was excited about a chance at a carrier, and started next the patrol, except the mission assigned to me is a recon trip to coastal Japan waters, no where near the cut-scene video's sub patrol/expected carrier target location???

Am I supposed to follow orders and head to Japan or do I head to Indonesia to be on the look out for a flat-top?
Seems very odd the game would take the time to show me a video about a prime target, talk about subs patrolling that region then assign me a mission in the completely opposite direction... Was kinda expecting the next mission to be a patrol, around Indonesia. Shocking I know.

Advice?

[razark]

The briefings are giving you an overall progress on the war, which covers a rather large expanse of water. Your individual part in the grand strategy appears to be patroling around Japan. ComSubPac knows what he's doing, and is sending your boat to the location he feels it will make the needed contribution to the war effort. You have been assigned your orders, and are expected to carry them out to the best of your ability.


Out of game answer: Go where you want. You don't get penalized for skipping your assigned orders. If you think you know where you can find the enemy, go ahead and try. Many times, I've spent long days in the patrol area, with maybe a group of fishing boats to show for it. Tonnage is worth more than completing patrol objectives.

[Gerald]

:up:

[Daniel Prates]

Those cutscenes are just a little flavour of what was going on in the pacific war. So are the "fox" reports you get constantly in your radio, which will be comenting things as irrelevant (for a sub skipper in the pacific) as the soviet victory in Stalingrad.

None of this is supposed to give you insights or directions on what you should be doing in the sea.

However the game does replicate the most famous engagements of the war, so if you happen to be near one of them in the correct date, you'll see it - and maybe take a part in it.

But what you're really required to do is to fulfill your mission assignment - which can be varied as droping agents and cargo in specific areas, attacking specific task forces, patrolling specific areas for merchant shipping - as well as sinking all targets of opportunity that may come in the way.

As Razark said below, you do not get penalized that much not fulfilling mission goals - as long as you get back alive with little damage and a beautiful hit record.

[magic452]

Seems very odd the game would take the time to show me a video about a prime target, talk about subs patrolling that region then assign me a mission in the completely opposite direction...

That is the military way and is in complete agreement with standard military procedures. :haha: :haha:

Welcome to the boat mate. :salute:

Nothing says you can't go take a look at a few flattops and then do your original mission. This will work much better if you happen to sink one of said flattops. :yeah:

Early war it is important to complete as many missions as you can, helps to get new equipment, but a little side trip now and again is also permitted.

Good luck and good hunting.

Magic

[Daniel Prates]

I particularly like raiding harbors along my route. Some of them aren't even guarded!

[Armistead]

Stock doe's a poor job on historical battles and invasion groups, any use RSRD mod to get almost perfect traffic history.

I go to where the battles are or where I know I can ambush along their course to battle. Often RSRD will give you patrol stars along the TF course not near the battle, so it may throw you off. Course if you know your history you can easily engage enemy groups.

[blue78]

Hi,

and welcome to the game.. I also second the point about raiding harbors sometimes the smaller ones are lightly guarded or almost not at all ;)

Cheers