krash's Learnifying Thread :P

[krashkart]

This will be the place where I dump all of my useless SH3 knowedge. Feel free to add your own useless SH3 knowedge. :sunny:


Decks Awash (courtesy of the SH3 community)

Today I finally figured out how to sail with decks awash. I don't know what I was doing wrong before. Anyway, for those who don't know, decks awash simply means that the sub has been submerged just enough to conceal the deck under water. Set your depth to between 7-8 meters and you can cruise around with just your conning tower sticking out of the water. Watch crew is still active, and your visibility is reduced. Some have even reported better fuel economy, but I haven't noticed that yet.



Possible Fix for CTD while the game loads (courtesy of Osmium Steele)

CTD while loading fix. (It has worked for me for nearly a year now)

1. Right click on your main SH3 folder and bring up the properties menu.

2. Uncheck the read-only box. When it asks, tell it to uncheck all sub-folders too.

I used to regularly CTD if I saved within detection range of a convoy, too close to land, submerged, etc. I have had no problem with CTD while loading since I made this single change.

I have gone so far as to save while submerged directly under a 20+ ship convoy, and numerous other places which would have been death prior to making the change.

Some will tell you it doesn't work, or might be risky. I have had no ill effects on my game with this change in place.

It is worth a try.


Forcing Full Screen Antialiasing on NVidia cards (courtesy of Kafka BC)

This might be useful to someone, it is how I get Full Screen Antialiasing (FSAA) in Silent Hunter III with my NVidia video card. nHancer and other tools don't work for me.

I am using Windows XP and my video card is an 8600GT with drivers version 197.13, so I don't know if it would apply to Vista or windows 7 or the later NVidia drivers or control panel.

1. Find the NvApps.xml file in your C:\WINDOWS\system32 folder and make a backup copy just in case this this dosn't work for you.

2. Open the NvApps.xml file with Notepad and search for "Silent Hunter III" to find the profile settings.

3. Paste this line:

<PROPERTY Label="aa_feature_bits" Value="0x20000000" Default="0x20000000" Itemtype="predefined"/>

right after this line:

<PROPERTY Label="multichip_rendering_mode" Value="0x02000001" Default="0x02000001" Itemtype="predefined"/>

as in this example below

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1171/nvappssettings.jpg

Doing this ensures that FSAA gets applied to the entire scene and has greatly improved my overall scene quality. Until I learned how to do this things just looked terrible in the distance.

This setting was taken from the settings for the "Most EA Strategy Games" and the "Command and Conquer 3" series of games settings in the NvApps.xml file. There are other "aa_feature_bits" values in the file, but I haven't tried them yet as this seems to work fine.

PS. The lines in the profile after the pasted line will probably be different than in the image above, depending on what settings you have in the NVidia control panel.



Good hunting! :salute:

[Sailor Steve]

And here's the first negative comment. In real life Decks Awash was useful for attacks, as it lowered the profile. It wasn't useful for cruising as the boat is technically submerged and maintaining the precise depth at any speed above minimum is extremely difficult. The shape of the boat is designed for surface cruising, and anything else will totally destroy fuel economy. If you use Decks Awash for cruising you are taking advantage of the part of the game that is screwed up.

[Victor Schutze]

Decks awash stealth benefits don't exist in Sh3. It's the same as being on the surface with less mobility and more fuel consumption. :yep:

[u crank]

I have found that the only benefit to decks awash is when there are heavy air patrols. You can crash dive much faster. Good for charging batteries. Also only works in good weather.

[Gargamel]

Decks awash stealth benefits don't exist in Sh3. It's the same as being on the surface with less mobility and more fuel consumption. :yep:

I disagree, but I have no proof other than it seems to work. Anybody want to run a study?

And I use the fuel economy and decks awash mod. So I just hit I and info decks awash.

[flag4]

...decks awash thread coming along nicely.:woot:

[Sailor Steve]

I disagree, but I have no proof other than it seems to work. Anybody want to run a study?

And I use the fuel economy and decks awash mod. So I just hit I and info decks awash.
Don't forget this is SH3, where running all day on batteries and then recharging them actually increases fuel economy. :nope:

[krashkart]

Well I've learned quite a bit from this exchange so far... :yep:

[Osmium Steele]

CTD while loading fix. (It has worked for me for nearly a year now)

1. Right click on your main SH3 folder and bring up the properties menu.

2. Uncheck the read-only box. When it asks, tell it to uncheck all sub-folders too.

I used to regularly CTD if I saved within detection range of a convoy, too close to land, submerged, etc. I have had no problem with CTD while loading since I made this single change.

I have gone so far as to save while submerged directly under a 20+ ship convoy, and numerous other places which would have been death prior to making the change.

Some will tell you it doesn't work, or might be risky. I have had no ill effects on my game with this change in place.

It is worth a try.

[Fubar2Niner]

I'd really like to 'learnify' how to take a screen shot, while using the res fix, without getting a ctd :yep:

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

[Herr-Berbunch]

I'd really like to 'learnify' how to take a screen shot, while using the res fix, without getting a ctd :yep:

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

Fraps? :D

[Fubar2Niner]

Fraps? :D

Now why didn't I think of that ....... Thanks muchly kaleun :salute:

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

[frau kaleun]

Now why didn't I think of that ....... Thanks muchly kaleun :salute:

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

Pretty sure I tried that. Never worked for me, but YMMV. Good luck!

If you can find a sure-fire way to make ResFix + screenshots a crash-free proposition, you will be the hero of many a subsmimer. :salute:

[brett25]

Right click on your main SH3 folder

I would like to try this, now are you referring to the folder in my documents where the saves are kept, or the installation folder where the game resides?

[Osmium Steele]

I would like to try this, now are you referring to the folder in my documents where the saves are kept, or the installation folder where the game resides?

Your main game folder. :salute:

[krashkart]

I'd really like to 'learnify' how to take a screen shot, while using the res fix, without getting a ctd :yep:

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

I usually use IrfanView for screen captures. :yep:


EDIT - Updated first post with contribution from Osmium Steele. :salute:

[Gargamel]

CTD while loading fix. (It has worked for me for nearly a year now)

1. Right click on your main SH3 folder and bring up the properties menu.

2. Uncheck the read-only box. When it asks, tell it to uncheck all sub-folders too.

I used to regularly CTD if I saved within detection range of a convoy, too close to land, submerged, etc. I have had no problem with CTD while loading since I made this single change.

I have gone so far as to save while submerged directly under a 20+ ship convoy, and numerous other places which would have been death prior to making the change.

Some will tell you it doesn't work, or might be risky. I have had no ill effects on my game with this change in place.

It is worth a try.

WHY IS THIS THE FIRST I AM HEARING THIS?!!!?

[krashkart]

WHY IS THIS THE FIRST I AM HEARING THIS?!!!?

It's in the opening post now. :03:

[Sailor Steve]

WHY IS THIS THE FIRST I AM HEARING THIS?!!!?
:sign_yeah:

WHAT HE SAID!

It's in the opening post now. :03:
Well, okay then. But it's still kinda late. :x

[krashkart]

Well, okay then. But it's still kinda late. :x

:)

Seems like an appropriate time for:

http://hootingyard.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/dasboot.gif

Bernaaaard! Why did you not deliver this message sooner?!




.

[frau kaleun]

I don't feel sorry for any of you, I've seen it discussed many times. And I've been on vacation in Skyrim for the past three months. :O:

[Kafka BC]

I'd really like to 'learnify' how to take a screen shot, while using the res fix, without getting a ctd :yep:

Sure would like to know what I am doing right, then I could share. I have been using res fix for a long time now and have never had a CTD when pressing the Print Screen key. The only time I had a problem with it was when I configured it to use the maximum resolution of my monitor (1280 x 1024), I now use 1280 x 960 and it works just fine.

[Gargamel]

Try hitting shift f-11 for an ingame shot. See if your still stable.

[frau kaleun]

Try hitting shift f-11 for an ingame shot. See if your still stable.

Res Fix reroutes the screenshot command to the PrintScreen key, F11 shouldn't work for that any more once you enable the mod. :hmmm:

[brett25]

where exactly is skyrim frau kaleun?:hmmm:

[Osmium Steele]

Take a left at Morrowind and straight on till the air gets thin and you feel really cold.

WHY IS THIS THE FIRST I AM HEARING THIS?!!!?

I found it buried deep in one of the many CTD threads.

[Kafka BC]

where exactly is skyrim frau kaleun?:hmmm:

I think it is somewhere/sometime near Oblivion. Suits of armor are still in fashion there and magic tricks are a popular pastime.

[flag4]

where exactly is skyrim frau kaleun?:hmmm:


...think its at the top of Scotland somewhere..

[krashkart]

Skyrim is located twenty paces past Dowly's doorstep, southeast one-hundred forty-five paces (not one-hundred forty-four, nor one-hundred forty-six), west thirty paces to a cave entrance, enter cave and proceed to the fork, hang a left there, walk twelve paces and find the latch (spells don't work here, so you'll have to do this the hard way), pull the latch and dodge the rockfall trap, enter the portal, egress from the opposite end of the portal, make three day's journey north to the shrine, offer up some fungus to the Trip Daedra, kill the Daedra that appears and take the coveted Chicken Tea Cozy Of Inner Sanctuary, make three days' journey back south, hang a right and walk a little ways and you'll see a hut. Go inside and chat a little while with hermit who lives there, then dig out your map and....




...try to figure out where you got lost. :doh::damn:

[Captain Nemo]

Sure would like to know what I am doing right, then I could share. I have been using res fix for a long time now and have never had a CTD when pressing the Print Screen key. The only time I had a problem with it was when I configured it to use the maximum resolution of my monitor (1280 x 1024), I now use 1280 x 960 and it works just fine.

Same for me, no problem taking screenshots with the Print Screen key with the res fix enabled, except mine works fine at 1280x1024. Just goes to show that what works for some doesn't work for others with this fix.

Nemo

[frau kaleun]

Same for me, no problem taking screenshots with the Print Screen key with the res fix enabled, except mine works fine at 1280x1024. Just goes to show that what works for some doesn't work for others with this fix.

Nemo

Too true, I don't think anyone's been able to pin down the cause of all the CTD issues reported by users. I had no problems with it myself until I switched from WinXP to Win7, after which - no dice, CTD every time no matter what tweaks I made or what I turned off or on or disabled... very frustrating. As I said if anyone ever pinpoints the cause for sure it will be a banner day for a lot of players.

[Fubar2Niner]

Okkie dokie shipmates.

I have tried both fraps and InFranView; findings so far:

Fraps

Pro's: This seems to work without ctd'ing the game :yeah:
Con's: Only blank images produced, I have done some research on this and it seems it is something to do with hardware overlay. It can be overcome by 'Disabling videocard acceleration'......... Not even an option in my book.

InFranView

Pro's:

Perfect screenshot everytime

Con's:

Unfortunately it's just of my win7 desktop, it seems to just see the DT running in the background.. wierdness :hmmm: I do run SH3 full screen BTW, not, windowed, so I don't quite get this :damn:

Still trying to learnify, got to agree with you frau, if this ever gets sorted, the schnapps is on me :()1:

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

[frau kaleun]

I think it is somewhere/sometime near Oblivion. Suits of armor are still in fashion there and magic tricks are a popular pastime.

Also: sweetrolls. And cheese. FOR EVERYONE!!

[Gargamel]

Skyrim is located twenty paces past Dowly's doorstep, southeast one-hundred forty-five paces (not one-hundred forty-four, nor one-hundred forty-six), west thirty paces to a cave entrance, enter cave and proceed to the fork, hang a left there, walk twelve paces and find the latch (spells don't work here, so you'll have to do this the hard way), pull the latch and dodge the rockfall trap, enter the portal, egress from the opposite end of the portal, make three day's journey north to the shrine, offer up some fungus to the Trip Daedra, kill the Daedra that appears and take the coveted Chicken Tea Cozy Of Inner Sanctuary, make three days' journey back south, hang a right and walk a little ways and you'll see a hut. Go inside and chat a little while with hermit who lives there, then dig out your map and....




...try to figure out where you got lost. :doh::damn:
POTY

[Kafka BC]

Also: sweetrolls. And cheese. FOR EVERYONE!!

YUM! Do they have real Poutine there, and treats for all my cats...or do they eat them? :DL

[Herr-Berbunch]

Also: before you take an arrow to the knee - sweetrolls. And cheese. FOR EVERYONE!!

Fixed.

Welcome aboard Frau Kaluen, back from the land of skyrimming :salute:

:O:

[frau kaleun]

YUM! Do they have real Poutine there, and treats for all my cats...or do they eat them? :DL

Sadly, there don't seem to be any cats in Skyrim except for the big ones in the wild that try to kill you and the Khajiit, who are sentient beings and may also try to kill you depending on the situation. Maybe they didn't think it would be appropriate to have cats as pets when there are cat people in the same universe. Might get... awkward. But I wouldn't mind having a mod that let me have a housecat for a pet in one of my homes.

Re: Poutine I haven't encountered any but given how cold it is and the Nords' apparent love for... er... let's just call it "hearty" food and drink, I'm guessing they'll invent it before the next TES game comes out. :haha:

They also have an abundance of potatoes, but no chips or fries. Which is just wrong. They have a wide variety of raw meats, which means fat for frying must be available. They have cast iron pots and fire. Potatoes + fat source + metal pot/pan + heat = chips. That's, like, a fundamental law of the universe. Every universe. :stare:

[Kafka BC]

Sadly, there don't seem to be any cats in Skyrim except for the big ones in the wild that try to kill you ....... Potatoes + fat source + metal pot/pan + heat = chips. That's, like, a fundamental law of the universe. Every universe. :stare:

Fundamental law is right! Ah well, I guess I won't be going there anytime soon, no matter what universe I gotta have at least fries, decent hamburgers, hot peppers, Famous Grouse Scotch, and my cats. I need some magic to get my rig to get there anyway :cry:...red shoes maybe? :DL

[frau kaleun]

I need some magic to get my rig to get there anyway :cry:...red shoes maybe? :DL

I dunno. Can you trade them for a better rig? :O:

[Kafka BC]

I dunno. Can you trade them for a better rig? :O:

:har: I would first have to find and kill the right witch, but I don't think they will fetch what I need these days. I could go see that wizard Aahz (no relation) but I really don't want to get near him.

[Osmium Steele]

I could go see that wizard Aahz

Aahz aint no wizard. That's a myth-nomer.

[krashkart]

POTY

I'd rather it be this post (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=1845892&postcount=10) if I were eligible... but beggars can't be choosers. :DL




EDIT:

If anyone can figure out how to take a screenshot while using the widescreen fix, without crashing the game, I'll post the solution in the opening post. ;)

[Kafka BC]

Aahz aint no wizard. That's a myth-nomer.

:DL Yeah it is, either way, around him you can become a myth-ing person.

[Gargamel]

I'd rather it be this post (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=1845892&postcount=10) if I were eligible... but beggars can't be choosers. :DL




EDIT:

If anyone can figure out how to take a screenshot while using the widescreen fix, without crashing the game, I'll post the solution in the opening post. ;)

I remember that one. Al So quite good


I've been meaning to start a thread like this myself. Get a good collection. Of links together and basically edit together a sh3 + mods manual.

[krashkart]

I remember that one. Al So quite good


I've been meaning to start a thread like this myself. Get a good collection. Of links together and basically edit together a sh3 + mods manual.

I hope the legend will be considered "done in good taste" by at least a majority of readers that happen across it.


I've heard of an SH3 wiki but I'm not sure if still exists. If not I wonder how useful a new wiki would be to players? If it were worth the maintenance I'd be happy to start one, and anyone that wanted to contribute could add their input there and help keep the thing upright. Might be easier to do it that way and point to it when necessary, than to add another sticky or point people to an obscure buried thread... :hmmm:

[Fubar2Niner]

I've heard of an SH3 wiki but I'm not sure if still exists. If not I wonder how useful a new wiki would be to players? If it were worth the maintenance I'd be happy to start one, and anyone that wanted to contribute could add their input there and help keep the thing upright. Might be easier to do it that way and point to it when necessary, than to add another sticky or point people to an obscure buried thread... :hmmm:

Indeed there was mate, and an enormous help it was even if I do say so myself. Unfortunately it has long since disappeared beneath the waves :wah:

A new wiki? A bloody marvellous idea, however most questions these days appear to be mod (compatibility)/starforce/win 7, related. Now if someone could really crack this blasted screenshot voodoo ............... !

If you do decide to continue with the new (revised) wiki. I would certainly like to contribute what little knowledge I have.

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

[krashkart]

Well I don't suppose that it would hurt to add some tips-n-tricks to get mods working properly, as that can be a hassle at times... :hmmm:

[Kafka BC]

Now if someone could really crack this blasted screenshot voodoo ............... !

I am beginning to suspect that the source code will need to be modified to use possibly changed Windows 7 library calls and recompiled on an Windows 7 machine.

Here is a thought, I don't know if it has been tried yet, but does Windows 7 have compatibility modes? Would changing the compatibility mode of the sh3.exe to Windows XP make the res fix work?

[Fubar2Niner]

I am beginning to suspect that the source code will need to be modified to use possibly changed Windows 7 library calls and recompiled on an Windows 7 machine.

Here is a thought, I don't know if it has been tried yet, but does Windows 7 have compatibility modes? Would changing the compatibility mode of the sh3.exe to Windows XP make the res fix work?

I'll give anything a shot once, will report my findings later. Thanks for the input mate :salute:

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

[frau kaleun]

I'll give anything a shot once, will report my findings later. Thanks for the input mate :salute:

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

Give it a go and report back but, sorry to say, I think I tried comp modes as far back as Win7 would allow as well as disabling a bunch of stuff entirely (Aero, etc.) and none of that ever worked either.

I wonder if it would be worthwhile setting up a poll thread for people who have the Res Fix CTD issue to report what OS they are on... I've always suspected that it's Vista/Win7 related somehow but have nothing except my own experience to back up that suspicion. :hmmm:

Surely if it could be narrowed down to one or two versions of Windows that might make finding a fix a lot easier.

[Fubar2Niner]

I am beginning to suspect that the source code will need to be modified to use possibly changed Windows 7 library calls and recompiled on an Windows 7 machine.

Here is a thought, I don't know if it has been tried yet, but does Windows 7 have compatibility modes? Would changing the compatibility mode of the sh3.exe to Windows XP make the res fix work?

See below kaleun

Give it a go and report back but, sorry to say, I think I tried comp modes as far back as Win7 would allow as well as disabling a bunch of stuff entirely (Aero, etc.) and none of that ever worked either.

Read on mien frau


I wonder if it would be worthwhile setting up a poll thread for people who have the Res Fix CTD issue to report what OS they are on... I've always suspected that it's Vista/Win7 related somehow but have nothing except my own experience to back up that suspicion. :hmmm:

Surely if it could be narrowed down to one or two versions of Windows that might make finding a fix a lot easier.

Certainly couldn't do any harm in my book :up:.........

@krashkart thanks for the interest mate:salute:

OK on to my findings so far.

1) I followed Kafka's train of thought and enabled compat mode (XPSP3) on an already 4GB patched SH3.exe, no dice CTD after my first screenshot attempt :damn:

2) I tried again but this time using Gamebooster, before luanching SH3 thru Commander........ again no dice :hmmm:

3) This time before anything I reverted the .exe back from compat mode, applied Osmium Steele's little workaround, (mentioned in first post), re-enabled compat mode on the SH3.exe. Launched Gamebooster and started SH3 from Commander..........

I have so far succsesfully taken 17 screen shots without any mishap :rock:
This is early days people, so I don't want to raise too many hopes yet. All 17 shots were tagged in quick succsession, normally instant death for me, using a combination of Ctrl+PrtSc and plain PrtSc. I am getting no black screens in shots so far...............


Things may be looking up. More to follow.........................:salute:

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

[Fubar2Niner]

@all


Despite a promising start things just took a downward turn. I restarted SH3 using the same procedure as in 3) in post above. Tried taking a screenie and this time crash. However not a CTD, just a total freeze, never had this before.......

Ideas anyone?

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

[Kafka BC]

Despite a promising start things just took a downward turn. I restarted SH3 using the same procedure as in 3) in post above. Tried taking a screenie and this time crash. However not a CTD, just a total freeze, never had this before.......

Ideas anyone?

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

Drat!!! That is very discouraging, so close and then so far.

I'm sorry mate, I got nothing else to help you with. :cry:

[Kafka BC]

This might be useful to someone, it is how I get Full Screen Antialiasing (FSAA) in Silent Hunter III with my NVidia video card. nHancer and other tools don't work for me.

I am using Windows XP and my video card is an 8600GT with drivers version 197.13, so I don't know if it would apply to Vista or windows 7 or the later NVidia drivers or control panel.

1. Find the NvApps.xml file in your C:\WINDOWS\system32 folder and make a backup copy just in case this this dosn't work for you.

2. Open the NvApps.xml file with Notepad and search for "Silent Hunter III" to find the profile settings.

3. Paste this line:

<PROPERTY Label="aa_feature_bits" Value="0x20000000" Default="0x20000000" Itemtype="predefined"/>

right after this line:

<PROPERTY Label="multichip_rendering_mode" Value="0x02000001" Default="0x02000001" Itemtype="predefined"/>

as in this example below

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1171/nvappssettings.jpg

Doing this ensures that FSAA gets applied to the entire scene and has greatly improved my overall scene quality. Until I learned how to do this things just looked terrible in the distance.

This setting was taken from the settings for the "Most EA Strategy Games" and the "Command and Conquer 3" series of games settings in the NvApps.xml file. There are other "aa_feature_bits" values in the file, but I haven't tried them yet as this seems to work fine.

PS. The lines in the profile after the pasted line will probably be different than in the image above, depending on what settings you have in the NVidia control panel.

[krashkart]

@Kafka - Added to the opening post. :salute:


@Fubar - Good effort, mate. Hopefully that nut can be cracked... :salute: