Semi-Annual Newbie Question Thread

[DrZaiusDrZaius]

Hey everyone,

Just got started up again with SH3, and wanted to get some perspective from people who are more experienced than I.

1. Ship identification
How do you do it? Is this the type of thing where you actually confirm every target's flag, or do you find that you shoot first, ask questions later? How close do you generally have to get to get an accurate answer: it seems to me you'd have to get pretty close! For convoys (especially the mixed ones early in the war), do you generally just fire, and hope you don't sink too many Americans?

2. Favorite Hunting Grounds
This old chestnut. I have been cruising north of Ireland, around AM12 / AM15. Early war, is the passage south of Ireland better for Convoys?

3. 100% Realism
I'm not sure I'm ready for this just yet. I have found when I have tried it in the past, my accuracy left much to be desired. Do you find the best solution to this is "get so close you can't miss"? Additionally, having read some of the great Hydrophone tutorials, would it make sense to take similar principles to an actual visual attack, i.e. 3 bearing readings, movement, then another to determine course? I think my biggest struggle with visual targeting is getting an accurate range to target, which causes me to miss more often than not.

4. GWX
I don't use it currently. I have read the list of features on the website. As I am operating in the 60-80% Realism range, Does GWX sound like it's for me, or should I keep playing stock for the time being? I guess my impression of GWX is that it's significantly more difficult than the stock game, while adding a bunch of handy features; is that an accurate interpretation of the Mod, or is it more just a ton of "quality of life" improvements, while being slightly harder?

Thanks for your help, and happy hunting!
DrZ

[Sailor Steve]

1. Ship identification
How do you do it? Is this the type of thing where you actually confirm every target's flag, or do you find that you shoot first, ask questions later? How close do you generally have to get to get an accurate answer: it seems to me you'd have to get pretty close! For convoys (especially the mixed ones early in the war), do you generally just fire, and hope you don't sink too many Americans?
In the stock game the chart identifies friend/foe/neutral. If the mark on the chart is blue it's friendly, red is enemy and green is neutral. This makes it very easy.

I use GWX, which turns all the marks grey (there is a mod to bring back the colors). There is a pull-down chart with all the flags and relevant dates for which side they're on.

2. Favorite Hunting Grounds
This old chestnut. I have been cruising north of Ireland, around AM12 / AM15. Early war, is the passage south of Ireland better for Convoys?
I can't help you there. After too many years of doing this I've become a realism nut. I go to my assigned grid and stay there for a week. After that I roll a die once per game day with an increasing chance of being "ordered" to a new grid, which will always be close to the original one. I've had more than one patrol in which I never saw an enemy ship. I love it that way.

3. 100% Realism
I'm not sure I'm ready for this just yet. I have found when I have tried it in the past, my accuracy left much to be desired. Do you find the best solution to this is "get so close you can't miss"? Additionally, having read some of the great Hydrophone tutorials, would it make sense to take similar principles to an actual visual attack, i.e. 3 bearing readings, movement, then another to determine course? I think my biggest struggle with visual targeting is getting an accurate range to target, which causes me to miss more often than not.
I admit I've never learned manual targeting. I just can't do that kind of math, and I don't have the spatial judgement to do it by instinct.

4. GWX
I don't use it currently. I have read the list of features on the website. As I am operating in the 60-80% Realism range, Does GWX sound like it's for me, or should I keep playing stock for the time being? I guess my impression of GWX is that it's significantly more difficult than the stock game, while adding a bunch of handy features; is that an accurate interpretation of the Mod, or is it more just a ton of "quality of life" improvements, while being slightly harder?
It's not that much harder. The enemy AI is somewhat more difficult depending on time and place, getting worse as time progresses. I consider GWX to be the best balance between graphics goodies and gameplay.

I also consider SH3 Commander to be a vital part of the experience.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=1910987&postcount=12

[RConch]

Now that is customer service!:salute:

[DrZaiusDrZaius]

In the stock game the chart identifies friend/foe/neutral. If the mark on the chart is blue it's friendly, red is enemy and green is neutral. This makes it very easy.

I use GWX, which turns all the marks grey (there is a mod to bring back the colors). There is a pull-down chart with all the flags and relevant dates for which side they're on.


I can't help you there. After too many years of doing this I've become a realism nut. I go to my assigned grid and stay there for a week. After that I roll a die once per game day with an increasing chance of being "ordered" to a new grid, which will always be close to the original one. I've had more than one patrol in which I never saw an enemy ship. I love it that way.


I admit I've never learned manual targeting. I just can't do that kind of math, and I don't have the spatial judgement to do it by instinct.


It's not that much harder. The enemy AI is somewhat more difficult depending on time and place, getting worse as time progresses. I consider GWX to be the best balance between graphics goodies and gameplay.

I also consider SH3 Commander to be a vital part of the experience.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=1910987&postcount=12

Thanks for the reply!

Yeah, I knew about the green/red/blue thing; I was referring to the fact that if they're grey, how close do you generally need to get to identify them.

It's good to know I'm not the only one who doesn't manually chart every kill! The weapon officer is there for a reason.

I'm already using SH3 Commander, it's worth it for the fact that it removes fatigue alone.

I'll think about checking out GWX; most people on here seem to use it so it would make sense just to make sure I'm talking about the same game, and your comment leads me to believe it's not as terrifying as I first thought.

DrZ

[Herr-Berbunch]

There are a few other supermods available, I've not tried them myself but I'd give them a glance over, if I was in your position, to see if they'd better suit you over GWX.

:yep:

[Sailor Steve]

Yeah, I knew about the green/red/blue thing; I was referring to the fact that if they're grey, how close do you generally need to get to identify them.
GWX also makes the attack periscope max zoom 10x instead of 6x. Not historically accurate, but then neither is the pixelated view you get with all video games, so it balances out. You don't have to get too close except at night.

It's good to know I'm not the only one who doesn't manually chart every kill! The weapon officer is there for a reason.
Unfortunately the Weapons Officer is also perfect. I use him but only for a spot check, and it makes me put the 'scope up more often than I would otherwise, which makes up for me not doing the calculations. Lack of WE Assistance is also one of the reasons I still play SH3 even though on the whole I think SH4 is better.

Check out this thread, especially posts #5 and #10:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=170090

I'll think about checking out GWX; most people on here seem to use it so it would make sense just to make sure I'm talking about the same game, and your comment leads me to believe it's not as terrifying as I first thought.[/QUOTE]
It's not, except for maybe the AA tutorial at the Academy. Luckily you only have to complete the Navigation school to get the full 1500 starting renown. Only two real warnings where GWX is concerned:

1. If your lookouts spot a plane, DIVE! NOW!

2. STAY OUT OF THE CHANNEL!!!
:rotfl2: