5 Missions, No Contact...What am I doing wrong?

[RhodyDave]

Hello,

I've completed 5 missions now, going to the patrol area as ordered and patrolling it for 24 hrs. No ships at all. I've gone through the channel, no ships. What is up? Am I doing something wrong? Thanks.

[bertieck476]

What realism are playing at? have you not had any contacts appear on the map however far away?
Have you gone to the hydrophones yourself and listened for contacts?

[Jimbuna]

What version of the game are you playing?

[HW3]

If you are using GWX, you wouldn't happen to have the Black Sea or Mediterranean campaign enabled would you? They remove the shipping from the other areas.

:subsim:

[Jimbuna]

^ That was my thinking but not sure if he is using a supermod or playing stock.

[RhodyDave]

Playing the Steam version, with the GWX mod. Not sure if I enabled those campaigns (I'm at work right now) but I suspect I did. So if that's the case, there won't be any ships outside those areas?

I'll check the campaigns later, and see if that's the problem. Thanks all!

[vanjast]

It sounds like you're going to the patrol area, doing a 24hr thing then buzzing off home.

SH3 U-Boat Captains Rules
--------------------------
1) Never obey orders - Once you leave harbour, they have no idea !!
2) For the game sake - park off in the assigned area for 24 hours or more. then buzz off to a more 'lucrative' area.
3) Read the convoy history books, you'll find the ships in the same places.
4) Don't return to harbour until you a)have no torps, b)low on fuel or c)Crew are mutiness.

Time Compression (TC) -> never go above 256x... the world will pass you by - the game has it's limitations.

[Jimbuna]

Playing the Steam version, with the GWX mod. Not sure if I enabled those campaigns (I'm at work right now) but I suspect I did. So if that's the case, there won't be any ships outside those areas?

I'll check the campaigns later, and see if that's the problem. Thanks all!

Then this is almost certain to be the cause.

[RhodyDave]

It sounds like you're going to the patrol area, doing a 24hr thing then buzzing off home.



Time Compression (TC) -> never go above 256x... the world will pass you by - the game has it's limitations.


Is this correct? Setting time compression affects ship encounters?

[Raptor]

I run TC at 4096X and still get plenty of contacts (SH3 + GWX Gold).:up:

TC drops to 1X if the sighting is within visual range; to 8X if the target only appears as an icon on the map (simulated radio report).

Convoys appear normally.


The real danger is high TC during periods of limited visibility. You can run INTO a target before the game reacts. TC still drops to 1X and there you are, about to be rammed by a merc or worse yet, fatally close to a warship.:o

[hans svetty]

What would be a period of limited visibility? Night?

[bertieck476]

What would be a period of limited visibility? Night?

And poor weather

[RustySubmarine]

Sticking to a 256 TC maximum, is about the best option, that's if you are not in too much of a hurry to get to your patrol area. You can set the maximum in SH Commander. I have mine set at 256 Maximum. After patrolling your grid area for 24 hours, move to more lucrative convoy routes. You don't need to stick to the shortest route from your base to the patrol area. Usually if I am allocated a North Atlantic patrol area just south west of Iceland, from my starting base at Lorient or Brest, I usually go through the Irish Sea and round the Northern Ireland coast. The Irish Sea is a haven for convoy traffic in and out of Liverpool or The Clyde Ports. Some convoys come in from the South Atlantic and head for Swansea, Cardiff & Bristol, so the chances of meeting something in these areas are as good as any where. You are the Captain, you decide where you want to patrol, within the limitations of your fuel and that you complete your 24 hours at your allocated patrol grid. Get out and find them, sink them and then come home to reap your rewards, have a bit of shore time before your next patrol. Then do it all again. :salute: