New captain here, what mods should I get?

[Verfolger]

I'm a sim fan who has never played a sub sim before. I enjoy learning the ropes and getting deep into the complexities of navigation, tactics, mechanics and all that good stuff. I like study sims.

However, I'm lost on mods. Before I boot up Silent Hunter 5, what important mods should I install? I'm running Windows 8 64-bit, with a good GFX card and CPU.

If there are any important popular "realism" mods that overhaul the mechanics, it's better I learn them now instead of switching to them later, unless it makes the learning curve too intense.

Also, can anyone recommend good submarine books that would help me improve my game and learn about subs?

Thanks!

[Cybermat47]

WELCOME
TO
SUBSIM!

Check out Sober's Mega Mod list for the best mods. If you make a donation you can download all of them in one file. And you get a personal avatar. All for just $5.

Donating isn't necessary for downloading mods, but it makes it easier to download and it helps the site :salute:

[Sjizzle]

welcome

u can use also my mod list too, wich is with magui interface link in my signature :)
or fifi's mod list : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=201004

[Greendevil303]

I'm new to the forum myself but I'd like to extend my welcome :salute:
I would definitely recommend both interior mods by both silent michal and steel viking as a start. They're epic.

[lodebeard]

Hi Verfloger,

From one noob to another, you are going to have to put in time trying out different mods and seeing what you like and tweaking what you don't like. Hopefully you enjoy that sort of thing!

There are a few 'essentials', however, if you want to achieve anything like a study sim:

- The Patcher (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=1621039&postcount=1) - is a tool built by TheDarkWraith which allows you to customize some core game files. This allows you to fix things which are otherwise unfixable even with mods. Some of them are pretty important!

- Equipment upgrade fixes by TheBeast - these fix the broken system of getting upgraded equipment for your sub.

- An interface mod - Two real contenders here, CSP Magui by DR, Jones, and NewUIs by TheDarkWraith. These are really vital. The stock interface is nonsense. I use NewUIs TDC but its really just up to you which route to go.

- IRAI by TheDarkWraith - this makes your AI opponents worth trying to sink. Without it it's like fish in a barrel.

- A campaign mod - Open Horizons II is the gold standard at this time.

- An environment mod - These make the weather more dynamic and the surroundings prettier. I use DynEnv 2.9, but there are other options, like Real Environment 3

- Real Navigation - is part of the NewUIs TDC by TheDarkWraith. If you really want a study sim and lots of immersion, install this add-on for NewUIs! I don't use it myself just yet. I am still too noobish.


There is, of course, lots more stuff that is awesome. I suggest you check out the main mod lists out there:

Fifi's mod list (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=201004&highlight=my+mod+list)
This is what my personal list is largely based on, with a few changes. I also did reference the below two lists when building my own list.

Sjizzle's mod list (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=204308)

Sober's mod list (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=192374)


I would urge you to start here, with an awesome intro to modding by Trevally (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=190656).


I would also suggest you make a donation to Subsim so you are able to download the 'megamods'. They are basically just bundles of mods. It will save you tons of time because in just a couple of downloads you will have all the essentials, plus loads more, all there for you to pick through, minimizing the downloading of individual mods. And you'll help keep the place running!

It's a fun puzzle to assemble :) Good luck!

[Verfolger]

I'm feeling very overwhelmed and lost when it comes to modding this game.

The mod lists have 50+ recommended mods, how do I even know what was modified, or what I'm even playing?

If someone could narrow it down to 5 indispensable mods, that would be very helpful.

I want to play sometime this year after all. :)

[lodebeard]

How bout 7? I listed 7 essentials ;) and the bottom 3 are not really essential even.

Here are my 4 suggestions. I may be missing some, but these seem indispensable:


- The Patcher (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=1621039&postcount=1) - is a tool built by TheDarkWraith which allows you to customize some core game files. This allows you to fix things which are otherwise unfixable even with mods. Some of them are pretty important!

- Equipment upgrade fixes by TheBeast - these fix the broken system of getting upgraded equipment for your sub.

- An interface mod - Two real contenders here, CSP Magui by DR, Jones, and NewUIs by TheDarkWraith. These are really vital. The stock interface is nonsense. I use NewUIs TDC but its really just up to you which route to go.

- IRAI by TheDarkWraith - this makes your AI opponents worth trying to sink. Without it it's like fish in a barrel.

You could also take a look at Fifi's list again and focus on the ones he has starred off as essential.

[lodebeard]

Thanks!

[Verfolger]

Okay, I have these mods installed:

- Accurate German Flags
- SteelVikings Interior Mod
- DarkWraith's FX Mod
- Real Environments 3
- IRAI

So if I want realistic navigation and interface, I install DarkWraith's TDC mod? It seems that Magui is an alternative and I prefer the look of Magui, but does that have the realism options of TDC?

Basically, what mods do I need for realistic U-boat mechanics now?

Also, I have a few questions...

1. Is there any map or mod that supplies depth readings on the map? Did they have maps with numbered depths in WWII, and where can I get a map like that? What are the best map mods, I'd love something old-fashioned paper like WWII.

2. What are the best interface mods, and how do they compare? I want realism but also that WWII feel.

3. Can I use "North Atlantic Green 1.1" over SteelVikings "Underwater Mod V1.0?" I want the deep green murkiness but I want the bubble affects and other goodies too from SteelViking's mod.

4. What order should these mods go in?

5. I'm having an issue where my cursor is stuck when using periscope, that is, I can't move the cursor freely to click on buttons, it's stuck to moving the camera around. Help would be greatly appreciated!

6. When I look at the map, there are all these lines radiating outward from my location, that keep moving around. What are these? The manual doesn't say.

Thanks for your support so far, modding has been a lot more fun than I thought! (Special thanks to JSGME mod for making it a breeze!) :)

[Oleander]

1. I don't think they had depth charts during the war, if they did they were most likely inaccurate because of the sonar of the time period. Shallow waters, say under 150m, were probably well documented. I don't know of any charts that have been made for the game though, there use to be a mod for SH3 that had a depth scale, I haven't seen on for SH5 though.

2. There's a few of them floating around. I messed around with MaGUI last night and really liked it, but it still has some bugs that need to be ironed out. NewGUIs has the most support, it also has support for those fancy automation scripts by Trevally and supports real navigation, not to mention most modders make their stuff compatible with it. There's a list of them here:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=cat&id=87&sort=downloads

3. I believe so.

4. A good rule of thumb is to start with the big mods and work down. So I usually put environmental and HUD mods at the top of the list then leave small stuff like flags and such until the end. Unless I happen to know that one mod will overwrite something I want in another, then you have to play with the order to get what you want.

5. Right clicking on the screen locks the camera to your cursor. Just right click again to remove the lock, if that doesn't work, exit the station by using ESC and then enter it again.

Welcome BTW.:arrgh!:

[lodebeard]

So if I want realistic navigation and interface, I install DarkWraith's TDC mod? It seems that Magui is an alternative and I prefer the look of Magui, but does that have the realism options of TDC?


It's really up to personal choice, but I agree with oleander that TDW'c NewUIs have more support out there. Fifi has two lists here (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=201004&highlight=my+mod+list), one based on TDW interface, and the other on Magui interface. You can see what you can combine with each. Pay attention to the mods which are on both lists. Those tend to be important ones!