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Egmont

06-22-17, 03:46 PM

Came here after ramjb's videos. Ready to go for this game as opposed to some of the newer titles. Specifically, I like the slower pace and all the charting, solutions. Fine graphics too. I prefer this plotting so any suggestions to bring even more to life would be appreciated.

I'm fairly new to steam, no expert. What steps to get this going?

Tanks in advance!

THEBERBSTER

06-22-17, 03:49 PM

A Warm Welcome To The Subsim Community > Egmont
Subsim <> How To Donate <> See The Benefits <> Support The Community:salute: (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2027002&postcount=1)
Support The New SH4 Mega Mod Project FOTRSU > 100_FalloftheRisingSun_Ultimate_v0.61 PublicBeta_EN (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2449289&postcount=2782)
Steam Conversion SH4 Installation Instructions By ValoWay (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2297825&postcount=7)

Egmont

06-22-17, 04:05 PM

Berbs, thanks a ton. Sending you a PM...

u crank

06-22-17, 05:00 PM

Welcome to SubSim Egmont. :salute:

Egmont

06-22-17, 05:05 PM

Welcome to SubSim Egmont. :salute:

Thanks, u crank.

I'm very new, stuck on what steam to download.

2 options:
collection for $19.99
what looks like an expansion pack for $4.99

My goal is to DL and add mods to emulate ramjb's video series via steam or other? Suggestions?

Aktungbby

06-22-17, 05:12 PM

Egmont!:Kaleun_Salute:

Egmont

06-22-17, 06:59 PM

Egmont!:Kaleun_Salute:
Good to be here,

Silent Hunter 4 (RFB+RSRD Mods)

looking for this, for openers. a tad lost on what DL to do on Steam.
Sorry to sound like such a noob bait, I just do not have any history with this title.
Is SH4 available on Steam? I see 3, 5 and WoP (is that 4 or some expansion?)
And, has 1.5 been fit for win7, I would think it would be, just checking as steam site says XP, Vista only.
Are the mods above in steam too or somewhere else?

It's not easy to pull the trigger without some clarification here.

cdrsubron7

06-22-17, 07:28 PM

Welcome to Subsim, Egmont. Happy to have you aboard. :salute:

BarracudaUAK

06-22-17, 07:31 PM

Good to be here,

Silent Hunter 4 (RFB+RSRD Mods)

looking for this, for openers. a tad lost on what DL to do on Steam.
Sorry to sound like such a noob bait, I just do not have any history with this title.
Is SH4 available on Steam? I see 3, 5 and WoP (is that 4 or some expansion?)
And, has 1.5 been fit for win7, I would think it would be, just checking as steam site says XP, Vista only.
Are the mods above in steam too or somewhere else?

It's not easy to pull the trigger without some clarification here.

Steam list:
"Silent Hunter: Wolves of the Pacific"
and
"Silent Hunter: Wolves of the Pacific U-boat...." (I forget the exact wording).

These are "Silent Hunter 4"/"SH4".

Several are running it with Win7, even though it says "WinXP/Vista". You may have run it in compatibility mode.
I'm running it on Linux, as is 'Rockin Robbins' (and a few others).

I think 'THEBERBSTER' has a thread on getting it working in Win7.

Barracuda

fireftr18

06-22-17, 07:37 PM

Egmont

06-22-17, 07:44 PM

[QUOTE=Egmont;2494014]Good to be here,

Silent Hunter 4 (RFB+RSRD Mods)

Okay, I'm in.

propbeanie

06-22-17, 07:53 PM

Oooohhh - they're half off... or maybe this'll be the new price?... :lol: $5.00US to replace my SH3 disk... hmmm...

You definitely need to get at least the "Silent Hunter: Wolves of the Pacific" and the "Silent Hunter: Wolves of the Pacific U-Boat Missions", even though they make it sound like an add-on. It is a requirement, because you cannot update the Steam v1.3 to Ubisoft v1.4, and the Uboat Missions is v1.5, which is what most of the mods are for anyway...

Egmont

06-22-17, 08:09 PM

propbeanie

06-22-17, 08:16 PM

With those mods, v1.5 is necessary... When you go to install, use your Steam online account, and have it install in a directory other than the "default..." C:\ Program Files (x86) \ Ubisoft (or probably Steam then Ubisoft, whatever). In other words, don't put the game in a Windows "protected" folder. THEBERBSTER has links in his sig, follow the SH4 one to the "Moving Steam" thingie... I'll look for it also, and post an "Edit: " here in this post too... But THEBERBSTER has probably got the best signature as for help...

Edit: Hah! It's #3 on his list!
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=2297821#post2297821
the dodougla part.

Egmont

06-22-17, 08:20 PM

Welcome aboard Egmont!
:Kaleun_Salute:
Don't be afraid of sounding like "noob bait." We like new members so that we can show off our vast wealth of knowledge and skill. And we like actually helping new members, too. Don't be afraid of asking questions, you will have a lot.
You will want the U-Boats expansion. It can be found as a separate download or in the "Gold" version. It's the final version and the best mods are written for it.

Now go join the crew I have polishing the propellers.
:Kaleun_Wink:
Nice, there's a lot to this game, which I love. No offense to modern naval battles, I must admit I'm much more attracted to the charting and steps involved with less advanced weaponry. Makes for a more human engagement which is what I'm looking for.

For the record, I was routed here in a strange sequence. Youtube channels let's play Alien Isolation to Naval Action to Cold Waters to SH4! RAMJB and his long play throughs were critical in getting me on board.

Cheers!

Egmont

06-23-17, 06:42 PM

Hey here's where I'm at:

Purchased SH4 base and SH4 missions on steam for about $10
Have both games selectable to play?
Playing on the expansion SH4 missions
Says version 1.3

Peter sent me a link and I have v1.4 downloaded (need help installing)
Once done, the next step to get to v1.5 and then the mods I've been researching

Assistance would be great. Love the game!

Steven

propbeanie

06-23-17, 07:01 PM

You can no longer update the v1.3 from Steam to the v1.4 patch from Ubisoft. It will mess up your Steam license and not run. Just put the v1.4 Silent Hunter: Wolves of the Pacific U-Boats Missions on top of the v1.3 install. I think that the Steam installer defaults to that anyway, ~IF~ I'm remembering correctly... Use Steam's download manager though, and don't put them in the Windows folders. Have Steam make you a different folder to put it in... They used to say on the game page for UBoats Missions that it "required" Wolves of the Pacific... Like it does if you click on an add-on for the IL-2 planes game... hmmm...

Does the UBoats Missions from Steam now "stand-alone", does anybody know?... That'd make it like the "Gold Edition" on DVD if it does...

-NEVERMIND- they moved it down a little bit, and it's no longer up by the "Buy" button... :lol: - to be expected... this quote is now down in the "body" of the text:

This is an expansion for Silent Hunter: Wolves of the Pacific (http://store.steampowered.com/%22index.php?area=app&AppId=15200%5C%22) and requires the Steam version of the original game to play.

Egmont

06-23-17, 07:17 PM

Hmm. didn't work.

I added game v1.4 into steam, install began and then stopped:

Setup detected no version of SH4 WoP is installed. Update requires previous version of application installed.

Egmont

06-23-17, 07:29 PM

On a side note, does anyone know the statistics for torpedo sinkings compared to popup gundeck sinkings during WWII?

I'm sure torpedoes would be optimal in many ways, but tracking equipment might not be available on a lot of merchant marine ships, and since that's the bulk of my targets, I'm wondering if I should be getting in close and getting her done from the deck cannon?

propbeanie

06-23-17, 09:30 PM

You can no longer update the v1.3 from Steam to the v1.4 patch from Ubisoft. It will mess up your Steam license and not run... Just put the v1.4 (should read 1.5) Silent Hunter: Wolves of the Pacific U-Boats Missions on top of the v1.3 install.
Attention! Attention! Typo Aleart!!! Dum dum at the helm here...

Do NOT put the 1.4 in. Use the Steam v1.5 UBoats Missions on top of your v1.3 game... wow. Think I've got it now... :lol: sorry 'bout that...

Egmont

06-23-17, 10:10 PM

Hey, no worries, I'll figure this out sooner or later. Right now I gotta get me some transports. :)

Egmont

06-24-17, 02:19 AM

Alright, calling it a night after being in a 3 destroyer encircling me slug out. Two torpedo hits out of 5 fired before diving deep. Came back to periscope depth when I had an Aft shot lined up and was bulldozered. Thought I could do a little up and down, wasn't happening.

Not sure what else could've been done there other than kill engines, sit deep and pray they forget lose me. A tough one.

I'll get back on figuring out this update thing tomorrow.

Rockin Robbins

06-24-17, 07:03 AM

Egmont

06-24-17, 03:08 PM

Destroyers are best avoided. You don't get squat for tonnage score when you hit 'em, they call all their buddies for a party and you're the cake and ice cream. Your best bet is to dive below the layer, set engines at 100 rpm or less, keep 'em astern and create distance until you're free. This can take hours.

I learned the destroyer lesson, the convoy lesson, the task force lesson (what was I thinking on that one?) Love this game!

Hey man I watched some of your videos. Good stuff. I just had something kinda strange happen. everyone in the control room looks like they are covered in oil splotches?
I was heading back after taking down two freighters, 15K. On my second crash dive avoiding planes, I surfaced and the engines went out. I couldn't move at all. I sorted enough personnel to repair crew and when the bar went to 90% I could get to speed.
I wasn't sure what to do, so I high tailed it back to port on a couple clicks above regular time to avoid more enemy plane spawns. I believe they come out when I speed play in enemy areas?
So I get to port, get refit, I believe everything is repaired, but my guys still have the black splotches and there are two people manning wrenches in the control room. Doesn't seem ready for action. I may have to restart.

Anyhow, I like this community. I'd love to get some updates happening here as the UI you guys are using is pretty cool looking, and from what I've read the game has become so much better.

I'm a little lost about these files, the how to's and I'm a little tired. Been playing a lot the past couple days.

Egmont

06-24-17, 03:11 PM

Oh, and about those freighters. I don't have anything but warships and a couple misc ships in my ship decipher book, sorry I don't remember the term for it.

So I need to get this update going.

propbeanie

06-24-17, 03:59 PM

On the cover of the Recognition Manual are a set of arrows that scroll you back and forth between the different countries' warships, and a "Merchants" for everybody. Lots of pix to look at, even in the stock game...

Egmont

06-26-17, 02:32 PM

OMG that helps. lol

Okay, I'm not in any rush to mod up now as I'm still getting used to all the little things like navigation, charting courses, aligning myself for aft shots, etc. Even the reverse angles and the math/visualization, these are the things I was hoping to get with this game and they come in plenty.

One thing that's coming up for me, or at least I'm more than worried about is fuel conservation.

Here's what I'm doing and let me know if I'm on the right track or not.

I travel standard surfaced at night, 1/3+ during the day at p-depth and crash dive in the case of air contact, regular dive for surface contacts.

I've been sticking mostly to routes covering the deepest up to two shallower levels, never shallower than that for a long time unless at night.

If I'm not going to make it to refuel station, should I run batteries from hiding place to hiding place so I can surface and 1/3 or stop wait for recharge and go again?

Egmont

06-26-17, 02:40 PM

propbeanie

06-27-17, 12:56 AM

I set torps to 15 foot contact and let fly - unless I'm going "historical" and following "orders from headquarters" to only use magnetic... :lol: Only the bigger warships had torpedo skirts for the most part.

Stay on the surface as much as you can using Ahead Standard in the stock game, which is the most fuel efficient. In some of the mods, Ahead 2/3 is. In other mods, you have to set the speed to the knot. Getting really detailed. The idea behind staying on the surface as much as possible, is you cover more "water". ~AND~ you're not using diesel fuel to charge your batteries as much. Also, is you use the batteries all through the day, then you don't have them available when you ~really~ need them...

If you don't have radar, this won't apply all the way, but has lots of good points to pay attention to:
Rockin Robbin's Airplane Avoidance with Radar Tutorial video (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=2336623#post2336623)

he also has one on manual targeting the easy way:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k5yJI6Z5AU

even if you use automatic targeting at this time, practicing the approach will get you ready for when you cut the strings...

mikesn9

06-27-17, 09:23 AM

I have found that 9 Knots is the most fuel efficient, 10 doesn't hurt a lot more.
A patch to show your fuel range is below. As always be sure to backup files in case of a typo. I find it very useful, just a "Shift G" gets you max range. It also takes into account whether or not there is a battery charge in progress.

Fuel range at current speed:
So, in: \Data\Cfg\Commands.cfg
Commands.cfg (open with a text editor like Notepad)

[Cmd257] <------------------ Step #1: Find "[Cmd257]"
Name=Report_time_to_turn
Ctxt=1
MnID=0x3F250002
Key0=0x47,s,"Shift+G" <--------- Step #2: Add this string

----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you also want the 'Weather Report' "Ctrl+W" make this [Cmd261] edit:

[Cmd261]
Name=Report_weather
Ctxt=1
MnID=0x3F250006
Key0=0x57,c,"Ctrl+W" <--------- Step #3: Add this string

Napalm42

06-27-17, 03:01 PM

Recently finding the merchant category in my recog book...
Grrr, i didn't figure that out.

So about torpedo depth? I'm taking a lot of shots on tankers and freighters and think I could use a general rule here to improve.

Don't know if anyone's really mentioned it, but I personally use the "Fast 90" technique (http://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php/201581-Quick-Fast-90-Basic-Manual-Targeting-Question-Forums) most of the time if I can help it, in order to reduce the potential error from faulty calculation, but Fast 90 also has another bonus. If you set the Gyro Angle to 0 by rotating your periscope, you will hit whatever is in the crosshairs (assuming that the target is moving at a constant speed/bearing).

Essentially, you can "snipe" at particular points. All this yakking basically to let you know that most of the time my rule of thumb is to aim just aft of the smokestacks in order to attempt to put the vessel out of commission, or just aft of a weapon turret to attempt a magazine explosion. (Granted, this assuming Real Fleet Boat is installed.)

Even if the thing doesn't go down with a stack-shot, it should be disabled, allowing you to (possibly) surface and put some holes below the waterline to send her down.

As far as torpedo depth, I tend to set for about a half meter above keel depth just to be safe when I'm using contact detonation over magnetic.

Egmont

06-29-17, 12:39 AM

Okay, I have improved with fuel efficiency big time. It was definitely needed.

Couple things -

I'm playing mostly for radar in '43 and with a Porpoise.
I'm not taking air battles yet, just hunting freight and tankers.
I have avoided warships for now
Current Career
Started Freemantle, 1st mission Patrol Celebes, added 2nd Patrol Celebes East, had to refuel in Exmouth before completing Celebes East

Took down 12-13/appx20 ships for 64K, could've done better, but ammo and fuel were issues, and missing some shots.

So I took port, two missions and all the ships in one shot and have given the admiral something to think about. But now 3rd mission is South China Sea and it's really far away. I'm nervous, I feel a strong desire for a transfer. Perhaps I'm still doing something wrong with fuel?

So here are the ?'s
Are completing patrol missions based on distance traveled in area, time or both? I'm spending a lot of gas here and kinda guessing.

And I love everything about this game except running low on gas and having to make an epic trip back to refuel resupply is kind of killing the groove. I'm okay with it, but am I missing something here? Getting back to port is almost as fulfilling as sinking a ship at this point. But the time involved...?
_ Sub Tender, Air Drops, secret facilities, anything, there has to be something better than going all the way back? I'm sure this was though of, it had to be!

And lastly, about personnel. I'm not adding a lot of people, and I have extra renown. I've brought aboard PO 2nd, 3rd class and Seamen. Nothing higher ranked. I had some medals to give out and sort of pinned it where I thought maybe they deserved it, but I wish I knew who's truly earned it.

Egmont

06-30-17, 01:23 PM

So, I had the most fun ever so far with this game last night engaging two Large Composite Freighters in a night storm. I don't have all the advances in setting up shots yet, but I had time to make a plan and it worked.

The first Freighter is never the problem. I set up a 90 about 800 yds portside and slammed three front torps, a bow and 2 center hits, but didn't effect it's propeller. That one ran for a while before taking water which slowed it down for later.

On my way between the two ships I surfaced, finishing the first ship with 6 near range AP shots, and dove taking one hit which was quickly repaired.

The second ship made a maneuver which set me up for a chance at an Aft shot, but timing was of the essence as visibility was less than 1000 yds.

I thought I pulled the trigger too early on both aft torpedos but they both hit, and then he started out at a run.

Now we're talking big waves at night and rain, fog, etc. I could barely make a shape out in the distance when I turned to my stern mount cannon. Several long range shots later, confirming the hits with my zoom lens, she exploded.

The action was fast, with little time to plan.