noob questions

[Brett Sinclair]

Hi guys,
Just bought SH4 off Steam (having played SH5 before).
Some questions:
- I cannot find the tool to plot my course. Simply clicking on the ship does not work either. How can I plot my course?
- I cannot see a mini map with round numbers while looking through the telescope (the way it was in SH5). How can I target without the TDC?
- Do mods work with Steam's 1.3 version? Which mods are "must haves" like TWoS for SH5?
Thanks.

A Merry Christmas,
Brett

[propbeanie]

If the Uboats add-on is still on sale, you do need it. There are very few mods for v1.3, which is a crippled patch for a crippled v1.2, in my opinion. Why Steam does that I don't know. v1.3 does work, but not as well as it should.

When installing the game, do NOT put it in the "C:\ Program Files ..." directory. Use the Steam app and create a new Library folder that is NOT in that directory, such as C:\Ubisoft \ Silent Hunter... Otherwise, Windows will "protect" the game's files, and not allow a mod application to "stick".

Plotting your course is relatively easy. When on the navigation map, there's a little "line" tool, like third button from the left. After you click on that, hover over the Navigation map, and you should see a little "flag" icon with a line attached to it from your sub. Drag it where ever you want to place a waypoint, and left-click, which "plants" the mark, and sets you up to do it again. You can also select that tool, click and drag a flag to move a waypoint.

Off of the main listings, you'll find THEBERBSTER's SH4 <> TUTORIALS <> HOW TO DO IT <... (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=2297818#post2297818) link, and in it is Rockin Robbins' links: Sub Skipper's Bag of Tricks (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=1025180#post1025180). The links on those pages are about the best way to explain manual targetting on a Fleet Boat. It's not like the Uboats. :salute:

[Brett Sinclair]

Thank you!
However, I still didn't find the right tool. The tools I find are labeled "tool helper", "ruler", "eraser", "protactor", "zoom in", "compass" and "marker".
I may be really stupid, but what does it look like? I used the (navigational) map by pressing F3.
This is what my map looks like:
https://imgur.com/sWpSijK
As soon as I figured this out, I'll go ahead and buy the U Boat expansions. I already saw the "Operation Monsun" mod, which appears to model all German submarines and submarine operations during WWII. Basically enough to replace SH5 (which still has performance issues for me). Thankfully, I installed Steam, along with all its games, in a separate folder already.
I was asking about the automatic targeting, but I guess I'll figure it out myself as soon as I manage to leave Pearl Harbor :D But I'll surely dive into the TDC at a later point.


Best,
Brett

[mikesn9]

Those are tools to use.. under the tools, click on the 'protractor ' looking icon (second from left). Then on the next set of icons below you will see the icons that propbeanie described.

[Brett Sinclair]

Thanks!
I clicked on the thing which says "protractor" (but looks like a set square),but to no avail:
https://imgur.com/a/atP5a
I cannot even find the protractor looking thing tbh. Shouldn't it look like this?
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71hjaSooVrL._SL1500_.jpg
And if it is the tool where it says "protractor", why doesn't it work the same way as yours?

Best,
Brett

[razark]

Click the green compass (the north-finder kind, where the arrow points), so that it appears open. Then try the protractor.

To set course, you need to use the command bar at the bottom of the screen, not the pile of tools on the map.
https://i.imgur.com/rKOZmXl.png
Click the compass (the circle/stabby kind) with the red outline. This will bring up a different set of items on the command bar. I think the Set Course option is where I put the red blob.

[Brett Sinclair]

Thank you so much!
Finally I know how to do it - now I'm off to buying the U Boot missions.

Best,
Brett

[Brett Sinclair]

There's one other question I have:
Can I see the view range (the grey circle) of other contacts on the map as well (like in SH5)?
It's nice to have something to judge the right time to dive by at the beginning.

Best,
Brett

[propbeanie]

When you're playing stock, the map contacts are on. You will see everything (usually) that the watch crew on deck sees, or that your radar sees, on the Navigation map. From a distance, they'll be a small box. As you zoom in, they'll change to a ship's outline. You can use the ruler tool to get a rough estimate as to how far away they are, in 500 yard increments usually, which will turn to tenths of nautical miles once you exceed 9,999 yards. If you "target" something in either the periscope or the TBT, then that will display the distance in the "lock". There's those little tabs to either side of the screen to pull your targeting tools in to view, when on the appropriate screens.

An important thing that a lot of folks seem to miss is the keyboard pictures in the "root" of the game folder, called "SH4_Q-Ref_Card_Back.jpg" and "SH4_Q-Ref_Card_Front.jpg", which have helpful info and pictures (very useful to old fahrtz like me) of the keyboard layout in the game. In the Support folder off of the game root is the "SilentHunter4Manual.pdf" file, which while sadly lacking in some of the detail I would like to see, is still very helpful nonetheless, in spite of its "fluff"... :salute:

[Brett Sinclair]

The ref card is great - thanks!

My question was slightly different, however (I didn't do a good job of explaining it):
In SH5 (as long as "map contacts update" is turned on), there is a grey circle around the diamond or square representing the contact's position. It shows the area an (enemy) contact is able to (visually) detect your submarine. As long as you are outside, you are below his horizon, or not properly lit. When you are inside, you are detected, and attacked.
Even at the lowest difficulty setting, I could not find an option for this. So I am left to guessing how close I can get to an enemy before he detects me.
Realistic, but a bit steep for a relative beginner like myself.
EDIT: Just realised I can toogle this information by clicking on the contact - silly me :D

Best,
Brett

[Hambone307]

To see the contact's detection range, you have to click on the contact while in the map screen. So when your deck crew calls out a contact, go to map screen. Click on the "box' or the outline of the ship if you are zoomed in that far. You should then see some rings and a cone (or two) around the contact marker on the map. These are the detection ranges for the particular ship.

Some destroyers later in game have radar which will be the farthest outer ring. The next ring will be visual spotting range, after that you will see a ring with a cone taken out of the back, this is the (passive) sonar range. The cone going out of the front is the ASDIC detection range.

Be advised, there are some mods that remove these, and weather or not they show up is also dependent on your zoom level in map.

- Hope that answered your question.

*Edited for grammatical errors.

[Brett Sinclair]

Thank you!

Best,
Brett

[Red Devil]

there is no such thing as a stupid question; or as you stated, 'noob' - whatever that is

[Red Devil]

Thank you so much!
Finally I know how to do it - now I'm off to buying the U Boot missions.

Best,
Brett

go into the bay of biscay. I am joking, but in real life Captain Walker RN the scourge of the U boats lurked there with his 6 sloops. Every sub he found, he sank.

amusing story about that too. He had scientists on board on one patrol. They were trying to find ways to combat radio controlled aerial bombs dropped by bombers outswide of ships armament range. One such bomb was heading towards Walkers own ship. Suddenly it dived into the sea. Excited scientists began questioning all the crew about what they were doing at that time. The answer was amazing - some were having a shave!!! Their electric razors set up a countering signal which blocked the bombs guidance!! Job done, shave away!! true story.

[Brett Sinclair]

I will :Kaleun_Salute:.

Best,
Brett

[Brett Sinclair]

I have another one:
I currently command USS Balao and went out to capital ship hunting.
What are the IJN naval bases in SH4?
So far, I sunk the Hiryu and Fuso moored at Hiroshima harbour, and the Shokaku when it patrolled the entrance to Kobe bay (I thought it was a DD when it appeared on the radar, but to my amazement it turned out to be 30000 tons of Japanese naval steel).
Furthermore, do big ships disappear from the game once they have been sunk? For example, another (?) Hiryu was moored at exactly the same place in Hiroshima harbour when I came back a patrol later.

Best,
Brett

[propbeanie]

Anchored ships, especially in stock, will regenerate, either upon your next game start, or upon the next spawn cycle (which wildly varies). It is next to impossible to "eliminate" a ship as sunk-is-sunk in the game, without outside intervention. Besides "bases", there were also fueling stations, anchorages, etc. where you might find a ship anchored. There were four main naval districts, Maizuru on the west Coast, Sasebo (Nagasaki) on the West end, Kure (Inland Sea) and Yokosuka (Tokyo). However, just the Inland Sea itself probably held over a dozen "bases" and the submarine training school... You start adding in the Mandates and conquered territories after Feb 1942, and there are a lot of places that are "bases". I'd guess about 3 dozen or more. The game itself on the Fleet Boat side does not attempt to go beyond what you would find in the Jap_HarborTraffic.mis file in the Data / Campaigns / Campaign folder to simulate the "bases". Nothing is listed as a "base" in there, but you do see the "docked" ships that you found. That file would be different between different mods.

[Brett Sinclair]

Thank you.
I already decided to not kill "the other" Hiryu, and now I will continue to spare identical ships at identical places.

Best,
Brett

[fireftr18]

Sometimes I like to camp out at the Bungo Straights and sink multiple Hiryus.
:Kaleun_Salute:

[Red Devil]

try luzon straits at night, you will see the ghost ship. Its not been mentioned for a while but the are extensive posts in here on this. :arrgh!:

[razark]

Its not been mentioned for a while but the are extensive posts in here on this.
It's not been mentioned, because it's all lies!

Don't be fooled by their silly ghost stories and doctored screenshots! The ghost ship is as fake as Japanese aircraft carriers! None of them exist!

[propbeanie]

Poor razark just hasn't been the same since his encounter with the Flying Dutchman... :roll:

[razark]

Poor razark just hasn't been the same since his encounter with the Flying Dutchman... :roll:
Indeed.

Here's my favorite picture of my close encounter with it:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=442&pictureid=8587

[mikesn9]

I must say, I have seen the ghost ship. It is really there. Nothing regular, just once in a great while, and not every time I'm in the Luzon.

[Red Devil]

I raced at flank to try and intercept it and got quite close, very cleverly made. Also watched a jap destroyer engage it.

[Red Devil]

It's not been mentioned, because it's all lies!

Don't be fooled by their silly ghost stories and doctored screenshots! The ghost ship is as fake as Japanese aircraft carriers! None of them exist!

it turned into a UFO and flew past my cell window :arrgh!:

[propbeanie]

Coming soon (approx. 1815 local):
Here now for your viewing pleasure (or horror, as the case may be):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek0fGalxLLQ


containing irrefutable evidence... :har:

Stay tuned to your local SubSim thread... :salute:

You may wonder "Why the engine sound? I though they used sails?!?!!" Why, all the better to hear him by, my dearie! But seriously, should we get rid of the sound of him in FotRSU (you'd lose the sonar detection), and who wants working guns back? They are there on the decks, but didn't shoot at the "enemy" in this video... I was somewhat disappointed. I thought the Dutchman would at least "ZZZOTT!!!" them with a blue-green lightning bolt, and a hail of armor-piercing cannon shot!...

[razark]

containing irrefutable evidence...
So, now we're just going to start posting clips from the new Run Silent, Run Deep remake to further the lies? :doh:

[propbeanie]

:har: :yeah:

Do ya like though, how he just drives right through the middle of that group, all the while they're shooting at him, and hitting each other?... :arrgh!:

[razark]

:har: :yeah:

Do ya like though, how he just drives right through the middle of that group, all the while they're shooting at him, and hitting each other?... :arrgh!:
While fake (as evidenced by the presence of those fictional aircraft carriers), that was pretty good.

[propbeanie]

While fake (as evidenced by the presence of those fictional aircraft carriers), that was pretty good.
Thank you, kind sir! :salute:



do you think Oliver Stone will hire me now?...
:har:

[Bleiente]

While fake (as evidenced by the presence of those fictional aircraft carriers), that was pretty good.
:o ...... :hmmm: ...... :haha:

:subsim:

[Red Devil]

So, now we're just going to start posting clips from the new Run Silent, Run Deep remake to further the lies? :doh:

are we experiencing the Texican mode of sarcasm or do you really think the FD does not exist, even in virtual reality :arrgh!:

[razark]

are we experiencing the Texican mode of sarcasm or do you really think the FD does not exist, even in virtual reality :arrgh!:
I've had this game since the day it was released and I've never seen it, despite many long patrols in the Luzon Straits.

[Red Devil]

I have been looking, to get a new image. I had a few but cant find them now. Maybe an old thread? The first inkling is when you see a 'fast' report on your radar. If its singular, it is either him, or a troopship. But I have never seen a troopship in the Luzon area, usually near japan or Rabaul.