Onkel returns to Silent Hunter III

[Onkel Neal]

As many of you know, I have a deep history with the SH franchise. Way back when SH3 was a dream in our minds, I was able to become associated with the game in its early alpha state. I saw the alpha at E3 in Los Angeles and met the lead programmer and director of the project, and pitched the urgency for a "dynamic campaign". This caused an 8 month delay, but I think we all agree it was worth it.

Some months later I hosted a Subsim Meet in Houston and the dev team FedEx'ed a CD-ROM of the latest beta build so I could preview it with the meeting members. Man, was that great! This was before smartphones, so I don't think any video survives but everyone was extremely excited about SH3. For me, I was glad to have other players confirm how great SH3 was compared to all the subsims before it, so it wasn't me "hyping" the game.

Ok, skip ahead, game was released, was a success, the Subsim Mod world exploded with amazing works, spurred on SH4 and SH5 (& SHO); at some point I stopped playing SH3 regularly, probably 2015 when I was a truck driver. Around 2017, I started working with the HMS Marulkin devs on what would become Wolfpack.

Sometime between 2017 and 2019 I bought SH3 on Steam for the convenience of playing without a CD. I believe I started the game but probably only played a single mission... apparently I loaded the JonesSoft Mod tool and GWX, then stepped away to focus on Wolfpack.

FastFwd to this week: I started SH3 on Steam to play some career missions to refresh my memory on the way the campaign feels in preparation for the Wolfpack campaign. I Steam started SH3 and it came up, GWX installed, but it was playing in a tiny window, so I changed the resolution and well, the game stopped running. :har: The Ubi logo and intro video would appear but then a mouse arrow and black screen. Oh boy, fun!

So, I did some research, found a bunch of possible solutions, and after reinstalling, checking file integrity, monkeying around with the Compatibility mode, and cfg file, got SH3 to run again in vanilla mode. I'll throw up an page of what my settings ended up so you can see what seems to have done the trick for me.

Steam Silent Hunter III setup 2022 (https://www.subsim.com/steam-silent-hunter-iii-setup-2022/)

So, I am going to play a few career missions in vanilla, then reinstall JoneSoft, and from there, I'm interested in your opinions on which mod path I should try. Over the years I have seen many, many mod paths recommended and now I am asking you, as a returning SH3 player, what wisdom you can impart, o' mighty ones.

[GrenSo]

So, I am going to play a few career missions in vanilla, them reinstall JoneSoft, and from there, I'm interested in your opinions on which mod path I should try.

I would recommend Fifi Enhancements for NYGM as the current one: https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=249060

[Dieselglock]

I would recommend Fifi Enhancements for NYGM as the current one: https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=249060


I would second what GrenSo posted. :up:

[Fifi]

Thanks guys! … I would add to wait for next update before starting new career …
Version 2.2 is coming out soon :up:

:Kaleun_Salute:

[Kal_Maximus_U669]

YES Boss the mods of Fifi remains the most successful of the moment.. go for it is a must
I agree with my classmates
@GrenSo @Dieselglock :yep::salute::salute:

[Doolar]

I going to agree with my fellow Kaptians. NYGM Enhanced 2.1 is fantastic. I find it hard to imagine that it could get better, but it does. If you want to go in another direction, then try OneAlex 1.52. OneAlex hasn't been updated lately, due to real life circumstances, but additional ships have been added. I do expect OneAlex to return and NYYGM Enhanced 2.2 is on the horizon, so, between those 2, you can't lose, you can't go wrong. On another note, Toyotagt86 ain't bad either. Very stable. But my personal "go to's" right now are NYGM Enhanced and OneAlex, even though i dabble with 4 others. And now I wonder what GWX Knight's Cross, will bring to the table. :hmmm: We are so lucky to have people still interested in Silent Hunter III enough, to keep improving and improving, and improving, this game. It's almost hard to choose.:Kaleun_Cheers:

[FUBAR295]

Onkle Neal,

You may want to consider, (you seem to prefer GWX), AlexOne's GWX mod 1.52 which is all inclusive. Just about everything you need for an up to date GWX. :salute:

Now, I am bias to NYGM and Fifi's updating of this classic with superior graphics and eye candy, while keeping the original game play that Stiebler intended, is a must. :yeah:

They are my suggestions. :Kaleun_Salute:

Good hunting,
FUBAR295

[GrenSo]

Thanks guys! … I would add to wait for next update before starting new career …
Version 2.2 is coming out soon :up:

:Kaleun_Salute:

Really... starting again a new career?

[Fifi]

Really... starting again a new career?

Should work in bunker … I loaded a bunker save without problem.

[GrenSo]

Should work in bunker … I loaded a bunker save without problem.


Good to know, and I will test it, if your release is done. :salute:

[Mad Mardigan]

Onkel Neal.. :Kaleun_Cheers:


1st off, welcome back to SH3 Kaleun status. :yep:



Call me biased, but.. am with most of the rest... Fifi's revamp of NYGM, :shucks: but.. this is not to disparage OneAlex's GWX Rework, either.. if you're more preferable to GWX.



Both of them are quite good, each.. in their own right. :hmmm: :yep: :up:


Your call, when all is said & done, at the end of the day. :yep:



Which, is what's important.. :shucks:



Hope that helps.. :shucks: :yep: :up: as always.






:Kaleun_Salute:



M. M.

[Onkel Neal]

Wow, nice feedback! I really appreciate that, I feel like a newbie! Well, I guess I kinda am a newbie, so your direction is gold.

So, I want to load GWX 3 and play a few missions with that, then I want to switch to fifi's NYGM as suggested and play a career.

I have Steam SH3 running fine on my programs86 directory, so I will attempt to install GWX 3 on that version.

Sadly, before I broke the SH3 on my D: drive, it was running GWX, just in a small window.

After that, definitely fifi all the way. :subsim:

[fitzcarraldo]

Onkel Neal! I returned to SH3 with NYGM FiFi version and it is a must have.

Immersion secured.

I have my old DVD SH3, working very fine on W11, with W7 compatibility.

The game is a legend.

Good hunt!

Fitzcarraldo :Kaleun_Salute:

[Weasel665]

I have Steam SH3 running fine on my programs86 directory, so I will attempt to install GWX 3 on that version.
:

Many on the forum say:
That you have SH3 installed in C:\Program files ... or C:\Program files (x86) ... which is NOT where you want to have it installed.... EVER.

Installing your SH3 here... is asking for loads of trouble, as Windows, will NOT allow for changes to be made to anything installed in those areas... EVEN if you tell it that such changes CAN be done.:oops:

[Onkel Neal]

Yes, Todd told me the same.

You know how you hate to mess with something after you finally got it to work? I wanted to install a second copy of SH3 on my D: drive, but I could not find a way to do it. I tried moving my installation from C:program86... and it moved it, alright, it's no longer on my C: at all.

And of course, the program wouldn't run again. Gave me a chance to try out my Steam fix and it worked, now I have it running on D: not in Programs86 :Kaleun_Cheers:

So, it shows the version as 1.4, that's the latest version right? Ready to install GWX 3?
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1410&pictureid=12829

[FUBAR295]

Roger that. 1.4 is correct.

GWX goes on top of that. Additional mods after that via JSGME. :03:

[blackswan40]

Hi Onkel if you are using GWX and other mods for further enancement you will need JSGME mod enabler and also the 4Gig Patch
also dont forget the Commandercfg from GWX Site or Jimbuna's GWX Knight Cross Edition Chief of the Boat Logo


Commader mod 3.2 (Uploaded by Sailor Steve) :Kaleun_Salute:
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=file&id=4789


http://www.thegreywolves.com/downloads/
JSGME Download

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=file&id=5389

4Gig Patch

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=file&id=5737

SH3 Quick Reference Card

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=file&id=5617

[JerseySeven]

Best wishes to you, Onkel!


I'm currently running a VIIB career in Onealex 1.52 and a IXC career in NYGM Enhanced Hardcore. Both are really nice and will automatically take you to 1920x1080 without needing to manually install and configure DGUI or similar widescreen mod.


I don't use the Steam version, but a Ubisoft DVD version as my base install for NYGM. Unnecessary with Onealex, as the needed files are all included.

[rainbowjose]

SH3 onealex modpack - best SH3 version so far.

[somedude88]

What's the difference between onealex and nygm?

[CapZap1970]

What's the difference between onealex and nygm?


NYGM is more... "hardcore". More like it was in real life for subs, airplane and destroyers attacks are deadlier, targeting is harder and other facts are more real, Onealex is also hard, but not as much as Fifi's NYGM Enhanced Hardcore.
Both have their treats in their own way...

[Onkel Neal]

Fubar2Niner just pointed out to me, that the 4GB patch should be added even though the version in the bottom right is v1.4

And the folder where SH3 lives should have the READ ONLY property UNCHECKED.

[Kal_Maximus_U669]

Fubar2Niner just pointed out to me, that the 4GB patch should be added even though the version in the bottom right is v1.4

And the folder where SH3 lives should have the READ ONLY property UNCHECKED.

Greetings Onkel Neal...:D
Gwx Onealex uses Stiebler which is already patched 4go
NYGM 2.2 fix By Fifi also uses Stiebler
you don't need 4go patch
you need MultiSH3 for multiple installs
as well as JSGME it's all...
you will see Boss you will not regret.. both mods are very difficult..
especially in bad weather.. it is very difficult to torpedo or even impossible..
the escorts are not left out as well as the aviation...
There you go my dear Neal, I hope I have clarified enough...
http://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/2022/44/7/1667735968-sh5img-2021-10-01-00-44-36.png
Good continuation is my best regards :salute::salute:

[Onkel Neal]

Yes sir, thank you, I appreciate that. :Kaleun_Salute:

[John Pancoast]

With all due, the campaign in SH3 isn't a dynamic campaign, not even close. :) Still fun though.

[Camaero]

After so many years and games like UBOAT or even modded SHV, what does it feel like to go back to SHIII? I'm so intrigued to try Fifi's NYGM.

[Onkel Neal]

It's pretty cool, kinda like hooking up with that old gf who's still pretty hot at the 20year hs reunion. :yep:

[Aktungbby]

It's pretty cool, kinda like hooking up with that old gf who's still pretty hot at the 20year hs reunion. :yep: Be sure to avoid 50 year reunions then stud-horse!:ping::ping::ping: :O:

[propbeanie]

... and WHAT, pray tell, is wrong with 50 year HS reunions??... :har:

[Rrannett]

Hello, Onkel Neil, try 65 HS reunion for stretching the mind!!


Heartily recommend GWXOneAlex and NYGM Fifi Enhanced, should keep you occupied for some enjoyable times!


Best wishes, rrannett

[Aktungbby]

... and WHAT, pray tell, is wrong with 50 year HS reunions??... :har:...well :hmmm: the standby ambulance service is expensive...as well as the Aricept prescription so U can remember the damn name of the mummy U once were enamored of...all the while recollecting that looking at yourself in the mirror every AM is no joy these daze either!!:O::oops::nope::dead:

[Onkel Neal]

Hey Dick, good to hear from you, I will check that out.
BTW, happy belated birthday!:Kaleun_Cheers: Now 84!

Neal