Soooo....is this newbie Captain doing anything wrong?

[Heavy Artillery]

Hello all!

I pruchased the digital download of SH3 on Sunday and, after a reformat of my PC to get it to work without crashes and lockups, have been enjoying it. Somewhat. :)

See, I am starting to wonder if I am doing something wrong. I started a brand new career and embarked on my first mission. Now, I understand that the typical life of a submariner was "long stretches of boredom interspersed with brief moments of sheer terror", but I find things getting a little too tedious. In about, oh, I'd say 8 hours of real gameplay on this first mission, I've encountered....no ships. A few allied (German....not "Allies" allied hehe) ships, aye, but nothing I can actually attack. In fact, 99% of my gameplay has been spent swapping out tired crewmembers from one position to another...and this even with the no-fatigue mod which i read about and installed.

I spend a few minutes every few dozen kilmetres or so submerging the ship and stopping the engines so my sonarman can get a good listen but it always seems to be "No sound contact!" for me. When on the surface, I look for ships but see nothing. Well, the one time I did...but it was far, far out of my assigned patrol area.

So here I am, eight hours of my life into the game. I can SEE that, should I ever encounter a ship, it will be thrilling...but is it really always this bad? Investing hours upon hours of your time vainly hoping you *might* get a shot at a single target?

I find myself wishing that something would attack me just to snap me out of my snooze. :(

[The Avon Lady]

Are you heading out to areas more likely to contain targets? That would include the UK coast and convoy routes.

Also, try some essential mods, such as the latest versions of the Real Uboat (RUb) and Improved Convoys mods.

I have never experienced 8 realtime hours of nothing in SH3.

[wetwarev7]

Two words...

Time Compression :up:

If you go into the nav map, you can speed things up by a factor of up to 1024. Most people use this as they travel towards thier assigned patrol grid, stopping at certain points to make sound checks, or to intercept ships that pop up.

Makes things much more tolerable for me :smug:

[Serverdaemon]

On the subject of time compression, too there is a fix (hopefully someone will help me out here though since I can't remember it...) that will allow you to set the max compression rate. I use 2048 time compression on mine.

As for the crew becoming fatigued, you might try setting your crew to "cruise" mode where most of them are in their bunks. Seems like when I run in that mode, fatigue doesn't become an issue.

S

[Twelvefield]

WARNING: for many people, pressing the "crew mode" buttons can cause computer crashes and mission corruption. It's better to just move yoiur crew into their bunks manually.

In the early war, where I am playing, I will run the sub at 1/3 speed. That allows me to run submerged all day and surfaced all night. I typically do my hydrophone checks in the morning and evening.

[Heavy Artillery]

Aye, I'm using Time Compression...although I usually thend to stay at 128x on the nav map, at most.

As for going to areas where there is shipping...I was under the impression that, as part of your career, you HAD to go to your assigned patrol grid. My current grid is AF87, almost straight east from Scapa flow...but near the *other* coastline.

Are you saying I should inject a little Kirk into my captaincy, and ignore orders? :D

[The Avon Lady]

Are you saying I should inject a little Kirk into my captaincy, and ignore orders? :D
Discussed many times already.

Did BdU order you to take the straightest line to your assigned patrol grid?

No.

Of course, you could play this diehard and assume that you are only to patrol that given grid. But that would mean that if you encounter enemy ships on the way, you won't fire at them because they are not in the area you were assigned to.

I always play with the assumption that a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush. I always aim to reach and patrol my assigned grid but if I've expended my torpedoes beforehand in encounters on the way there, BdU will radio you to return to base anyway once you send in the reports.

If you really want to be imaginative, you can travel enemy coastal areas and when you come across ships, send in the contact report but don't attack them. This would simulate being assigned a particular patrol area elsewhere, which BdU has deemed as strategic, while performing vital surveilence work for the Kriegsmarine at the same time.

It's really up to you. :yep:

[Serverdaemon]

If you follow orders and stay in your assigned patrol area for 24 hours, you'll get more renown upon your return. But you don't have to! It's pretty much up to you, however the THEORY is that BDU knows where the ships are traveling through and are sending you to where you'll find targets. That's not necessarily the case, but it sure sounds nice.

Besides, there's a hack that allows you to change your renown too if you'd like.

Me, I usually do the 24 hour assigned thing just for kicks. And who knows,... Maybe they do know something up top and one of these days I'll get a nice fat battleship to sink!...

;)
S

[captainclasp]

A couple of points to make your gaiming more enjoyable, if I may. First off - during any transit - use the time compression of over 64 - anything above 64 (which is map only tc) stops fatigue - allowing you to do more than just "swap crew". Next, going to your assigned patrol area is good - it gets you some renown - as does sitting in it for 24 hours... however - if you happen across a few juicy targets on the way and sink them - you have more renown that a "successful" patrolling of your area with no enemy sunk....

You may not have gotten a convoy map since you did the digital dl thing - but if you did get one in electronic format - its a good idea to go over it. If your patrol zone is near it - or if you get to your patrol zone and have the fuel - detour to a high traffic area after you complete your assigned task - do not worry - BDU never reassigns you to another patrol grid - so once you have done what you were told - feel free to swing by the best watering holes on the way home (or on the way out if its on the way)!

If you sit on the west side of britain where the convoy lanes converge - sit for 3 or 4 days - i haven't failed yet to get a convoy report - and its usually heading right for me!

This is, note - with the stock 1.4 patch. If you havent patched yet - do it. Also - there are some great mod's out there if you choose to use them.

Good Hunting.
CC

[Heavy Artillery]

Thanks for the suggestions all. I'm finding that a few of the added tracks for the gramophone- with period music and news reports -really add to the experience overall!

I only have two torpedoes left right now (started with 5, took 2 to finish off a ship that appeared "red" on my map, but was in fact neutral. Oops!) after accidentally hitting ENTER twice on my keypad instead of the "+" to up the compression, and wasting one.

Oops again. :)

Next time out, I will make sure I snoop in some areas where I can find some big ol' cargos to sink. Thanks again!

[The Avon Lady]

There are utilities and mods that change the fire key from just ENTER to CTRL+ENTER or similar. That way you'll stop inadvertantly launching torpedoes like the rest of us used to do when we were new at the game. :yep:

[Von Scheerbach]

Heavy: If you want to find convoys, one of the best places to hang out is in the area of AM27-28-29-02, off the nw coast of Ireland. Lots of Halifax to Liverpool convoys go through there. You'll need to upgrade from that type II first, though!

Good hunting!

[Cdre Gibs]

If you are bored now, then I suggest u DON'T install the mod called RUB. The Stand alone HT Mod by Rubin is very nice and I'd grab that if I was you.

Patrols :As a few have already stated, go to your grid as ordered, do the 24 hour thing on TC, then head off to any of the convoy routes. AM 02,52 and 53 is good for inbound convoys and for outbound convoy's try BF 15,16,18 and 19. When you have a bigger boat, try heading down to Gibralta and go through the pass into the Med. Lots of bits an bobs round there.

Good Luck

[Heavy Artillery]

Well I went back to good old AN81 and did the 24 hour thing, managed to sink a small merchant ship with a lucky 3,800m shot right in the arse with two torpedos (it was moving in a perfectly straight line and never zig zagged)...both my mission objectives show Complete, but I can't send any status report or exit the patrol...aaaaargh.

But good advice all around here, thanks so much!!

[Cdre Gibs]

both my mission objectives show Complete, but I can't send any status report or exit the patrol...aaaaargh.

Status Reports : To Send Status Report these conditions must be met:
a) Surfaced and radio maned
b) Clear of any Hostile contacts and at least 30 minutes has passed since last sinking (game time).
c) At least 1 more event must have taken place after the last Status Report (a sinking).

Contact Reports : To Send Contact Report these conditions must be met:
a) Surfaced and radio maned
b) a VISUAL sighting of either a Task Force or a Convoy.
c) More than 1 ship icon on the Nav map must be RED of either the Task Force or Convoy.

Exit Patrol : To exit a Patrol with the auto return these conditions must be met:
a) All Torps expended
b) Last status report sent.
c) Bdu send msg telling you to "Return to base"
d) NOT playing at 100% realisism.

[McBeck]

My suggestions:

1) Restart career in Kiel (Sure its a bit longer travel, but you get the VIIB from the start. More speed, more torpedoes, Deckgun and more fuel)

2) In patrols, head for the assigned patrol grid and do the 24hr.
If you encounter enemies on the way - sink em!

3) After completing the assigned 24hrs, go to convoy routes.
My favorite is AM54. I allways find convoys here with nice juicy tankers and C3s

[bookworm_020]

My favourite hunting ground is BF 13 & BF 15, a good place to take on the convoys and singles that wander through. If you want some adventure, transit by the Engish Channel. :sunny: You get more entertainment and enjoyment that way.

Have Fun!! :D

[Heavy Artillery]

I still seem to be having the same issue with ending my patrol, however.

Current status:

All torpedos expended.
90 minutes since last combat action.
90 Minutes since last hostile contact.
Surfaced and radio manned (also tried periscope depth and radio manned).

-No option to send any reports in the case of either ship sinking, and no messages at all from Bdu.

Guess I will have to start over. :(

But at least I am getting the hang of hunting and sinking...even if it is just small merchant ships. :D Thanks for your help all!

[wetwarev7]

You don't HAVE to radio Bdu to end your patrol. You can just press escape, and you should be able to end it that way (lower right hand corner). If you are outside a certain distance, you will lose a little reknown, but you will still be able to end your patrol.

[The Avon Lady]

You don't HAVE to radio Bdu to end your patrol. You can just press escape, and you should be able to end it that way (lower right hand corner). If you are outside a certain distance, you will lose a little reknown, but you will still be able to end your patrol.
Surface first.

[wetwarev7]

You don't HAVE to radio Bdu to end your patrol. You can just press escape, and you should be able to end it that way (lower right hand corner). If you are outside a certain distance, you will lose a little reknown, but you will still be able to end your patrol.
Surface first.

Make sure there are no destroyers nearby first.

[Heavy Artillery]

Thanks folks, did it the old fashioned way...motored on back to the pens and docked! :D

Heh it's great to have so many helpful folks here though. Thank you for tolerating the endless newbie questions!

[Serverdaemon]

Errr, I don't get it... I can send reports any time I'm surfaced. (whether or not I see another ship). I can also return to base FROM my base without ever setting out, and of course can do so at any time in the mission. are the constraints listed (i.e. all torpedoes expended, etc...) specific to the RUB mod?

EDIT: Actually, can't see how it would be since I'm using IUB and that contains RUB... Fascinating...

SECOND EDIT: BTW, I've heard of a "free" camera that aparently lets you wander inside the allowed sections of your boat. Is this correct and if so, how does one go about engaging it?
Thanks!

S

[wetwarev7]

Errr, I don't get it... I can send reports any time I'm surfaced. (whether or not I see another ship). I can also return to base FROM my base without ever setting out, and of course can do so at any time in the mission. are the constraints listed (i.e. all torpedoes expended, etc...) specific to the RUB mod?

EDIT: Actually, can't see how it would be since I'm using IUB and that contains RUB... Fascinating...

SECOND EDIT: BTW, I've heard of a "free" camera that aparently lets you wander inside the allowed sections of your boat. Is this correct and if so, how does one go about engaging it?
Thanks!

S

Shift F2, I believe..

[Serverdaemon]

Ah! Grazie!!!
:up:

[Heavy Artillery]

Errr, I don't get it... I can send reports any time I'm surfaced. (whether or not I see another ship).
S
See that is the weird part. On my first patrol, I did. On my 2nd, I sunk a small merchant, went to the messages screen (M) and the Send Report and Send Contact Reports tabs were both grayed out, with no option to click on em to send anything. Ditto after the 2nd merchant sinking, and after 90 minutes of gametime at the end of the patrol. Also, I did not receive a single radio message the entire patrol. Not evem the standard "Commence hostilities against the British" message. And I quadruple checked to make sure I had a radioman on station at all times.

Odd. :)

[Nedlam]

Well I went back to good old AN81 and did the 24 hour thing, managed to sink a small merchant ship with a lucky 3,800m shot right in the arse with two torpedos (it was moving in a perfectly straight line and never zig zagged)...both my mission objectives show Complete, but I can't send any status report or exit the patrol...aaaaargh.

But good advice all around here, thanks so much!!

From all the stuff I've read in the past that is a one in a million shot! No matter how you are plotting the firing solution. WTG! By up the arse do you mean the ship was also moving away from you and you got'em in the tail pipe?!?!?!

I just sank a C3 on patrol the other day at night, in about 7m seas from just under 500m and I was just doing it out of frustration because about three other had got away due to the high seas over the past few days of the patrol. No one was more suprised as I was when I saw the explosions of my two fish hitting the damn boat. Admittedly I used manual targeting followed by corrections from the WO. Hey! I'm still green (and I dont mean seasick).

Baby steps... :)

[Spellir_74]

Errr, I don't get it... I can send reports any time I'm surfaced. (whether or not I see another ship).
S
See that is the weird part. On my first patrol, I did. On my 2nd, I sunk a small merchant, went to the messages screen (M) and the Send Report and Send Contact Reports tabs were both grayed out, with no option to click on em to send anything. Ditto after the 2nd merchant sinking, and after 90 minutes of gametime at the end of the patrol. Also, I did not receive a single radio message the entire patrol. Not evem the standard "Commence hostilities against the British" message. And I quadruple checked to make sure I had a radioman on station at all times.

Odd. :)


Click the radioman icon lower left (which opens that station's sub commands) and then click [send contact] or [patrol status].

Bdu will reply, sometimes, with the same thing everytime: "keep up the good work", as far as I know.

[Serverdaemon]

Errr, I don't get it... I can send reports any time I'm surfaced. (whether or not I see another ship).
S
See that is the weird part. On my first patrol, I did. On my 2nd, I sunk a small merchant, went to the messages screen (M) and the Send Report and Send Contact Reports tabs were both grayed out, with no option to click on em to send anything. Ditto after the 2nd merchant sinking, and after 90 minutes of gametime at the end of the patrol. Also, I did not receive a single radio message the entire patrol. Not evem the standard "Commence hostilities against the British" message. And I quadruple checked to make sure I had a radioman on station at all times.

Odd. :)


Click the radioman icon lower left (which opens that station's sub commands) and then click [send contact] or [patrol status].

Bdu will reply, sometimes, with the same thing everytime: "keep up the good work", as far as I know.

Exactly! That's how I do it too.
:yep:

S