Ahoy everyone
 

Well what to say? I'm 28 live in FL, near the water, have had an interest in most things nautical and maritime for awhile, and would like to get into some sub sims. That said I haven't played ANY of the "modern" or hardcore sims like Silent Hunter. I've only ever played that good ol' 486 standby Wolfpack.

So thus comes to the crux of my dilemma. I have two questions here:

1) Are the Silent Hunter games user friendly, i.e. is the learning curve steep or is it pretty newbie friendly? As much as I'd like to initiate a crash dive and flee from terror everytime a destroyer ventures by, I'd also like a fighting chance to match bearings and snap shot a fish down the barrel and sink a tin can.

2) How is the control scheme? I only have a laptop that I pretty much actually use on my lap and thus use the keyboard and thumbpad. I don't have a real desk (no room in my well... room) and don't plan to aquire one since at this point in my life I'm trying to maintain maximum flexibility and freedom (more large possessions equal having to move said large possessions and i don't have a truck...)

I guess technically I have three questions...
3) Which is better 4 or 5? To be honest, the appeal of 4's pacific setting thrills me more than 5's north atlantic setting, but 5 looks gorgeous and I'm sure with mods you can fix most if not all of the problems.

As both are on Steam for $9.99 i'm sure i'd get both eventually but...

Also my laptop is BRAND new so if there are any issues with Windows 8 or quad-cores...


*wooo never try to type in english the same time you think in spanish... it doesn't end well...*

Wel-come aboard Kaleun ... :up:

Hi rick, welcome to SubSim.

To answer your questions,

1. The games have difficulty settings so you can work your way up to hard core realism.

2. I play on a laptop with a wireless mouse. No problems.

3. Can't answer that as I play 3+GWX +lots of mods.

Check out these...

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/forumdisplay.php?f=202

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/forumdisplay.php?f=244

:salute:

Welcome Rick1984. Any relation to Red October? Same last name...:hmmm:

I agree with u crank's answer :agree: adding...
3) Silent Hunter 4 with TMO. You can pick and choose your mods for your own personal taste. :subsim:

aye gentlemen.

i'll be sure to check both forums out.

i used to live in Richmond myself sir. Family still does.

umm... my birthday is in October... but other than that no I am not russian nor lithuanian and my real last name is not Ramius ;)

also to add I'm currently reading a history called the Admirals about Leahy Nimitz Halsey Spruance and King that is probably influencing my desire to defend the Pacific hehe

If you were related to Red, you would be a 'hillbilly', what ever that is. :har:

Red October1984 is one of the cast of characters here at Subsim. He's on the "Welcome Committee" so he should be here soon...:ping:

http://b.vimeocdn.com/ts/323/480/323480621_640.jpg

What? I've no relation to the new guy.... How dare he steal my last name! :stare:

Yes....I did get tested. He's not mine guys....

Welcome to Subsim Rick! I refuse to use my last name in reference to another. And NO! The guy in the picture is NOT me. :O:

Welcome aboard!

:subsim:

Hi and welcome mate.

My preference is SH4, but probably only because my current set up wont run SH5!....
You can make the game as easy or as hard as you wish, I myself have started on very easy settings until I get more familiar with the game and then will introduce a lot more ' realism' later on.
Whatever, the Silent Hunter games are all fascinating and highly addictive, enjoy, and look around Subsim if you have any problems, just about everything is well covered by these guys! :up::salute:

Welcome to SubSim Rick!
 

:salute:

Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm thinking of obtaining silent hunter 4 when I arrive home from work. As stated before, Steam has the gold for ten bucks

Welcome :salute:

installing IV as I type... unfortunately they dropped the gold deal for $9.99 (of course) but I still got the base with the naval academy to look forward to hehe:D

If you want mods you'll need the U-boat Missions Expansion. :hmmm:

so i have just learned; steam won't even patch to 1.4 w/o buying the expansion. should have just sprung for the $19.99 from amazon... oh well since i'm kind of locked in steam now it's too late. i'll get it eventually of course cause what really intrigued me was the trigger maru pack...

well having done some of the tutorial, even with the tutorial settings... wow i don't think i should have started at a beginning difficulty of 65 haha. ok maybe it's not that but i did it with manual TDC control on... maybe it's just me but it seems difficult to become skillful with the manual settings, or i just suck at basic geometry, which is also true... still, somehow i managed to disable a vessel via a torpedo shot on the screws, and thus disabled it... which let me practice various angles and offsets to get a handle on what i am attempting to do and i managed to snag a direct blow amidships which blew it sky high. i want to keep playing lol. but i can see i am going to get schooled so hardcore. going to have to watch some of these tutorial videos on youtube on how to use the manual tdc