One thing I miss in SH3
 

Buoys!

In fact, there are no navigational aids or sea marks at all: no range markers, no buoys, no warning signs, etc.

I wish the harbors had complete pilotage markers: Buoys of all types. Can buoys. Nun buoys. Spar buoys. Buoys with audible sounds (bells, whistles, gongs, horns). Lighted buoys. Hazard markers. Anchorage buoys, mooring buoys, etc. etc. etc. I would like signs posting the various speed limits in different sections of the harbors.

I want seagulls roosting on top of the bouys, sea gull poop decorating the buoys AND pilings, etc.

Trash and oil slicks floating in the harbor and the ways, in the slips; I want the harbor to look even more alive than it does now. Small boats in the harbor, making their way from ship to shore, or other ships. Torpedo nets (with buoys of course).

Of course, the different seamarks in different nationalities' harbors should be appropriate for the time and place. I imagine that the German/English/French/USA seamark systems were different.

I should imagine the FPS hit from that lot would render ports impossible for most ppl

There are some buoy in WIP
Not seen any progress reports for a while though

DD has released his package with floating barrels etc for adding anywhere

check this thread:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...ghlight=debris

I'm sure you are right. In fact, Kiel is borderline for me right now with my machine.

And, I don't really want to make SH3/4 a pilotage test.

However, just like trying to fly the proper ATC patterns in a flight sim, I would like to spend a little effort in harbor obeying "the rules of the sea-going road".

Still, it's nice to think that another couple of years our PCs should be able to handle this.

Oh I agree with the idea
Ports with shipping are more alive than the empty stock ones

Other additions as you described would make it more alive

What I would like to see is a manual navigation option on the realism settings and a few navaids like lighthouses marked on the charts. :yep:

I would kill for a map that gave me depth readings...In fact, i'll kill you right now if you don't give me your map! AAAAAAAAAAAArrrghhhhh!!!:x:x:x:x

umm...sorry.:nope: