Moment of RSRD Brilliance
 

After installing SH4 a few months ago and playing several missions just so I'd know what I upgraded from, I installed both TM and RSRD. Unfortunately at the time, RSRD didn't last too long because I wanted to try some of the "special" missions such as commando insertion, pilot rescue, and harbor photography. Well, that excitement wore off as I a) got tired of having to insert commandos or spies right under the nose of shore batteries that gave me a pounding, b) never rescued any, and c) as soon as I raised the scope to photograph a harbor every warship, tug, and rowboat immediately spotted my periscope and buried me in the shallow mud. So... last night I tried my first patrol w/ the latest version of RSRD and I must say it (RSRD, not me) was brilliant.

I was assigned to patrol the Truk-Japan merchant route, and after a few days I found and sunk a pair of small coastal freighters. That night, I received an intel report about a possible intercept for a Japanese TF. At flank speed I was able to get there in less than 48hrs, the day before they were due to arrive. Sure enough, shortly after noon on the day I was told to expect them there was a dramatic increase in the amount of aircraft in the area, all patrolling from SE to NW. A few hours later, I picked up the task force coming from the SE. Needless to say, the Japanese have one less flattop.

The entire operation, courtesy of Lurker's RSRD mod, was some of the best SH4 gaming I've had in a long time! :up:

It is a brilliant mod!!! I thought so when Lurker started it many many months ago. :yep:

Not to downplay the mod...
It IS possible to get intercepts in the stock game.
It IS possilble to intert an agent without getting attacked.
It IS possible to photo a target without getting sunk.
It IS possible to avoid the shore batteries under all the above conditions.
All this without getting stuck or pounded into the mud.
Technique. Thinking out of the 21st century box.
-Pv-

Stock game sucks- to put it succinctly. I remember using it and got a patrol area outside of Cavite and that was it. Spent an eternity there. Radio in no new patrols. No ships no nothing. RSRDC saved the day and my sanity too.:yep:

Ditto
 

I haven't played stock so long that I had forgotten that it puts cute little circles around enemy units on your nav map to tell you exactly how far they can detect.:down:

Not to mention there are hundreds of little cute circles surrounding your boat. 50 nm out of Manilla and your out of torps already.

RSRD is a must have. The first time I used it, I thought I had screwed up the installation because I couldn't find anything to sink for a couple of weeks. It sure makes the game alot of fun when you find that task force.:arrgh!:

"it puts cute little circles around enemy units on your nav map to tell you exactly how far they can detect."

That can be turned off.
-Pv-

The stock campaign was also flawed to the point of unrealistic mission parameters. Remember prior to 1.4 the stock game was full of bugs and assorted furry animals. In fact I was about to use SH4 as a frisbee with my dog until I stumbled across SubSim and the mods.

Yup
 

No question I would be most disoriented without Trigger Maru, RSRD and ROW. They are a lot more than just the frosting on the cake. Our modders are great!:up: