Where do you start?
 

Ok, so I've been spending way too much time on uboat.net and I decided to get SH3. I know I'm in way over my head but I would like to eventually learn how to play with 100% realism and GWX and all that good stuff. But right now I'm still at rank HN 3 (Hardcore Noob, 3rd class).
I've mostly been playing the naval academy and trying to get used to stuff.

So my question is how did everyone start out? Did you just jump right into a career and learn from trial and error? Did you turn the realism settings down until you figured things out? Did you play the naval academy over and over again?

Yes, I have been reading the newbie guides and the community manual, but I'm wondering how different people approached the game when they started out. Also what settings are considered "standard"? I kind of assume that most people play with 100% realism as sort of the way to play. Is that right?

yes i kept playing the naval academy untill i passed all the tests :yep:

Yup i did training and exam but im still a noob. I cant believe i havent progress at all since 1 year and half:nope: :nope: :nope:

I started the acadamy. Got aggravated, and jumped into a career. Died a few times without hitting anything. Pulled out pencil, paper, compass and protractor. Went back to the Acad. missions and slowly figured out what I was doing. And I still get crews killed more often than I would like. But not as often, and with much better tonnage to show for it.

I never bothered with the academy. I just got a boat and hit the high seas. Especially in the begining of the war you can try different tactics without much danger and get to know the potential of your boat.

I hate to say it but, I still do not play at 100% realism. I like the external view for watching my victims going down, and to just admire the graphics in GWX 2.1. If I were you, I would start a campaign with the realism settings you want to try and then adjust them till you find the setting that suits you. Remember, there is no one set correct setting to play this sim, just what works for you.

I learned watching a friend try to play 100% realism right away, he did use tutorials and such but after 5 patrols he still wasn't able to identify a C3 cargo at 5km at night where I could....

so then I started playing SH3 myself, started out with all the realism on, except for manual targeting and external camera (for screenies ;) )

Naval Acadamy was the go for me, so I could learn the basics and learn all the commands that I needed to survive. I then tried a couple of the single missions to give me experience in dealing with escorts and air patrols.

I then moved on to a career, but starting with the stock version for awhile and then moving on to GWX (that will sort the men from the boys:D)

Have a look at the FAQ sticky at the top of the page for more help and suggestions.:yep:

BTW Alice, Welcome aboard!:up:

First the Naval Academy to get the 1500 renown.:up:

THEN install GWX. I found out the hard way when I tried the FlaK Training. Dead in the Water!:dead:

Darn those planes, in stock they were like mindless drones. In GWX, they actually put the pilots inside!:huh:

Learn at the Academy, then play some single missions. 'Happy Times' is good for convoy attack practice.

Don't install any supermod until you're comfortable with what you're doing.

Like all things the best place to start is at the beggining, the Acadamy is a good place to learn the basics and build confidence with the controls. As for realisim i wouldnt try and start playing at 100% straight off, its not much fun being killed in the first 5 min of every game, the novelty wears off fast. I play at 54% and that is real enough for me. Live a little, Die a little.

Cheers

Downunder

The Naval academy its a a very good start for the first "touch" to play SH3...specialy for those with never play games as "Ace of the Deep", or "SH1" and dont understand as a submarine works yeath.
I start to play "SH1"...some years a go and i never stop since, and all this years playing i only can play with 84% of realism only. One of the main reason its only a game (its not a really U-boat and im not commanding a human crew) so i try to put the things between a good play and fun and good graphics, BECAUSE ITS ONLY A GAME! :cool:

Well, if you plan to roll with GWX I recomend starting by reading the manual.
At least the parts on understanding how the ASW works in the game.

I started with the Naval academy (I read you got reknown for it) then started a patrol in a Type VII no convoy's just loners wich where easy pickings either with gun or torps. Then got into GWX

I played enough of the Naval Academy tutorials to get 1500 points then I moved on to the "Happy Times" mission & finally started playing in campaign mode. I've had the game for over a year & still don't play at full realism; my math just isn't that good.:oops: Got GWX a month or so ago & I haven't looked back since.

Play it at whatever realism scale that you're comfortable with. Remember that it's just a game & there is no sense in making it so hard for yourself that it puts you off.:down:

Hope that you have many hours enjoying your SH III experience.:) I can almost guarantee that you will quickly lose track of time, stay up all night & end up always late for appointments, school, work, etc...:D

P.S. When or if you decide to get the GWX add-on, be sure to read the 600-odd page manual. It's very well done & will definitely answer many of your SH III questions.