Jumping in to SH4
 

Hello all,
I've been playing SH3 for a while now and love it, however I couldn't resist the $9.99 price for SH4 at Amazon. I can always toss it if I don't like it.
Anyway, would anyone know what version I might be downloading? It doesn't really say. Assuming it's 1.0 or something like this, can I just apply the 1.4 patch or do I need 1.1, 1.2,1.3?

I've spent so much time in U-boats in the Atlantic I have no idea how this is going to go lol.

Jeff

You can apply the 1.4 patch straight, without the others. Depending on the age, it may well be 1.4. If you're lucky you might have 1.5 Gold. It will say on the box if that's the case. At any rate you should try to pick up 1.5 anyway, as the best mods are made for that version. :sunny:

Well....since I'm back in the world of SH4, I'll lend a hand.

Sadly, you have v1.4

Amazon sells the game and the v1.5 patch separately when you buy it digitally unless you buy the Gold Edition.

The v1.5 patch is only $9.99 on Amazon too. That's where I got it.

SH4 v1.5 is what you want. All the new mods that come out are made for v1.5

In my experience, v1.4 mods are just not as good.

Anyway, and outline of the mods for you

Trigger Maru Overhauled - Ramps up the A.I. and changes certain things within the game to give you a realistic feel. This makes you think like a real captain because the A.I. isn't stupid. Not quite like GWX...but I think this is the best of the supermods. Of course they all add better historical accuracy. Don't get me wrong on this one. This is just as realistic as any other mod historically, IMHO.

Real Fleet Boats - This one doesn't go for the realistic feel...but the realistic details. I think there have been updates here and there to put RFB and TMO at about the same historical accuracy. This one, IIRC, does not have the ramped up A.I.

Run Silent Run Deep Campaign Mod - This is a must. This changes the shipping to a historically accurate set. The ships follow real shipping lanes and the battles are all scripted (I think it hits at least most of the major ones)

Traveller's Mod - This is one I added onto my TMO+RSRDC installation that upgrades damage models, changes some things in the A.I., gives you the ability to sit on the bottom of the ocean without taking damage

Operation Monsun - This mod I have not personally tried. This changes the game to German U-boats in all the theatres of war. I don't know much else beyond that. I haven't dug any deeper because I have no interest in German U-boats in SH4.

Game Fixes Only - This is the stock game with bug fixes

Fall of the Rising Sun- If I remember correctly, this one was basically GFO+a little bit of supermod added into the mix. I'm not real sure on this one

There are also many, many, many small mods that you can use to tweak the game to your liking.

I've been out of the loop on SH4 for a few months...but I'm willing to help if you have any questions. Just drop me a line. :up:

Thanks Steve, I did purchase the U-boat add on also at Amazon. They're both downloading now.

Same problem I had with SH3.. Too many mods to consider lol!

I'm reading the various posts now.. I like to keep things as close to stock as possible, so I'll probably do the GFO and RSRD mods.

Does SH4 have a radio that I can add songs to like SH3 does?

Thanks Red October!!

That's a lot of good information!

Is it safe to assume the mentioned mods are all compatible?

SH3 doesn't have a radio, just a grammaphone. SH4 has both. You can add songs to both, and there are several great Radio mods that add other stations, including Japanese ones.

Yes.

There's a whole lot of historical music in the Downloads section too! As Steve said, there's both a radio and gramophone

With the v1.5 patch, you should be good. But be sure to install them in the correct order. At this point, you have to choose whether you want to play U-boats or Fleet Boats because Op Monsun won't run alongside TMO or RFB or any other Fleet Boat mod.

I'd do some more research before you pick a mod instead of going off of what I've said. I know TMO hasn't been updated because the author doesn't mod anymore...but i'm not sure about the others. They could've been updated since I was last poking around here.


My personal advice to you is to never play a stock SH game.

Always mod up. It's your decision...but SH4 stock....it's just...meh...

TMO+RSRD Campaign and Traveller's Mod pack is my basic setup with some minor tweaks. I love it.

If you haven't already, check out my AAR (After Action Report) I'm doing over SH4. There's a link in my sig and it's in this sub-forum.

I definitely don't want ATO.. I have SH3 for U-Boats :)

I want to experience purely the Pacific area with American submarines.. just to measure in feet/yards/miles for a change lol..

So I did DL the 1.5 thing for $9.99.

Also DL'd a bunch of add on's..

So here is my plan. Tell me what you think.

SH4 - update to 1.4
U-Boat 1.5 add on
TMO
GFO
RSRD

Do these work together? Would any one of them replace another (Am I duplicating anything here?).

Again I like to play long campaigns, as realistic as possible, and I don't care about der U-Boats at this time..

Jeff

Ok I changed my mind a bit. I'm going to start with GFO and RSRD.

I'll play with these for a while until I am ready for more.

GFO fixes things that are broken in the game. The major supermods add a lot of things, but also fix the broken things. GFO is mainly when you want to not run any supermod, but want an unbroken game.

RSRD is designed to work with all supermods or none, being a campaign straightener. Just be sure to pick the version designed for the mod you're going to use.

Yes.

TMO and GFO won't run together.

TMO is basically (IMHO) a better version of GFO. It adds historical accuracy and realism to the game.

Tell me, did you ever play the GWX mod for SH3?

Yes I'm playing GWX Gold with SH3 currently and I love it.

The only thing I don't like about TMO is the loss of the free camera.. I don't REALLY want it that bad but since I'm new to the game I'll spend some time just flying around looking at the scenery. Believe it or not I do this more than look at the enemy ships lol..
In any event, perhaps I will try TMO.. I assume I just reverse my installations???

Gonna do TMO then RSRD.. (leaving TMO out for now).. and start a career.

I must say this.. just playing the game.. in an AMERICAN sub.. seeing all those AMERICAN flags lol.. got used to the Swastika... now.. there is just something special and different about this.. (my dad was in a destroyer in ww2)

Also.. HOW DO I GET AN AMERICAN FLAG TO FLY ON MY SUB!!!??

TMO doesn't take away the free camera.

You might have "No External Camera" checked in the realism settings

GWX's AI is harder than TMO's.

I think you really should try TMO if you're used to SH3. GFO will keep the game way too easy.

And you should get the Accurate Flags mod. Since Hawaii and Alaska weren't states in WW2, there's only 48 stars on the American flag.

I really like SH4 better than 3 because of the American theme.

Plus, the Pacific War is probably my favorite of all time as far as theatres of war/campaigns go.

Yes, the Germans were involved...but I'd much rather play Americans. :arrgh!:

EDIT: Forgot to add installation directions for TMO.

You can install it with JSGME. And don't forget the mini-patch for it.

Be sure to install the correct version of RSRDC (which also needs the appropriate mini-patch)

After that, you're free to tweak the game as you like. :yeah:

Thanks again Steve and Red!

I did install TMO (latest version didn't find a patch).. and then RSRD..

Nothing more... yes you're right, the external works, the flag works....

All I can say is HOLY COW!!!!!!!! WOWOWOWOWO!!!
:up::up::up::up::up::up::up::huh::huh::huh::huh::h uh:

This game BLOWS ME AWAY!!! I just did a quick practice mission.

Now I see what you're all talking about when you say "MOD THE GAME!"..

My gosh I need to get used to Imperial units lol!!!

But mostly.. the feel of this game is incredible!!! WIDESCREEN!!!! WORKS!! YAAAAHH!! The beautiful blue water...
THE SOUND OF THE ENGINES!!! they really are excellent..

And yes, while I enjoy SH3 very much and the U-boat campaign.. there is something very different about this..
Perhaps it's because my father (who died in 2008) was on a Destroyer in WW2 and I have pictures of him as a young man sailing out to sea..

With this game, just standing on the bridge, looking out into the clear Pacific (as opposed to the cold North Atlantic).. seeing the American Flag . as the boat sails out.. wow!!! It seems much more serious to me.. No disrespect to the German U-boat sailors.. Just that to me that is a different world... other than what I read, can't really connect to it.. But this.. just seems like I'm watching my father as he sails off... as a young yo ung 19 year old BOY!!! The music box playing some old American tunes of the era... :salute:

Ok I must be crazy... but I think I'll be playing this for a while

THANK YOU to all the modders out there!!!

:subsim::subsim::subsim::subsim::subsim::subsim::s ubsim:

Looks like my work here is done. :D

I see I've helped convert another to SH4.

Have fun and ask questions if you have any. I'm here to help. :up:

Oh...and taking your boat to 19 Feet is a LOT different than taking it to 19 Meters. :D