SH4 Returnee needs advice on Mods
 

Hi all! It's been years since I played SH4, and I decided to spend some more time with it after some heavy WW2 reading lately. I did try SH5 last year, with a heavy dose of mod soup, and it just didn't do it for me. I'm back to the Pacific, which has some personal resonance because my Dad served there on an escort carrier during the last years of the war.

So here's my question about mods. I remember playing the early versions of Trigger Maru way back when, and I appreciate realism up to a point. But for a re-entry into SH4 I'd like something that doesn't force me to be both the skipper making tactical decisions, and also the tracking party. I'd like to use Real Fleet Boat 2.0, for example, and I'm trying out this recommended mod config:

Generic Mod Enabler - v2.6.0.157
RFB_2.0
RFB_2.0_Patch_23April2010
RSRDC_RFB_V575
RSRDC_V5xx_Patch1

But I'm not thrilled with how much information it removes from the Nav map, the Attack map, the torpedo sonar tracks, and so on. I might want to get into all that later on, after re-familiarizing myself with the game, but not right away.

So, is there a way to mod RFB 2.0 to restore that tracking information? Maybe not to full default, but just a little less extreme than what RFB is doing? Or should I be putting together some mix of individual smaller mods? There are so many other individual mods out there besides the big megamods, that I don't know where to begin.

Hey Frumpkis,

IIRC with RFB you are stuck with what you got.

If I may... I would suggest you forge ahead with it as you have it. You will quickly get accustomed to it & it will increase your overall satisfaction of the sim. Its the uncertainty of the tactical situation that adds spice to this sim.

Nothing quite like tracking a big ole tanker thinking you got him dead to rights. Just about to hit the fire button when suddenly the conning tower is filled with the resonating sound of active sonar. You quickly hit the fire button launching a spread (which you botch because of the distraction) quickly swiveling the periscope to spot a DD bearing down on you danger close that you never knew was that close.

Having all the "cheats" turned on IMO is akin to playing a FPS on the target range. Sure you get to hear the bangs & see the explosions but the element of uncertainty/danger isn't there & that my friend is what really draws us.

Thanks everyone! Yep, I agree the default info makes it too easy. I guess I'm just looking for something halfway between default and RFB to ease back into the game. I haven't tried checking off those boxes on the options screen, so I'll do that.

I'll try ISP at some point too.